Antiseptic containment for biohazardous material

Claim 2

A flexible, self-supportable impermeable containment apparatus forming an enclosed chamber and having an opening for introducing and removing materials, for the storage, manipulation and transport of biohazardous materials, comprising: (a) an elongated flexible plastic sheet having a longitudinal seam extending along the length dimension thereof for forming said sheet into a tubular enclosure about said biohazardous material, said enclosure having an outer surface and a first and second closed end, an elongated generally planar bottom surface and an elongated curved transparent upper surface extending thereabove, said enclosure including at least one tubular plastic sleeve means for inserting arms therein positioned on said first end, said enclosure further including a pair of coupling members one disposed on each opposing side thereof closely proximate said planar bottom surface; (b) self-supporting, removable, tubular support means for maintaining said tubular enclosure in an expanded tent-like state by supporting said enclosure curved upper surface at a midsection thereof above said elongated bottom surface to define the enclosed chamber, said self-supporting tubular support means having opposing ends each adapted to couple to one of said enclosure coupling members to further support the enclosure in the tent-like state; (c) at least one access means for inserting and removing materials, formed through said sheet; and (d) means for selectively opening and closing said access means.

Claim 3

The impermeable containment apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said tubular support means is positioned external to said enclosed chamber.

Claim 4

The impermeable containment apparatus as in claim 1, further including at least one said tubular plastic sleeve means for inserting arms therein and said access means for inserting and removing materials positioned along said plastic sheet.

Claim 5

The impermeable containment as in claim 1 further including at least one said tubular plastic sleeve means for inserting arms therein positioned on said second end.

Claim 6

The impermeable containment as in claim 1, wherein said access means is positioned on said plastic sheet.

Claim 7

The impermeable containment as in claim 1 wherein said access means is positioned on at least one of said first and second ends.

Claim 8

The impermeable containment apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said access means is sealable.

Claim 9

The impermeable containment as in claim 1 wherein said access means is temporarily sealable.

Claim 10

The impermeable containment as in claim 1 wherein said access means is resealable.

Claim 11

The impermeable containment apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said storage pouch means is attached to the exterior of said containment.

Claim 12

The impermeable containment apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said plastic sheet further includes at least one storage pouch means for containing tools and sample containers, said storage pouch means being in the range of 2 mm 2 to 3 m 2 .

Claim 13

The impermeable containment apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said plastic sheet further includes at least one storage pouch means for containing tools and sample containers, said storage pouch means being positioned along said plastic sheet.

Claim 14

The impermeable containment apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said plastic sheet further includes at least one storage pouch means for containing tools and sample containers, said storage pouch means being positioned on at least one of said first and second ends.

Claim 15

The impermeable containment apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a panel of impermeable flexible sheeting bonded to the perimeter of said first end to form a first end panel.

Claim 16

The impermeable containment apparatus as in claim 14 further comprising a panel of impermeable flexible sheeting bonded to the perimeter of said second end to form a second end panel.

Claim 17

The impermeable containment apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein said tubular support means comprises a flexible rod flexed to couple at each said end to each said respective enclosure coupling member and arcuately extending therebetween to support said enclosure in the expanded tent-like state.

Claim 18

The impermeable containment apparatus as specified in claim 1 wherein said enclosure includes a pair of said coupling members at each said first and second end of said tubular enclosure, each said pair of coupling members disposed on opposing sides of said enclosure and closely proximate said planar bottom surface.

Claim 19

The impermeable containment apparatus as specified in claim 17 wherein said tubular support means comprises a pair of flexible rods, one said rod flexed to couple at each said end to one said pair of opposing coupling members and arcuately extending therebetween to support said enclosure in the expanded tent-like state.

Claim 20

The impermeable containment apparatus as specified in claim 16 or 18 wherein each said rod further includes a clip member at each said end which said clip is adapted to be selectively secured to an examination table.

Claim 21

The impermeable containment apparatus as specified in claim 16 or 18 wherein each said enclosure coupling member comprises a sleeve integrally formed in said enclosure outer surface for receiving said respective rod therethrough.

Claim 22

The impermeable containment apparatus as specified in claim 16 wherein said flexed rod extends closely proximate about said enclosure curved outer surface between said respective enclosure coupling members to define a low-profile apparatus.

Claim 23

A flexible, self-supportable impermeable containment apparatus forming an enclosed chamber and having an opening for introducing and removing materials, for the storage, manipulation and transport of biohazardous materials, comprising: (a) an elongated flexible plastic sheet having a longitudinal seam extending along the length dimension thereof for forming said sheet formed into a tubular enclosure about said biohazardous material, said enclosure having an outer surface and a first and second closed end, an elongated generally planar bottom surface and an elongated curved transparent upper surface extending thereabove, said enclosure having at least one iris-type access port formed through said sheet, said port being surrounded by a first end of a tubular shaped flexible plastic sleeve sealed about the perimeter of said port, the sleeve being of a predetermined length and having a retaining ring sealed to the second end of said sleeve, such that when said flexible plastic sleeve is folded over upon itself, said retaining ring holds said sleeve flush upon itself and flush with said port, and when said retaining ring is rotated with respect to said port and said first end, said flexible plastic sleeve twists and folds over upon itself, said enclosure further including a pair of coupling members one disposed on each opposing side thereof closely proximate said planar bottom surface; (b) self-supporting, removable, tubular support means for maintaining said tubular enclosure in an expanded tent-like state by supporting said enclosure curved upper surface at a midsection thereof above said elongated bottom surface to define the enclosed chamber, said self-supporting tubular support means having opposing ends each adapted to couple to one of said enclosure coupling members to further support the enclosure in the tent-like state: (c) at least one access means for inserting and removing materials, formed through said sheet; and (d) means for selectively opening and closing said access means.

