Patent Application
20150107627
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of surgical case cart apparatus, systems and methods for decontaminating the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Designed for the orderly storage of instruments and supplies for medical operations, surgical case carts have become a necessary investment for any hospital, clinic, or private practice of medicine. The utilization of well-designed surgical case carts can help keep track of inventory levels and ensure that medical staff enjoys easy access to all necessary procedural instruments and supplies. Benefits include efficient use of space, effective time management, economically appropriate use of staff, prevention of infection and the accurate capture of information.
Typically, surgical case carts are constructed of welded stainless steel and utilize casters for portability and handles for maneuverability. In closable surgical case cart designs, latchable doors with seals provide access to and contamination protection for the interior of the cart, into which one or more shelves may be introduced for the placement of sterile supplies, implants, and surgical tools to be conveyed to and from surgery. They provide greater security for sterile contents, and without a dedicated clean pathway from the point at which they are stocked with sterile supplies to the operating room or other point of use, they become a necessity.
Repeatedly decontaminating and drying surgical case carts is crucial to their effective use. Reducing the time it takes to clean up after one procedure and prepare for the next—i.e., turnover time—is a critical exercise for any surgical department. The easier a surgical case cart is to clean and dry, the quicker it can be put back into service.
Conventional closable surgical case carts may be cleaned by hand, a labor-intensive, inefficient, and time-consuming task. Alternatively, a case cart washing system may be employed into which such a surgical case cart is inserted with the doors open so that the cleaning jets of the system may reach the inside of the cabinet to decontaminate it, but such systems represent a substantial capital investment for any hospital, clinic, or private medical practice, and require ongoing maintenance and repair, which can add to operating costs. For this reason, only a small percentage of hospitals and other medical facilities employ case cart washing systems.
The present invention is a self-washing closable surgical case cart system and method of decontaminating the same inexpensively, quickly, completely, and efficiently. It comprises a closable surgical case cart incorporating a 360-degree universal fluid delivery system, compatible with external sources for fluid monitoring and delivery, that assures all surfaces within the closable surgical case cart may be decontaminated. Fluid removal may be accomplished through a pluggable drain and a pitched floor allowing for enhanced water removal. The drain may be accessed via an outlet coupler, which may be a universal hose hookup. to allow drainage to a receptacle via a hose or other suitable fluid drainage channel, or free drainage without a hose.
In addition to these self-cleaning features, the design of the instant invention provides improved ergonomics for users as well as enhanced protection from floor-level contaminants. The lowest position for a shelf within the closable surgical case cart is positioned a minimum of 18 to 24 inches above the floor, reducing bending and lifting when loading and unloading, and creating greater distance from potential contamination from the floor. The wheels of the closable surgical case cart may be larger than those commonly used in other designs to allow for easier maneuverability, and directional or rigid front wheels aid in steering while the closable surgical case cart is in transit. Moreover, the height of the closable surgical case cart may be made adjustable for the convenience and comfort of the user.
A method of decontaminating the closable surgical case cart, taking advantage of its unique self-washing features, is also disclosed. This method broadly includes connecting a decontaminating fluid source to the closable surgical case cart, introducing the decontamination fluid or fluids into the closable surgical case cart through the 360-degree universal fluid delivery system, disconnecting the decontaminating fluid source, and allowing the closable surgical case cart to air dry or towel drying it prior to placing it into service.
A self-washing closable surgical case cart apparatus, system and method of decontaminating the same inexpensively, quickly, completely, and efficiently is disclosed herein. The system comprises a self-washing closable surgical case cart apparatus 2 incorporating a 360-degree universal fluid delivery system, compatible with external sources for fluid monitoring and delivery, that assures all surfaces within the closable surgical case cart apparatus 2 may be decontaminated. Fluid removal may be accomplished through a pluggable drain 40 and a pitched floor 38 allowing for enhanced water removal. The drain 40 may be accessed via an outlet coupler 50, which may be a universal hose hookup to allow drainage to a receptacle through a hose, or free drainage without a hose.
