U.S. patent application number 11/080682 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-27 for medical procedure cart and method of customizing the same.
Invention is credited to Rockoff, Mark Alan.
Application Number | 20050236940 11/080682 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35320688 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050236940 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rockoff, Mark Alan |
October 27, 2005 |
Medical procedure cart and method of customizing the same
Abstract
A medical procedure cart includes a housing having a working
surface disposed on a top thereof. The working surface forms a tray
and includes a transparent top removably disposed above the tray. A
height adjustment mechanism adjusts the height of the working
surface. The template includes a plurality of figures depicting
various different materials, instruments and equipment an operator
prefers for a particular procedure. The operator can place the
instruments, supplies and equipment on the transparent top of the
working surface above a corresponding figure to enable the working
surface to be stocked for a particular procedure.
Inventors: |
Rockoff, Mark Alan;
(Hingham, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIXON PEABODY, LLP
401 9TH STREET, NW
SUITE 900
WASHINGTON
DC
20004-2128
US
|
Family ID: |
35320688 |
Appl. No.: |
11/080682 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60563943 |
Apr 22, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
312/209 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 2050/105 20160201;
B62B 2206/06 20130101; A61B 50/33 20160201; A61B 2050/3008
20160201; A61G 12/001 20130101; A61B 50/10 20160201; A61B 50/13
20160201; A61B 2050/185 20160201; B62B 3/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/209 |
International
Class: |
A47B 081/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A medical procedure cart, comprising: a housing having a working
surface disposed on a top thereof, said working surface forming a
tray, said working surface including a transparent top removably
disposed above the tray; height adjustment means for adjusting the
height of the working surface; and a template disposed in said tray
below said top, said template including a plurality of figures
depicting various different materials, instruments and equipment
that an operator prefers for a particular procedure, wherein the
operator can place the instruments, supplies and equipment on said
transparent top above a corresponding figure to enable the working
surface to be stocked for a particular procedure.
2. The medical procedure cart of claim 1, wherein the tray is
movably disposed on the housing and the height adjustment means
raises and lowers the tray with respect to the cart housing.
3. The medical procedure cart of claim 1, wherein the height
adjustment means comprises an adjustment mechanism for raising and
lowering the height of the cart housing.
4. The medical procedure cart of claim 1, wherein the template
comprises a sheet including a plurality of figures thereon
depicting the various different material, instruments and
equipment.
5. The medical procedure cart of claim 1, wherein the template
comprises a plurality of cut-outs figures depicting the various
different material, instruments and equipment located in said
tray.
6. The medical procedure cart of claim 1, further comprising a
refuse container removably located on said housing for receiving
needles and other contaminated objects.
7. The medical procedure cart of claim 1, wherein said housing
includes a plurality of drawers containing various different
material, instruments and equipment.
8. A method of customizing a medical procedure cart, comprising the
steps of: providing a housing having a working surface disposed on
a top thereof, said working surface forming a tray, said working
surface including a transparent top removably disposed above the
tray; positioning a template in said tray, said template including
a plurality of figures depicting various different materials,
instruments and equipment an operator prefers for a particular
procedure; and placing the materials, instruments, and equipment on
said transparent top above a corresponding figure to enable the
working surface to be stocked for a particular procedure.
9. The method of customizing a medical procedure according to claim
8, further comprising the step of first determining the materials,
instruments and equipment used for a particular procedure or
operator.
10. The method of customizing a medical procedure according to
claim 9, further comprising the step of creating a customized
template.
11. A method of training a trainee for a medical procedure by
customizing a medical procedure cart, comprising the steps of:
providing a housing having a working surface disposed on a top
thereof, said working surface forming a tray, said working surface
including a transparent top removably disposed above the tray;
positioning a template in said tray, said template including a
plurality of figures depicting various different materials,
instruments and equipment an operator prefers for a particular
procedure; and placing the materials, instruments, and equipment on
said transparent top above a corresponding figure to enable the
working surface to be stocked for a particular procedure.
