Importance

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Abstract

A pulmonary sample collection apparatus and method are provided for the sanitary collection of pulmonary sputum samples otherwise referred to as sputum induction, without allowing escape of infectious pathogenic microbes into the ambient air. The present invention is conveniently and safely usable in outpatient settings, such as doctors' offices and laboratories. The apparatus entirely encloses the patient in a chamber. The chamber is equipped with an air exchange blower which produces within the closed chamber controlled negative air pressure. The chamber is equipped with a replacable exhaust filter unit with which to trap airborne pathogens and other potentially harmful particles. The negative internal air pressure acts to facilitate sealing the chamber to prevent escape of substantially all airborne infectious particles from the chamber. The chamber is further provided with a novel hollow three terminal tube arrangement, one arm of which connects through an aperture in the chamber wall to an external aerosol source. The externally positioned aerosol source supplies a copious stream of cough inducing aerosol. A second cross arm of the novel three terminal tube, positioned within the chamber, is terminated in a disposable patient mouthpiece through which the patient inhales and exhales, and the remaining terminal of the three terminal tube is openly vented into the chamber. The patient situated within the negative air pressure of the sealed chamber breaths in a normal manner inhaling externally nebulized aerosol mist introduced through one terminal of the three terminal tube arrangement while coughing and exhaling only into the interior of the sealed chamber. The contaminated air within the chamber is cleared of pathogens and exhausted through disposable filters, the air within the chamber being changed rapidly many times per minute.

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First Claim