U.S. patent application number 12/282285 was filed with the patent office on 2009-06-18 for toxic gas exposure preventing system for anatomic practice room.
This patent application is currently assigned to KOKEN LTD.. Invention is credited to Yuki Fujishiro, Yuji Kubota.
Application Number | 20090156112 12/282285 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38522198 |
Filed Date | 2009-06-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090156112 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kubota; Yuji ; et
al. |
June 18, 2009 |
TOXIC GAS EXPOSURE PREVENTING SYSTEM FOR ANATOMIC PRACTICE ROOM
Abstract
A toxic gas exposure preventing system for an anatomic practice
room is provided which not only can obtain a satisfactory toxic gas
exposure preventing effect without impairing workability but also
permits the use of existing dissecting tables as they are without
requiring any special work such as an exhaust duct installing work.
A push hood having a uniform air flow blow-off mechanism and a pull
hood having an air flow suction/exhaust mechanism are disposed
independently of each of the dissecting tables in such a manner
that at least a portion of a uniform air flow passes in contact
with a donor body on the dissecting table and is thereafter sucked
into the pull hood. Further, a filter having a toxic gas adsorbing
function is installed within the pull hood.
Inventors: |
Kubota; Yuji; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Fujishiro; Yuki; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREER, BURNS & CRAIN
300 S WACKER DR, 25TH FLOOR
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Assignee: |
KOKEN LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
38522198 |
Appl. No.: |
12/282285 |
Filed: |
October 30, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
October 30, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2006/322062 |
371 Date: |
September 9, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/56 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 2090/401 20160201;
A61B 90/40 20160201; A61B 2218/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/56 |
International
Class: |
F24F 13/08 20060101
F24F013/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 22, 2006 |
JP |
2006-78035 |
Claims
1. A toxic gas exposure preventing system for an anatomic practice
room, characterized in that a push hood having a uniform air
blow-off mechanism and a pull hood having an air flow suction
mechanism are disposed for each of plural dissecting tables in the
anatomic practice room and independently of each of the dissecting
tables in such a manner that at least a portion of a uniform air
flow passes in contact with a donor body on the dissecting table an
is thereafter sucked into the pull hood.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein a filter having a toxic gas
adsorbing function is installed within the pull hood.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the filter installed within said
pull hood is positioned lower than the air flow suction mechanism
and a cleaned air flow is exhausted into the room from a position
lower than the dissecting table.
4. The system of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein a filter having a
toxic gas adsorbing function is installed also within the push
hood.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the height of an air flow
blow-off opening surface of the push hood and/or the height of an
air flow suction opening surface of the pull hood are (is)
adjustable.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the height adjustment is made by
a double structure of the opening surface(s) or using a shielding
plate(s) disposed vertically movably in the opening surface(s).
7. The system of claim 5, wherein the height adjustment is made by
a height adjusting base portion(s) underlying the pull hood and/or
the push hood.
8. The system of claim 4, wherein the push hood and the pull hood
are disposed opposedly to each other at both ends in a longitudinal
direction of each of the dissecting tables.
9. The system of claim 4, wherein one push hood is disposed at a
position higher than each of the dissecting tables and a pair of
pull hoods are disposed opposedly to each other at least outside
both ends in a longitudinal direction of each of the dissecting
tables, thereby allowing a uniform air flow to pass as a descending
flow.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein a pair of pull hoods are
disposed opposedly to each other also at both ends in a transverse
direction of each of the dissecting tables.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a toxic gas exposure
preventing ventilation system for an anatomic practice room.
Particularly, the present invention is concerned with a system for
preventing the exposure of toxic gas (e.g., formaldehyde gas)
issuing mainly from an antiseptic such as formalin when conducting
an anatomic practice for a donor body, i.e. specimen, having been
subjected to an antiseptic treatment using formalin for
example.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] An anatomic practice performed by medical students or the
like is called a medicine faculty type anatomic practice. In this
practice, plural donor bodies having been subjected to an
antispectic treatment using formalin for example are usually
dissected simultaneously on plural dissecting tables in a practice
room. Since this practice is performed in the presence of many
persons and for a long time, it is necessary that toxic gas, e.g.,
formaldehyde gas, evolved from donor bodies be removed efficiently
and economically.
