Surgical drape and method of use

• US 20050022822A1
• Filed: 03/24/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Special Sterile Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Special Sterile Products LLC
• Inventors: Santilli, Albert N., Corbitt, John D. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,305,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/849
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2046/201 for extremities, e.g. having collection pouch
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/30 for surgery through the lower body openings, e.g. urology, gynaecology
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40

Abstract

A surgical drape includes a first, closed container within which a first sheet is disposed. The first sheet has first and second opposed ends, the first end of the first sheet being removable from the container so as to remove a desired portion of the first sheet from the container, the second end of the first sheet remaining within the container. Preferably, the first container is laid across a desired portion of the table prior to placing the patient on the table. After the patient has been positioned properly and prepped, the first sheet can be pulled from underneath the patient and pulled out of the first container so that the sheet covers the table in the area of surgical interest and then covers the entire side or end of the table down to the floor. After the surgical procedure has been completed, the first sheet and the container can be removed and discarded. Desirably, the surface of the container in contact with the table is provided with adhesive that will prevent undesired movement of the container relative to either the table or the patient. If desired, the edges of the first sheet can be provided with adhesive surfaces, or possibly hook and loop fasteners, in order to secure the edges of the first sheet to selected portions of the operating table. Alternative embodiments include a second sheet that can be used to cover other portions of the operating table and a third sheet that can be used to cover portions of the patient during pre-operation preparations.

Claims

1. A surgical drape for use in conjunction with an operating table having an upper surface upon which a patient can be placed, comprising:

a first, closed container having a portion that can be selectively opened to form a first opening, the first container being of a size and shape such that a patient can be placed atop the first container when the first container is placed on the upper surface; and

a first sheet disposed within the first container, the first sheet having first and second opposed ends, the first end of the first sheet being removable from the first container through the first opening so as to remove a desired portion of the first sheet from the container, the second end of the first sheet remaining within the container.

2. The surgical drape of claim 1, wherein the first sheet is made of a fluid-impervious material.

3. The surgical drape of claim 1, wherein the first container is made of a fluid-impervious material.

4. The surgical drape of claim 1, further comprising a pull tab attached to the first end of the first sheet.

5. The surgical drape of claim 1, wherein the first sheet is folded within the first container in a plicated manner.

6. The surgical drape of claim 1, wherein the selectively openable portion is defined by scores.

7. The surgical drape of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive surface on the outer surface of the first container and a removable protective layer disposed over the adhesive surface, the adhesive surface being exposed upon removal of the protective layer, the adhesive surface being attachable to the upper surface of the operating table to prevent movement of the first container relative thereto.

8. The surgical drape of claim 1, further comprising:

a second sheet having first and second opposed ends, the second end of the second sheet being connected to the second end of the first sheet, the first end of the second sheet being movable relative to the second end of the second sheet so as to expose a desired portion of the second sheet; and

a second, closed container within which is disposed the first sheet, the first container, and the second sheet, the second container having a sealed closure that can be selectively opened to permit the contents of the second container to be removed therefrom.

9. The surgical drape of claim 8, wherein the first sheet is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene and vinyl.

10. The surgical drape of claim 8, wherein the first container is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene and vinyl.

11. The surgical drape of claim 8, further comprising a pull tab attached to the first end of the first sheet.

12. The surgical drape of claim 8, wherein the first sheet is folded within the first container in a plicated manner.

13. The surgical drape of claim 8, wherein the selectively openable portion of the first container is defined by scores.

14. The surgical drape of claim 8, wherein the second sheet is comprised of a first ply made of netting material, a second ply made of an absorbent pulp material, and a third ply made of a fluid impervious material, the third ply in use adapted to be in contact with the upper surface of the operating table.

15. The surgical drape of claim 14, further comprising an adhesive surface on the outer surface of the third ply and a removable protective layer disposed over the adhesive surface, the adhesive surface being exposed upon removal of the protective layer, the adhesive surface being attachable to the upper surface of the operating table to prevent movement of the second sheet relative thereto.

