Some people are surprised to find out that the operating theatre control
panel is not just a flat piece of metal screwed to the wall. Behind
the fascia there will be a 250mm deep box full of electrical equipment.
As well as providing a user friendly interface for the clinical team
in the theatre, the control panel is one of the few places available
to collect together all the control systems and to position the necessary
electrical components that sit behind the instruments, indicators,
knobs and switches.
The ergonomics of the panel need to be obvious and simple for the
clinical team so that they can control the systems without the need
for in depth training. The panel often controls safety critical features
and has to be designed so that such features are fail safe, reliable
and can be easily serviced.
The design and supply of control panels should be thought of as a
“service” rather than just the supply of a product. Although many
features are common in control panels, most theatre set-ups are unique
with a unique mixture of equipment from different suppliers. The panel
manufacturer needs to have a broad knowledge of the technologies used
in theatres, good relations with the various equipment and service
providers and the skills to integrate systems. The supply of panels
often seems more like a project management role than that of a manufacturer
due to the close liaison required between the medical gas supplier,
heating & ventilation people, UCV company, mechanical & electrical
engineers and the specialist equipment suppliers!
Common Features
X-ray viewers. This requirement is likely to remain for some time
due to the archive of film held by hospitals even though digital x-ray
machines are available. Flat screen monitors for displaying digital
x-rays are still prohibitively expensive. Lighting controls. These
will include the on/off and intensity control switches for the operating
lamps and the controls for general lighting. The operating lamp transformers
and emergency power relays are also fitted to the control panels.
Clocks to show the time of day and time elapsed. For good ergonomics,
we recommend the use of an analogue time of day and a digital time
elapsed. It is more natural to glance at a traditional clock face
to tell the time and more accurate to read elapsed time in digits.
We recommend the use of synchronised clocks.
All theatre suites require control of the HVAC systems. This compromises
temperature and humidity read outs and controls, and indication of
the system status conditions. Medical gas alarm panels. All theatres
require one of these panels and it is logical to mount it into the
theatre control panel. HTM2007 requires operating theatres to be supplied
with an IPS (isolated power system). This is a monitored electrical
supply with an alarm panel.
Common options
Air sampling ducts are sometimes used to draw air from the theatre
into the control panel and over the temperature and humidity sensors.
Electrical sockets. These can include ordinary 13A mains sockets,
I.P.S and UPS (uninterruptible power supply) sockets. It is also common
to supply heavy current sockets of 16, 32 and 63A.
All operating lamps require an emergency power supply. The emergency
power supply needs to be positioned close to the operating lamp and
large diameter cabling is used. It is becoming increasingly common
to build the emergency supply into the theatre control panel to minimise
this problem.
UPS systems. These typically provide power for a limited period to
enable the equipment to be shut down in an orderly manner.
It is common to specify a "Lamp Test" feature for theatre control
panels. This feature illuminates all the indicators on the panel so
that it is easy to check for any lamp failures.
Most orthopaedic theatres have a UCV unit fitted to reduce the number
of airborne organisms in the area around the patient. These require
some extra switches and indicators to be added to the panel (body
exhaust controls, UCV lighting).
Operating theatre panels are supplied in either front or rear access
formats, with other common features including video controls, data
terminals, equipotential earth sockets and nurse call or intercom
stations.
Special Features
We have a vast range of experience in providing theatre panels to
meet special requirements. We have made special panels to contain
isolation transformers, lead lined panels for use with x-rays, units
with medical gas terminals, full height x-ray viewers for viewing
the complete human spine and even a unit that can be broken in two
for a re-locatable operating theatre!
Different methods of construction
There are 2 basic types of construction. The traditional method has
been common practice in the UK for many years and involves the use
of a high quality, stainless steel fascia mounted to a back box. The
back box is recessed into the wall and a bezel is supplied to fit
the fascia flush with the wall. Traditional construction typically
uses high quality, discrete electrical switches and indicators. It
gives a very reliable panel to the exact specification of the client
that is easy to maintain by facilities staff.
There is also modular construction. This is cheaper to manufacture
using standard modules. These come as a system of tiles mounted in
a frame and sealed with a silicone sealant or with a self-adhesive
panel of membrane switches. Standard modules are not as flexible in
accommodating theatre specific requirements, the common options and
special features that can be included in a traditional style of panel.
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