US20070130844A1 - Isolation Shelter Pressurized to Avoid Transfer of Contaminants Between an Isolation Space and the Outside Environment - Google Patents
Isolation Shelter Pressurized to Avoid Transfer of Contaminants Between an Isolation Space and the Outside Environment Download PDFInfo
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- US20070130844A1 US20070130844A1 US11/554,844 US55484406A US2007130844A1 US 20070130844 A1 US20070130844 A1 US 20070130844A1 US 55484406 A US55484406 A US 55484406A US 2007130844 A1 US2007130844 A1 US 2007130844A1
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- space
- isolation
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H9/00—Buildings, groups of buildings or shelters adapted to withstand or provide protection against abnormal external influences, e.g. war-like action, earthquake or extreme climate
- E04H9/16—Buildings, groups of buildings or shelters adapted to withstand or provide protection against abnormal external influences, e.g. war-like action, earthquake or extreme climate against adverse conditions, e.g. extreme climate, pests
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H1/00—Buildings or groups of buildings for dwelling or office purposes; General layout, e.g. modular co-ordination or staggered storeys
- E04H1/12—Small buildings or other erections for limited occupation, erected in the open air or arranged in buildings, e.g. kiosks, waiting shelters for bus stops or for filling stations, roofs for railway platforms, watchmen's huts or dressing cubicles
- E04H1/125—Small buildings, arranged in other buildings
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to an isolation shelter or a clean room containing an isolation space and, more particularly, pressurizing an isolation shelter or a clean room containing an isolation space to prevent, or substantially prevent, escape of contaminants from the isolation space to the external environment and entry of contaminants from the external environment into the isolation space.
- the healthcare community needs to have the capability to isolate a large number of patients, and to quarantine a large number of suspected infected patients, to prevent the spread of the disease.
- the current WHO estimate is that a pandemic, such as may be associated with the avian flu, could result in millions of deaths unless adequate quarantine, isolation and treatment are available.
- the civilian healthcare community cannot function with the large number of infectious patients that could occur during a bioterrorist attack, such as smallpox, or a natural pandemic, such as avian flu.
- An isolation shelter which may be in the form of a building, room, tent or other like structure and defines an enclosed space, is typically used by the healthcare community to isolate patients.
- the enclosed space of the shelter for example, can be maintained at a pressure exceeding the pressure outside the shelter (“positive pressure”), such as by supplying more HEPA and/or charcoal filtered air into the shelter than the air being vented or leaking from the shelter.
- the positive pressure prevents or substantially prevents airborne toxic contaminates or vapors in the external environment from entering the shelter.
- civilians within the enclosed space of an isolation shelter are isolated from any toxic vapor or biological/radiological particulate contamination existing outside of the shelter.
- infected patients are isolated in the enclosed space of an isolation shelter which is maintained at a pressure that is less than the pressure of the outside environment (“negative pressure”).
- the negative pressure prevents or substantially prevents any airborne biological contaminate within the shelter from escaping to the external environment. Negative pressure is typically created by removing more air from the enclosed space than is supplied to and/or leaks into the enclosed space.
- the air within a negative pressure shelter may be filtered with a HEPA filter having, for example, a filtration efficiency of 99.99% for >0.3 micron particles at a rate of at least 12 air exchanges per hour.
- an isolation shelter that prevents or substantially prevents contaminants in the environment outside of the shelter from entering an enclosed space defined within the shelter and, in turn, contaminating people or objects contained within the enclosed space; and that prevents or substantially prevents airborne contaminants generated by infectious patients or objects contained within the enclosed space from escaping the shelter into the external environment and, in turn, contaminating the environment outside the shelter.
- an isolation shelter includes an inner enclosure defining an isolation space, and an outer enclosure enclosing a sealed region defined at least in part by a structural element contained within the interior of the shelter.
- a sealed space which is partially defined by any portion of the outer enclosure that can become exposed to the environment outside the outer enclosure, in other words, the environment outside the shelter, extends from the outer enclosure into the interior or sealed region of the shelter.
- a portion of the inner enclosure may also define the sealed space.
- the sealed space is at a pressure exceeding the pressure of the environment outside of the shelter, or at a positive pressure.
- the positive pressure in the sealed space prevents or substantially prevents contamination in the environment outside the shelter from entering through the outer enclosure into the sealed space, and then passing from the sealed space into the isolation space directly, or indirectly via an enclosed space(s) disposed intermediate the sealed space and the isolation space.
- the isolation space is at a pressure less than the pressure of the environment of the interior of the shelter outside the inner enclosure, in other words, at a negative pressure in relation to the sealed space or an intermediate enclosed space at the outside of the inner enclosure.
- the negative pressure within the isolation space prevents or substantially prevents contaminants from escaping the isolation space, and then passing through the sealed space, or through an intermediate enclosed space and then the sealed space, to the environment outside the isolation shelter.
- an air blower system including tubing coupled to the sealed space and the isolation space maintains the sealed space and the isolation space under the desired positive and negative pressures, respectively.
- the air blower system preferably filters any air supplied to the isolation shelter, and also filters any air exiting the isolation shelter before its release to the external environment.
- the isolation shelter includes an entry/egress port in a portion of each of an outer wall of the outer enclosure and an inner wall of the inner enclosure.
- an air lock system having re-closable ports, for example, doors, at opposing ends constitutes the entry/egress port at an outer wall of the outer enclosure, and one of the re-closable ports opens into the sealed space and the other of the re-closable ports opens into the environment outside of the isolation shelter.
- an air lock system extends between an entry/egress port in an outer wall of the outer enclosure and an entry/egress port in an inner wall of the inner enclosure, and the opposing re-closable ports, respectively, open to the environment outside of the isolation shelter and within the isolation space.
- the air lock system preferably is maintained at a positive pressure and filters the air contained within, and most preferably is at a pressure slightly less than the pressure outside of the shelter.
- an isolation shelter in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, includes outer walls sealed to each other and a floor to define an outer enclosure, and inner walls sealed to each other and the same floor to define an inner enclosure contained within the outer enclosure.
- the region defined between the outer enclosure and the inner enclosure is a sealed, wall space, and the region defined within the inner enclosure is an isolation space.
- the wall space is maintained under positive pressure in relation to the environment at the outside of the outer enclosure, in other words, outside of the shelter, and the isolation space is maintained under negative pressure in relation to the pressure within the wall space.
- An air blower system coupled to the wall space and the isolation space maintains the respective spaces under the desired positive and negative pressures, respectively.
- FIG. 1A is perspective view of an embodiment of an isolation shelter in accordance with the present invention.
- FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the shelter of FIG. 1A taken along line 1 B- 1 B in FIG. 1A .
- FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of the shelter of FIG. 1A taken along line 1 C- 1 C in FIG. 1A .
- FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the isolation shelter of FIG. 1A in cross-sectional view, as in FIG. 1B , and coupled to an air blower system in accordance with the present invention.
- FIG. 3A is perspective view of another embodiment of an isolation shelter in accordance with the present invention.
- FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the shelter of FIG. 3A taken along line 3 B- 3 B in FIG. 3A .
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an isolation shelter in accordance with the present invention.
- an isolation shelter pressurized to prevent or substantially prevent (i) atmospheric contamination in the environment outside the shelter from entering an isolation space within the shelter, and (ii) airborne contaminants within the isolation space from escaping the isolation shelter into the outside environment, is described in detail below in connection with an isolation shelter whose outside environment is the atmosphere of the earth. It is to be understood that the features of the inventive isolation shelter are similarly applicable to portable containers, clean rooms or other enclosed spaces whose outside environment may be other than the earth's atmosphere.
- FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an isolation shelter 10 , in accordance with the present invention, whose outside environment is the earth's atmosphere.
- the shelter 10 includes five outer walls 12 including four lateral outer walls 12 A and an outer ceiling 12 B; four inner walls 14 including four lateral inner walls 14 A and an inner ceiling 14 B, and a floor 16 .
