Respiratory Pump Isolation Assembly for Portable Pathogen Containment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing protective measures for preventing exhaled pathogens, such as medical masks and negative-pressure rooms, are cumbersome or expensive, and there is a need for a portable solution that allows free movement and clear vision while protecting against airborne pathogens.

Innovation Solution

A personal respiratory isolation assembly comprising a manifold-filter assembly and a hood with a clear face shield, which can be retrofitted to a respiratory pump to create a respiratory vacuum system, filtering exhaled air before it enters the environment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If protective multi-layer face coverings are used, then filtering of exhaled air is improved, but breathing becomes burdensome especially for weakened patients

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen filtrationVSAvoidbreathing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the protective function into two separate components: a hood that collects exhaled air at the source, and a pump-filter assembly that processes the air. This segmentation eliminates the need for multi-layer masks while achieving pathogen containment through active air extraction and filtration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If negative-pressure rooms are used, then protection of healthcare workers is improved, but patient mobility is restricted and the solution is expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen containmentVSAvoidpatient mobility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the negative pressure function from a fixed room environment and relocates it to a portable hood-pump system. This allows the negative pressure effect to be applied locally at the patient's face while the rest of the environment remains normal pressure, enabling patient mobility and eliminating the need for expensive dedicated rooms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The hood acts as an intermediary device that creates a localized containment zone around the patient's face. Instead of containing the patient in a large negative pressure room, the hood mediates the pathogen containment function in a portable, cost-effective manner while preserving patient mobility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a pump-aided respirator system with helmet is used, then protection from airborne pathogens is improved, but vision and mobility are impeded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairborne pathogen protectionVSAvoidvision and mobility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of pumping filtered air into a helmet to create positive pressure (as in conventional respirators), this system uses a hood to capture exhaled air and a pump to create negative pressure. This inversion of the pressure approach eliminates the need for a bulky helmet, preserving the patient's vision and mobility while achieving pathogen protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 system effectively filters exhaled pathogens, allowing free movement and clear vision, while preventing contamination of the environment and protecting both healthcare workers and patients from inhaling contaminated air.

Implementation Method 1

a filter assembly covering the air inlet of the housing for removing contaminants from air passing therethrough

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

air pumps removing potentially contaminated air from the room through effective filters so that a vacuum is created that prevents the contaminated air from escaping

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Data Source

PatentUS12576290B2Respiratory pump arrangement for personal respiratory isolation and method of use

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 FLEXSYS

AI summary

A personal respiratory isolation assembly includes a manifold-filter assembly configured to be attached to a suction port of a respiratory pump. The manifold-filter assembly has a bowl-shaped manifold housing with an inlet adapter configured for connecting a hose, and a filter releasably attachable to the manifold housing. The isolation assembly further comprises an exhaust baffle with a plurality of openings. The exhaust baffle fits a pressure port of the respiratory pump. A method of operating a personal respiratory isolation assembly involves attaching an exhaust baffle to an outlet adapter of a respiratory pump; connecting a manifold housing to a suction port of the respiratory pump with a filter disposed between the manifold housing and the suction port; connecting a hose to an inlet adapter of the manifold housing; attaching the hose to a hose port of a hood; and starting to operate the respiratory pump.