Shield for venting gases away from anesthesiologist
United States Patent [191 Foster SHIELD FOR VENTING GASES AWAY FROM ANESTHESIOLOGIST Beatrice D. Foster, 8191 Colony Dr., Grosse lle, Mich. 48138 22 Filed: Feb. 26, 1974 21 App]. No.: 446,026  
 Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 288,341, Sept. 12,  
 1972, Pat. No. 3,813,092.  
 [76] Inventor:  
 Primary Examiner-Roy Lake Assistant ExaminerCraig R. Feinberg Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson 1 Apr. 15, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT A transparent arcuate panel structure is provided including a pair of spaced generally parallel panel sections having corresponding marginal edge portions sealed relative to each other to define a closed vacuum cavity between the panel sections. The panel structure includes an outlet neck portion at one marginal edge thereof openinginto the vacuum cavity and the inlet end of a vacuum line is connected to the outlet neck portion. An adjustable support is provided for positioning the panel structure in a downwardly opening position above the head of a patient to which anesthesia is being administered and the lower panel section is provided with a plurality of small inlet openings spaced apart throughout substantially the entire plan area of the lower panel section. When the vacuum line has its outlet end communicated with a source of vacuum gases exhaled by a patient to which anesthesia is being administered or drawn upwardly toward the panel structure and into the vacuum cavity through the small diameter openings or apertures formed in the lower panel section of&#39;the panel structure. The panel structure is constructed of transparent material and the operation of the panel structure to draw exhaled gases into the closed vacuum cavity for subsequent venting to a remote location through the vacuum line serves to eliminate the possibility of an anesthetist inhaling exhaled gases.  
 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The shield of the instant invention may be utilized under various conditions by anesthesiologists while administering anesthesia. However, the shield is principally designed for use when administering pediatric anesthetic with a non-rebreathing valve.  
  Many recent surveys reveal that anesthetists are having miscarriages, cirrhosis of the liver and other health problems due to inhalationof anesthetic gases. To date, a valve and a large rubber tubing as well as a transparent shield have been devised to carry the exhaled gases from the anesthetic machine to the floor in adult anesthesia.  
  Pediatric anesthetic is administered in a different way. For children, a non-rebreathing valve is utilized which lets the exhaled gases escape very near the face of the anesthesiologist; Once the anesthetic is discharged&#39;from the non-rebreathing valve, it can be rebreathed by the anesthetist, or can be diverted downward.  
 cally designed not only as a barrier between gases exhaled by a patient and the anesthesiologist, but as the inletfor a closed flow path for venting the exhaled gases to a remote location.=,The shield is hollow and the underside thereof is provided with inlet openings for drawing the exhaled gases into the interior of the shield and a vacuum line has its inlet end communicated with the interior of theshield. The shield is inexpensive to produce. can be used without any advance preparation and is readily attachable to conventional operating tables. The shield is also transparent and therefore allows full view of the patient.  
  The main object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for use in administering pediatric anesthetic and which will be operative to prevent anesthetic gases discharged from non-rebreathing valves from being rebreathed by the anesthesiologist.  
  Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a shield which will be operative to collect and vent exhaled anesthetic gases to a remote location.  
  Yet another object of this invention is to provide a shield which is to be utilized in conjunction with nonexplosive anesthetic gases and also anesthetic gases which are explosive in nature.  
  A still further object of this invention is to provide a shield constructed in whereby manner wherby ready access to the head of a pediatric patient on an associated operating table will be afforded at all times.  
  Another important object of this invention is to provide&#39; a shield of transparent construction whereby the patients face over which the shield is positioned may be viewed from above the shield.  
  A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a shield in accordance with the preceding objects and which will conform to 2 conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation. I  
  These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in&#39;the details of &#39;construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had.  
 to the accompanying drawings forming a, part hereof, wherein like numerals refer tolike parts throughout.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF Tl-IE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF; THE INVENTION Referring ,now more specifically to FIGS: 1 through 3 the numeral 10 generally designates an operating table upon which a patient 12 is disposed. The head 14 of the patient 12 is disposed adjacent one end &#39;16 of the table 10 and the anesthesiologist l8 is disposed to one side of the table while the surgeon 20 is positioned at the head end of the table 10.  