- the four walls 12 A are sealed to each other at adjacent lateral edges, to the ceiling 12 B at their top edges and to the floor 16 at their bottom edges to form a box-shaped outer enclosure or container 18 enclosing a space 19 .
- the container 18 is an integral unit which includes all of the walls 12 and the seals between the edges of the walls 12 .
- the four walls 14 A are sealed to each other at adjacent lateral edges, to the ceiling 14 B at their top edges, and to a portion of the floor 16 at their bottom edges to form a box-shaped inner enclosure or container 20 enclosing a space 21 .
- the container 20 is an integral unit which includes all of the walls 14 and the seals between the edges of the walls 14 .
- the container 20 is disposed within the sealed interior region of space 19 enclosed by the container 18 .
- the containers 18 and 20 share the same floor 16 in the illustrated embodiment of the shelter 10
- the shelter 10 may be constructed in accordance with the present invention where the flooring to which the walls 12 A are sealed is an independent flooring which is not a part of the flooring to which the bottom edges of the walls 14 B are sealed, and which may or may not be sealed to the flooring to which the walls 14 B are sealed.
- the containers 18 and 20 share wall components.
- a portion of the ceiling forming the container 18 can be the ceiling from which the container 20 is formed.
- Each of the walls 12 and 14 is preferably made of material that is impermeable, or substantially impermeable, to substantially all liquids, solids, such as particulates, and gases, such as air, and can include polymeric material, steel, plaster, or other well known building materials.
- the floor 16 like the walls 12 and 14 , is preferably made of material impermeable, or substantially impermeable, to substantially all liquids, solids and gases.
- the seals between the walls, and the walls and the floor, in the shelter 10 are seals that are preferably impermeable, or substantially impermeable, to substantially all liquids, solids and gases. Consequently, a sealed wall space 26 is defined between the container 18 and the container 20 , and the space or isolation space 21 enclosed by the container 20 is also a sealed space.
- any portion of an outer wall of the outer container 18 that can become exposed to the environment outside of the outer container 18 defines the sealed wall space 26 .
- the earth's atmosphere which is at an ambient pressure, surrounds all portions of the outer container 18 , except for the floor 16 , such that the earth's atmosphere outside the shelter is the environment outside the walls 12 of the outer container 18 .
- the floor 16 is not exposed to the external atmosphere, all five walls 12 of the container 18 are exposed to the outside environment and, therefore, define the wall space 26 .
- the five walls 14 and the portion of the floor 16 extending between the walls 12 A and 14 A also define the wall space 26 .
- the wall space 26 is at a pressure exceeding the pressure of the environment at the outside of the container 18 , or at a positive pressure. Also according to the present invention, the isolation space 21 is at a pressure less than the pressure of the environment of the interior of the shelter 10 outside the inner container 20 . In the illustrated embodiment of the shelter 10 the wall space 26 is the environment at the outside of the container 20 .
- air which is preferably HEPA and/or charcoal filtered air
- the shelter 10 includes doors, windows, or wall cracks in the outer walls 12 through which the pressurized air may leak from the wall space 26 into the environment outside the shelter 10 , air is continuously replenished to the wall space 26 to maintain a positive pressure in the space 26 .
- air which is also preferably HEPA and/or charcoal filtered air
- air is supplied into the isolation space 21 and air is also exhausted from the space 21 .
- air is also exhausted from the isolation space 21 .
- more air is exhausted from the isolation space 21 than returned to the space 21 , so as to maintain a negative pressure in the isolation space 21 .
- the maintenance of positive pressure in the wall space 26 and negative pressure in the isolation space 21 using an air blower system 80 is discussed in detail below in connection with the text accompanying the description of FIG. 2 .
- the shelter 10 includes entry/egress ports 30 and 32 defined in one or more of the inner and outer walls 12 and 14 , respectively.
- the entry/egress ports 30 and 32 can constitute sealed portals through which tubing from an air blower system extends into the shelter 10 and terminates within the spaces 21 or 26 .
- a port can constitute or be a part of an air lock system.
- An air lock system when used in connection with the shelter 10 , provides that individuals can enter and leave the isolation shelter 10 without disrupting the pressurization of the spaces 21 and 26 and, thus, avoids contaminants in the environment outside the shelter 10 from entering the space 26 and contaminants from escaping the space 26 into the environment outside the shelter 10 .
- the use of an air lock system in connection with the shelter 10 is discussed in detail below in connection with text accompanying the description of FIG. 1C .
- FIG. 2 is a schematic, functional block diagram illustration of exemplary interconnections between an air blower system 80 and the spaces 21 and 26 of the isolation shelter 10 , and where the blower system 80 operates to maintain positive air pressure in the wall space 26 and negative air pressure in the isolation space 21 , in accordance with the present invention.
- an air entry pipe 72 extends from within the isolation space 21 , through an opening 32 A in one of the inner walls 14 A, through the wall space 26 and then exits the shelter 10 through an opening 30 A in one of the outer walls 12 A.
- an air exit pipe 74 extends from within the isolation space 21 , through an opening 32 B in one of the inner walls 14 A, through the wall space 26 and then exits the shelter 10 through an opening 30 B in one of the outer walls 12 A.
- an air entry pipe 76 extends from outside the shelter 10 , through an opening 30 C in one of the outer walls 12 A and terminates in the wall space 26 .
- the blower system 80 which preferably includes the pipes 72 , 74 and 76 , includes an inlet port 82 , an air intake port 84 , outlet ports 86 and 88 , and ducts 90 , 92 and 94 which are coupled to and extend from the ports 88 , 82 and 86 , respectively.
- the ducts 90 and 92 are coupled at their open ends to the pipes 72 and 74 at the ports 30 A and 30 B, respectively, of the shelter 10 .
- the duct 94 is coupled to the port 30 C, and optionally includes an overpressure valve 96 that can open to the environment external to the duct 94 , such as the earth's atmosphere.
- the blower system 80 supplies air, which may be processed by decontamination, HEPA filtration and/or charcoal filtration within the system 80 , to the isolation space 21 via the port 88 , the duct 90 and the pipe 72 .
- the blower system 80 draws air from the isolation space 21 via the pipe 74 , the duct 92 and the inlet port 82 .
- the blower system 80 supplies some of the air returned at the inlet port 82 to the wall space 26 via the outlet port 86 , the duct 94 and the port 30 C.
- the blower system 80 supplies a sufficient amount of air to the outlet port 86 to maintain positive air pressure within the wall space 26 .
- the valve 96 within the duct 94 controls the amount of air supplied to the wall space 26 and, thus, the pressure of the air within the wall space 26 . If there is essentially no leakage in the wall space 26 , substantially all of the air supplied to the duct 94 will exit through the valve 96 . If there is leakage in the wall space 26 , such as through an entry/egress port 30 , or a wall crack, then little or no air will exit the duct 94 through the valve 96 and most of the air that the blower system 80 supplies to the duct 94 will enter the wall space 26 to maintain the desired positive pressure.
- valve 96 is omitted from the blower system 80 and the blower system 80 , instead, includes a pressure sensor 89 coupled to the duct 94 .
- the sensor 89 determines the pressure within the space 26 by monitoring the pressure in the duct 94 at the outlet port 86 , and suitably regulates the volume of air the blower system 80 supplies at the outlet 86 to maintain a desired level of positive pressure within the space 26 .
- the blower 80 draws fresh air from the environment, as needed, through the intake vent 84 for use in the supply of preferably filtered air to the space 26 to maintain positive pressure therein.
- blower 80 creates and maintains negative pressure in the isolation space 21 by providing that the amount of air withdrawn from the space 21 exceeds the amount of air supplied to the space 21 .
- the blower system 80 includes conventional pressure sensors 91 and 93 at the inlet 82 and the outlet 88 , respectively, which monitor the flow of air through the ports 82 and 88 .
- the sensors 91 and 93 act as regulators that open and close the individual ports 82 and 88 to maintain a negative pressure in the isolation space 26 .
