Design, prototyping, and evaluation of a collapsible device for single-operator sheathing of ultrasound probes

S. A. Lopez; L. R. Hernley; E. N. Bearrick; L. M. Tanenbaum; M. A. C. Thomas; T. A. Toussaint; J. J. Romano; N. C. Hanumara; A. H. Slocum

doi:10.5194/ms-5-7-2014

Mechanical Sciences (Jan 2014)

Design, prototyping, and evaluation of a collapsible device for single-operator sheathing of ultrasound probes

S. A. Lopez,
L. R. Hernley,
E. N. Bearrick,
L. M. Tanenbaum,
M. A. C. Thomas,
T. A. Toussaint,
J. J. Romano,
N. C. Hanumara,
A. H. Slocum

Affiliations

S. A. Lopez: Mechanical Engineering Dept., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
L. R. Hernley: Mechanical Engineering Dept., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
E. N. Bearrick: Mechanical Engineering Dept., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
L. M. Tanenbaum: Health Sciences and Technology Dept., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
M. A. C. Thomas: Mechanical Engineering Dept., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
T. A. Toussaint: Mechanical Engineering Dept., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
J. J. Romano: Hospital Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
N. C. Hanumara: Mechanical Engineering Dept., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
A. H. Slocum: Mechanical Engineering Dept., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5194/ms-5-7-2014
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 5, no. 1
pp. 7 – 13

Abstract

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During interventional ultrasound-guided procedures, sterility is maintained by covering the transducer head and cord with a sterile sheath. The current sheathing technique is cumbersome, requires an assistant to complete, and poses a risk of tangling the probe cord and breaching the sterile barrier. This paper presents the design, proof-of-concept prototyping, and evaluation of a probe holder and cartridge-style, single-use applicator that enables faster, more reliable, single-user sheathing of ultrasound probes, with a decreased risk of compromising sterility.

Published in Mechanical Sciences

ISSN: 2191-9151 (Print); 2191-916X (Online)
Publisher: Copernicus Publications
Country of publisher: Germany
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials
Website: http://www.mechanical-sciences.net

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