The volume of conducted surgical procedures has been increasing steadily over the years. Laparoscopic is a major surgical innovation that has seen widespread application in many areas of surgery. Currently, 90% applications are based on this minimally invasive surgery. This type of surgery utilises X-rays, which have been classified as harmful carcinogens by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The use of X-rays is strictly governed by radiation protection laws. One of the protective requirements for persons in surgeries involving X-rays, is the use of a lead apron which work as a radiation shield to reduce exposure of the patients or the surgeons to X-rays. During surgery there is often patients’ blood and other fluids contaminated with microorganisms which come into contact with the scrubs, and inevitably, the aprons underneath them. These aprons then need to be washed in order to prevent the occurrence of healthcare associated infections.
The current method of washing these aprons is by hand. This poses a risk of infection as the person that is cleaning them as comes into direct contact with the aprons and its contaminants. There is also no guarantee of total disinfection of the aprons using this method. Inadequate washing of the apron results in a risk being presented to the patient, compromising the sterility of the operating room infections. Healthcare associated infections result in an increase in the patients’ length of hospital stay by an average of 9.7 days, which is very costly. In Europe, it has been shown that the cost of treating an infected person is three times as much as it would be to treat any other patient.
These aprons are also very fragile and if they are not handled properly the lead lining inside it could be damaged. This means the apron will no longer be able to serve its purpose. These aprons will then need to be disposed of, releasing lead into the environment. The dangers of exposure to this element in adults include cardiovascular conditions, increased blood pressure, hypertension, decreased kidney function and reproductive problems, in both men and women In children even low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in behaviour and learning problems, lower IQ, slowed growth, hearing and anaemia .
The objective of the overall project is to industrialise this automatic washing and drying machine for lead aprons and bring it to commercial stage, penetrating the hospital market worldwide.
