Systems and methods for ventilation of a surgical table

Abstract

A system for ventilating an area surrounding a patient is disclosed. The system includes an air exchanger configured to induce an air flow, and an outer duct disposed in communication with the air exchanger, and having an airway aperture configured to selectively induce an air flow at a location along the outer duct. The system further includes an inner duct disposed in communication with the air exchanger and disposed inside the duct, the inner duct being configured to selectively induce an air flow at a location along the inner duct. A method of ventilating an area surrounding a patient is also disclosed.

1 . A system for ventilating an area surrounding a patient, the system comprising:
 an air exchanger configured to induce an air flow;   an outer duct disposed in communication with the air exchanger, and having an airway aperture configured to selectively induce an air flow at a location along the outer duct; and   an inner duct disposed in communication with the air exchanger and disposed inside the outer duct, the inner duct being configured to selectively induce an air flow at a location along the inner duct.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer duct is a cloth covered, plastic tube. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a flow control valve disposed inline with the outer duct. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer duct is mounted above an operating table or bed. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer duct is mounted below an operating table or bed. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer duct is split into left and right sides configured to be positioned on left and right sides of the patient, respectively. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer duct comprises a plurality of airway apertures, and at least one of the airway apertures is selectively opened and closed by a sliding door. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer duct comprises a plurality of airway apertures, and the opening of at least one of the airway apertures is covered by a filter. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the air exchanger is mounted below an operating table or bed. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the inner duct is disposed in communication with an air vent. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the air vent is selectively positioned on an operating table or bed. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the air vent comprises a control lever configured to adjust air flow through the air vent. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the inner duct is disposed in communication with two air vents, each air vent being selectively positioned on an opposite side of an operating table or bed. 
   
   
       14 . A method of ventilating an area surrounding a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
 inducing a first air flow through an aperture of an outer duct;   inducing a second air flow through an aperture of an inner duct disposed inside the outer duct; and   filtering or heating one of the first and second air flows induced by the outer duct and the inner duct, respectively.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second air flows are induced by drawing a vacuum through both the outer and inner ducts. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second air flows are induced by supplying pressurized air through both the outer and inner ducts. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first flow is induced by drawing a vacuum through the outer duct and the second flow is induced by supplying pressurized air through the inner duct. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first flow is induced by supplying pressurized air through the outer duct and the second flow is induced by drawing a vacuum through the inner duct. 
   
   
       19 . A system for ventilating an area surrounding a patient, the system comprising:
 an air exchanger configured to induce an air flow;   an outer duct disposed in communication with the air exchanger, and having a plurality of airway apertures configured to selectively induce air flows at locations along outer the duct;   an inner duct disposed in communication with the air exchanger and disposed inside the outer duct, the inner duct being configured to selectively induce an air flow at a location along the inner duct; and   an air vent disposed in communication with the inner duct at the location along the inner duct.   
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the outer duct is positioned above or below a surface of an operating table or bed.