Integrated operating theatre technology from Bender UK is shaping the future of surgical facilities
Integrated technology is shaping the future development of the way operating theatres function in modern hospitals by bringing together increasingly complex elements to create an environment of seamless communication and functionality.
Clinical equipment, audio and video communication, environmental, ventilation and lighting controls, and data retrieval and display systems are all integrated to deliver optimum performance in terms of serving the needs of clinical staff and ensuring the safety of patients.
Delivering this new generation of facilities requires an extraordinary level of expertise and technical knowledge, allied with meticulous project management. Bender UK has vast experience and expertise managing and co-ordinating the various elements, and working with main contractors and specialist suppliers to complete operating theatre upgrades and new build projects.
The long-standing partnership between Bender UK and Merivaara provides access to Merivaara’s OpenOR™ open architecture Digital Image Management System. It is designed to integrate operating theatre devices, data and image management and offer seamless, latency-free image routing, image capture and video recording. OpenOR™ is vendor-neutral so it does not limit the connection of image sources from specific manufacturers.
Bender UK Managing Director Gareth Brunton explains: “Bender UK is focused on helping the NHS achieve greater efficiency in how they use, maintain and develop operating theatre facilities through two converging streams of activity; pro-active and intelligent service provision and enabling the application of advanced technology to assist surgical teams.
“With our background in hospital critical care power, turnkey theatre projects and more recently a full clinical product capability in partnership with Merivaara, the OpenOR technology has been a natural progression for our hospital business unit team.”
The new operating theatre at the Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC) in Epsom Hospital, South West London is equipped with the latest state-of the art integrated digital theatre technology. It is one of eight OpenOR projects completed by Bender UK in 2021.
SWLEOC is one of the largest orthopaedic centres in the UK and Europe and ranks as one of the best facilities in the country.
The new operating theatre adds a sixth facility to the five theatres already in place within SWLEOC. A key requirement for the teaching hospital was integrated theatre communication, enabling clinical teams to interact and share video with staff and students in an observation area
The high capacity Merivaara OpenOR™ open architecture management system integrates operating theatre devices, data and image management for rapid display of surgical imagery. OpenOR™ is connected with surgical lights, monitors and cameras within the theatre.
Over IP-based audio and video management capability provides flexible video routing between sources and displays, allowing live procedures to be viewed and streamed outside the operating theatre to any given location.
Bender UK supplied and commissioned theatre equipment including the latest CP924 glass touchscreen theatre control panel, 24-inch DICOM compliant Bender PACS with glass fascia membrane keyboard, and two 55-inch 4K in-wall glass fascia viewing panels.
Merivaara Q-Flow™ LED operating lights with a wireless HD camera were selected due to the best-in-class colour-rendering and optimised airflow, with unique dynamic obstacle compensation.
Bender UK’s aftersales capability provided a full training and familiarisation service with consultant Steve Coleman taking the Epsom theatre team through a step-by-step introduction.
Ken Macdonald, Electrical Design Engineer for the Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust commented: “We now have a fantastic theatre that I know the client is more than happy with, all the surgeons and the clinical staff too.”
For more information on Bender UK integrated theatre capabilities and products and services for the healthcare sector, visit www.bender-uk.com
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