All I.C. Medical (ICM) equipment and accessories are designed with safety as a focal point. Beyond the essential function of removing surgical smoke and the toxic substances it harbors, the Crystal Vision smoke evacuator’s signature safety attribute is that it provides the surgeon with a “crystal vision.” In other words, it provides an unobscured field of vision that enables surgeons to see clearly and operate accurately and safely. Ordinary laparoscopic cases generate smoke that may obstruct the surgeon’s field of vision and interfere with precise surgical performance.
In addition, virtually every ICM device or product has been thoughtfully designed with integrated features that take safety to a new level for surgical patients and OR staff.
Consider some of these built-in features of the Crystal Vision smoke evacuation system that enhance patient safety during and after surgical procedures.
- The Crystal Vision has a built-in detection alarm that prevents tissue occlusion. The evacuator pump stops automatically if tissue is accidentally suctioned, thus minimizing the potential for trauma to the tissue.
- The Crystal Vision has a unique low flow range that is easily adjusted to match the in-flow rate of the insufflator. This helps maintain the patient’s pneumoperitoneal pressure and allows the surgeon to concentrate fully on the procedure.
- The system continuously monitors a patient’s pneumoperitoneal pressure and produces audible and visible alert if the abdominal pressure reaches a dangerous level.
- If the intra-abdominal pressure reaches 27 mmHg the unit will alarm, and if the intra-abdominal pressure reaches 30 mmHg, the unit will automatically activate reducing the pressure in the abdomen to a level below 27 mmHg, thus protecting the patient from runaway insufflation and embolism.
- Crystal Vision does not allow surgical plume to flow back into the patient. Therefore, clean CO2 gas is used to maintain the pneumoperitoneum.
- At the end of the procedure, the smoke evacuator can be used to deflate the patient abdomen. By removing CO2 gas in this way, the patient’s body does not absorb excess gas residue. This speeds patient recovery and reduces or eliminates the painful joint aches that result from the buildup of CO2
Another design feature of the Crystal Vision that contributes to OR safety is its brushless rotary vein motor. The motor employs the principle of centrifugal force to direct air away from its rotating axis. This creates suction that then compresses and funnels the air away from the surgical site.
Ordinary smoke evacuators are made with inexpensive carbon graphite brush motors that work by rubbing against a spinning rotor and wear down over time due to friction. As the brushes scrape against the rotor, they create noise and sparks, and emit graphite dust particles that clog the motor, making it less efficient. Gradually, as the brushes degrade, the device becomes noisier, less effective, and the sparks emitted can begin to interfere with other devices in the operating room by means of electromagnetic energy.
Virtually every I.C. Medical device and accessory has unique safety features designed in. For example, the ICM PenEvac electrocautery pencil comes equipped with a safety holster so that it can be placed safely when not in use and thus avoid burning or scarring the patient.
And ICM’s ULPA filtration mechanism has integrated sensors that detect when the filter is full and alert staff that the ULPA filter is not capturing at 100% capacity. Then, if the filter is not changed in a timely manner, the pump stops to prevent machine contamination and smoke particles from escaping in to the OR. The device also has a built-in fluid trap that keeps contaminants and bio-waste from contaminating the machine.
Since its founding in 1989, I.C. Medical Company has been dedicated to design excellence, engineering superiority, and innovation that takes safety in the OR to a new level. Today, the company continues to innovate and develop and lead the smoke evacuation industry in making patient and staff safety a focal point.
# # #