Medical air treatment device

Abstract

An air treatment device having a flexible air hose, duct or gooseneck member. The air hose, duct or gooseneck member permits an inlet end thereof to be positioned in proximity to a patient so that a negative pressure can be created around the patient so that air can sucked or vacuumed into the system whereupon it is treated as the air flows through the system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air treatment system for use during a surgical procedure in a room, said air treatment system comprising:
 a housing having an inlet and an outlet;   an air treatment device located in said housing for at least one of filtering an airflow or irradiating said airflow before it exits said outlet; and   an air hose or duct adapted to be mounted to said housing in communication with said inlet, said air hose or duct having an inlet end for situating in proximity to a patient situated in said room; and   an airflow generator for mounting in said housing for generating an air stream between said inlet and said outlet and for creating a negative pressure or vacuum in said air hose or duct;   said airflow generator generating an airflow through said air hose or duct to create a negative pressure around a patient during said surgical procedure.   
     
     
         2 . The air treatment system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said inlet end comprises a removable nozzle that can be moved or adjusted to a predetermined position by a user. 
     
     
         3 . The air treatment system as recited in  claim 2  wherein said nozzle has a nozzle end having a nozzle inlet area that is greater than a cross sectional area of said air hose or duct where said nozzle is coupled to said air hose or duct. 
     
     
         4 . The air treatment system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said air hose or duct has at least a portion that is at least one of flexible, pivotable or rotatable. 
     
     
         5 . The air treatment system as recited in  claim 2  wherein said nozzle is removable or detachable from said air hose or duct and comprises a filter element. 
     
     
         6 . The air treatment system as recited in  claim 1  wherein air treatment device comprises a chemical or irradiator for inactivating airborne microbes within said air stream as said air stream flows between said inlet and said outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The air treatment system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said air treatment system is portable. 
     
     
         8 . The air treatment system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said air treatment device comprises an air filtration system and at least one of a chemical or irradiating biocidal remover for reducing or eliminating unwanted pathogens in said air stream. 
     
     
         9 . The air treatment system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said air treatment device located in said housing filters said air stream and also irradiates said air stream to at least one of filtering said airflow or irradiating said airflow before it exits said outlet. 
     
     
         10 . The air treatment system as recited in  claim 8  wherein said air filtration system comprises at least one airflow interrupter for interrupting said air stream to facilitate said at least one of said chemical or irradiating biocidal remover, said at least one airflow interrupter reducing at least one of an air velocity of said air stream or a linearity of a flow of said air stream. 
     
     
         11 . The air treatment system as recited in  claim 10  wherein said air filtration system comprises a plurality of airflow interrupters, said plurality of airflow interrupters comprising a plurality of discrete, randomly oriented and radiation-transmitting objects. 
     
     
         12 . The air treatment system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said outlet is at least one of adapted to be fitted to a duct in said room or to re-introduce treated air into a surrounding space in said room. 
     
     
         13 . The air treatment system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said air treatment system is adapted for use in a room that is not an operating room. 
     
     
         14 . The air treatment system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said airflow generator comprises a centrifugal blower. 
     
     
         15 . The air treatment system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said air hose or duct is extendable. 
     
     
         16 . The air treatment system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said air hose or duct is elongated and semi-rigid with a plurality of areas for permitting a position of said inlet end to be situated in proximity to the patient. 
     
     
         17 . The air treatment system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said air hose or duct is an articulating and flexible gooseneck member. 
     
     
         18 . A mobile air treatment device for use with a patient undergoing a procedure, said mobile air treatment device comprising:
 a cabinet that comprises wheels and is portable;   a nozzle that is adapted to be positioned in proximity to the patient;   means for creating a vacuum or negative pressure at said nozzle; and   an air treatment device located in said cabinet for at least one of filtering an airflow or irradiating said airflow before it exits said cabinet.   
     
     
         19 . The mobile air treatment device as recited in  claim 18  wherein said cabinet comprises an adjustable duct arm having said nozzle removably mounted thereon and coupling said nozzle to said cabinet, said adjustable duct arm being moveable by a user when positioning said nozzle in proximity to the patient. 
     
     
         20 . The mobile air treatment device as recited in  claim 19  wherein said cabinet comprises a flexible or semi-rigid hose or duct having an inlet end coupled to said nozzle and an outlet end coupled to said cabinet, said flexible or semi-rigid hose or duct being moveable or adjustable to a predetermined position by a user. 
     
