Sterile Drape for C-Arm X-Ray Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Maintaining sterility in a surgical field during the rotation or movement of a C-arm X-ray device is challenging due to the need for continuous coverage of the C-arm's unsterile inner circumference as it changes positions, which existing sterile drapes fail to effectively address.

Innovation Solution

A sterile drape system comprising a slide rail assembly, an anchor assembly, and a collapsible drape assembly that extends along the C-arm's inner circumference, allowing the drape to expand or contract as the C-arm moves, maintaining sterility by anchoring one end and using a compliant material that conforms to the C-arm's shape, ensuring the drape remains within the sterile field.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traditional sterile drape is used to cover the C-arm, then sterility is maintained when the C-arm is stationary, but the drape cannot maintain sterility when the C-arm is rotated or moved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterility maintenanceVSAvoiddrape adaptability to C-arm movement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The sterile drape system transitions from a static coverage approach to a dynamic one where the drape assembly can expand and contract along the C-arm's inner circumference. The slide rail assembly enables the drape to dynamically adjust its position and coverage area as the C-arm rotates or moves, maintaining sterility throughout the range of motion rather than just when stationary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The drape system is divided into multiple segments including the slide rail assembly, anchor assembly, and collapsible drape assembly. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the slide rail provides guided movement, the anchor provides stable attachment, and the collapsible drape provides flexible coverage - collectively solving the problem of maintaining sterility during C-arm movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If a fixed sterile drape is used, then the drape structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate C-arm rotation or repositioning without compromising sterility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrape system structureVSAvoidsterility during movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The collapsible drape assembly is designed to nest along the inner circumference of the C-arm, similar to an accordion structure. This nested configuration allows the drape to compactly follow the C-arm's curvature while maintaining continuous sterile coverage, accommodating rotation and repositioning without requiring an overly complex external support structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The slide rail assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the stationary anchor point and the moving drape assembly. It provides a guided pathway that allows the drape to move smoothly along the C-arm's inner circumference while maintaining proper positioning and tension, enabling sterility maintenance during movement without excessive structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the drape is made rigid to maintain shape, then the drape structure is stable, but it cannot conform to the C-arm's inner circumference during rotation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrape structural stabilityVSAvoiddrape conformance to C-arm shape

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The drape assembly is constructed from flexible material that can conform to the curved inner circumference of the C-arm. This flexibility allows the drape to adapt to the C-arm's shape during rotation and repositioning while the slide rail and anchor assemblies provide the necessary structural support and stability to maintain proper positioning and sterile coverage throughout the movement range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS9295521B2Sterile drapes for X-ray devices, systems containing the same, and methods for using the same

Publication Date: 2016.03.29 GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC

AI summary

A sterile drape for a C-arm X-ray device includes a slide rail assembly configured to be connected to a C-arm of an X-ray device that extends from a lower portion of the C-arm to an upper portion of the C-arm. The sterile drape further comprises a sterile drape assembly comprising a length of compliant material, the sterile drape assembly configured to be detachably coupled to the upper portion of the C-arm and to the slide rail assembly. The sterile drape also comprises an anchor assembly configured to be connected to the C-arm X-ray device at one end and configured to be connected to the sterile drape assembly at the other end so that the anchor assembly draws the sterile drape assembly along the slide rail assembly as the C-arm is rotated.