WO2022085026A1 - Breath isolation and disinfecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to the special device, which can capture the breath as soon as it comes out from an infected person and sanitize it to deactivate/kill the virus before releasing the breath in to the environment. The mask, which is applied to the infected person, is connected to a corrugated tube (Figure 3) through an adaptor (Figure 4; 4, Figure 9), which is specially designed to incorporate two unidirectional valves (Figures 4a- 4c) to control the flow of air/breath. It has four ports that are, inlet port (Figure 4a), outlet port (Figure 4c), respiratory port (Figure 4b) and oxygen port (Figure 4d). When patient breathes, exhaled breath passes through the disinfectant solution where respiratory droplets coalesce with the solution. Aerosol Protector (Figures 6; 6 of Figure 9) breaks the large air bubbles into smaller bubbles and traps any aerosol generated while air bubbles escape from the fluid.

Description

BREATH ISOLATION AND DISINFECTING DEVICE

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention refers to the field of medical device; more specifically it discloses breath isolation device and disinfecting device to clean the infected breath before release into the air.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The world today is facing a global pandemic CO VID- 19 causing deadly respiratory infection/failure. The virus is rapidly spreading to countries pan globe and the cause of multiple deaths worldwide. Unlike previous deadly viruses like HIV etc. CO VID- 19 poses the greater problem of communicability by social contact and that is the key reason for a rapid global spread. The novel corona virus that cause COVID-19 spreads primarily through ‘respiratory droplets’ generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks. Virus comes out through the breath of the infected person as these ‘respiratory droplets’ which when inhaled by another person, infect him / her leading to spread of infection. Respiratory droplets also fall down contaminating surfaces with viral particles. People can also become infected by touching these contaminated surfaces and then touching their eyes, nose or mouth before washing hands.

Solutions like social distancing, using masks (especially effective N-95), head-shields, hand hygiene, sanitization, wearing PPE etc. are taken to stop spreading the viruses. These methods depend on Natural decay / death of the virus, which can take several days to weeks. Therefore increasing chances of a highly infectious agent like COVID- 19 is still prevailed. World is still awaiting the effective antiviral drugs and vaccines.

Importance of the present invention In this global crisis situation, present invention is showing a ray of hope to cease spreading infection in the environment. The present invention relates to a special device, which can capture the breath as soon as it conies out from an infected person and sanitize it to deactivate/kill the virus before releasing the breath in to the environment. Keeping in mind that virus is constantly coming out from the infected people and contaminates the air, healthy people uses masks, PPE etc. But, the present invention helps to sanitize the contaminated exhaled breathe of infected patients before getting contact with the environment in a definite way. Thus it protects environment as well as healthy people from deadly viruses at the very first step. Unlike vaccine, wearing masks, it is applied to the sick / infected persons, not to the healthy people. The present invention is very useful in hospital, health care unit and isolation zone as well as in home. It can be used for a variety of infections that spread through respiratory system.

Before going to the details of the invention, some related prior arts are described below.

Prior Art of present invention

Patent Application No. CN103237493A discloses “Apparatus and method for the collection of samples of exhaled air”

The invention discloses an apparatus for the collection of samples of exhaled air during normal respiration, comprising a flow generator, an orally insertable exhalation air receiver, and a device for isolating the nasal airways, wherein the apparatus further comprises: a sensor for detecting a change in a parameter representing the change from inhalation to exhalation and to transmit said change as a signal; a control unit adapted to receive said signal and to control said device for isolating the nasal airways ; wherein the flow generator is connected to or integrated with the exhalation air receiver. A method of collecting samples of exhaled air during normal respiration conditions, comprising the steps of: detecting a change in a parameter representing the change from inhalation to exhalation and transmitting said change as a signal; receiving said signal in a control unit; activating a device for isolating the nasal airways; activating a flow generator connected to an exhalation air receiver; and collecting a sample of exhaled air during exhalation when the nasal airways are isolated. The above apparatus is used for the collection of samples of exhaled air during normal respiration, which is having sensor to detect the change from inhalation to exhalation, whereas the present invention can capture the breath of an infected person and can sanitize it to deactivate/kill the virus before releasing the breath in the environment.

