PROCEDURES AND ISOLATION CHAMBER

Cross-Reference to Related Application

[0001] This application is based upon and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/015,146, filed on April 24, 2020, and entitled “Portable Negative-Pressure Medical/Dental Procedures And Isolation Cham ber”. The entire content of this application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention.

[0002] The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods for perform ing dental and/or medical procedures on a patient wherein both the patient and the dentist or doctor are protected from cross-contamination via substantial isolation by a portable, disposable, transparent negative-pressure medi cal/dental procedures and isolation chamber.

Description of Related Art

[0003] Various forms of negative-pressure medical/dental procedure and iso lation devices have existed in the prior art for performing various medical procedures on a patient. One example is shown in US 6,508,850 which is di rected to a Clean Air Tent System. Another such device is shown in United States Patent 7406978 directed to an Environmental Containment Unit.

[0004] A further prior art example is set forth in US 2011/0000484 Al, which is directed to Vascular Therapy Using Negative Pressure; US 9,956,325 B2 is directed a Canister for a Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Device; and, US 7,479,103 B2 is directed to a Portable Procedures and Enclosure device.

[0005] Other prior art devices and methods include US 2010/0044372 Al, which is directed to Portable Collapsible Chem./Bio. Isolators; and, US 2017/0231848, which is directed to Medical Procedures and Transport Sys tems. [0006] A Kalamazoo, Michigan company, Schupan Aluminum and Plastic

Sales, has similarly disclosed an acrylic cube that is open at the base and the side facing the patient’s body. See https://www.woodtv.com/health/corona- vims/kalamazoo-company-makes-cube-to-protect-hospital-staff- from-covid- 19/.

[0007] Whereas, yet another device is a Portable Procedures Bed for moving infected patients, wherein the collapsible isolator is maintained under negative pressure, and having an exhaust system equipped with HEPA filter treated with bactericidal enzymes. See http://www.nihonika.co.jp/en/t/e_cib- 2000s.htm

[0008] However, such prior art devices and methods have had a number of defects and deficiencies, which are substantially ameliorated by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] In some preferred examples or embodiments, a portable, transparent negative-pressure medical/dental procedures isolation chamber fits over the patient's head, neck, torso or other parts of the body that allows the medical professionals to work on the patient, for example in a dental chair, while de creasing the risk of airborne transmission of transmissible diseases, such as COVID-19 and tuberculosis, but would also protect the staff and surrounding people from exposure to toxic substances, such as when dentists remove amal gam fillings that contain mercury.

[0010] The inventive chamber device hereof provides a clean air source to the interior thereof that uses commercially available air purification devices and provides an outflow device that pulls air out of the chamber and into an air filtration/purification system that, in turn, discharges clean air into the envi ronment — all, while creating and maintaining a negative-pressure environ ment inside the chamber device.

[0011] The device has access holes that allow diaphragmatic entry points and sleeved entry into the interior of the chamber for performing procedures on the patient and allowing instruments and materials necessary for treating the patient. [0012] The diaphragms and sleeves are disposable and the device can be easily sanitized between patients to allow rapid turnover of operatories while still maintaining a safer environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.

[0013] Various examples are described herein in conjunction with the follow ing figures, wherein:

[0014] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing in this embodiment the chamber device disposed over the head and neck of the patient, with the chamber device having a frame and transparent walls, and including therein a plurality of access arches or holes (for hoses and the like), and a plurality of diaphragmatic entry points therein to provide access for the gloved hands of the dentist or surgeon, and further showing and air purification system, such as for example and with out limita tion HEPA and/or UV or other suitable air filter input and output elements; and [0015] Fig. 2 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the chamber device, having transparent walls with access arches or holes, and a plurality of diaphragmatic entry points therein, and yet further showing a disposable and flexible patient covering.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] This invention hereof may take many different forms. The drawings and the description of the invention detail several preferred embodiments of the invention. It should be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered as but an example of the principles of the invention. The disclosure is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

[0017] Referring now to the Figures 1 and 2, in one illustrated preferred example or embodiment, a portable, transparent negative-pressure medical/dental procedures and isolation chamber generally 10 (hereinafter sometimes “the chamber device 10”), that fits in this example over the patient's head and neck 12, is shown. However, the invention is not limited to any particular part of the body, inasmuch as for example a leg that is infected may benefit materially from use of the present inventive structure and methods. This structure per mits the medical professionals (such as, for example, dentists, surgeons, nurses, etc.) to work on the patient’s head area and/or neck areas 12a, 12b. One example would be a patient disposed within a dental chair for dental treatment.

