FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, relates to a system that provides protection for healthcare professionals in the medical sector from infectious diseases, taking measures to reduce the spread of the disease among society and creating sterile working environments for healthcare professionals and patients.

The invention relates to ensuring the maximum level of personnel, patient, environment and public safety in and in the surrounding of the station where sampling is carried out by allowing the rules regarding distance, time, personal protection and shielding to be followed, particularly in the battle against pandemics such as COVID-19, in processes for taking samples from the patient.

PRIOR ART

Today, there are many sampling cabins in the medical field that are designed and manufactured to receive samples from people with suspected illness in the battle against diseases such as COVID-19. These cabins designed and manufactured to prevent contamination (infection) of the disease, have different properties in terms of material size, shape, quality, the tools and equipment used in the cabins and the methods of using these tools and equipment used in the cabins. Some of these cabinets are designed and manufactured as a closed box (even in some of them, such that the top of the cabin is open) without requiring any additional tools so as to prevent contact between the patient and the person taking the sample. Some of the cabins already used so as to take samples from people with suspected illness, were designed and manufactured by considering the presence of person in the cabin for sampling and the necessity of the hospital personnel to take the sample in the cabin. Furthermore, only devices that create negative pressure environment are used in the cabin in some of these designed and used cabins, in some of them ultraviolet (also called UV or ultraviolet rays) light sources were used so as to provide sterilization in the cabin after sampling. Some of the existing cabins are designed and manufactured by taking into account that the unit in which the swab material used during the sampling process remains in the patient's environment. Telephones with handsets were used so as to provide communication between the person giving the sample and the person taking the sample in some of these designed and manufactured cabins. Also, an isolated glove member was used during the sampling process in some cabins. In addition to these, sampling cabins were used where the healthcare professionals were inside the cabin and the patients were outside the cabin or inside the cabins.

The cabin designs and productions described above continue in this way. The elimination of the risk of contamination (infection) of the disease among individuals, personal protection and shielding rules, personnel, environment, and patient and community safety cannot be ensured at the maximum level with the existing cabins.

In the state of the art, there are systems developed to be used in the battle against infectious diseases. In the literature search, the utility model TR2020/05802 was encountered. After taking patient samples such as throat, nose, nasopharynx, wound, etc. and ambient/environmental samples in the system, for laboratory examinations of COVID-19 and all other viruses and for the diagnosis of viral diseases, a sampling set consisting of a viral transport medium that is placed inside the swab and preserves it until the study in the laboratory is disclosed. The system includes a solution for the protection of swab rod, it does not contain a solution that prevents the spread of infectious disease between healthcare professionals and people who give samples. In the literature search, the patent numbered TR2020/06213 was also encountered. In the system, a disinfection and sterilization cabin that is used in the disinfection and sterilization processes of people, animals and goods at the entrance and exit of all kinds of building, gathering places, public transportation, bus stops and stations is disclosed. In the system, a solution that provides sterilization and isolation at the stage of taking samples required for disease treatment is not disclosed. A smart examination cabinet is disclosed in the utility model application numbered CN210043988U. Electromagnetic signals are sent to the users that enter the cabin in the system and a physical examination report is created by means of the reflected signals. There is no solution in the system that provides sterilization and isolation in the process of taking a sample from a patient by a healthcare professional.

As a result, the abovementioned problems and the problems that cannot be solved in the light of the state of the art have made it necessary to make an improvement in the relevant technical field. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a sampling station with negative pressure and ultraviolet ray in order to eliminate the abovementioned disadvantages and to bring new advantages to the relevant technical field.

The main aim of the invention to minimize contamination (contamination risk) between the hospital personnel who took the sample, the patient candidate and the other people who will be sampled in the same environment after the sample, and to provide a sterile working environment during sampling from people suspected of illness so as to battle against diseases such as coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in hospitals.

Another aim of the invention is to create a system that prevents bacteria and viruses that can spread to the outside environment from leaving the station at a maximum level when the patient opens the door to leave the station by means of the negative pressure environment created in the station at a level that will not harm human health.

Another aim of the invention is to introduce a system that provides fresh air into the station while providing a negative pressure environment inside the station.

Another aim of the invention is to introduce a system that provides maximum sterilization of the air flowing out of the station by means of the UV-C lamp (lamp that can produce 253.7 nm wavelength rays) and pollen filter, which are placed in the outlet unit where the air in the station is evacuated towards the outside of the station which has been continuously operated.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a system that prevents the patients from being exposed to ultraviolet rays by preventing the operation of UV-C lamps while the patient is in the station by means of a motion detecting sensor.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a system that ensures the safety of the patient candidate and healthcare professional by means of isolated glove system and sterilizing solutions.

