Abstract:
The present invention is an anesthesia machine cover and method intended to address the dual problems of cleanliness and organization of anesthesia equipment during surgery and is intended for single patient use. The device covers anesthesia equipment quickly prior to surgery and prevents contamination while providing for better containment and organization of ancillary equipment used for each procedure. The cover is easily removable for disposal post procedure.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to provisional patent application number 61/847,206 filed on Jul. 17, 2013, the contents of which are expressly incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The anesthesia environment is an area with which the anesthesia provider constantly interacts. The Anesthesia environment, generally consists of one or more cart mounted pieces of equipment for administering anesthesia and for monitoring patient vital signs. In most cases, will consist of an anesthesia machine. The anesthesia machine serves two important functions; 1) it allows administration of anesthetic gases and 2) it provides a place set patient care equipment on the machine. 
         [0005]    The anesthesia machine is a complex electronic instrument. The machine allows the anesthesia provider to administer oxygen and anesthetic gases in precise concentration. The precise administration of oxygen and anesthetic gases is achieved by operating knobs and buttons that activate flow control systems. 
         [0006]    The anesthesia machine provides the anesthesia provider a place to set equipment that will be used during patient care. This consists of monitoring equipment and equipment that are inserted into the patient like endotracheal tubes, airways, laryngoscopes etc. Equipment inserted into the patient is frequently placed back on the anesthesia machine. 
       THE PROBLEM 
       [0007]    The anesthesia machine is the most important resource for the anesthesia provider. The machine has undergone several modifications since its introduction in the early 1900s to improve the safety profile. Modern anesthesia machines have touch screens and advanced electronics. 
         [0008]    Regardless of the make and type of the anesthesia machine, the anesthesia provider will place equipment that will be needed on the anesthesia machine. These include laryngoscopes, airways, endotracheal tubes, and intravenous kits to name a few. Some of these devices are frequently placed back on the machine after use during patient care. Common interventions performed by anesthesia providers involve insertion of airway devices in the patient&#39;s mouth, insertion of tubes into the patient stomach, and insertion of intravenous lines. Whilst performing these interventions, the anesthesia provider is constantly touching the anesthesia machine to make adjustments. As a result the anesthesia providers frequently contaminate the anesthesia machine with blood and body fluids. 
         [0009]    Current practice follows guidelines that recommend that medical equipment surfaces be cleaned by disinfecting wipes after patient care. This involves complete top down cleaning of the machine each time and every time between surgeries. This involves time consuming meticulous cleaning which increases operating room turn over times, as well as the use of harmful chemicals and disinfectants on electronic equipment not to mention the need for expensive human labor. 
         [0010]    Multidrug resistant bacteria like Methicillin resistant staphylococci,  Clostridium difficile , Vancomycin resistant enterococci are all a major threat to patient safety. Patients infected with these deadly microbes are labeled “contact isolation patients”. These patients need surgery from time to time and they are brought into the operating room. Different institutions have different policies to deal with contact isolation patients in the operating room. The one common objective is to reduce the transfer and spread of these dangerous microbes to other patients. This involves extensive cleaning of the operating room and the equipment in the operating room. Inadequate cleaning of the anesthesia machine increases risk of cross contamination. 
         [0011]    Multiple studies have shown the presence of blood on the anesthesia machines after cleaning Infection causing bacteria ranging from simple bacteria to multidrug resistant bacteria has been isolated from the surface of the anesthesia machines. In 2008, Loftus et al, proved that bacteria from one patient is transmitted to the anesthesia machine which is then transmitted to the intravenous ports of the next patient. This conclusively proved that current practices may be inefficient and dangerous to patients. There is a growing consensus that these cleaning procedures must be improved. 
         [0012]    The safe harbor, transport of contaminated anesthesia equipment gets very little attention. Anesthesia equipment is contaminated with patient body fluids like saliva, blood and sputum. Currently, contaminated equipment is stored in a corner of the operating room in close proximity to clean equipment. Depending on institutional policy, this equipment is removed at the end of the case or at the end of the day. In either case, this is an unsafe way to handle equipment with biohazard contamination, placing both patients and healthcare providers at risk. 
