Sterile Draped Limb Basin for Ultrasound-Assisted Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasound-assisted surgical procedures for upper or lower limbs face challenges in providing adequate immersion solutions that are practical, cost-effective, and patient-comfortable, especially for more complex procedures like percutaneous release, and current rudimentary methods like bedpans or basins are inadequate.
Innovation Solution
An immersion system comprising a basin with a retention wall and impermeable surgical drapes that allows immersion of a patient's limb in sterile liquid, maintaining liquid-tightness and providing support for the surgeon, using materials like polyurethane foam and surgical drapes to facilitate ultrasound-assisted surgery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If bedpans or conventional basins are used for immersion, then the solution is simple and inexpensive, but the device complexity is insufficient for elaborate surgical procedures and cannot maintain adequate sterility and positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the immersion function into separate components: a basin for liquid containment, impermeable surgical drapes for sterility barrier, and positioning aids for limb support. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall simplicity and surgical adequacy
Solution Approach 2:
Impermeable surgical drapes are introduced as an intermediary layer between the basin and the surgical field. This mediator maintains sterility and allows the simple basin structure to be used while meeting surgical requirements for contamination prevention
2Device complexity
If rudimentary immersion means are used, then implementation is easy and cost-efficient, but the solution is inadequate for maintaining sterility and proper limb positioning during complex procedures
Solution Approach 1:
Impermeable surgical drapes in the form of flexible thin films are used to create a sterile barrier. These drapes can be easily draped over the basin and limb, maintaining sterility without adding significant complexity to the overall system
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares the immersion environment in advance by setting up the basin, draping it with impermeable surgical drapes, and positioning the limb before the surgical procedure begins. This preliminary preparation ensures sterility and proper positioning are established before surgery starts
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional basins are used, then the solution is simple to implement, but it cannot provide adequate support for the patient's limb during surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The basin is designed to serve multiple functions: containing the sterile liquid for ultrasound transmission, supporting the patient's limb in the required position, and providing a stable base for the surgical procedure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate positioning devices while maintaining simplicity
4Ease of operation
If direct probe-skin contact is used, then the procedure is straightforward, but patient discomfort increases and sonographic imagery quality decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Sterile liquid in the immersion bath serves as an intermediary medium between the ultrasound probe and the patient's skin. This mediator improves ultrasound transmission for better image quality while eliminating the need for firm pressure contact, thereby reducing patient discomfort
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces direct mechanical contact between the probe and skin with an acoustic coupling through the immersion liquid. This substitution eliminates the mechanical pressure requirement while maintaining or improving ultrasound transmission efficiency
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 system enhances sonographic imagery by eliminating the need for direct probe-skin contact, reduces patient discomfort, and supports the surgeon, making it suitable for complex surgical procedures while being easy and cost-efficient to implement.
Implementation Method 1
water being an excellent medium for ultrasound transmission
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
There is described an immersion system (100) for ultrasound-assisted surgery on a patient's upper or lower limb (LB) comprising a basin (B) configured and dimensioned to receive a part of the patient's upper or lower limb (LB), the basin (B) exhibiting a retention wall (10W) defining an accommodating space (10S) for the part of the patient's upper or lower limb (LB). The immersion system (100) further comprises at least one impermeable surgical drape (SD) that is draped over the basin (B) and exhibits an aperture (SDa) dimensioned to allow passage of the patient's upper or lower limb (LB) through the at least one impermeable surgical drape (SD) to expose a portion of the patient's upper or lower limb (LB) within an immersible space (S) formed by the accommodating space (10S) of the basin (B) draped by the at least one impermeable surgical drape (SD). The immersible space (S) is configured to allow immersion of the exposed portion of the patient's upper or lower limb (LB) in sterile liquid (L) poured within the immersible space (S).