Floor drainage system in arthroscopic operating rooms

Abstract

Floor drainage system in arthroscopic operating rooms, including: - a first module for the drainage of liquids and biological material installed in correspondence with at least a portion of an operating room floor; - a second module (2) for the conveyance of liquids and biological material, connected to the first module and installed below at least a portion of an operating room floor; - a third module (3) for filtering liquids and biological material, connected to the second module (2); - a fourth module (4) for the collection of liquids and biological material, connected to the third module (3).

Description

[0001] "FLOOR DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN ARTHROSCOPIC OPERATING ROOMS" * * *

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a drainage system for floors in operating rooms.

[0004] In particular, the present invention relates to a drainage system for floors in operating rooms aimed at implementing an efficient solution to the problem of significantly reducing turnover times, directly dependent on the cleaning and disinfection operations of surgical environments, between one scheduled surgical intervention and the next, of significant interest for surgical interventions performed arthroscopically.

[0005] This improvement not only increases the operational efficiency of the surgical environment, but also increases its profitability, allowing for greater availability of the operating room for interventions.

[0006] The technical area of reference pertains to the design of hospital infrastructures and health technologies, with particular attention to innovative solutions for surgery and efficient management of resources.

[0007] State of the art

[0008] As is well known, operating rooms are among the most complex and important areas in hospitals, and as such represent significant sources of revenue for these facilities. Orthopaedic operating rooms are among the most expensive areas of hospitals if not managed properly. However, orthopedic surgeries are among the most lucrative in a hospital if they are well organized.

[0009] Therefore, in the current healthcare context, it has become increasingly important to maximize efficiency and reduce unnecessary costs. Although the operating room is a pillar for the profitability of any hospital, there is little national or international data, benchmarks or formal figures on costs per minute in the operating room, where a patient spends an average of just over two hours between surgery and anesthesia.

[0010] It is important to consider that support staff in the operating room, who stay beyond working hours, are paid a higher salary share than the ordinary time slots. While operating room costs and potential profits are subject to a number of variables, it is clear that time is a primary resource in surgery. In other words, the efficiency of operating rooms is closely related to the reduction of turnover times between successive interventions.

[0011] Timeliness is defined as one of the six main factors for improving quality and outcomes in healthcare, and includes providing services in a timely and cost-effective manner to the patient and delivering results to both the patient and the healthcare provider without delay, so as to enable healthcare providers to perform timely and effective activities for hospital users.

[0012] The global arthroscopic surgery market size was valued at USD 6.9 billion in 2022, and is expected to reach USD 10.1 billion in 2030, at a compound annual growth rate, or CAGR, of 5.5%. The increasing rate of population aging is a major driving factor, as the older segment of the population is more prone to injuries that require surgical procedures. According to one of the latest reports published by the World Health Organization in October 2022, the population over 60 was 1 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach 1.4 billion by 2030.

[0013] Taking North America as an example, in 2022 this macro-area represented the main player in arthroscopic surgery on a global scale, with a share of 45.9%. The turnover time is significantly relevant precisely in the field of arthroscopic surgery and is influenced, in addition to the presence of the patient in the room before the staff break intervals, by the use of fluoroscopy and the greater complexity of these types of cases.

[0014] In arthroscopic knee surgery, for example, the turnover time, including preparation and cleaning time, involves a median of 32 minutes, with 22 of these dedicated to preparation and 10 to cleaning. The time range, however, is from less than 10 minutes for preparation and about 10 for cleaning, up to about 50 minutes for preparation and 40 minutes for cleaning. In arthroscopic shoulder surgery, which shows an annual growth trend of about 15%, the turnover time is on average about 50 minutes. This is probably due to the increased use of lavage fluid during this type of arthroscopic procedure.

[0015] Various floor drainage systems for hospital environments and beyond are known from the state of the art. For example, the patent application CN215669982U describes an integrated floor drain with an automatic drainage function, comprising a mounting frame, connecting rod, rubberized table, rotating plate, and bearing. The frame comprises a floor drain panel and a drainage pipe connected to a floor drain cover via a connecting rod. The floor drain cover is removable to the frame by means of a clamp. Drainage holes are evenly arranged within the floor drain cover, and a movable lifting element is provided through a central position of the floor drain.

[0016] The patent US5720078A has as its object, on the other hand, a suction device to remove liquids from a surface such as a floor. The device comprises an air chamber consisting of a top and bottom plate, with each of the plates comprising a respective top and bottom surface. The air chamber is in fluid communication with a fitting adjacent to it. The bottom plate includes a plurality of through holes, and the bottom surface of the bottom plate also includes fabric adjacent to it and feet to keep the bottom plate itself off the floor. This action allows the fluid to be drawn in through the holes in the bottom plate, and into the chamber, via a conventional suction source.

[0017] The systems known by the state of the art sufferfrom some limitations, including not allowing to reduce the time needed to clean and disinfect operating rooms, in particular the floors of the same rooms, between one surgery intervention and the next. Such a need is particularly felt in surgical interventions performed with the arthroscopic technique, characterized by large spills of liquids on the floor.

