Portable apparatus for establishing an isolation field

Abstract

Apparatus and methods of their use are described herein. In an aspect, an apparatus includes: a structure defining an aperture at an engagement surface configured to reversibly seal to a surface on an individual body, and further defining an isolation field; at least one gas port; one or more gas inlets operably attached to the at least one gas port, the one or more gas inlets oriented to maintain a non-turbulent gas flow traversing at least a part of the surface on the individual body; one or more gas outlets distally positioned on the structure from the one or more gas inlets, the one or more outlets configured to release a gas from the isolation field while maintaining a positive pressure in the isolation field relative to the outside environment of the structure; and at least one sealable access site.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 119 . (canceled) 
     
     
         120 . A method for establishing an isolation field around a medical site, comprising:
 sealably coupling an apparatus over a medical site on an individual body to define an isolation field;   maintaining a non-turbulent flow of gas within the apparatus; and   outietting a gas from the apparatus through one or more gas outlets while maintaining a positive pressure within the isolation field.   
     
     
         121 . The method of  claim 120 , wherein sealably coupling an apparatus over a medical site comprises:
 sealing an adhesive film over a surface of the medical site.   
     
     
         122 . The method of  claim 120 , wherein sealably coupling an apparatus over a medical site comprises:
 removing a cover from the apparatus; and   sealing an adhesive film over a surface of the medical site.   
     
     
         123 . The method of  claim 120 , wherein sealably coupling an apparatus over a medical site comprises:
 employing suction to adhere the apparatus to the circumference of the medical site.   
     
     
         124 . The method of  claim 120 , wherein sealably coupling an apparatus over a medical site comprises:
 sealably coupling the apparatus around the circumference of the medical site.   
     
     
         125 . The method of  claim 120 , wherein maintaining a non-turbulent flow of gas within the apparatus comprises:
 maintaining a unidirectional streamline flow of gas.   
     
     
         126 . The method of  claim 120 , wherein maintaining a non-turbulent flow of gas within the apparatus comprises:
 maintaining the non-turbulent flow of gas in a net flow direction across a surface of the medical site.   
     
     
         127 . The method of  claim 120 , wherein maintaining a non-turbulent flow of gas within the apparatus comprises:
 maintaining the non-turbulent flow of gas in a direction substantially parallel to a surface of the medical site.   
     
     
         128 . The method of  claim 120 , wherein maintaining a non-turbulent flow of gas within the apparatus comprises:
 directing the gas from a plurality of gas inlets within the apparatus.   
     
     
         129 . The method of  claim 120 , wherein maintaining a non-turbulent flow of gas within the apparatus comprises:
 maintaining a non-turbulent flow of a gas configured for suppressing a chemical reaction.   
     
     
         130 .- 131 . (canceled) 
     
     
         132 . The method of  claim 120 , wherein maintaining a non-turbulent flow of gas within the apparatus comprises:
 maintaining a non-turbulent flow of a gas at a temperature below an ambient temperature of the apparatus.   
     
     
         133 . The method of  claim 120 , wherein maintaining a non-turbulent flow of gas within the apparatus comprises:
 adjusting the relative flow rate and direction of the non-turbulent flow of gas relative to the medical site.   
     
     
         134 . The method of  claim 120 , wherein maintaining a non-turbulent flow of gas within the apparatus comprises:
 altering the composition of gas included in the non-turbulent flow of gas.   
     
     
         135 . The method of  claim 120 , wherein maintaining a non-turbulent flow of gas within the apparatus comprises:
 removing one or more contaminants from the medical site with the non-turbulent flow of gas.   
     
     
         136 . The method of  claim 120 , wherein outletting gas from the apparatus through one or more gas outlets while maintaining a positive pressure within the isolation field comprises:
 outletting gas through a filter configured to substantially remove particulate matter from the gas flowing through the filter.   
     
     
         137 . The method of  claim 120 , wherein outletting gas from the apparatus through one or more gas outlets while maintaining a positive pressure within the isolation field comprises:
 outletting gas through a HEPA filter.   
     
     
         138 . The method of  claim 120 , comprising:
 providing at least one sealable access site in the apparatus sufficient for insertion of at least one human finger.   
     
     
         139 . The method of  claim 120 , comprising:
 providing at least one sealable access site in the apparatus sufficient for insertion of at least one medical instrument.   
     
