Devices, systems, and methods for protecting healthcare workers from airborne pathogens

Abstract

An isolation barrier and method of using it. The isolation barrier includes a mask with a face opening and at least one access opening in front of the subject's nose and/or mouth and an enclosure having a first enclosure opening attached around the access opening, a second enclosure opening, and flexible material extending from the first enclosure opening to the second enclosure opening and defining an enclosure interior, the flexible material comprising at least one area through which the enclosure interior can be viewed, the mask and enclosure interior defining a medical procedure field extending from the subject's nose and mouth to the second enclosure opening when the isolation barrier is in place on the subject's face.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An isolation barrier comprising:
 a mask comprising a face opening adapted to rest against the subject's face around a subject's nose and mouth and an access opening opposite to the face opening, the access opening being arranged and configured to be in front of the subject's nose and/or mouth when the mask rests on the subject's face and to provide access to the subject's nose and/or mouth, the mask extending away from the face opening to the access opening to form an interior mask volume between the access opening and the face opening;   a feature adapted to hold the mask on the subject's face; and   an enclosure comprising a first enclosure opening attached around the access opening, a second enclosure opening, and an enclosure volume extending between the first and second enclosure openings, the interior mask volume and enclosure volume defining a medical procedure field configured to extend from the subject's nose and mouth to the second enclosure opening when the isolation barrier is in place on the subject's face.   
     
     
         2 . The isolation barrier of  claim 1  wherein the enclosure further comprises flexible material extending from the first enclosure opening to the second enclosure opening and defining an enclosure interior, the flexible material comprising at least one area through which the enclosure interior can be viewed. 
     
     
         3 . The isolation barrier of  claim 1  wherein the second enclosure opening is larger than the first enclosure opening. 
     
     
         4 . The isolation barrier of  claim 1  wherein the enclosure defines an expanded maximum internal volume of greater than 0.8 liters. 
     
     
         5 . The isolation barrier of  claim 1  wherein the second enclosure opening has a cross-sectional area greater than 20 cm 2 . 
     
     
         6 . The isolation barrier of  claim 1  wherein the enclosure has an area greater than or equal to an area of the access opening. 
     
     
         7 . The isolation barrier of  claim 1  wherein the access opening has a cross-sectional area greater than 5 mm 2 . 
     
     
         8 . The isolation barrier of  claim 1  wherein the mask comprises a nose portion adapted to extend over, and rest on, a bridge of the subject's nose and a chin portion adapted to rest at least partially beneath the subject's chin. 
     
     
         9 . The isolation barrier of  claim 8  wherein the mask further comprises a front portion extending from and along the nose portion, the chin portion, and the access opening. 
     
     
         10 . The isolation barrier of  claim 8  wherein at least one of the nose portion and the chin portion comprises flexible fabric. 
     
     
         11 . The isolation barrier of  claim 1  wherein the mask comprises a seal adapted to engage the subject's face and configured to prevent air from moving between the mask and the subject's face. 
     
     
         12 . The isolation barrier of  claim 1  wherein the mask further comprises a port adapted to connect a volume between the mask and the subject's face to a negative pressure source. 
     
     
         13 . The isolation barrier of  claim 1  wherein the mask further comprises a one-way valve adapted to permit air to enter through a port to a volume between the mask and the subject's face and to prevent air from leaving the volume between the mask and the subject's face through the port. 
     
     
         14 . The isolation barrier of  claim 1  further comprising a seal disposed between the first enclosure opening and the access opening.