Critical care backup vacuum system and method of use

Abstract

ModuleVide™ takes a unique approach to sustaining vacuum service in Critical Zones within a hospital or other medical facility. This solution relates to a medical facility with a main vacuum plant connected via a main piping with branches that deliver vacuum to different areas within the facility. Critical Zone branches off the central vacuum piping system are augmented with integrated branch backup vacuum generating devices (ModuleVide™). Upon failure of vacuum in the branch piping, the ModuleVide™ activates to reestablish vacuum service in that branch piping segment. The branch of piping may for example correspond to the surgical theater suit of a hospital. The vacuum capacity of the ModuleVide™ is sized to match the specific Critical Zone branch's expected demand.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical vacuum apparatus for supplying medical vacuum to a portion of a medical vacuum piping network in a medical facility, the apparatus comprising:
 a) a vacuum generating device (A) capable of causing a negative pressure within piping in fluid communication therewith (P),   b) wherein the vacuum generating device (A) is fluidly connected to the portion of the medical vacuum piping network (P) in the medical facility,   c) an isolation valve (C 2 , AV 2 ) configured to fluidically isolate the portion of the medical vacuum piping network (P) in the medical facility from a remainder of the medical vacuum piping network (P) in the medical facility,   d) the isolation valve (C 2 , AV 2 ) further configured to fluidically isolate the portion of the medical vacuum piping network (P) upon loss of vacuum in the medical vacuum piping network (P) resulting in a pre-determined vacuum pressure.   
     
     
         2 . The medical vacuum apparatus for supplying medical vacuum to the portion of the medical vacuum piping network in a medical facility of  claim 1 , the apparatus further comprising an isolation valve (C 1 , AV 1 ) configured to fluidically isolate the vacuum generating device (A) when a vacuum pressure in the portion of the medical vacuum piping network (P) remains below the pre-determined vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         3 . The medical vacuum apparatus for supplying medical vacuum to the portion of the medical vacuum piping network in a medical facility of  claim 1 , the apparatus further comprising a bacteriological filter configured to remove bacteria and particulates from air passing through the portion of the medical vacuum piping network (P) in the medical facility fluidically connected to the vacuum generating device (A). 
     
     
         4 . The medical vacuum apparatus for supplying medical vacuum to the portion of the medical vacuum piping network in the medical facility of  claim 1 , further comprising a zone alarm (D) configured to measure the level of vacuum in the medical vacuum piping network in the medical facility and further configured to detect the pre-determined vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         5 . The medical vacuum apparatus for supplying medical vacuum to the portion of the medical vacuum piping network in the medical facility of  claim 4 , wherein the zone alarm (D) is configured to communicate to the vacuum generating device (A) that the zone alarm (D) has detected of a loss of vacuum below the pre-determined vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The medical vacuum apparatus for supplying medical vacuum to a portion of the medical vacuum piping network in the medical facility of  claim 5 , wherein the vacuum generating device (A) is configured to operate to create a vacuum within the portion of the medical vacuum piping network in the medical facility upon receiving a communication from the zone alarm (D) that the zone alarm (D) has detected of a loss of vacuum below the pre-determined vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         7 . The medical vacuum apparatus for supplying medical vacuum to a portion of the medical vacuum piping network in the medical facility of  claim 2 , wherein the isolation valves (C 1 , C 2 ) are check valves. 
     
     
         8 . The medical vacuum apparatus for supplying medical vacuum to a portion of the medical vacuum piping network in the medical facility of  claim 7 , wherein the isolation valves (C 1 , C 2 ) are both in a vertical orientation relative to the floor of the medical facility. 
     
     
         9 . The medical vacuum apparatus for supplying medical vacuum to the portion of the medical vacuum piping network in the medical facility of  claim 2 , wherein the isolation valves (AV 1 , AV 2 ) are actuated valves. 
     
     
         10 . The medical vacuum apparatus for supplying medical vacuum to the portion of the medical vacuum piping network in the medical facility of  claim 9 , wherein the zone alarm (D) is configured to communicate to the isolation valves that the zone alarm (D) has detected of a loss of vacuum below the pre-determined vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         11 . The medical vacuum apparatus for supplying medical vacuum to the portion of the medical vacuum piping network in the medical facility of  claim 10 , wherein the isolation valves are configured to operate to isolate the portion of the medical vacuum piping network in the medical facility upon receiving a communication from the zone alarm (D) that the zone alarm (D) has detected of a loss of vacuum below the pre-determined vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         12 . The medical vacuum apparatus for supplying medical vacuum to the portion of the medical vacuum piping network (P) in the medical facility of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum generating device (A) is fluidly connected to the portion of the medical vacuum piping network (P) via a piping connection that is sized and configured to not introduce a flow restriction point between the medical vacuum piping network (P) and the vacuum generating device (A). 
     
     
         13 . The medical vacuum apparatus for supplying medical vacuum to the portion of the medical vacuum piping network (P) in the medical facility of  claim 12 , wherein the piping connection is a “T” piping junction. 
     
     
         14 . A method for supplying medical vacuum to a portion of a medical vacuum piping network in a medical facility, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) losing a pre-existing vacuum in the portion of the medical vacuum piping network in the medical facility,   b) isolating the portion of the medical vacuum piping network in the medical facility by an isolation valve (C 2 , AV 2 ) configured to fluidically isolate the portion of the medical vacuum piping network (P) in the medical facility from a remainder of the medical vacuum piping network (P) in the medical facility, the isolation valve (C 2 , AV 2 ) configured to fluidically isolate the portion of the medical vacuum piping network (P) in response to the loss of the pre-existing vacuum in the medical vacuum piping network (P),   c) activating a vacuum generating device (A) capable of causing a negative pressure within piping in fluid communication therewith (P), wherein the vacuum generating device (A) is fluidly connected to the portion of the medical vacuum piping network (P) in the medical facility,   d) forming a pre-determined vacuum pressure within the portion of the medical vacuum piping network (P) in the medical facility by the activated vacuum generating device (A).