Surgical Drape Hood Sealing for Sterile Separator Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing surgery assist apparatuses face the risk of contamination due to potential contact of a worker's finger or the like with the penetration hole in the hood, compromising the sanitary area where the holder and apparatus body are present.
Innovation Solution
A drape attachment structure with a hood featuring a closure sheet that closes the penetration hole before the separator is attached to the holder, and a mounting portion that seals the hole once the separator is attached, ensuring the sanitary area remains intact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the penetration hole is left open in the hood to allow attachment of the separator and adapter, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of contamination increases as workers may mistakenly insert fingers or objects into the hole
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing a closure sheet that is pre-positioned to cover the penetration hole before the attachment operation begins. This closure sheet is designed to be removed or moved aside only when the separator and adapter need to be attached, thereby preventing contamination during the majority of the operation time while still allowing easy access when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure sheet acts as an intermediary element between the penetration hole and the external environment. It provides a physical barrier that prevents direct contact between the sterile interior and non-sterile exterior, while still allowing the attachment components to pass through when properly introduced, thus mediating between the conflicting requirements of openness and protection.
2Reliability
If the hood is made completely sealed to maintain sterility, then the sanitary area is protected, but the ability to attach the separator and adapter is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The closure sheet is pre-installed on the hood to provide immediate sealing upon donning the drape. This preliminary protective measure ensures sterility is maintained from the moment the drape is applied, while the design anticipates the need for attachment by providing a controlled access mechanism that can be activated when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The hood system transitions from a static sealed state to a dynamic state during attachment operations. The closure sheet can be temporarily moved or opened to allow passage of the separator and adapter, then restored to its sealed position afterward, making the sealing property dynamic rather than fixed, thus reconciling the contradiction between sealing and accessibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a drape attachment structure for a surgery assist apparatus that includes an apparatus body including a plurality of coupling arms and includes a holder supported by the apparatus body, a separator being made attachable to or detachable from the holder, the holder and the apparatus body being covered with a drape in an operation, wherein the drape includes a cover and a hood, the cover being in a film form, the hood being to be attached to one end portion of the holder and being formed with a penetration hole, the separator includes a mounting portion and a penetrating portion, the mounting portion being capable of being in close contact with the hood, the penetrating portion protruding from the mounting portion, the hood includes a closure sheet that closes the penetration hole in a state before the separator is attached to the holder, and the separator is attached to the holder in a state where the penetrating portion breaks through the closure sheet to penetrate into the penetration hole, and the penetration hole is closed by the mounting portion.