JP2007163053A - Safety cabinet - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a safety cabinet that can physically isolate a workspace from the outside without using thick gloves as gloveboxes, and easily seal the workspace for decontamination. <P>SOLUTION: The safety cabinet has a case 1a enclosing the workspace 3 and having a window 24 for the observation of the workspace 3. One or more wall surfaces enclosing the workspace 3 are doubled to form an intermediate layer 9a. Wall surfaces of the intermediate layer 9a are bored from the outside of a cabinet to the workspace to form openings 7 for the insertion of worker's hands and articles. The intermediate layer 9a has lower pressure than that of the workspace 3 and than that of the outside of the cabinet. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a safety cabinet, and more particularly, to a safety cabinet that prevents disasters caused by handling of microorganisms, pathogens, etc. in industrial fields that handle viruses such as medicine and pharmaceuticals.

Conventionally, when handling viruses and developing / manufacturing vaccines, while preventing outside air dust from entering the work space and preventing workers from being infected with the handled viruses, biohazard safety cabinets, glove boxes, isolators, etc. A device that physically isolates human / environment and biological materials / pathogens is used. When these devices change the virus to be used, it is necessary to decontaminate (gas sterilization) the inside of the device once so that the virus handled so far does not affect the next virus to be handled. In order to perform decontamination, it is necessary to completely seal the working space of the apparatus and to fill the decontamination gas. Therefore, these work processes are not a biohazard class II cabinet having an opening on the front surface, and it is not necessary to seal the device using a special tool at the time of decontamination, and the work space is already a closed system. A glove box, a sealed isolator, or the like may be used (Patent Documents 1 and 2).
Japanese Patent No. 3683744 JP 2000-343479 A

  The prior art isolator is covered with a case for sealing a work space. When the work space needs to be aseptic, a part of the sealed case is opened, and clean air is supplied to the work space from there. The operator inserts his hand into a glove formed of neoprene rubber, natural rubber, etc. provided on the front surface of the sealed case, and operates the experimental instrument placed inside the work space through the glove.

  The isolator according to the prior art has a drawback in that an experiment is performed through a rubber glove formed with a thickness of about 0.4 to 0.6 mm. In recent years, medical laboratory equipment has been digitized, and fine switch operation of the electronic equipment must be performed through a glove.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a safety cabinet that physically separates the work space from the outside without using a thick grope like a glove box and can easily seal the work space at the time of decontamination. There is to do.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is configured as follows. One or more surfaces forming the work space of the safety cabinet are formed in duplicate, and the pressure in the double-formed wall surface is lower than the work space and lower than the pressure around the isolator. The doubly formed wall surface is provided with an opening through which a hand can be inserted into the work space. The through hole is provided with a sealing cover having a size covering the through hole.

  That is, the present invention provides a safety cabinet having a case surrounding a work space and provided with a window for looking into the work space, and having an intermediate layer formed by doubling one or more wall surfaces surrounding the work space. And an opening is provided in the wall of the intermediate layer so as to penetrate the work space from the outside of the cabinet and allow an operator to insert a hand or an article, and the pressure in the intermediate layer is greater than that in the work space. A safety cabinet that is low and lower than the outside of the cabinet.

  Further, the present invention provides a first air cleaning means and a blowing means for supplying clean air to the work space to the work space, and a second air that discharges the air in the work space and creates a negative pressure in the work space. It is a safety cabinet having air cleaning means and air blowing means.

  And this invention is a safety cabinet which has the duct connected with the said intermediate | middle layer, and the 3rd air purifying means and ventilation means connected with this duct.

  Furthermore, this invention is a safety cabinet which provides a connection port part in the said work space wall surface, and this connection port part can be connected with the connection port part provided in the work space wall surface of another safety cabinet.

  Moreover, this invention is a safety cabinet which provided the hook metal fitting in the entrance of the opening part provided in the said work space wall surface.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the safe cabinet with sufficient operativity which does not use a thick glove can be obtained.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described.
An embodiment of the safety cabinet of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, although a safety cabinet is demonstrated in an Example, it is the same also with a glove box, an isolator, etc.

  Example 1 will be described. 1a and 1b are a partial cross-sectional structural view and a side cross-sectional view of a safety cabinet according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The work space 3 is surrounded by a main body case 1 a of the safety cabinet 1. A viewing window 24 is formed in front of the main body case 1a so that an operator can look into the work space 3. An air supply HEPA filter 5 is connected to one surface of the work space 3, and dust in the outside air is removed by the duct 28 and the blower 6 surrounding the air supply HEPA filter 5, and aseptic air is removed from the work space 3. To supply. Further, an exhaust HEPA filter 4 is connected to the other same or other surface of the work space 3, and air in the work space 3 is discharged to the outside by a duct 28 and a blower 6 surrounding the exhaust HEPA filter 4. . At this time, bacteria / viruses 10 in the work space 3 are collected by the exhaust HEPA filter 4, and clean air is discharged outside the work space 3.

