Novamed S.R.L. · Biocontainment products
Biocontainment devices with controlled pressure
Stretchers, beds, chairs, rooms and anterooms for isolating infectious or immunocompromised patients: the biocontainment devices supplied by Novamed S.R.L. protect staff and surroundings during transport, diagnosis and inpatient care.
- HEPA-ULPA filtration
- Negative and positive pressure
- Delivery throughout Italy
How they work
What do biocontainment devices do?
Biocontainment devices create a closed volume around the patient, usually an aluminium frame covered in medical-grade PVC, in which air is extracted and filtered before being released. This reduces the passage of contaminated air towards staff and the surrounding area or, conversely, towards a vulnerable patient.
Most biocontainment devices work under negative pressure. The motor draws air out of the chamber, which stays at a lower pressure than the room: if an access point is opened, air flows in rather than out, and the extracted air passes through the filters before it is released. This is the configuration used for patients with airborne infections such as tuberculosis, measles or COVID-19. Under positive pressure the opposite happens: filtered air pushes outwards and keeps pathogens away from immunocompromised patients, people with severe burns or patients recovering from a transplant.
For public health guidance on infectious diseases at European level, the website of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is a useful reference.
Where they are used
Where are biocontainment devices used?
Biocontainment devices are needed wherever a contagious, or conversely vulnerable, patient has to be moved, examined or admitted without exposing other people: accident and emergency, internal and external transfers, intensive care and inpatient wards.
Transport and A&E
Stretchers with isolation units and the AURA chair allow the patient to be transferred to and from accident and emergency and between departments. The STR MK 3 system can also be installed on self-loading stretchers and is suitable for air transport.
Inpatient care and intensive care
Beds with an isolation chamber, including a paediatric version, allow care, diagnosis and resuscitation manoeuvres without removing the barrier, thanks to integrated gloves and cable ports.
Rooms and wards
The Pandora modular chamber creates isolated spaces that can be set up inside or outside a facility; the Pithos anteroom turns a patient room into a negative-pressure environment.
Catalogue
Our biocontainment devices
All the biocontainment devices in our catalogue have an air extraction and filtration system. The filters are three-stage (nuclear, biological and chemical) with an efficiency of 99.9995%, suitable according to the manufacturer for biological risk levels up to BSL 4. No model requires consumables.
Biocontainment devices for transport
STR MK 3
STR MK 3 – BSL-4 negative pressure isolation system
A self-contained chamber that fits on self-loading stretchers, hospital beds and stretchers for in-hospital transfers, and can also be used in air transport. The filter motor has a backup battery and runs independently.
- Aluminium frame, medical PVC chamber with 3 pairs of gloves and 10 windows
- 3-stage NBC HEPA-ULPA absolute filters, compliant with UNI EN ISO 1822
- 5 cm mattress, safe working load (SWL) 200 kg
- Full side opening, space for an IV pole and ECG cables
STR MK 4
STR MK 4 – emergency stretcher with biocontainment system
A two-section, height-adjustable stretcher in painted steel with 4 antistatic castors and lifting on two hydraulic columns. The isolation unit has an aluminium frame and medical PVC closed by airtight zips on both sides, with replaceable long-sleeved gloves.
- Three-stage H14 grade HEPA filters (UNI EN ISO 1822:2009)
- Blower with backup battery
- Opens on both sides, safety belts
STR MK 5
STR MK 5 – motorised stretcher with biocontainment system
Compared with the STR MK 4 it adds a motorised retractable fifth wheel: a single operator can push and steer the stretcher even in tight spaces, with controls on the handles and two maximum speeds, 2 km/h and 6 km/h. The effort needed to start pushing and to steer is reduced by up to 50%.
