ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR FORMING A FOCUSED CLEAN AIR ZONE COLUMN
An arrangement establishes a focused clean air zone column. The arrangement comprises an ultra-high grade filter having an air intake and an air flow generator that forces air from the intake through the filter. The air flow generator is operable to force air from the filter at a velocity between 70 feet per minute to 200 feet per minute to form a focused clean air zone column of air extending from the filter.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/370,683, filed on Aug. 4, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUNDThere are many circumstances where it is absolutely essential to assure a clean or sterile environment. An obvious example is in hospitals, and especially in operating rooms of hospitals. In the operating room setting, it is the wound site of the patient where sterility is of most importance. Unfortunately, in current approaches, the most critical area of concern, the wound site, is not given primary attention. Rather, current approaches have been just the opposite by giving attention to the condition of the operating room in general in creating a “clean” room without paying special attention to the wound site. This can result in the wound site actually being the area of least cleanliness because it is at the wound site that the most activity occurs during a surgical procedure that both sets contaminants airborne and blocks clean air access to the wound site.
Contaminated particles can be made up of particulates from any substance, such as dirt and dust, and can include bacterial and virus nebular matter transported either through the air from multiple sources or by touch on surfaces. Neither source of transport can be ignored. The same contaminates can pass from air to surface many times over the course of existence. The present invention addresses the need for establishing a clean air environment at a targeted site, such as, for example, a surgically sterile wound site of a patient.
SUMMARYIn one embodiment the invention provides an arrangement for establishing a focused clean air zone column comprising an ultra-high grade filter having an air intake and an air flow generator that forces air from the intake through the filter. The air flow generator is operable to force air from the filter at a velocity between 70 feet per minute to 200 feet per minute to form a focused clean air zone column of air extending from the filter.
The air flow generator may be a blower. The blower may be an impeller blower.
The ultra-high grade filter may be a HEPA filter or a ULPA filter, for example. The filter may be ceiling or wall mountable. To that end, the filter may be dimensioned to fit within T-bar ceiling supports.
The arrangement may further comprise a shroud extending from the filter in the direction of air flow from the filter unit to displace the focused clean air zone column. The filter has a perimeter defining a shape and a dimension and the shroud defines a shape and a dimension corresponding to the shape and dimension of the filter perimeter.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of establishing a focused clean air zone column. The method includes the steps of comprising providing a filter including a high grade filter and an air intake and forcing air from the filter at a velocity between 70 feet per minute to 200 feet per minute to form a focused clean air zone column of air extending from the filter.
In another embodiment, the invention provides an arrangement for establishing a surgical quality clean air environment at a target site. The arrangement comprises a filter unit including an ultra-high grade filter, an air intake and an air flow generator that forces air from the intake through the filter. The air flow generator is operable to force air from the filter at a velocity between 70 feet per minute to 200 feet per minute to form a focused clean air zone column of air extending from the filter. The arrangement further includes a support that places the target site within the focused clean air zone column.
The air flow generator may a blower. The blower may be an impeller blower.
The ultra-high grade filter may be a HEPA filter or a ULPA filter, for example. The filter unit may be ceiling or wall mountable. To that end, the filter unit may be dimensioned to fit within T-bar ceiling supports.
The arrangement may further comprise a shroud extending from the filter unit in the direction of air flow from the filter unit to displace the focused clean air zone column. The filter has a perimeter defining a shape and a dimension and the shroud defines a shape and a dimension corresponding to the shape and dimension of the filter perimeter.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of establishing a focused clean air zone column. The method includes the steps of comprising providing a filter including a high grade filter and an air intake and forcing air from the filter at a velocity between 70 feet per minute to 200 feet per minute to form a focused clean air zone column of air extending from the filter.
In a still further embodiment, the invention provides a method of establishing a surgical quality clean air environment at a target site. The method includes providing a filter unit including an ultra-high grade filter and an air intake, forcing air from the filter at a velocity between 70 feet per minute to 200 feet per minute to form a focused clean air zone column of air extending from the filter, and directing the focused clean air zone column onto the target site.
The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further features and advantages thereof, may best be understood by making reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify identical elements, and wherein:
Referring now to
Above the patient and mounted within the ceiling 22 is a ceiling mounted filter unit 30 embodying the present invention. The filter unit includes an ultra-high grade filter 32 and a blower 34. Air enters the filter unit 30 through an intake 36.
The ultra-grade filter may be a high efficiency particle arrestor (HEPA) filter, an ultimate level particle arrester (ULPA) filter, or any other filter having filter characteristics the same as or better than a HEPA filter efficiency grade. HEPA filters are 99.99 percent or greater efficient for particles at 0.3 microns in size and larger. ULPA filters are 99.999 percent or greater efficient for particles at 0.1 microns in size and larger.
The air provided to intake 36 may be from the building regular air supply directly or indirectly connected. Alternatively, the air supplied to intake 36 may to some degree be pre-filtered.
The blower 34 forms an air flow generator that pulls air from the intake 36 and forces the air through the filter 32. It may be an impeller blower, for example. Alternatively the blower may be an axial blower or a housed blower.
In accordance with the present invention, the blower is operable to force air 37 from the filter face 38 at a velocity between 70 feet per minute to 200 feet per minute. The ultra-clean air exiting the filter 32 within that velocity range will form a focused clean air zone column 40 extending from the filter face 38. The focused clean air zone column 40 has a profile comprising a plurality of zones 42, 44, 46, and 48. Each zone represents a minimum number of airborne particles per cubic foot of air. The profile of the focused clean air zone column will be described more completely subsequently.