- the sensors 91 and 93 provide data representative of the pressure in the isolation space 26 to a conventional controller (not shown) within the blower system 80 .
- the controller controls the volume of air supplied to the port 88 , with or without opening or closing the port 88 , and also controls the opening and closing of the port 82 , to maintain a desired pressure in the isolation space.
- one or more of the sensors 89 , 91 and 93 are located within the spaces 21 and 26 and can communicate pressure data to the controller in the blower system 80 via wires (not shown), or wirelessly.
- the blower system 80 can be any conventional air blowing system operable, in connection with the isolation shelter 10 , to supply filtered air at the outlet 86 to create and maintain positive pressure in the space 26 ; to supply a sufficient amount of filtered air at the outlet 88 , in relation to the amount of the air received at the inlet 82 from the space 21 , to create and maintain negative pressure at the isolation space 21 ; and to receive air at the inlet 84 , as necessary, for use in supplying filtered air at the outlet 86 to maintain positive pressure in the space 26 and, optionally, for use in supplying air at the outlet 88 as needed.
- blower system 80 may be readily adapted for use in the blower system 80 to supply air from two outlets, as well as to provide the air flows needed to create the desired positive and negative pressures in the isolation shelter 10 .
- the blower system 80 for example, includes a HEPA and/or a charcoal filter coupled to the air stream of a blower that supplies air to the ports 86 and 88 .
- the blower system 80 is part of an air decontamination device, such as that disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/434,041, filed on May 8, 2003 and published as U.S. Patent Publication No. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0146437 Al on Jul.
- ADHVAC air decontamination, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning device
- the air in the wall space 26 is maintained at a positive pressure that meets the military Collective Protection requirement of 0.5 inches water column over pressure, and the isolation space 26 is maintained at a negative pressure of at least 0.01 inches water column less than the ambient air pressure outside the shelter 10 .
- a pressurized airlock entry/egress system 130 A extends from within the space 21 , through a port 32 F in an inner wall 14 A and a port 30 F in an outer wall 12 A, and to the outside environment.
- a pressurized airlock entry/egress system 130 B extends from the space 26 , through a port 32 G in an inner wall 14 A and to the outside environment.
- a pressurized airlock entry/egress system 130 C (not shown) extends from within the space 21 , through a port 32 G in an inner wall 14 A and into the space 26 .
- Each of the systems 130 is a conventional air lock system, as well known in the art, which provides for passage of an individual between respective ends.
- the system 130 A constitutes a sealed passageway having doors that can be opened into the space 21 and the outside environment.
- each of systems 130 is maintained at a pressure exceeding ambient pressure of the outside environment and less than the positive pressure in the wall space 26 .
- each of the systems 130 filters air within the passageway and requires a waiting interval between the opening and closing of one door and the opening and closing of the opposing door.
- both doors of the passageway of the system 130 A or 130 B can be opened at once, although such implementation is not very desirable because the chances for transfer of contaminants between the isolation space 21 and the outside environment, in either direction, increases.
- the isolation space 26 is occupied by a patient.
- the filtered air maintains a proper oxygen level and reduces CO 2 buildup to enable safe human occupation of the space 26 .
- the shelter 10 thus, provides that CDC guidelines for airborne infection isolation or protective isolation can be maintained through use of a suitable blower system in connection with the shelter 10 .
- the air within the isolation space 21 can be recirculated through a HEPA filter to generate the desired air exchanges per hour (12 air changes per hour (“ACH”) for isolation and 15 ACH for surgery) for the removal of infectious patient-generated airborne contaminates.
- the recirculating air would also be environmentally controlled to maintain a comfortable living space (temperature and humidity) in the space 21 , independent of the ambient outside environment.
- the negative pressure of >0.01 water column can be controlled by the filtered exhaust air flow.
- FIG. 3A is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of an isolation shelter 110 , in accordance with the present invention. Like reference numerals are used to describe elements in the shelter 110 identical or similar in construction and operation to the elements in the shelter 10 described above. Referring to FIG. 3A , and also to FIG. 3B , which shows a cross-sectional view of the shelter 110 , the shelter 110 includes an outer enclosure 112 including three outer walls 12 A, a ceiling 12 B, a shared wall 102 A and a portion of a floor 16 .
- the three walls 12 A are arranged with respect to one another as three consecutively attached lateral walls of a rectangularly-shaped container or outer enclosure 112 , sealed to each other at adjacent lateral edges, to the ceiling 12 B at their top edges and to the floor 16 at their bottom edges.
- the shared wall 102 A forms the fourth lateral wall of the rectangular outer enclosure 112 , is sealed to the lateral edges of the adjacent walls 12 A, to the ceiling at its top edge and to the floor 16 at its bottom edge.
- the walls 12 A, 102 A and the corresponding floor portion 16 form the outer enclosure 112 that encloses a sealed wall space 26 .
- the container 112 is an integral unit which includes all of the walls 12 and the seals between the edges of the walls 12 .
- the wall 102 A that forms the container 112 is one of four walls 102 A that are arranged with respect to one another as the lateral walls of a rectangularly-shaped container 120 .
- the container 120 includes the four walls 102 A sealed to each other at adjacent lateral edges, to a ceiling 102 B at their top edges and to another portion of the floor 16 at their bottom edges.
- the container 120 is formed from the walls 102 and the floor portion 16 to which the walls 102 A are sealed.
- the container 120 is an integral unit which includes all of the walls 102 and the seals between the edges of the walls 102 .
- the container 120 of the shelter 110 contains an inner container 20 enclosing an isolation space 21 .
- the inner enclosure 20 includes four lateral inner walls 14 A, of which one wall 14 A constitutes a portion of one of the walls 102 .
- the walls 14 , an inner wall ceiling 14 B and a portion of the floor 16 to which the walls 14 A are sealed forms the isolation space 26 .
- An intermediate, sealed space 126 thus, is defined between the inner container 20 and the container 120 .
- the shelter 110 In the embodiment of the shelter 110 illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B , it is assumed that all of the walls 102 , except for the wall 102 A forming a portion of the enclosure 112 , and all portions of the floor 16 would not come into contact with the outside environment.
- the shelter 110 is within a cave where all of the walls 102 , except for the wall 102 A forming a portion of the enclosure 112 , and all portions of the floor 16 are embedded within the cave, such that the outside environment would not contact any of these structures. Consequently, in the shelter 110 only the space 26 needs to be maintained at a pressure exceeding the pressure of the outside environment.
- the isolation space 21 is at a pressure less than the pressure in the space 126 , as the space 126 constitutes the environment outside the container 20 .
- the pressure in the space 126 can be at any desired pressure, so long as the pressure within the space 21 can be maintained at less than the pressure in the space 126 .
- the space 126 can constitute a passageway or a working area in the shelter 110 maintained at ambient conditions.
- an air lock system 130 H extends between a port 130 H located in the sole wall 12 A that can come in contact with the outside environment, and a port 132 H in the intermediate wall 102 A defining the container 112 , such that the air lock system 130 H defines a passageway between the space 126 and the outside environment.
- an air lock system 130 J extends through a port 32 H in a wall 14 A and defines a passageway between the space 126 and the isolation space 21 .
- the positive pressure in the space 26 prevents or substantially prevents contaminants at the outside of the wall 12 A of the shelter 110 from entering the space 126 and, ultimately, passing into the isolation space 21 .
- the negative pressure in the space 21 prevents or substantially prevents contaminants in the space 21 from entering the space 126 via leaks or cracks in any of the walls 14 , which partially define the space 126 and, thus, are in contact with the environment of the space 126 .
- the negative pressure in the space 21 provides that contaminants in the space 21 would not escape into the space 126 , pass from the space 126 through the wall 102 A that defines the enclosure 112 , then through the space 26 and into the outside environment.
- the inventive isolation shelter includes a solid wall enclosure, such as a room, within a fixed structure, such as a building, or an ISO-container or other solid wall portable enclosure.
