Abstract: A patient warming system for stabilizing and/or heating and cooling a patient includes a plurality of solid-surface sections arranged for attachment to a surgical table and a warming pad layer comprising a plurality of warming pads configured for removable connection to the plurality of solid-surface sections. At least one of the plurality of solid-surface sections includes a power connector for connection to an external power source. Each warming pad of the plurality of warming pads includes a foam insulation layer, a distributed heating element layer having a warming-pad power connection for connection to the power connector, an isothermal layer, and a flexible waterproof layer. Power supplied to the warming-pad power connection of the distributed heating element layer of the respective warming pad can be used to provide a user-selected uniform temperature over the surface of the flexible waterproof layer in order to prevent hot spots.

Abstract: Described herein are components, systems, and methods of use of an integrated sterilization system comprising a pass-through logistics cabinet, an ozone sterilization system, a floor sterilization robot, and systems for controlling such components. An integrated operating room sterilization system will allow mitigation or elimination of risks (e.g., infrastructural risks (e.g., OI risks), procedural risks (e.g., risk of infection and contamination) that are associated with a setting in a healthcare environment. The elimination of clutter, control of major components under a unified and intuitive user interface, and the logical elimination of potential accumulated risk events (e.g., OI risks) and procedural risks are deliberately addressed, in whole or in part, by the present disclosure. The present disclosure describes the following: a pass-through logistics cabinet, an ozone sterilization system, a floor sterilization robot, and systems for controlling such components.

Abstract: An integrated and modular air and lighting plenum that is the primary directional lighting mounting apparatus and laminar flow diffuser of an HVAC system in a healthcare setting. The plenum provides laminar air flow from the ceiling to the room in which it is located in accordance with HVAC requirements for healthcare environment settings, by using a plurality of cylindrical airflow outlets. The use of cylindrical airflow outlets promotes laminar airflow by reducing sharp boundaries that induce turbulence (e.g., the corners of rectangular or square outlets) and creates a highly sterile environment around the patient and staff in the operating room. The surgical lights used in the integrated air and lighting plenum allow the beam direction, spot size, focal point, brightness, and color temperature of the emitted light to be controlled.

Abstract: An integrated and modular air and lighting plenum that is the primary directional lighting mounting apparatus and laminar flow diffuser of an HVAC system in a healthcare setting. The plenum provides laminar air flow from the ceiling to the room in which it is located in accordance with HVAC requirements for healthcare environment settings, by using a plurality of cylindrical airflow outlets. The use of cylindrical airflow outlets promotes laminar airflow by reducing sharp boundaries that induce turbulence (e.g., the corners of rectangular or square outlets) and creates a highly sterile environment around the patient and staff in the operating room. The surgical lights used in the integrated air and lighting plenum allow the beam direction, spot size, focal point, brightness, and color temperature of the emitted light to be controlled.

Abstract: A patient warming system for stabilizing and/or heating and cooling a patient includes a plurality of solid-surface sections arranged for attachment to a surgical table and a warming pad layer comprising a plurality of warming pads configured for removable connection to the plurality of solid-surface sections. At least one of the plurality of solid-surface sections includes a power connector for connection to an external power source. Each warming pad of the plurality of warming pads includes a foam insulation layer, a distributed heating element layer having a warming-pad power connection for connection to the power connector, an isothermal layer, and a flexible waterproof layer. Power supplied to the warming-pad power connection of the distributed heating element layer of the respective warming pad can be used to provide a user-selected uniform temperature over the surface of the flexible waterproof layer in order to prevent hot spots.

Abstract: Described herein are components, systems, and methods of use of an integrated sterilization system comprising a pass-through logistics cabinet, an ozone sterilization system, a floor sterilization robot, and systems for controlling such components. An integrated operating room sterilization system will allow mitigation or elimination of risks (e.g., infrastructural risks (e.g., OI risks), procedural risks (e.g., risk of infection and contamination) that are associated with a setting in a healthcare environment. The elimination of clutter, control of major components under a unified and intuitive user interface, and the logical elimination of potential accumulated risk events (e.g., OI risks) and procedural risks are deliberately addressed, in whole or in part, by the present disclosure. The present disclosure describes the following: a pass-through logistics cabinet, an ozone sterilization system, a floor sterilization robot, and systems for controlling such components.