Patent Application No. JP5651604B2 discloses “Air sterilization and cleaning device, and breath gas sterilization and cleaning device, indoor air sterilization and cleaning device, and simple isolation device using the same”

The above invention relates to a simple and small-sized air sterilizing and cleaning device that can obtain a high sterilization and cleaning effect with a small volume and a short overall length, and an expiratory gas sterilizing and cleaning device, an indoor air sterilizing and cleaning device, and a simple isolation device using the same. This can be useful for sterilizing and purifying air in a hospital room or an examination room.

The above product is different from the present invention. The above device is basically a sterilizer or air purifier, whereas the present invention is a mask like device which can capture the breath of an infected person and can sanitize it to deactivate/kill the virus before releasing the breath in the environment.

Patent Application No. EP1695730B1 discloses “Component for an inhalation device and an inhalation device with this component”

The above invention relates to a component for an inhalation device, for the inhalation of toxic active substances. Component for an inhalation device is comprising a first air inlet opening and a first air outlet opening, which are connected via a first flow channel for the inhalation; a second air inlet opening and a second air outlet opening, which are connected via a second flow channel for exhalation; a first filter assigned to the second flow channel; an inhalation mask in which the first flow channel ends and at which the second flow channel starts. The inhalation mask has a third air inlet opening in the form of a valve for a third flow channel in order to ensure a continuous air flow; wherein the exhalation takes place via the second flow channel. It possesses nebulizer, pressure sensor.

The above invention is different from the present one. The present invention does not comprise nebulizer and pressure sensor, like the above one. The present invention is a mask like device which can capture the breath of an infected person and can sanitize it to deactivate/kill the virus before releasing the breath in the environment.

Journals and Books

Chou R, Dana T, Jungbauer R, Weeks C, McDonagh MS., 2020. Masks for Prevention of Respiratory Virus Infections, Including SARS-CoV-2, in Health Care and Community Settings. Annals of Internal Medicines. https://doi.org/10.7326/M20-3213

The above publication is a review article that summarizes the evidence surrounding the effectiveness of N95, surgical, and cloth masks in community and health care settings in preventing respiratory virus infections.

The above publication is not about the independent invention.

Susanna Esposito, Nicola Principi, Chi Chi Leung, Giovanni Battista Migliori, 2020.

Universal use of face masks for success against COVID-19: evidence and implications for prevention policies. European Respiratory Journal 2020; DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01260- 2020.

The above publication is talking about the importance of cloth masks for the healthy people instead of surgical mask or N95.

The above publication is also a review paper, not about the independent invention.

Christian D. Seger, Libing Wang, Xuezhi Dong, Peyton Tebon, Sebastian Kwon, Elaine C. Liew, Jure Marijic, Soban Umar, and Nir N. Hoftman, 2020. A Novel Negative Pressure Isolation Device for Aerosol Transmissible COVID-19.Wolters Kluwer Public Health Emergency Collection. DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000005052.

The above publication is discussion about the personal containment devices (PCDs) may protect health care workers (HCW) s from respiratory droplets but not from potentially dangerous respiratory-generated aerosols. The device ships flat and folds into a chamber. With its torso drape and protective arm sleeves mounted, it provides contact, droplet, and aerosol isolation during intubation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Significantly improved ergonomics, single-use workflow, and ease of removal distinguish this device from previously published designs.

Although the above device describes its aerosol containment capabilities, it has difference with the present invention. The present invention is a mask like device which can capture the breath of an infected person and can sanitize it to deactivate/kill the virus before releasing the breath in the environment.

Piotr Pietrowski, Katarzyna Majchrzycka. Respiratory protection equipment requirements and selection. Oshwiki Networking Knowledge.

Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) is a particular type of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), used to protect the individual wearer against inhalation of hazardous substances in the workplace air. This article provides information on definitions, technical requirements and rules of proper selection of various types of respiratory protection equipment i.e. filters, filtering half masks, face pieces, breathing apparatus and filtering escape devices for protection against particles (including nanoparticles), gases, vapours and oxygen deficiency.

The above equipment is basically PPE, which is used to protect the individual wearer against inhalation of hazardous substances. This is not for the infected person but for the healthy persons. But the present invention is a mask like device which can capture the breath of an infected person and can sanitize it to deactivate/kill the virus before releasing the breath in the environment.

Commercial information

Isolating Devices,

Reference: https://www.indiamart.com/intech-safety/isolating-devices.html

Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (Air Mask): Self-contained breathing apparatus is used in the field of respiratory protection. It is equipped with efficient pressure reducing regulator, warning whistle, high quality rubber face mask, FRP base plate long operating demand valve. Compressed air cylinders for different time volume and charging pressure are available.

The above apparatus is different with the present invention as the present invention does not have pressure reducing regulator, compressed air cylinders, warning whistle. The present invention is a mask like device which can capture the breath of an infected person and can sanitize it to deactivate/kill the virus before releasing the breath in the environment. It poses sanitizer chamber, aerosol protector, four ports.

The present invention is still unpublished in view of patents disclosed, book publications and also online commercial information disclosure, which declare that the present invention is novel.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to disclose a special device which can isolate the breath of infected patient from the environment.

One more object of the present invention is to disclose a special device which can disinfect the virus containing respiratory droplets coming from the infected patient before releasing in to the environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the special device, which can capture the breath as soon as it comes out from an infected person and sanitize it to deactivate/kill the virus before releasing the breath in to the environment. This special device can protect the people from getting infected and can stop spreading the infection in a mass scale. This looks like a Face mask which can cover the mouth and nose of the patient. The mask is connected to a corrugated tube (Figure 3) through an adaptor (Figure 4; 4, Figure 9), which is specially designed to incorporate two unidirectional valves (Figure 4a-4c) to control the flow of air/breath. It has four ports that are, inlet port (Figure 4a), outlet port (Figure 4c), respiratory port (Figure 4b) and oxygen port (Figure 4d).

When patient breathes, inhalation occurs through the inlet port, whereas, exhaled breath passes through the disinfectant solution, where respiratory droplets containing viral particles coalesce with the solution. Aerosol Protector (Figures 6; 6, Figure 9) is attached with the device which breaks the large air bubbles into smaller bubbles and traps any aerosol generated while air bubbles escape from the fluid. A sanitization chamber (Figure 1) is also included which contains disinfectant solution. Air then escapes out of the sanitization chamber through the exit port. The device is specially designed to prevent the environment pollution from an infectious agent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The computer generated drawings are illustrative in nature and are intended to describe the present invention.

Figure 1 : Complete assembly of the present invention

1. Sanitization Chamber

Figure 2: Computer rendered image of the present invention

2. Lid.

Figure 3: Corrugated Tube

Figure 4: Adaptor for the Mask

4a. Inlet port with valve.

4b. Respiratory port

4c. Outlet port with valve.

4d. Oxygen port.

Figure 5: Dual Channel T tube. Front (a) and bottom (b) views

5a. Intake port.5b. Exit port.

5c. Dual channel segment 5d. Channel one.

5e. Channel two.

Figure 6: Aerosol Protector

Figure 7: Lid, T-Tube and aerosol assembly

Figure 8: Device assembly

1. Sanitization chamber

2. Lid

3. Corrugated tubing

4. Adapter for the mask

5. T-tube

Figure 9. Computer rendered image of the device

1. Sanitization chamber

2. Lid.

3. Corrugated tubing

4. Adapter for the mask

5. T-tube.

6. Aerosol Protector

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the special device which can capture the breath as soon as it comes out from an infected person and sanitize it to deactivate/kill the virus before releasing the breath in to the environment. This special device can protect the people from getting infected and can stop spreading the infection in a mass scale.