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an isolation shelter 150 , in accordance with the present invention, for use in an existing soft fabric or hard wall enclosure or shelter facility 160 .
- the shelter 150 has a construction functionally similar to the construction of the shelter 10 , as shown in FIG. 1A , and like components are referred to below using the same reference numerals as used to describe the shelter 10 .
- the shelter 150 includes a loose fitting, double walled balloon type polymer liner having an outer liner 152 and an inner liner 154 .
- the outer liner 152 is anchored or attached to several locations, including at corners, of inner surfaces of walls 162 A and a ceiling 162 B of the facility 160 , via conventional tie downs 164 .
- a sealed wall space 26 is defined between the liners 112 and 114 .
- the liners 112 and 114 preferably are heat sealed to a floor 16 to form the sealed containers 18 and 20 defining the spaces 26 and 21 .
- the liners 112 and 114 preferably are made of fabric or other suitable material having the above-described solid, liquid and gas impermeability qualities.
- the outer liner 112 may be constructed of a chemical warfare (CW) or Toxic Industrial Chemical (TIC) impermeable material, such as those used by and being developed by the U.S. Army, for example, for collective protection shelters.
- the inner liner 114 could be made of material similar to the outer wall 112 material, or alternatively could be a flexible polymer material, such as polyethylene, etc. Either or both of the liners 112 and 114 could be fabric.
- the edges of the liners 112 and 114 adjacent to the floor 16 are sealed to the floor 16 by a heat seal also having the above-described solid, liquid and gas impermeability qualities.
- the soft fabric shelter 150 is supported in a facility 160 that is in the form of a frame, such as a tent, or an air beam structure.
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Abstract
An isolation shelter includes, in its interior, an inner closure defining an isolation space. The isolation space is at a pressure less than the pressure of the environment in the shelter interior, at the outside of the inner enclosure. An outer enclosure of the shelter encloses a sealed region defined at least in part by a structural element contained within the shelter interior A sealed space, which is partially defined by any portion of the outer enclosure that can become exposed to the environment outside the outer enclosure, extends from the outer enclosure into the shelter interior. The sealed space is at a pressure exceeding the pressure of the environment outside of the shelter, thereby substantially preventing contamination in the environment outside the shelter from entering the shelter interior and passing to the isolation space. The pressure in the isolation space substantially prevents contaminants from escaping the isolation space into the environment outside the isolation shelter.
Description
- This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/732,843 filed Nov. 2, 2006, assigned to the assignee of this application and incorporated by reference herein.
- The present invention relates generally to an isolation shelter or a clean room containing an isolation space and, more particularly, pressurizing an isolation shelter or a clean room containing an isolation space to prevent, or substantially prevent, escape of contaminants from the isolation space to the external environment and entry of contaminants from the external environment into the isolation space.
- In the post 9/11 world, there is an increased awareness of the potential of a bioterrorist attack, and also naturally occurring biological or chemical events, that would require the isolation and quarantine of a large number of casualties. The SARS episode, during which two hospitals in Toronto, Canada, became SARS-only facilities that denied medical services to the general public, showed that current healthcare facilities are not prepared to handle a large surge of infectious patients. A potentially imminent viral flu epidemic would require the isolation and treatment of a large population of infectious patients, which could outstrip current healthcare capabilities.
- To meet these new threats, the healthcare community needs to have the capability to isolate a large number of patients, and to quarantine a large number of suspected infected patients, to prevent the spread of the disease. The current WHO estimate is that a pandemic, such as may be associated with the avian flu, could result in millions of deaths unless adequate quarantine, isolation and treatment are available. The civilian healthcare community cannot function with the large number of infectious patients that could occur during a bioterrorist attack, such as smallpox, or a natural pandemic, such as avian flu.
- An isolation shelter, which may be in the form of a building, room, tent or other like structure and defines an enclosed space, is typically used by the healthcare community to isolate patients. The enclosed space of the shelter, for example, can be maintained at a pressure exceeding the pressure outside the shelter (“positive pressure”), such as by supplying more HEPA and/or charcoal filtered air into the shelter than the air being vented or leaking from the shelter. The positive pressure prevents or substantially prevents airborne toxic contaminates or vapors in the external environment from entering the shelter. Thus, civilians within the enclosed space of an isolation shelter are isolated from any toxic vapor or biological/radiological particulate contamination existing outside of the shelter.
- To protect the general population from infectious patients who, for example, may spread disease by coughing or sneezing, infected patients are isolated in the enclosed space of an isolation shelter which is maintained at a pressure that is less than the pressure of the outside environment (“negative pressure”). The negative pressure prevents or substantially prevents any airborne biological contaminate within the shelter from escaping to the external environment. Negative pressure is typically created by removing more air from the enclosed space than is supplied to and/or leaks into the enclosed space. To assist in infection control, the air within a negative pressure shelter may be filtered with a HEPA filter having, for example, a filtration efficiency of 99.99% for >0.3 micron particles at a rate of at least 12 air exchanges per hour.
- Therefore, there is a need for an isolation shelter that prevents or substantially prevents contaminants in the environment outside of the shelter from entering an enclosed space defined within the shelter and, in turn, contaminating people or objects contained within the enclosed space; and that prevents or substantially prevents airborne contaminants generated by infectious patients or objects contained within the enclosed space from escaping the shelter into the external environment and, in turn, contaminating the environment outside the shelter.
- In accordance with the present invention, an isolation shelter includes an inner enclosure defining an isolation space, and an outer enclosure enclosing a sealed region defined at least in part by a structural element contained within the interior of the shelter. A sealed space, which is partially defined by any portion of the outer enclosure that can become exposed to the environment outside the outer enclosure, in other words, the environment outside the shelter, extends from the outer enclosure into the interior or sealed region of the shelter. A portion of the inner enclosure may also define the sealed space. The sealed space is at a pressure exceeding the pressure of the environment outside of the shelter, or at a positive pressure. The positive pressure in the sealed space prevents or substantially prevents contamination in the environment outside the shelter from entering through the outer enclosure into the sealed space, and then passing from the sealed space into the isolation space directly, or indirectly via an enclosed space(s) disposed intermediate the sealed space and the isolation space. The isolation space is at a pressure less than the pressure of the environment of the interior of the shelter outside the inner enclosure, in other words, at a negative pressure in relation to the sealed space or an intermediate enclosed space at the outside of the inner enclosure. The negative pressure within the isolation space prevents or substantially prevents contaminants from escaping the isolation space, and then passing through the sealed space, or through an intermediate enclosed space and then the sealed space, to the environment outside the isolation shelter.
- Preferably, an air blower system including tubing coupled to the sealed space and the isolation space maintains the sealed space and the isolation space under the desired positive and negative pressures, respectively. The air blower system preferably filters any air supplied to the isolation shelter, and also filters any air exiting the isolation shelter before its release to the external environment.
- In a preferred embodiment, the isolation shelter includes an entry/egress port in a portion of each of an outer wall of the outer enclosure and an inner wall of the inner enclosure. In still a further preferred embodiment, an air lock system having re-closable ports, for example, doors, at opposing ends constitutes the entry/egress port at an outer wall of the outer enclosure, and one of the re-closable ports opens into the sealed space and the other of the re-closable ports opens into the environment outside of the isolation shelter. In an alternative preferred embodiment, an air lock system extends between an entry/egress port in an outer wall of the outer enclosure and an entry/egress port in an inner wall of the inner enclosure, and the opposing re-closable ports, respectively, open to the environment outside of the isolation shelter and within the isolation space. The air lock system preferably is maintained at a positive pressure and filters the air contained within, and most preferably is at a pressure slightly less than the pressure outside of the shelter.
