Apparatus and method for handling hazardous materials

Apparatus for effecting safe handling of biological and/or chemical materials, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing enclosing a workspace, wherein the housing comprises an opening for accessing the workspace;
• a sash mounted to the housing, the sash configured to move between a closed position in which the sash covers the opening of the workspace and an open position in which the sash does not cover the opening of the workspace;
• a ventilation system disposed in the housing for drawing air out of the workspace;
• a motor for moving the sash between the open position and the closed position;
• and
• a command module configured to operate the motor for moving the sash.

Apparatus for effecting safe handling of biological and/or chemical materials, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing enclosing a workspace, wherein the housing comprises an opening for accessing the workspace;
• and
• a decontamination system configured to selectively emit a decontamination agent into the workspace so as to decontaminate the workspace, the decontamination system comprising:
• a reservoir comprising a decontamination agent;
• and
• a decontamination array fluidically connected to the reservoir, the decontamination array comprising at least one dispersion head configured to emit the decontamination agent into the workspace.

Apparatus for effecting safe handling of biological and/or chemical materials, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing enclosing a workspace, wherein the housing comprises an opening for accessing the workspace;
• a sash mounted to the housing, the sash being configured to move between a closed position in which the sash covers the opening and an open position in which the sash does not cover the opening;
• at least one sensor for detecting the position of the sash relative to the opening;
• and
• at least one visual indicator mounted to the housing;
• wherein the at least one visual indicator is configured to emit a visual signal indicating the position of the sash.

Apparatus for effecting safe handling of biological and/or chemical materials, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing enclosing a workspace, wherein the housing comprises an opening for accessing the workspace;
• a sash mounted to the housing, the sash being configured to move between a closed position in which the sash covers the opening and an open position in which the sash does not cover the opening;
• a least one camera mounted to the housing such that the at least one camera can obtain image data of at least one of the workspace and the opening;
• and
• a computer, wherein the computer is configured to analyze image data obtained by the at least one camera in order to identify materials placed in the workspace.

A method for effecting safe handling of biological and/or chemical materials, the method comprising:

• providing apparatus comprising:
• a housing enclosing a workspace, wherein the housing comprises an opening for accessing the workspace;
• a sash mounted to the housing, the sash being configured to move between a closed position in which the sash covers the opening of the workspace and an open position in which the sash does not cover the opening of the workspace;
• a ventilation system disposed in the housing for drawing air out of the workspace;
• a motor for moving the sash between the open position and the closed position;
• an external power source for operating at least one of the ventilation system and the motor;
• and
• a secondary power source for operating at least one of the ventilation system and the motor when the external power source cannot deliver power to operate at least one of the ventilation system and the motor;
• and
• using power from the secondary power source to power at least one of the ventilation system and the motor when the external power source cannot deliver power to operate at least one of the ventilation system and the motor.

A method for effecting safe handling of biological and/or chemical materials, the method comprising:

• providing apparatus comprising:
• a housing enclosing a workspace, wherein the housing comprises an opening for accessing the workspace;
• a sash mounted to the housing, the sash configured to move between a closed position in which the sash covers the opening of the workspace and an open position in which the sash does not cover the opening of the workspace;
• a ventilation system disposed in the housing for drawing air out of the workspace;
• a motor for moving the sash between the open position and the closed position;
• and
• a command module configured to operate the motor for moving the sash;
• and
• using the command module to move the sash between the open position and the closed position.

A method for effecting safe handling of biological and/or chemical materials, the method comprising:

• providing apparatus comprising:
• a housing enclosing a workspace, wherein the housing comprises an opening for accessing the workspace;
• and
• a decontamination system configured to selectively emit a decontamination agent into the workspace so as to decontaminate the workspace, the decontamination system comprising:
• a reservoir comprising a decontamination agent;
• and
• a decontamination array fluidically connected to the reservoir, the decontamination array comprising at least one dispersion head configured to emit the decontamination agent into the workspace;
• and
• emitting the decontamination agent into the workspace so as to decontaminate the workspace.

A method for effecting safe handling of biological and/or chemical materials, the method comprising:

• providing apparatus comprising:
• a housing enclosing a workspace, wherein the housing comprises an opening for accessing the workspace;
• a sash mounted to the housing, the sash being configured to move between a closed position in which the sash covers the opening and an open position in which the sash does not cover the opening;
• at least one sensor for detecting the position of the sash relative to the opening;
• and
• at least one visual indicator mounted to the housing;
• wherein the at least one visual indicator is configured to emit a visual signal indicating the position of the sash;
• and
• emitting a visual signal to indicate the position of the sash.

A method for effecting safe handling of biological and/or chemical materials, the method comprising:

• providing apparatus comprising:
• a housing enclosing a workspace, wherein the housing comprises an opening for accessing the workspace;
• a sash mounted to the housing, the sash being configured to move between a closed position in which the sash covers the opening and an open position in which the sash does not cover the opening;
• a least one camera mounted to the housing such that the at least one camera can obtain image data of at least one of the workspace and the opening;
• and
• a computer, wherein the computer is configured to analyze image data obtained by the at least one camera in order to identify materials placed in the workspace;
• and
• identifying materials placed in the workspace.