As illustrated in
Appropriate closable access means, such as one or more cabinet doors 12 located opposite the back 80 of the cabinet 4, both provide access to the interior of the cabinet 4 and allow the cabinet 4 to be closed. Each cabinet door 12 may be attached to the side 7 of a cabinet 4 by way of one or more hinges 16 and secured in the closed position shown in
The lower assembly 6 may include one or more solid shelves 28, as well as one or more grated shelves 30. These may be used to transport any number of items that may not be required to be maintained in a sterilized state within the cabinet 4. The lower assembly 6 further comprises a plurality of wheels 20, 22 that facilitate the portability of the self-washing closable surgical case cart apparatus 2. As illustrated in this particular embodiment, fixed wheels 20 may be utilized on one end of the self-washing closable surgical case cart apparatus 2 and directional wheels 22 may be included on the other end to facilitate maneuverability. Castor brakes 24 provide a means of securing the self-washing closable surgical case cart apparatus 2 in a given stationary position. Handles 18 on either end of the cabinet 4 further assist a user in transporting and maneuvering the self-washing closable surgical case cart apparatus 2.
One or more inlet couplers 32 in the cabinet 4 allows a decontaminating fluid source to be introduced into the cabinet 4 by attaching a hose or other suitable fluid transmission channel. Each inlet coupler 32 leads to one or more fluid supply lines 33 within the cabinet 4, which in turn leads to a ball tank washer 34 or other appropriate fluid distribution means, also within the cabinet 4. The ball tank washer or other fluid distribution means may be located within the interior portion of the cabinet 4 under the roof 10 or in any other suitable location to enable 360-degree dispersal of fluids throughout the interior of the cabinet 4.
In
In the front view of the cabinet 4 in an open state shown in
One or more outlet couplers 50, one of which is illustrated in
The design of the instant invention provides improved ergonomics for users as well as enhanced protection from floor-level contaminants. As discussed, the lowest position for a shelf within the self-washing closable surgical case cart apparatus 2 is positioned a minimum of 18 to 24 inches above the floor, reducing bending and lifting when loading and unloading, and creating greater distance from potential contamination from the floor. The wheels 20, 22 of the self-washing closable surgical case cart apparatus 2 may be larger than those commonly used in other surgical case cart designs to allow for easier maneuverability, and directional wheels 22 aid in steering while the self-washing closable surgical case cart apparatus 2 is in transit.
Methods of decontaminating the self-washing closable surgical case cart apparatus 2, taking advantage of its unique self-washing features, are also disclosed. Broadly, decontamination includes the steps of connecting a decontaminating fluid source to the self-washing closable surgical case cart apparatus 2 via suitable connection means, introducing the decontamination fluid or fluids into the self-washing closable surgical case cart apparatus 2 while in a closed state, disconnecting the decontaminating fluid source, and allowing the self-washing closable surgical case cart apparatus 2 to air dry or towel-drying it prior to placing it into service.
In one particular embodiment of a decontamination method, a water source is first established for a wash-cycle control monitor with a cycle switch and a monitor reservoir. This source may be either plumbed permanently to the wash-cycle control monitor or accessed via a hot water faucet through a hose or other appropriate fluid transmission channel.
Once the water supply is thus connected to the wash-cycle control monitor—which may be mounted to a wall or other appropriate location—a concentrated enzyme detergent of choice may be added to the monitor reservoir. The wash-cycle control monitor is then attached via a hose or other appropriate fluid transmission channel via an inlet coupler 32 to the cabinet 4 of a self-washing closable surgical case cart apparatus 2 in a closed state. Any desired hose or other suitable fluid drainage channel may be attached to the cabinet 4 via an outlet coupler 50 and directed to a receptacle or other receiving point for waste fluid from the interior of the cabinet 4.
Next, the water source is activated, and the cycle switch on the wash-cycle control monitor activated to deliver the concentrated enzyme detergent into the water from the water source. Either a single or a double enzyme wash of the cabinet 4 may be carried out at this point.
A rinse cycle may then be undertaken with plain water to eliminate any residual enzyme detergent from the interior of the cabinet 4. A second rise cycle optionally may follow.
Finally, the hose or other appropriate fluid transmission channel is disconnected from the inlet coupler. Following air-drying or towel-drying of the interior of the cabinet 4, the self-washing closable surgical case cart apparatus 2 may be placed into service.
