DE2204443A1 - Device for reducing environmental pollution in medical treatment or diagnosis - Google Patents

Description

4 * 9 · Herne,

Fralligrathstrasse 19

Post office 140

PaL-Aiiw. Hwrmann-Trantapohl

Telephone: 51013 51014

Telegram address: Bahrpatente Herne Telex 08 229 853

Dipl.-Ing. R. H. Bahr Dipl.-Phys. Eduard Botzlor Dipl.-Ing. W. Horrmann-Trontopohl PATENT LAWYERS

2 ^ 04443

1080 Munich 23,

Elsenacher Strasse 17 Pat-Anw. Belzler

Telephone: 39 8011 398012 398013

Telegram address: Babetzpat Munich Telex 05 245 62

> E21SKI <

Bank accounts:

Bayrische Vereinsbank Munich 952287 Dresdner Bank AG Herne 202436 Postal check account Dortmund 55868

^Rei: M0 3369 B / hr

please indicate in the answer

Please send a letter to:

Collection box 3

January 28, 1972

CHAMPION SPARK PLUG COMPANY Toledo, Ohio (USA), 900 Upton Avenue

Device for reducing environmental pollution in medical treatment or diagnosis.

The invention relates to a device for use in medical diagnosis and treatment and is particularly directed to an improved device for administering medical aerosols to a patient without contaminating the environment.

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It is sometimes necessary for the doctor to induce the patient to cough up sputum. However, then precaution must be taken be worn to ensure that the environment is not contaminated as the patient may have an infectious disease can. In some cases, a sample of the sputum must be collected. For example, sputum samples can be used for bacteriological, cytological and mycological diagnosis may be required. A sputum test can also be carried out prove necessary in the course of treatment of tuberculosis and other infectious lung diseases. When inducing a patient to cough up sputum and for other purposes, it is also desirable deliver an aerosol without contaminating the environment. Aerosols can also be used, for example, for the deposition of tracheal bronchial particles or used for cleaning or anesthesia purposes will.

More recently, occupational concerns about the spread of infection in limited, however potentially hazardous environments. The so-called cross contamination, which is either physically caused by a Device is spread out, or emanates from people, is often the subject of discussion in professional Magazines and circles. Because certain types of organisms oppose treatment by a biophysical Process to become resistant by mutation, will interrupt the cross-infection - reinfection in certain

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critical, but vulnerable, environments continue to become more difficult. The development of this symptom of infection goes as far as the knowledge and ability of humans to protect themselves and the organisms not to be passed on unconsciously through daily routine.

In addition, the requirement for protection of personnel working in critical environments against infection was raised and inhalation of aerosol dispersed particles to reinforce. For example, if an aerosol is used during the treatment of a tuberculosis patient, there is a risk that the nursing staff will inhale excess aerosol or through the aerosol ejected by the patient Sputum becomes infected. Other problems arise from the precipitation of sputum and aerosol particles on walls, ceilings, floors and furniture in the clinic, at home and in the clinical environment. It is therefore It is desirable to have a portable or wheeled device for supplying a patient with aerosol safely the contamination of the environment with sputum and excess aerosol.

The object of the invention is therefore to create a device that meets these requirements.

The device improved according to the invention is suitable for the administration of therapeutic or cough-inducing agents Aerosols and for collecting sputum samples without contaminating the environment due to excess aerosol medication or

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coughed up sputum. The expression "sputum" used includes not only coughed up matter, mucus or the like, but also exhaled contaminated aerosols and very small particles.

The device according to the invention comprises a closed housing with an air inlet and an air outlet. An ultra high performance filter is disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet in the housing in accordance with the present invention which removes 99.95 % of one micron and larger particles from the air and preferably at least 99.97 % of 0.3 micron and larger particles from the air. A fan is provided between the filter and the air outlet which forces air to flow through the air inlet, the filter and the air outlet. A cap or attachment is removably attached to the housing to direct air, sputum and aerosol particles into the air inlet.

