NL1029937C2 - Transportable insulation system, method for the temporary insulation of spaces and an assembly of a mobile insulation system and a space to be insulated. - Google Patents

Description

Title: Mobile insulation system, method for the temporary insulation of spaces and an assembly of a mobile insulation system and a room to be insulated.

The invention relates to a movable isolation system with which possible infections can be prevented, wherein a temporary entrance space is provided, provided with a control device for adjusting the pressure and / or composition of the air in the entrance space, wherein the isolation system is arranged for application to an existing space to be insulated.

The invention further relates to a method for temporarily isolating spaces.

The invention further relates to an assembly of a movable insulation system and a space to be insulated.

Special isolation rooms are known for strict or protective isolation of patients in hospitals. This can prevent a patient or his environment from being infected. This is regulated with the help of pressure differences in different rooms. In the case of strict isolation of patients suspected of being infected, the air pressure in an entrance room should be higher than in the isolation room so that potentially infected substances in the isolation room do not escape to the outside. A treating physician can enter the isolation room with the help of the entrance room without infected air / substances escaping outside. In the case of protective insulation, the pressure in the isolation room is higher than the pressure in the entrance room and / or the outside air, so that air will not enter just like that that could infect the patient. With these known facilities, the air entering and / or leaving the entrance is also filtered. In essence, this information is also described in the document "Building and fitting requirements 102 9 ¢ 3 7 2 insulation department, Building insulation rooms" from December 2004 of the Dutch Workingparty Infection Prevention, which can be found at http://www.wip.nl. document is deemed to be incorporated herein by reference

Temporary insulation systems are also known. With this a 5 patient room is temporarily converted into an isolation room. This can have the advantage that it is not necessary to rely solely on the special isolation rooms in hospitals, which are often scarce and may not be equipped with the desirable aids. For example, an inflatable lock, with which in principle a lock is created, is connected to an entrance of a room to be insulated so that it is converted from a patient room to an isolation room. One such isolation system is the Banier 2000, intended for single use in hospitals, so that patients can in principle be isolated in every ward. A comparable system is, for example, a temporary disinfection lock, also called an IDPD-Unit (Inflatable Disposable Portable)

Decontamination - Unit), within which various relative lower and upper pressure spaces are arranged and also equipped with shower installations. These locks are shown on the website www.imgeurope.nl. After use, such locks, or at least a part thereof, are discarded.

A disadvantage of such known insulation systems is that they are no longer suitable for higher insulation requirements because potentially infectious air could still spread through other openings in the patient room to be isolated. For example, infections could be spread via the ventilation shaft to neighboring patient rooms or escape through windows and the like. Furthermore, it is not easy to provide protective insulation with the existing temporary systems.

An object of the invention is to provide a high-quality movable isolation system for existing patient rooms that advantageously prevents the spread of infections and controls the air flows.

This object and other objects are achieved with the movable isolation system according to the invention with which possible infections can be prevented, wherein a temporary entrance space is provided, provided with a control device for adjusting the pressure and / or composition of the air in the entrance space, respectively. , wherein the isolation system is adapted for application to an existing room to be insulated, wherein the isolation system is provided with a movable second control device, which is provided with air-through means from and / or to an area outside the entrance room and outside said existing room space.

The insulation system according to the invention is applied quickly, simply and removably to existing spaces that previously fulfilled a different function. These existing spaces may preferably be patient spaces in hospitals, since hospitals are pre-eminently equipped for the treatment of infected patients. However, it should be clear that in principle many types of rooms can be equipped with a system according to the invention, for example parts of different types of nursing homes, care homes, chain, containers, schools, residential homes, flats, army bases, camps, laboratories, research centers, etc. In this context, particular consideration can be given to all cases where ad how insulation spaces should be provided because insulation rooms that have already been set up are not available.

In this description, the words infection, infectious, contamination, and the like refer to the transfer of in principle undesirable substances by means of air flows. More specifically, it relates to the transferability of microorganisms to humans and / or animals. There may be viruses, bacteria and / or contamination, etc., however, this should not be explained in any way to a limited extent.

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In this description, movable and / or removable is understood to mean that the movable insulation system can be relatively easily dismantled and rebuilt, with which the isolated space can in principle again fulfill the function it previously had.