- In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an isolation shelter includes outer walls sealed to each other and a floor to define an outer enclosure, and inner walls sealed to each other and the same floor to define an inner enclosure contained within the outer enclosure. The region defined between the outer enclosure and the inner enclosure is a sealed, wall space, and the region defined within the inner enclosure is an isolation space. The wall space is maintained under positive pressure in relation to the environment at the outside of the outer enclosure, in other words, outside of the shelter, and the isolation space is maintained under negative pressure in relation to the pressure within the wall space. An air blower system coupled to the wall space and the isolation space maintains the respective spaces under the desired positive and negative pressures, respectively.
- Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
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FIG. 1A is perspective view of an embodiment of an isolation shelter in accordance with the present invention. -
FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the shelter ofFIG. 1A taken alongline 1B-1B inFIG. 1A . -
FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of the shelter ofFIG. 1A taken alongline 1C-1C inFIG. 1A . -
FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the isolation shelter ofFIG. 1A in cross-sectional view, as inFIG. 1B , and coupled to an air blower system in accordance with the present invention. -
FIG. 3A is perspective view of another embodiment of an isolation shelter in accordance with the present invention. -
FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the shelter ofFIG. 3A taken alongline 3B-3B inFIG. 3A . -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an isolation shelter in accordance with the present invention. - For purposes of highlighting the features of the present invention, an isolation shelter pressurized to prevent or substantially prevent (i) atmospheric contamination in the environment outside the shelter from entering an isolation space within the shelter, and (ii) airborne contaminants within the isolation space from escaping the isolation shelter into the outside environment, is described in detail below in connection with an isolation shelter whose outside environment is the atmosphere of the earth. It is to be understood that the features of the inventive isolation shelter are similarly applicable to portable containers, clean rooms or other enclosed spaces whose outside environment may be other than the earth's atmosphere.
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FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of anisolation shelter 10, in accordance with the present invention, whose outside environment is the earth's atmosphere. Referring toFIG. 1A , and also toFIG. 1B , which shows a cross-sectional view of theshelter 10, theshelter 10 includes five outer walls 12 including four lateralouter walls 12A and anouter ceiling 12B; four inner walls 14 including four lateralinner walls 14A and aninner ceiling 14B, and afloor 16. The fourwalls 12A are sealed to each other at adjacent lateral edges, to theceiling 12B at their top edges and to thefloor 16 at their bottom edges to form a box-shaped outer enclosure orcontainer 18 enclosing aspace 19. In a preferred embodiment, thecontainer 18 is an integral unit which includes all of the walls 12 and the seals between the edges of the walls 12. Similarly, the fourwalls 14A are sealed to each other at adjacent lateral edges, to theceiling 14B at their top edges, and to a portion of thefloor 16 at their bottom edges to form a box-shaped inner enclosure orcontainer 20 enclosing aspace 21. In a preferred embodiment, thecontainer 20 is an integral unit which includes all of the walls 14 and the seals between the edges of the walls 14. - Referring to
FIG. 1A , thecontainer 20 is disposed within the sealed interior region ofspace 19 enclosed by thecontainer 18. Although thecontainers same floor 16 in the illustrated embodiment of theshelter 10, theshelter 10 may be constructed in accordance with the present invention where the flooring to which thewalls 12A are sealed is an independent flooring which is not a part of the flooring to which the bottom edges of thewalls 14B are sealed, and which may or may not be sealed to the flooring to which thewalls 14B are sealed. - In another alternative embodiment, the
containers container 18 can be the ceiling from which thecontainer 20 is formed. - Each of the walls 12 and 14 is preferably made of material that is impermeable, or substantially impermeable, to substantially all liquids, solids, such as particulates, and gases, such as air, and can include polymeric material, steel, plaster, or other well known building materials. In addition, the
floor 16, like the walls 12 and 14, is preferably made of material impermeable, or substantially impermeable, to substantially all liquids, solids and gases. Further, the seals between the walls, and the walls and the floor, in theshelter 10 are seals that are preferably impermeable, or substantially impermeable, to substantially all liquids, solids and gases. Consequently, a sealedwall space 26 is defined between thecontainer 18 and thecontainer 20, and the space orisolation space 21 enclosed by thecontainer 20 is also a sealed space. - The impermeable seals at all connections of walls to each other or to the floor for each of the
containers spaces shelter 10. - In accordance with the present invention, any portion of an outer wall of the
outer container 18 that can become exposed to the environment outside of theouter container 18 defines the sealedwall space 26. Referring toFIG. 1A , it is assumed that the earth's atmosphere, which is at an ambient pressure, surrounds all portions of theouter container 18, except for thefloor 16, such that the earth's atmosphere outside the shelter is the environment outside the walls 12 of theouter container 18. As thefloor 16 is not exposed to the external atmosphere, all five walls 12 of thecontainer 18 are exposed to the outside environment and, therefore, define thewall space 26. In addition, in theshelter 10, the five walls 14 and the portion of thefloor 16 extending between thewalls wall space 26. Thewall space 26 is at a pressure exceeding the pressure of the environment at the outside of thecontainer 18, or at a positive pressure. Also according to the present invention, theisolation space 21 is at a pressure less than the pressure of the environment of the interior of theshelter 10 outside theinner container 20. In the illustrated embodiment of theshelter 10 thewall space 26 is the environment at the outside of thecontainer 20. - In a preferred embodiment, air, which is preferably HEPA and/or charcoal filtered air, is supplied into the
wall space 26 to create and maintain positive air pressure in thewall space 26. If theshelter 10 includes doors, windows, or wall cracks in the outer walls 12 through which the pressurized air may leak from thewall space 26 into the environment outside theshelter 10, air is continuously replenished to thewall space 26 to maintain a positive pressure in thespace 26. - In addition, in a preferred embodiment, air, which is also preferably HEPA and/or charcoal filtered air, is supplied into the
isolation space 21 and air is also exhausted from thespace 21. Typically, more air is exhausted from theisolation space 21 than returned to thespace 21, so as to maintain a negative pressure in theisolation space 21. The maintenance of positive pressure in thewall space 26 and negative pressure in theisolation space 21 using anair blower system 80 is discussed in detail below in connection with the text accompanying the description ofFIG. 2 . - Referring again to
FIG. 1A , theshelter 10 includes entry/egress ports 30 and 32 defined in one or more of the inner and outer walls 12 and 14, respectively. The entry/egress ports 30 and 32, for example, can constitute sealed portals through which tubing from an air blower system extends into theshelter 10 and terminates within thespaces shelter 10, provides that individuals can enter and leave theisolation shelter 10 without disrupting the pressurization of thespaces shelter 10 from entering thespace 26 and contaminants from escaping thespace 26 into the environment outside theshelter 10. The use of an air lock system in connection with theshelter 10 is discussed in detail below in connection with text accompanying the description ofFIG. 1C . -
FIG. 2 is a schematic, functional block diagram illustration of exemplary interconnections between anair blower system 80 and thespaces isolation shelter 10, and where theblower system 80 operates to maintain positive air pressure in thewall space 26 and negative air pressure in theisolation space 21, in accordance with the present invention. Referring toFIG. 2 , anair entry pipe 72 extends from within theisolation space 21, through anopening 32A in one of theinner walls 14A, through thewall space 26 and then exits theshelter 10 through anopening 30A in one of theouter walls 12A. In addition, anair exit pipe 74 extends from within theisolation space 21, through anopening 32B in one of theinner walls 14A, through thewall space 26 and then exits theshelter 10 through anopening 30B in one of theouter walls 12A. Further, anair entry pipe 76 extends from outside theshelter 10, through anopening 30C in one of theouter walls 12A and terminates in thewall space 26. - Still referring to
FIG. 2 , theblower system 80, which preferably includes thepipes inlet port 82, anair intake port 84,outlet ports ducts ports ducts pipes ports shelter 10. Further, theduct 94 is coupled to theport 30C, and optionally includes anoverpressure valve 96 that can open to the environment external to theduct 94, such as the earth's atmosphere. - In operation, the
blower system 80 supplies air, which may be processed by decontamination, HEPA filtration and/or charcoal filtration within thesystem 80, to theisolation space 21 via theport 88, theduct 90 and thepipe 72. In addition, theblower system 80 draws air from theisolation space 21 via thepipe 74, theduct 92 and theinlet port 82. Also, theblower system 80 supplies some of the air returned at theinlet port 82 to thewall space 26 via theoutlet port 86, theduct 94 and theport 30C. - The
blower system 80 supplies a sufficient amount of air to theoutlet port 86 to maintain positive air pressure within thewall space 26. Thevalve 96 within theduct 94 controls the amount of air supplied to thewall space 26 and, thus, the pressure of the air within thewall space 26. If there is essentially no leakage in thewall space 26, substantially all of the air supplied to theduct 94 will exit through thevalve 96. If there is leakage in thewall space 26, such as through an entry/egress port 30, or a wall crack, then little or no air will exit theduct 94 through thevalve 96 and most of the air that theblower system 80 supplies to theduct 94 will enter thewall space 26 to maintain the desired positive pressure. - In an alternative embodiment, the