The operating table 28 is arranged to place the patient 26 into a position whereby the critical surgical wound site of the patient 26 will be within zone 48 of the focused clean air zone column 40. This assures that the surgical wound site will be within surgically clean air.
The focused clean air column 40 commences at the point the airflow projection expels into a surrounding air from the rigid enclosure and filter. Here, the focused clean air column 40 commences at the filter exhaust side face 38. The air flows as a nearly single mass with the air across the column flowing at nearly the same velocity, thereby creating laminar flow. The air that is constantly being expelled is pushing the air mass in front until all of the energy is expended.
Referring now to
Above the patient and mounted within the ceiling 122 is a ceiling mounted filter unit 130 embodying the present invention. The filter unit includes an ultra-high grade filter 132 and a blower 134. Air enters the filter unit 130 through an intake 136.
As in the previous embodiment, the ultra-grade filter may be a high efficiency particle arrestor (HEPA) filter, an ultimate level particle arrester (ULPA) filter, or any other filter having filter characteristics the same as or better than a HEPA filter. HEPA filters are 99.99 percent efficient for particles at 0.3 microns in size or larger.
The air provided to intake 136 may be from the building regular air supply. Alternatively, the air supplied to intake 136 may to some degree be pre-filtered.
The blower 134 forms an air flow generator. As in the previous embodiment, it may be an impeller blower, for example. Alternatively the blower may be an axial blower or a housed blower.
In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, the blower is operable to force air 137 from the filter face 138 at a velocity of 120 feet per minute, within the 70 feet per minute to 200 feet per minute velocity range previously mentioned. The ultra-clean air exiting the filter 132 at those velocities will thus form the focused clean air zone column 140 extending from the filter face 138. The focused clean air zone column 140 has a profile comprising a plurality of zones 142, 144, 146, and 148. Again, each zone represents a minimum number of airborne particles per cubic foot of air.
The operating table 128 is arranged to place the patient 126 into a position whereby the surgical wound site of the patient 126 will be within zone 146 of the focused clean air zone column 140. This assures that the surgical wound site will be within surgical quality clean air.
The focused clean air zone column 140 commences at the filter face 38. Because the initial flow velocity is within the 70 to 200 foot per minute velocity range, the air flows as a nearly single mass with the air across the column flowing at nearly uniform velocity in laminar flow.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, modifications may be made, and it is therefore intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by those claims.
Claims
1. An arrangement for establishing a focused clean air zone column, comprising:
- an ultra-high grade filter having an air intake; and
- an air flow generator that forces air from the intake through the filter, the air flow generator being operable to force air from the filter at a velocity between 70 feet per minute to 200 feet per minute to form a focused clean air zone column of air extending from the filter.
2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the air flow generator is a blower.
3. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein the blower is an impeller blower.
4. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the ultra-high grade filter is a HEPA filter.
5. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the ultra-high grade filter is a ULPA filter.
6. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the filter is ceiling or wall mountable.
7. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein the filter is dimensioned to fit within T-bar ceiling supports.
8. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a shroud extending from the filter in the direction of air flow from the filter unit to displace the focused clean air zone column.
9. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the filter has a perimeter defining a shape and a dimension and wherein the shroud defines a shape and a dimension corresponding to the shape and dimension of the filter perimeter.
10. A method of establishing a focused clean air zone column, comprising:
- providing a filter including a ultra-high grade filter and an air intake; and
- forcing air from the filter at a velocity between 70 feet per minute to 200 feet per minute to form a focused clean air zone column of air extending from the filter.
11. An arrangement for establishing a surgical quality clean air environment at a target site, comprising:
- a filter unit including an ultra-high grade filter, an air intake and an air flow generator that forces air from the intake through the filter, the air flow generator being operable to force air from the filter at a velocity between 70 feet per minute to 200 feet per minute to form a focused clean air zone column of air extending from the filter; and
- a support that places the target site within the focused clean air zone column.
12. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the air flow generator is a blower.
13. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein the blower is an impeller blower.
14. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the ultra-high grade filter is a HEPA filter.
15. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the ultra-high grade filter is a ULPA filter.
16. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the filter unit is ceiling or wall mountable.
17. The arrangement of claim 16, wherein the filter unit is dimensioned to fit within T-bar ceiling supports.
18. The arrangement of claim 11, further comprising a shroud extending from the filter unit in the direction of air flow from the filter unit to extend the focused clean air zone column.
19. The arrangement of claim 18, wherein the filter has a perimeter defining a shape and a dimension and wherein the shroud defines a shape and a dimension corresponding to the shape and the dimension of the filter perimeter.
20. A method of establishing a surgical quality clean air environment at a target site, comprising:
- providing a filter unit including an ultra-high grade filter and an air intake;
- forcing air from the filter at a velocity between 70 feet per minute to 200 feet per minute to form a focused clean air zone column of air extending from the filter; and
- directing the focused clean air zone column onto the target site.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 1, 2011
Publication Date: Feb 9, 2012
Inventor: WILLIAM J. HASLEBACHER (BELLEVUE, WA)
Application Number: 13/195,384
International Classification: B01D 46/42 (20060101); B01D 53/00 (20060101);