[0003] Generally, such toxic gas has so far been removed by
operating a ventilation fan, opening a window, or using an air
cleaner. With these means, however, a satisfactory exposure
preventing effect is not obtained. Among newly-built anatomic
practice rooms there are included those equipped with central
management type air conditioning equipment having an intake port
and an exhaust port. However, equipment capable of removing toxic
gases is expensive in both equipment cost and maintenance cost and
thus a wide spread of such equipment is difficult. In view of this
point, various local exhaust ventilation means for each dissecting
table have been proposed (see JP 2004-000451A, JP 2003-320220A, JP
2003-116859A, and JP 2001-061909A). However, such local ventilation
means involve various problems such as, for example, the structure
thereof obstructing a practicing work, the application to existing
dissecting tables being difficult and the toxic gas exposure
preventing effect for students taking practice being
unsatisfactory.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Objects of the Invention
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a toxic
gas exposure preventing system for an anatomic practice room which
system can attain a satisfactory toxic gas exposure preventing
effect without impairing the workability of students taking
practice and which permits the use of existing dissecting tables as
they are without requiring any special work such as installing an
exhaust duct.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention firstly resides in a toxic gas
exposure preventing system for an anatomic practice room,
characterized in that a push hood having a uniform air flow
blow-off mechanism, i.e. supply uniform air flow mechanism, and a
pull hood having an air flow suction mechanism are disposed for
each of plural dissecting tables in the anatomic practice room and
independently of each of the dissecting tables in such a manner
that at least a portion of a uniform air flow passes in contact
with a donor body on the dissecting table and is thereafter sucked
into the pull hood.
[0006] The present invention secondly resides in the above system
wherein a filter having a toxic gas adsorbing function is installed
within the pull hood.
[0007] The present invention thirdly resides in the above system
wherein the filter installed within the pull hood is positioned
lower than the air flow suction mechanism and a cleaned air flow is
exhausted into the room from a position lower than the dissecting
table.
[0008] The present invention fourthly resides in the above system
wherein a filter having a toxic gas adsorbing function is installed
also within the push hood.
[0009] The present invention fifthly resides in the above system
wherein the height of an air flow blow-off opening surface of the
push hood and/or the height of an air flow suction opening surface
of the pull hood are (is) adjustable.
[0010] The present invention sixthly resides in the above system
wherein the height adjustment is made by a double structure of the
opening surface(s) or using a shielding plate(s) disposed
vertically movably in the opening surface(s).
[0011] The present invention seventhly resides in the above system
wherein the height adjustment is made by a height adjusting base
portion(s) underlying the pull hood and/or the push hood.
[0012] The present invention eighthly resides in the above system
wherein the push hood and the pull hood are disposed opposedly to
each other at both ends in a longitudinal direction of each of the
dissecting tables.
[0013] The present invention ninthly resides in the above system
wherein one push hood is disposed at a position higher than each of
the dissecting tables and a pair of pull hoods are disposed
opposedly to each other at least outside both ends in a
longitudinal direction of each of the dissecting tables, thereby
allowing a uniform air flow to pass as a descending flow.
[0014] The present invention tenthly resides in the above ninth
system wherein a pair of pull hoods are disposed opposedly to each
other also at both ends in a transverse direction of each of the
dissecting table.
EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0015] By using the toxic gas exposure preventing system of the
present invention it is possible to effectively prevent the
exposure of toxic gas such as formaldehyde gas by using an
extremely small air flow without impairing the workability of
students taking practice. Besides, the device of the present
invention can be installed and moved easily while using existing
anatomic practice room and dissecting tables as they are without
the need of such a work as installing an exhaust duct. Further, it
is possible to ensure a high air conditioning efficiency.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of
installation of a toxic gas exposure preventing system according to
the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a
push hood having a height adjusting function.