valve 96 is omitted from theblower system 80 and theblower system 80, instead, includes apressure sensor 89 coupled to theduct 94. Thesensor 89 determines the pressure within thespace 26 by monitoring the pressure in theduct 94 at theoutlet port 86, and suitably regulates the volume of air theblower system 80 supplies at theoutlet 86 to maintain a desired level of positive pressure within thespace 26. Theblower 80 draws fresh air from the environment, as needed, through theintake vent 84 for use in the supply of preferably filtered air to thespace 26 to maintain positive pressure therein. - As discussed above, some of the air drawn from the
isolation space 21 exits theblower 80 at theoutlet 86, such that the withdrawn air is not returned to theisolation space 21. Theblower system 80 creates and maintains negative pressure in theisolation space 21 by providing that the amount of air withdrawn from thespace 21 exceeds the amount of air supplied to thespace 21. - In a preferred embodiment, the
blower system 80 includesconventional pressure sensors inlet 82 and theoutlet 88, respectively, which monitor the flow of air through theports sensors individual ports isolation space 26. Alternatively, thesensors isolation space 26 to a conventional controller (not shown) within theblower system 80. The controller controls the volume of air supplied to theport 88, with or without opening or closing theport 88, and also controls the opening and closing of theport 82, to maintain a desired pressure in the isolation space. In another embodiment, one or more of thesensors spaces blower system 80 via wires (not shown), or wirelessly. - The
blower system 80 can be any conventional air blowing system operable, in connection with theisolation shelter 10, to supply filtered air at theoutlet 86 to create and maintain positive pressure in thespace 26; to supply a sufficient amount of filtered air at theoutlet 88, in relation to the amount of the air received at theinlet 82 from thespace 21, to create and maintain negative pressure at theisolation space 21; and to receive air at theinlet 84, as necessary, for use in supplying filtered air at theoutlet 86 to maintain positive pressure in thespace 26 and, optionally, for use in supplying air at theoutlet 88 as needed. - It is to be understood that commercial blowers and filtration devices may be readily adapted for use in the
blower system 80 to supply air from two outlets, as well as to provide the air flows needed to create the desired positive and negative pressures in theisolation shelter 10. In a preferred embodiment, theblower system 80, for example, includes a HEPA and/or a charcoal filter coupled to the air stream of a blower that supplies air to theports blower system 80 is part of an air decontamination device, such as that disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/434,041, filed on May 8, 2003 and published as U.S. Patent Publication No. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0146437 Al on Jul. 29, 2004, or part of an air decontamination, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning device (“ADHVAC”), which is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/089,795, which was filed on Mar. 3, 2005 and was published as U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0211415 Al on Sep. 29, 2005, each of which is incorporated by reference herein. - In a preferred embodiment, the air in the
wall space 26 is maintained at a positive pressure that meets the military Collective Protection requirement of 0.5 inches water column over pressure, and theisolation space 26 is maintained at a negative pressure of at least 0.01 inches water column less than the ambient air pressure outside theshelter 10. - Referring to
FIGS. 1A and 1C , in a further embodiment of the present invention, a pressurized airlock entry/egress system 130A extends from within thespace 21, through aport 32F in aninner wall 14A and aport 30F in anouter wall 12A, and to the outside environment. In addition, a pressurized airlock entry/egress system 130B extends from thespace 26, through aport 32G in aninner wall 14A and to the outside environment. Further, a pressurized airlock entry/egress system 130C (not shown) extends from within thespace 21, through aport 32G in aninner wall 14A and into thespace 26. Each of the systems 130 is a conventional air lock system, as well known in the art, which provides for passage of an individual between respective ends. For example, thesystem 130A constitutes a sealed passageway having doors that can be opened into thespace 21 and the outside environment. In a preferred embodiment, each of systems 130 is maintained at a pressure exceeding ambient pressure of the outside environment and less than the positive pressure in thewall space 26. In a further preferred embodiment, each of the systems 130 filters air within the passageway and requires a waiting interval between the opening and closing of one door and the opening and closing of the opposing door. - In another embodiment, both doors of the passageway of the
system isolation space 21 and the outside environment, in either direction, increases. - In a preferred implementation of the
shelter 10, theisolation space 26 is occupied by a patient. By maintaining a negative pressure in theisolation space 21, the filtered air maintains a proper oxygen level and reduces CO2 buildup to enable safe human occupation of thespace 26. Theshelter 10, thus, provides that CDC guidelines for airborne infection isolation or protective isolation can be maintained through use of a suitable blower system in connection with theshelter 10. The air within theisolation space 21 can be recirculated through a HEPA filter to generate the desired air exchanges per hour (12 air changes per hour (“ACH”) for isolation and 15 ACH for surgery) for the removal of infectious patient-generated airborne contaminates. The recirculating air would also be environmentally controlled to maintain a comfortable living space (temperature and humidity) in thespace 21, independent of the ambient outside environment. The negative pressure of >0.01 water column can be controlled by the filtered exhaust air flow. -
FIG. 3A is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of anisolation shelter 110, in accordance with the present invention. Like reference numerals are used to describe elements in theshelter 110 identical or similar in construction and operation to the elements in theshelter 10 described above. Referring toFIG. 3A , and also toFIG. 3B , which shows a cross-sectional view of theshelter 110, theshelter 110 includes anouter enclosure 112 including threeouter walls 12A, aceiling 12B, a sharedwall 102A and a portion of afloor 16. The threewalls 12A are arranged with respect to one another as three consecutively attached lateral walls of a rectangularly-shaped container orouter enclosure 112, sealed to each other at adjacent lateral edges, to theceiling 12B at their top edges and to thefloor 16 at their bottom edges. The sharedwall 102A forms the fourth lateral wall of the rectangularouter enclosure 112, is sealed to the lateral edges of theadjacent walls 12A, to the ceiling at its top edge and to thefloor 16 at its bottom edge. Thewalls corresponding floor portion 16 form theouter enclosure 112 that encloses a sealedwall space 26. In a preferred embodiment, thecontainer 112 is an integral unit which includes all of the walls 12 and the seals between the edges of the walls 12. - Still referring to
FIGS. 3A and 3B , thewall 102A that forms thecontainer 112 is one of fourwalls 102A that are arranged with respect to one another as the lateral walls of a rectangularly-shapedcontainer 120. Thecontainer 120 includes the fourwalls 102A sealed to each other at adjacent lateral edges, to aceiling 102B at their top edges and to another portion of thefloor 16 at their bottom edges. Thecontainer 120 is formed from the walls 102 and thefloor portion 16 to which thewalls 102A are sealed. In a preferred embodiment, thecontainer 120 is an integral unit which includes all of the walls 102 and the seals between the edges of the walls 102. - The
container 120 of theshelter 110 contains aninner container 20 enclosing anisolation space 21. Theinner enclosure 20 includes four lateralinner walls 14A, of which onewall 14A constitutes a portion of one of the walls 102. As in theshelter 10, the walls 14, aninner wall ceiling 14B and a portion of thefloor 16 to which thewalls 14A are sealed forms theisolation space 26. An intermediate, sealedspace 126, thus, is defined between theinner container 20 and thecontainer 120. - In the embodiment of the
shelter 110 illustrated inFIGS. 3A and 3B , it is assumed that all of the walls 102, except for thewall 102A forming a portion of theenclosure 112, and all portions of thefloor 16 would not come into contact with the outside environment. For example, theshelter 110 is within a cave where all of the walls 102, except for thewall 102A forming a portion of theenclosure 112, and all portions of thefloor 16 are embedded within the cave, such that the outside environment would not contact any of these structures. Consequently, in theshelter 110 only thespace 26 needs to be maintained at a pressure exceeding the pressure of the outside environment. Theisolation space 21 is at a pressure less than the pressure in thespace 126, as thespace 126 constitutes the environment outside thecontainer 20. The pressure in thespace 126 can be at any desired pressure, so long as the pressure within thespace 21 can be maintained at less than the pressure in thespace 126. For example, thespace 126 can constitute a passageway or a working area in theshelter 110 maintained at ambient conditions. - Referring to
FIG. 3B , anair lock system 130H extends between aport 130H located in thesole wall 12A that can come in contact with the outside environment, and aport 132H in theintermediate wall 102A defining thecontainer 112, such that theair lock system 130H defines a passageway between thespace 126 and the outside environment. In addition, anair lock system 130J extends through aport 32H in awall 14A and defines a passageway between thespace 126 and theisolation space 21. - In operation of the
shelter 110, the positive pressure in thespace 26 prevents or substantially prevents contaminants at the outside of thewall 12A of theshelter 110 from entering thespace 126 and, ultimately, passing into theisolation space 21. In addition, the negative pressure in thespace 21 prevents or substantially prevents contaminants in thespace 21 from entering thespace 126 via leaks or cracks in any of the walls 14, which partially define thespace 126 and, thus, are in contact with the environment of thespace 126. Thus, the negative pressure in thespace 21 provides that contaminants in thespace 21 would not escape into thespace 126, pass from thespace 126 through thewall 102A that defines theenclosure 112, then through thespace 26 and into the outside environment. - In a preferred embodiment, the inventive isolation shelter includes a solid wall enclosure, such as a room, within a fixed structure, such as a building, or an ISO-container or other solid wall portable enclosure.
