Hybrid Operating Room for Combined Surgical and Fixed Imaging Services in an Ambulatory Surgical Center

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION:

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No.

14/560,721, filed December 4, 2014, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.

Patent Application No. 14/219,880, filed March 19, 2014, the entirety of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND:

Field:

[0002] Various medical centers, other than hospitals, may benefit from having combined surgical and fixed imaging services. For example, ambulatory surgical centers may benefit from having a hybrid operating room that combines such surgical and fixed imaging services.

Description of the Related Art:

[0003] Combined surgical and fixed imaging services in an operating room have been provided only in hospital facilities. Hospital facilities are generally designed with a variety of special features to fulfill strict safety requirements that add significantly to the cost to build and operate the hospital facility. For example, hospitals are typically constructed to adhere to strict building codes. Hospitals, for example, are classified according to International Building Code (IBC) as Institutional Group 1-2, meaning occupancy shall include buildings and structures used for medical care on a 24-hour basis for more than five persons who are incapable of self-preservation. Hospitals typically also have heightened requirements regarding fire control, such as specific required building materials, in part because the occupants of the hospital are often incapable of self-preservation, as noted above.

[0004] Furthermore, hospitals traditionally include a variety of equipment. Normally, a hospital includes a number of hospital beds. Similarly, hospitals typically include patient rooms, which may house those hospital beds, and patient restrooms. Often, the size of a hospital is given as the number of beds the hospital has. Furthermore, hospitals also often include other facilities, such 5 as a pharmacy, a lab, a morgue, and facilities providing radiology services, infection isolation, dietary services, linen services, emergency services, and the like.

[0005] Additionally, hospitals normally are required to have disaster prevention provisions for the primary structure and services as well as a disaster response 10 plan, policy, and capabilities. Likewise, in view of the size of hospitals, hospitals often include central services (for example, central sterilization services), materials management, environmental services, and engineering services.

[0006] According to conventional wisdom, combined surgical and imaging i s services in an operating room are best provided in a hospital context. For example, imaging equipment is often heavy and has substantial power requirements. Hospitals, with their massive infrastructure, can readily accommodate such requirements. Also, imaging equipment often requires shielding due to the use of radiation, such as x-rays. Again, the infrastructure 20 of a hospital is conventionally thought to be the only medical facility infrastructure adapted to safely accommodate such a purpose. For example, the thick concrete walls and floors of a typical hospital can help to block radiation.

[0007] Operating rooms for providing combined surgery and fixed imaging in a hospital are comparatively large. For example, a typical combined surgical 25 and fixed imaging surgery room in a hospital may be in the range of 800 to 1000 square feet. For example, operating rooms in a hospital need to be of such comparatively large size in order to accommodate the performance of up to twenty to thirty different surgical specialties and sub-specialties as may normally be performed in a hospital, such as cardiac, thoracic, vascular, obstetrics, gynecological, orthopedic, podiatric, urologic, otolaryngologic, neurosurgery, trauma, ophthalmology, gastrointestinal, transplant, general surgery, colorectal surgery, hand surgery, endocrine surgery, breast surgery, plastic surgery, head and neck surgery, surgical oncology, pediatric surgery, spine surgery, oral maxillo facial surgery and so on.

[0008] Furthermore, hospitals typically are required to have particularly robust infectious vector isolation as well as high quality and sophisticated nurse call systems. Hospitals also have requirements for control of airborne sound transmission and water temperature requirements. Hospitals also normally have medical gas systems with strict requirements on their number and amount of testing. Likewise, elevators in hospitals are required to be large to accommodate gurney traffic.

[0009] As mentioned above, hospitals typically have specific fire code requirements. For example, hospital construction materials must be non- combustible and must provide for patient and staff safety in case of an emergency. Because hospitals are viewed as essential in case of a disaster, hospitals must be able to withstand greater events, such as earthquakes, floods, and the like. The structure also needs to be designed to provide the option of defending the structure in place rather than evacuating the structure.