[0018] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of
opening surfaces of a double structure.
[0019] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of
shielding plates disposed on an opening surface.
[0020] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of
a toxic gas exposure preventing system according to the present
invention.
[0021] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a
pull hood used in the installation example of FIG. 5.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0022] The present invention will be described hereinunder with
reference to the drawings.
[0023] According to the present invention, a predetermined
push-pull ventilation system is installed for each of dissecting
tables in an anatomic practice room. As to in what manner the
push-pull ventilation system is to be installed, one of the
following two installation methods if roughly classified may be
adopted in the present invention. It is FIG. 1 that illustrates the
whole of the first embodiment of installation method and it is FIG.
2 that illustrates the whole of the second embodiment of
installation method.
[0024] First, a description will be given about the first
embodiment.
[0025] The first embodiment concerns a horizontal flow or obliquely
downward flow type. As shown in FIG. 1, a push hood 1 as an air
blow-off hood is disposed on a donor body foot-side of each
dissecting table, while a pull hood 2 as an air suction hood is
disposed on a donor body head side of the same table, or vice
versa. It is preferable that the hood height be as low as possible
so as not to obstruct a practicing work, provided the hood height
is preferably higher than the height of the donor body on the
table. The push hood may be somewhat raised upward so that an air
flow is blown off obliquely downward.
[0026] Arrows indicate air flowing directions. A uniform air flow
is blown off as a horizontal flow from the push hood 1 toward the
pull hood 2. By the uniform air flow is meant a state in which the
magnitude of the flow velocity is substantially constant anywhere
in its section when the flow is seen in terms of a section
perpendicular to the flow. Here, a state in which variations in
velocity distribution in the absence of any obstacle is within
.+-.30%, preferably .+-.20%, of a mean value indicates the uniform
air flow.
[0027] If the push hood 1 has an air flow blow-off opening at a
position higher than each dissecting table, there may be used a
suitable conventional push hood. However, it is preferable to adopt
such a configuration as illustrated in the figure wherein the whole
is a vertical thin plate-like structure and the indoor air is taken
in from a lower portion on the side opposite to the air blow-off
opening.
[0028] As to the pull hood, like the conventional pull hood, it has
an exhaust fan and makes the indoor ventilation possible. It is
preferable that a filter for adsorbing toxic gas such as
formaldehyde gas issued from a donor body be installed within the
pull hood used in the present invention. The filter may be a
suitable conventional filter insofar as it can remove toxic gas
typical of which is formaldehyde gas. Also as to the push hood,
there sometimes is a case where it is preferable that a filter for
adsorbing toxic gas such as formaldehyde be installed within the
push hood, although the necessity thereof is smaller than that for
the pull hood. For preventing flue dust or the like from getting
inside and entangled with a fan in the system or for preventing
clogging of a perforated plate such as punching metal which is for
creating a uniform flow, it is preferable that a course dust filter
be disposed in an air intake port of the push hood. Likewise, it is
preferable to dispose a course dust filter in the pull food.
[0029] The filter-installed position within the pull hood 2 may be
inside an opening surface 3' located in an upper portion of the
pull hood. However, as shown in the figure, it is preferable that
the interior of the pull hood 2 be formed as an upper, lower,
two-stage structure and that a fan be disposed in the upper stage
and a filter receptacle portion 4 be provided in the lower stage.
As the filter there may be used a known filter capable of removing
toxic gas typified by formaldehyde gas. But, particularly, an
arranged structure of plural sheets, say, 5 to 10 sheets, of
activated charcoal filters is preferred. As shown in the figure,
the lower portion of the pull hood having the filter receptacle
portion is larger in required size than the upper portion having an
air flow sucking function, so it is preferable that a part of the
pull hood be positioned below the dissecting table to save the
space.
[0030] It is preferable that exhaust be done through the entire
surface of the lower portion of the pull hood (arrows indicating
air flowing directions, i.e., exhaust directions into the room, are
described as only right and left directions in the figure and
forward and backward arrows are omitted).