  The shield is generally referred to by theieference numeral 22 and comprises a panel structure referred to .in general bythe reference numeral 24 including vertically spaced panel sections and 28, The panel sections 26 and 28 are arcuate or partial spherical and have corresponding marginal edge portions sealed relative to each other as at 30. The panel structure 24includes a hollow outlet neck 32 at one marginal portion opening into the closed vacuum cavity 34 defined between the panel sections 26 and 28 and the &#39;inlet end 36 of a flexible vacuum line 38 is secured over the outlet neck 32. t I I A flexible support shaft or arm 40 has one end thereof secured to the panel structure 24 as at 40 and the other end thereof carries a mount 42 clamped to the table 10. Of course, the shield 22 may be positioned as illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings directly over the face of the patient 12.  
  The panel section 28 is provided with a plurality of small diameter bores or apertures 44 spaced throughout substantially the entire plan area of the panel section 28 and the openings or apertures 44 open into the closed cavity 34.  
  In operation, during the period an anesthetic is being administered the outlet end of the flexible tube 38 is communicated with a source of vacuum (not shown). As the patient exhales the exhaled gases pass upwardly toward the shield 22 and are drawn into the openings or bores 44 together with ambient air and thereafter pass into the cavity 34 and toward the vacuum source through the hose 38. In this manner, exhaled gases are prevented from being re-breathed by the anesthesiologist 18 or the surgeon 20.  
  The shield 22 is designed to be used when the surgeon 20 is operating on the upper portion of the head 14.  
  With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 4 of the drawings a modified form of shield is referred to in general by the reference numeral 122 and is very similar to the shield 22 -in that it comprises a panel structure 124 including spaced panel sections 126 and 128 joined together at their corresponding marginal edge portions as at 130. In addition. the panel section 128 is provided with a plurality of apertures or openings 144 corresponding to the openings 44 and an outlet neck 132 corresponding to the outlet neck 32 over which the inlet end 136 of a vacuum line 138 is secured. Also, the shield 122 is supported from the table 116 by means of a flexible support arm 140 corresponding to the support arm 40. v  
  The shield 122 is designed to be used when a surgeon is operating on the lower portion of the face of the patient 112 or the throat of the patient and the anesthesiologist 120 is disposed at the head end of the table 1 l6. The shield 122 is generally rectangular in plan shape,  
  but is arcuate to form a partial cylindrical shield. Also, ,the shield 122 is constructed of transparent material and the flexible arm 140 provides a support for the shield 122 such that it may be supported in substantially any position over the head 114 of the patient 112. Of course, the operation of the shield 122 is substantially identical to the operation of the shield 122 in that exhaled gases are drawn into the interior of the shield 122 through the openings or bores 144.  
  The shields 22 and 122 may also be used to direct oxygen beneath and to at least partially support a sheet disposed over the heads of the patients 12 and 112. When used in this manner, oxygen lines have their discharge ends connected to outlet necks 32 and 132 of the shields 22 and 122 and thus the necks 32 and 132 become inlet necks and the openings 44 and 144 becomeoutlet openings for oxygen.  
  Still further. the shields 22 and 122 may be positioned over the abdominal areas of the patients 12 and 112 in order to duct away offensive odors when performing abdominal surgery. in this case the vacuum M538 and 138 are connected to the outlet necks 32 and 132.  
 The foregoing is considered as illustrative only the modifications and changes will readily occur to those 4 skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the ipvention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the-scope of the invention. 1  
 What is claimed as new is as follows: a  
  1; In combination with an operating table of the typ including a portion thereof adapted to have the head of a person disposed on said table and to be administered a gas form of anesthesia rested thereon, ashield for dispostion above the head of said person, said shield comprising a generally horizotal panel structure including spaced upper and lower panel sections having corresponding marginal edges sealed relative to each other and defining a closed area between said panel sections, said structure including an outlet opening into the area between said panel sections and adapted to have the inlet end of a vacuum line connected thereto, the lower panel section having a plurality of spaced inlet openings formed therethrough opening into said area, and support means supporting said shield in elevated positionover said table portion.  
  2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said upper and lower panel sections are constructed of transparent material.  
  3. The combination of claim 1 wherein&#39;said panel structure is generally partial cylindrical in shape and the under surface of the lower panel section is downwardly concave.  
  4. The combination of claim ,1 wherein said pane sections are partial spherical in configuration.  
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said panel sections generally parallel each other. 6. The combination of claim l wherein said panel structure includes a hollow neck opening into said area remote from the central portion of said lower panel section. said hollow neck comprising said outlet open- 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said support means includes an elongated bendable and shape retentive support standard having its upper endanchored to one marginal portion of said panel structure, the lower end of said support standard including-mounting means supported from said operating table.