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Blue Diamond® BeanBag
Instruction Manual for
Surgical Positioning

Before Use

1. Ensure that the Blue Diamond Beanbag is clean and ready for use.

2. Inspect for firmness. You always want to make sure the Beanbag has been tester prior to use. To achieve this, suction the Blue Diamond BeanBag then confirm that it has remained in its firm state for at least 24 hours. If the Beanbag does not remain firm, there may be a leak may be present and the BeanBag should not be used until it has been tested and/or repaired.

3. Soften the BeanBag. Simply “Click/Push” the tip of the valve down. This will bring the BeanBag backed to a relaxed soft state. If necessary you can shake the BeanBag gently to distribute the beads evenly.

4. Smoothing the beads. Place the soft BeanBag on the operating table and smooth the beads to an even and uniform thickness. Be sure to taper the beads at the edges of the BeanBag to avoid thick areas that can cause bumps under the patient.

Applying Suction

In an operating room environment, simply connect the wall suction line or aspirator pump to the BeanBag (No adapters should be necessary). Adequate suction is required to mold the BeanBag to the patient.

To apply suction to the BeanBag:

1. Insert the suction tubing onto the adapter.

2. Apply suction until the desired firmness is achieved.

3. Click the silver button on the valve (This will ensure the positioner will hold its position)

4. Next, disconnect the suction line (Suction line can stay connected if desired, however it is not necessary)

Molding the Blue Diamond BeanBag

To mold the BeanBag to the patient’s shape, vacuum suction must be applied to the BeanBag.

To mold the Beanbag:

1. Place the patient on the BeanBag in its relaxed ‘soft’ state.

2. Positioning the patient on the BeanBag.

3. Mold the soft BeanBag (may require multiple people top achieve depending on size of Beanbag) around the patient’s body or extremities to support the patient in the desired position.

4. Simply attach the suction line and apply suction.

Checking the Patient’s Position
Always remember to check the patient’s position and stability periodically during the procedure.

Check List Before Surgery

Please ensure the following steps are taken before surgery:

• Make certain that the BeanBag has a flat bottom. Always make certain the bottom on the BeanBag is flat when molding the positioner to the patient. This will help to prevent the beanbag from rolling.
• Verify that there are no thin spots present on the BeanBag. The thicker the layer of beads in a given area, the stronger the BeanBag. When molding the BeanBag, ensure that no thin spots exist, with too few beads to make it firm.
• Adequately expose the patient. If more patient exposure is needed near the corner of a BeanBag, push the beads out of that corner and fold it over before applying suction.
• Protect the BeanBag while prepping the patient. Before prepping a patient in a BeanBag, temporarily tuck a prep pad around the upper edge of the BeanBag to prevent prepping solution from running down between the patient and the BeanBag. After prepping, remove the pad.

CAUTION
To prevent skin irritation, skin wet with prep solution should not contact the BeanBag.

• Ensure that the valve is accessible. Always place the valve in an easily accessible location under the drapes. It may be necessary to re-attach the suction line to firm-up the BeanBag during surgery.
• Remove wrinkles from sheets and gel pads. If a sheet or gel pad is placed between the patient and the BeanBag, it should be stretched and smoothed to avoid wrinkles which may cause skin irritation.
  

Things to Check – During Surgery

During surgery, do the following:

• Continually check the stability of the BeanBag. Ensure that the firmness of the BeanBag and the stability of the patient is retained. Check the stability of the BeanBag immediately before draping and frequently during surgery.
• If a BeanBag softens during surgery, immediately re-attach the suction line and leave it attached for the duration of the procedure. Adhesive tape can also be applied as a temporary patch to any obvious holes
• Avoid puncturing the BeanBag. Be careful not to puncture the BeanBag with towel clips or sharps.

After Use
Thoroughly clean the BeanBag after each use and then place it in storage as described below.

Storing the Beanbag
To help prevent leaks, always store the BeanBag in a flattened, firm state (i.e., suctioned).

To prepare the BeanBag for storage:
1. Smooth the beads into a uniform layer.
2. Apply suction until the BeanBag is firm
3. Once the BeanBag is fully compacted, click the silver button on the valve then disconnect the suction line.
4. Check the BeanBag after 24 hours. If the BeanBag retains its original firmness for at least 24 hours, it is ready for immediate use. If the BeanBag has softened within 24 hours, a leak is suspected.

Lateral Positioning

1. Place the soft BeanBag on the table and smooth out the beads. The U-shape cut-out should be towards the patient's head. If more patient exposure is needed near a corner of the BeanBag, push the beads out of that area and fold under the BeanBag corners.

2. Place the patient on the soft BeanBag. Support the patient’s arms and head, and pad any bony prominences that are not resting on the BeanBag.

3. Mold the BeanBag to the patient. Typically this is a two-person task — one on the patient’s left, the other on the right — ensuring that the BeanBag
molds appropriately on both sides.

Should you have any questions, please contact David Scott Company at 800-804-0333.