12. The method of customizing a medical procedure according to
claim 11, further comprising the step of first determining the
materials, instruments and equipment used for a particular
procedure or operator.
13. The method of customizing a medical procedure according to
claim 11, further comprising the step of creating a customized
template.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/563,943, filed on Apr. 22, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a medical procedure cart
that can be stocked according to a particular operator, and more
particularly, to a medical procedure cart and stocking method
thereof that incorporates a stocking template to enable the user to
quickly and easily prepare for a medical procedure.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] A medical procedure cart is used to carry the necessary
medical equipment, instruments and other materials that a medical
professional needs for a particular procedure. For example, an
emergency crash cart includes all the necessary equipment for a
medical emergency and can be quickly moved into a treatment room or
area upon demand. U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,610 discloses such a medical
emergency crash cart.
[0006] In addition to emergency or code carts, carts supplied for
anesthesia and endoscopic procedures are commonly utilized in
hospitals and other medical environments. Blue-Bell Biomedical,
Armstrong Medical, and Harloff Medical Products, are a few
companies which manufacture and sell medical procedure carts for
emergency, as well as, anesthesia and endoscopic procedures.
[0007] Typically, in an anesthesia or endoscopic procedure, a
catheter must be inserted into a patient. The current process for
inserting catheters, such as intravenous, arterial, epidural, etc.,
into a patient is inefficient and hazardous. Such processes involve
the operator, such as a physician or nurse, first gathering the
needed equipment, for example, catheters, tourniquets, gloves,
etc., from many sources. Often most supplies can be found within
the medical cart. However, each operator's needs and procedure is
unique and often the cart is not equipped completely or properly.
If the cart is not stocked properly, the operator has to gather
additional equipment in the middle of the procedure.
[0008] Another drawback of these known carts is the inability to
store and access a multitude of different instruments and equipment
to avoid the gathering of additional equipment. Typically, the
instruments are contained within drawers in the cart. During a
procedure, the operator would have to search through the cart
drawers if not all the instruments had been pre-gathered and placed
upon an accessible surface. This creates significant safety issues
during a procedure should the operator have to cease the procedure
to search for equipment. Contamination is another safety
factor.
[0009] Also, by having the instruments stored within drawers of the
cart, it is difficult and time consuming for the operator or
assistant to visually inspect the cart to see if all the contents
are available. Often, the instrument usage among different
operators varies significantly, even for the same procedure.
Therefore, even though a cart is designated as an anesthesia cart,
not all the desired instrumentation or equipment may be available
for a particular user. In preparing for the procedure, the
assistant must first determine which instrumentation the particular
operator prefers and then go about stocking the cart accordingly.
This is very time consuming and inefficient.
[0010] Furthermore, even though the known carts are movable to the
patient site, the height of the cart is not adjustable and the
operator must often create a work surface that defaults to being
the patient's bed or stretcher or in the operating room, the
surgical table. This results in the operator gathering the
instruments and equipment and carrying it to the patient site.
Also, the size of the cart itself prohibits close proximity to the
patient, once again requiring the operator to carry the
instrumentation to the patient site.
[0011] In an attempt to prevent having to gather and carry
instruments to a patient site, it is known to provide sterile
instruments for use in a procedure pre-packaged in a movable tray,
wherein the individual instruments are placed in corresponding
shaped recesses within the tray. See U.S. Pat. No. 6,426,041.
However, as with the above-known procedure carts, these trays do
not allow for operator customized stocking of instruments.
Moreover, the use of such trays also creates an undesirable work
surface as mentioned above. Following completion of the procedure,
all hazardous materials used (especially needles) must be picked up
and transferred to a special and separate sharps container, which
may not be conveniently located. Any needles inadvertently left on
the working surface, i.e., the bed, stretcher or operating table,
may cause injury to the operator or others (nurses, housekeepers,
other medical professionals) who get stuck when either attempting
to remove these sharp objects or when they are forgotten or lost
and then later encountered.