Constructional Details The present invention connects with a commercially available face mask. The mask is connected to a corrugated tube (Figure 3) through an adaptor (Figure 4). The adapter is specially designed to incorporate two unidirectional valves (Figure 4a, 4c) to control the flow of air/breath. It has four ports. a) Inlet port (Figure 4a) which allows the fresh air (room air) to be breathed in or inhaled. Person cannot breathe out through this port as it is a one-way port. b) Outlet port (Figure 4c), which is like an exhaust port through which breathed out (exhaled) air passes. Person cannot inhale through this port. This port is connected to the sanitization chamber (Figure 1) through a corrugated tube (Figure 3). c) Respiratory port (Figure 4b), is connected to the face mask and patient breaths in and out through this port. d) Oxygen port (Figure 4d) which normally remains closed but can be used to attach oxygen supply line if patient needs it.

Corrugated tube (Figure 3) is one and half meter long flexible tube of large diameter (22mm internal diameter) that connects outlet port of the face mask adapter to the sanitization chamber (Figure 1). It carries the exhaled (infected) breath to the sanitization chamber.

Corrugate tubing connects to the intake port of the Dual Channel T-tube (Figure 5). T-tube has three parts, those are (a) an intake port (Figure 5a), (b) an exit port (Figure 5b) and (c) a 2 channel segment (Figure 5c). Intake port leads to channel one (Figure 5d) of the dual channel segment, lower end of which dips into the disinfectant solution.

Aerosol protector (Figure 6) is a perforated disc attached to the lower end of the dual channel segment of the T-tube prevents large air bubbles from bursting at the fluid air interface.

Sanitization Chamber (Figure 1) is a transparent jar made of unbreakable polycarbonate material. It has an airtight lid (Figures 2; 7; 9, Figure 8) which holds the T-tube with aerosol protector. The lid, T-tube and aerosol protector are joined together as a single unit to prevent wrong connections and leakage. Sanitization chamber contains disinfectant solution. Although 0.5% - 1% Sodium hypochlorite solution filled to the desired level is recommended, but any tested liquid disinfectant can be used with this device.

Working method and method of detection:

The working method of this present invention is described here. The device connects to certain face masks which are available commercially. Face mask is applied in manner that it could cover the patient’s mouth and nose and there should not be any leakage of air or breath around the edges of the mask. Inhalation occurs through the inlet port (Figure 4a) of the unidirectional valve (4a) of the adapter (Figure 4). Exhaled air is pushed through the outlet port (4c) of the adapter (Figure 4) into the Dual Channel T-tube (Figure 5) through intake port (5a) connected to the corrugated tube (3). Infected breath enters channel one (5d) terminating in disinfectant solution. Respiratory droplets containing viral particles coalesce with the disinfectant solution thereby exposing viral particles to the disinfectant. The exhaled air bubbles come out of the surface of the disinfectant solution through channel two (5e) towards exit port (5b). Aerosol Protector (Figures 6; 6, Figure 9) traps any aerosol generated while exhaled air bubbles escape towards exit port (5b).

In this novel method, the present invention does not allow the patient’s virus containing exhaled breath to mix up in the environment and therefore the device disinfects the exhaled air internally and only after that it allows to release in to the environment. The device is specially designed to prevent the environment pollution from an infectious agent. This is the most effective device at the time of COVID-19 pandemic to stop spreading the virus in mass scale.

The novelty in the present invention lies in the fact that a comprehensive system which can capture the breath as soon as it comes out from an infected person and sanitize it to deactivate/kill the virus before releasing the breath in to the environment. No such device or mask is disclosed in any of the patents or publications and also online commercial information sources. The technological advancement of the present invention is to disclose a device in the form of a mask wherein the patient’s exhaled breath comes in contact with the disinfectant solution through one-way flow all the way. The respiratory droplets containing viral particles coalesce with the solution here. The exhaled air bubbles come out of the surface of the disinfectant solution. Finally the exhaled air gets disinfected and escapes out from the sanitization chamber through the exit port.