5 This naturally applies in the first instance to the normal use of the device and the space. It may be that an insulation system according to the invention is initially arranged for temporary use but is no longer removed / dismantled for a long time. This type of use is also considered to fall within the framework of the invention.

A system according to the invention provides a temporary entrance room with a pressure and filtering device as described above. Such a temporary entrance space is, for example, the both movable and disposable Barrier 2000, but it is also possible, for example, to design an already existing intermediate space as a pressure or cq.

filter space, wherein it is for instance provided with a movable control device. The entrance space can also contain a disinfection zone, and several spaces for relative under and top pressure with, for example, several control devices such as, for example, the IDPD-Unit. It will be clear that many types of temporary entrance spaces are suitable within the framework of the invention.

It has been found that with known devices undesired air flows with possibly infectious microorganisms still spread through ventilation holes or passages such as windows, single glass, porous walls, crevices, cracks and the like into neighboring spaces or the outside air. Therefore, a system according to the invention provides a displaceable second control device which in a controlled manner deflects air, which for instance possibly carries infectious substances with it. For this purpose, passage means direct the air between the room to be insulated, for example an existing patient room, and an outside area, for example the outside air, whereby the risk of infection diminishes. The outside area comprises, for example, the outside air, a corridor, another room in a building, a filter compartment, via which compartment the air is for instance passed through to the ventilation system, etc. The second control device is easy to apply and to dismantle, so that it is movable and may be suitable for reuse, for example for other spaces that must be temporarily set up as an insulation space. With the aid of such a control device according to the invention, it is controlled in a controlled manner that with protective isolation a patient to be isolated or with strict isolation his environment is infected and many types of already existing spaces, originally fulfilling a different function, can be configured as isolation spaces .

By also providing the movable second control device, which is placed in or near the space to be insulated, with a pressure control, the pressure in the space to be insulated can be regulated separately from the pressure of the outside environment. This makes the desired pressure difference between the room to be insulated and the outdoor spaces more precise and more efficient. For protective insulation, for example, the pressure in the entrance space is increased relative to the outside spaces, while the pressure in the space to be insulated is further increased by the second control device.

In addition, desired underpressure can be created in the room to be insulated for strict insulation, whereby the entrance space is also kept under underpressure that is less than the underpressure in the room to be insulated. The desired insulation conditions can also be achieved with the control devices without a partition wall, for example a sail or a door or the like, being necessary for that purpose. In such a case, the entrance space and the space to be insulated are determined by the pressure differences. With the aforementioned ad how measures are controlled insulation achieved in a previously 6 'conventional' patient room or another room whose function was previously different from isolation room.

It is also advantageous to provide the second control device with second filters, so that the air which is conducted from or to the isolation chamber 5, respectively outwards or inwards, is suitably stripped of undesirable transferable components. For example, in the case of strict insulation, potentially infectious air can be passed through to the outside air via the second filter.

For supplying and / or discharging air to and / or from the chamber to be insulated, the feed-through means are provided with hoses, tubes and / or guides etc. with which the air can be guided past the filters and pressure systems, for instance towards the outside air. To this end, it is advantageous that flexible hoses and / or intermediate pieces and / or bend pieces are provided so that air can be conducted via the desired passage. In a preferred embodiment, for example, in the case of strict insulation, the air is led with a hose system in the direction of, for example, a ventilation hole or passage or the like, for which purpose the hose system is coupled to an airtight connection for the relevant ventilation hole. In this description, a ventilation hole can in principle comprise any air passage, such as a ventilation grille to the outside, a window or a crack, etc. In many cases, for example when applying the present invention to an existing patient room in a hospital, the ventilation hole will comprise a window.

In order to prevent rain or wind from being able to influence the second control device from outside, in a preferred embodiment the connection is provided with a valve. This valve prevents gusts of wind and / or rain or the like that threaten to come into the connection from outside air.

The connection to a ventilation hole can be arranged with the aid of a flexible fixation frame arranged for this purpose. This fixation frame is 7 adapted for airtight connection to several types of substrate and / or ventilation holes. In one embodiment, a substantially airtight coupling piece is also provided with which the hose system, the tubes or guides, etc. is coupled to the connection in a simple and airtight manner. The coupling piece can for instance be arranged in the form of a flange package. In this way a very quickly buildable insulation system for existing spaces is achieved that greatly reduces the risk of infection. The transit means can also be installed in a simple manner.