Another aim of the invention is to develop a system that allows the sample obtained as a result of sampling process using swab material (after the patient leaves the station) and the units where the medical wastes that may occur in the station to be removed outside the station with a movable mechanism. Another aim of the invention is to introduce a system in which the screens outside the station are closed, the negative pressure in the station is maximized and the UV-C lamps inside the station are activated manually after the sampling from the patient is carried out and the patient leaves the station.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a system that ensures maximum sterilization in the station and maximum patient safety for the next sampling process by exposing the environment inside the station to ultraviolet rays using UV-C lamps.

Another aim of the invention is to design a system that allows the maximum negative pressure and the operating time of UV-C lamps to be adjusted to the desired time value both manually and with remote automation during the sterilization process.

A system that provides maximum sterilization is created by automatically turning off the ultraviolet lamps and drawing fresh air into the station after the sterilization process is finished (at the end of the determined period).

Another aim of the invention is to provide a system that gives a warning which indicates that the station cannot be used during the sterilization process and/or indicates that the station can be used after the ultraviolet cleaning process in the station is finished and the internal pressure in the station becomes harmless to human again.

Another aim of the invention is to produce a system that enables the room, environment or booth where the station is placed to be sterilized.

Another aim of the invention is to develop a system that ensures elderly or disabled people to enter the station easily and without difficulty by holding on, and to sit and stand up.

In order to realize all the aims mentioned above and that will emerge from the detailed description below, present invention is a sampling station with negative pressure and ultraviolet ray that prevents the spread of the disease during the studies performed in the battle against infectious diseases. Accordingly, the system comprises the following;

• fan motor that creates a negative pressure environment inside the station,

• insulated gloves that are used for taking sample from within the station and providing isolation between the patient and the healthcare professional,

• sampling drawer that transfers the sample taken from within the station to outside of the station in an isolated manner, • medical waste container that ensures that the medical wastes in the station are taken out of the station in an isolated manner,

• lighting unit that illuminates the environment in the station,

• lamp that produces the rays sterilizing inside of the station and/or the air transferred outside the station during the creation of negative pressure,

• pressure sensor that indicates the change of the air pressure in the station in the negative direction,

• motion detecting sensor that prevents said lamps from operating so as to prevent the patients from being exposed to ultraviolet rays while the patients are in the station,

• HEPA filter that sterilizes the air transferred into the station while creating a negative pressure environment in the station,

• outlet filter that sterilizes the air transferred outside the station while creating a negative pressure environment in the station,

• screen that prevents the ultraviolet rays emitted from the lamps to go out of the station,

• access ramp that allows disabled and/or elderly patients to enter the station,

• disinfectant unit that disinfects said insulated gloves,

• plate that provides both the insulation and the inner section of the station to be visible from the outside during the sampling process in the station,

• door that provides negative pressure tightness and entrance and exit into/from the station,

• coating that is used in the curtain wall system in the design of the station body,

• pressure indicator screen that shows the value of air pressure in the station,

• damper that regulates the sterile air flow entering the station,

• handrail that allows sick and/or elderly people to enter the station without difficulty, allow them to sit and stand up, hang on,

• entryphone that ensures communication with the patient in the station,

• warning unit that gives a warning indicating that the station is not suitable for use while the station is sterilized, and that the station is suitable for use when the station is ready to receive samples,

• automation board; o that controls the cycle of the fan motor so as to ensure maximum vacuum during sterilization with negative pressure level that will not harm human health, o controls the opening and closing of said damper, o ensures the timing of said warning unit, o enables the lamps to be switched on and off depending on the motion detected by the motion sensor.

In order to understand the advantages of the present invention with its structure and additional elements, it shall be evaluated with the following defined figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is the view of the sampling station designed as a single cabinet.

Figure 2 is the view of the sampling station designed as a double cabinet.

