Transparent Shield Containment Unit for Aerosol Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods fail to effectively contain and reduce the spread of pathogens from a person's oral and nasal pathways during procedures like dental and surgical procedures, leading to contamination of both healthcare providers and the environment, necessitating inefficient and costly disinfection protocols, especially in the context of high-risk infections like SARS CoV-2.
Innovation Solution
The development of containment units comprising a shield and optionally a drape that can be used alone or together to limit the spread of aerosols and droplets from a patient's mouth, which can be reused after disinfection, and are designed to fit over a person's face and torso, reducing the need for extensive room decontamination and protecting both patients and healthcare providers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If personal protective equipment is used by healthcare providers, then protection of the provider is improved, but contamination of the procedure room still occurs
Solution Approach 1:
A transparent shield acts as an intermediary barrier between the patient's oral cavity and the surrounding environment. The shield physically intercepts aerosols and droplets generated during dental procedures, preventing their dispersion into the procedure room while allowing visual monitoring and access for dental instruments
Solution Approach 2:
The containment system divides the procedure space into a contaminated zone (patient's oral cavity) and a clean zone (procedure room) using the shield as a partition. This segmentation localizes the harmful aerosols to a specific region, preventing widespread contamination
2Object-affected harmful factors
If extensive room disinfection is performed after procedures, then pathogen spread is reduced, but time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The shield extracts and contains the harmful aerosols and droplets at their source, removing them from the general procedure room environment. By capturing contaminants within the confined space behind the shield, the overall contamination level in the room is reduced, allowing for less extensive disinfection protocols
Solution Approach 2:
The shield provides preliminary containment of pathogens during the procedure itself, preventing their dispersion into the room before disinfection is even considered. This preliminary barrier action reduces the initial contamination burden, thereby reducing the required disinfection effort
3Productivity
If drilling instruments and high pressure washing are used, then dental procedure effectiveness is improved, but aerosol production increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shield converts the harmful effect of increased aerosol production into a manageable situation by containing those aerosols within a defined space. The very instruments that generate more aerosols (drills, high-pressure washers) are now accompanied by a containment system that utilizes the increased production but directs it into a controlled zone rather than allowing uncontrolled dispersion
Data Source
AI summary
Equipment for reducing spread of aerosol and other droplets in nasal and oral airways is provided. The equipment includes a shield optionally combined with a drape. The equipment limits the spread of aerosol and other droplets from a person's mouth and nose thereby reducing the need to decontaminate the procedure room after a procedure. The equipment also provides additional protection to the care-provider conducting the procedure. Additionally, the containment unit also reduces the exposure of the person to pathogens during the procedure, e.g., to pathogens present in the room where procedure is conducted and/or pathogens from the care provider. The equipment or parts thereof may be for single-use or can be reused after disinfection.