Because spaces are often provided with several ventilation holes such as, for example, entrances, windows or connections to ventilation systems, an insulation system according to the invention is also provided with covers. If an opening of a ventilation system opens into a patient room to be insulated, it can advantageously be covered with a system according to the invention with which the possibly present infectious substances in the air do not end up in the ventilation system. This prevents the risk of infection for other patients present, since the ventilation system often connects several patient rooms or at least is not separated for each separate room or room. Other 'holes' or 'cracks' can also be covered so that infectious substances cannot find their way into neighboring spaces. In the case of protective insulation, it goes without saying that the covers prevent the passage of infectious substances to the isolation chamber. It is also advantageous to control the pressure difference within the space to be insulated in order to apply the covers to ventilation holes.

In an embodiment according to the invention, second feed-through means are also provided for circulating or supplying air while maintaining the air pressure, or the air pressure difference. Thus, the air in the patient room 30 to be insulated is advantageously refreshed. A third filter can also be provided for this purpose. Moreover, the second transit means can optionally be combined with the first transit means.

In one embodiment the invention according to the invention is controlled by electronic means, wherein the control panel can advantageously be positioned outside the space to be insulated. This allows a specialist to conveniently control and / or read the air condition (pressure, composition of air, etc.) in the room to be insulated without having to enter the room to be insulated. For this purpose, the control panel could for instance be provided with wireless connection -10 / connecting means with the electronic control system. The control panel can of course also provide information about the entire state of the insulation system, both of the entrance area and the insulation room.

In an advantageous embodiment according to the invention the entrance space comprises an already existing movable and / or disposable lock.

Said object and / or other objects are also achieved with a method according to the invention, for temporarily insulating spaces, wherein the pressure in a temporary entrance space is controlled relative to at least one space to be insulated, which entrance space provides access to the or a space to be insulated, wherein air is also passed between the space to be insulated and an outer area with the aid of a movable second control device.

Said object and / or other objects are furthermore achieved with an assembly of an insulation system according to one of claims 1 to 14 and a space to be insulated according to the invention.

To clarify the invention, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawing. It shows:

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of an application of a movable insulation system according to the invention;

FIG. 2 a sketch of a displaceable lock according to the invention; 9

FIG. 3 is a schematic top view with pressure differences indicated therein in a case of strict insulation;

FIG. 4 is a schematic top view with pressure differences indicated therein in a case of protective insulation; FIG. 5 is a perspective sketchy representation of a temporary isolation chamber according to the invention.

These embodiments shown should not be construed as limiting in any way. In this description, the same or corresponding parts have the same or corresponding reference numerals.

In cases where it is necessary to prevent certain microorganisms from entering or leaving a particular room due to air currents, insulation chambers are set up, as described, for example, and shown diagrammatically in the document "Construction and design requirements for the insulation department, already cited in this text, Construction of insulation rooms "from December 15, 2004, of the Infection Prevention Working Group, which is considered to be incorporated herein by reference.

Various forms of insulation apply to the present invention. Strict and protective insulation will be discussed in this figure description. In the case of strict insulation 20, the pressure in a patient room will be lower than the prevailing pressure in the surrounding outer area. In this way it is prevented in principle that air flows with potentially infectious organisms flow from the patient room to the outside area.

In the case of protective insulation, the patient will be protected from the environment. Hereby it is prevented that air flows from outside area into the patient room due to relatively high pressure in the patient room.

In both cases, by effecting a pressure difference between a patient room 2 and an outer area 9, 10, 11 and / or between a patient room 2 and a displaceable lock 8, the transfer of infectious microorganisms through air flows 5, 6 , 7 prevented. These elements are shown diagrammatically in Figure 1. In general, this will be referred to as isolation room 2, which refers to the patient room 2 that is temporarily arranged as isolation room 2.

Both with strict and protective insulation, a physician should be able to visit the isolated patient in the temporary isolation room 2 while maintaining the insulating conditions. In the case shown, a doctor will enter the isolation room 2 by opening up access 12, for example by opening door 13. The risk could arise that a change of air flows 5, 6, 7 would occur. In order to counteract this risk, a displaceable lock 8 is provided in an embodiment according to the invention. An embodiment of such a lock 8 is shown in Figure 2. Example of pressure differences that can occur between corridor 11, lock 8, isolation chamber 2 and outside air 10 are shown in Figures 3 and 4.

