Magnetic Helmet Garment Coupling for Sterile Barrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional personal protection systems for surgical procedures lack effective and efficient fastening mechanisms for medical garments, leading to suboptimal performance in maintaining a sterile barrier and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A medical garment assembly with a shell configured for attachment to a surgical helmet, utilizing magnetic coupling members and a hall-effect sensor to securely attach to the helmet, ensuring a microbial barrier while allowing for easy attachment and detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional hooks and generic fasteners are used to couple the toga/hood to the helmet, then the medical garment can be attached to the helmet, but the attachment mechanism lacks reliability and secure engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical fastening systems (hooks, generic fasteners) with a magnetic coupling system. The helmet includes magnetic coupling members that magnetically attract and securely engage with corresponding attachment elements on the toga/hood, providing reliable attachment without complex mechanical interlocking mechanisms. This magnetic field-based system simplifies the fastening mechanism while improving attachment reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the toga/hood is removably coupled to the helmet for disposal after use, then the system allows for easy removal and reuse of the helmet, but the attachment mechanism lacks ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic coupling system allows the toga/hood to be easily attached to and detached from the helmet by simply bringing the components together (for attachment) or pulling them apart (for detachment). The magnetic force provides secure engagement during use, while the same magnetic force easily releases when pulled, enabling simple one-handed operation for both attachment and removal while maintaining reliable secure engagement during the surgical procedure.
3Reliability
If a transparent face shield is included in the medical garment, then a complete microbial barrier is provided, but the attachment elements for securing the face shield increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The face shield is secured to the toga/hood using magnetic attachment elements rather than complex mechanical fasteners. The magnetic coupling provides reliable attachment that maintains the integrity of the microbial barrier, while the simplicity of magnetic attraction and repulsion reduces the complexity of the attachment mechanism compared to traditional mechanical fastening systems with multiple components.
4Reliability
If magnetic coupling members are used to attach the medical garment to the helmet, then secure attachment is achieved, but the magnetic force may interfere with surgical instruments or equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic coupling members are strategically positioned at specific locations on the helmet and corresponding attachment elements are positioned on the toga/hood to create localized magnetic fields only where needed for attachment. This concentrated local magnetic field approach provides secure attachment at the coupling points while minimizing magnetic field interference with surgical instruments and equipment in the broader surgical field.
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 solution provides a reliable and efficient microbial barrier between the wearer and the environment, enhancing the performance of personal protection systems by ensuring secure attachment and easy reuse of components.
Implementation Method 1
The chin bar may include at least two magnetic coupling members
Implementation Method 2
The switch may be communicatively connected to a controller configured to control an operational characteristic of a peripheral device of the surgical helmet
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical apparel system including a surgical helmet including a peripheral device and surgical garment. The surgical helmet comprising a face frame, a sensor, and a coupling member at least partially disposed within a recess of the face frame. The surgical garment configured to be at least partially disposed over the surgical helmet to provide a barrier between a medical environment and a wearer, the garment comprising an attachment element configured to removably engage the coupling member of the helmet to couple the garment to the helmet. The sensor positioned and configured to detect when the attachment element is engaged with the coupling member and to transmit a signal a controller related to operation of the peripheral device based on the engagement of the attachment element with the coupling member. The controller coupled to the sensor configured to control the peripheral device based on the signal from the sensor.