Wire-Frame Airway Isolation Drape for Safer Intubation Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical professionals lack sufficient personal protection equipment during pandemics, leading to high infection rates due to the lack of effective barriers against contagious agents like SARS-CoV-2.
Innovation Solution
An airway isolation drape apparatus with a wire frame and transparent drape that deploys over a subject's head, securing to the chest and shoulders, providing a barrier against harmful agents while allowing access to the airways.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional personal protection equipment (masks, goggles, protective clothing) is used, then basic protection is provided, but sufficient protection against harmful agents is not achieved and medical professionals remain vulnerable to infection
Solution Approach 1:
The protective system is divided into separate functional components: a head covering portion for facial protection, a body covering portion for torso protection, and a wire frame structure for spatial definition. This segmentation allows each component to address specific protection needs while working together as an integrated system that provides comprehensive protection against contagious agents.
Solution Approach 2:
The wire frame acts as an intermediary structure between the protective drapes and the patient/subject. It provides spatial definition and structural support, allowing the drapes to be properly positioned and maintained at appropriate distances from the patient, thereby creating an effective protective barrier without direct contact.
2Reliability
If a wire frame structure is added to provide spatial definition and support for drapes, then protection effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wire frame is constructed from flexible materials that can be bent and shaped to conform to the patient's body contours and create appropriate spatial definition. This flexibility allows the structure to adapt to different patient sizes and positions without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining protection effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The wire frame serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the drapes, defines the protective space, maintains appropriate distance from the patient, and can be configured for different patient positions and sizes. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby simplifying the overall device structure.
3Reliability
If drapes are secured to the chest and shoulders to provide barrier protection, then protection against harmful agents is improved, but access to airways may be restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The drape system is designed to be dynamically adjustable, allowing the drapes to be secured to the chest and shoulders for protection while maintaining the ability to move and access the airway area when needed. The wire frame structure can be repositioned or adjusted to accommodate airway procedures while maintaining the protective barrier function.
Solution Approach 2:
The body covering drape is segmented or designed with openings/access points that allow easy access to the airway area while maintaining protection of the chest and shoulders. This segmentation enables the drape to provide barrier protection during normal procedures while facilitating airway access when required without compromising the protective function.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments for an airway isolation apparatus having a wire frame that is operable for deploying an isolation drape over a subjects head to protect healthcare and other workers from contagious or otherwise harmful agents are disclosed herein. The drape frame may include a frame base. A frame channel may extend from the frame base and a frame wire may extend through the frame channel A frame opening may be defined by the frame base and the frame channel of the drape frame. A drape may be disposed in the frame opening. Accordingly, the drape frame may be deployed in place over the chest and head of a subject. The drape may cover the subjects head to isolate the mouth and nose of the subject preparatory to accessing these airways for intubation or other procedure.