System and Method of Operating Ventilation Assembly

Abstract

A surgical apparel system including a surgical helmet including a peripheral device and surgical garment. The surgical helmet comprising a face frame, a sensor, and a coupling member at least partially disposed within a recess of the face frame. The surgical garment configured to be at least partially disposed over the surgical helmet to provide a barrier between a medical environment and a wearer, the garment comprising an attachment element configured to removably engage the coupling member of the helmet to couple the garment to the helmet. The sensor positioned and configured to detect when the attachment element is engaged with the coupling member and to transmit a signal a controller related to operation of the peripheral device based on the engagement of the attachment element with the coupling member. The controller coupled to the sensor configured to control the peripheral device based on the signal from the sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a surgical apparel system, the method comprising:
 providing the surgical apparel system comprising:   a surgical helmet configured to be worn on a head of an individual;   a surgical garment configured to be removably coupled to the surgical helmet to provide a microbial barrier between a medical environment and a wearer;   wherein the surgical helmet comprises:   a peripheral device configured to facilitate performance of the individual wearing the surgical helmet during a surgical procedure;   a controller in communication with the peripheral device;   a memory device coupled to the surgical helmet and in communication with the controller, the memory device configured to store data related to the operation of the peripheral device; and   coupling a portable energy source to the surgical helmet for powering the peripheral device;   detecting whether the surgical garment is coupled to the surgical helmet utilizing a detector disposed on the surgical helmet;   providing a signal from the detector to the controller based on the presence or absence of the surgical garment being coupled to the surgical helmet; and   transmitting energy from the portable energy source to the peripheral device if the controller received the signal from the detector indicating the surgical garment is coupled to the surgical helmet.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting the remaining power level of the portable energy source; and   communicating an energy signal to the controller based on the remaining power level of the portable energy source.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 storing a user setting of the peripheral device when the energy signal indicates that the remaining power level of the portable energy source has reached a threshold value.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 storing a user setting of the peripheral device on the memory device;   replacing the portable energy source with a second portable energy source while the detector continues to communicate the signal to the controller indicating the surgical garment is coupled to the surgical helmet; and   restarting the peripheral device based on the user setting stored on the memory device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising deleting the user setting of the peripheral device stored on the memory device when the detector communicates the signal to the controller indicating the surgical garment is separated from the surgical helmet and the portable energy source is disconnected from the surgical helmet. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing a user setting of the peripheral device on the memory device;   separating the surgical garment from the surgical helmet while the portable energy source is interconnected with the surgical helmet;   ceasing operation of the peripheral device upon receiving the signal from the detector indicating the surgical garment is separated from the surgical helmet;   coupling a second surgical garment to the surgical helmet while the portable energy source remains interconnected with the surgical helmet;   restarting the peripheral device based on the user setting stored on the memory device.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising deleting the user setting of the peripheral device stored on the memory device when the detector communicates the signal to the controller indicating the surgical garment is separated from the surgical helmet and the portable energy source is disconnected from the surgical helmet. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the memory device is configured to store data related to a plurality of configurations of the surgical garment; and
 the method further comprises:   identifying one of the plurality of configurations of the surgical garment that is coupled to the surgical helmet using the detector;   communicating the identified configuration of the surgical garment to the controller; and   communicating a command related to at least one operational characteristic of the peripheral device based, at least in part, on the identified configuration of the surgical garment.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving the signal from the detector indicating the surgical garment is coupled to the surgical helmet; and   delaying transmission of power from the portable energy source to the peripheral device for a defined first period of time following receipt of the signal from the detector indicating surgical garment is coupled to the surgical helmet.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving the signal from the detector indicating the surgical garment is separated from the surgical helmet; and   continuing transmission of power to the peripheral device for a defined second period of time following receipt of the signal from the detector.   
     
     
         11 . A surgical apparel system including a peripheral device, the surgical apparel system comprising:
 a surgical helmet to be worn over the head of a wearer, the surgical helmet comprising a face frame, the face frame comprising:   a distal surface and defining a recess in the distal surface; and   a coupling member at least partially disposed within the recess, the coupling member comprising one of a ferromagnetic material or a magnetic material; and   a sensor;   a surgical garment configured to be at least partially disposed over the surgical helmet to provide a microbial barrier between a medical environment and a wearer, the surgical garment comprising:   a surgical fabric comprising an opening;   a transparent face shield disposed within the opening of the surgical fabric, the transparent face shield having an upper portion and a lower portion; and   an attachment element comprising the other of the ferromagnetic material or the magnetic material, the attachment element configured to removably engage the coupling member to couple the surgical garment to the surgical helmet; and   wherein the sensor is positioned and configured to detect when the attachment element is engaged with the coupling member and to transmit a signal related to operation of the peripheral device based on engagement of the attachment element with the coupling member;   a controller coupled to the sensor and configured to receive the signal from the sensor; and   wherein the controller is configured to control an operational characteristic of the peripheral device based on the signal from the sensor.   
     
     
         12 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor is configured to toggle between a first state and a second state;
 wherein the sensor is configured to be in the first state when the surgical garment is at least partially disposed over the surgical helmet and the attachment element is engaged with the coupling member;   wherein the sensor is configured to be in the second state when the surgical garment is separated from the surgical helmet and the attachment element is separated from the coupling member; and   wherein the sensor is configured to produce the signal based, at least in part, on the sensor being in the first state or the second state.   
     
     
         13 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to delay transmission of power to the peripheral device for a defined first period of time once the controller receives the signal from the sensor indicating the surgical garment is at least partially disposed over the surgical helmet. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to continue transmission of power to the peripheral device for a defined second period of time once the controller receives the signal from the sensor indicating the surgical garment is separated from the surgical helmet. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 12 , further comprising a memory device coupled to the surgical helmet and in communication with the controller, the memory device configured to store data related to the operation of the peripheral device. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 15 , further comprising an energy sensor in communication with the controller, the energy sensor configured to detect a power level of a portable energy source coupled to the surgical helmet and communicate an energy signal to the controller based on the power level of the portable energy source; and
 wherein the controller is configured to communicate data to the memory device for storage based on the energy signal from the energy sensor, the data related to a user setting for the peripheral device.   
     
     
         17 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to communicate data to the memory device for storage when the energy signal from the energy sensor indicates that the remaining power level of the portable energy source has reached a threshold value, the data related to the user setting of the peripheral device. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 17 , wherein the memory device is configured to store the user setting of the peripheral device so long as the sensor remains in the first state; and
 wherein the controller is configured to restart operation of the peripheral device based on stored the user setting upon replacement of the portable energy source.   
     
     
         19 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 15 , wherein the memory device is configured to clear a stored user setting of the peripheral device when the sensor toggles from the first state to the second state and a portable energy source is disconnected from the surgical helmet. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 15 , wherein the memory device is configured to store data related to a plurality of characteristics of the surgical garment;
 wherein the sensor is configured to identify one of a plurality of configurations of the surgical garment that is at least partially disposed over the surgical helmet; and   wherein the controller is configured to control at least one operational characteristic of the peripheral device based, at least in part, on the identified one of the plurality of configurations of the surgical garment.