Effects of surgical staff turning motion on airflow distribution inside a hospital operating room

• Main Authors: Yinn, W. K., Kamar, H. M., Kamsah, N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Novel Carbon Resource Sciences 2019
• Subjects: TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
• Online Access: http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/89203/1/HaslindaMohamedKamar2019_EffectsofSurgicalStaffTurningMotion.pdf; http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/89203/; http://www.dx.doi.org/10.5109/2321008

This study aims to evaluate the influence of manikin's turning motion on the airflow field in an operating room. A simplified three-dimensional model of the operating room was developed using computational fluid dynamics method. The RNG k-ε turbulence model was used to predict the airflow distribution. The manikin movement was introduced using a user-defined function code. Results show that the bent-forearm and upright turnings of the manikin could increase the airflow velocity in the surgical zone by 35% and 23%, respectively.