Abstract: Described herein are components, systems, and methods of use of an integrated sterilization system comprising a pass-through logistics cabinet, an ozone sterilization system, a floor sterilization robot, and systems for controlling such components. An integrated operating room sterilization system will allow mitigation or elimination of risks (e.g., infrastructural risks (e.g., OI risks), procedural risks (e.g., risk of infection and contamination) that are associated with a setting in a healthcare environment. The elimination of clutter, control of major components under a unified and intuitive user interface, and the logical elimination of potential accumulated risk events (e.g., OI risks) and procedural risks are deliberately addressed, in whole or in part, by the present disclosure. The present disclosure describes the following: a pass-through logistics cabinet, an ozone sterilization system, a floor sterilization robot, and systems for controlling such components.

Abstract: An integrated control system for controlling components of a setting of a healthcare environment, the integrated control system including one or more wireless computing devices; one or more displays; a plurality of components of the setting, wherein at least one component of the plurality of components is an ozone sterilization system, an integrated air and lighting plenum, a surgical lighting system, a pass-through logistics cabinet, or a floor sterilization robot; and a server. The server includes a connection for connecting to a remote healthcare environment information system, and a receiver and a transmitter for communicating data between the plurality of components of the setting, medical equipment connected to one of the plurality of components, the remote healthcare environment information system, the one or more wireless computing devices and the one or more displays.

Abstract: Described herein are components, systems, and methods of use of an integrated sterilization system comprising a pass-through logistics cabinet, an ozone sterilization system, a floor sterilization robot, and systems for controlling such components. An integrated operating room sterilization system will allow mitigation or elimination of risks (e.g., infrastructural risks (e.g., OI risks), procedural risks (e.g., risk of infection and contamination) that are associated with a setting in a healthcare environment. The elimination of clutter, control of major components under a unified and intuitive user interface, and the logical elimination of potential accumulated risk events (e.g., OI risks) and procedural risks are deliberately addressed, in whole or in part, by the present disclosure. The present disclosure describes the following: a pass-through logistics cabinet, an ozone sterilization system, a floor sterilization robot, and systems for controlling such components.

Abstract: An integrated and modular air and lighting plenum that is the primary directional lighting mounting apparatus and laminar flow diffuser of an HVAC system in a healthcare setting. The plenum provides laminar air flow from the ceiling to the room in which it is located in accordance with HVAC requirements for healthcare environment settings, by using a plurality of cylindrical airflow outlets. The use of cylindrical airflow outlets promotes laminar airflow by reducing sharp boundaries that induce turbulence (e.g., the corners of rectangular or square outlets) and creates a highly sterile environment around the patient and staff in the operating room. The surgical lights used in the integrated air and lighting plenum allow the beam direction, spot size, focal point, brightness, and color temperature of the emitted light to be controlled.

Abstract: Air plenums that produce highly laminar airflow and methods of their use are disclosed. In certain embodiments, an air plenum produces substantially downward laminar airflow such that a vertical curtain of air extending down from the plenum is created (e.g., at least in part by entrainment). In certain embodiments, an average airflow velocity in an outer region of airflow is at least 1.5× higher than an average airflow velocity of an inner region surrounded by the outer region, for example, when measured at a certain height above the floor (e.g., at a height of a patient treatment table). In certain embodiments, outlets of an air plenum are arranged such that they are bounded by a circular cross section. As a circular cross section does not have any corners, turbulent regions at the perimeter of the downward airflow are eliminated.

Abstract: Surgical instruments providing access to delicate tissue, such as brain tissue or breast tissue, through a transcutaneous incision. A surgical apparatus may have a hollow sleeve retractor extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal retractor end to a distal retractor end and an introducer having a proximal introducer end and a distal introducer end. The proximal introducer end is configured to install within the hollow sleeve with its distal end extending beyond the distal retractor end. The distal introducer end is tapered and may have a rounded profile in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis to displace delicate brain tissue transversely to the longitudinal axis without damage to the tissue. The distal retractor end may be blunt and adapted to support adjacent brain tissue while minimizing disruption to the tissue after the retractor is positioned at a surgery site and the introducer is removed from the retractor.