     
         140 . The method of  claim 120 , comprising:
 providing at least one sealable access site in the apparatus sufficient for insertion of at least one human finger; and   providing at least one sealable access site in the apparatus sufficient for insertion of at least one medical instrument.   
     
     
         141 . The method of  claim 120 , comprising:
 providing at least one first sealable access site in the apparatus sufficient for insertion of at least one medical instrument; and   providing at least one second sealable access site in the apparatus sufficient for insertion of at least one second medical instrument.   
     
     
         142 . The method of  claim 120 , comprising:
 providing at least one removable cover mated to a sealable access site in the apparatus.   
     
     
         143 . The method of  claim 120 , comprising:
 increasing the flow rate of the non-turbulent flow of gas.   
     
     
         144 . The method of  claim 120 , comprising:
 releasing aerosol into the non-turbulent flow of gas.   
     
     
         145 . The method of  claim 120 , comprising:
 releasing aerosol into the isolation field.   
     
     
         146 . The method of  claim 120 , comprising:
 decreasing the positive pressure within the isolation field.   
     
     
         147 . The method of  claim 120 , comprising:
 stabilizing the position of the apparatus relative to the medical site with a restraining unit.   
     
     
         148 . (canceled) 
     
     
         149 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a structure defining an aperture at an engagement surface configured to reversibly seal proximate to a wound surface on an individual body, the structure including a flexible material and a frame configured to support the flexible material;   at least one gas port;   one or more gas inlets operably attached to the at least one gas port, the one or more gas inlets oriented to maintain a non-turbulent gas flow traversing at least a part of the wound surface on the individual body;   one or more gas outlets distally positioned on the structure from the one or more gas inlets, the one or more gas outlets configured to release a as from the isolation field while maintaining positive pressure in the isolation field relative to an outside environment of the structure; and   at least one sealable access site.   
     
     
         150 . The apparatus of  claim 149 , wherein the structure including a flexible material and a frame configured to support the flexible material comprises:
 a frame including a plurality of ring-like units that are flexibly interconnected and configured to provide radial support to the structure.   
     
     
         151 . The apparatus of  claim 149 , wherein the structure including a flexible material and a frame configured to support the flexible material comprises:
 a frame including one or more joints, the one or more joints positioned along the outer edge of the structure and configured to reversibly lock into position during expansion or compression of the structure.   
     
     
         152 . The apparatus of  claim 149 , wherein the at least one gas port comprises:
 a filter.   
     
     
         153 . The apparatus of  claim 149 , wherein the one or more gas outlets comprise:
 a filter.   
     
     
         154 . The apparatus of  claim 149 , comprising:
 a reservoir coupled to the at least one gas port.   
     
     
         155 . The apparatus of  claim 149 , comprising:
 an electronic controller operably connected to the at least one gas port.   
     
     
         156 . The apparatus of  claim 149 , comprising:
 an electronic controller operably connected to the one or more gas outlets.   
     
     
         157 . The apparatus of  claim 149 , comprising:
 one or more sensors; and   an electronic controller operably connected to the one or more sensors.   
     
     
         158 . The apparatus of  claim 149 , comprising:
 an antenna; and   an electronic controller operably connected to the antenna.   
     
     
         159 . The apparatus of  claim 149 , comprising:
 one or more electronic data storage devices.   
     
     
         160 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a structure defining an aperture at an engagement surface configured to reversibly seal to a surface on an individual body, and further defining an isolation field;   at least one sealable access site;   at least one gas port including a valve;   one or more gas inlets operably attached to the at least one gas port, the one or more gas inlets oriented to maintain a non-turbulent gas flow traversing at least a part of the surface on the individual body;   one or more gas outlets distally positioned on the structure from the one or more gas inlets, the one or more gas outlets configured to release a gas from the isolation field while maintaining positive pressure in the isolation field relative to an outside environment of the structure; and   an electronic controller operably connected to the valve.   
     
     
         161 . The apparatus of  claim 160 , further comprising:
 a reservoir coupled to the at least one gas port.   
     
     
         162 . The apparatus of  claim 160 , further comprising:
 an antenna operably connected to the electronic controller.   
     
     
         163 . The apparatus of  claim 160 , further comprising:
 one or more electronic data storage devices.   
     
     
         164 . The apparatus of  claim 160 , further comprising:
 a power source attached to the electronic controller.   
     
     
         165 . The apparatus of  claim 160 , further comprising:
 one or more sensors attached to the electronic controller.