Devices and methods for surgical fire prevention
OwnerJeremiah P. Tao, Thomas M. Taoinventors
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Abstract
Surgical devices and methods described herein reduce the risk of surgical fires for patients receiving supplemental oxygen. Airflow with elevated concentrations of oxygen is drawn away from a surgical field when the tubing is fluidly connected to a suction source. Tubing may be strategically positioned at locations presenting risk of oxygen gas buildup, such as the nasofacial sulcus or bucco-facial sulcus. Apertures are present in the turbine wall to draw airflow away from the surgical field and into the tubing. Various embodiments are contemplated in which the tubing is used with a surgical mask or a surgical drape, and a method of use is provided.
Claims4
A surgical mask for reducing risk of surgical fire near a surgical patient's face during use of supplemental oxygen, the surgical mask comprising:
- a housing for placement adjacent the surgical patient's face, the housing having a radially inward patient side;
- a radially outward surgeon side;
- a longitudinal axis;
- an outer perimeter around the housing;
- and an opening unobstructed by tubing and extending therethrough from the surgeon side to the patient side, the unobstructed opening defining an inner perimeter and being disposed along the longitudinal axis of the housing;
- wherein, when the surgical mask is placed adjacent the surgical patient's face, the housing defines a cavity between the patient side and the surgical patient's face, the outer perimeter sealingly contours to the surgical patient's face, the longitudinal axis aligns with the surgical patient's nose, and the unobstructed opening aligns with the surgical patient's mouth;
- a first tubing positioned around the inner perimeter, the first tubing comprising:
- a first tubing wall defining an internal lumen, the first tubing wall having a first length and being adjacently attached to the inner perimeter;
- a plurality of first apertures formed through the first tubing wall and spaced in intervals along the first length of the first tubing wall, each of the plurality of first apertures being disposed in fluid communication with the internal lumen and being sized and configured to be positioned proximal to the surgical patient's mouth, such that airflow from within the cavity from the use of supplemental oxygen is drawn away from the surgical patient's face and through one or more of the plurality of first apertures and through the internal lumen, when the first tubing is placed in fluid communication with a suction source;
- and
- a cannula positioned under the housing and within the cavity for delivering supplemental oxygen to the surgical patient's nose, the cannula comprising a cannula tube that surrounds the first tubing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.