Figure 3 is a schematic view showing the location of ultraviolet rays in the electromagnetic spectrum.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 . Fan motor

2. Insulated gloves

3. Sampling drawer

4. Medical waste container

5. Lighting unit

6. Lamp

7. Pressure sensor

8. Motion detecting sensor

9. HEPA filter

10. Outlet filter

11. Screen

12. Access ramp

13. Disinfectant unit

14. Plate

15. Door

16. Coating

17. Pressure indicator screen

18. Automation board

19. Damper

20. Handrail

21. Entryphone DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the inventive novelty is described by means of examples only for clarifying the subject matter such that no limiting effect is created. Our invention is a sampling station with negative pressure and ultraviolet ray that prevents the spread of the disease during the studies performed in the battle against infectious diseases. Accordingly, the system comprises the following; fan motor (1) that creates a negative pressure environment inside the station, insulated gloves (2) that are used for taking sample from within the station and providing isolation between the patient and the healthcare professional, sampling drawer (3) that transfers the sample taken from within the station to the outside of the station in an isolated manner, medical waste container (4) that ensures the medical wastes in the station to be taken out of the station in an isolated manner, lighting unit (5) that illuminates the environment in the station, lamp (6) that produces the rays sterilizing inside of the station and/or the air transferred outside the station during the creation of negative pressure, pressure sensor (7) that indicates the change of the air pressure in the station in the negative direction, motion detecting sensor (8) that prevents said lamps (6) from operating so as to prevent the patients from being exposed to ultraviolet rays while the patients are in the station, HEPA filter (9) that sterilizes the air transferred into the station while creating a negative pressure environment in the station , outlet filter (10) that sterilizes the air transferred outside the station while creating a negative pressure environment in the station , screen (11) that prevents the ultraviolet rays emitted from the lamps (6) to go out of the station, access ramp (12) that allows disabled and/or elderly patients to enter the station, disinfectant unit (13) that disinfects said insulated gloves (2), plate (14) that provides both the insulation and the inner section of the station to be visible from the outside during the sampling process in the station, door (15) that provides negative pressure tightness and entrance and exit into/from the station, coating (16) that is used in the curtain wall system in the design of the station body, pressure indicator screen (17) that shows the value of air pressure in the station, damper (19) that regulates the sterile air flow entering the station, handrail (20) that allows sick and/or elderly people to enter the station without difficulty, allow them to sit and stand up, hold on, entryphone (21) that ensures communication with the patient in the station, warning unit that gives a warning indicating that the station is not suitable for use while the station is sterilized, and that the station is suitable for use when the station is ready to receive samples, automation board (18) that controls the cycle of the fan motor (1) so as to ensure maximum vacuum during sterilization with negative pressure level that will not harm human health, controls the opening and closing of said damper (19), ensures the timing of said warning unit, enables the lamps (6) to be switched on and off depending on the motion detected by the motion detecting sensor (8). In a preferred embodiment of our invention, the said lamp (6) is UV-C lamp that provides ultraviolet light. In a preferred embodiment of our invention, the said plate (14) is characterized by Plexiglas, the said coating (16) is characterized by a double row composite. In a preferred embodiment of our invention, the door (15) used has a multi-lock system, multiple hinges and double-glass so as to provide negative pressure tightness, and is preferably a grey PVC door.

Diagnosis and analysis of COVID-19 are carried out by taking throat and nasal swabs (swab test) from people with suspected illness. During this procedure, events such as sneezing and coughing are observed in people with suspected illness. It is obligatory to work in accordance with internationally applicable rules regarding radiation safety and radiation protection regarding time, distance and shielding (personal protective clothing) in areas where ionizing radiation is used, efforts are made to ensure the maximum level of personnel, patient, environment and community safety with this requirement. Our invention named "Negative Pressure and Ultraviolet Rays Sampling Station" has been put forward so as to battle against pandemics such as COVID-19 etc. based on the idea that radiation protection and radiation safety rules and protection from diseases such as COVID-19 virus and safety rules are very similar.

The radiation concept is divided into two different groups as ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. Ultraviolet (ultraviolet rays) radiation, which is included in the non-ionizing radiation group, is located between visible light and X-rays according to the wavelength. Ultraviolet rays are divided into two groups as far-UV (vacuum-UV, 100-200 nm) and near-UV (200-400 nm) rays with wavelengths between 100 nm and 400 nm. Near-UV rays are divided into three different groups as UV-A (320-400 nm), UV-B (290-320 nm) and UV-C (200-290 nm) (Figure-3). UV radiation is generated by natural and artificial sources. UV radiation generated by the Sun, which is a natural source of radiation, is a part of our life, UV radiation generated by artificial sources is also used for various purposes in many different areas of our lives. UV rays constitute 5% of the rays coming from the sun to our atmosphere. Only UV-A radiation reaches the earth because UV-B and UV-C rays other than UV-A are absorbed by the ozone layer of our atmosphere and we are exposed to this radiation at different rates throughout our lifetime. As a result of the scientific studies, it has been determined that short wavelength and high energy UV rays can kill microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria and that UV-C rays with a wavelength of 253.7 nm (approximately 254 nm) are the most effective ultraviolet light source in destroying these microorganisms. Today, UV rays generated by means of artificial sources are used for the treatment of dermatological diseases such as psoriasis, vitilligo, eczema and skin cancer etc., air and surface disinfection of various areas such as operating rooms, laboratories and biological safety cabins, and disinfection in water treatment facilities and instruments used in various fields.

