US20120031271A1 - Arrangement and method for forming a focused clean air zone column - Google Patents

Abstract

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.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY
• 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.
BACKGROUND
• There 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.
SUMMARY
• In 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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• 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:
• FIG. 1 is a simplified view of an operating room with a patient on an operating table and placed within a focused clean air zone column according to aspects of the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a focused clean air zone column profile for a focused clean air zone column formed by the movement of ultra-clean air from an ultra-high grade filter at a velocity of 90 feet per minute;
• FIG. 3 is another simplified view of an operating room with a patient on an operating table and placed within a focused clean air zone column according to further aspects of the present invention;
• FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a focused clean air zone column profile for a focused clean air zone column formed by the movement of ultra-clean air from an ultra-high grade filter at a velocity of 120 feet per minute;
• FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a ceiling having a filter unit embodying aspects of the present invention mounted within T-bar supports of the ceiling;
• FIG. 6 is a side view of a filter unit embodying aspects of the present invention mountable within the ceiling ofFIG. 5;
• FIG. 7 is a side view of the filter unit ofFIG. 6 but further including a shroud to displace the focused clean air zone column according to further aspects of the invention;
• FIG. 8 is a simplified view of an operating room with a patient on an operating table and placed within a focused clean air zone column displaced by the shroud ofFIG. 7 according to further aspects of the present invention; and
• FIG. 9 is a side view of a mobile or portable unit capable of providing a focused clean air zone column according to still further aspects of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• Referring now toFIG. 1, it shows anoperating room20 having aceiling22 and afloor24. Also shown is apatient26 in need of a surgical procedure disposed in a supine position on an operating table28.
• Above the patient and mounted within theceiling22 is a ceiling mountedfilter unit30 embodying the present invention. The filter unit includes anultra-high grade filter32 and ablower34. Air enters thefilter unit30 through anintake36.
• 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 tointake36 may be from the building regular air supply directly or indirectly connected. Alternatively, the air supplied to intake36 may to some degree be pre-filtered.
• Theblower34 forms an air flow generator that pulls air from theintake36 and forces the air through thefilter32. 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 forceair37 from thefilter face38 at a velocity between 70 feet per minute to 200 feet per minute. The ultra-clean air exiting thefilter32 within that velocity range will form a focused cleanair zone column40 extending from thefilter face38. The focused cleanair zone column40 has a profile comprising a plurality ofzones42,44,46, and48. 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 table28 is arranged to place thepatient26 into a position whereby the critical surgical wound site of the patient26 will be withinzone48 of the focused cleanair zone column40. This assures that the surgical wound site will be within surgically clean air.
• The focusedclean air column40 commences at the point the airflow projection expels into a surrounding air from the rigid enclosure and filter. Here, the focusedclean air column40 commences at the filterexhaust side face38. 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.
• FIG. 2 shows the profile of the focused cleanair zone column40 ofFIG. 1 for an initial air flow velocity at thefilter face38 of 90 feet per minute. As the air flows out from the filter, air outside of thecolumn40 will begin to mix with the air within the column along the corresponding edges40. However, by virtue of the laminar flow of the air and the initial cleanliness of the air at thefilter face38, the air within thecolumn40 remains extremely clean throughout the length of thecolumn40. To that end, thefirst zone42 extends out to about 1.5 feet and contains less than 100 particles per cubic foot of air. Thesecond zone44 extends out to about 2.5 feet and contains less than 150 particles per cubic foot of air. Thethird zone46 extends out to about just over 4 feet and contains less than 200 particles per cubic foot of air. Lastly, thefourth zone46 extends out to over 6 feet and contains less than 300 particles per cubic foot of air. As shown inFIG. 1, the patient is disposed within thefourth zone48. Any one of these zones would provide sufficiently clean air to support a surgical procedure within a surgically clean air environment at the serial field target.
