Abstract: A cage ventilation system for use in isolating a plurality of cages from an uncontrolled environment is provided, including a frame adapted to support cages in a plurality of vertically spaced shelves and an enclosure isolating all supported cages from the uncontrolled environment. A source of air from the uncontrolled environment is connected to the interior of tubes supported above each shelf in the frame, where each of the tubes has an axially disposed opening for outletting air over substantially the entire length of the associated row therebeneath. Each tube includes an interior opening which, in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the conduit, has an area which is less than the area of the outlet opening. The enclosure also includes an air outlet.

Abstract: An exclusion or containment isolator provides an isolated environment for example for surgery or for preventing spread of infection. Known sleeves for allowing operators to manipulate inside the isolator from outside present difficulties in manufacture and can reduce easy movement of the operators arms. An isolator (11) of flexible, transparent plastics material has wide, triangular sleeves (35, 36) extending from regions of conjunction (44, 45) with the main isolator body (43), the regions of conjunction partially overlying one another to give greater freedom of movement. Preferably the sleeve construction utilizes a side sheet (13) providing a lower wall (25) of one sleeve (35) and upper wall (27) of the next adjacent sleeve (36).

Abstract: A method of removing an article from an enclosure member providing an environment isolated from the ambient environment is particularly applicable in removing infected hospital materials from isolator enclosure members for isolating human patients with acute infectious diseases. Present methods do not satisfactorily prevent spread of infection from the removed material and maintain the integrity of the isolator. In one arrangement of the invention a disposal bag 21 sealed around a port 25 contains a closure bag 28 having a rigid hoop 30 across the disposal bag 21. Heat sealer 33 cuts and seals around the hoop leaving part of closure bag 28 closing the disposal bag 21 and part of bag 28 closing transfer port 25. In another arrangement closure bag 28 slides over a rigid former 34 extending outwardly from the transfer port and cutter sealer 33' cuts and seals portions of the closure bag across the disposal bag by cooperating with a backing member 29' in the closure bag 28.