Two new elective orthopaedic theatres at Merlin Park University Hospital in Galway have been equipped with Bender operating equipment, advanced medical IT power systems, and residual current monitoring devices for resilience and safety.
Construction of the new theatre building in the grounds of Merlin Park hospital began in March 2021 and it was handed over in April of this year.
Varming Consulting engineers acted as M&E designers and M&E ancillary design certifiers under BCAR.
And, following, a successful tender process, the electrical installation package was awarded and completed by Limerick-based, H&F Electrical.
For the critical power and theatre clinical package, H&F Electrical secured the services of Bender Ireland.
H&F project manager, Chris McBrearty, said: “We have used Bender several times on medical projects and its knowledge, expertise, and professionalism made awarding this project an easy choice to allow H&F to deliver an extremely-high standard of work for our client.”
The development by HSE West Saolta University Health Care Group comprises the 620sq m theatre building, recovery suite, ancillary accommodation, and plant facilities.
Both theatres are equipped with Merivaara Q-Flow LED surgical lights and monitor arms, offering best-in-class illumination, colour rendering, and anti-shadow technology.
Q-Flow operating lights incorporate space between the inner and outer part of the light to allow air to pass through the light, reducing air turbulence and optimising clean airflow. This is vital for orthopaedic surgery to reduce the risk of infection.
The lights incorporate 4K cameras linked to 55ins monitors mounted on hydraulic arms, and each theatre has dual 42ins vertical customised Bender PACS displays for viewing patient scans, X-rays, and other medical data.
Bender’s unique glass CP9 touchscreen theatre control panels provide control and monitoring of the operating room equipment through a central location.
Each provides the alarm status of ventilation, surgical, and room lighting and monitors medical IT power provision for the facilities. This includes a schematic display for the two operating theatres that can pinpoint the location of any electrical faults and power issues, and remote monitoring of the medical IT power (IPS) and uninterruptible power (UPS) installations within the building.
And, utilising the CP915 touchscreen located outside the theatre door, Bender has developed a clinical information portal that allows staff to view the status of the theatre before entry, while displaying the in-use status of the room and warning about X-ray and laser activity in-theatre.
Safe, resilient critical care power systems have been supplied as part of the project
Within the recovery area, an additional CP915 alarm panel operates at the nurse station to display a complete architectural layout of the five bed-bays in the recovery suite and continually monitoring non-critical power systems, lighting, and other infrastructure.
RCM identifies potential issues with all TN (grounded) electrical systems at a pre-critical stage and enables predictive and preventive maintenance, avoiding power outages.
Power quality measuring devices (PQM) provide data to effectively manage power usage, cut energy costs, and reduce the carbon footprint of medical facilities.
And Bender medical IT systems deliver no-fail power supplies to the operating theatres and incorporate ATICS auto-changeover technology with a second source of power supply to the operating rooms. This is purpose-designed for medical applications with patient safety at the core of its development.
Chris Simmons, country manager for Bender Ireland, said: “Merlin Park represents the next step for operating theatre technology and the highest level resilient power in medical facilities.
“Clinical staff can access the latest technology and record and stream operations in real-time. And advanced touchscreen panels provide intuitive fingertip theatre control and access to patient scans and data will ensure optimum efficiency and patient safety in the new facilities.”
Gareth Brunton, managing director of Bender UK, added: “This project represents the total capability that Bender offers to hospitals.
“Not only does it include power and operating room technology, but we also worked closely with consultants, our internal engineers, and Bender GmbH to develop a full power and energy monitoring system, customised theatre control panels, and resilient power systems.
“It perfectly demonstrates what the future of operating rooms could look like.”
Bender’s glass CP9 touchscreen theatre control panels provide control and monitoring of the operating room equipment
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