As described above, despite the pressure difference between sluice 8 and isolation chamber 2, an air flow change could take place upon opening of access 12. To prevent infectious substances from flowing between corridor 11 and sluice 8, a pressure difference is made in the sluice 8 relative to the corridor 11 with the aid of first control device 14. The first control device 14 is provided with pressure means 15 and first filter system 16, wherein the pressure means 15 allow an upper or lower pressure in the lock 8 and the first filter system 16 can control the air in the lock 8 to change. This prevents unwanted air flows as much as possible and the air in the lock 8 can be kept clean. If an air flow change takes place between the lock 8 and the isolation chamber 2 and / or between the lock 8 and corridor 11, the air flows will be relatively clean. The lock 8 and first control device 14 are displaceable, so that in principle every patient room 2, 9 can be arranged with this. The lock 8 can also comprise a disinfection lock or any other type of lock that is movably connectable to isolation chamber 2.

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The movable lock 8 can be arranged in several ways. Two examples of such locks are the Barrier 2000 and the IDPD Unit of IMG Europe. It is also possible that a lock 8 is created by providing the first control device 14 with an already present, not shown, gap between, for example, a corridor 11 and isolation chamber 2. Multiple ad hoc locks 8 are possible within the framework of the invention.

As shown in figure 5, the movable isolation system 1 at patient room 2 is provided with a movable second control device 17. This second control device 17 is provided with a pressure control 18, a second filter system 19 and feed-through means 20 · 24. With the pressure control 18 the pressure can in the isolation room 2. For this purpose the pressure control 18 is connected to feed-through means 20 - 24 which feed the air between the control device and the window. If the pressure in the isolation chamber 2 is to be increased, outside air 10 is sucked in via the feed-through means 20 - 24 and if the pressure is to be lowered, air can be discharged from the chamber 2 through feed-through means 20 - 24. To prevent infectious air from being led in or out via the second control device 17, it is provided with a second filter system 19. Thus, relatively clean air can be supplied and / or discharged.

In the embodiment shown, the feed-through means 20 - 24 comprise hoses 21, 23, coupling pieces 22, window connection 20 and a valve (not shown). It will be clear that the window connection 20 must be made as air-tight as possible so that no undesired air flows arise at the edge of the connection 20. To this end, the window connection 20 is designed in a preferred embodiment with a flexible fixation frame 24. With the aid of this flexible fixation frame 24, the connection 20 can be adapted for several types of windows or other types of ventilation holes. Within the window of the invention, the fixation frame 24 is suitable when the window is removed or opened inwards or outwards.

The connection 20 is provided with a spout or hose 23, with at the end a coupling piece 22a in the form of a flange coupling 22a.

The window connection 20 can hereby be coupled in a simple and airtight manner by means of a second flange coupling 22b and a second hose 21 to the second control device 17.

In order to prevent gusts of wind or rain from being able to influence the second control device 17, the connection in a preferred embodiment is provided with a valve. This valve is not shown in the figures, it will be clear to the skilled person that it can be fitted, for example, in the hose 23 or, for example, in the middle of the fixation frame 24.

Figure 5 shows a configuration in which the movable second control device 17 is placed more or less inside the space of the isolation chamber 2. It will be clear that it is quite possible to arrange at least a part of the second control device 17 outside the insulation space 2. Possibly even the entire control device 17 can be arranged on the outside of the chamber 2, for example against the wall.

In order to prevent undesired air flows inwards or outwards, the movable insulation system 1 is provided with a plurality of covers 25. These covers 25 prevent any undesired air flows outside the second control device 17. In a preferred embodiment, a cover 25a is arranged for a passage of a ventilation system. In the case of strict isolation, through this passage undesired microorganisms carrying air streams could be directed to other patient rooms. In the case of protective insulation, an unwanted microorganism bearing air stream could enter here. With the cover 25a this becomes 13! prevented and with the movable second control device 17 it is made possible for air flows to be controlled and controlled outside the ventilation system. Also, for example, covers 25b, 25c can be provided for windows, ventilation grilles to the outside, etc.