  An experimental device 2 such as a work table or a centrifuge is arranged in the work space 3, and an operator inserts a hand into the work space 3 through an opening 7 provided in the front of the safety cabinet 1, and performs an experiment. Do work.

  A front intermediate layer 9a is provided on the work space 3 side of the wall of the work space wall surface 8 provided with the opening 7, and a work space wall surface 8 is further formed on the work space 3 side. With this configuration, the front intermediate layer 9a is surrounded by the double-work space wall surface 8. A through hole 7a is formed on the outside of the double work space wall surface 8 and on the work space 3 side so as to penetrate the intermediate layer 9a, so that the operator's arm can be inserted during work.

  The front intermediate layer 9a is connected to the duct 28 via a side intermediate layer 9b formed on the side surface of the work space 3. Bacteria and viruses 10 are removed from the air inside the front intermediate layer 9 a by the exhaust HEPA filter 4 provided in the duct 28, and the air is discharged out of the safety cabinet 1.

  Since the air inside the front intermediate layer 9 a is discharged to the outside air through the exhaust HEPA filter 4, the pressure inside the safety cabinet 1 is lower than the outside of the safety cabinet 1. And by making the pressure inside the front intermediate layer 9a lower than that of the work space 3, the pressure C of the outside air 12, the pressure B of the work space 8, and the pressure A of the front intermediate layer 9a are lowered in this order.

  FIG. 1c is a front intermediate layer structure diagram of the safety cabinet according to the first embodiment of the present invention. An operator inserts an arm into the through hole 7 a from the front of the safety cabinet 1 and performs work in the work space 3. The glove 19 used at this time is not a thick glove attached to a glove box, but a thin glove 19 used for an operation in a biohazard experiment or the like. At this time, the air flow from the outside of the apparatus enters the front intermediate layer 9a through the through hole 7a, and the air in the work space 3 passes through the through hole 7a on the work space 3 side. 9a will be entered. With this configuration, air barriers 25 are respectively formed in both through holes 7a, making it difficult for air from the front intermediate layer 9a to enter the work space 3, and to prevent air from the front intermediate layer 9a from coming out of the apparatus. Thus, the inside of the work space 3 and the outside of the apparatus are separated.

  With the above configuration, it is possible to operate the device 2 in the work space 3 by using the thin glove 19 that transmits the sense of the fingertip, and the air barrier 25 can isolate the inside and outside of the work space 3 from each other. It becomes.

  FIG. 2 is a sealed structural view of the safety cabinet according to the first embodiment of the present invention. An airtight valve 17 is provided on the windward side of the air supply HEPA filter 5. Also. An airtight valve 17 is also provided on the leeward side of the exhaust HEPA filter 4. In order to decontaminate the interior of the safety cabinet 1 (gas sterilization), the air supply side and the discharge side are sealed by closing these two airtight valves 17. An opening cover 18 is attached to the opening 7 into which a hand is inserted for work. Since the opening 7 is used only for inserting a hand, the size is about φ160 to 200 mm. By attaching the opening cover 18 to the opening 7, the inside of the safety cabinet 1 can be sealed. The opening cover 18 may be attached by fixing the opening cover 18 with tape at the time of decontamination because the pressure inside the safety cabinet 1 does not increase so much at the time of decontamination. When the method of fixing with a tape is troublesome, a dedicated screw is attached and the opening cover 18 is formed so as to be removable. In Class II cabinets with an opening of about 200mm in height in the lateral direction on the front, it is difficult to easily seal the inside of the device, so there are cases where treatment such as covering the entire device with vinyl is performed at the time of decontamination, In the present embodiment, the inside of the safety cabinet can be sealed by closing only the local opening, so that the decontamination work is easy.

  A second embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a system structure diagram using the safety cabinet according to the second embodiment of the present invention. One of the safety cabinets 1 having an opening 7 on the front is provided with an opening on the wall surface. Further, a connection port portion is provided in a part of the sealed work space of the adjacent safety cabinet 16, and the connection port portion of the safety cabinet 1 and the connection port portion of the adjacent safety cabinet 16 are connected by the connection portion 26. The apparatus is configured to share the work space 3 of the adjacent safety cabinet 16.

  The safety cabinet 1 maintains the isolation performance by the air barrier of the opening 7 and places importance on the workability of the hand, but when the glove 19 delivered into the work space 3 is taken out of the apparatus, it touches other objects. Prior to sterilization it is necessary. This is to prevent contact infection caused by the bacteria / virus 10 attached to the gloves. In the case of the adjacent safety cabinet 16, since the glove 11 is attached to the adjacent safety cabinet 16 and the inside is sealed, there is no possibility that the bacteria / viruses 10 inside will come out. With this configuration, it is possible to use two devices at suitable places depending on the degree of infection in the work process and the operability of the experiment. Since the work space 3 is connected inside, it is possible to deliver experimental materials.

