CNY Society of Healthcare Engineers; Monthly Chapter Luncheon; Avidicare AB

The Science of Operating Room Ventilation: How Well Does My Ventilation System Perform and Does it Really Matter?

ASHRAE 170 requires that ventilation systems meet critical operational parameters, however, there are no requirements for measurement of actual airborne microbial bioburden. This presentation highlights the basic differences among the three types of ventilation systems, what they were designed to do and not do, their strengths and limitations, relative efficacy in minimizing airborne bioburden and energy required to obtain optimal performance. Included will be an update on the movement in Europe to set limits on airborne microbial contamination based on surgical site infection risk and why this transition is taking place. Finally, it is assumed that reducing airborne microbial bioburden requires higher expenditure of energy, because of complex air handling requirements. The speakers will discuss installation and operation of a TcAF system at the University of Rochester and whether it is possible to achieve cleaner air with less expenditure of energy.

Break Out Points:

· Why better control of airborne contamination in the OR is needed

· How the physics of Temperature-controlled Air Flow, (TcAF) a novel ventilation concept, enables ultraclean throughout the entire room.

· Comparative analysis of TMA, LAF and TcAF in performance against airborne microbial contamination

· Installation, testing and life cycle analysis of TcAF at the University of Rochester’s new Orthopedics and Physical Performance Center

COMPANY: Avidicare AB, a research-based medical technology company, developed an innovative air ventilation system to reduce airborne bacteria and virus contamination by managing airflow to reduce patient and staff illnesses in hospital rooms. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software enables Avidicare engineers to design and optimize airflow to the minute particle level of human coughing and breathing. Simulations enable engineers to see invisible airflows and thereby help solve product issues digitally and optimize product design early in product development.

PRESENTER: Dana Abramson, US Business Development

As part of a strategically curated US team, Dana played a pivotal role in the company's foray into the US market in 2018. She contributed to the design and implementation of the initial research study aimed at assessing the viability of introducing Avidicare's innovative air ventilation system in the United States. This study laid the foundation for understanding the market dynamics and potential demand for the revolutionary technology.

As the company gained traction in the US, Dana's role, in collaboration with the US team, evolved to become instrumental in creating widespread marketing awareness. Leveraging their strategic insights and industry knowledge, the US team played a significant role in shaping Avidicare's market presence in the US. Efforts were particularly notable in the successful installation of the first major system at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), a milestone that showcased the practical impact of Avidicare's solutions.

Host or Publisher Central New York Society of Healthcare Engineers