As shown in Fig. 5, second transit means 26 are provided in the isolation chamber 2 for supplying fresh air. In the case of strict insulation, fresh air can hereby be supplied, for example from a corridor 11. In the case of protective insulation, for example, the second transit means 26 are provided with a third filter system (not shown) to prevent the supply of potentially infectious air. For controlling this supplied air, the second feed-through means 26 can be connected or integrated with the first or second control device 14, 17. The second feed-through means 26 can also be connected to an outer area 10, 11.

The movable isolation system 1 is provided with an electronic control system 27 and a control panel 28, with which the system 1 can be controlled and held in the correct position. All elements of the system 1 can be controlled. This therefore applies, for example, to the pressure controls, the filter systems, the air flows, etc. for, for example, both the lock 8 and the displaceable control system 17. This can be done by means of an algorithm wherein, for example, sensors are also provided in the system 1 and the system 1 in desired optionally pre-programmed positions are held, the different elements being held in the correct position relative to each other and the environment. The system can also be controlled manually via a control panel 28. Hereby it is advantageous if the control panel 28 is arranged outside the isolation room 2, so that a doctor can control and check the situation in the isolation room with little effort.

1029937 14

The invention is in no way limited to the embodiments shown or described. Many variations and combinations are considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

5 1029937

Claims (28)

1. A movable isolation system with which possible infections can be prevented, wherein a temporary entrance space is provided, provided with a control device for adjusting the pressure and / or composition of the air in the entrance space, wherein the isolation system is adapted for application to a isolating existing space, wherein the isolation system is provided with a movable second control device, which is provided with air-through means from and / or to an area outside the entrance space and outside said existing space. 10 Insulation system according to claim 1, wherein the second control device is provided with a pressure control. 3. Isolation system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second control device is provided with a second filter. Insulation system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the feed-through means are provided with a connection, preferably provided with a valve, for a ventilation hole. 20 Insulation system according to claim 4, wherein the connection comprises a flexible fixation frame for airtight connection. 6. Insulation system according to any of claims 4-5, wherein the second control device is provided with a coupling piece for coupling the feed-through means to the connection. 102 9 9 3 7 Insulation system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein covers are provided, preferably corresponding to ventilation holes in the space to be insulated. 8. Insulation system as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein second passage means are provided for passing air between the space to be insulated and an outside area. 9. Insulation system according to claim 8, wherein the second transit means are provided with a third filter. 10. Insulation system as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, provided with an electronic control system with a control panel and connecting means for controlling at least the second control device. 11. Insulation system according to claim 10, wherein the connecting means are adapted for mounting the control panel outside the space to be insulated. 20 12. Insulation system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the entrance space comprises a lock 13. Isolation system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the room to be insulated comprises a patient room in a hospital. 14. Method for temporarily insulating spaces, wherein the pressure in a temporary entrance space is regulated relative to at least one space to be insulated, which entrance space provides access to the space or a space to be insulated, whereby air is also passed between the 102 99 17_ isolate space and an outside area with the aid of a movable second control device. 15. Method according to claim 14, wherein the air supplied is filtered. A method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the temporary entrance space is placed at a space to be insulated. A method according to any one of claims 14-16, wherein the temporary entrance room is placed at a patient room. 18. Method as claimed in any of the claims 14-17, wherein the pressure of the space to be insulated relative to the outside area and / or the entrance space 15 is regulated. The method of any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein ventilation holes in communication with the space to be insulated are covered. 20 A method according to any one of claims 14-19, wherein the air flows in the existing space are controlled and at least | properties thereof are read at a distance from the isolate! space, preferably near the entrance space. 25 An assembly of a movable insulation system according to any one of claims 1 to 14 and a space to be insulated. 22. Assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein the space to be insulated is in communication with the second movable control device. J02 99 J7 j An assembly according to any one of claims 21 - 22, wherein the feed-through means are coupled to at least one ventilation hole, preferably a window, with the aid of the connection. 5 An assembly according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the temporary entrance space is coupled to an access to the space to be insulated. 25. Assembly as claimed in any of the claims 21-24, wherein 10 ventilation holes of the space to be insulated are covered with covers. An assembly according to any one of claims 21 - 25, wherein the space to be insulated is provided with movable second passage means for passing air between the space to be insulated and an outer area. 15 27. An assembly according to any one of claims 21-26, wherein the control panel is arranged outside the space to be insulated. 28. Assembly as claimed in any of the claims 21-27, wherein the room to be insulated comprises a room that previously functioned as a patient room in a hospital. 1029937