• FIG. 2 also shows the air velocity for air flow out from thefilter32. At 4 feet out, for example, the air flow velocity is about 50 feet per minute. It is important that the air velocity not be so high as to cause rapid drying of tissue at the surgical wound site or create turbulence within the zone thereby reducing its effectiveness. All of the air velocities shown inFIG. 2 are well below such an air velocity. However, all of the air flow velocities illustrated are sufficient to provide an additional important function. That is to force any contaminants54 (FIG. 1) created during the surgery and other undesirable airborne side products from the surgery, such as cauterization smoke, to be forced downward gently towards the floor and away and down below the surgical wound site and the operating room personnel upper portion of their bodies without any bounce back of the contaminated smoke filled air into critical areas off nearby objects or the floor.
• Referring now toFIG. 3, it shows anotheroperating room120 having a focused cleanair zone column140 extending therein formed by an initial air velocity of 120 feet per minute. Theoperating room120 has aceiling122 and afloor124. Also shown is a patient126 in need of a surgical procedure disposed in a supine position on an operating table128.
• Above the patient and mounted within theceiling122 is a ceiling mountedfilter unit130 embodying the present invention. The filter unit includes anultra-high grade filter132 and ablower134. Air enters thefilter unit130 through anintake136.
• 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 tointake136 may be from the building regular air supply. Alternatively, the air supplied tointake136 may to some degree be pre-filtered.
• Theblower134 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 forceair137 from thefilter face138 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 thefilter132 at those velocities will thus form the focused cleanair zone column140 extending from thefilter face138. The focused cleanair zone column140 has a profile comprising a plurality ofzones142,144,146, and148. Again, each zone represents a minimum number of airborne particles per cubic foot of air.
• The operating table128 is arranged to place thepatient126 into a position whereby the surgical wound site of thepatient126 will be withinzone146 of the focused cleanair zone column140. This assures that the surgical wound site will be within surgical quality clean air.
• The focused cleanair zone column140 commences at thefilter face38. 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.
• FIG. 4 shows the profile of the focused cleanair zone column140 ofFIG. 3. As the air flows out from the filter, air outside of thecolumn140 will begin to mix with the air within thecolumn140. However, by virtue of the laminar flow of the air and the initial cleanliness of the air at thefilter face138, the air within thecolumn140 remains extremely clean throughout the length of thecolumn140. To that end, thefirst zone142 extends out to just over 2 feet and contains less than 100 particles per cubic foot of air. Thesecond zone144 extends out to just over 3.5 feet and contains less than 150 particles per cubic foot of air. Thethird zone146 extends out to about just over 5.5 feet and contains less than 200 particles per cubic foot of air. Lastly, thefourth zone148 extends out to over 7 feet and contains less than 300 particles per cubic foot of air. Any one of these zones would provide sufficiently clean air to support a surgical procedure within a surgically clean air environment. As may be realized from the profile ofFIG. 2 representing an initial air flow velocity of 90 feet per minute and the profile ofFIG. 4 representing an initialair flow velocity 120 feet per minute, the focused clean air zone columns are similar except that the column formed with an initial velocity of 120 feet per minute extends out farther than the column formed with an initial velocity of 90 feet per minute.
• FIG. 4 also shows the air velocity for air flow out from thefilter132. While the air flow velocities represented in the profile ofFIG. 4 are higher than in the profile ofFIG. 2, the air flow velocities shown inFIG. 4 are still not so high as to cause rapid drying of tissue at the surgical open wound site. All of the air velocities shown inFIG. 4 are well below such an air velocity.
• FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of aceiling222 having afilter unit230 mounted within the T-bar supports of the ceiling. In the arrangement ofFIG. 5, intake air may most readily be obtained from the building HVAC system. However, the intake air may be obtained from other sources as well and may even be pre-filtered to some extent. While hospitals and hospital operating rooms would not generally use T-bar ceiling supports, such a ceiling is shown herein to emphasize the point that a surgically clean air targeted air environment may be obtain in most any room or space by practicing the embodiments of the invention.