Although facial mask, PPE, sanitizer etc are available to fight with corona viruses, the present invention poses a unique and duly inventive method where the device ceases the infected droplets to release in to the environment in a very definite way. Thus it protects environment as well as healthy people from deadly viruses at the very first step and the environment remains fresh and healthy. Unlike vaccine or wearing masks, it is applied to the sick / infected persons, not to the healthy people.

The present invention is the need of the hour in view of present global crisis. It is very useful in hospital, health care unit, and isolation zone as well as in home. It can be used for a variety of infections that spread through respiratory system. It is an industrially most viable system as on today. The system can be made and sold at an industrial level and the production may run into thousands of such systems.

Claims

A breath isolation and disinfecting device to disinfect the infected breath before release into the air WHEREIN the same consists of : i. A face mask connected to a corrugated tube (Figure 3) through an adaptor (Figure 4) to the sanitization chamber (Figure 1) containing disinfectant solution; ii. Fong flexible Corrugated tube (Figure 3) connected to the intake port (5a) of Dual Channel T-tube (Figure 5) to carry the exhaled (infected) breath to the sanitization chamber (Figure 1). iii. Dual Channel T-tube (Figure 5) having intake port (5a), exit port (5b), dual channel segment (5c) consisting of channel one (5d) and channel two (5e) terminating in the sanitization chamber (Figure 1); iv. The adaptor (Figure 4) having two unidirectional valves (4a, 4c) to control the flow of air/breath with Inlet port (4a) to allow the fresh air to be breathed in or inhaled, Outlet port (4c) through which breathed out (exhaled) air passes, connected to the sanitization chamber (Figure 1) through the corrugated tube (Figure 3); two way respiratory port (4b) connected to the face mask to breathe in and out and Oxygen port (4d); v. An airtight lid (Figures 2; 7; 9, Figure 8) on Sanitization Chamber (Figure 1) to hold the Dual Channel T-tube (Figure 5) with aerosol protector (Figure 6); vi. Aerosol protector (Figure 6) attached to the lower end of the dual channel segment (5c) of the Dual Channel T-tube (Figure 5), to prevent large air bubbles from bursting at the fluid air interface. The method of working of the device as claimed in claim 1 WHEREIN the same consists of following steps: i. Inhalation occurs in the tightly fitted face mask through the inlet port (4a) of the unidirectional valve (4a) of the adapter (Figure 4); ii. Exhaled air is pushed through the outlet port (4c) of the adapter (Figure 4) into the Dual Channel T-tube (Figure 5) through intake port (5a) connected to the corrugated tube (3); iii. Infected breath enters channel one (5d) terminating in disinfectant solution; iv. Respiratory droplets containing viral particles coalesce with the disinfectant solution thereby exposing viral particles to the disinfectant solution; v. The exhaled air bubbles come out of the surface of the disinfectant solution through channel two (5e) towards exit port (5b); vi. Aerosol Protector (6 of Figure 6 and Figure 9) traps any aerosol generated while exhaled air bubbles escape towards exit port (5b). The device as claimed in claim 1 WHEREIN the lid airtight lid (Figures 2; 7; 9, Figure 8), Dual Channel T-tube (Figure 5) and aerosol protector (Figure 6) are joined together as a single unit. The device as claimed in claim 1 WHEREIN lower end of channel one (5d) dips into the disinfectant solution in the sanitization chamber (Figure 1). The device as claimed in claim 1 WHEREIN the oxygen supply line is connected to Oxygen port (Figure 4d) which is normally closed. The device as claimed in claim 1 WHEREIN Aerosol Protector (6 of Figure 6 and Figure 9) is in the form of a perforated disc.