Negative pressure protection system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for providing protection to at least an extremital portion of a body against environments containing hazardous materials, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) an extremity enclosure having an extremity enclosure opening, wherein the extremity enclosure is fluid-impermeable, is not adversely affected by the hazardous materials, and is of a size and shape adapted to be placed over and enclose the extremital portion of the body;
(b) extremity enclosure sealing means to seal the extremity enclosure opening, so that negative pressure may be maintained in the volume surrounding the extremital portion of the body within the extremity enclosure; and
(c) negative pressure supply means, wherein the negative pressure supply means operably connects a negative pressure supply source to the extremity enclosure, so that negative pressure may be supplied to the volume within the extremity enclosure by the negative pressure supply source.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A negative pressure protective system is provided for protection of persons (including animals) from harmful environments, such as environments containing hazardous materials. In one aspect, the system provides for protection of extremities, such as hands, wrists, feet and ankles, by enclosing the extremities with an extremity enclosure that is maintained at negative pressure or a vacuum. The system may also provide for an extremity liner and sensors to monitor conditions in the enclosure. The enclosure may also be used in conjunction with environmentally controlled enclosures, such as may be used in laboratories. In other aspects, the system provides for a partial body casing that encloses the torso and a portion of the neck, arms and legs. The partial body casing may be used with head, hand or foot casings that are also under negative pressure. In still other aspects, the system provides for a whole body casing, which is maintained at negative pressure and encloses the entire body, except for the head and a portion of the neck.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing protection to at least an extremital portion of a body against environments containing hazardous materials, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) an extremity enclosure having an extremity enclosure opening, wherein the extremity enclosure is fluid-impermeable, is not adversely affected by the hazardous materials, and is of a size and shape adapted to be placed over and enclose the extremital portion of the body; (b) extremity enclosure sealing means to seal the extremity enclosure opening, so that negative pressure may be maintained in the volume surrounding the extremital portion of the body within the extremity enclosure; and (c) negative pressure supply means, wherein the negative pressure supply means operably connects a negative pressure supply source to the extremity enclosure, so that negative pressure may be supplied to the volume within the extremity enclosure by the negative pressure supply source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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15-22. -22. (canceled)
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25. (canceled)
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29-31. -31. (canceled)
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38-39. -39. (canceled)
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44-52. -52. (canceled)
Specification