         [0013]    Yet another problem that is infrequently addressed is the setting up of anesthesia equipment for the next patient right next to the contaminated equipment. Experts have discouraged this practice primarily because the anesthesia environment is a contaminated environment. A clean setup cannot be accomplished in a contaminated environment. There are different reasons for this practice but the most common has been to reduce operating room turnover times between cases. Contaminated equipment sometimes is not removed and is discovered during subsequent patient care. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The Anesthesia machine cover is intended to address the dual problems of cleanliness and organization of equipment during anesthesia care of the patient. The cover is a single patient use, easily applied cover that can be applied 
         [0015]    The cover is intended as a barrier to protect the machine. Barrier concept uses the simple idea of prevention is better than cure. Barrier concept has been used for ages in condoms. Efficient barriers have revolutionized surgical gowns and drapes. A good surgical barrier is a minimum requirement for surgery as this prevents infection more than anything else. 
         [0016]    The cover is a simple non-sterile barrier that will run along the entire working surface of the machine. The cover will allow the continued operation of the anesthesia machine but does not require direct contact to the machine. The barrier will be made according to industry guidelines to be electrostatic, fire retardant and tear resistant. This barrier will prevent biohazard material like blood and patient body fluids from contaminating the anesthesia machine during patient care. 
         [0017]    This protection minimizes cleaning requirements of the anesthesia machine with disinfectant wipes after surgery. 
         [0018]    The second important function of the cover is the safe organization and containment of contaminated anesthesia equipment during patient care. The cover allows the anesthesia provider the ability and location to place clean and contaminated devices on the anesthesia machine with the knowledge that the barrier is clean and the barrier will protect the anesthesia machine from contaminated equipment. This allows the provider to focus on the patient and not worry about potentially contaminating multiple surfaces in the anesthesia environment. 
         [0019]    The cover has pouches or receptacles to house contaminated instruments. These pouches are leak free and may be detachable from the cover. At the end of surgery, the pouches that harbor reusable equipment like a fiber-optic scope can be safely detached from the body of the cover and stay with the instrument while transported to other sites where they may be cleaned and sterilized for next patient use. 
         [0020]    The present invention will reduce clutter. It will result in better organization of equipment, safe harbor of equipment and safe transport of contaminated equipment. 
         [0021]    It is an object of the invention to provide customizable barrier protection for anesthesia machines. 
         [0022]    It is an object of the invention to protect the anesthesia machine from contamination. 
         [0023]    It is an object of the invention to reduce anesthesia machine turnover time in between surgical cases. 
         [0024]    It is an object of the invention to provide a means of covering each component of an anesthesia machine 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an anesthesia machine to which a covering might be applied. 
           [0026]      FIG. 2   a  is an isometric view of an anesthesia machine cover. 
           [0027]      FIG. 2   b  is an isometric view of an anesthesia machine cover held in place with straps. 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is a view of an anesthesia machine covered by the present invention 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]      FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of an anesthesia machine  5  resting on a cart  6 . In some instances the cart includes an arm  1  attached to the cart  6  at a proximal end having a distal end for holding cables and/or tubes  17  which are connected to the cart  6 . Most commonly the arm delivers the anesthesia gas. An insufflation bag  27  is also attached to the arm. 
         [0030]    The anesthesia machine comprises a vertical surface  4  having a plurality of indicators and control knobs  2  which are used to monitor the delivery of anesthetics and patient vital signs. The indicators and knobs must be accessible and visible during any procedure. 
         [0031]    The cart  6  includes a horizontal work surface  3  and may optionally include drawers  7 , castors or wheels  9  and rails  8  for mounting additional equipment. The horizontal work surface  3  is generally used to hold the most commonly needed equipment to set up and deliver anesthesia for a given procedure. This might include laryngoscopes with different blades, tracheal tubes, preloaded syringes with medications, facemasks of different sizes, oral airways, nasopharyngeal airways, gauze, intravenous kits, fibreoptic bronchoscope and other needed equipment depending on complexity of surgical case. 