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FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of anisolation shelter 150, in accordance with the present invention, for use in an existing soft fabric or hard wall enclosure orshelter facility 160. Theshelter 150 has a construction functionally similar to the construction of theshelter 10, as shown inFIG. 1A , and like components are referred to below using the same reference numerals as used to describe theshelter 10. Referring toFIG. 4 , theshelter 150 includes a loose fitting, double walled balloon type polymer liner having anouter liner 152 and aninner liner 154. Theouter liner 152 is anchored or attached to several locations, including at corners, of inner surfaces ofwalls 162A and aceiling 162B of thefacility 160, viaconventional tie downs 164. A sealedwall space 26 is defined between theliners 112 and 114. Theliners 112 and 114 preferably are heat sealed to afloor 16 to form the sealedcontainers spaces - The
liners 112 and 114 preferably are made of fabric or other suitable material having the above-described solid, liquid and gas impermeability qualities. Theouter liner 112 may be constructed of a chemical warfare (CW) or Toxic Industrial Chemical (TIC) impermeable material, such as those used by and being developed by the U.S. Army, for example, for collective protection shelters. The inner liner 114 could be made of material similar to theouter wall 112 material, or alternatively could be a flexible polymer material, such as polyethylene, etc. Either or both of theliners 112 and 114 could be fabric. In addition, the edges of theliners 112 and 114 adjacent to thefloor 16 are sealed to thefloor 16 by a heat seal also having the above-described solid, liquid and gas impermeability qualities. - In a preferred embodiment, the
soft fabric shelter 150 is supported in afacility 160 that is in the form of a frame, such as a tent, or an air beam structure. - Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the principles of the invention.
Claims (41)
1. An isolation shelter having an interior region, the shelter comprising:
an inner enclosure defining an isolation space; and
an outer enclosure defined at least in part by a first structural element contained within the interior region of the shelter, wherein any portion of the outer enclosure that can become exposed to an environment outside the outer enclosure defines at least a portion of a sealed wall space, wherein the wall space extends from the outer enclosure into the interior region and is at a pressure exceeding the pressure of the environment at the outside of the outer enclosure, and wherein the isolation space is at a pressure less than the pressure of the environment of the interior region of the shelter outside the inner enclosure.
2. The isolation shelter of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the inner enclosure defines at least a portion of the wall space.
3. The isolation shelter of claim 1 , wherein the pressure in the wall space substantially prevents contamination in the environment outside the shelter from entering through the outer enclosure, into the wall space, and then passing from the wall space into the isolation space.
4. The isolation shelter of claim 1 , wherein the first structural element is a wail of the inner enclosure.
5. The isolation shelter of claim 1 , wherein the first structural element is not a part of the inner enclosure and defines a portion of an intermediate space, wherein the intermediate space is further defined by at least portion of the inner enclosure.
6. The isolation shelter of claim 5 , wherein the pressure in the wall space substantially prevents contamination in the environment outside the shelter from entering through the outer enclosure into the wall space, passing from the wall space into the intermediate space, and then passing from the intermediate space, through the inner enclosure and into the isolation space.
7. The isolation shelter of claim 1 , wherein the pressure within the isolation space substantially prevents contaminants from escaping the isolation space, passing through the inner enclosure into the wall space, and then passing from the wall space through the outer enclosure and into the outside environment.
8. The isolation shelter of claim 5 , wherein the pressure within the isolation space substantially prevents contaminants from escaping the isolation space, passing through the inner enclosure into the intermediate space, passing from the intermediate space into the wall space, and then passing from the wall space through the outer enclosure and into the outside environment.
9. The isolation shelter of claim 1 , wherein a portion of at least one of an outer wall of the outer enclosure and an inner wall of the inner enclosure includes an entry/egress port.
10. The isolation shelter of claim 1 , wherein a portion of each of an outer wall of the outer enclosure and an inner wall of the inner enclosure includes at least one entry/egress port.
11. The isolation shelter of claim 10 , wherein the outer enclosure includes a first port and the inner enclosure includes second and third ports, wherein a desired pressure is maintained in the isolation space by supplying more air at the second port than withdrawn at the third port and wherein a desired pressure is maintained in the wall space by supplying air at the first port.
12. The isolation shelter of claim 10 , wherein the air supplied at the first and second ports is at least one of particulate filtered, charcoal filtered and decontaminated air.
13. The isolation shelter of claim 10 , wherein the air withdrawn at the third port is at least one of particulate filtered, charcoal filtered and decontaminated
14. The isolation shelter of claim 10 , wherein any portion of the air withdrawn at the third port is at least one of particulate filtered, charcoal filtered and decontaminated before release to the outside environment.
15. The isolation shelter of claim 10 , wherein the amount of air supplied at the first port is regulated by at least one of an air pressure sensor coupled to an air conduit extending into the first port and a pressure regulation valve within the air conduit.
16. The isolation shelter of claim 10 , wherein the amount of air being supplied at the second port and withdrawn at the third port are regulated, such that a desired pressure is maintained in the isolation space.
17. The isolation shelter of claim 1 , wherein a portion of an outer wall of the outer enclosure and an inner wall of the inner enclosure includes first and second entry/egress port, respectively, and wherein an air lock passageway extends between the first and second ports.
18. The isolation shelter of claim 1 , wherein at least one of a portion of an outer wall of the outer enclosure and an inner wall of the inner enclosure includes an entry/egress port and wherein an air lock passageway constitutes the port.
19. The isolation shelter of claim 1 , wherein the first structural element is not a part of the inner enclosure and includes an entry/egress port and wherein an air lock passageway constitutes the port.
20. The isolation shelter of claim 1 , wherein the outer enclosure and the inner enclosure is substantially impermeable to substantially all liquids, solids and gases.
