Modular surgical prep sponge holder

• US 6,481,040 B1
• Filed: 07/24/2000
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jonathan L. Mcintyre
• Original Assignee: Jonathan L. Mcintyre
• Inventors: McIntyre, Jonathan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Application Number:
  US09/624,177
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 15/211, 15/222, 15/29, 15/971, 15/502, 15/68, 15/74, 460/6
• US Class Current: 15/21.1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/02 power-driven carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1013 Brushes for cleaning fingers or finger nails

Abstract

A modular surgical prep sponge holder is provided for improving the cleaning of hands and arms prior to medical procedures. The device includes a tubular member containing a flexible cable and a flexible water line that extend through the tube. A rotating head is attached to the end of the tube, which moves 180 degrees in any direction. The disposable part of the device, being encased in a plastic housing, is connected to the rotating head. The housing includes a main gear, and a movement-plate with end clasps. Once the housing is inserted onto the end of the flexible cable, and a motor is turned on, the flexible cable will rotate. The rotational motion of the flexible cable will be transferred to the main gear and will be converted to lateral motion, causing the movement-plate to move in a lateral direction. Depending upon the setting of the motor, the system may deliver several hundred more strokes per minute than could manually be performed by an individual. Prior to turning on the system, the swivel head will receive a packaged sterile unit. After unwrapping the unit and attaching it to the swivel, the unit will receive a sterile surgical sponge. The rapid back and forth motion of the device will improve efficiency, reduce the chance for cross contamination, and allow for a hands-free, tireless surgical prep while maintaining the integrity of the current practice of cleaning the hands and arms prior to surgery.

Claims

1. A modular surgical prep sponge holder comprising:

a movement plate;

a surgical sponge connected to the movement-plate;

a lateral motion generator, which comprises a wheel, a rotational motion generator for moving the wheel in a rotational direction, and a motion transfer device to convert rotational movement of the wheel into lateral movement of the movement-plate for moving the movement-plate and the surgical sponge in a lateral direction, wherein the transfer device comprises a drive shaft pin connected to the wheel, wherein the movement-plate contains a drive-pin slot; and

wherein the drive shaft pin is placed within the drive-pin slot to convert the rotational movement of the wheel into the lateral movement of the movement-plate; and

a water line for supplying water to the surgical sponge.

2. A modular surgical prep sponge holder, as recited in claim 1, wherein the rotational motion generator can be controlled by the user.

3. A modular surgical prep sponge holder, as recited in claim 1, herein the rotational motion generator comprises a flexible shaft connected to the wheel, and the flexible shaft is rotated to provide the rotational movement of the wheel.

4. A modular surgical prep sponge holder, as recited in claim 1, wherein the rotational motion generator comprises a stream of high-pressure water that pushes against the wheel, causing the wheel to move in the rotational direction.

5. A modular surgical prep sponge holder, as recited in claim 1, wherein the wheel is a main gear.

6. A modular surgical prep sponge holder, as recited in claim 5, wherein the rotational motion generator comprises

a pinion gear connected in an interlocking fashion with the main gear; and

a flexible shaft connected to the pinion gear,

wherein the flexible shaft is rotated to provide rotational movement to the pinion gear, and the rotational movement of the pinion gear is transferred into the rotational movement of the main gear.

7. A modular surgical prep sponge holder, as recited in claim 1, wherein the amount of water supplied to the surgical sponge can be controlled by the user.

8. A modular surgical prep sponge holder, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a soap dispenser for dispensing cleansing agents.

9. A modular surgical prep sponge holder, as recited in claim 1, wherein the movement-plate and the lateral motion generator are placed within an outer housing.

10. A modular surgical prep sponge holder comprising:

a movement plate;

a surgical sponge connected to the movement-plate;

a water line for supplying water to the surgical sponge;

a lateral motion generator, which comprises a main gear, a rotational motion generator which comprises a pinion gear connected in an interlocking fashion with the main gear, a flexible shaft connected to the pinion gear, wherein the flexible shaft is rotated to provide rotational movement to the pinion gear, and the rotational movement of the pinion gear is transferred into the rotational movement of the main gear and a motion transfer device to convert rotational movement of the main gear, into lateral movement of the movement-plate for moving the movement-plate and the surgical sponge in a lateral direction, wherein the flexible shaft and the water line are both contained within a tube housing.

11. A modular surgical prep sponge holder comprising

a movement plate;

a surgical sponge connected to the movement-plate;

a lateral motion generator for moving the movement-plate and the surgical sponge in a lateral direction; and

a water line for supplying water to the surgical sponge;

a housing cover to protect the movement plate; and

a swivel head connected to the housing cover, the swivel head allowing the housing cover to move along 180 degrees of motion.

12. A modular surgical prep sponge holder, as recited in claim 11, wherein the sponge is attached to the movement-plate through the use of spring tension end clasps.

13. A modular surgical prep sponge holder, as recited in claim 11, wherein the lateral motion generator comprises:

a wheel;

a rotational motion generator for moving the wheel in a rotational direction; and

a motion transfer device to convert rotational movement of the wheel into lateral movement of the movement-plate.

14. A modular surgical prep sponge holder as recited in claim 13,

wherein the transfer device comprises a drive shaft pin connected to the wheel,

wherein the movement-plate contains a drive-pin slot, and

wherein the drive shaft pin is placed within the drive-pin slot to convert the rotational movement of the wheel into the lateral movement of the movement-plate.

15. A modular surgical prep sponge holder, as recited in claim 13, wherein the rotational motion generator comprises a flexible shaft connected to the wheel, and the flexible shaft is rotated to provide the rotational movement of the wheel.

16. A modular surgical prep sponge holder, as recited in claim 13, wherein the rotational motion generator comprises a stream of high-pressure water that pushes against the wheel, causing the wheel to move in the rotational direction.

17. An apparatus for cleaning, comprising

a movement-plate;

a cleaning device connected to the movement-plate;

a lateral motion generator for moving the movement-plate and the cleaning device in a lateral direction; and

a water line for supplying water to the cleaning device;

a housing cover to protect the movement plate; and

a swivel head connected to the housing cover, the swivel head allowing the housing cover to move along 180 degrees of motion.

18. An apparatus for cleaning, as recited in claim 17, wherein the lateral motion generator comprises:

a wheel;

a rotational motion generator for moving the wheel in a rotational direction; and

a motion transfer device to convert rotational movement of the wheel into lateral movement of the movement-plate.

19. An apparatus for cleaning, as recited in claim 17, wherein the cleaning device is a sponge.

20. An apparatus for cleaning, as recited in claim 17, wherein the cleaning device is a brush.

21. An apparatus for cleaning, as recited in claim 17, wherein the cleaning device is a combination of a sponge and a brush.