Inflatable Surgical Enclosure for Sterile Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical systems for regulating intra-operative environments are costly, difficult to transport, and often fail to provide adequate protection against infectious risks and airborne contaminants, particularly in low-resource settings, leading to significant exposure for both patients and medical providers.

Innovation Solution

A portable, self-contained surgical system with a flexible enclosure and environmental control system that includes a frame for stability, air filtration, and pressure control, allowing for sterile surgery in various environments by preventing external contaminants and maintaining a sterile internal environment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If mobile operating room systems in tent format are used, then portability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveportabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical enclosure is divided into separate functional components: the flexible enclosure structure, the inflatable frame system, the environmental control unit, and the filtration system. This segmentation allows each component to be independently optimized and assembled, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining portability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs a flexible surgical enclosure made of thin film materials that can be easily folded and transported. The inflatable frame uses flexible membranes that maintain structural integrity when pressurized, enabling portable deployment without rigid components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Object-affected harmful factors

If personal protective equipment is used, then protection level is improved, but user comfort and compliance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection levelVSAvoiduser comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary sterile enclosure between the surgical field and the external environment. This barrier protects providers from contaminants without requiring them to wear cumbersome PPE, as the enclosure itself maintains the sterile boundary while allowing provider access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If traditional operating room ventilation systems are made mobile, then adaptability is improved, but reliability and sterility maintenance worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidsterility maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses an inflatable frame structure that creates a rigid yet portable enclosure when pressurized with clean air. This pneumatic structure maintains the enclosure's shape and integrity, ensuring sterility maintenance while allowing easy deployment and relocation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The environmental control system continuously supplies filtered air to maintain a positive pressure sterile atmosphere inside the enclosure. This controlled inert environment prevents contamination from the external environment while the system remains portable and mobile.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively prevents contamination of the surgical site from external and patient sources, protecting both patients and operators while enabling sterile procedures in non-traditional settings, such as outdoors or in resource-limited environments.

Implementation Method 1

an adhesive-surface disposed around the incise-drape and attached to the patient around the surgical-site so as to create a seal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

an air control device configured to supply an airflow to the enclosure; an air tube disposed at least partially inside the enclosure and configured to receive the airflow from the air control device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAirflow: Convection

Implementation Method 3

The surgical enclosure may be supplied with air under positive pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS20240065794A1Inflatable system for isolation of surgical site environments

Publication Date: 2024.02.29 SURGIBOX INC

AI summary

Portable surgical systems for regulating intra-operative environments over surgical sites are disclosed. The surgical systems include a flexible surgical enclosure configured to be attached to the surgical site of a patient. The enclosure enables operators to perform surgery on the surgical site from inside the enclosure. The enclosure may further include a patient-limb-port configured to enable the patient to insert an arm or a leg into the enclosure so that a limb-surgical-site is disposed inside the enclosure. The surgical system may further include an active environment control unit with one or multiple sensors. The surgical system prevents outer environment contaminants from reaching the surgical site while providing a barrier protecting operators from exposure to blood and biological matter generated during the surgery. The portable surgical system is used to perform surgery in environments other than operating rooms, such as outdoors, in tents, in cottages, and non-sterile rooms.