[0018] The portable, transparent negative-pressure medical/dental procedures and isolation chamber 10 of the present invention functions (i) to materially decrease the risk of airborne transmission of transmissible diseases, such as COVID-19 and tuberculosis, but also, (ii) to protect the staff and surrounding persons from exposure to toxic substances, such as for example when dentists remove amalgam fillings that contain mercury.

[0019] The chamber device 10 would provide a clean air input source 14, such as for example a HEPA and/or UV or other suitable air filter source, connected by an input-hose 14a to the interior 16 thereof, and an outflow air filtration/pu rification system device 18, such as a HEPA and/or UV or other suitable air filter filtration and decontamination source, connected to chamber device 10 by output-hose 18a that pulls air out of interior 16 of chamber 10 and into an air filtration/purification system 18, that then discharges clean air into the en vironment 20 while creating and maintaining a negative-pressure environment in interior 16 of chamber device 10 to remove bacteria, viruses, and toxic sub stances therefrom.

[0020] Chamber device 10, which may be formed in this embodiment from a substantially rigid frame 21 and transparent walls 22 of polycarbonate or acrylic or other suitable transparent and sufficiently rigid substances, has a plurality of access arches or holes 24a and 24b thereinto and plurality of dia phragmatic entry points 26a and 26b and sleeved entry ports 27a and 27b in transparent walls 22, to provide access into interior 16 of chamber 10 to permit medical and/or dental procedures to be performed on the patient. Such sleeved entry ports 27a, 27b may thus have gloves sealed around sleeved entry port peripheries 27c thereof. Transparent walls 22 may preferably further include an instrument hatch 28 for allowing entry thereinto of instruments and mate rials necessary for treating the patient.

[0021] The frame 21 may have disposable two-sided tape 30 disposed on the lower edge thereof to provide a modicum of a seal, in order to maintain a substantial negative pressure within chamber device 10, although such sealing function of chamber device 10 need not be air-tight due to the negative pres sure therewithin. Of course, when the procedure upon a patient has been completed, such two-sided tape may be removed and discarded, whereupon the non-disposable elements of the invention comprising the chamber 10 and the in-put and out-put hoses 14a and 18a may be disinfected with suitable means known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant medical fields.

[0022] Referring now to Fig. 2, in other preferred embodiments, a disposable and flexible patient covering 32 may be provided to cover substantially the entirety of the patient’s head and neck areas 12a, 12b. Such patient covering 32 includes sealing means 32a disposed at the periphery thereof to seal-off the patients head and neck area 12a, 12b.

[0023] The diaphragms 26 and sleeves 28 are formed from suitable disposable materials, which are known in the art. Accordingly, chamber device 10 can be easily sanitized between patients to allow rapid turnover of operatories, while still maintaining a safer environment. Deposable diaphragms 26, sleeves 28, patient cover 32 and a patient wipe (not shown) may be provided in a sealed kit to facilitate efficient use of the invention hereof.

[0024] Reference in the specification to, “embodiments”, “examples,” “vari ous examples,” “some examples,” etc. means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the examples is included m at least one example of the invention. The appearances of the above- referenced phrases in various places in die specification are not necessarily all referring to the same example. Reference to examples is intended to disclose examples, rather than limit the claimed invention. While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to several examples, it will be understood by persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and details can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0025] It should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention.

[0026] It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of example embodiments of the present disclosure have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present disclosure, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, other elements, such as, for example, details of system architecture. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that these and other elements may be desirable for practice of various aspects of the present examples. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present disclosure, a discussion of such elements is not necessary to be provided herein.

[0027] It can be appreciated that, in some examples of the present methods and systems disclosed herein, a single component can be replaced by multiple components, and multiple components replaced by a single component.

[0028] Except where such substitution would not be operative to practice the present methods and system s, such substitution is within the scope of the present disclosure. Examples presented herein, including operational examples, are intended to illustrate potential implementations of the present method and system examples. It can be appreciated that such examples are intended primarily for purposes of illustration. No particular aspect or aspects of the example method, product, and/or system examples described herein are intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0029] These descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the ail: to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. A method is here, and generally, conceived to be a sequence of actions (instructions) leading to a desired result. The actions are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. The present disclosure also relates to an apparatus for performing the operations herein.

[0030] Specific embodiments have been illustrated and described. Numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the subsequent Claims.