Negative pressure environment is the name given to the static pressure created in the room by discharging the air in a closed environment (room) from the room by means of a fan. Therefore, it is ensured that the air in the room is evacuated from the room through a duct where only vacuum is made (by means of a fan) and the microorganisms in the room are prevented from passing to different areas outside the room. Today, negative pressure rooms are used in many fields such as medical field due to this property.

It has been developed as two closed systems with single cabin and double cabin with our invention by considering the presence of people with suspected illness in the station during the sampling process (Figure-1 and Figure-2). Our invention prevents bacteria and viruses that can spread to the outside environment from leaving the station at a maximum level when the patient opens the door (15) to leave the station by means of the negative pressure environment created in the station at a level that will not harm human health. Furthermore, fresh air was supplied into the station with the FIEPA filter (9) placed on the ceiling of the station while negative pressure environment is provided inside the station. Maximum sterilization of the air flowing out of the station is provided by means of the lamp (6), which is continuously operating and preferably characterized as a UV-C lamp (lamp that can produce rays with a wavelength of 253.7 nm) placed in the outlet unit where the air in the station is removed towards the outside of the station and by means of and the pollen filter.

A motion detecting sensor (8) circuit has been added so as to prevent the operation of the lamps (6), which are used for sterilization in the station and are preferably characterized as UV-C lamps during sampling process. Thus, the risk of patients being exposed to ultraviolet rays is eliminated by preventing the lamps (6) that are characterized as UV-C lamps as a safety precaution while the patient is in the station. It is provided that the safety of the person suspected of illness and the health personnel is at the maximum level of security by means of using insulated gloves (2) mounted on the station for sampling within the station.

It is ensured that the safety of patient candidates and healthcare personnel is kept at the maximum level by means of the solutions used for the sterilization of isolated gloves (2) during and after sampling in the station. It has been ensured that both patient and personnel safety is at the maximum level by using entryphone (21) so as to communicate with the patient within the station. In addition to this, personnel safety will be kept at the maximum level by taking the sample obtained as a result of sampling process using swab material (after the patient leaves the station) by means of the sampling drawer (3) and the medical waste container (4) where the medical wastes that may occur in the station to be removed outside the station in a movable manner.

A system is designed in which the screens (11) outside the station are closed, the negative pressure in the station is maximized and the lamps (6) inside the station are activated manually after the sampling from the patient is carried out and the patient leaves the station. It will be ensured that patient safety is kept at the maximum level for maximum sterilization within the station and for the next sampling process by using lamps (6) that are characterized as UV-C lamps and exposing the environment inside the station to ultraviolet rays.

Maximum negative pressure and the operating time of the lamps (6) are designed to be adjusted to the desired time value both manually and with remote access automation panel (18) during the sterilization process. Again, a warning unit, which is positioned preferably on the front of the station, is designed to give a warning during sterilization and/or when the station is suitable for use, to indicate that the station is suitable for use so as to indicate that the station cannot be used during the sterilization process. The warning unit gives warning regarding that the station is not ready for use, preferably through red light during sterilization, when the station is suitable for use, it indicates that the station is ready for use, preferably with a green light.

After the sterilization process is completed (at the end of the determined period), patient safety will be ensured to be at the maximum level for the next sampling procedure, ensuring that the lamps (6) turn off automatically and that fresh air is drawn into the station through the HEPA filter (9) placed on the ceiling. In addition to this, patient safety will be kept at the maximum level by means of the ready warning unit giving a warning with a green light after the ultraviolet cleaning process in the station is completed and the internal pressure in the station becomes harmless to human. In addition to these, as a result of all these processes, it will be ensured that the public and environmental safety is kept at the maximum level by sterilizing the room, environment or tent where the station is placed with the continuous operation of the extra ultraviolet lamp placed at the fan motor (1) outlet of the station waiting for the other sampling process, by keeping the dampers (19) of the HEPA filter (9) on the ceiling of the station continuously open during standby. Furthermore, patient safety has been kept at the maximum level by designing the access ramp (12) and handrail (20) units that enable elderly or disabled persons to enter the station easily and without difficulty by holding on, and to sit and stand.