[0031] In the conventional toxic gas exposure preventing systems
for an anatomic practice room, exhaust is generally outdoor
exhaust, but in the system of the present invention, since very
clean air resulting from filtration of toxic gas through the filter
can be exhausted in a relatively small amount, it becomes possible
to effect indoor exhaust and hence possible to attain the reduction
in size of the system and space-saving without affecting the air
conditioning performed by an air conditioner or the like and
without the need of laying pipes or the like.
[0032] Moreover, indoor exhaust can be done in four directions from
the lower portion of the pull hood, and even when it is necessary
to install the pull hood in contact with a wall surface, it is
possible to effect exhaust in the remaining three directions.
Consequently, in comparison with a like system permitting exhaust
in only one direction, the amount of exhaust air flowing near the
feet of apprentices can be decreased to a completely inappreciable
extent for the apprentices.
[0033] Preferably, the push hood and the pull hood are each
provided with casters 5 as shown in the figure to permit easy
movement thereof.
[0034] Preferably, the area of the air flow blow-off opening
surface of the push hood and that of the pull hood are equal to
each other, or the latter is the larger.
[0035] Preferably, a vertical adjusting mechanism for adjustment to
an appropriate position (height) is provided for each of the push
hood and the pull hood because all the dissecting tables are not
always equal in height or a certain donor body may be very big. As
the vertical adjusting mechanism there may be used any of various
mechanisms.
[0036] Examples of height adjusting mechanisms are shown in FIGS. 2
to 4. FIG. 3 shows an example of opening surfaces formed as a
double structure. In this double structure, if the opening surface
on the front side is made larger than the opening surface on the
inner side, the range corresponding to the difference in size can
be made an operation range. The same figure shows a state in which
the opening surface on the front side is made vertically movable
and the height thereof has been adjusted to lower, middle and upper
stages successively from the left side. It is preferable for the
opening surface to have a perforated body such as punching metal.
According to this method, it is not necessary to move the body
itself vertically with respect to each of the push hood and the
pull hood and therefore the height adjustment can be done very
easily. Besides, obstruction to the visual field can be kept to a
minimum because the height of the body does not change.
[0037] On the other hand, there also is a case where the push hood
is to be installed at an obliquely upward position for creating an
obliquely downward flow. In this case, the legs of the body of the
push hood may be provided with a vertical adjusting mechanism or a
separate table provided with a vertical adjusting mechanism may be
added to the body. Such a vertical adjusting mechanism may also be
used for the pull hood. By so doing, it becomes possible to create
a more appropriate air flow and carry out ventilation
effectively.
[0038] FIG. 2 shows an example in which the body itself is endowed
with a high adjusting function. More specifically, the push hood is
composed of a push hood body 1' and a base portion 6 easily
separable from each other. Further, plural height adjusting holes 7
are formed vertically in both ends of a lower portion of a push
hood body 1' and height adjusting holes 7' are formed also in both
ends of the base portion 6 which is box-shaped so as to permit
fitting therein of the lower portion of the push hood body 1'. With
fixing members such as bolts, the push hood body 1' is fixed at a
predetermined height.
[0039] On the other hand, as to the pull hood, it is preferable
that a vertically movable shielding plate be disposed on the air
flow sucking opening surface. This mode is shown in FIG. 4. In the
example shown in FIG. 4, two elongated shielding plates 8 are
disposed at upper and lower ends, respectively. When the opening
surface is to be positioned lower than the shielding plates, the
two shielding plates are moved to the upper end side, while when
the opening surface is to be positioned higher than the shielding
plates, the two shielding plates are moved to the lower end side.
The number of the shielding plates may be one or three or more. In
the embodiment of using a shielding plate(s), it is preferable that
the total area of the opening surface of the pull hood be made
larger by about 10% to 30% than that of the push hood and that a
part or the whole of the opening surface be closed with the
shielding plate(s). As to the material of the shielding plate(s),
there may be used a shielding plate(s) of a suitable material,
e.g., metallic or plastic plate(s).
