Project Overview

Surgical drapery is a very well-established and routine field. Most new innovations tend to consist of small tweaks to shapes or access holes in a large sheet. However, one area where surgical drapery is still struggling to meet the needs of its users is in image-guided surgery, including imaging devices such as MRI, CT, and rotating C-arm. The goal is to isolate the patient from contamination via the imaging device. Most solutions can be described as ad-hoc, with sterile drapery taped around the device. The sheets tend to drape down onto the patient, impeding access for the surgeon. Several advances, such as a tubular sheet that isolates the patient, have not really caught on, most likely due to problems with patient access and poor interaction with the operation requirements of the imaging device.

We have developed several prototypes for a new approach that would isolate the patient from the scanner, permit the scanner and bed to operate normally, accommodate large patients, and also isolate the scanner from infectious non-surgical patients. We are seeking further development in these areas:

1) Material optimization: Optimize the drapery material for sterility properties, sterile packaging, MRI and CT compatibility, disposability, availability, and price.

2) Design: Develop the design to optimize rapid deployment and removal, compact storage, disposal of biowaste, and robustness in the presence of large patients (who tend to drag some types of drapery out of place).

Team Picture

Contact Information

Team Members

• Jack Metzger - Team Leader
• Emmalina Groves - Communicator
• Noah Trapp - BSAC
• Emma Jansen - BWIG
• Terrence Lin - BPAG

Advisor and Client

• Prof. Melissa Skala - Advisor
• Dr. Terrence Oakes - Client