In a preferred embodiment, there is the filter a disposable large particle filter, a disposable pre-filter and a disposable ultra high performance filter. The large particle filter is removed after each use of the device according to the invention, while the Pre-filter periodically at comparatively short intervals, for example every 30 days, and the ultra-high-performance filter be removed and thrown away periodically at longer time intervals, for example every year. · If necessary, samples of coughed up sputum can be placed in a removable container near the filter inlet to be collected.

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The housing of the device according to the invention is adjustably mounted on a portable trolley. The location of the housing can be adjusted to the patient, for example when he is sitting or lying in bed or in sitting in a chair. A common nebulizer, preferably an ultrasonic nebulizer is also on the cart arranged. Part of the filtered, the air outlet Leaving air is fed to the nebuliser through an adjustable control valve. An aerosol delivery tube leads from the nebulizer to a bracket on the housing. An aerosol delivery tube is removable on the Feed tube attaches and extends into the confines of the attachment. The control valve is used to adjust the density of the aerosol supplied to the attachment.

During normal use, the attachment, aerosol delivery tube and large particle filter are through Aerosol, exhaled air and sputum contaminated. Each of these parts is made of cheap material and easily replaceable and destroyed by burning. The pre-filter and the ultra-high-performance filter will be not replaced every time after using the device. However, in the case of highly toxic aerosols or highly infectious ones If organisms are present, then pre-filters, ultra-high-performance filters and housings can also be thrown away. In these cases, only the blower, cart, and nebulizer remain as parts. Let these parts clean themselves by gas sterilization, however not contaminated with normal use.

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The invention therefore mainly provides an improved apparatus for controlling environmental contamination created by aerosols delivered to a patient or from similar medical procedural steps be administered here.

The device according to the invention is also suitable for taking up sputum while reducing the environmental contamination from the taken up sputum.

The device according to the invention also reduces environmental contamination during inhalation therapy reduced because all contaminated parts of the device can be destroyed.

The invention also provides an air filter device for reducing urine contamination during administration an aerosol to a patient, using the filtered exhaled air from the device to do so Is used to supply the aerosol.

Further objects and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawings.

The drawings show in

1 shows a perspective view of a device according to the invention for supplying an aerosol to a patient with simultaneous

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prevention of environmental contamination from sputum, exhaled air and excess aerosol;

FIG. 2 shows a vertical section through the device according to FIG. 1 with omission of an explanatory note necessary parts;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the device of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a rear view of the device of Fig. 2;

5 shows a partial section through a control valve for discharging part of the filtered exhaled Air to a nebulizer.

In the drawing, the following reference symbols are used to designate certain parts:

10 device 28 rigid plate

11 patient 29 opening

12 housing 30 fans

13 hood 31 switches

14 nebulizer 33 power cord

15 chassis 34 screws

16 Hose 37 Attachment wire frame

17 Supply hose 38 End of frame

18 drain hose 39 extended end

19 enlarged opening 40 wire loop

20 rear end of the housing 41 connection piece

23 feet 42 opening

24 wheels 43 filter system

25 stands 44 ultra high performance filters

26 support spigot 45 coarse particle filter

27 Air inlet 46 pre-filter

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47 control valve

48 inlet member

49 connecting link

In FIG. 1, 10 denotes the device according to the invention for delivering medical aerosols to a patient 11 without contamination of the environment. The device 10 generally includes a housing 12 for receiving a filter and a blower, a hood 13, and a nebulizer 14 mounted on a chassis 15. While the operation of the device is highly filtered and thus clean breathing air from the housing 12 through a Hose 16 fed to nebulizer 14. The nebulizer 14 delivers an aerosol through a delivery tube 17 and a discharge hose 18 within the limits of the Hood 13.

