Isolation Shelter Pressurized to Avoid Transfer of Contaminants Between an Isolation Space and the Outside Environment

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

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] 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.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] 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. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] 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 Tor...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] 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.

Problems solved by technology

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.

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.

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