• FIG. 6 is a side view of the filter unit232 embodying aspects of the present invention which may be mounted within the ceiling ofFIG. 5 or used in most any application according to the invention, including within hospitals and operating rooms. The filter unit includes afilter housing231 and ablower housing233. The filter housing contains an ultra-high grade filter (not shown) and theblower housing233 contains animpeller blower234. Air enters thefilter unit230 through anintake236. Theinterior235 of theblower housing233 forms a plenum chamber which, along with the back pressure provided by the ultra-high grade filter, causes theair flow237 from theblower234 to be evenly distributed across thefilter face238. Theblower234 is operable to force the air through the filter at initial air flow velocities from 70 feet per minute to 200 feet per minute. This causes a focused cleanair zone column240 of air to extend form thefilter face238.
• FIG. 7 is a side view of thefilter unit230 ofFIG. 6 but further including ashroud252 to displace the focused clean air zone column according to further aspects of the invention. In some applications, it may be necessary to displace the focused clean air zone column to accommodate very high ceilings or other obstacles to placing the target area within the focused clean air zone column. The shroud may be employed to confine the air before it is released to free space. To that end the shroud has a length L and a perimeter that matches the perimeter of thefilter face238. By matching the perimeter (shape and dimension) of thefilter face238, it is assured that there will be no leakage of area from the shroud. When the laminar air flow exits the shroud, the focused clean air zone column profile will be displaced in the direction ofair flow237 by a distance L equal to the length of the shroud. The shroud may be formed of any material which provides a barrier between the air within the shroud and the surrounding contaminated air. Hence, the shroud may be formed of plastic, metal, or even cloth.
• FIG. 8 is a simplified view of an operating room with a patient on an operating table and placed within a focused clean air zone column displaced by the shroud ofFIG. 7 according to further aspects of the present invention. The arrangement ofFIG. 8 is based upon an initial air flow velocity to form the focused clean air zone column of 90 feet per minute. This allows the arrangement ofFIG. 8 to be directly compared to the arrangement ofFIG. 1. InFIG. 1, the patient was disposed within thefourth zone248. However, by virtue of theshroud252 extending from thefilter face238, the focused clean air zone has been displaced inFIG. 8 so that the patient is now disposed within thethird zone246. As a result, the surgical wound site of thepatient226 ofFIG. 8 will now be in a cleaner level air zone than the surgical wound site of thepatient26 ofFIG. 1.
• FIG. 9 is a side view of a mobile or portable unit capable of providing a focused clean air zone column according to still further aspects of the invention. Theunit300 ofFIG. 9 includes a base310 that may be rolled about incasters312 over afloor302. Theunit300 further includes acolumn314 extending from thebase310. The column includes anair intake336 which communicates with ablower chamber334. The blower chamber may include an impeller blower, for example. The blower forces air fromintake336 up thecolumn314 though aflexible join316 to afilter housing318. Within thefilter housing318 is an ultra-high grade filter having afilter face338. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, the blower withinblower chamber334 is capable of pulling air from the intake and pushing out the filter face at a velocity between 70 and 200 feet per minute. As may be seen inFIG. 9, this establishes a focused cleanair zone column340—that may be aimed by the flexible joint316 onto a target area of interest. Hence, as may be seen from the foregoing, the invention is not limited to stationary implementation but may be employed to advantage in portable implementations as well.
• 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 (20)

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 ofclaim 1, wherein the air flow generator is a blower.

3. The arrangement ofclaim 2, wherein the blower is an impeller blower.

4. The arrangement ofclaim 1, wherein the ultra-high grade filter is a HEPA filter.

5. The arrangement ofclaim 1, wherein the ultra-high grade filter is a ULPA filter.

6. The arrangement ofclaim 1, wherein the filter is ceiling or wall mountable.

7. The arrangement ofclaim 6, wherein the filter is dimensioned to fit within T-bar ceiling supports.

8. The arrangement ofclaim 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 ofclaim 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 ofclaim 11, wherein the air flow generator is a blower.

13. The arrangement ofclaim 12, wherein the blower is an impeller blower.

14. The arrangement ofclaim 11, wherein the ultra-high grade filter is a HEPA filter.

15. The arrangement ofclaim 11, wherein the ultra-high grade filter is a ULPA filter.

16. The arrangement ofclaim 11, wherein the filter unit is ceiling or wall mountable.

17. The arrangement ofclaim 16, wherein the filter unit is dimensioned to fit within T-bar ceiling supports.

18. The arrangement ofclaim 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 ofclaim 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.

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