Method and apparatus for producing sterile slush
First Claim
1. A method for use with apparatus for producing sterile slush from a sterile surgical liquid, the apparatus comprising a heat transfer basin, a refrigeration mechanism including an evaporator in heat transfer relation to the heat transfer basin, and spacers secured to the basin and projecting into the basin interior at plural spaced locations, each spacer including at least one exposed abrupt edge defining the intersection between surfaces of the spacer, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) protecting each of the exposed spacer edges against direct contact from the basin interior;
(b) covering the interior of the basin with a sterilized drape by directly contacting the basin with a first side of said drape and conforming the drape substantially to the shape of the basin interior, whereby a second side of the drape is exposed in the basin interior and defines a liquid receptacle, said drape comprising a sheet of material that is impervious to the sterile liquid and sufficiently thin to permit thermal energy transfer between the basin and fluid contacting the second side of said drape;
(c) introducing a quantity of sterile liquid directly into the drape receptacle; and
(d) operating the refrigeration mechanism to cause the introduced sterile liquid to congeal against the second surface of the drape;
wherein by step (a) prevents tearing and snagging of said drape by the spacer edges.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,393,659 (Keyes et al) for producing surgical slush is improved to permit the slush to be collected directly in a drape or sheet, thereby eliminating the separate product basin and liquid thermal transfer medium required in the prior system. The sheet is made to conform to a heat transfer basin atop the system refrigeration unit and is impervious to the surgical liquid from which the slush is formed. In order to prevent damage to the drape by abrupt edges of basin spacers permanently projecting from the heat transfer wall into the basin interior, the spacers are covered or recessed by protective members eliminating all possible contact between the sheet and the spacer edges.
62 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for use with apparatus for producing sterile slush from a sterile surgical liquid, the apparatus comprising a heat transfer basin, a refrigeration mechanism including an evaporator in heat transfer relation to the heat transfer basin, and spacers secured to the basin and projecting into the basin interior at plural spaced locations, each spacer including at least one exposed abrupt edge defining the intersection between surfaces of the spacer, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) protecting each of the exposed spacer edges against direct contact from the basin interior; (b) covering the interior of the basin with a sterilized drape by directly contacting the basin with a first side of said drape and conforming the drape substantially to the shape of the basin interior, whereby a second side of the drape is exposed in the basin interior and defines a liquid receptacle, said drape comprising a sheet of material that is impervious to the sterile liquid and sufficiently thin to permit thermal energy transfer between the basin and fluid contacting the second side of said drape; (c) introducing a quantity of sterile liquid directly into the drape receptacle; and (d) operating the refrigeration mechanism to cause the introduced sterile liquid to congeal against the second surface of the drape; wherein by step (a) prevents tearing and snagging of said drape by the spacer edges. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for use in a system for producing sterile surgical slush from a sterile liquid, the system being of the type having a heat transfer basin, a refrigeration mechanism including an evaporator in heat transfer relation to the basin, and spacers secured to the basin and projecting into the basin interior, each spacer including at least one exposed edge defining an intersection between two surfaces of that spacer, said apparatus comprising:
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a sterilized drape of material impervious to the sterile liquid and sized to cover and directly contact the basin, said drape also being sufficiently soft to conform to the interior shape of the basin whereby the sterile liquid can be directly contained by said drape serving as a receptacle in the basin; and protective means disposed between the basin and said drape for preventing contact between said drape and the exposed edges of each of the spacers to thereby prevent tearing or snagging of said drape by the spacer edges. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification