Biological containment integrity of a flight transport isolator during altitude exposure and rapid decompression / by Robert P. Higgins.
| Author/creator | Higgins, Robert P. author. |
| Other author | Kalmus, Gerhard W., degree supervisor. |
| Other author | East Carolina University. Department of Biology. |
| Format | Theses and dissertations |
| Production | 2002. |
| Description | v, 46 leaves : illustrations (some color) ; 28 cm |
| Supplemental Content | Access via ScholarShip |
| Subjects |
| Summary | The United States has military personnel and citizens living and working in tropical environments that are at risk for contracting potentially lethal communicable diseases for which no effective vaccines, chemoprophylaxis, or specific therapies exist. To safely evacuate such patients by military aircraft and minimize the risk for pathogen transmission to aircrews, caregivers, and civilians, the U. S. Army Research Institute of Infectious Diseases maintains a unique evacuation capability called the Aeromedical Isolation Team (AIT). The cornerstone piece of equipment used by the AIT is the Flight Transport Isolator, which provides maximum biological containment (BL-4) by isolating the patient in a sealed polyvinyl chloride chamber under HEPA-filtered negative air pressure while allowing the AIT to facilitate in-flight care. Currently, the Flight Transport Isolator does not possess a flight clearance for use aboard United States military aircraft. The Flight Transport Isolator was subjected to a sequence of altitude exposures and rapid decompressions containing the biological simulant Bacillus subtilis var. niger. Air samples were taken outside of the Isolator following the altitude exposure and rapid decompressions and assayed using Heterotrophic Plate Count for the presence of the biological simulant. No detectable Bacillus subtilis var. niger was found outside of the envelope at either the inlet or outlet filters during any of the four trials conducted. Functional checks conducted after each of the four trials revealed that the Isolator was functioning normally. The results of this study were then used to support a flight clearance request and confirm the Isolator's ability to provide a safe sustained performance during aeromedical evacuation without risk to patient, aeromedical team members or aircrew of the U. S. Air Force transport aircraft. |
| General note | Presented to the faculty of the Department of Biology. |
| General note | Advisor: Gerhard W. Kalmus |
| Dissertation note | M.S. East Carolina University 2002 |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 32-33). |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Thèses et écrits académiques. |