16. The surgical drape of claim 8, wherein the second sheet is folded within the second container in a plicated manner.

17. The surgical drape of claim 8, wherein the first container includes a second opening through which the second end of the second sheet extends into the first container, the second opening being sealed tightly to the second end of the second sheet.

18. The surgical drape of claim 8, wherein the second container is made of a material that permits the contents of the second container to remain in a sterilized condition while the second container is unopened.

22. The surgical drape of claim 1, further comprising a pouch-like container made of a lightweight, flexible material, the pouch-like container having a large opening at a first end and a small, selectively openable opening at a second end, the pouch-like container further comprising a layer of adhesive adjacent the large opening that permits the pouch-like container to be attached to, and removed from, a selected portion of the first sheet or the first container.

19. A sheet for protecting portions of a patient during pre-operation preparations, the sheet being usable in conjunction with a surgical drape, the sheet comprising:

a first end that conforms generally to the shape of a selected portion of the patient; and

a second end that is attachable to the surgical drape, the attachment between the second end and the surgical drape being severable so that the sheet can be removed and discarded when desired.

20. The surgical drape of claim 19, wherein the sheet is made of a fluid-impervious material.

21. The surgical drape of claim 19, further comprising a layer of adhesive about the periphery of the sheet that permits the sheet to be attached to the patient.

23. A surgical drape for use in conjunction with an operating table having an upper surface upon which a patient can be placed, comprising:

a first, closed container having a portion defined by scores that can be selectively opened to form a first opening, the first container being of a size and shape such that a patient can be placed atop the first container when the first container is placed on the upper surface, the first container being made of a fluid-impervious;

a first sheet disposed within the first container, the first sheet being folded within the first container in a plicated manner and having first and second opposed ends, the first end of the first sheet being removable from the first container through the first opening so as to remove a desired portion of the first sheet from the container, the second end of the first sheet remaining within the container, the first sheet being made of a fluid-impervious material;

a pull tab attached to the first end of the first sheet;

an adhesive layer on the outer surface of the first container; and

a removable protective strip disposed over the adhesive layer, the adhesive layer being exposed upon removal of the protective strip, the adhesive layer being attachable to the upper surface of the operating table to prevent movement of the first container relative thereto.

24. A surgical drape for use in conjunction with an operating table having an upper surface upon which a patient can be placed, comprising:

a first, closed container having a portion defined by scores that can be selectively opened to form a first opening, the first container being of a size and shape such that a patient can be placed atop the first container when the first container is placed on the upper surface, the first container being made of a fluid-impervious material;

a first sheet disposed within the first container, the first sheet being folded within the first container in a plicated manner and having first and second opposed ends, the first end of the first sheet being removable from the first container through the first opening so as to remove a desired portion of the first sheet from the container, the second end of the first sheet remaining within the container, the first sheet being made of a fluid-impervious material;

a pull tab attached to the first end of the first sheet;

a second sheet having first and second opposed ends, the second end of the second sheet being connected to the second end of the first sheet, the second sheet being made of a first ply made of netting material, a second ply made of an adborbent pulp material, and a third fluid-impervious ply, the third ply in use adapted to be in contact with the upper surface of the operating table, the first end of the second sheet being movable relative to the second end of the second sheet so as to expose a desired portion of the second sheet;

a second opening in the first container through which the second end of the second sheet extends into the first container, the second opening being sealed tightly to the second end of the second sheet.

an adhesive layer on either the outer surface of the third ply of the second sheet or the container, or both;

a removable protective strip disposed over the adhesive layer, the adhesive layer being exposed upon removal of the protective strip, the adhesive layer being attachable to the upper surface of the operating table to prevent movement of the second sheet and the container relative thereto; and

a second, closed container within which the first sheet, the first container, and the second sheet are disposed, the second container having a portion that can be selectively opened to permit the contents of the second container to be removed therefrom, the second sheet being folded within the second container in a plicated manner, the second container being made of a material that permits the contents of the second container to remain in a sterilized condition while the second container is unopened.

