On Body Procedure Tool Organizer

OVERVIEW

• An integrated surgical tool kit and organizer with fenestrated mini-drape
• Applicable to military, first-responder civilian, and hospital settings

BACKGROUND

Emergency medical kits provide medical personnel and trained first responders with a complete set of sterilized instruments needed to perform a specific procedure. However, particularly in the field, organization of the instruments once removed from the packaging is difficult, leading to increased risk of infection and delays in the surgical procedure due to dropped or misplaced instruments. Furthermore, use of full-sized surgical drapes with defined surgical fields is typically impractical in the field. 

INNOVATION

Researchers have created an organizational system that can be applied to a variety of sterile tool organizers designed for various procedures such as emergent cricothyrotomy, tube thoracostomy, central line placement, arterial catheter placement, urinary catheter placement, peripheral intravenous catheter placement and laceration repair. Prior to use, the tool organizer is a compact and enclosed system such that the sterilized instruments are isolated from the environment. The organizer is portable and designed for rapid access when needed in an emergency. The instruments within each kit are selected specifically for the single procedure that the kit is designed for. Typical instruments include scalpels, hemostats, tubes, gauze, etc.. 

When put to use, the organizer is adhesively or otherwise attached near to the site of the procedure to be performed. An incorporated mini-drape extends to the site of the procedure and contains an opening that assists the medical practitioner by defining the surgical field. Rather than the standard jumbled package of surgical instruments typical of other systems, the tools within the kit are organized and held in place via a system that allows for the tools to be returned to the kit temporarily until needed again. The toolkit assists the practitioner by laying out the tools for easy, direct access and viewing at the site of the procedure. Such an arrangement allows the operator or performer of the procedure to not have to turn or pivot to the typical container holding tools. Although designed specifically with the needs of military and civilian first responders in mind, these toolkits will also find application within hospital settings.