Chemical, biological, and radiological containment bag

Abstract

An isolation apparatus for transporting and storing objects or human remains. The apparatus is formed of a flexible, foldable, opaque, generally box-like enclosure fabricated of a fiber reinforced plastic film, and welded together to form a sealed, air-tight and/or liquid-tight enclosure. A gas and liquid sealing zipper is positioned along three of four sides of the enclosure, thereby allowing the apparatus to open in a clamshell or suitcase-like manner, for easy access to the interior of the enclosure. An NBC and/or a CBRN filter can be mounted to the apparatus to allow for release of pressure from within the enclosure. An interior liner made of chemical protective fabric can be placed within the enclosure for additional chemical containment. This apparatus eliminates or significantly reduces the size and number of cracks, crevices and/or other voids into which contaminated materials can enter, for example by positioning, sizing and/or structuring welds to extend completely to an edge of the isolation apparatus, and/or by welding materials together entirely around one or more peripheries.

1 . An isolation apparatus for transporting a contaminated object or person, comprising:
 an enclosure including a plurality of flexible panels defining a transport chamber for receiving the contaminated object or person and a closable opening providing access to the transport chamber;   a gas tight and liquid tight fastener for closing the closable opening; and   an interior liner disposed within the transport chamber, the interior liner comprising a chemical protective fabric for forming a chemical protective barrier between the contaminated object or person and at least a portion of the enclosure.   
     
     
         2 . The isolation apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of enclosure fasteners on an inside surface of the enclosure for securing the interior liner to the enclosure. 
     
     
         3 . The isolation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the chemical protective fabric comprises a chemical adsorptive or absorptive material, carbon spheres, or activated charcoal. 
     
     
         4 . The isolation apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an exhaust port in combination with the enclosure for venting gas within the transport chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The isolation apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the exhaust port includes a first end within the transport chamber and a second end opposite the first end and external of the transport chamber, at least one of the first end and the second end having a fitting for securing a filter thereto. 
     
     
         6 . The isolation apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising at least one filter connectable to at least one of the first end or the second end of the exhaust port. 
     
     
         7 . The isolation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of flexible panels comprises a fiber reinforced plastic film. 
     
     
         8 . The isolation apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of flexible panels comprises a bottom panel, a side panel, and a top panel, a bottom end of the side panel is welded about a periphery of the bottom panel, at least a portion of the top panel is welded to at least a portion of the side panel, and the closable opening extends adjacent a portion of a periphery of the top panel. 
     
     
         9 . The isolation apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the liner comprises a shroud including a bottom shroud panel, a side shroud panel connected about a periphery of the bottom shroud panel, and a top shroud panel having a portion connected to a portion of the side shroud panel. 
     
     
         10 . The isolation apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the closable opening is formed in the side panel. 
     
     
         11 . The isolation apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of straps attached to an outside surface of the bottom panel of the enclosure. 
     
     
         12 . The isolation apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the gas tight and liquid tight fastener comprises a zipper. 
     
     
         13 . The isolation apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a locking strap attached to an exterior of the enclosure at an end of the gas tight and liquid tight fastener for securing the fastener in a closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The isolation apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the zipper comprises a zipper chain extending between two opposing end stops, and further comprising a zipper reinforcement member attached over the zipper chain in an area adjacent to at least one of the opposing end stops. 
     
     
         15 . An isolation apparatus for transporting a contaminated object or person, comprising:
 a plurality of flexible panels defining a transport chamber for receiving the contaminated object or person;   a closable opening providing access to the transport chamber;   a gas tight and liquid tight slider assembly for closing the closable opening;   an exhaust port for venting gas within the transport chamber, the exhaust port including a first end within the transport chamber and a second end opposite the first end and external of the transport chamber, at least one of the first end and the second end having a fitting for securing a filter thereto; and   an interior liner disposed within the transport chamber, the interior liner comprising a chemical protective fabric for forming a chemical protective barrier between the contaminated object or person and at least a portion of the enclosure, the chemical protective fabric including carbon spheres or activated charcoal.   
     
     
         16 . The isolation apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of flexible panels comprises a bottom panel, a side panel about a periphery of the bottom panel, and a top panel having a portion connected to a portion of the side panel, and the liner comprises a shroud including a bottom shroud panel, a side shroud panel connected about a periphery of the bottom shroud panel, and a top shroud panel having a portion connected to a portion of the side shroud panel. 
     
     
         17 . The isolation apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of flexible panels comprises an enclosure fastener on an inside surface for securing to a corresponding panel of the interior shroud. 
     
     
         18 . The isolation apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the gas tight and liquid tight fastener comprises a pressure sealed zipper. 
     
     
         19 . An isolation apparatus for transporting a contaminated object or person, comprising:
 a flexible enclosure defining a transport chamber for receiving the contaminated object or person, the enclosure comprising a bottom panel, a side panel welded about a periphery of the bottom panel, and a top panel having a portion welded to a portion of the side panel, the side panel including a closable opening providing access to the transport chamber, and each of the bottom panel, the side panel, and the top panel formed at least in part from a fiber reinforced plastic film;   a gas tight and liquid tight slider assembly in combination with the closable opening;   an exhaust port for venting gas within the transport chamber, the exhaust port including a first end within the transport chamber and a second end opposite the first end and external of the transport chamber, each of the first end and second ends having a fitting for securing a filter thereto; and   an interior liner disposed within the transport chamber, the interior liner comprising a chemical protective fabric for forming a chemical protective barrier between the contaminated object or person and at least a portion of the enclosure, the chemical protective fabric including carbon spheres or activated charcoal.   
     
     
         20 . The isolation apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the liner comprises a shroud including a bottom shroud panel, a side shroud panel connected about a periphery of the bottom shroud panel, and a top shroud panel having a portion connected to a portion of the side shroud panel, and each of the bottom shroud panel, the side shroud panel, and the top shroud panel is secured by a fastener to a corresponding one of the bottom panel, the side panel, or the top panel of the enclosure.