SYSTEM FOR PROTECTION AGAINST AIRBORNE PATHOGENS IN A SURGICAL ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for protecting medical personnel and/or a patient from airborne pathogens in a surgical environment and a method for protecting medical personnel and/or a patient from airborne pathogens in a surgical environment.

Claims

1. A system for protecting medical personnel and/or a patient from airborne pathogens in a surgical environment, comprising: a first electrode configured for attachment to the medical personnel; a second electrode configured for attachment to the patient; and a first generator for applying voltage to the electrodes, wherein the first and/or second electrode is configured to ionize the airborne pathogens outside the body of the patient, and wherein the first and second electrodes have the same polarity when voltage is applied.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the airborne pathogens are viruses.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the airborne pathogen is SARS-CoV-2.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes have negative polarity when voltage is applied.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electrode is configured for attachment to or near the head of the medical personnel.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electrode is integrated into a headband, cap, visor and/or collar.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second electrode is configured for attachment at or near a surgical site on the patient.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second electrode is integrated into a surgical drape.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the second electrode is integrated into a surgical drape in the region of the surgical opening.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising an aspirator for aspirating the ionized airborne pathogens.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the aspirator is configured for being supplied with voltage.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the aspirator, when voltage is applied to it, has a polarity opposite to the polarity of the first and/or second electrodes.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a device for emitting UV-C radiation.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a filter device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the filter device is a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and/or ultra low penetrating air (ULPA) filter.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a device for supplying disinfectant.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the disinfectant is H.sub.2O.sub.2 and/or formaldehyde.

18. A method for protecting medical personnel and/or a patient from airborne pathogens in a surgical environment, comprising the following steps: attaching a first electrode to the medical personnel; attaching a second electrode to the patient; attaching voltage to the first and second electrodes such that the airborne pathogens are ionized outside the body of the patient, wherein the first and second electrodes have the same polarity.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the airborne pathogen is SARS-CoV-2.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the first and second electrodes have negative polarity.

21. The method according to claim 18, further comprising aspirating the ionized airborne pathogens.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the aspiration is carried out via an aspirator which, when voltage is applied to it, has a polarity opposite to the polarity of the first and/or second electrode.

23. The method of claim 18 carried out using the system according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the system according to the invention;

[0057] FIG. 2 shows a section of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

[0058] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the second electrode integrated into a surgical drape;

[0059] FIG. 4 shows embodiments of the first electrode for attachment to the body of medical personnel.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0060] In FIG. 1, the system according to the invention for the protection of medical personnel and/or a patient is indicated by reference numeral 10. The medical personnel is shown as M1, M2, M3 and the patient is shown as P. The system 10 comprises a first electrode 12 configured for attachment to the medical personnel M1, M2, M3, a second electrode 14 configured for attachment to the patient P, and a generator 16 for applying voltage to the electrodes 12, 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the second electrode 14 is attached to both the head region of the patient P and the surgical site 18. When voltage is applied to the electrodes 12, 14 via the generator 16, both electrodes 12, 14 have the same polarity, which is negative in the illustrated embodiment. Both electrodes 12, 14 thereby generate negatively charged ions in the immediate vicinity, for example in the vicinity of the face of the medical personnel M1, M2, M3, and on the patient P, there for example also in the vicinity of the face and/or the surgical site 18. At the surgical site 18, the negatively charged ions generated by the second electrode 14 impart a negative charge to the airborne pathogens, for example SARS-CoV-2, which may be released during the surgical procedure. Negative charges are represented by minus signs (−−−). Due to the negative charges of the airborne pathogens and the medical personnel M1, M2, M3, the airborne pathogens are kept away from the latter. This prevents infection of the medical personnel.

[0061] In the illustrated embodiment, an aspirator or suction device 20 is shown. This is connected to generator 16, which generates a positive polarity voltage at the aspirator device, represented by plus signs (+++). Aspirator 20 draws in ambient air and surgical smoke, including released airborne pathogens, which is facilitated by electrostatic interaction due to opposing charges. The airflow is shown by the thick arrows. The pathogens are thus removed from the surgical environment.

[0062] It is understood that the system according to the invention also prevents an infection of the patient P, should the medical personnel M1, M2, M3 excrete viruses. These would be negatively ionized by the first electrode 12 and, due to the negative charge on the patient P, kept away from the latter by electrostatic repulsion.

[0063] It is further understood that the charge ratios as shown in FIG. 1 may be reversed, i.e., positive charges on the medical personnel M1, M2, M3, the patient P and the surgical site 18 or the airborne pathogens, and negative charges on the suction device 20.

[0064] In FIG. 2, a section of the system 10 according to the invention for protecting medical personnel M and/or a patient P is shown. The first electrode 12 is placed in the head area of the patient P and at the surgical site 18, and is connected to the generator 16. The second electrode 14, which is also powered by the generator 16, is connected to the medical personnel M and is in the form of a collar. The viruses that may appear in the vicinity of the surgical site 18, as well as the surgical smoke, the area around the face of the medical personnel P and the area around the face of the patient P have negative charge carriers (−−). The aspirator 20 connected to the generator 16 is positively charged (+++). The negatively charged airborne pathogens are drawn into the latter due to the positive charge of the aspirator 20. The air flow is represented by the thick arrows.

[0065] In FIG. 3, an embodiment of the second electrode 14 is shown in which the latter is integrated into a surgical drape or operating cloth 22, namely in an opening in the surgical drape 22, which is arranged over the operating site 18 in use. The second electrode is energized via the generator 16 and, in the illustrated embodiment, has negative polarity. Also shown is the aspirator 20, which is supplied with voltage via the generator 16 and has positive polarity in the variant shown.

[0066] In FIG. 4, various embodiments of the first electrode 12 are shown, namely in the form of a headband 12a, integrated into a face visor 12b, and in the form of a necklace 12c. Also shown are the generator 16 and the aspirator 20. The generator applies voltage to the first electrode 12, 12a, 12b, 12c so that the latter is negatively charged (−−−), and it applies voltage to the suction device so that the latter is positively charged (+++).