Abstract: Surgical methods providing access to delicate tissue, such as brain tissue or breast tissue, through a transcutaneous incision. A method may include making an incision adjacent a region containing delicate tissue, and providing a surgical assembly having: a retractor having a hollow sleeve extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and an introducer having a proximal end installed within the hollow sleeve and a distal end extending beyond the distal retractor end. The surgical assembly is advanced into the region containing delicate tissue, and the distal introducer end gently displaces the delicate tissue as the surgical assembly is advanced to thereby avoid damage to the delicate tissue. The introducer is removed from the retractor to leave the distal retractor end at a surgical site located in the physical region containing delicate tissue. One or more surgical instruments are then used through the hollow sleeve.

Abstract: A surgical access assembly is provided for retaining tissue, membrane, and organs in a retracted position after insertion into an incision on a patient. The assembly includes a hollow surgical access channel of oblong cross-section optionally expandable and contractible in diameter, thereby providing means for distraction of structure affixed to the retractor. The assembly optionally further comprises: gripping means for grasping by a surgeon or device and an introducer of generally oblong cross-section. The introducer, adapted to fit within the access channel, is generally rectangular in cross-section, rounded at the edges, with parallel sides. The distal end of the introducer protrudes from the retractor when inserted therein, and works to delicately push tissue apart. The introducer is placed within the hollow access channel and provides an hollow access channel for access by a surgeon and surgical instruments.

Abstract: An acrylic or other polymer composition, optionally containing aluminum trihydrate, and having undoped and/or doped titanium dioxide dispersed evenly throughout is disclosed. Said composition provides a sterile surface which can be renewed. Said composition provides a highly sterile surface upon photoactivation of the surface by at least either low-level ultraviolet irradiation or ambient/natural light (as when using doped titanium dioxide). A method of using such a surface material is also disclosed. Said acrylic or other polymer composition may be adhered onto a polycarbonate or other polymeric backing, optionally by an intervening layer of a third polymer. The resulting acrylic or other polymer/polycarbonate or other polymer combination is adapted to provide ambient lighting when exposed to a light source.

Abstract: An automated (robotic) floor cleaner (100) is adapted to allow sterile cleaning of sensitive environments, such as hospital room. In particular, the floor-cleaner chassis (124) is redesigned to be mounted on a deck (102) containing cleaning devices that contact the floor. The cleaning devices mounted on the deck (102) include vacuum head (132), brushes (120), cleaning fluid sprays (128), and conceivably sanitizing devices such as UV germicidal light, are provided pre-sterilized. As such, the adapted floor-cleaner chassis (124) allows the deck (102) to be mounted to the bottom of the chassis (124), the floor-cleaner (100) is then used to clean a floor, after which, the deck (102) is removed from the chassis (124) and disposed. The robotic-floor cleaner (100) and sterilization system cleans floor between or even during cases. Further, the robotic floor cleaner (100) reduces the “turnover time” required between cases, as it operates simultaneously while the staff prepares the room for the next case.

Abstract: An acrylic or other polymer composition, optionally containing aluminum trihydrate, and having undoped and/or doped titanium dioxide dispersed evenly throughout is disclosed. Said composition provides a sterile surface which can be renewed. Said composition provides a highly sterile surface upon photoactivation of the surface by at least either low-level ultraviolet irradiation or ambient/natural light (as when using doped titanium dioxide). A method of using such a surface material is also disclosed. Said acrylic or other polymer composition may be adhered onto a polycarbonate or other polymeric backing, optionally by an intervening layer of a third polymer. The resulting acrylic or other polymer/polycarbonate or other polymer combination is adapted to provide ambient lighting when exposed to a light source.

Abstract: A graphical-user-interface manipulable lighting system is disclosed in which a light source having a position of focus is moved by an articulator adapted to receive and send signals through a control box indicating the current and intended positions of the focus of the light source, and further a computer interface operating wirelessly which graphically displays the current position of the light source and is adapted to allow a user to drag an icon indicating the current position of the light source onto a new intended position thereby resulting in the movement of the light source to the new position.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a device for the automated illumination of a surgical sight and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: A method of sterilizing a hospital room to at least 99.99% sterility is described which employs UV/ozone sterilization. A method of sterilizing sink-traps using UV radiation is described. A method utilizing UV/ozone sterilization and sink-trap sterilization by UV radiation for sterilization of an environment is also described.