     
         21 . The mobile air treatment device as recited in  claim 19  wherein said nozzle has a nozzle end having a nozzle inlet area that is greater than a cross sectional area of said adjustable duct arm where said nozzle is coupled to said adjustable duct arm. 
     
     
         22 . The mobile air treatment device as recited in  claim 19  wherein said adjustable duct arm has at least a portion that is flexible or pivotable. 
     
     
         23 . The mobile air treatment device as recited in  claim 20  wherein said nozzle is removable or detachable from said adjustable duct arm and comprises a filter element. 
     
     
         24 . The mobile air treatment device as recited in  claim 18  wherein air treatment device comprises a chemical or irradiator for inactivating airborne microbes within said airflow as said airflow flows between an inlet and an outlet. 
     
     
         25 . The mobile air treatment device as recited in  claim 18  wherein said air treatment device comprises an air filtration system and at least one of a chemical or irradiating biocidal remover for reducing or eliminating unwanted pathogens in said airflow. 
     
     
         26 . The mobile air treatment device as recited in  claim 18  wherein said air treatment device located in said cabinet filters said airflow and also irradiates said airflow to at least one of filtering said airflow or irradiating said airflow before it exits an outlet. 
     
     
         27 . The mobile air treatment device as recited in  claim 25  wherein said air treatment device comprises at least one airflow interrupter for interrupting said airflow to facilitate said at least one of said chemical or irradiating biocidal remover, said at least one airflow interrupter reducing at least one of an air velocity of said airflow or a linearity of a flow of said airflow. 
     
     
         28 . The mobile air treatment device as recited in  claim 27  wherein said air treatment device comprises a plurality of airflow interrupters, said plurality of airflow interrupters comprising a plurality of discrete, randomly oriented and radiation-transmitting objects. 
     
     
         29 . The mobile air treatment device as recited in  claim 18  wherein said cabinet comprises an outlet that is at least one of adapted to be fitted to a duct in a room where the patient is located or to re-introduce treated air into a surrounding space in said room. 
     
     
         30 . The mobile air treatment device as recited in  claim 18  in combination with a room that is primarily a patient room and not a surgical operating room. 
     
     
         31 . The mobile air treatment device as recited in  claim 18  wherein said cabinet comprises an airflow generator for creating said vacuum or negative pressure. 
     
     
         32 . The air treatment system as recited in  claim 18  wherein said adjustable duct arm is extendable. 
     
     
         33 . The air treatment system as recited in  claim 18  wherein said adjustable duct arm is elongated and semi-rigid with a plurality of areas for permitting a position of an inlet end to be situated in proximity to the patient. 
     
     
         34 . The air treatment system as recited in  claim 18  wherein said adjustable duct arm is an articulating and flexible gooseneck member. 
     
     
         35 . An air treatment device which comprises:
 a flexible air hose with an open nozzle at one end comprising an air inlet;   a means for generating a vacuum within said air hose;   a filtration means for filtering an air stream emerging from said air hose;   a means for the chemical or radiation based inactivation of airborne microbes within said air stream; and   at least one of an air outlet adapted for re-entry of treated air into a surrounding space and/or an air outlet adapted for mounting an air duct.   
     
     
         36 . A mobile cabinet comprising:
 a mounting for an air hose;   a vacuum generating means;   an inactivation means;   an air outlet;   an air treatment device wherein a nozzle is removable and disposable, said nozzle being of a larger external diameter than said air hose;   wherein said nozzle contains an air filtration element;   wherein said air hose is semi-rigid and can be re-positioned;   wherein said vacuum generating means is a centrifugal blower;   wherein said inactivation means comprises an irradiation chamber;   wherein said irradiation chamber comprises means for reducing air velocity and linearity;   wherein said irradiation chamber comprises a multitude of discrete, randomly oriented, radiation-transmitting objects.   
     
     
         37 . A method for treating air around a patient comprising:
 placing a nozzle in proximity to a patient, said nozzle connected to an air hose;   generating a vacuum in said air hose, creating a localized negative air pressure in the proximity of said nozzle;   drawing contaminants arising from the patient and in patient proximity into said nozzle;   treating said contaminants by filtration means;   treating said contaminants further by biocidal irradiation or chemical means;   venting of treated air into the room, or into a duct.