Surgical protective head gear assembly including high volume air delivery system

• US 7,937,775 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2006
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microtek Medical Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microtek Medical Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Manzella, Salvatore Jr., Pullen, Kevin T., Shaughnessy, Michael C., Platt, David K., Larson, Keith A., Sanders, Alison J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moran; Katherine
• Assistant Examiner(s): QUINN, RICHALE LEE
• Application Number:
  US11/463,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20070089221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,736 Days
• Field of Search: 128/201.22, 128/201.25, 128/206.12, 2/7, 2 1/6, 217/13, 241/6, 242/2, 242/4, 245/6, 607/107
• US Class Current: 2/171.3
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0025 by means of forced air circulation
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/11 Protective face masks, e.g. for surgical use, or for use in foul atmospheres eye-masks A61F9/04 ; hoods affording protection against heat or harmful chemical agents A62B17/04
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1209 Surgeons' gowns or dresses
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/286 with forced flow, e.g. by a fan
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/401 using air flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/502 Headgear, e.g. helmet, spectacles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/00 Surgical drapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/05 Splash shields for protection of the surgeon, e.g. splash guards connected to the apparatus A41D13/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/029 Additional functions or features, e.g. protection for other parts of the face such as ears, nose or mouth; Screen wipers or cleaning devices
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 17/04 Hoods
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/045 with fans for delivering air for breathing mounted in or on the helmet
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/082 Assembling eyepieces, lenses or vision-correction means in or on gas-masks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A surgical protective assembly having an air movement device and a head gear assembly carrying the air movement device. The head gear assembly includes an outer wall, an inner wall, a front end, a back end and a middle portion between the front end and the back end. The outer wall has an upper opening, the inner wall has an array of openings, and the inner and outer wall define a front opening at the front end. The head gear assembly has a passageway that fluidly connects together, the upper opening, the array and the front opening.

Claims

1. A surgical protective assembly comprising:

an air movement device comprising a plurality of blades configured in an air foil shape; and

a head gear assembly carrying the air movement device, the head gear assembly comprising;

an outer wall having a front end, a back end and a portion between the front end and the back end, the portion of the outer wall defining an upper opening positioned at or adjacent to the air movement device, the outer wall carrying a face shield mount adjacent to the front end, and

an inner wall spaced apart from the outer wall so as to define a channel fluidly connected to the first opening, the inner wall having a front end, a back end and a portion between the front end and the back end, the front ends of the outer wall and the inner wall defining a second opening fluidly connected to the channel, the portion of the inner wall defining a plurality of additional openings which are fluidly connected to the channel, the front ends of the outer wall and inner wall defining a front opening fluidly connected to the channel, the outer wall and the inner wall cooperating in a snap-fit arrangement; and

a head securing apparatus coupled to the inner wall.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a cord guide coupled to the inner wall.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the portion of the outer wall defines an air grate positioned substantially adjacent to the air movement device.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of additional openings are distributed along the inner wall in a designated pattern.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the air foil shaped blades are further defined by a leading parabolic wall, a trailing wall, and a top wall;

the trailing parabolic wall joining the leading parabolic wall at an inner vertical edge;

the top wall having a partially triangular shaped region with a vertex wherein such vertex meets the trailing wall.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the head gear assembly is defined by a visor portion, a crown portion distal the visor portion, lateral portions distal the visor portion and adjacent the crown portion, and a rear portion distal the crown portion wherein the air delivery device is oriented in the crown portion of the head gear assembly.

7. A surgical protective assembly comprising:

a head gear assembly having first and second ends, the head gear assembly including;

an inner wall, the inner wall defining a plurality of fluid openings positioned substantially adjacent to the first end; and

an outer wall defining;

(a) a first opening provided substantially adjacent to the second end, the outer wall configured to cooperate with the inner wall to define a channel between the inner wall and outer wall; and

(b) a second opening substantially adjacent to the first end, wherein the channel fluidly couples the first opening to the second opening and the plurality of fluid openings; and

wherein the outer wall and the inner wall cooperate in a snap-fit arrangement and an air delivery device carried by the inner wall substantially adjacent to the second end, the air delivery device comprising a plurality of blades configured in an air foil shape.

8. The assembly of claim 7, further comprising a cord guide operatively coupled to the air delivery device.

9. The assembly of claim 7, further comprising a face shield mount, the face shield mount carried on the outer wall substantially adjacent to the first end.

10. The assembly of claim 7, further comprising a head securing apparatus configured to cooperate with the inner wall.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the head securing apparatus includes a tensioner.

12. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the outer wall defines an air grate positioned substantially adjacent to an air movement device.

13. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the plurality of fluid openings are uniformly spaced along the inner wall.

14. A method for manufacturing a surgical head gear assembly, the method comprising:

(a) coupling via snap-fit arrangement an outer wall to an inner wall so that;

(i) there is a passage between the outer wall and inner wall; and

(ii) the coupled outer and inner walls have a first end, a second end, and an opening substantially adjacent to the first end wherein the opening is fluidly connected to the passage;

(b) forming a different opening in the outer wall so that the different opening is fluidly connected to the passage;

(c) forming a plurality of additional openings in the inner wall so that the additional openings are fluidly connected to the passage; and

(d) coupling an air delivery device to the inner wall wherein the air delivery device comprises a plurality of blades configured in an air foil shape.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising coupling a cord guide to the air delivery device.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising causing the outer wall to have a face shield mount substantially adjacent to the first end.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising coupling a head securing apparatus to the inner wall.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising coupling a tensioner to the inner wall.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising causing the additional openings to be distributed over an area of the inner wall in a designated pattern.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising causing the additional openings to be distributed on the area of the inner wall in a uniform array.