Respiratory isolation enclosure for patients

Abstract

Implementations of a respiratory isolation enclosure for patients comprise a side surface, an upper surface, and one or more access openings and ventilation openings, and in some implementations may further comprise a lower surface. In some implementations, a method of using the respiratory isolation enclosure for patients comprises positioning and enclosing a patient with an infectious disease in the respiratory enclosure to respiratorily isolate the patient and prevent the spread of the disease from the patient to healthcare providers or other persons.

1 . A respiratory isolation enclosure for patients comprising:
 a hollow enclosure comprising an upper surface and sides surfaces defining an interior volume having a top defined by the upper surface of the hollow enclosure and sides defined by the side surfaces of the hollow enclosure wherein the hollow enclosure has an open bottom for access to the interior volume, wherein the hollow enclosure is sized and shaped to house a patient lying on a bed such that the upper surface positions above the patient while lying on the bed and the sides completely encircle the patient while lying on the bed to help respiratorily isolate the patient within the interior volume of the hollow enclosure, wherein at least a portion of the side surfaces of the hollow enclosure is transparent such that the patient can be seen through the hollow enclosure when the patient is enclosed in the interior volume of the hollow enclosure and wherein the side surfaces are weighted opposite the upper surface to enclose the interior of the enclosure when the patient is lying on the bed; and   one or more resealable access openings through one or more side surfaces wherein the one or more resealable access openings are sized, shaped, and positioned to allow access to a patient housed within the interior volume of the hollow enclosure.   
     
     
         2 . The respiratory isolation enclosure for patients of  claim 1  further comprising a skirt extending from the side surfaces opposite the upper surface and encircling the open bottom wherein the skirt is formed from a woven material to weight the side surfaces to enclose the interior of the enclosure when the patient is lying on the bed. 
     
     
         3 . The respiratory isolation enclosure for patients of  claim 1  further comprising a ventilation opening through the hollow enclosure wherein the ventilation opening is sized, shaped, and positioned to allow a connection of a ventilation device to the enclosure such that the ventilation device can provide ventilation to a patient enclosed in the interior formed by the enclosure and the bed. 
     
     
         4 . The respiratory isolation enclosure for patients of  claim 3  wherein the ventilation opening is through the upper surface of the hollow enclosure. 
     
     
         5 . The respiratory isolation enclosure for patients of  claim 2  wherein the transparent portion of the side surfaces of the hollow enclosure is formed from a polymer material and the upper surface and skirt are formed from a woven material. 
     
     
         6 . The respiratory isolation enclosure for patients of  claim 1  further comprising an attachment device configured to connect the upper surface of the hollow enclosure to an intravenous pole (IV) pole. 
     
     
         7 . A method of using the respiratory isolation enclosure for patients of  claim 1  comprising positioning the open bottom of the enclosure around a patient lying on a bed such that the enclosure positions above and around the patient and encloses the patient within the interior volume formed by the enclosure. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising accessing the patient from outside of the enclosure through the access opening. 
     
     
         9 . A method of using the respiratory isolation enclosure for patients of  claim 2  comprising:
 positioning the open bottom of the enclosure around a patient lying on a bed such that the enclosure positions above and around the patient and encloses the patient within the interior volume formed by the enclosure; and 
 extending the skirt around the bed and the top of the patient to help respiratorily isolate the patient. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising tucking at a portion of the shirt under the mattress of the bed. 
     
     
         11 . A method of using the respiratory isolation enclosure for patients of  claim 6  comprising:
 connecting the upper surface of the hollow enclosure to an intravenous pole (IV) pole using the attachment device; and 
 adjusting the IV pole to position the open bottom of the enclosure around a patient lying on a bed such that the enclosure positions above and around the patient and encloses the patient within the interior volume formed by the enclosure. 
 
     
     
         12 . A method of using the respiratory isolation enclosure for patients of  claim 3  comprising attaching the enclosure to a ventilation device through the ventilation opening and maintaining a negative air pressure in the interior volume of the enclosure using the ventilation device. 
     
     
         13 . A method of using the respiratory isolation enclosure for patients of  claim 3  comprising attaching the respiratory isolation enclosure for patients to an IV pole and adjusting the height of the height of the IV pole. 
     
     
         14 . A method of using the respiratory isolation enclosure for patients of  claim 3  comprising attaching the enclosure to an existing ventilation system in the room through the ventilation opening such that the room ventilation system can provide ventilation to the patient enclosed in the interior formed by the enclosure. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the room ventilation system comprises a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter such that ventilation outputted from the enclosure is filtered through the HEPA filter. 
     
     
         16 . A method of using the respiratory isolation enclosure for patients of  claim 2  to reduce the spread of COVID-19 comprising:
 positioning the open bottom of the enclosure around a patient that has tested positive for COVID-19 or a variant thereof and lying on a bed such that the enclosure positions above and around the patient and encloses the patient within the interior volume formed by the enclosure; and 
 extending the skirt around the bed and the top of the patient to help respiratorily isolate the patient. 
 
     
     
         17 . A respiratory isolation enclosure for patients comprising:
 a hollow enclosure comprising an upper surface and sides surfaces defining an interior volume having a top defined by the upper surface of the hollow enclosure and sides defined by the side surfaces of the hollow enclosure wherein the hollow enclosure has an open bottom for access to the interior volume, wherein the hollow enclosure is sized and shaped to house a patient lying on a bed such that the upper surface positions above the patient while lying on the bed and the sides completely encircle the patient while lying on the bed to help respiratorily isolate the patient within the interior volume of the hollow enclosure, wherein the upper surface is formed from a woven material, wherein at least a portion of the side surfaces of the hollow enclosure is transparent and is formed from a polymer material such that the patient can be seen through the hollow enclosure when the patient is enclosed in the interior volume of the hollow enclosure, and wherein the side surfaces are weighted opposite the upper surface to enclose the interior of the enclosure when the patient is lying on the bed;   one or more resealable access openings through one or more side surfaces wherein the one or more resealable access openings are sized, shaped, and positioned to allow access to a patient housed within the interior volume of the hollow enclosure;   a skirt extending from the side surfaces opposite the upper surface and encircling the open bottom wherein the skirt is formed from a woven material to weight the side surfaces to enclose the interior of the enclosure when the patient is lying on the bed wherein the skirt is formed from a woven material;   ventilation opening through the hollow enclosure wherein the ventilation opening is sized, shaped, and positioned to allow a connection of a ventilation device to the enclosure such that the ventilation device can provide ventilation to a patient enclosed in the interior formed by the enclosure and the bed; and   an attachment device configured to connect the upper surface of the hollow enclosure to an intravenous pole (IV) pole.   
     
     
         18 . A method of using the respiratory isolation enclosure for patients of  claim 17  comprising:
 connecting the upper surface of the hollow enclosure to an intravenous pole (IV) pole using the attachment device; 
 adjusting the IV pole to position the open bottom of the enclosure around a patient lying on a bed such that the enclosure positions above and around the patient and encloses the patient within the interior volume formed by the enclosure; 
 extending the skirt around the bed and the top of the patient to help respiratorily isolate the patient; and 
 accessing the patient from outside of the enclosure through the access opening.