Portable chamber for temporary and rapid isolation of patients

An outbreak of SARS or avian influenza could see hospitals beset by a massive influx of infectious patients.

A portable isolation system that could save lives in the event of mass biological infection has been developed by Beth-El Zikhron Yaaqov Industries, a supplier of collective protection technology to hospitals and other sectors. Called the IsoArk, the system comprises a collapsible isolation chamber that can quickly turn any room, or part of a room, into a controlled negative-pressure filtered environment. It can be used either as a rapid-response isolation solution, or as a more efficient, feature-packed and cost-effective alternative to building permanent isolation rooms. The system recently completed successful testing at Harvard's Institute for International Emergency Medicine and Health (IEMH). The main aims of the test were to check how the IsoArk performed in a hospital setting and if it has any impact on the work of the physician. It passed with flying colours, and there was no significant difference for the doctors having to work inside the IsoArk to those working outside. The erectable negative-pressure chamber is completely transparent, allowing uninhibited visual access to the patient at all times should continuous monitoring be required. This also means that existing lighting can be utilised, reducing patient stress levels and feelings of isolation. The chamber is airtight and meets CDC, UL and European standards for safety and technical performance; it exceeds the current guidelines for infection control and provides a significant boost in protection against biological hazards and infectious organisms. It is equipped with an integrated filtration system with a minimum 99.9995% filtration efficiency. The chamber is available in a range of sizes and is constructed from lightweight aluminium. It can be erected within 30 minutes in a hospital to provide a full isolation solution, and then stored away when not needed. It costs significantly less than most architectural solutions and allows hospitals and other facilities to isolate large numbers of people quickly and efficiently. The airlock attached to the main chamber provides the capability to move easily in and out of the isolated area without loosing the negative pressure or contaminating the outside environment. Required equipment can be placed outside the chamber and probes, hoses and cables can be passed through utility sleeves into the isolated area. Additionally, a glove box allows access to the interior of the chamber without entering it. The integrated Filtration System FA 2000 combines a highly efficient HEPA-filter and a UV-radiation source, which provides the best available biological protection against contamination threats.