Surgical barrier

• US 4,553,537 A
• Filed: 06/09/1983
• Issued: 11/19/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Max Rosenberg
• Inventors: Rosenberg, Max
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US06/502,729
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 128/132 R, 128/155, 128/156, 128/157, 128/132 D, 604/358
• US Class Current: 128/850
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0293 with ring member to support retractor elements

Abstract

A knitted tubular fabric is made from a synthetic yarn having a low capacity for liquid absorption; the ends of the tubular fabric are stitched closely so that the fabric will lie flat; the fabric is elongated in shape compared to its width and is used to provide a barrier around the edge of a surgical site, particularly in the abdomen, to be held in place by hand or by mechanical retractors to hold back away from the site other internal organs; the interior of the tubular fabric may be provided with a thin flexible liquid impervious sheet and which is held in place by parallel stitching along the length of the fabric.

Claims

1. A woven structure for use in a surgical operation comprising an elongate, tubular knit fabric having opposite ends, means closing said ends so that said fabric will be flattened and malleable and conformable to internal body cavities, said structure including means for reducing absorption of liquids by the fabric, said fabric having a selected width and length and said means for reducing absorption of liquids comprising a thin sheet of liquid impervious material disposed within said tubular fabric, said sheet having substantially the same width and length as said fabric, means securing said sheet in place within said fabric.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises stitching extending through said fabric and said sheet.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sheet is a polypropylene film.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sheet is a polyethylene film.

5. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sheet is a polyester film.

7. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fabric is knitted from a synthetic yarn.

8. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said yarn is polyethylene.

9. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said yarn is polyester.

10. The invention as claimed in claim 7 wherein said means closing each said end comprises stitching extending transverse to each said end.

14. The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises stitching extending through said fabric and said sheet, said stitching including two lines of stitches extending in substantially parallel relation from one end of said fabric to the other end along the length dimension of said fabric, each said line being spaced apart from one another and spaced apart from the edges of said fabric.

6. A woven structure for use in a surgical operation comprising an elongate, tubular knit fabric having opposite ends, means closing said ends so that said fabric will be flattened and malleable and conformable to internal body cavities, said structure including means for reducing absorption of liquids by the fabric, said means for reducing absorption of liquids comprising a silicon coating applied to the surface of said fabric.

13. The invention as claimed in claim 6 wherein said fabric is knitted from a synthetic yarn.

11. The method of performing surgical operations in the abdomen comprising the steps of:

making an incision to provide access to the operation site;

inserting into the incision a flexible barrier structure comprising an elongate, tubular fabric including means for reducing absorption of liquids;

placing said fabric around the periphery of the operation site in the incision; and

holding the fabric in its surrounding position during the operation.

12. The invention as claimed in claim 11 including the step of using retractor means for holding the fabric in its surrounding position.

15. A woven structure for use in a surgical operation comprising an elongate, tubular knit fabric having opposite ends, means closing said ends so that said fabric will be flattened and malleable and conformable to internal body cavities, said structure including means for reducing absorption of liquids by the fabric, said means for reducing absorption of liquids including a thin sheet of liquid impervious material disposed within said tubular fabric, said fabric having stitching extending through said fabric and said thin sheet to hold said sheet in place within said fabric.