Method of preventing eye-related positional injuries during spinal surgery

• US 20060276725A1
• Filed: 06/07/2005
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arthur C. Perry, Joseph C. Mallinger, Raymond J. Linovitz
• Original Assignee: Arthur C. Perry, Joseph C. Mallinger, Raymond J. Linovitz
• Inventors: Linovitz, Raymond J., Mallinger, Joseph C., Perry, Arthur C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,314,454 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/587
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 of the patient or his organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/06 Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/14 Fixators for body parts, e.g. skull clamps; Constructional details of fixators, e.g. pins

Abstract

A method of preventing eye-related positional injuries during spinal surgery includes providing an orbital area pressure monitoring system including a site sensor with transducer, and a monitor connected to the site sensor; using the orbital area pressure monitoring system to continuously monitor pressure on an orbital area of the patient with the site sensor and monitor; and causing an alarm to be actuated to alert medical personnel of a pressure condition when monitored pressure is greater than a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A method of preventing eye-related positional injuries during spinal surgery, comprising:

putting a spinal surgery patient under general anesthesia;

adding an ointment to the surface of the eyeballs of the patient;

maintaining the patient'"'"'s eyelids in a closed condition during the spinal surgery;

providing a site sensor to detect pressure on an orbital areas of the patient, the site sensor including a transducer;

adhering the site sensor to the patient over the orbital areas of the patient;

providing a facial support to support the patient'"'"'s face during the spinal surgery, the facial support including an opening to accommodate the site sensor on the orbital areas of the patient;

providing the patient in a prone position with the patient'"'"'s face supported by the facial support with the site sensor accommodated by the opening;

connecting the site sensor to a monitor to monitor pressure on the orbital areas of the patient with the site sensor;

continuously monitoring pressure on the orbital areas of the patient with the site sensor and monitor;

alerting medical personnel of a pressure condition on the orbital areas if the monitor and site sensor determines a pressure condition exists on the orbital areas;

readjusting the patient'"'"'s head to alleviate the pressure condition, preventing eye-related positional injuries.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the site sensor includes a pair of site sensors, one for each orbital area of the patient, and the method further includes adhering the pair of site sensors to the patient over the orbital areas of the patient.

3. The method of claim 1, further including the transducer causing a change in signal to the monitor upon a pressure condition, and the monitor detecting the change in signal and causing an alarm to be actuated to alert medical personnel of a pressure condition.

4. The method of claim 1, further including the monitor causing an alarm to be actuated to alert medical personnel of a pressure condition when detected pressure is greater than a predetermined threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the site sensor includes a cupped transducer element and a substantially annular ring extending circumferentially outward from the transducer element, and adhering includes adhering the ring to the patient over the orbital areas of the patient.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the site sensor includes one or more wires to connect the site sensor to the monitor, and connecting includes connecting the site sensor to the monitor with the one or more wires.

7. A method of preventing eye-related positional injuries during spinal surgery, comprising:

attaching a sensor to a spinal surgery patient over an orbital area of the patient, the site sensor including a transducer;

connecting the site sensor to a monitor;

continuously monitoring pressure on the orbital areas of the patient with the site sensor and monitor;

alerting medical personnel of a pressure condition on the orbital areas if the monitor and site sensor determine a pressure condition exists on the orbital areas;

readjusting the patient'"'"'s head to alleviate the pressure condition, preventing eye-related positional injuries.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the site sensor includes a pair of site sensors, one for each orbital area of the patient, and the method further includes adhering the pair of site sensors to the patient over the orbital areas of the patient.

9. The method of claim 7, further including the transducer causing a change in signal to the monitor upon a pressure condition, and the monitor detecting the change in signal and causing an alarm to be actuated to alert medical personnel of a pressure condition.

10. The method of claim 7, further including the monitor causing an alarm to be actuated to alert medical personnel of a pressure condition when detected pressure is greater than a predetermined threshold.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the site sensor includes a cupped transducer element and a substantially annular ring extending circumferentially outward from the transducer element, and attaching includes adhering the ring to the patient over the orbital areas of the patient.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the site sensor includes one or more wires to connect the site sensor to the monitor, and connecting includes connecting the site sensor to the monitor with the one or more wires.

13. A method of preventing eye-related positional injuries during spinal surgery, comprising:

providing an orbital area pressure monitoring system including a site sensor with transducer, and a monitor connected to the site sensor;

using the orbital area pressure monitoring system to continuously monitor pressure on an orbital area of the patient with the site sensor and monitor; and

causing an alarm to be actuated to alert medical personnel of a pressure condition when monitored pressure is greater than a predetermined threshold.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the site sensor includes a pair of site sensors, one for each orbital area of the patient, and the method further includes adhering the pair of site sensors to the patient over the orbital areas of the patient.

15. The method of claim 13, further including the transducer causing a change in signal to the monitor upon a pressure condition, and the monitor detecting the change in signal and causing an alarm to be actuated to alert medical personnel of a pressure condition.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the site sensor includes a cupped transducer element and a substantially annular ring extending circumferentially outward from the transducer element, and further including adhering the ring to the patient over the orbital areas of the patient.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the site sensor includes one or more wires to connect the site sensor to the monitor, and further including connecting the site sensor to the monitor with the one or more wires.