[0018] Purpose of the invention

[0019] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a drainage system for floors in arthroscopic operating rooms that ensures a reduction in the average turnover times in the operating room, specifically in surgical interventions performed arthroscopically, having, therefore, characteristics such as to overcome the limits that still affect similar systems known from the state of the art.

[0020] Summary of the invention

[0021] According to the present invention, a drainage system for floors in arthroscopic operating rooms is made, as defined in claim 1.

[0022] List of drawings For a better understanding of the present invention, a preferred form of realization is now described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0023] - Figure 1 shows a schematic view representative of a first portion of a floor drainage system in arthroscopic operating rooms, according to the invention;

[0024] - Figure 2 shows a schematic view representative of a second portion of the floor drainage system in arthroscopic operating rooms, according to the invention.

[0025] Detailed Description

[0026] With reference to these figures and, in particular, to figure 2, a drainage system for floors in arthroscopic operating rooms is shown, according to the invention.

[0027] In particular, the drainage system for floors in arthroscopic operating rooms includes:

[0028] - a first module for the drainage of liquids and biological material installed in correspondence with at least a portion of an operating room floor;

[0029] - a second module 2 for the conveyance of liquids and biological material, connected to the first module and installed below at least a portion of an operating room floor;

[0030] - a third module 3 of filtering liquids and biological material, connected to the second module 2;

[0031] - a fourth module 4 of collection of liquids and biological material, connected to the third module 3.

[0032] According to one aspect of the invention, according to a first embodiment, the first module for the drainage of liquids and biological material is implemented by means of a micro-perforated flooring 10, installed in at least one perimeter area in correspondence with an operating table.

[0033] According to another aspect of the invention, in a second embodiment, the first module for the drainage of liquids and biological material is instead implemented by means of a plurality of outflow grids 20, schematized in figure 1, installed in at least one perimeter area in correspondence with the operating table. According to another aspect of the invention, the third module 3 includes at least one electric pump and at least one filter.

[0034] According to one aspect of the invention, in both embodiments, the second module 2 includes stainless steel drainage channels and non-return valves.

[0035] Advantageously, according to the invention, the aforementioned drainage channels have slopes optimized for rapid and stagnation-free outflow on the floor of the arthroscopic operating room, while the non-return valves prevent the formation of backflow.

[0036] According to another aspect of the invention, the third module 3 includes means of automatic sanitization of at least one filter, which is preferably implemented by means of one or more HEPA filters and / or one or more activated carbon filters.

[0037] According to one aspect of the invention, HEPA filters are responsible for filtering biological particles, and activated carbon filters are instead indicated as a barrier for chemical impurities.

[0038] In use, advantageously according to the invention, the drainage system for floors in arthroscopic operating rooms allows to reduce turnover times, particularly for operations performed in arthroscopy in which large use of liquids is made, ensuring high efficiency and an increase in productivity, also in view of the economic revenues that can be achieved by hospital facilities.

[0039] Thus, the drainage system for floors in arthroscopic operating rooms according to the invention implements a technical solution that ensures high standards of hygiene, safety and practicality during surgical procedures performed arthroscopically.

[0040] In addition, the drainage system for floors in arthroscopic operating rooms according to the invention makes it possible to reduce the turnover times, necessary to restore the initial conditions of an operating room between one operation and the next, which in the case of operations performed arthroscopic dilate due to the large spills of the fluids used.

[0041] Another advantage of the floor drainage system in arthroscopic operating rooms according to the invention is that it is suitable for use in medical-hospital environments. Another advantage of the drainage system for floors in arthroscopic operating rooms according to the invention is that it is safe for both patients and medical and nursing staff.

[0042] Another advantage of the drainage system for floors in arthroscopic operating rooms according to the invention is the reduced maintenance that the same system requires.

[0043] Finally, the drainage system for floors in arthroscopic operating rooms according to the invention is easy to install.

[0044] Finally, it is clear that the drainage system for floors in arthroscopic operating rooms, described and illustrated here, can be modified and varied without leaving the protective scope of the present invention, as defined in the attached claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Floor drainage system in operating rooms, including:- a first module for the drainage of liquids and biological material installed in correspondence with at least a portion of an operating room floor;- a second module (2) for the conveyance of liquids and biological material, connected to the first module and installed below at least a portion of an operating room floor;- a third module (3) for filtering liquids and biological material, connected to the second module (2);- a fourth module (4) for the collection of liquids and biological material, connected to the third module (3).

2. Floor drainage system in operating rooms according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the first module for the drainage of liquids and biological material shall be implemented by means of a micro-perforated flooring (10), installed in at least one perimeter area at an operating table.

3. Floor drainage system in operating rooms according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the first module for the drainage of liquids and biological material is implemented by means of a plurality of outflow grids (20) installed in at least one perimeter area at an operating table.

4. Floor drainage system in operating rooms according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the third module (3) includes at least one electric pump and at least one filter.

5. Floor drainage system in operating rooms according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the second module (2) includes stainless steel drainage channels and non-return valves.

6. Floor drainage system in operating rooms according to claim 4, characterised by the fact that the third module (3) includes means of automatic sanitisation of said at least one filter.

7. Floor drainage system in operating rooms according to claim 4, characterised by the fact that at least one filter is implemented by means of a HEPA filter and / or an activated carbon filter.

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