Surgical Instrument Clamp Layout for Sterile Table-Side Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical instrument storage devices fail to maintain sterility and accessibility within the surgical field, leading to inefficiencies and safety concerns due to cluttered and tangled equipment, and a lack of customization for specific surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A medical instrument storage device comprising a sturdy, sterile frame with a main clamp and instrument clamps that attach to an operating table, allowing for customizable storage of various shapes and sizes of medical instruments within easy reach, while maintaining sterility and preventing equipment damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If medical equipment is kept outside the sterile field for storage, then sterility is maintained, but accessibility and efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
A sterile adapter or barrier interface is introduced between the non-sterile storage area and the sterile surgical field. This intermediary allows instruments to be stored outside the sterile field while maintaining sterility through the barrier, and enables quick transfer into the sterile field when needed without compromising either sterility or accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The storage device is divided into separate sterile and non-sterile zones. The non-sterile portion stores instruments outside the sterile field, while the sterile portion provides access within the sterile field. This segmentation allows instruments to be kept in a non-sterile environment during storage while maintaining sterility when needed for surgery
2Quantity of substance
If medical instruments are stored in a cluttered manner to save space, then storage efficiency is improved, but safety and accessibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The storage device divides instruments into separate compartments and categories (sharp instruments, non-sharp instruments, wires, etc.). Each compartment is specifically designed to hold certain types of instruments, preventing them from becoming cluttered or tangled together. This segmentation maintains high storage capacity while ensuring safe, organized accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the storage device have different structural properties optimized for specific instrument types. Sharp instruments are stored in compartments with protective features, wires are stored in sections that prevent tangling, and frequently used instruments are placed in easily accessible locations. This local customization of storage qualities enhances both capacity and safety
3Ease of operation
If a fixed storage device is used in the sterile field, then accessibility is improved, but adaptability to different surgical procedures is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The storage device incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable components that allow it to adapt to different surgical procedures. Instrument holders, clamps, and storage compartments can be repositioned or reconfigured based on the specific needs of each procedure, while maintaining fixed attachment to the operating table for consistent accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The storage device is designed with universal features that allow it to accommodate various types of surgical instruments and adapt to different procedure requirements. Multiple attachment points, adjustable holders, and configurable compartments enable a single device to serve multiple surgical specialties and procedures while remaining fixed in position
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates generally to the field of medical instrument storage. More specifically, the present invention relates to a medical instrument storage device that is comprised of a frame, a main clamp attached to the frame, and at least one instrument clamp also attached to the frame. The frame of the device is generally rectangular and the device is sturdy and sterile such that the device can attach to an operating table to be used in a surgical operating room. Further, the device is comprised of at least one instrument clamp that may store medical instruments or the wires of medical instruments that are to be used during the medical procedure. In this manner, the device can be applied to any medical procedure such that necessary medical instruments may be within an easily accessible range for the surgeon or another member of the surgical team.