Articulating arms: Tips

Articulating arms: Tips to consider

Articulating arms, also called equipment booms, hold equipment and connectors in the operating room, making for a less cluttered and more efficient OR environment. The arms can be configured to provide electrical, gas, vacuum, digital or voice data, and video connections accessible at the surgical field.

Planning for arms "is a whole different way of looking at your space," says Karen Anderson, RN, director of surgical services at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago. She has participated in four OR building projects, including Northwestern’s new hospital and its 32-room OR suite.

"Just deciding you want articulating arms is not enough. You need to know what type of endoscopic equipment you are using and what wiring is necessary."

Some suggestions:

Go to other sites that have arms installed. Ask staff and surgeons what they like and what they would have done differently.
Make a list of all the functions you want the arms to handle. For specific rooms, you may want to include specialty equipment such as the phaco machine for ophthalmology or an insufflator for general surgery. Keep in mind there are weight limits. Make sure you have the right connectors, regulators, and/or accessories to support the functions you select. Make sure all ports and connections remain accessible when others are in use.
Arm placement is critical. "We had our vendor watch a variety of procedures and document where the cart was placed. Then we verified placement with the surgeons," she says. She also spent time with anesthesiologists planning room layout and placement for the anesthesia arm.
Construct a mock OR. A mock OR with the articulating arms constructed by the vendor tests arm placement and orientation to the sterile field. "The arms are great, but at times they can be an obstruction," she says. Also make sure arms are cushioned to prevent head injuries.
Consider cabling. Understand what cabling will be necessary to provide functionality and flexibility now and in the future, such as RGBS and digital images. Involve in-house experts, such as biomedical and audiovisual technicians, information systems specialists, and architects in the design. You may want to hire a consultant to provide the hardware and cabling schematics to support the many endoscopic and imaging devices.