[0010] To support such objectives, hospitals may be required to have redundancy of critical services, such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), power, water supply, water heating, and the like. Furthermore, the materials from which the building is constructed, including the finishes for interior walls and ceilings, must comply with strict fire requirements, such as a very low flame spread index. Other similar reinforcements and protections may likewise be required. In short, a hospital is normally required to have a significantly enhanced infrastructure.

[0011] By contrast, conventional ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) can be constructed in office buildings. These buildings have various code requirements, but typically these requirements are much less strict, and therefore, can be fulfilled with significant cost savings as compared to the cost to build a hospital. For example, an IBC class B structure, which may house an ASC, will have significantly less strict construction requirements than an IBC class 1-2 structure, typically associated with the construction of a hospital. Similarly, the air change requirements for ASCs and other requirements may be much less strict for ASCs than for hospitals. In this discussion, class B can refer to use and occupancy classification, such as described in International Building Code (2012 version), Chapter 3, section 304, "Business Group B."

[0012] Likewise, ASCs typically do not require a pharmacy, a lab, a morgue, linen services, dietary services, and the like. Indeed, ASCs normally do not have any hospital beds, because it is not expected that the patients will be staying overnight.

[0013] Similarly, typical operating rooms in ASCs may be smaller than in hospitals. For example, an operating room in an ASC may be less than 600 square feet and possibly as small as 425 square feet. Furthermore, an ASC may generally offer only one to ten different surgical specialties, rather than the twenty to thirty surgical specialties offered in a typical hospital.

[0014] ASCs can herein or otherwise be described in various ways. For example, ASCs can also be referred to as ambulatory surgery center, clinics, outpatient surgical centers, and the like. Thus, herein or otherwise the term ASC can refer generally to ASCs, clinics, outpatient surgical centers and similar structures.

SUMMARY:

[0015] According to certain embodiments an ambulatory surgical center can include a hybrid operating room. The hybrid operating room can include at least one lead-shielded wall, a floor, and a ceiling. The ambulatory surgical center can also include an imaging device disposed in the hybrid operating room. The ambulatory surgical center can further include an operating table disposed in the hybrid operating room. The ambulatory surgical center can additionally include a power room near the operating room, wherein the power room comprises a power supply for the imaging device. The ambulatory 5 surgical center can also include a conduit from the power room to the imaging device configured to deliver power to the imaging device. The building for the ambulatory surgical center may be one that is initially constructed to conform to International Building Code (IBC) Class B standards.

[0016] In certain embodiments, a method of manufacturing an ambulatory

10 surgical center can include building a hybrid operating room. The hybrid operating room can include at least one lead-shielded wall, a floor, and a ceiling. The method can include shielding the at least one wall with lead. The method can further include installing an imaging device disposed in the hybrid operating room. The method can additionally include installing an operating i s table disposed in the hybrid operating room. The method can also include building a power room near the operating room. The method can further include installing, in the power room, a power supply for the imaging device. The method can additionally include installing a conduit configured to supply power from the power room to the imaging device. The building can include

20 constructing the ambulatory surgical center from a building initially constructed to conform to International Building Code (IBC) Class B standards.

[0017] A building, according to certain embodiments, can include a hybrid operating room, wherein the hybrid operating room comprises radiation 25 shielding. The building can also include an imaging device disposed in the hybrid operating room. The building can further include an operating table disposed in the hybrid operating room. The building can additionally include a power room near the operating room, wherein the power room comprises a power supply for the imaging device. The building can also include a conduit from the power room to the imaging device configured to deliver power to the imaging device. The building can have 20,000 square feet or less of floor space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

[0018] For proper understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0019] Figure 1 illustrates a cross-section of an ambulatory surgical center according to certain embodiments of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 illustrates a method of manufacturing an ambulatory surgical center, according to certain embodiments of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 3 illustrates a cross-section of another ambulatory surgical center according to certain embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

[0022] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, combined surgical and fixed imaging services in an operating room can be provided in an ambulatory surgical center, outpatient surgical center, or the like, which can be collectively referred to as an ambulatory surgical center (ASC).