         [0032]    The anesthesia machine  5  may include at least one video monitor  12  for displaying patient information and/or running software. The video monitor may be mounted on the surface of anesthesia machine or may be mounted on brackets or arms attached to the anesthesia machine or cart. A computer keyboard  28  and/or a mouse  29  may be present. 
         [0033]    Anesthesia machines are by necessity set up next to an operating table. As is readily apparent, when present in an operating room environment the anesthesia machine is subject to contamination by blood and other body fluids. Endotracheal tubes are frequently placed on the cart before insertion or after removal. These tubes are regularly contaminated with sputum, blood and other body secretion and fluids, which get transferred to the anesthesia machine and/or the cart. Further the anesthesia provider, will by necessity touch the patient prepping them for surgery, during surgery and during removal of any equipment post-surgery. The anesthesia machine will by necessity by contaminated by the need to touch it during the procedure. 
         [0034]    While procedures exist for cleaning and disinfecting the anesthesia machine and the cart upon which it rests, the procedures rarely remove 100% of the biological contamination. This is due to both the complexity of the surfaces to be cleaned and the fact that there is often pressure to prepare an operating room for the next patient. As such, anesthesia equipment is presently a likely means for transferring pathogens between patients. Hospital acquired infections A failsafe means is needed to prevent and stop this contamination. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the present invention comprises an anesthesia cover  10  which protects the anesthesia machine  5  and cart  6  from contamination. The cover  10  is made from any material which is suitable for use in the operating room such as plastics or fabrics which are either cheap enough to be disposable after use or can be sterilized using existing equipment. Most preferred are disposable plastics such as high density polyethylene, although other plastic sheeting may be used. 
         [0036]    The cover  10  comprises at least a vertical surface cover  12  for covering the vertical face of the anesthesia machine  5  and a horizontal surface cover  15  for covering the horizontal surface  3  of the cart  6 . Optionally, the cover  10 , further comprises a second vertical surface cover  19  for covering the front  7  of the cart  6 . The cover  10  may optionally include additional coverage for the sides and back of the anesthesia machine  20 ,  21  and sides and back of the cart  22 ,  23 . Optionally, one or more pockets  16  may be included in the cover  10 . The pockets may be removable at perforations  18 . 
         [0037]    In some embodiments, the cover optionally includes at least one sleeve  13  for covering an arm  1  on the cart  6 . The sleeve  13  may include a means for closing the opening at end  17  around the arm  1 , such means comprising an elastic opening or drawstring, adhesive, tape, clamps, zip ties, elastic bands, etc. Such sleeves  13  may also be used to cover tubing (Not shown) from the anesthesia machine  5 . The sleeve  13  may be integrated into the cover  10  or it may be a separate piece. If the sleeve is a separate piece, it may be secured to the cover with any suitable means. In some embodiments the joint may contain an adhesive or include tape to better secure where the cover  10  and sleeve meet to prevent the anesthesia machine and cart from being contaminated. 
         [0038]    The cover  10  should either be of a sufficient optical clarity to allow observation of the monitors and or meters on the anesthesia machine  5  or have clear portions for viewing the instrumentation. The material of the cover  10  should not be so thick that a gloved anesthetist cannot operate switches or knobs. When polyethylene sheeting is used the material is preferably from 1-5 mils thick with 2-3 mils most preferred. One of skill in the art will be able to choose suitable materials based on their resistance to tearing or perforation and the tactile feel of knobs and switches when contacted through the material. 
         [0039]    The cover  10  may be attached to the anesthesia machine  5  and cart  10  using various means such as ties, Velcro, adhesive, tape, rubber bands, straps, thread, zippers, hooks, buttons, rivets or other mechanical fasteners. 
         [0040]    In some embodiments the cover is packaged with covers for other equipment such as additional monitors  24  and  25 , keyboards  28 , computer mice  29 , laryngoscopes, etc. Such covers are suitably form fitting for the device they are covering. In one embodiment such covers are a form fitting bag which can be snugged around the device. In others, they are sized sheets of plastic which may be draped or folded around the device and secured. In one embodiment, the cover for a computer monitor is a plastic sheet with elastic around the perimeter allowing the device to be secured to the monitor with the elastic. 
