Flexible walk-in environmental enclosure

• US 20030133834A1
• Filed: 01/16/2003
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Sterilizer Company (Steris Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Steris Corporation
• Inventors: Karle, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,189,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/206 Ethylene oxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/208 Hydrogen peroxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/26 Accessories or devices or components used for biocidal treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/122 Chambers for sterilisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 17/00 Methods preventing fouling preventing accumulation of deposits in pneumatic conveyors B65G53/521

Abstract

An enclosure assembly (10, 10, 10) includes a framework (12) formed from structural members and a flexible transparent enclosure (14) which provides an enclosed space for isolation and or treatment of patients, equipment, and the like. A treatment material, such as hydrogen peroxide or other gaseous or vapor sterilant, may be fed to the enclosure to microbially decontaminate or otherwise treat the equipment. The enclosure is quickly assembled and disassembled after use, making it suitable for treatment of large pieces of equipment which are not readily moved or which are too large to be accommodated conventional sterilization equipment.

Claims

1. A method of isolating and treating an item comprising:

enclosing the item in an enclosure assembly including;

assembling a framework, the framework being sized to surround the item;

hanging a flexible enclosure on the framework, the flexible enclosure defining, at least in part, an enclosed space, at least one fluid supply passage being connected with the enclosure for supplying a treatment fluid thereto;

isolating the item within the enclosed space;

connecting the fluid supply passage with a source of the treatment fluid; and

supplying the treatment fluid to the enclosed space to treat the item.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after the step of supplying the treatment fluid to the enclosure, removing the enclosure from the framework and disassembling the framework.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of assembling the framework includes connecting together a plurality of elongate members.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of hanging the flexible enclosure on the framework includes:

suspending the flexible enclosure from upper elongate member by a plurality of tabs.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of enclosing the item within the enclosed space comprises:

sealing a lower end of the flexible enclosure to an associated floor surface to provide a substantially airtight enclosed space around the item.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to the step of supplying the treatment fluid to the enclosure, testing the enclosure to ensure that it is at least substantially airtight.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the enclosure includes a plurality of flexible panels, joined together at seams thereof.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the flexible panels include a top panel, at least one side panel, and a floor panel, which together define the enclosed space.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the flexible panels includes a door formed, at least in part, by a rail-type zipper, the method comprising selectively opening the door to provide access to the enclosed space.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the flexible panels includes an inner layer and an outer layer which define an interior wall space therebetween, the method further comprising:

supplying a fluid at positive pressure to the interior wall space.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

one of heating and cooling the fluid before the fluid enters the interior wall space.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment fluid includes an antimicrobial gas or vapor.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the antimicrobial gas or vapor includes hydrogen peroxide.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one fluid outlet passage is connected with the flexible enclosure for passing treatment fluid out of the flexible enclosure and the method includes removing treatment fluid from the enclosure via the fluid outlet passage.

15. The method of claim 14, further including:

propelling the treatment fluid throughout the enclosure and into difficult to access portions of the item.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein a support panel is mounted to the framework and supports a connector, connected with the fluid supply passage, for selectively connecting the fluid supply passage with a fluid supply conduit which is connected with the source of the treatment fluid, the step of connecting the fluid supply passage with the source of treatment fluid includes selectively connecting the connector with the fluid supply conduit.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the support panel further includes a second connector for connecting a sensor within the enclosure with monitoring equipment, the method further comprising:

selectively connecting the sensor with the monitoring equipment via the second connector; and

monitoring environmental conditions within the enclosure with the sensor.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the flexible enclosure is formed from an airtight material.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the source of treatment fluid includes a vaporizer for converting a liquid to the treatment fluid, the method further including:

vaporizing the liquid to form the treatment fluid; and

transporting the treatment fluid to the enclosure in a flow of a carrier gas.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the source of treatment fluid is supported by a movable cart and the method comprises:

positioning the cart adjacent the enclosure.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the cart also supports at least one of:

a source of a carrier gas;

a reservoir of a liquid;

a vaporizer for converting the liquid to the treatment fluid;

a pump for pumping the liquid to the vaporizer;

a catalytic converter for decomposing spent treatment fluid which has passed through the enclosure;

monitoring equipment for monitoring environmental conditions within the enclosure, the environmental conditions including at least one of temperature, pressure, and concentration of at least one component of the treatment fluid.

