Imaging Tunnel Sterile Draping With Fold-Out Bore Cover
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Maintaining sterility during minimally invasive medical procedures in confined imaging spaces, such as CT and MRT devices, is challenging due to the risk of breaking sterility when patients are moved in and out, as non-sterile materials may contact the device bore.
Innovation Solution
A device with a sterile cover that is rolled or folded outside the tunnel of the imaging device, which can be easily applied by unfolding and pressing against the inner wall using an umbrella-like mechanism, ensuring sterility by covering at least part of the tunnel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sterile cover is provided outside the tunnel and applied by unfolding, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the covering mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The sterile cover is rolled up or folded into a compact form that can be stored within or alongside the imaging device. The covering mechanism integrates the storage and deployment functions, with the cover nested within a dispenser or holder that guides its deployment into the tunnel.
Solution Approach 2:
The sterile cover is pre-rolled or pre-folded into a compact configuration before use. The covering mechanism is pre-positioned and ready to deploy the cover when needed, eliminating the need for manual preparation during the procedure.
2Reliability
If the sterile cover is pressed against the inner wall using an umbrella-like mechanism, then the reliability of sterility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The umbrella-like mechanism uses expandable ribs that dynamically transition from a collapsed state during insertion to an expanded state for pressing the cover against the tunnel wall. This dynamic expansion provides uniform pressing force without requiring complex actuation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The umbrella mechanism automatically expands and presses the cover against the tunnel wall through its own structural properties when deployed. The elastic or spring-loaded ribs self-expand upon insertion, eliminating the need for external actuators or complex control systems.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a sterile cover is used to line the interior of the bore, then the protection against contamination is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in application
Solution Approach 1:
The sterile cover is made from a flexible, thin-walled material that can be easily rolled, folded, or collapsed into a compact form for storage. When deployed, the flexible material conforms to the cylindrical shape of the tunnel bore, providing complete coverage without requiring complex shaping or adjustment.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Image guided interventions shall be performed in a sterile environment. Therefore, there is provided a device (11) for imaging at least a part of a patient including detection means (13) comprising a tunnel (14) through which or into which the patient (15) can be transported for imaging purposes. A sterile cover (2, 2') rolled up or folded is provided at the outside of the tunnel (14). A covering mechanism (3) is capable of unrolling or unfolding the sterile cover (2, 2') and draping it in the tunnel (14), such that the inner wall of tunnel (14) is covered at least partly by the sterile cover (2, 2').