Mobile zoned/exponential LAF screen: a new concept in ultra-clean air technology for additional operating room ventilation

Further bacteriological evaluation of the TOUL mobile system delivering ultra-clean air over surgical patients and instruments

“…As expected, the maximum impact was recorded in the centre of the air flow with RFs of >50 (>98% reduction) in both types of ventilation. The present results were in accordance with those obtained by Friberg et al 4 using the TOUL-400 unit at a distance of 1.0e1.2 m from the screen. Interestingly, in both types of impact area mapping experiments (Figure 2a and b), the present study found a dramatic localized impact of the TOUL-400 unit on the deposition rate (recorded on a single 14-cm plate) and apparently representing the focus of the clean-air stream (e.g.…”

“…In contrast, Friberg et al 4 obtained RFs of 22e70 with the TOUL-400 unit during sham hip operations performed in an OR but at a distance of only 0.75e1.0 m, again emphasizing the limited reach of the TOUL-400 unit.…”

“…In an initial evaluation of this system in sham hip prosthesis operations performed in a room with six air changes/h (ACH), low air and surface counts of bacteria-carrying particles comparable with those achieved with large systems delivering an ultraclean air flow from the ceiling were recorded in the centre of the air stream at about 1 m from the screen. 4 However, 1.4e1.6 m downstream of the screen, the reduction of the bacterial counts was moderate (about five-fold, by 80%). In a followup study of actual inguinal hernia operations, the air and surface counts of bacteria measured downstream of the wound and the operating team were reduced by only 50% (1.4 m from the screen).…”

Testing the effectiveness of operating room ventilation with regard to removal of airborne bacteria

“…One method to measure the performance is either to use Petri dishes to sample deposition of bacteria during an operation, or to use a bacterial air sampler to measure the concentration of airborne bacteria [7][8][9]. This is a very direct way to evaluate risk, but because factors such as quality of clothing and procedures influence the result, this method is unsuited for comparison between systems in different hospitals.…”

Survey of operating theatre ventilation facilities for minimally invasive surgery in Great Britain and Northern Ireland: current practice and considerations for the future

“…For example, in a pilot experiment, a mobile ultraclean laminar air unit provided the equivalent air quality of a UCV theatre. 11 The future role of technology in evolving surgical practice in terms of minimizing infection is unclear.…”