22. A walk-in enclosure assembly comprising:

a framework;

a flexible enclosure hung on the framework which defines, at least in part, a substantially airtight enclosed space; and

a fluid supply passage fluidly connected with the enclosed space for supplying the enclosed space with a microbial decontaminant.

23. The enclosure assembly of claim 22, wherein the framework includes a plurality of poles selectively held together by interconnecting pieces.

24. The enclosure assembly of claim 22, wherein the flexible enclosure is transparent.

25. The enclosure assembly of claim 22, wherein the flexible enclosure is formed from an airtight material which is impervious to strong oxidants.

26. The enclosure assembly of claim 22, wherein the flexible enclosure is formed from a plurality of flexible panels joined together by seams.

27. The enclosure assembly of claim 26, wherein at least one of the flexible panels includes a door defined by a zipper which is selectively openable to provide access to the enclosed space.

28. The enclosure assembly of claim 26, wherein the enclosed space is defined, at least in part, by an associated floor surface and wherein at least one flap extends from the flexible panels, the flap being configured for being sealed to the floor surface.

29. The enclosure assembly of claim 26, wherein at least one of the flexible panels includes an inner layer and an outer layer which define an interior wall space therebetween.

30. The enclosure assembly of claim 29, further comprising a source of gas fluidly connected with the interior wall space which supplies a gas under positive pressure to the interior wall space.

31. The enclosure assembly of claim 29, further comprising a temperature element which selectively heats or cools the gas before entering the interior wall space.

32. The enclosure assembly of claim 22, further comprising a support panel mounted to the framework, the support panel carrying a connection which selectively connects a fluid supply conduit, exterior to the enclosure, with the fluid supply passage for supplying the decontaminant fluid to the enclosed space.

33. A decontaminant system comprising:

a portable framework;

a flexible enclosure hung on the framework which defines at least a part of an enclosed space;

a source of a microbial decontaminant;

a fluid flowpath fluidly connecting the source of microbial decontaminant with the enclosed space for supplying the enclosed space with a decontaminant fluid.

34. The decontaminant system of claim 33, wherein the fluid flowpath includes a fluid conduit exterior to the enclosure which is fluidly connected with the source of decontaminant and a fluid supply passage, which enters the enclosure, the system further including a connector, mounted to the framework, for selectively fluidly connecting the fluid conduit and the fluid supply passage.

35. The decontaminant system of claim 33, wherein the source of microbial decontaminant includes:

a reservoir containing a liquid;

a vaporizer for vaporizing the liquid to form the microbial decontaminant;

the system further comprising;

a source of carrier gas for mixing with the vaporized microbial decontaminant and transporting the vaporized microbial decontaminant to the enclosure.

36. The decontaminant system of claim 35, further comprising a cart, at least one of the reservoir, vaporizer and source of carrier gas being mounted on the cart.

37. The decontaminant system of claim 33, wherein the enclosure is configured for maintaining a positive pressure such that when air at a pressure equivalent to about 3.81 cm water is supplied to the enclosure, the enclosure maintains a pressure equivalent to at least 2 cm water for at least five minutes after the air supply is disconnected.

38. The decontaminant system of claim 33, further including:

a fluid exhaust flowpath, connected with the enclosure, through which spent microbial decontaminant exits the enclosure.

39. The decontaminant system of claim 33, further including:

a support panel mounted to the framework, the support panel carrying;

a first connection which selectively connects a fluid supply conduit, exterior to the enclosure, with a fluid supply passage to form the fluid supply flowpath; and

a second connection which selectively connects a fluid passage, connected with the enclosure, with an outlet conduit to form the fluid exhaust flowpath.

40. The decontaminant system of claim 39, wherein the support panel supports a connection for selectively connecting a sensor within the enclosure with monitoring means, outside the enclosure.

41. The decontaminant system of claim 33, further including:

a circulation means, disposed within the enclosure, for circulating the microbial decontaminant throughout the enclosed space.

42. The decontaminant system of claim 41, wherein the circulation means includes a fan.