The patient 11 sits with his face in the vicinity of the enlarged opening 19 of the hood 13. The patient 11 inhales a concentrated aerosol from the hose 18, which provokes a cough in him. If the If patient 11 is stimulated to cough, he exhales violently and can release sputum into the hood 13. Room air, Exhaled air, sputum and excess aerosol are drawn into the housing 12 where the Air is filtered up and cleaned. The filtered air is discharged at the rear end of the housing 20, wherein some of the air is diverted into the hose 16.

The chassis 15 includes a foot 23 on which wheels 24 are mounted to make the chassis movable do. On the foot 23 is a pair of parallel perpendicular ones

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Stand 25 attached The housing 12 is with the help of support pins 26 between the stands 25 and on them adjustable attached. The support pins 26 allow vertical and angular adjustment of the position of the housing 12 to facilitate the use of the device 10 with patients in a wide variety of positions, for example lying in bed or sitting in bed or on a chair. The nebulizer 14 is also on one of the Stand 25 attached.

The nebulizer 14 may be any suitable commercially available device, for example a suitable nebulizer in U.S. Patent 3,387,607. In cases where an aerosol is not required to deliver The nebulizer 14 can also be omitted for sputum to induce an urge to cough.

The device 10 according to the invention is shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 to 4. The housing 12 consists generally from a box of relatively inexpensive, disposable material, for example Plywood. At one end of the housing 12 there is an air inlet 27, while a rigid plate 28 is the other The end of the housing 12 closes. An opening 29 in the plate 28 forms an air outlet. A common blower 30, for example a squirrel-cage blower, is mounted on the plate 28 and sucks air through the hood 13 and the housing 12 to expel them through the outlet 29. A switch 31 is on the plate 28 to control the fan 3 mounted. On the rigid plate 28 there is also a console 32 for receiving a power cable 33 for the Device 10 when not in use. The plate 28 is removable from the housing 12 by means of screws 34 mounted so that the plate 28 and the fan 30 together

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Gas sterilization or attachment to a new housing 12 can be removed for maintenance. All lasting Parts of the device 10 are mounted either on the chassis 15 or on the plate 28.

An attachment frame 37 is at the end 38 by ßchnappeingriff in the air inlet 27 of the housing 1? attached. The hood 13 preferably consists of an inner sheet a clear synthetic resin material. the Hood 13 is attached to housing 12 by folding over the end of frame 37 and inserting end 38 into the air inlet 27 where it is held in place by friction and pressure. An extended end 39 of the hood 13 is over an enlarged wire loop ^ O folded, showing a protruding Forms the end of the frame 37 and delimits the opening 19. The frame 37 is preferably made of rigid Wire made and coated with a synthetic resin, which prevents corrosion and is easy to clean and disinfection. The aerosol discharge hose 18 becomes detachable by a connector 41 in place held, which is attached to the housing 12 and the hose 17. The hose 18 extends through a corresponding sized opening 42 in the hood 13- The aerosol evacuation hose 18 is made of an inexpensive disposable material such as a synthetic resin and designed so that the dispensed aerosol is directional. A disposable clip can be used to to give the tube 18 a desired shape and to hold it in place. The hose 10 is from the connection

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piece 41 removable land with the hood 13 after each use of the device 10 is disposable.

A filter system 43 is provided in the housing 12 and is used to remove particles from the air flowing through the housing 12. The heart of the filter system A3 is an ultra high performance filter 44 which removes substantially all of the particles from the air flowing through the housing 12. In a preferred embodiment, the ultra high performance filter 44 removes at least 99.95 % of particles one micron in size and above from the air during in a particularly preferred embodiment, the performance of the filter 44 is increased such that it retains at least 99.97 % of particles 0.3 microns and larger. Filters of this type are commercially available and made from cellulosic asbestos fiber paper, glass and glass asbestos fiber papers, ceramic fiber papers, compression glass fibers, or composite beds of glass wool pads. Because ultra high performance filters of this type have a higher flow resistance than less efficient filters, the filter is usually pleated to create an increased filter surface area in a small frontal area. The ultra-high performance filter 44 is disposable and can be replaced when it is loaded with the airborne particles. In order to reduce the load on the filter kk , a large part filter 4'5 and a prefilter k6 are arranged upstream of the ultra-high-performance filter 44. The large part filter 45 can, for example, be a

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contain equally thin mat made of rayon fibers, while the pre-filter 46 consists of a thicker glass fiber screen. The large part filter 45 is after each Use of the device 10 is thrown away while the pre-filter 46 is only replaced periodically, for example every day.

