"Modular panel for hospital environments"

[0001 ] This invention relates to a panelling system for hospital environments, realised with prefabricated modular panels usable in particular for walls.

[0002] The increase in requests from an ever more demanding clientele in terms of technology, performance, safety, reliability and comfort, has led to the need for close integration and dialogue between all the figures involved in the construction of a hospital ward, starting from the architectural and plant design through to the selection of the most suitable electromedical devices and the production of technical equipment and all the furnishings and finishes. So, there is increasing use of "integrated design", which considers each hospital environment as an "organism" where the interactions between the various parts (structure, architecture, systems, finishes, furnishings, etc.) affect each other determining the individual choices.

[0003] There is a particularly felt need for an operating theatre that is a flexible technological platform that can be customised to the needs of users, with particular attention to efficiency, comfort and safety. It is therefore essential to integrate the panelling system for walls and suspended ceilings with the systems for filtering and diffusing the air, furnishings and technical equipment, in order to ensure functionality, flexibility and an appropriate aesthetic level.

[0004] Thus, there is a particularly felt need to achieve perfect compatibility between structures, walls, doors, furnishings, diffusion and environmental control of the air to achieve integrated and hybrid operating theatres with high visual and environmental results.

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to meet the needs of the sector.

[0006] This purpose is achieved by a prefabricated modular panel according to this invention that is remarkably strong and light. In addition, a panelling system realised using prefabricated modular panels according to this invention facilitates any changes and integrations of the hospital environment also in phases successive to assembly, making it extremely flexible and integratable at any time.

[0007] This purpose is achieved by a prefabricated modular panel and by a system of prefabricated modular panels according to claim 1 and 8. The dependent claims describe preferred or advantageous embodiments of the panel and of the panelling system.

[0008] The characteristics and advantages of the panelling system according to this invention will be apparent from the following description, given by way of non-limiting example, in accordance with the accompanying drawings, wherein :

[0009] - Figure 1 is an exploded view of the panelling system according to this invention;

[0010] - Figure 2 is a view of the upper profile of the panelling system according to this invention;

[0011] - Figure 3 is a perspective view of the side and lower profile of the panelling system according to this invention;

[0012] - Figure 4 is a sectional view of the panelling system according to this invention.

[0013] With reference to the accompanying drawings, and in particular to Figure 1, there is shown a panel 100 for a prefabricated modular panelling system for the realisation in particular of walls for hospital environments, for example operating theatres.

[0014] For the panel 100, a longitudinal axis X is defined, shown in Figure 4.

[0015] The panel 100 is constituted by a front portion 10, a back 20 and a central element 30.

[0016] Preferably, the front portion 10, the rear 20 and the central element 30 are fixed together by gluing.

[0017] The panel 100 has a sandwich structure, shown in figure 4, wherein the central element 30 is housed protected between the front portion 10 and the rear 20.

[0018] The central element 30 has an alveolar or honeycomb structure. In particular, the central element 30 is constituted by a set of walls 31, extending in transverse direction with respect to the axis X, joined to form a set of cells 32 that realise the honeycomb structure. Preferably, the cells 32 are hexagonal, pentagonal or octagonal .

[0019] The cells 32 are open structures, which extend between a front face 33 and a rear face 34 of the central element 30. The walls 31 also define the sides 35 of the central element 30.

[0020] Preferably, the central element 30 is made of aluminium.

[0021] The central element 30, which is the core of the panel 100, is an extremely light structure.

[0022] Compared to conventional panels in which the core is made of plasterboard, the panel 100 with a central element 30 (with honeycomb structure made of aluminium) is very light and easy to handle.

[0023] The front portion 10 and/or the back 20 has a tray structure, i.e., fitted with a main wall 11,21 and bent edges which define side walls 12,22 projecting substantially orthogonally in relation to the main wall 11,21. [0024] Advantageously, a panel 100, with a containment rear 20 (i.e., provided with a tray structure) allows realising a modular panel that is simple and self-defined with respect, for example, to conventional panels in which the rear is plasterboard applied raw during the step of realising the wall.

[0025] Advantageously, the presence of the bent edges allows obtaining a front portion 10 and a rear 20 free of sharp corners or cutting edges.

[0026] Preferably, all the profiles of the front portion 10 and rear 20 are chamfered or radiused so as to obtain a front portion 10 and a rear 20 free of sharp corners or cutting edges.

[0027] As shown in Figure 1, the central element 30 is housable inside the rear 20. Once inserted, the central element 30 extends inside the back 20 so that the rear face 34 rests on an inner face 21' of the main wall 21 and the sides 35 rest on the side walls 22.

[0028] The "rear - central element" assembly is in turn housable inside of the front portion 10 to complete the sandwich structure (visible in Figure 4). Once inserted, the central element 30 extends inside the front portion 10 so that a front face 33 rests on an inner face 11' of the main wall 11 and the side walls 22 of the back 20 rest on the side walls 12 of the front portion 10. [0029] Preferably, the panel 100 is made entirely of aluminium alloy, with the front portion 10 and rear 20 made of 12/10 sheet metal painted with epoxy paint, suitably bent at the edges with a sandwich-glued, honeycomb central element 30 made of ultra-lightweight aluminium.