[0012] Thus, there exists the need for a medical procedure cart
that can be quickly and easily stocked and prepared for customized
use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] It is an object of the present invention to provide a small,
easily organized cart for medical procedures that contains and has
readily available all of the equipment necessary to insert a
device, such as a catheter (intravenous, arterial, epidural, etc.),
into a patient, and which allows for the disposal of all of the
hazardous materials, such as needles, used during the
procedure.
[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
medical procedure cart that is adjustable in height to enable the
operator to easily bring the cart to the patient's side where the
insertion is performed.
[0015] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
a medical procedure cart that is customized by enabling each
operator to designate in advance all equipment preferred for the
particular procedure and to provide a customized working surface
with the designated equipment without forgetting any necessary
materials.
[0016] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
method that facilitates the teaching of a medical procedure by
enabling each operator to custom design his/her working surface
with all the preferred equipment. Such a custom design feature
makes it easy for an operator to set up the cart each day and
facilitates training of an assistant by helping the technician,
nurse, trainee, etc., to arrange the specific equipment desired by
each operator for each particular procedure.
[0017] According to these and other objects of the present
invention there is provided a medical procedure cart including a
housing having a working surface disposed on a top thereof. The
working surface forms a tray and includes a transparent top
removably disposed above the tray. Height adjustment means adjust
the height of the working surface. A template is disposed in the
tray below the transparent top. The template includes a plurality
of figures depicting various different materials, instruments and
equipment that an operator prefers for a particular procedure,
wherein the operator can place the instruments, supplies and
equipment on the transparent top above a corresponding figure to
enable the working surface to be stocked for a particular
procedure.
[0018] The present invention provides a method of stocking a
medical procedure cart including the step of providing a housing
having a working surface disposed on a top thereof, the working
surface forming a tray and including a transparent top removably
disposed above the tray. A template is positioned within the tray.
The template includes a plurality of figures depicting various
different materials, instruments and equipment an operator prefers
for a particular procedure. The materials, instruments, and
equipment are then placed on the transparent top above a
corresponding figure to enable the working surface to be stocked
for a particular procedure.
[0019] The present invention also provides a method of training a
trainee for a medical procedure by customizing a medical procedure
cart including the steps of providing a housing having a working
surface disposed on a top thereof. The working surface forms a tray
and includes a transparent top removably disposed above the tray. A
template is positioned within the tray. The template includes a
plurality of figures depicting various different materials,
instruments and equipment an operator prefers for a particular
procedure. The materials, instruments, and equipment are then
placed on the transparent top above a corresponding figure to
enable the working surface to be stocked for a particular
procedure.
[0020] These and other objects, features, aspects, and advantages
of the present invention will become more apparent from the
following detailed description of the preferred embodiment relative
to the accompanied drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a medical
procedure cart in accordance with the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 2. is a top view of the working surface of the cart of
FIG. 1.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a top view of another working surface according to
the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 4. is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the working
surface taken along Line I-I of FIG. 1.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cart of FIG. 1 with the
working surface raised.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a side view of FIG. 5.
[0027] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a graphic user interface
according to the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
medical procedure cart in accordance with the present
invention.
[0029] FIG. 9 is a cross-section of the working surface of the cart
taken along Line II-II of FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] Referring to FIG. 1, a medical procedure cart 10 according
to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in perspective.
Cart 10 includes a housing 12 having a plurality of drawers 14. It
should be appreciated that the number of drawers is dependent upon
the predetermined use of the cart and may vary for a particular
intended procedure. The cart 10 is composed of a plurality of
lightweight materials, for example, stainless steel, aluminum and
thermoplastics. Cart 10 further includes wheels or coasters 16 to
enable the cart to be movable. A sharps container 18 is disposed at
one side of the cart.