2, 4 and 5 is a control valve 47 for deflecting a preselected and controllable part of the Air coming from the fan 30 can be seen in the air hose 16, which leads to the nebuliser 14. The control valve 47 contains an inlet chamber 48 which is arranged in the direction of the fan outlet. The air flows through the inlet 48 and the valve 47 directly into the hose 16. The valve 47 also contains a Closure member 49 which can be rotated with the aid of a knob. The closure member 49 can be between an open position according to FIG. 5 and a closed position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 5. The closure member 49 can be adjusted with the button 50 so that a regulated air flow in the hose 16 for supplying a predetermined aerosol concentration to the hood 13 results. Will the aerosol is not required and if the nebulizer 14 is omitted, the valve 47 can of course also be omitted.

Of course, various changes and modifications can be made to the subject matter of the invention, without departing from the scope of the invention.

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Claims (11)

Claims 1. A device for reducing environmental pollution in medical treatment or diagnosis, characterized by a closed housing (12) with an air inlet (27) and an air outlet (29); a replaceable and disposable hood (13) releasably placed (at 37) on the housing (12) around the inlet (27) and allowing air and sputum to enter the inlet (27); G _e in the housing (12) arranged between inlet (28) and outlet (29) filters (43, 44, 45), which remove from the air passing through the housing (12) air all of the particles having a particle size about one micron; a fan, (30) in the housing (12) between the filter (43, 44, 45) and the outlet (29), the air flow inwards through the hood (13), the inlet (27), the filter (43, 44 , 45) and forcing the air outlet (29) to flow; and optionally by means (14, 17, 18) for supplying an aerosol to be inhaled by the patient in the hood (13). 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, with a device for supplying a patient to be inhaled in the hood Aerosol, characterized by an aerosol supply hose (17) outside the hood (13) and a disposable aerosol tube part (18) an outlet lying within the limits of the hood (13), the inlet of which is connected via a connecting piece (41) is connected to the aerosol supply hose (17). - 14 209837/1046 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the disposable aerosol discharge hose (18 ') is adjustable so that the aerosol in a certain direction within the limits of the hood (13) exit. 4. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by an ultra-high-performance filter (44) for removing at least 99.97 % of all particles of 0.3 microns and larger entrained by the housing from the air. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that that the filter system (43) a disposable coarse particle filter (45) and means for assembly of the coarse particle filter between the air inlet (27) and the ultra-high-performance filter (44), the coarse particle filter reduces the load on the ultra-high-performance filter. 6. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the device for supplying the aerosol (14) is an ultrasonic nebulizer and devices (47) for supplying each regulated air flow to the ultrasonic nebulizer is provided. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the means for feeding a controlled air flow to the ultrasonic nebulizer from one 209837 / 10A5 adjustable valve (47), a hose line (16) and devices connecting the valve (47) to the nebuliser (14) (50) to adjust the valve (47) consist of a regulated proportion of the filtered, the fan to divert leaving air into the hose (16). 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 _t characterized in that the nebuliser (13) is connected directly to the delivery tube (17) is connected to the via the connecting piece (41) of the disposable aerosol drainage tube (18) into the interior of the hood ( 13) flows out. 9. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by a chassis (15) to which the housing (12) is attached (at 26) and by means for adjusting the Position of the hood (13) for receiving sputum from the patient (11). 10. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the G _e housing (12) is disposable. 11. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by a frame (37) for the hood (13) made of a disposable thin film of synthetic resin material. 209837 / 104S