Claim 24

A flexible, self-supportable impermeable containment apparatus forming an enclosed chamber and having an opening for introducing and removing materials, for the storage, manipulation and transport of biohazardous materials, comprising: (a) an elongated flexible plastic sheet having a longitudinal seam extending along the length dimension thereof for forming said sheet formed into a tubular enclosure about said biohazardous material, said enclosure having an outer surface and a first and second closed end, an elongated generally planar bottom surface and an elongated curved transparent upper surface extending thereabove, said enclosure having at least one iris-type access port formed through said sheet, said port being surrounded by a first end of a tubular shaped flexible plastic sleeve sealed about the perimeter of said port, the sleeve being of a predetermined length and having a retaining ring sealed to the second end of said sleeve, such that when said flexible plastic sleeve is folded over upon itself, said retaining ring holds said sleeve flush upon itself and flush with said port, and when said retaining ring is rotated with respect to said port and said first end, said flexible plastic sleeve twists and folds over upon itself, said enclosure further including a pair of coupling members one disposed on each opposing side thereof closely proximate said planar bottom surface; (b) self-supporting, removable, tubular support means for maintaining said tubular enclosure in an expanded tent-like state by supporting said enclosure curved upper surface at a midsection thereof above said elongated bottom surface to define the enclosed chamber, said self-supporting tubular support means having opposing ends each adapted to couple to one of said enclosure coupling members to further support the enclosure in the tent-like state: (c) at least one access means for inserting and removing materials, formed through said sheet; and (d) means for selectively opening and closing said access means.

Claim 25

A flexible, self-supportable impermeable containment apparatus forming an enclosed chamber and having an opening for introducing and removing materials, for the storage, manipulation and transport of biohazardous materials comprising: (a) an elongated flexible plastic sheet having a longitudinal seam extending along the length dimension thereof for forming said sheet formed into a tubular enclosure about said biohazardous material, said enclosure having an outer surface and a first and second closed end, an elongated generally planar bottom surface and an elongated curved transparent upper surface extending thereabove, said enclosure including at least one port formed through said sheet, said port being surrounded by a first end of a tubular shaped flexible plastic sleeve sealed about the perimeter of said port, the sleeve being of a predetermined length and having a glove member sealed to the second end of said sleeve, said enclosure further including a pair of coupling members one disposed on each opposing side thereof closely proximate said planar bottom surface; (b) self-supporting, removable, tubular support means for maintaining said tubular enclosure in an expanded tent-like state by supporting said enclosure curved upper surface at a midsection thereof above said elongated bottom surface to define the enclosed chamber, said self-supporting tubular support means having opposing ends each adapted to couple to one of said enclosure coupling members to further support the enclosure in the tent-like state; (c) at least one access means for inserting and removing materials, formed through said sheet; and (d) means for selectively opening and closing said access means.

Claim 26

A flexible, self-supportable impermeable containment apparatus forming an enclosed chamber and having an opening for introducing and removing materials, for the storage, manipulation and transport of biohazardous materials comprising: (a) an elongated flexible plastic sheet having a longitudinal seam extending along the length dimension thereof for forming said sheet formed into a tubular enclosure about said biohazardous material, said enclosure having an outer surface and a first and second closed end, an elongated generally planar bottom surface and an elongated curved transparent upper surface extending thereabove, said enclosure including at least one port formed through said sheet, said port being surrounded by a first end of a tubular shaped flexible plastic sleeve sealed about the perimeter of said port, the sleeve being of a predetermined length and having a glove member sealed to the second end of said sleeve, said enclosure further including a pair of coupling members one disposed on each opposing side thereof closely proximate said planar bottom surface; (b) self-supporting, removable, tubular support means for maintaining said tubular enclosure in an expanded tent-like state by supporting said enclosure curved upper surface at a midsection thereof above said elongated bottom surface to define the enclosed chamber, said self-supporting tubular support means having opposing ends each adapted to couple to one of said enclosure coupling members to further support the enclosure in the tent-like state; (c) at least one access means for inserting and removing materials, formed through said sheet; and (d) means for selectively opening and closing said access means.

Claim 27

The impermeable containment apparatus as in claim 23 wherein at least one of said ports and at least one tubular plastic sleeve for inserting arms therein are positioned along said longitudinal tubular sheeting.

Claim 28

The impermeable containment apparatus as in claim 23 wherein at least one tubular plastic sleeve for inserting arms therein may be positioned on said first end and said second end.