Negative-Pressure Vehicle Cabin Partition for Infectious Patient Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Infectious diseases transmitted through the respiratory system, such as MERS, SARS, anthrax, Ebola, and COVID-19, pose challenges in vehicle transportation due to the risk of infection spread and limited isolation capabilities, especially in ambulances, which are often used for multiple purposes.
Innovation Solution
A mobility vehicle equipped with a partition wall that divides the internal space into a general space and a negative pressure space, utilizing air conditioning and exhaust units to form a negative pressure environment for infectious patients, with controlled airflow and temperature management to prevent contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a vehicle is used to transport infectious disease patients, then patient transportation is enabled, but all passengers inside the vehicle are infected with the disease through the infectious disease patient
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle interior is divided into a negative pressure space and a general space using a partition wall with an airflow path. The partition wall segments the internal space to create isolated zones with different pressure characteristics, preventing pathogen transmission while enabling patient transportation.
Solution Approach 2:
A negative pressure environment is created within the negative pressure space to form a protective barrier. The negative pressure atmosphere prevents contaminated air from escaping into the general space, effectively isolating the infectious patient from other passengers.
2Reliability
If an ambulance is used for medical purposes, then infectious disease patient isolation is enabled, but other equipment cannot be placed inside and multi-purpose use is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall is designed to be movable or selectively deployable, allowing the vehicle to switch between isolation mode (when needed for infectious patients) and general transportation mode (for other purposes). This dynamic configuration enables both reliable isolation when required and versatile multi-purpose usage otherwise.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle is designed with dual functionality: it can serve as a standard transportation vehicle for general purposes, and simultaneously function as an isolation vehicle for infectious disease patients when the partition wall is deployed and negative pressure is activated. This universal design eliminates the need for dedicated isolation vehicles.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If air conditioning and exhaust units are operated to form negative pressure space, then disease transmission is prevented, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses airflow sensors to detect the direction and rate of air movement between the negative pressure space and general space. Based on this feedback, the control unit dynamically adjusts the exhaust fan operation to maintain the required negative pressure gradient, optimizing energy consumption while ensuring effective pathogen containment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts pressure parameters by controlling the exhaust fan speed and air conditioning unit operation. By changing these parameters based on real-time conditions, the system maintains effective negative pressure for disease prevention while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption during different operational phases.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents the spread of infectious diseases by creating a safe environment for transporting patients, enhancing the vehicle's usability for both normal and emergency situations.
Implementation Method 1
as the air is discharged from another space through the airflow path of the partition wall to the outside through the exhaust unit, a negative pressure is formed in the negative pressure space
Implementation Method 2
an air conditioning unit that is configured to blow the air into the internal space through an air discharge unit provided in the mobility
Data Source
AI summary
In a mobility including a negative pressure space and method for controlling a pressure of the mobility in which the mobility is used a general vehicle in normal times, and when a special situation such as transferring infectious disease patients occurs, an internal space includes a general space and a negative pressure space by a partition wall, so that the infectious disease patients are safely transferred through the negative pressure space and the spread of infectious diseases is prevented. As a result, the usability of a vehicle is increased, and it is possible to respond to such special situation.