[0023] Figure 1 illustrates a cross-section of an ambulatory surgical center according to certain embodiments. As shown in Figure 1, an ambulatory surgical center 100 can include a hybrid operating room 105. The hybrid operating room 105 can include one or more lead-shielded walls 1 10. Only two walls are shown in the cross-section view, but two more may be orthogonal to those illustrated. The hybrid operating room may also include a floor 1 15 and a ceiling 120. Shielded doors, not illustrated, may also be provided in the lead-shielded walls. Other shielding materials besides lead are also permitted in certain embodiments. Those doors may lead to a hallway or to other rooms. [0024] There can be lead-shielded walls 1 10, which are shielded to a height of less than a predetermined limit, e.g., eight feet. Thus, the lead-shielded walls 1 10 may be shielded to a height that is lower than the height of the ceiling 120, such as to a height of at least seven feet. Other heights are also permitted. The ceiling 120 may not, in certain embodiments, include lead shielding or any other type of radiation shielding. This may be particularly applicable when the ambulatory surgical center 100 is a single story building or when the ambulatory surgical center 100 is on the top floor of an office building. By contrast, in other embodiments the ceiling 120 may be shielded. For example, such shielding may be provided when the ambulatory surgical center 100 is located on a lower floor of a multi-story building.

[0025] Similarly, the floor 1 15 can be shielded or unshielded, according to the location of hybrid operating room 105 with respect to the rest of the ambulatory surgical center 100 or building. For example, when the ambulatory surgical center 100 is on a second floor, the floor 1 15 may be shielded (with lead or other radiation shielding material), whereas when the ambulatory surgical center 100 is on a ground floor or in a basement, it may not be necessary to shield the floor 1 15. In a basement it may not be necessary to provide any additional shielding to one or any of the walls.

[0026] A material can be considered as shielding if it provides adequate protection to humans who are on the side opposite the material from the radiation source. The adequacy of the protection may depend on factors such as what is deemed a safe exposure level and depending on an expected dwell time of a human on the other side of the shielding.

[0027] The ambulatory surgical center 100 can also include an imaging device 125a, 125b disposed in the hybrid operating room 105, for example in a central area of the hybrid operating room 105. The ambulatory surgical center 100 can further include an operating table 130 disposed in the hybrid operating room 105, for example in the central area of the hybrid operating room 105. The operating table 130 is shown without legs due to the cross- sectional view, but the operating table 130 may have legs, wheels, or the like. The operating table 130 may be in a fixed position or may be capable of movement, for example, to position a patient.

[0028] The imaging device 125a, 125b can be or include a fluoroscopy device. The fluoroscopy device can include a fixed C-arm device with the ability to perform, among other things, cineradiography (CINE) and digital subtraction. The imaging device 125a, 125b can include a radiating component 125b fixed to the floor 1 15 or ceiling 120 and a monitor component 125a fixed to the ceiling 120. Alternatively, the monitoring component 125a can be fixed to the floor 1 15. In other embodiments the monitoring component 125a and the radiating component 125b, or either of the components, can be fixed to one or more of the walls.

[0029] The ambulatory surgical center 100 can further include a power room 135 adjacent to the operating room. The power room 135 can include a power supply 140 for the imaging device 125a, 125b. The ambulatory surgical center 100 can include one or more conduit(s) 145a, 145b from the power room 135 to the imaging device 125a, 125b configured to deliver power to the imaging device 125a, 125b.

[0030] The conduit(s) 145a, 145b can be located beneath the floor 1 15 (for example, at 145b), above ground, or above the ceiling 120 (for example, at 145a). An above-ceiling conduit 145a may provide power to elements that are not attached to the floor (such as monitor element 125a), while the below floor-surface conduit 145b can provide power to elements that are attached to the floor (such as radiating component 125b), or which are held in place by gravity.