[0031] As shown in FIGS. 1-5, a working surface 20 is located at
the top of the cart. The height of working surface 20 above cart 10
can be adjusted by a mechanism 22 (FIG. 6), so as to allow the
operator to use the surface while sitting (FIG. 1) or standing
(FIG. 5). This enables the operator to bring the working surface to
and placed at the best height near of over the patient. Caregivers
can therefore conveniently utilize the cart whether they prefer to
perform catheter insertions while seated next to the patient, or,
alternatively, the top can be adjusted upward to provide a working
surface that is easily accessible for caregivers who prefer to
stand during the procedure.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 4, working surface 20 includes a recessed
tray 24 in which a removable template 30 can be placed. Working
surface 20 has a transparent Plexiglas top 26 through which the
template 30 can be viewed. As shown in FIG. 4, transparent top 26
can sit on a ledge 28 formed on the inside of tray 24 so as to be
removable. Top 26 is recessed within tray to form a slight lip
thereabove. However, top 26 can also be flush with the sides of
tray 24. A cut-out 29 (FIG. 2) can be made at one corner of top 26
to enable the top to be grasped and removed. Top 26 can be
removably attached to tray 24 by hinges or other means (not shown)
to allow access to the interior of tray 24.
[0033] Top 26 can also include a contoured portion or armrest 27
for a positioning a patient's arm directly on the working surface,
for example, during placement of an arterial catheter. A tape
dispenser 25 can also be located on top 26 or elsewhere on working
surface 20, so the operator can easily obtain pieces of adhesive
tape needed to secure catheters following their insertion.
Currently, operators simply pick up an entire roll of tape and rip
off pieces, potentially contaminating the entire roll of tape for
future patients. Furthermore, two hands are needed to do this,
whereby a secure tape dispenser will enable dispensing to be done
cleanly and with a single hand.
[0034] Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, template 30 includes a
plurality of cutouts or figures 32 depicting various different
material and equipment the operator prefers for a particular
procedure. For example, figures 32 may depict catheters,
tourniquets, gloves, alcohol swabs, gauze pads, sterile transparent
dressings, tapes, syringes containing heparinized saline attached
to a T-connector, arm boards, etc. Prior to the procedure, a
customized template 30 can be placed within tray 24 and
instruments, equipment and supplies placed on top 26 above the
designated figures to stock the working surface/cart according to
the preferred equipment. Since operators frequently prefer "setups"
that differ slightly from their colleagues, for example,
left-handed vs. right-handed operators, and insertion of different
catheters (i.e., arterial, venous, epidural, etc.) require somewhat
different equipment, this ability to custom design the appearance
of the cart's working surface facilitates the setting up of all the
needed equipment in advance of any procedure. Template 30 also
serves as a visual reminder of all equipment needed to avoid having
the operator get, or ask for, additional equipment during the
middle of the procedure. Redundant components remain stocked in
drawers 14 for easy access should they be needed.
[0035] Furthermore, the graphic display of the equipment needed for
the particular procedure can be a valuable aid for teaching others,
such as trainees, technicians, etc., how to properly prepare and
stock for the procedure. Multiple copies of different templates can
be included in the cart, so the operator can select the desired
template(s) to place in preferred locations on the working surface
under top 26, which can be easily kept clean. Templates 30 could
take the form of individual figures 32 located on the bottom of the
tray or a sheet with outlines of the desired equipment disposed
thereon. Operators could use the cutouts or figures to custom
design their own procedure sheets, which could then be operator and
procedure specific. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, different templates
are contemplated by the present invention and the actual placement
of the patterns 32 on template 30 is governed by a particular
procedure and operator. It should be appreciated that the actual
template design varies and although not illustrated the present
invention contemplates a myriad of different template designs.
[0036] The present invention also contemplates a graphic-user
interface, which can include a preference list for a particular
procedure or interface. It is common practice for operating and
treatment institutions to use preference lists for individual
operators and/or procedures, which list the specific
instrumentation, supplies, etc., needed for a particular procedure.
These preference lists also include idiosyncrasies unique to
individual surgeons/operators, such as glove size, etc. Referring
to FIG. 5, the present invention contemplates the use of a
graphic-user interface 50, such as a computer, which can be located
on cart 10 or at a remote location. Interface 50 could use a CD-Rom
or DVD that includes a plurality of templates and or figures.