- Medical PVC chamber with 2 pairs of gloves and 10 windows
- Three-stage U15 grade HEPA-ULPA filters
- Electric adjustments with LINAK motors, electrically controlled CPR position
- Compartment for an oxygen cylinder of up to 7 litres
Biocontainment devices for inpatient care
STR MK 9
STR MK 9 – electric paediatric bed with biocontainment system
Designed for paediatric patients, including in intensive care, anaesthesia and resuscitation. Three-section platform in thermoformed ABS, electric adjustments from the handset built into the foot-end side rail, and side rails with automatic locking and pneumatic operation.
- Isolation unit with airtight zips, sleeved gloves and ECG cable ports
- Three-stage U15 HEPA-ULPA filters, motor with backup battery
Galileo 34
Electric hospital bed with negative pressure isolation chamber
A bed for the transport, diagnosis and care of patients infected with biological agents. Height, backrest, leg rest and Trendelenburg/reverse Trendelenburg are electrically adjustable, with a tilt of up to 16° for CPR manoeuvres.
- 4 retractable half side rails with pneumatic locking, 4 castors of 150 mm with central locking
- Platform in 4 removable sections in ABS, HPL or epoxy-coated steel mesh
- Integrated filtration with rechargeable battery, access points for up to three operators
- Panel showing battery and power status, clock and timer
Biocontainment devices for rooms and wards
AURA
AURA – controlled-pressure biocontainment chair
A mobile chair for moving an infectious or immunocompromised patient within the hospital, sized to suit any emergency department. Metal frame covered with a transparent, high-strength polyvinyl chloride sheet, with positive or negative pressure ventilation.
- Pass-through pocket for objects and equipment
- Accessories: IV pole, tray, cylinder holder, cable sleeves, glove windows
- Tracking system for location, on request
PANDORA
Pandora – modular biocontainment chamber
A modular room built from standard 90 x 90 x 225 cm modules; the basic configuration uses 6 of them and the dimensions can be changed even after production. It works under negative or positive pressure and can be assembled in a few minutes, inside or outside the facility.
- Aluminium frame, medical PVC cover with airtight zip openings
- Extraction motors and three-stage U15 HEPA-ULPA filters, quick filter replacement
- Full side opening for admitting more than one patient
PITHOS
Pithos – mobile biocontainment anteroom
It attaches to the door frame and limits the escape of contaminated air every time the door is opened. The structure is made of aluminium and transparent polyvinyl chloride; inside, an ultrasonic disinfectant nebuliser adds a further barrier if someone enters without personal protective equipment.
- Three-stage U15 HEPA-ULPA filters (EN ISO 1822-1:2019)
- Made to measure or in standard sizes for hospital doors
How to choose
Which solution to choose: stretcher, bed, chair or chamber?
The choice between biocontainment devices depends on where the patient is and for how long: stretchers and the chair for transfers, beds for inpatient stays, the chamber and anteroom for isolating entire rooms.
Stretchers for transport
The STR MK 4 and STR MK 5 stretchers are also listed among our emergency stretchers, where you can compare the features of a biocontainment stretcher with the other models in the range.
Beds for paediatric patients
In addition to the STR MK 9, we supply other electric models for paediatric wards: you will find them on the paediatric hospital beds page.
FAQ
Questions about biocontainment devices
Are any consumables needed for operation?
No. The STR MK 3, STR MK 4, STR MK 5 and STR MK 9 systems and the Pandora chamber do not require consumables; the integrated gloves are replaceable.
How long do the filters of the biocontainment devices last?
For the STR MK 3, STR MK 4 and STR MK 5 the filters are tested for at least 720 hours of continuous operation, with an expected life of 70,000 hours.
Do the systems work without mains power?
The motor that drives the filters on the STR MK stretchers and the STR MK 9 bed has a backup battery, allowing it to run independently during transport.
Are custom sizes available?
Yes. Pandora can be reconfigured even after production, and Pithos is usually made to the door dimensions specified by the buyer. All biocontainment devices are available to order and are delivered throughout Italy from our base in Villafranca Tirrena (Messina, Sicily).
Request a price and data sheet
For biocontainment devices, tell us the model and how it will be used: we will send you the data sheet and a quotation. Write to info@novamed.me or call +39 090 9961681.