Segmented Sterile Drape for CT Gantry Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sterile drapes for imaging systems like CT machines are difficult to deploy and remove without breaking sterility, often requiring secondary draping and increasing the risk of contamination due to their large size and complexity, especially when anesthesia tubes are involved, and accidental contact can lead to costly rescrubbing and contamination.
Innovation Solution
A new drape design featuring configurable segments with integrated semi-rigid stays, hinges, and locking features that allow for easy deployment, handling, and installation, maintaining sterility by becoming a semi-rigid planar object for controlled transport and installation, with features like Velcro for secure attachment and a non-continuous contour to fit around equipment and anesthesia tubes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional large sterile drapes are used to cover the gantry, then sterility protection is achieved, but the drape becomes difficult to deploy and manage due to its large size and floppy nature
Solution Approach 1:
The drape is divided into multiple segments (first outer side wall covering portion, inner wall covering portion, second outer side wall covering portion) that can be deployed and secured independently. Each segment can be managed separately, reducing the complexity of handling the entire large drape at once while maintaining comprehensive sterility protection.
2Reliability
If conventional large sterile drapes are deployed on a sterile table, then sterility is maintained during preparation, but the drape becomes unpredictable and prone to contamination during transport due to air currents
Solution Approach 1:
The drape transitions from a static, floppy state during preparation to a dynamically controlled state during deployment. The segmented design allows each portion to be secured progressively, reducing its mobility and susceptibility to air currents. The inner wall covering portion can be secured first to create a stable base, then outer portions are attached in a controlled sequence.
3Reliability
If a secondary sterile drape is used to protect the patient during scanning, then sterility is maintained, but direct contact with the non-sterile gantry surface causes contamination requiring rescrubbing
Solution Approach 1:
The drape provides different levels of protection at different locations. The inner wall covering portion creates a sterile barrier directly against the gantry surface, while the outer side wall covering portions extend protection laterally. This localized sterile barrier prevents the secondary drape from contacting non-sterile surfaces, eliminating the contamination risk that would require rescrubbing.
4Reliability
If the drape is made large enough to fully cover the gantry, then comprehensive protection is achieved, but the drape becomes too complicated and hard to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The comprehensive coverage is achieved through segmentation rather than using a single large piece. The drape is divided into distinct portions (outer side wall covering portions and inner wall covering portion) that can be handled and secured independently. This reduces the immediate complexity of deployment while achieving the same comprehensive protection as a single large drape would provide.
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging system drape includes leaves for easier deployment. A gantry first outer side wall covering portion includes a top leaf and one or more adjacent leaves on opposite sides of the top leaf. There is a stay for each leaf, a gantry inner wall covering portion extending from the gantry first outer side wall covering portion, and one or more drape portions attached to the gantry inner wall covering portion and securable to a gantry second outer side wall.