Moreover, interface 50 could communicate with an internal network
or via the internet to a source to retrieve the needed information
from a remote location.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 7, upon accessing the database the user
could pull up a recorded preference list 52 for an operator and/or
procedure. A template database 54 which include the numerous
figures of various equipment, supplies, etc., can also be accessed
by the user. The user can than create a customized template 56 by
for example, dragging and dropping the designated cutouts or
figures. Next, the customized template can be displayed 58. It
should be appreciated that the displayed customized template could
be projected directly on template 30 via an LCD or equivalent
device (not shown). and print out the predetermined template. The
template can also be printed out in step 60. As discussed
previously herein, the template can be printed out as individual
cut-outs or a sheet with the figures depicted thereon. Moreover,
the template can be printed out at a remote location and brought to
the cart or printed directly at the cart by a local printer (not
shown). For example, if an operator has privileges at numerous
health care facilities, he/she could bring the pre-printed
customized template(s) with him/her. Once the template is printed,
the operator or assistant can position the template on the working
surface 62 and proceed to stock the cart at 64 as discussed
herein.
[0038] Cart 10 is small and mobile so as to allow it to be easily
positioned at the side of the patient wherever the patient is,
including the preoperative holding area, operating room, emergency
room or hospital ward. Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 5, a bar 34
on the cart can facilitate the operator grabbing the cart and
bringing it to the patient's side while the operator's hands are
uncontaminated. After successful catheter insertion, the cart can
then be conveniently pushed out of the way for surgery and yet be
easily retrieved for use with the next patient. A locking drawer
mechanism 36 enables the operator to push the cart away from the
patient, even with a foot, thereby avoiding contamination of the
cart surface by dirty (and potentially contaminated, blood covered)
hands/gloves, yet prevents the drawers from opening.
[0039] A sharps container 18 is attached to the side of the cart to
facilitate the placement of all hazardous material (especially
needles) directly and immediately in a protective disposal system,
rather than leaving hazardous material elsewhere for later
disposal. Container 18 can be of any type and style because the
cart includes a universal bracket 19 for attaching the container.
This allows for the attachment of any type of needle disposal unit
or bucket, since every institute employs its own system of sharps
containers that are routinely replaced. Furthermore, by enabling
the caregiver to directly dispose of all sharp, hazardous materials
at the moment of insertion, the need for others to be involved in
this process and/or the caregiver from performing a separate
transfer later is eliminated.
[0040] The back of cart 10 can also include an adjustable height
pole (not shown) for holding a plurality of intravenous fluid bags
and administration sets. This enables the operator or assistant to
set up the bags/sets in advance and have them conveniently located
adjacent to the patient for easy attachment to intravenous
catheters once inserted. Other medical equipment can be attached to
cart 10 depending on the particular medical procedure.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 6, the height of the working surface 20 can
be adjusted by height mechanism 22. Mechanism 22 is operated via
release lever 23 to retract a pin (not shown) enabling the rod 21
to be raised or lowered. Thus, the operator can bring working
surface 20 to the patient site, whether the operator is standing or
sitting during the procedure. It should be appreciated that a
plurality of height adjustment mechanisms are contemplated by the
present invention.
[0042] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate another embodiment of the invention
whereby the working surface 20 is located in a top 40 of the cart.
Top 40 includes a recess 42 in which template 30 is located. As
with the previous embodiment, the equipment can be positioned on
top of transparent top 26.
[0043] As discussed above, the present invention provides a means
of organizing simple or complex instrumentation to allow
practitioners to perform routine or non-routine procedures better.
Advantages to clinicians include serving as a "memory reminder"
that will enable clinicians to set up all the necessary equipment
for a procedure thereby improving procedural efficiency by
decreasing the operator's need to leave the patient to obtain
necessary materials, and improving safety by eliminating potential
contamination.
[0044] The present invention also provides trainees a visual and
textual training method of teaching about equipment needs for
procedures that require complex or multiple pieces of equipment.
Therefore, the cart can also be used for procedures other than
those involving needle insertions, such as endotracheal
intubations, etc.
[0045] Although the present invention has been described in
relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations
and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those
skilled in the art. It is preferred therefore, that the present
invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but
only by the appended claims.
* * * * *