  A third embodiment will be described. 4a and 4b are a partial cross-sectional structural view and a side cross-sectional view of a safety cabinet according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The front intermediate layer 9 a is connected to an intermediate exhaust duct 13 formed on the side surface of the work space 3. An exhaust HEPA filter 15 is disposed in the intermediate layer exhaust duct 13, and after removing the bacteria / viruses 10, the intermediate layer air is discharged outside the apparatus.

  In this configuration, an intermediate layer exhaust fan 14 is provided separately from the exhaust fan 6. As a result, the pressure B in the work space 3 can be controlled by the blower 6, and the pressure A in the intermediate layer can be controlled by the intermediate layer exhaust duct 14. As a result, the pressure A of the intermediate layer can be lowered regardless of other pressures, so that the air barrier 25 can be strengthened.

  In the configuration of FIG. 4, when the strength of the output of the intermediate layer exhaust fan 14 and the foot switch (not shown) are interlocked, the arm can be put in and out of the opening 7, and the air barrier 25 may collapse. As a result, it is possible to increase the output of the intermediate layer exhaust fan 14 and control the air barrier 25 to be strengthened.

  Example 4 will be described. FIG. 5A is a detailed view of a state in which a wall intermediate layer through hole and an arm are inserted in a safety cabnet according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. A glove hook metal fitting 20 is formed near the hand insertion portion of the opening 7.

  FIG. 5b is a detailed view of the wall cabinet intermediate layer through-hole and arm pull-out state of the safety cabinet according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. When the gloves 19 are delivered to the work space 3, there is a possibility that bacteria / viruses 10 adhere to the surface of the gloves 19. If the hand is pulled out as it is, the bacteria / virus 10 on the surface of the glove 19 may be scattered again. Therefore, in this embodiment, when inserting another, the end of the glove 19 is hung on the hook metal fitting 20, so that when putting out the hand, the glove 19 is turned over and the used glove 19 is kept sealed with the bacteria / virus 10 sealed. It becomes possible to exhaust.

  As described in the present embodiment, the present invention isolates the working space from the outside without using a thick glove, prevents infection, and improves the operability of the experiment and sealing workability during decontamination (gas sterilization). A good safety cabinet such as a biohazard countermeasure isolator can be obtained.

The partial cross section structure figure of the safety cabinet which is 1st Embodiment. Side surface sectional drawing of the safety cabinet which is 1st Embodiment. The front intermediate layer structure figure of the safety cabinet which is 1st Embodiment. The sealing structure figure of the safety cabinet which is 1st Embodiment. The system structure figure of the safety cabinet which is 2nd Embodiment. The partial cross section structure figure of the safety cabinet which is 3rd Embodiment. Side surface sectional drawing of the safety cabinet which is 3rd Embodiment. The wall surface intermediate | middle layer through-hole of a safety cabinet which is 4th Embodiment, and an arm insertion state detailed drawing. The wall surface intermediate | middle layer through-hole of the safety cabinet which is 4th Embodiment, and an arm drawer state detailed drawing.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Safety cabinet 1a ... Main body case 2 ... Work table (device)
3 ... Work space 4 ... HEPA filter 5 for exhaust air ... HEPA filter 6 for air supply ... Blower 7 ... Opening portion 7a ... Through hole 8 ... Work space wall surface 9a ... Front intermediate layer 9b ... Side intermediate layer 10 ... Bacteria / virus 11 ... Globe 12 ... Outside air 13 ... Intermediate layer exhaust duct 14 ... Intermediate layer exhaust fan 15 ... HEPA filter 16 for intermediate layer exhaust ... Glove box 17 ... Airtight valve 18 ... Cover 19 for opening 19 ... Glove 20 ... Glove hook 21 ... Foot switch 22 ... Airflow 23 ... Outside air dust 24 ... Peeping window 25 ... Air barrier 26 ... Connecting portion 27 ... Arm 28 ... Duct

Claims (5)

In a safety cabinet having a case that encloses a work space and has a window that looks into the work space,
It has an intermediate layer formed by duplicating one or more of the wall surfaces surrounding the work space, and an operator's hand or article is inserted through the wall surface of the intermediate layer from the outside of the cabinet to the work space. A safety cabinet characterized in that an opening is provided, and the pressure in the intermediate layer is lower than in the work space and lower than the outside of the cabinet. The safety cabinet of claim 1,
First air cleaning means and blowing means for supplying clean air to the working space, and second air cleaning means and blowing means for discharging the air in the working space and making the inside of the working space have a negative pressure And a safety cabinet. The safety cabinet according to claim 1 or 2,
A safety cabinet comprising a duct connected to the intermediate layer, and a third air cleaning means and a blower means connected to the duct. The safety cabinet according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 3,
A safety cabinet characterized in that a connection port portion is provided on the wall surface of the work space, and the connection port portion is connectable with a connection port portion provided on a work space wall surface of another safety cabinet. The safety cabinet according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 3,
A safety cabinet, wherein a hook is provided at an entrance of an opening provided on the wall surface of the work space.

Images