Collapsible isolation apparatus

Abstract

A collapsible personnel isolation apparatus for preventing unwanted contaminations of hazardous biological and chemical materials including a base. A cover connects to the base by way of a zipper. A plurality of glove box ports are provided to allow rapid and convenient treatment of the patient.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A collapsible personnel isolation apparatus comprising: 
 a flexible wall defining an interior region for receiving a patient;    at least one internal support adapted for supporting contact with the flexible wall to hold it away from the patient;    a ventilation port for transmission of air between the interior and an exterior portion and for providing biochemical isolation between the interior and exterior portion.    
     
     
         2 . A collapsible personnel isolation apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said flexible wall comprising polyvinyl chloride.  
     
     
         3 . A collapsible personnel isolation apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said polyvinyl chloride flexible wall has a thickness of about 0.020 in.  
     
     
         4 . A collapsible personnel isolation apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the internal support is held in supporting compression with the flexible wall.  
     
     
         5 . A collapsible personnel isolation apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a second ventilation port; one of said ventilation ports being adapted to admit air to the interior, the other of said ventilation ports being adapted to exhaust air from the interior.  
     
     
         6 . A collapsible personnel isolation apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a glove port terminating in a glove which is biochemically isolated from the interior but which can be used to manipulate objects within the interior.  
     
     
         7 . A collapsible personnel isolation apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a pass-through port formed in a portion of the flexible wall, the pass through port being provided for isolated exchange of items from the exterior to the interior.  
     
     
         8 . A collapsible personnel isolation apparatus further comprising: a filter and blower assembly for chemical and biological environments, the filter and blower assembly being in air transport communication with the ventilation port.  
     
     
         9 . A collapsible personnel isolation apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a zipper enclosure.  
     
     
         10 . A collapsible personnel isolation apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein a plurality of access ports are provided in a lower portion of the flexible wall below the zipper to avoid moving the ports with respect to the patient when the apparatus is opened and closed.  
     
     
         11 . A collapsible personnel isolation apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a flexible base connected to the flexible wall to define the interior, the flexible base being thicker than the flexible wall.  
     
     
         12 . A collapsible personnel isolation apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the flexible base comprises a plurality of handholds formed therein for carrying the personnel isolation apparatus when it is loaded with a patient.  
     
     
         13 . A collapsible personnel isolation apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the flexible base further comprises apparatus formed in the flexible base for engagement by elastic tension members for strapping the flexible base about a stretcher to provide support when carrying a patient within the interior.