Air-cleaning device and method for arranging air cleaning in sensitive environments

• US 6,811,593 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2002
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toul Meditech AB (SurgiCube International BV)
• Original Assignee: Toul Meditech AB (SurgiCube International BV)
• Inventors: Hansson, Tomas, Hörnqvist, Ulf
• Primary Examiner(s): Spitzer, Robert H.
• Application Number:
  US10/149,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20030150328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 952/73, 952/87, 962/24, 962/25, 553/56, 553/851, 553/852, 554/71, 554/10--16, 554/73, 55D/IG.29
• US Class Current: 95/273
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/108 Means providing sterile air at a surgical operation table or area treatment rooms A61G10/00; instruments or implements for sterile operation A61B90/00; sterilisation of air A61L9/00; purification of air in air-conditioning systems F24F3/16, F24F8/00
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/12 transportable
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/163 Clean air work stations, i.e. selected areas within a space which filtered air is passed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/29 Air curtains

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air-cleaning device for air cleaning in sensitive environments such as operating rooms, drug manufacture, microchip production (processing industry) and similar areas. More specifically, the present invention relates to an air-cleaning device that allows for precise distribution and flow rate within sensitive environments by utilizing a combination of adjustable air ducts, filters, and air distribution which is mobile and changeable.

Claims

1. A method of arranging air cleaning in sensitive environments, comprising arranging a clean-air assembly in an air-cleaning device and arranging an exhaust-air distributing unit at the clean-air assembly, comprising the steps of:

arranging a screen at the exhaust-air distributing unit;

positioning said screen substantially vertically to provide a substantially horizontal laminar/low-turbulent airflow;

controlling the velocity of the clean air through the screen, by an angled distribution plate located adjacent to the screen, so that the clean air flows at at least two different velocities which are generated at one of two separate locations at the screen; and

arranging the air-cleaning device as a unit mobile in a room, whereby said exhaust-air distributing unit can be moved and directed in such way that said laminar/low-turbulent airflow is distributed where it is desired in the room.

8. The air-cleaning device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one filter is arranged in said exhaust-air distributing unit and comprising pressure-fall increasing means.

2. A movable air-cleaning device for air cleaning in sensitive environments comprising a clean-air assembly with an inlet, through which air is sucked in from a ventilated room by means of a fan arranged in the clean-air assembly,

an adjustably arranged air duct, the adjustably arranged air duct transporting air from said clean-air assembly to the clean-air assembly arranged exhaust-air distributing unit;

at least one filter is further arranged in the air-cleaning device for air cleaning;

a screen arranged in said exhaust-air distributing unit for clean-air distribution and positioned substantially vertically to provide a substantially horizontal laminar/low-turbulent airflow; and

an angled distribution plate provided adjacent to said screen and controls the velocity of the clean air through the screen so that the clean air flows at at least two different velocities, each different velocity being generated at one of two separate locations on the screen, said air-cleaning device being a unit arranged to be mobile in a room, whereby said exhaust-air distributing unit can be moved and directed in such way that a laminar/low-turbulent airflow is distributed where desired in the room.

3. The air-cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the angled distribution plate is arranged in the screen to provide exhaust air with higher velocity in a center of the screen compared to velocities at the edges of the screen.

4. The air-cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the angled distribution plate is arranged in the screen, the exhaust air at the edges of the screen having a direction different from said laminar airflow distributed from an area around a central area of the screen.

5. The air-cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein said air-cleaning device is arranged at an instrument table or an operating table used for surgical operations.

6. The air-cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein a disinfecting, bacteria-eliminating chamber is arranged within said clean-air assembly.

7. The air-cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein said adjustably arranged air duct is arranged at an articulated system of arms, movable in x-, y- and z-direction.

9. The air-cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein a detachable front is arranged adjacent to the screen, the front covering a substantial portion of an air-emitting surface of the screen.