[0031] The power room 135 and/or the power supply 140 can be configured to provide power employing at least 480 VAC or at least 208 VAC. Furthermore, the power room 135 may include a step-up transformer 155 configured to provide the desired power, such as the 480 VAC, 208 VAC or any other desired power.

[0032] The ambulatory surgical center 100 can additionally include an 5 emergency power source 145 for the imaging device 125a, 125b configured to permit continuity of surgery in the hybrid operating room 105 during a power outage. The emergency power source 145 may be, for example, a generator, an uninterruptable power supply, or another source of power different from the power used in a non-emergency setting. The emergency

10 power source 145 may be configured to supply emergency power to other devices or aspects than just the imaging device 125a, 125b. For example, the emergency power source 145 may be configured to supply a critical power bus or critical power panel for multiple devices.

[0033] The ambulatory surgical center 100 can also include equipment 150 i s configured for the supply and provision of medical gasses. The medical gasses can include anesthetic gasses, such as nitrous oxide, as well as oxygen. The medical gasses equipment 150 can also provide suction. Accordingly, the medical gasses equipment 150 can be attached to plumbing in the wall (not illustrated), as well as to a waste trap (not illustrated). In

2 o certain embodiments of the present invention, this plumbing may lead to a central medical gas room, from which gas and suction are provided to a plurality of hybrid operating rooms like hybrid operating room 105.

[0034] The ambulatory surgical center 100 can further include an air change system 160. The air change system 160 can be configured to provide a

25 minimum or maximum number of air changes per hour or any desired air change rate therebetween. For example, the minimum number of air changes per hour may, in certain embodiments of the present invention, be six, ten, fifteen, or twenty room air changes per hour or any other desired rate. [0035] The ambulatory surgical center 100 can include a wooden frame building structure. For example, the ambulatory surgical center 100 can be constructed according to building codes that are suitable to an office building. For example, the ambulatory surgical center 100 can be constructed to conform to International Building Code (IBC) Class B standards (or such other standards permitting the use of combustible construction materials). In certain embodiments, the building may initially be constructed according to Class B standards but may subsequently be modified to other standards, in whole or in part. In certain cases, a class I structure may be used as an ambulatory surgical center.

[0036] For example, in certain embodiments, the ambulatory surgical center can be adjacent to an office such as a medical office and separated from the office by at least one firewall. Thus, for example, in certain embodiments a firewall and other upgrades can be added to an existing office building or to a building otherwise constructed as suitable for office building usage. In certain embodiments, the ambulatory surgical center may, for example, be in a strip mall or in another structure where a wall is shared with another business, which business may not have anything to do with medical care. For example, the other office may be restaurant and the firewall may separate the ambulatory surgical center or part of that center from the restaurant. In other cases, an ambulatory surgical center may be separated from a related medical office or other parts of a building not related to the ambulatory surgical center, by a firewall.

[0037] In certain embodiments of the present invention, the ambulatory surgical center 100 may not be adjacent to or within a hospital. Indeed, in certain embodiments of the present invention, the ambulatory surgical center 100 may not be in close physical proximity to a hospital. Additionally, the ambulatory surgical center 100 may not be affiliated with any hospital.

[0038] The ambulatory surgical center 100 may not itself be a hospital. Furthermore, the ambulatory surgical center 100 can exclude an inpatient room configured to permit a patient to stay for more than twenty-three hours. The ambulatory surgical center may not include any rooms equipped with hospital beds. Similarly, the ambulatory surgical center 100 can be operated by medical professionals and medical support staff exclusively dedicated to providing not more than a predetermined number of surgical specialties, e.g., 5 or 10 or any number there between, of medical procedures in the ambulatory surgical center 100. Furthermore, the ambulatory surgical center 100 can be 20,000 square feet or less in terms of its floor space. Moreover, in certain embodiments, the hybrid operating room can be installed in a building that has 20,000 square feet or less, but which may not necessarily be an ambulatory surgical center.

