Surgical Tray Rack Layout With Sterile Tracking for OR Instrument Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The operating room environment faces challenges in efficiently organizing and using surgical instrumentation, leading to increased risks of miscommunication, instrument misplacement, and higher infection rates, which ultimately result in increased healthcare costs.

Innovation Solution

A surgical tray efficiency system is introduced, featuring a multi-level rack design with adjustable shelves, modular units for customized setups, mobility for easy movement, and a sterile drape with location identification. This system is complemented by a software platform that standardizes instrument placement and tracking, enhancing accountability and reducing errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional storage methods (cabinets, racks, tables) are used for surgical instruments, then instruments can be stored and transported, but organization precision and tracking capability are insufficient leading to misplacement and miscommunication

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstrument location tracking precisionVSAvoidinstrument placement information

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms through bar code scanners and software platforms that continuously track and update instrument locations. When instruments are placed on shelves or in containers, their positions are automatically recorded and communicated to the surgical team, ensuring real-time awareness of instrument locations and preventing misplacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional manual tracking methods with automated electronic systems including bar code scanners, RFID tags, and software platforms. These electronic systems automatically detect and record instrument locations, eliminating the need for manual tracking and reducing human error in maintaining instrument placement information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If more personnel and instruments are present in the operating room to handle complex procedures, then procedural capability is enhanced, but coordination difficulty and infection risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocedural capabilityVSAvoidinfection risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the operating room environment into distinct zones with designated storage locations for different instrument types. By segmenting the space and assigning specific locations to specific instruments, the system reduces clutter and unnecessary movement of personnel, thereby lowering infection risk while maintaining full procedural capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces automated tracking systems and standardized storage containers as intermediaries between personnel and instruments. These intermediaries facilitate efficient instrument access and return without requiring personnel to leave sterile fields or create additional traffic patterns that could increase contamination risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If standardized storage locations are implemented for all instruments, then organization and tracking improve, but flexibility in accessing instruments during surgery may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstrument location consistencyVSAvoidinstrument access speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-assigns specific storage locations to specific instruments based on procedural requirements. Before surgery begins, all necessary instruments are placed in their designated locations and tracked in the software platform. This preliminary organization ensures that during surgery, instruments can be quickly retrieved from known locations without compromising access speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent designs a universal storage system where containers and shelves can accommodate multiple types of instruments while maintaining unique identification for each item. The standardized containers serve multiple functions: they organize instruments, protect them from contamination, and enable automatic tracking through embedded identifiers, thus maintaining both reliability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12279918B2Surgical tray efficiency system and related methods

Publication Date: 2025.04.22 FLEX OPERATING ROOM INC

AI summary

A surgical tray efficiency system comprising a vertical rack assembly for holding and displaying a plurality of surgical instrument trays, a sterile barrier covering the vertical rack assembly and including tray location identifiers, and a standardization software platform including a customizable interactive planogram is described. The customizable interactive planogram software helps operating room staff arrange the instrument trays on the vertical rack assembly according to a predetermined customizable location ID, and create/load/access information related to the surgical procedure/trays/instruments before, during, and after the surgery.