Isolator

Abstract

An isolator includes: a chamber to be decontaminated including an inlet and an outlet provided with intake and discharge filters, respectively; first and second flow paths through which outside air is taken into the chamber and gas in the chamber is discharged via the intake and discharge filters, respectively; a first blower to take in the outside air to the chamber through the first flow path, and produce an air current to discharge the gas through the second flow path; a decontaminating-gas-supply unit to supply decontaminating gas into the chamber without flowing through the intake and discharge filters; a third flow path to connect the intake and discharge filters at an exterior of the chamber; and a second blower to produce an air current to circulate the gas through the intake and discharge filters and third flow path, when the decontaminating gas is supplied to the chamber.

1 . An isolator comprising:
 a chamber to be decontaminated including an inlet provided with an intake filter and an outlet provided with a discharge filter;   a first flow path through which outside air is taken into the chamber to be decontaminated via the intake filter;   a second flow path through which gas in the chamber to be decontaminated is discharged via the discharge filter;   a first blower configured to take in the outside air to the chamber to be decontaminated through the first flow path, as well as produce an air current to discharge the gas in the chamber to be decontaminated through the second flow path;   a decontaminating gas supply unit configured to supply decontaminating gas into the chamber to be decontaminated without flowing through the intake filter and the discharge filter;   a third flow path configured to connect the intake filter and the discharge filter at an exterior of the chamber to be decontaminated; and   a second blower configured to produce an air current to circulate the gas in the chamber to be decontaminated through the intake filter, the discharge filter, and the third flow path, when the decontaminating gas is supplied to the chamber to be decontaminated.   
     
     
         2 . The isolator according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first valve configured to open/close the first flow path; 
 a second valve configured to open/close the second flow path; 
 a third valve configured to open/close the third flow path; and 
 a control unit configured to drive the second blower as well as open the third valve in a state where the first and the second valves are closed, so that the gas in the chamber to be decontaminated is circulated, in a case where the decontaminating gas is supplied into the chamber to be decontaminated. 
 
     
     
         3 . The isolator according to  claim 2  further comprising:
 a fourth flow path through which the gas in the chamber to be decontaminated is discharged via the discharge filter; 
 a fourth valve configured to open/close the fourth flow path; 
 a detoxifying unit provided on the second flow path, the detoxifying unit configured to reduce an amount of a decontamination material contained in the decontaminating gas, to be rendered harmless; 
 a pressure sensor configured to measure an internal pressure of the chamber to be decontaminated, wherein 
 the second valve is provided between the detoxifying unit and the discharge filter, 
 the fourth flow path is configured to connect the discharge filter and a flow path, in the second flow path, between the detoxifying unit and the second valve, and 
 the control unit is further configured to, in a case where the decontaminating gas is supplied into the chamber to be decontaminated, control opening/closing of the fourth valve based on a measurement result of the pressure sensor, so that the gas in the chamber to be decontaminated is circulated while the internal pressure of the chamber to be decontaminated is adjusted to a predetermined positive pressure. 
 
     
     
         4 . The isolator according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the decontaminating gas supply unit includes a compressor configured to supply compressed gas, and an atomizer configured to produce the decontaminating gas by mixing the compressed gas and the decontamination material, wherein   the decontaminating gas supply unit is configured to, after supplying the decontaminating gas into the chamber to be decontaminated, supply only the compressed gas thereinto, and wherein   the control unit is configured to circulate the gas in the chamber to be decontaminated while the internal pressure of the chamber to be decontaminated is adjusted to the predetermined positive pressure, in a case where, after the decontaminating gas is supplied into the chamber to be decontaminated, only the compressed gas is supplied thereinto.   
     
     
         5 . The isolator according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the control unit is configured to close the first, the second, and the fourth valves, and open the third valve, and   the decontaminating gas supply unit is configured to supply only the compressed gas into the chamber to be decontaminated,   in a case where airtightness of the chamber to be decontaminated is tested based on the internal pressure of the chamber to be decontaminated measured by the pressure sensor.   
     
     
         6 . The isolator according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the third flow path includes a flow path common to one of the first flow path and the second flow path, and   the second blower is provided on the flow path common to one of the first flow path and the second flow path, and also serves as the first blower.   
     
     
         7 . The isolator according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the third flow path includes a flow path common to one of the first flow path and the second flow path, and   the second blower is provided on the flow path common to one of the first flow path and the second flow path, and also serves as the first blower.   
     
     
         8 . The isolator according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the third flow path includes a flow path common to one of the first flow path and the second flow path, and   the second blower is provided on the flow path common to one of the first flow path and the second flow path, and also serves as the first blower.   
     
     
         9 . The isolator according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the third flow path includes a flow path common to one of the first flow path and the second flow path, and   the second blower is provided on the flow path common to one of the first flow path and the second flow path, and also serves as the first blower.   
     
     
         10 . The isolator according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the third flow path includes a flow path common to one of the first flow path and the second flow path, and   the second blower is provided on the flow path common to one of the first flow path and the second flow path, and also serves as the first blower.