[0039] Figure 2 illustrates a method of manufacturing an ambulatory surgical center, according to certain embodiments of the present invention. The method can include, at 205, building a hybrid operating room. The hybrid operating room can include one or more lead-shielded wall, a floor, and a ceiling. The building of the hybrid operating room can involve converting an existing room into a hybrid operating room through renovations, or can involve building the hybrid operating room during construction of a building housing the hybrid operating room.

[0040] The method can also include, at 210, shielding the walls with lead or any other suitable shielding material. The lead shielded walls can be shielded to a height of less than a predetermined limit, e.g., eight feet. The shielding may, in certain embodiments, extend to a height of at least seven feet. The ceiling can be unshielded. The floor can also be unshielded, for example, when the ambulatory surgical center is on the ground floor of a building that does not have any basement or other space intended for human occupancy.

[0041] The method can further include, at 215, installing an imaging device disposed in a central area of the hybrid operating room. The imaging device can be or include a fluoroscopy device. The fluoroscopy device can be a fixed C-arm device.

[0042] The method can additionally include, at 220, installing an operating table disposed in the central area of the hybrid operating room. The operating table can be installed and positioned specifically to place a patient within an operational range of the fluoroscopy device.

[0043] The method can further include, at 225, building a power room adjacent to the operating room. The building of this power room can be a matter of renovating an existing office building structure, in certain cases. The building can involve constructing the ambulatory surgical center from a building initially constructed to conform to International Building Code (IBC) Class B standards, such as the 2012 version of those standards or any similar standards.

[0044] The method can also include, at 230, installing, in the power room, a power supply for the imaging device. The power supply may be installed to receive electricity from an electric utility company, process it, and supply it to the imaging device. The power room and/or power supply can be configured to provide power at 480 VAC.

[0045] The method can additionally include, at 235, installing one or more conduit(s) configured to supply power from the power room to the imaging device. These conduits can be installed beneath the floor of the hybrid operating room and/or in or above the ceiling of the hybrid operating room.

[0046] The method can further include, at 240, installing an emergency power source for at least the imaging device configured to permit continuity of surgery in the hybrid operating room during a power outage. This emergency power source, if it is a generator or a set of batteries, may be installed outside the walls of the ambulatory surgical center, and may be connected by tie-ins to the power room and/or power supply. [0047] The ambulatory surgical center can include a wooden frame building and can be constructed to conform to International Building Code (IBC) Class B standards (or such other standards permitting the use of combustible construction materials), as described above with reference to Figure 1. Other constructions of the frame of the building are also permitted. For example, the ambulatory surgical center can include a steel, concrete, or masonry frame building structure.

[0048] The method can also include, at 245, permanently fixing a radiating component of the imaging device to the floor and, at 250, permanently fixing a monitor component of the imaging device to the ceiling. The monitor component and the radiating component may each include moving parts, but may be anchored to a specific location in the floor and ceiling.

[0049] The method additionally may include, at 255, installing an air change system in the ambulatory surgical center, wherein the air change system is configured to provide twenty room air changes per hour (or any other desired rate of air change).

[0050] The above method steps are described and illustrated in a particular order. Nevertheless, this order is simply for ease of reading and does not imply that the steps must be performed in the listed order. For example, the installation of the emergency power source may not need to have any particular order with respect to the other steps. Steps that must be performed under the floor, in the walls, or above the ceiling may be performed prior to the installation of the imaging equipment and operating table. Thus, the order of steps may be varied as desired or needed.

[0051] Figure 3 illustrates a cross-section of another ambulatory surgical center according to certain embodiments of the present invention. Figure 3 differs from Figure 1 in that the radiating component 125b is shown fixed to ceiling 120 instead of the floor 1 15. Other implementations are also possible. [0052] One having ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that the invention as discussed above may be practiced with steps in a different order, and/or with hardware elements in configurations which are different than those which are disclosed. Therefore, although the invention has been described based upon these preferred embodiments, it would be apparent to those of skill in the art that certain modifications, variations, and alternative constructions would be apparent, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention. In order to determine the metes and bounds of the invention, therefore, reference should be made to the appended claims.