[0030] In a variant, the front portion 10 and/or rear 20 are made of galvanised steel, stainless steel or aluminium alloy.

[0031] Preferably, the front portion 10 and rear 20 are painted with antibacterial and bacteriostatic paint that facilitates disinfection and asepsis. Preferably, the painting is carried out with silver ions, which are essential for the effective reduction of bacteria, viruses, mould and fungi, minimising the risk of cross contamination .

[0032] Preferably, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, in the version in which the panel 100 is used to make a wall of an operating theatre, the panel 100 is provided with a support structure.

[0033] The support structure comprises a floor guide 40, for example made of galvanised steel, fixable to the floor of the operating theatre, for example with screws and centring rings. The panel 100 is fixable to the floor guide 40 using fixing elements, such as for example self- drilling screws, insertable in suitable holes 41 provided on the floor guide 40 or on the panel (for example on suitable projections or tabs 42) . The fixing between the panel 100 and floor guide 40 is also reinforced using special adhesive seals 43, provided between the guide 40 and the panel 100.

[0034] Preferably, the floor guide 40 is also provided with a profile 44 (for example a skirting with cove forming of height 100 mm) to support and connect it to the floor 45 (for example made of PVC) .

[0035] The support structure comprises a vertical guide 50, for example an upright made of galvanised steel, fixable to the floor guide 40. The panel 100 is fixable to the vertical guide 50 using fixing elements, such as for example self-drilling screws, insertable in suitable holes 41 provided on the guide 50 and on the panel. The attachment between the panel 100 and vertical guide 50 is strengthened by means of adhesive seals 43, provided between the guide 50 and the panel 100.

[0036] Preferably, the vertical guides 50 (uprights) are fixed to the floor guide 40, while the attachment to the ceiling is made with ceiling guides 70, shown in Figure 2.

[0037] The support structure comprises a ceiling guide 70, for example made of galvanised steel, fixable to the ceiling of the operating theatre, for example with screws and centring rings. The panel 100 is fixable to the ceiling guide 70, for example by sliding or dovetailing in special brackets 71. The fixing between the panel 100 and ceiling guide 70 is also reinforced using special adhesive seals 43, provided between the guide 70 and the panel 100.

[0038] Preferably, the ceiling guide 70 is also provided with a profile 72 (for example a skirting with cove forming of height 100 mm) , rounded and without right angles, for attachment to the suspended ceiling 100'.

[0039] The ceiling guide 70 also realises the connection between the panel 100 and the ceiling 100' , and allows keeping the suspended ceiling 100' in position. Preferably, the suspended ceiling 100' is a panel 100, mounted horizontally instead of vertically. The suspended ceiling 100' is fixable to the ceiling guide 70, for example by sliding or dovetailing in special brackets 73. The fixing between the suspended panel 100' and ceiling guide 70 is also reinforced using special adhesive seals 43, provided between the guide 70 and the suspended ceiling 100' .

[0040] Preferably, to close the joints between the panels 100, are positioned closing seals 60, preferably made of non-toxic material that ensures sealing (for example silicone) .

[0041] The prefabricated modular panelling system for operating theatres, realised using panels 100, preferably usable for walls, creates, in the dead space between the outer wall (of the building) and panel 100, a hermetic shell that completely isolates the operating theatre from the other environments of the surgical unit, allowing the insertion of sound-absorbing insulation and lead sheets in case X-ray protection is needed.

[0042] Innovatively, a prefabricated modular panel for hospital environments according to this invention provides high mechanical strength and lightness at the same time.

[0043] Advantageously, a prefabricated modular panel for hospital environments according to this invention is easily transportable and safe to handle thanks to the absence of sharp edges or cutting portions.

[0044] Advantageously, a prefabricated modular panel according to this invention is particularly suitable for hospital environments as it can be painted with antibacterial and bacteriostatic paint that facilitates disinfection and asepsis.

[0045] Advantageously, a prefabricated modular panel for hospital environments according to this invention is easily assembled/disassembled to form a wall because pre- assembled .

[0046] Advantageously, a panelling system realised using prefabricated modular panels according to this invention facilitates any changes and integrations of the hospital environment also in phases successive to assembly, making it extremely flexible and integratable at any time.

[0047] Advantageously, a panelling system realised using prefabricated modular panels according to this invention, preferably usable for both walls and suspended ceilings, ensures:

[0048] - the possibility of insertion in the wall of equipment, electrical outlets, medical gas outlets and the transit of systems in the walls;

[0049] - the possibility of adaptations, updating of utility points, changes over time and maintenance without rates theatre downtime;

[0050] - the integrated insertion in the walls of air- conditioning intakes;

[0051] - high mechanical resistance to accidental impacts with the walls;

[0052] - resistance to acids and detergents and/or disinfectants ;

[0053] - speed of construction and certainty of execution times ;

[0054] - fire load equal to "zero", compared to conventional panels with plasterboard;

[0055] - 100% recyclability, compared to conventional panels in which the plasterboard portion is a waste to be disposed .

[0056] It is clear that one skilled in the art, in order to meet contingent needs, may make changes to the system described above, all contained within the scope of protection defined by the following claims.