Surgeon frustration during long open incision pop-off closures inspired the Operative Armour® System. These cases present different types of challenges and issues that can be resolved or minimized with clinician autonomy:
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- Waiting for needles while scrub tech performs counts
- Incorrect counts due to multi-tasking distraction
- Dropped needles after clinician relinquishes control of needle driver
- Competency variance between scrub techs
- Insufficient scrub tech labor
- Compromised scrub tech assistance during closure
- Over-the-shoulder needle exchanges
- Disruption due to scrub tech change during closure
- Multiple surgeon closures – safety and speed
- Needlestick hazard with high-risk patient population
Candidate procedures where the Operative Armour® System provides a significant workflow improvement:
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- Spine – scoliosis, deformities, fusions, and laminectomies
- Plastics – all flaps procedures, reconstructions, panniculectomies/abdominoplasties
- Colorectal – all laparotomies, lower anterior colon resections, open colectomies
- URO/GYN – all laparotomies, abdominal cystectomies, hysterectomies, myomectomies, Caesarians (where pop-off are used)
- ENT/CMF – free flaps procedures, thyroidectomies
- Orthopedics – hip revisions, oncologic limb-sparing, pelvic trauma
- Other – Pediatrics, breast reconstruction, CABG vein graft harvesting, organ transplant harvest, amputations, middle of the night surgery, short-handed surgeries