System and method for maintaining, monitoring and/or improving air quality and purity in at least one room or environment

Abstract

A system and method for maintaining, monitoring and improving air quality and purity in a room or environment, such as a hospital room or operating room.

1 . A system for maintaining or monitoring at least one environment having at least one air purifier, said system comprising:
 at least one first input or input means for a user to input at least one of clinical data or physical parameters into a collection system;   at least one second input or sensor associated with said environment for collecting physical data regarding the environment and for inputting it into said collection system;   at least one output for outputting said at least one of clinical or physical parameters and said physical data;   at least one element that uses and processes said at least one of clinical or physical parameters and said physical data in a predetermined format as input from said at least one first input and said at least one second input, respectively, and outputs integrated information; and   said system being adapted to permit a user to use such integrated information to at least one of maintain or improve said at least one of said environment or take at least one action in response to said integrated information;   said integrated information being adapted or used for at least one of research, improving air quality, quality review of said environment or control or notification of at least one issue associated with said environment or said integrated information.   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said at least one action is a service of said air purifier. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 2  wherein said service is changing an air cleaning element in said air purifier. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said at least one action is automatically controlling operation of said air purifier in said at least one environment in response to said integrated information. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said at least one action is using said integrated information for at least one of research, evaluation of air particulate levels, or providing a condition of said at least one environment. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 5  wherein said condition of said at least one environment is at least one of air particulate level, contamination level, cleanliness, temperature, humidity or air quality. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said at least one environment is a room where a patient is located. 
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said at least one environment is an operating room. 
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said clinical data is at least one of patient information and/or identification codes, diagnosis, location identification, clinical event type, clinical event length or clinical event time. 
     
     
         10 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said physical data is at least one of air particulate levels, air quality, temperature, humidity, air purifier functionality, ultraviolet output, air cleaning element condition, air cleaning element identification codes or air purifier identification codes. 
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said at least one action includes at least one of research, air quality control, room contamination evaluation and remediation, air purifier monitoring, air cleaning element quality, air cleaning element reorder, air cleaning element replacement, air cleaning element cleaning, room condition sensing temperature, humidity and/or air quality, record retention of air quality and room conditions, alarm and/or investigation of issues. 
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said at least one sensor comprises at least one of an air particle sensor, an optical sensor, an internal pressure sensor, a humidity sensory and/or a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said air cleaning element may be one of a filter, an electrostatic screen, an ultraviolet light or the like. 
     
     
         14 . A system for improving air quality in at least one hospital room or operating room, said system comprising:
 at least one first input or sensor for inputting for a user to input at least one of clinical data or physical parameters into a collection system;   at least one second input or sensor associated with an environment for collecting physical data regarding said environment and for inputting it into said collection system;   at least one output for outputting said at least one of clinical or physical parameters and said physical data;   at least one element that uses and processes said at least one of clinical or physical parameters and said physical data as input from said at least one first input and said at least one second input, respectively, and outputs integrated information; and   said system being adapted to permit use of such integrated information to take at least one action that at least one of maintains or improves the air quality.   
     
     
         15 . The system as recited in  claim 14  wherein said at least one action is a service of an air purifier. 
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 15  wherein said service is re-ordering a replacement air cleaning element for said air purifier. 
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 15  wherein said service is changing an air cleaning element in said air purifier. 
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 14  wherein said at least one action is automatically controlling operation of an air purifier in said at least one hospital room or operating room in response to said integrated information. 
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 14  wherein said at least one action is using said integrated information for at least one of research, evaluation of air particulate levels, or providing a condition of said at least one hospital room or operating room. 
     
     
         20 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method for maintaining or monitoring at least one environment having at least one air purifier, said method comprising the steps of:
 inputting at least one clinical data or physical parameters into a collection system;   sensing physical data regarding the at least one environment and for inputting it into said collection system;   outputting from said collection system at least one output generated using said at least one of clinical or physical parameters and said physical data;   using at least one element to process said at least one of clinical or physical parameters and said physical data as input from at least one first input and at least one second input, respectively, and outputs integrated information in response thereto; and   using such integrated information to at least one of maintain or improve said at least one of said environment or take at least one action in response to said integrated information;   said integrated information being adapted or used for at least one of research, improving air quality, quality review of said environment or control or notification of at least one issue associated with said environment or said integrated information.   
     
     
         25 - 64 . (canceled)