In cardiac surgery or atrial fibrillation ablation treatment, doctors often rely on a black technology "hidden in the esophagus" - transesophageal ultrasound (TEE) . It can penetrate the esophageal wall and capture every detail of the heartbeat and blood flow changes in real time, which can be called the "perspective eye" of cardiac surgeons. But few people know that this high-end probe worth hundreds of thousands of dollars must be put on a disposable "protective suit" - ultrasound isolation cover before each use .

01 Why do the “eyes” of heart surgery need so much protection?

The TEE probe is like a thin electronic telescope, which slowly slides from the patient's mouth into the esophagus and is close to the back of the heart. It can avoid interference from the sternum and lungs and take heart images that are 10 times clearer than ordinary ultrasound. 

However, it is this "close contact" that makes it face two major challenges:

Infection risk : The probe may come into contact with saliva, blood and even gastric juice. If it is not cleaned thoroughly, it may become a "hitchhiking ride" for bacteria and viruses.

Equipment loss : The core of the probe is thousands of precision transducers. Mucous membrane friction and body fluid corrosion may cause it to "short-life" - a repair can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

In the past, hospitals relied on chemical disinfectants (such as glutaraldehyde) to "bathe" the probes, but problems still existed:

Disinfection takes more than 120 minutes, and emergency surgeries cannot wait;

Persistent pathogens may survive, and immunocompromised patients are at high risk;

The probe is frequently immersed, the electronic components are prone to aging, and the imaging quality decreases year by year.

At this time, the emergence of isolation sleeves completely changed the rules of the game.

02 Isolation cover: Put on "smart protective clothing" for the probe

Material : Medical grade polyurethane film, only 0.05 mm thick (thinner than a hair), but can withstand 180° bending of the probe without breaking;

Sound transparency : internationally certified, with a sound wave attenuation rate of less than 5%, ensuring “zero distortion” of cardiac images;

Safety : Latex-free design, zero risk of allergies; comes with a bite mouthpiece that opens the mouth , making the insertion process smoother and the patient more comfortable .

Before operation, put on the probe like a glove to completely isolate it from contact with body fluids;

After inspection, all potential contaminants are discarded along with the isolation sleeve and the probe can be reused after simple cleaning.

A study by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that after using the isolation cover, the TEE-related infection rate dropped by more than 90% (2020 data). For hospitals, the life of the probe was extended by 2-3 times, saving nearly 100,000 dollars in annual maintenance costs.

03 Invisible benefits for patients: from "sore throat" to "no-feeling examination"

In addition to safety, the patient experience has also been greatly improved:

More comfortable : The dual design of isolation cover + bite mouthpiece eliminates the need for patients to force open the invaded oral cavity , and the proportion of postoperative sore throat has dropped from 12% to 3%;

More accurate : There have been cases where the blurred images without the use of isolation sleeves almost caused doctors to misdiagnose blood clots, while high-quality isolation sleeves can restore millimeter-level heart valve cracks;

More peace of mind : Especially for patients undergoing chemotherapy or organ transplantation, there is no need to worry about infection caused by disinfectant residues.

04 The “efficiency magic tool” in the hospital: from 120 minutes to 1 minute

The changes brought by the isolation sleeve are not limited to the operating table:

Time cost : Traditional disinfection takes 30-120 minutes , but after putting on the isolation cover, the probe can be used immediately, and emergency rescue will not be delayed;

Manpower liberation : Nurses no longer need to monitor the disinfection process, and the average daily inspection volume increases by 40%;

Environmental upgrade : Some brands have launched biodegradable isolation sleeves, reducing hundreds of kilograms of medical plastic waste each year.

According to statistics from a tertiary hospital in Beijing, after the introduction of the isolation sleeve, the preoperative preparation time for heart surgery was shortened by 50% and patient satisfaction increased by 35%.

References

CDC. (2020). Guidelines for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities .

Smith J, et al. (2021). Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , 42(3): 312-318.

ESCMID. (2019). Consensus on Infection Control in Invasive Procedures .

FDA. (2021). Biocompatibility Standards for Medical Devices .

Lee K, et al. (2022). Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia , 36(4): 1120-1125.