Incise system

• US 5,197,493 A
• Filed: 03/13/1992
• Issued: 03/30/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
• Inventors: Grier-Idris, Carletta
• Primary Examiner(s): PREBILIC, PAUL B
• Application Number:
  US07/852,915
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 602/58, 128/849, 128/850, 128/851, 128/852, 128/853, 128/888
• US Class Current: 128/853
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2046/205 Adhesive drapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/00 Surgical drapes

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an incise system for surgical drapes and the resultant surgical drape. The incise system is a two layer structure including a first layer of incise with an adhesive bottom surface for adhering the layer to a surgical drape and/or the skin of a patient. The first layer of incise further defines a fenestrated area removably attached to the remainder of the first layer by a line of perforations. The second layer of incise is generally coextensive with and releasably attachable to the first layer of incise so as to cover the fenestrated area of the river layer.

To use the incise system of the present invention the two layer structure is applied to the patient'"'"'s skin such that the fenestrated area of the first layer of incise directly overlies the intended incision area. An incision can then be made directly through the two layers of incise. Once the procedure is completed, the top (second) layer of incise is peeled from the bottom (first) layer. In so doing, the top layer also removes the perforated fenestration area from the first layer thereby exposing a portion of the patient'"'"'s skin surrounding the incision. As a result, suturing of the incision is made easier since it is no longer necessary to pick and peel the incise away from the incision to expose sufficient skin to allow suturing without catching the incise in the process.

Claims

1. An incise system for use in surgical procedures comprising:

a first layer of incise material having a first length and a second width, a top surface and a bottom surface, said first layer of incise defining a fenestration area removably attached to the remainder of said first layer of incise by a line of perforations, and

a second layer of incise releasably attachably to said top surface of said first layer of incise, said second layer of incise having a second length and a second width sufficient to cover said fenestration area in said first layer of incise, said second layer of incise having an adhesion to said top surface of said first layer of incise sufficient to detach said fenestrated area from said first layer of incise when said second layer is released from said first layer of incise,

said first layer of incise having a first peel strength and said second layer of incise having a second peel strength, said second peel strength being greater than said first peel strength so that said fenestrated area is separated from said first layer of incise.

2. The incise system of claim 1 which further includes a release liner releasably attached to said bottom surface of said first layer of incise.

3. The incise system of claim 2 wherein said second layer of incise further includes a top surface and a bottom surface with a release liner releasably attached to said bottom surface of said second layer of incise.

4. The incise system of claim 1 wherein said second layer of incise has a pull tab attached thereto to facilitate removal of said second layer of incise and said fenestrated area of said first layer of incise from said first layer of incise.

5. The incise system of claim 1 wherein siad first and second layers of incise are attached to one another along a common edge.

6. A surgical drape comprising:

a mainsheet having a top edge and a bottom edge joining be a pair of opposed side edges and further having a top surface and a bottom surface, said mainsheet also defining a primary fenestration therein, and

a two layer incise system for covering said primary fenestration including a first layer and a second layer of incise joined along a common edge,

said first layer of incise having a first length and a first width, a top surface, and a bottom surface for adhering said first layer of incise to said mainsheet to cover said primary fenestration of said mainsheet, said first layer of incise defining a fenestrated area removably attached to the remainder of said first layer of incise by a line of perforations,

said second layer of incise being releasably attachable to said top surface of said first layer of incise, said second layer of incise having a second length and a second width sufficient to cover said fenestrated area in said first layer of incise, said second layer of incise having a pull tab attached thereto along an edge opposite to said common edge to facilitate separation of said second layer of incise and said fenestrated area of said first layer of incise from said first layer of incise;

said first layer of incise having a first peel strength and said second layer of incise having a second peel strength, said second peel strength being greater than said first peel strength so that siad fenestrated area is separated from said first layer of incise.

7. The surgical drape of claim 6 wherein said first layer of incise and said second layer of incise each have a release liner removably attached thereto.

8. The surgical drape of claim 6 which further includes a release liner located adjacent said bottom surface of said mainsheet and releasably attached to said bottom surface of said first layer of incise in the area of said primary fenestration of said mainsheet.

9. The surgical drape of claim 6 wherein said first and second layers of incise are attached to one another along a common edge with said common edge being attached to said top surface of said mainsheet adjacent said primary fenestration.