21. The isolation shelter of claim 20 , wherein at least one of the outer enclosure and the inner enclosure includes at least one of flexible polymeric material, steel and plaster.
22. The isolation shelter of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of at least one of the outer enclosure and the inner enclosure is an integral unit.
23. The isolation shelter of claim 1 , wherein the outer enclosure and inner enclosure define the wall space.
24. An air blower system for coupling to an isolation shelter, wherein the isolation shelter comprises:
an inner enclosure defining an isolation space;
an outer enclosure defined at least in part by a first structural element contained within the interior region of the shelter, wherein any portion of the outer enclosure that can become exposed to an environment outside the outer enclosure defines at least a portion of a sealed wall space, wherein the wall space extends from the outer enclosure into the interior region and is at a pressure exceeding the pressure of the environment at the outside of the outer enclosure and wherein the isolation space is at a pressure less than the pressure of the environment of the interior region at the outside of the inner enclosure; and
wherein the outer enclosure includes a first port and the inner enclosure includes second and third ports;
the blower system comprising:
first, second and third ducts coupled to the first, second and third ports, respectively, wherein air is supplied to the wall space and the isolation space, respectively, through the first and second ducts and wherein air is withdrawn from the isolation space through the third duct;
an inlet for receiving outside air; and
a first means for regulating the amount of air being supplied to the wall space, such that a desired pressure is maintained in the wall space.
25. The blower system of claim 24 , wherein the first means is a pressure regulating valve included in the first duct or a pressure sensor coupled to the first duct.
26. The blower system of claim 24 , wherein the air supplied at the first and second ports is at least one of particulate filtered, charcoal filtered and decontaminated air.
27. The blower system of claim 24 , wherein the air withdrawn at the third port is at least one of particulate filtered, charcoal filtered and decontaminated.
28. The blower system of claim 24 , wherein any portion of the air withdrawn at the third port is at least one of particulate filtered, charcoal filtered and decontaminated before release to the outside environment.
29. The blower system of claim 24 further comprising:
a second means for regulating the amount of air being supplied to and withdrawn from the isolation space, such that a desired pressure is maintained in the isolation space.
30. The blower system of claim 29 , wherein the amount of air being supplied to the second port exceeds the amount of air being withdrawn at the third port.
31. The blower system of claim 24 , wherein the air received at the inlet is at least one of particulate filtered, charcoal filtered and decontaminated.
32. A method of isolating an isolation space within an isolation shelter comprising:
at any portion of the shelter that can become exposed to an environment outside the shelter, maintaining a pressure exceeding the pressure of the environment outside the shelter; and
maintaining an isolation space, defined within an interior region of the shelter and surrounded by an inner enclosure, at a pressure less than the pressure of the environment of the interior region outside the inner enclosure.
33. The method of claim 32 further comprising:
defining a sealed wall space extending from any portion of the outer enclosure that can become exposed to the outer environment to the interior region; and
maintaining the wall space at a pressure exceeding the pressure of the environment outside the shelter.
34. The method of claim 33 further comprising:
maintaining the desired pressure in the isolation space and the wall space by controllably supplying air to the isolation and wall spaces.
35. The method of claim 34 , wherein the supplied air is at least one of particulate filtered, charcoal filtered and decontaminated.
36. The method of claim 33 further comprising the steps of:
withdrawing air from the isolation space;
supplying at a least a portion of the withdrawn air to at least one of the isolation space and the wall space; and
at least one of particulate filtering, charcoal filtering and decontaminating the withdrawn air before the supplying step.
37. The method of claim 36 further comprising the steps of:
returning at least a portion of the withdrawn air to the outside environment; and
at least one of particulate filtering, charcoal filtering and decontaminating the withdrawn air before the returning step.
38. The method of claim 33 further comprising:
receiving air from the outside environment;
supplying at a least a portion of the supplied air to at least one of the isolation space and the wall space; and
at least one of particulate filtering, charcoal filtering and decontaminating the received air before the supplying step.
39. The method of claim 32 further comprising:
providing an air lock passageway extending from the outside environment to a first location in the interior region.
40. The method of claim 39 , wherein the first location is within at least one of the isolation space, a sealed wall space extending from any portion of the outer enclosure that can become exposed to the outer environment to the interior region and a portion of the interior region disposed intermediate the isolation space and the wall space.
41. The method of claim 32 further comprising:
providing an air lock passageway extending through at least one structural element of the shelter, wherein the structural element is at least one of (i) an outer wall of the outer enclosure that can be exposed to the outside environment, (ii) an inner wall of the inner enclosure and (ii) a first structural element within the interior region and forming a part of the outer enclosure.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/554,844 US20070130844A1 (en) | 2005-11-02 | 2006-10-31 | Isolation Shelter Pressurized to Avoid Transfer of Contaminants Between an Isolation Space and the Outside Environment |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US73284305P | 2005-11-02 | 2005-11-02 | |
US11/554,844 US20070130844A1 (en) | 2005-11-02 | 2006-10-31 | Isolation Shelter Pressurized to Avoid Transfer of Contaminants Between an Isolation Space and the Outside Environment |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070130844A1 true US20070130844A1 (en) | 2007-06-14 |
Family
ID=38024031
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US11/554,844 Abandoned US20070130844A1 (en) | 2005-11-02 | 2006-10-31 | Isolation Shelter Pressurized to Avoid Transfer of Contaminants Between an Isolation Space and the Outside Environment |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20070130844A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2007056637A2 (en) |
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US20110053486A1 (en) * | 2009-08-16 | 2011-03-03 | G-Con, Llc | Modular, self-contained, mobile clean room |
US20130047521A1 (en) * | 2011-08-22 | 2013-02-28 | Steven M. Yoder | Self-Contained Portable Container Habitat For Use In Radiological Environments |
US9795957B2 (en) | 2009-08-16 | 2017-10-24 | G-Con Manufacturing, Inc. | Modular, self-contained, mobile clean room |
US9797153B2 (en) * | 2015-06-01 | 2017-10-24 | Simply IV Safety LLC | Refuge |
US10106974B2 (en) | 2008-12-23 | 2018-10-23 | Xoma (Us) Llc | Flexible manufacturing system |
US10161147B2 (en) | 2013-10-14 | 2018-12-25 | G-Con Manufacturing Inc. | Method for connecting modular mobile rooms |
US10533758B2 (en) | 2014-07-11 | 2020-01-14 | G-Con Manufacturing Inc. | Modular parts that supply utilities to cleanroom, isolation or containment cubicles, pods, or modules |
WO2021062515A1 (en) * | 2019-10-01 | 2021-04-08 | Concepts To Solutions Inc. | Portable containment structure having inflated sealed interior space |
US11026373B2 (en) * | 2017-06-14 | 2021-06-08 | Grow Solutions Tech Llc | Systems and methods for pressurizing an assembly line grow pod |
US11060316B2 (en) * | 2017-04-07 | 2021-07-13 | Under The Weather, LLC | Personal enclosure with insert |
US11492795B2 (en) | 2020-08-31 | 2022-11-08 | G-Con Manufacturing, Inc. | Ballroom-style cleanroom assembled from modular buildings |
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US11624182B2 (en) | 2019-08-15 | 2023-04-11 | G-Con Manufacturing, Inc. | Removable panel roof for modular, self-contained, mobile clean room |
WO2021062515A1 (en) * | 2019-10-01 | 2021-04-08 | Concepts To Solutions Inc. | Portable containment structure having inflated sealed interior space |
US11492795B2 (en) | 2020-08-31 | 2022-11-08 | G-Con Manufacturing, Inc. | Ballroom-style cleanroom assembled from modular buildings |
CN117343841A (en) * | 2023-12-05 | 2024-01-05 | 山东大学 | Sealing device and rotary disc type incubator with sealing device |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2007056637A2 (en) | 2007-05-18 |
WO2007056637A3 (en) | 2008-10-09 |
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