Reflective surgical drape

• US 4,765,323 A
• Filed: 07/25/1986
• Issued: 08/23/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vital Signs Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: OR Concepts, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Poettgen, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US06/890,403
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 128/132 R, 128/132 D, 128/155, 128/156, 2/DIG. 7, 2/69, 2/69.5, 5/482, 5/483, 5/484, 5/500, 5/502, 428/285, 428/286, 428/461, 428/516
• US Class Current: 128/849
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/00 Surgical drapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/40 Drape material, e.g. laminates; Manufacture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0255 with a reflective layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0257 with a fluid impermeable layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/026 with a fluid absorbing layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00187 insulating; warmth or cold applying
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/15048 for protection against contamination, or protection in using body disinfecting wipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51095 being metallic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/53445 from several sheets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/02 Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/10 on synthetic resin layer or on natural or synthetic rubber layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/205 Metallic coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2311/24 Aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2323/046 LDPE, i.e. low density polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2535/00 Medical equipment, e.g. bandage, prostheses or catheter
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/12 next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31692 Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31913 Monoolefin polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/656 Preformed metallic film or foil or sheet [film or foil or sheet had structural integrity prior to association with the nonwoven fabric]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/674 : Nonwoven fabric with a preformed polymeric film or sheet

Abstract

A new, lightweight reflective surgical drape which is effective in reducing the rate of heat loss in human patients during a variety of surgical procedures is disclosed. The drape comprises a core layer of non-conductive aluminum and a first and second adjacent layer of a thermoplastic material. A non-woven layer of absorbent material is attached to either the first or second adjacent layer of thermoplastic material.

In a preferred embodiment, the drape of the present invention comprises a first layer of non-conductive aluminum and a second layer of a thermoplastic material. A third layer of non-woven absorbent material is attached to the first layer of non-conductive aluminum.

Claims

1. A reflective surgical drape for covering a surgical patient and reducing heat loss from the patient'"'"'s body during and after a surgical procedure, comprising:

(a) a non-conductive core layer of aluminum;

(b) a first and second adjacent layer of a thermoplastic material; and

(c) a non-woven layer of absorbent material attached to said first adjacent layer.

2. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 1, wherein said non-conductive core layer of aluminum is vacuum deposited to said first adjacent layer of a thermoplastic material.

3. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 2, wherein said vacuum deposited non-conductive core layer of aluminum has a thickness of from 270 Å

to 330 Å

.

4. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 3, wherein said vacuum deposited non-conductive core layer of aluminum has a thickness of 300 Å

.

5. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 1, wherein said thermoplastic material of said first adjacent layer and said second adjacent layer is selected from the group consisting of low-density polyethylene, medium-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester or polybutylene.

6. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 5, wherein said thermoplastic material of said first adjacent layer and said second adjacent layer is low-density polyethylene.

7. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 1, wherein said first adjacent layer and said second adjacent layer each have a thickness of from 0.00120 to 0.00130 mils.

8. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 7, wherein said first adjacent layer and said second adjacent layer each have a thickness of 0.00125 mils.

9. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 2, wherein said second adjacent layer of a thermoplastic material is laminated with an adhesive to said non-conductive core layer of aluminum.

10. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 9, wherein said adhesive is acrylic and moisture proof.

11. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 1, wherein said non-woven layer of absorbent material is one or a blend of cotton, polyester, rayon, polypropylene or cellulose.

12. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 11, wherein said non-woven layer has a thickness of from 0.0015 to 0.040 mils.

13. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 12, wherein said non-woven layer has a thickness of from 0.014 to 0.016 mils.

14. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 11, wherein said non-woven layer of absorbent material is attached with a adhesive to said first adjacent layer.

15. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 14, wherein said adhesive is acrylic and moisture proof.

16. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 1, wherein a selected length of said drape is fashioned to be closely received about at least a portion of the body of the patient during the surgical procedure.

17. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 16, wherein said selected length of said drape is fashioned as a blanket which is wrapped closely about the torso of a patient undergoing a surgical procedure.

18. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 16, wherein said selected length of said drape is fashioned as a cap which serves as a head covering for a patient undergoing a surgical procedure.

19. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 16, wherein said selected length of said drape is fashioned as a limb covering for a patient undergoing a surgical procedure, said limb covering comprising a cylindrically-shaped length of said drape having an open end for receiving the patient'"'"'s limb and an opposite closed end.

20. A reflective surgical drape for covering a surgical patient and reducing heat loss from the patient'"'"'s body during and after a surgical procedure, comprising:

(a) a non-conductive first layer of aluminum;

(b) a second layer of a thermoplastic material attached to said non-conductive first layer of aluminum; and

(c) a third layer of non-woven absorbent material attached to said non-conductive first layer of aluminum.

21. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 20, wherein said non-conductive first layer of aluminum is vacuum deposited to said second layer of a thermoplastic material.

22. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 21, wherein said vacuum deposited non-conductive layer of aluminum has a thickness of from 270 Å

to 330 Å

.

23. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 22, wherein said vacuum deposited non-conductive layer of aluminum has a thickness of 300 Å

.

24. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 20, wherein said thermoplastic material of said second layer is selected from the group consisting of low-density polyethylene, medium-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester or polybutylene.

25. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 24, wherein said thermoplastic material of said second layer is low-density polyethylene.

26. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 20, wherein said second layer has a thickness of from 0.00120 to 0.00130 mils.

27. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 26, wherein said second layer has a thickness of 0.00125 mils.

28. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 20, wherein said non-woven layer of absorbent material is one or a blend of cotton, polyester, rayon, polypropylene or cellulose.

29. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 28, wherein said non-woven layer has a thickness of from 0.0015 to 0.040 mils.

30. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 29, wherein said non-woven layer has a thickness of from 0.014 to 0.016 mils.

31. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 28, wherein said non-woven layer of absorbent material is attached with an adhesive to said second layer of a thermoplastic material.

32. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 31, wherein said adhesive is acrylic and moisture-proof.

33. A reflective surgical drape for covering a surgical patient and reducing heat loss from the patient'"'"'s body during and after a surgical procedure, comprising:

(a) a non-conductive first layer of aluminum;

(b) a second layer of a thermoplastic material attached to said non-conductive first layer of aluminum; and

(c) a third layer of non-woven absorbent material attached to said non-conductive first layer of aluminum;

wherein said reflective surgical drape has a resistance of at least one megaohm.