         [0041]    The cover  10  may be manufactured such that it is made from a stretchable material to better form fit. Elastic may be used as needed to allow material to stretch for placement and contract to hold the covers in place. 
         [0042]    In one embodiment, the cover  10 , consists of a vertical surface cover  12  which is sized large enough to wrap around the top  21  and sides  20  of the anesthesia machine  5 , a horizontal surface cover  15  which is sized to drape down the sides  23  of the cart  6 , and a second vertical surface cover  19  which covers the front  7  of the cart  6 . 
         [0043]    Optionally the cover  10  includes a horizontal pad  24  which is placed on or integrated into the horizontal cover  5 . The horizontal pad is made of a material intended to provide a more robust and or less slippery surface for placing items, papers, or a note pad and pen used during a procedure. The underside may also be provided with a tacky, sticky, or peel and stick material to prevent slippage or movement of this portion of the drape. In one embodiment the pad  24  is made of paper or paper like material. 
         [0044]    Pouches  16  can be located on any surface where they would not interfere with reading the instrumentation or manipulating the switches or knobs. Most preferred is along the second vertical surface cover  19 . The pouch(es) or receptacle(s) are intended to hold elongated, tethered, electrically, pneumatically, or optically connected instruments or tubes and is intended to keep them from touching other surfaces or instruments and to keep them organized and prevent tangling. Additionally a trash receptacle may be provided. The pouch(es) are formed into the cover but may be separable by perforations  18 , by cutting, or any similar such method to facilitate removal of one or more pouches  18 , such as for the removal and transport or disposal of a contaminated tool or instrument. In other embodiments, the pouches  16  are attached with adhesive, tape or Velcro. 
         [0045]    In another embodiment, the cover  10  is wrapped around the anesthesia machine  5  and cart  6  like a skirt. 
         [0046]    Optionally, the cover may include one or more perforated sections  30  which open to allow access directly to the anesthesia machine. 
         [0047]    Optionally, the cover may be coated with, or impregnated with a disinfectant, antiseptic, antibiotic or an antimicrobial composition during manufacturing or during installation. Such compositions could include triclosan, or anything suitable for use in the operating room environment. 
         [0048]    It will be readily apparent from one of skill in the art that the present cover  10  can be comprised of a single part or multiple pieces which can attach to each other, or not. 
         [0049]    The present invention further comprises a method of covering an anesthesia machine to protect it from contamination and for protecting patients from contamination emanating from the anesthesia machine. The method comprises: 
         [0050]    a. Placing an open cover  10  on an anesthesia machine  5 . 
         [0051]    b. Attaching the top of the cover to the top of the anesthesia machine 
         [0052]    c. Attaching the cover to the horizontal surface of the anesthesia cart 
         [0053]    d. Placing the lower vertical surface across the front of the anesthesia cart. 
         [0054]    e. placing a plastic sleeve over the arm of the cart  7   
         [0055]    f. Optionally applying an antimicrobial composition to the cover and /or any exposed parts of the anesthesia machine or cart. 
         [0056]    g. Using the anesthesia machine  6  through the cover  10  during the procedure. 
         [0057]    h. Optionally placing any contaminated equipment into the optional pouches on the front of the cover. 
         [0058]    i. Optionally, separating the pouches to allow transport of the contaminated equipment. 
         [0059]    j. Remove the arm cover at the completion of the procedure 
         [0060]    k. Remove and discard the cover from the anesthesia machine and cart. 
         [0061]    In a preferred embodiment the cover is folded in such a way that it can be installed as follows: 
         [0062]    a. The package is opened and the cover initially unfolded on the horizontal surface of the cart. 
         [0063]    b. A portion of the cover for covering the anesthesia machine is folded upwards over the anesthesia machine and secured in place. 
         [0064]    c. A portion of the cover for covering the cart is unfolded downwards and secured in place. 
         [0065]    d. The arm cover is placed in position and any additional monitor, keyboard, mouse or any other instrument covers are positioned in place. 
         [0066]    It will be readily apparent to one of skill in the art that substantial deviation from the disclosure herein is possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.