Disposable Isolation Device to Reduce COVID-19 Contamination During CT Scanning

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Infectious Disease Control
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• COVID-19 pandemic heightened concerns about CT room contamination and transmission risks to patients and staff.
• Center for Disease Control (CDC) air exchange guidelines between patients can disrupt radiology workflows.
• Need for solutions to mitigate contamination risks without compromising imaging efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design a portable, custom isolation device for CT rooms.
• To reduce contamination of imaging equipment during a pandemic.
• To assess the feasibility and impact on patient throughput.

Main Methods:

• Reviewed CDC air exchange guidelines and functional requirements for the device.
• Outlined engineering requirements, risk mitigation plans, and operational procedures.
• Assessed cost impact concerning CT patient throughput.

Main Results:

• Considered multiple isolation bag designs, with several custom-fabricated and prototyped.
• A final design was tested on volunteers, demonstrating comfort, fit, air seal, and breathability.
• Estimated potential for over 14 times enhanced patient throughput in ideal conditions.

Conclusions:

• A novel isolation bag device is feasible for CT room use.
• The device can facilitate containment and reduce contamination in radiology departments during pandemics.
• Potential to significantly improve operational efficiency and safety.