25. A surgical drape for use in conjunction with an operating table having an upper surface upon which a patient can be placed, comprising:

a first, closed container having a portion defined by scores that can be selectively opened to form a first opening, the first container being of a size and shape such that a patient can be placed atop the first container when the first container is placed on the upper surface, the first container being made of a fluid-impervious material;

a first sheet disposed within the first container, the first sheet being folded within the first container in a plicated manner and having first and second opposed ends, the first end of the first sheet being removable from the first container through the first opening so as to remove a desired portion of the first sheet from the container, the second end of the first sheet remaining within the container, the first sheet being made of a fluid-impervious material;

a pull tab attached to the first end of the first sheet;

a second sheet having first and second opposed ends, the second end of the second sheet being connected to the second end of the first sheet, the second sheet being made of a first ply made of netting material, a second ply made of an absorbent pulp material, and a third ply made of a fluid-impervious material, the third ply in use adapted to be in contact with the upper surface of the operating table, the first end of the second sheet being movable relative to the second end of the second sheet so as to expose a desired portion of the second sheet;

a second opening in the first container through which the second end of the second sheet extends into the first container, the second opening being sealed tightly to the second end of the second sheet.

an adhesive layer on either the outer surface of the third ply of the second sheet or the container, or both;

a removable protective strip disposed over the adhesive layer, the adhesive layer being exposed upon removal of the protective strip, the adhesive layer being attachable to the upper surface of the operating table to prevent movement of the second sheet and the container relative thereto;

a second, closed container within which the first sheet, the first container, and the second sheet are disposed, the second container having a portion that can be selectively opened to permit the contents of the second container to be removed therefrom, the second sheet being folded within the second container in a plicated manner, the second container being made of a material that permits the contents of the second container to remain in a sterilized condition while the second container is unopened;

a third, fluid-impervious sheet having first and second ends, the first end of the third sheet being movable relative to the second end of the third sheet so as to expose a desired portion of the third sheet, the second end of the third sheet being connected to a selected one of the first container, the second end of the first sheet, or the second end of the second sheet in the region of the connection between the first container and the second sheet;

a cut-out portion included as part of the first end of the third sheet that permits the third sheet to be fitted about a selected portion of the patient;

a layer of adhesive about the periphery of the third sheet that permits the third sheet to be attached to the patient; and

the connection between the third sheet and a selected one of the first container or the second end of the first sheet or the second end of the second sheet being severable such that the third sheet can be removed and discarded when desired.

26. A method for protecting selected portions of an operating table during a surgical procedure, the operating table having an upper surface upon which a patient can be placed, comprising the steps of:

providing a surgical drape having a first, closed container that can be selectively opened to form a first opening, the first container being of a size and shape such that a patient can be placed atop the first container when the first container is placed on the upper surface, and a first sheet disposed within the first container, the first sheet having first and second opposed ends, the first end of the first sheet being removable from the first container through the first opening so as to remove a desired portion of the first sheet from the container, the second end of the first sheet remaining within the container;

placing the unopened container on the upper surface;

placing the patient on the container and uncovered portions of the upper surface;

opening the container; and

removing a desired portion of the first sheet from the first container and positioning the removed portion so as to protect desired portions of the operating table.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the surgical drape includes a second sheet having first and second opposed ends, the second end of the second sheet being connected to the second end of the first sheet, the first end of the second sheet being movable relative to the second end of the second sheet so as to expose a desired portion of the second sheet, and comprising the further steps of:

exposing a desired portion of the second sheet and placing the exposed portion on the upper surface prior to the step of placing the patient on the container and uncovered portions of the upper surface.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

providing a third, fluid-impervious sheet having first and second ends, the first end of the third sheet being movable relative to the second end of the third sheet so as to expose a desired portion of the third sheet, the second end of the third sheet being connected to a selected one of the first container, the second end of the first sheet, or the second end of the second sheet in the region of the connection between the first container and the second sheet, the third sheet having a configuration that conforms to a desired portion of the patient;

placing the third sheet in contact with the patient so as to cover selected portions of the patient;

conducting pre-operative preparations of the patient; and

severing and removing the third sheet after pre-operative preparations have been completed.