Self-Powered Operating Theatre Trolley for Cable-Free Equipment Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operating theaters face challenges with equipment access and safety due to increased equipment complexity, leading to trip hazards and limited movement of equipment pendants, as well as high costs associated with upgrading cabling for high video quality.
Innovation Solution
A mobile self-powered medical services trolley equipped with a portable power supply, integrated medical instruments, wireless data communication, and a multimedia input, allowing for flexible positioning and reducing the need for external power and cabling, while utilizing a location positioning system and line isolation safety monitor for enhanced safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If equipment pendants are used to mount medical devices, then equipment access is improved, but the movement range is limited to approximately 10 sqm due to rotation constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the medical equipment into modular components that can be independently positioned on the operating table or nearby surfaces, rather than being constrained to a single pendant location. This allows different equipment to be optimally placed according to specific surgical needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from the limited two-dimensional movement of equipment pendants to three-dimensional positioning by utilizing the operating table surface and surrounding areas, enabling equipment to be placed anywhere within the surgical field.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple equipment trolleys are deployed to provide suction, gas supply, and other functions, then functional completeness is improved, but floor space consumption and cable hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines multiple previously separate equipment functions (suction, gas supply, monitoring, imaging) into an integrated platform that can be positioned as a single unit on the operating table, eliminating the need for multiple separate trolleys and their associated cabling.
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical platform is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - supporting various medical devices, providing power, enabling communication, and facilitating imaging - replacing the need for multiple specialized equipment trolleys.
3Productivity
If equipment is positioned to allow surgeon viewing of monitors, then operational effectiveness is improved, but equipment must be placed on the opposite side of the patient creating routing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses wireless communication technology as an intermediary to transmit video and data signals between equipment and the surgeon's display devices, eliminating the need for physical cable routing under the patient and through the surgical field.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a mobile self-powered medical services trolley for use in a surgical operating theatre. The trolley includes a portable power supply in the form of battery system that powers the trolley without the need for an external power source (such as mains power) to be wired to the trolley. The trolley includes a plurality of electrically powered medical instruments and other electrically powered devices integrated onto the trolley and powered by the battery system for use in medical procedures carried out in the theatre. The plurality of medical instruments includes: a suction instrument; a gas supply apparatus; and wireless data communication unit in communication with a central computer network, for both sending and receiving data. The trolley further includes a multimedia input in the form of a connector port which is configured to connect to a video capture device.