Operating Theatre Air Quality Sensing for Laminar Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In operating rooms, maintaining defined air quality limits is crucial to prevent contamination and ensure patient safety, but existing methods struggle to effectively monitor and control air quality, especially around the surgical area, leading to potential turbulence and germ exposure.
Innovation Solution
A method involving sensors placed strategically, such as in operating room lamps or near the wound area, to measure air quality parameters like temperature, particle concentration, and germ load, with flexible hose connections to allow for dynamic monitoring and regulation of air quality, ensuring laminar flow and reducing turbulence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are placed directly in the wound area to measure air quality parameters, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and risk of contamination increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses operating room lamps as intermediary carriers to hold sensors. The lamps serve as mediators between the ceiling mounting system and the wound area monitoring need, allowing sensors to be positioned close to the surgical field without direct intervention or complex structural modifications. This resolves the contradiction by providing a simple yet effective mounting solution that maintains measurement precision while avoiding device complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple sensors are arranged in the wound area to monitor air quality continuously, then reliability of air quality assurance is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to staff obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions sensors from a horizontal plane (on tables or stands that would obstruct staff) to a vertical dimension (mounted on ceiling-suspended lamps). This dimensional change allows sensors to be positioned directly over the wound area for optimal monitoring reliability while clearing the horizontal working space for unobstructed staff movement and access to the surgical field.
3Measurement precision
If air is sucked in via openings forming measuring sensors to measure particle concentration and germ load, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of substance (air removal) occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs minimal air sampling rather than complete air replacement. Small openings in the sensors extract only the necessary volume of air for accurate particle and germ detection, while the majority of the operating room air supply and circulation system remains undisturbed. This partial action approach achieves high measurement precision without causing significant air loss or disrupting the controlled atmosphere of the operating room.
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
This approach enables continuous, flexible monitoring and regulation of air quality, reducing the risk of contamination and ensuring optimal air conditions around the surgical area, thereby enhancing patient safety and preventing post-operative complications.
Implementation Method 1
the air to be checked and/or monitored being sucked in via at least one opening forming the measuring sensor and then fed to a measuring probe
Implementation Method 2
a low-turbulence or laminar downward flow should be ensured. As a result, turbulence of the air in the surgical field is avoided as far as possible, and the germ-free supply air flowing into the surgical field
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The method involves arranging a measured value recorder in a portion of a wound area (31) or of a standardized area such that an air quality parameter representing air quality is measured by the recorder. The parameter is measured in an area of operating lamps (22, 24) present in an operating room (10). The air to be supplied into the operating room is regulated with regards to speed and/or amount or volume as a function of the measured air quality parameter. A corresponding value is utilized as a correcting variable for regulating or controlling the air to be supplied to the operating room. The parameter is selected from a group consisting of air speed, turbulence, temperature, particle concentration, particle number with and/or without germ load.