Ventilator Headboard Apparatus

Abstract

A ventilator headboard apparatus is a modular air handling and filtration device used to recirculate and filter a volume of air. A chassis supports at least one mounting panel, a supply plenum, and a cover plate to manage the atmosphere at the head of a patient's bed, i.e., at the headboard. A plenum space is formed between the supply plenum and the cover plate, across the mounting panel. A pressurized conduit is connected between the supply plenum and an air handling unit, arranging the air handling unit in fluid communication with the plenum space directly, and the atmosphere around a patient's head by extension. With operating energy supplied by a power supply, the air handling unit is used to operably intake or exhaust air across the cover plate according to user configurations and situational requirements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ventilator headboard apparatus comprising:
 a chassis;   at least one mounting panel;   a supply plenum;   a cover plate;   a plenum space;   a pressurized conduit;   an air handling assembly;   a power supply;   the chassis extending between a fore end and a rear end;   the at least one mounting panel, the air handling assembly, and the power supply being mounted to the chassis between the fore end and the rear end;   the supply plenum being mounted to the at least one mounting panel adjacent to the rear end of the chassis;   the cover plate being mounted to the at least one mounting panel adjacent to the fore end of the chassis;   the plenum space being delineated between the supply plenum and the cover plate, traversing the at least one mounting panel;   the pressurized conduit being connected between the air handling assembly and the supply plenum, wherein the air handling assembly is in fluid communication with the plenum space through the pressurized conduit; and   the power supply being electrically connected to the air handling assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The ventilator headboard apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 the air handling assembly further comprising a casing, an external port, an impeller, and a filter element; 
 the casing being mounted adjacent to the rear end of the chassis; 
 the impeller being positioned into the casing; 
 the ventilation port being externally mounted to the casing; 
 the pressurized conduit being connected to the casing, opposite the ventilation port across the impeller; and 
 the filter element being mounted to the casing between the impeller and the pressurized conduit, wherein the ventilation port is in fluid communication with the pressurized conduit through the filter element. 
 
     
     
         3 . The ventilator headboard apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 the at least one mounting panel further comprising an intermediate plate, a plurality of fastener apertures, and a perimetric seal; 
 the plurality of fastener apertures traversing the intermediate plate between the fore end and the rear end of the chassis; and 
 the perimetric seal being perimetrically mounted to the intermediate plate between the intermediate plate and the supply plenum. 
 
     
     
         4 . The ventilator headboard apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 a deployable enclosure comprising at least one pivoting base, an overhead support, and a canopy; 
 the at least one pivoting base being mounted to the supply plenum; 
 the overhead support being adjustably mounted to the at least one pivoting base adjacent to the rear end of the chassis; 
 the overhead support being configured to extend from the rear end towards the fore end of the chassis; and 
 the canopy being mounted to the deployable support, wherein the cover plate is substantially enclosed by the canopy. 
 
     
     
         5 . The ventilator headboard apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 the plenum space further comprising an internal cavity and at least one diffuser element; and 
 the at least one diffuser element being mounted into the internal cavity adjacent to the at least one mounting panel, wherein the at least one diffuser element is configured to moderate airflow within the plenum space. 
 
     
     
         6 . The ventilator headboard apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the at least one diffuser element is a volume of diffusing material. 
     
     
         7 . The ventilator headboard apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the at least one diffuser element is a plurality of baffle inserts. 
     
     
         8 . The ventilator headboard apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 the chassis further comprising a structural panel, a plurality of lift actuators, and a plurality of base plates; 
 the plurality of lift actuators being mounted to the structural panel; 
 each of the plurality of base plates being mounted to each of the plurality of lift actuators, opposite the structural panel; and 
 the plurality of lift actuators being configured to moderate an offset between the structural panel and the plurality of base plates, wherein the offset defines the elevation of the structural panel above the plurality of base plates. 
 
     
     
         9 . The ventilator headboard apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 a plurality of emitters being configured to emit ultraviolet radiation; 
 the plurality of emitter being internally mounted to the supply plenum; 
 the plurality of emitters being electrically connected to the power supply; and 
 the plurality of emitters being configured to produce ultraviolet radiation to sterilize the plenum space. 
 
     
     
         10 . The ventilator headboard apparatus comprising:
 a chassis;   at least one mounting panel;   a supply plenum;   a cover plate;   a plenum space;   a pressurized conduit;   an air handling assembly;   a power supply;   the chassis extending between a fore end and a rear end;   the at least one mounting panel, the air handling assembly, and the power supply being mounted to the chassis between the fore end and the rear end;   the supply plenum being mounted to the at least one mounting panel adjacent to the rear end of the chassis;   the cover plate being mounted to the at least one mounting panel adjacent to the fore end of the chassis;   the plenum space being delineated between the supply plenum and the cover plate, traversing the at least one mounting panel;   the pressurized conduit being connected between the air handling assembly and the supply plenum, wherein the air handling assembly is in fluid communication with the plenum space through the pressurized conduit;   the power supply being electrically connected to the air handling assembly;   a deployable enclosure comprising at least one pivoting base, an overhead support, and a canopy;   the at least one pivoting base being mounted to the supply plenum;   the overhead support being adjustably mounted to the at least one pivoting base adjacent to the rear end of the chassis;   the overhead support being configured to extend from the rear end towards the fore end of the chassis;   the canopy being mounted to the deployable support, wherein the cover plate is substantially enclosed by the canopy;   the plenum space further comprising an internal cavity and at least one diffuser element; and   the at least one diffuser element being mounted into the internal cavity adjacent to the at least one mounting panel, wherein the at least one diffuser element is configured to moderate airflow within the plenum space.   
     
     
         11 . The ventilator headboard apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  comprising:
 the air handling assembly further comprising a casing, an external port, an impeller, and a filter element; 
 the casing being mounted adjacent to the rear end of the chassis; 
 the impeller being positioned into the casing; 
 the ventilation port being externally mounted to the casing; 
 the pressurized conduit being connected to the casing, opposite the ventilation port across the impeller; 
 the filter element being mounted to the casing between the impeller and the pressurized conduit, wherein the ventilation port is in fluid communication with the pressurized conduit through the filter element; 
 
     
     
         12 . The ventilator headboard apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  comprising:
 the at least one mounting panel further comprising an intermediate plate, a plurality of fastener apertures, and a perimetric seal; 
 the plurality of fastener apertures traversing the intermediate plate between the fore end and the rear end of the chassis; and 
 the perimetric seal being perimetrically mounted to the intermediate plate between the intermediate plate and the supply plenum. 
 
     
     
         13 . The ventilator headboard apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the at least one diffuser element is a volume of diffusing material. 
     
     
         14 . The ventilator headboard apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the at least one diffuser element is a plurality of baffle inserts. 
     
     
         15 . The ventilator headboard apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  comprising:
 the chassis further comprising a structural panel, a plurality of lift actuators, and a plurality of base plates; 
 the plurality of lift actuators being mounted to the structural panel; 
 each of the plurality of base plates being mounted to each of the plurality of lift actuators, opposite the structural panel; and 
 the plurality of lift actuators being configured to moderate an offset between the structural panel and the plurality of base plates, wherein the offset defines the elevation of the structural panel above the plurality of base plates. 
 
     
     
         16 . The ventilator headboard apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  comprising:
 a plurality of emitters being configured to emit ultraviolet radiation; 
 the plurality of emitter being internally mounted to the supply plenum; 
 the plurality of emitters being electrically connected to the power supply; and 
 the plurality of emitters being configured to produce ultraviolet radiation to sterilize the plenum space.