A local operating theater ventilation device to specifically ventilate the wound area has been developed
and investigated. The ventilation device is combined with a blanket which lies over the patient during
the operation. Two configurations were studied: Configuration 1 where HEPA-filtered air was supplied
around and parallel to the wound area and Configuration 2 where HEPA-filtered air was supplied from
the top surface of the blanket, perpendicular to the wound area. A similar approach is investigated in
parallel for an instrument table. The objective of the study was to verify the effectiveness of the local
device. Prototype solutions developed were studied experimentally (laboratory) and numerically (CFD)
in a simplified setup, followed by experimental assessment in a full scale mock-up. Isothermal as well as
non-isothermal conditions were analyzed. Particle concentrations obtained in proposed solutions were
compared to the concentration without local ventilation. The analysis procedure followed current national
guidelines for the assessment of operating theater ventilation systems, which focus on small
particles (<10 mm). The results show that the local system can provide better air quality conditions near
the wound area compared to a theoretical mixing situation (proof-of-principle). It cannot yet replace the
standard unidirectional downflow systems as found for ultraclean operating theater conditions. It does,
however, show potential for application in temporary and emergency operating theaters