[0040] In the first embodiment described above, both push hood and
pull hood are disposed on both head side and foot side outside a
donor body on each dissecting table and are not disposed in the
longitudinal direction of the dissecting table, thus causing no
obstacle to students taking practice.
[0041] The second embodiment of the present invention concerns a
descending flow type. In this second embodiment, a push hood having
a uniform air flow blow-off mechanism is disposed above each
dissecting table and a total of two or four pull hoods are disposed
in two opposed longitudinal directions or in four longitudinal and
transverse directions of the dissecting table. FIG. 5 shows a
typical example thereof. As shown in the same figure, a push hood
having a uniform air flow blow-off mechanism is disposed above the
dissecting table and a pair of pull hoods are disposed in the
transverse direction of the dissecting table in contact with or
somewhat spacedly from the dissecting table in such a manner that
openings are positioned at approximately the same height. In case
of installing the pull hoods somewhat spacedly from the dissecting
table, it is necessary that the amount of sucked air be made
somewhat large.
[0042] On the other hand, in the longitudinal direction of the
dissecting table, students taking practice perform operations in a
stand-up state in many cases and there is a fear that the sheet
which wraps the donor body may close the opening surfaces. For this
reason, it is not preferable to dispose the push hoods so as to be
in contact with the dissecting table. In this case, as shown on the
right upper side in FIG. 5, a pair of pull hoods should be disposed
so as to leave a space enough for passing of students taking
practice. Preferably, each opening portion is provided with a
height adjusting mechanism so that the height thereof can be
adjusted in accordance with the height of the dissecting table. As
to the pull hoods disposed in the longitudinal direction, there may
be used a divided structure to match the length of the dissecting
table.
[0043] A uniform air flow leaving the push hood is divided in four
directions near the dissecting table, but preferably the divided
flows are sucked in by four pull hoods and toxic gas such as
formaldehyde gas is exhausted.
[0044] The pull hoods in the transverse direction may be omitted.
In this case, it is preferable to lengthen the whole of each pull
hood in the longitudinal direction to a sufficient extent or
increase the air volume.
[0045] Within each pull hood there are installed a fan and a filter
for removing toxic gas such as formaldehyde as in the first
embodiment. In this case, a duct for exhaust to the exterior is not
needed at all. Besides, because of interior exhaust, there is no
air conditioning load. Also as to the push hoods, it is preferable
that the same filter as in the first embodiment be disposed in each
push hood.
[0046] Also in case of disposing pull hoods in the longitudinal
direction of each dissecting table in the second embodiment of the
present invention, since the pull hoods are disposed spacedly from
the working position of the students taking practice, the pull
hoods scarcely obstruct the work. Although toxic gas-containing air
also moves toward the working position, there is little exposure of
the toxic gas to the students taking practice in the presence of
the push hoods and pull hoods properly positioned.
[0047] By positioning as above the pull foods in the longitudinal
direction of each dissecting table and by setting the height of the
pull hoods in the transverse direction of each dissecting table
almost equal to the height of the dissecting table, it is possible
to prevent the pull hoods from obstructing the work of the students
taking practice. Moreover, by constructing the pull hoods movably
and by separation thereof from the dissecting table, it is possible
to further improve the workability.
[0048] With the ordinary type of pull hoods alone, it is impossible
to fully suck in gas evolved at a position spaced away from the
hoods and it is very likely that the students taking practice will
be exposed to the gas. However, by providing a uniform air flow
from above, it is possible to suppress the rise of toxic gas such
as formaldehyde gas and hence possible to greatly diminish the
possibility of exposure to toxic gas of the students taking
practice.
[0049] When smoke was allowed to rise as a substitute for toxic gas
with use of the system shown in FIG. 1 (the opening surface area of
the push hood and the pull hood=750 mm.times.300 mm, distance
between the two: 200 cm) and at a blow-off air velocity in the push
hood of 0.4 m/sec, it turned out that all the smoke was in effect
sucked by the pull hood.
* * * * *