Portable Sterile Air Device Using Radial Fan and UV Filtration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sterile environments, such as operating rooms, are not fully sterile due to large areas and equipment that require extensive cleaning and sterilization, and the presence of personnel poses a risk of contamination, limiting the ability to perform procedures under sterile conditions in areas lacking standard equipment.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a radial fan, UV-light generator, and particle filter, housed in a structure that directs air flow to create a laminar, essentially sterile air volume, reducing the need for extensive sterile room preparation and personnel precautions, and allowing procedures in non-traditional settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard operating rooms with extensive cleaning and sterilization measures are used, then sterile conditions are improved, but device complexity and preparation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential sterilization function from the complex sterile room environment and concentrates it into a portable device. The device takes out only the critical components (radial fan, UV-light generator, particle filter, housing) needed to create sterile air, eliminating the need for extensive sterile room infrastructure while maintaining reliable sterile conditions.
2Reliability
If standard operating rooms with personnel and equipment are used, then surgical procedures can be performed, but contamination risk increases due to personnel presence
Solution Approach 1:
The device introduces sterile air as an intermediary substance between the non-sterile environment and the surgical site. The radial fan draws in ambient air, the UV-light generator and particle filter sterilize it, and this sterile air acts as a protective mediator that surrounds and protects the surgical field from contamination by personnel and equipment in the non-sterile room environment.
3Reliability
If high air flow velocity is used to maintain sterile conditions, then contamination is reduced, but drying and object displacement occur
Solution Approach 1:
The device applies different air flow velocities to different regions: high velocity at the periphery to prevent contamination and low velocity in the center to avoid drying and displacement. The housing with diverging top wall sections creates this velocity gradient, with faster moving air at the edges and slower moving air in the middle, allowing each region to have the quality it needs.
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 device provides a compact, effective means to maintain sterile conditions, reducing the risk of contamination and enabling procedures in areas without standard operating rooms, while minimizing air flow velocity differences to prevent drying and object displacement.
Implementation Method 1
The radial fan is arranged to provide a flow of air in a radial direction towards the housing
Implementation Method 2
The at least one UV-light generator is arranged to radiate the flow of air with UV-light
Implementation Method 3
The at least one particle filter is arranged to filter the flow of air, thereby creating the volume of essentially sterile air
Implementation Method 4
The housing being arranged to direct the flow of air in an axial direction such that a peripheral part of the flow has a velocity that is higher than a central part of the flow
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device and a method for providing a volume of sterile air. The device comprises: a radial fan, at least one particle filter, at least one UV-light generator, and a housing, the housing at least partly enclosing the radial fan, the radial fan being arranged to provide a flow of air in a radial direction towards the housing, the housing being arranged to direct the flow of air in an axial direction, the at least one UV-light generator being arranged to radiate the flow of air with UV-light, and the at least one particle filter being arranged to filter the flow of air, thereby creating the volume of sterile air between the device and the surface.