Sterile Drape Holder Vacuum Sealing to Limit Surgical Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing device holding apparatuses for medical devices like operating microscopes under sterile conditions face challenges in maintaining airtight seals to prevent air infiltration, leading to vibrations due to high pump outputs required for air removal, which can disrupt surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A device holding apparatus with a holder unit and cavity system that includes a pumping-out device and sealing arrangements to minimize air infiltration, using a low-output pump and sealing elements like foam seals or valves to maintain a snug drape fit without excessive vibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a high pump output is used to remove air from the intermediate space between the drape and the device, then air removal effectiveness is improved, but vibration increases disrupting surgical procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The holder portion is divided into a sealed cavity that isolates the air removal process from the intermediate space. The pumping-out device removes air only from the cavity, not directly from the intermediate space between the drape and device, thereby eliminating vibration transmission to the surgical field while maintaining air removal effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The cavity acts as an intermediary chamber between the pumping-out device and the intermediate space. Air is first removed from the cavity, creating a pressure differential that allows the drape to bear snugly against the device without requiring direct high-power pumping in the intermediate space, thus reducing vibration.
2Reliability
If the drape opening is fitted snugly and closely around the holder portion, then air-tight sealing is improved, but the drape impairs the view and freedom of movement of the doctor
Solution Approach 1:
The drape is designed as a flexible film that can bear snugly against the device and holder portion when air is removed from the cavity, creating an air-tight seal without requiring a tight fit around the holder portion opening. This flexibility allows the drape to conform to the device contours while maintaining sealing effectiveness and not impeding the doctor's view or movement.
3Reliability
If a seal is provided between the drape and the holder portion, then air-tight sealing is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the pressure differential created by removing air from the cavity to make the drape bear snugly against the device and holder portion, creating an air-tight seal without requiring additional seal elements. The drape itself serves the sealing function through its flexibility and the applied pressure, eliminating the need for separate seals and reducing device complexity.
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 allows for effective air removal with reduced vibration, enabling sterile conditions for medical devices by sealing off the cavity portion to prevent make-up air flow, thus reducing the necessary pump output and maintaining a secure drape fit without hindering surgical operations.
Implementation Method 1
the air is sucked out of the intermediate space between the drape and the microscope and the portion of the support stand which is surrounded by the drape
Implementation Method 2
the air is sucked out of the intermediate space... so that the drape bears snugly against the microscope
Data Source
AI summary
A holding apparatus is provided for holding a device to be used under sterile conditions. The apparatus includes a holder unit (1) to which the device (3) is to be fixed. The holder unit (1) has a holder portion for fixing a drape (9) so that a held device (3) and the holder portion are substantially air-tightly enclosed. A cavity (2) in the holder unit (1) has a cavity portion (10) for communicating with an intermediate space between a fixed drape (9) and the device (3). A pumping-out device (15) is in the cavity (2) for pumping air out of the cavity portion and the intermediate space. The cavity portion (10) is sealed in the pumping-out operation to prevent the make-up flow of air out of other regions than the intermediate space between a fixed drape (9) and the device (3) or the holder portion.