Method and apparatus for detection of liquid and leaks in surgical drapes used with surgical equipment
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting the presence of sterile liquid in containers formed by surgical drapes during surgical procedures, said apparatus comprising:
- thermal treatment means for thermally treating a liquid and including a basin;
a surgical drape, covering and substantially conforming to said basin to serve as a drape container for said liquid;
sensor means in said drape container for sensing the presence and absence of liquid in contact with said sensor means;
actuable means for operating said thermal treatment means to control a temperature of said basin; and
power control means responsive to said sensor means for controlling said thermal treatment means in accordance with the presence and absence of liquid in contact with said sensor means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for preventing damage to drapes and to heating and cooling mechanisms used in conjunction with apparatus for containing and thermally treating sterile liquid, and to preserving the sterile field when using such apparatus. A surgical drape is combined with a sensor, preferably attached to the drape, to detect whether or not liquid is present in a drape container conforming to a heating/cooling basin. An alternative embodiment employs sensors at opposite surfaces of the drape to measure conductance and, thereby, leakage through the drape. A microprocessor in each embodiment receives a signal representing, for example, an electrical conductance measurement from the sensors and determines if liquid is present, or alternatively if the conductance is sufficient to represent the presence of a leak. If liquid is not present or a leak is determined to exist, the microprocessor disables a temperature controller for the basin to prevent damage to the drape and heating and cooling mechanisms.
78 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting the presence of sterile liquid in containers formed by surgical drapes during surgical procedures, said apparatus comprising:
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thermal treatment means for thermally treating a liquid and including a basin; a surgical drape, covering and substantially conforming to said basin to serve as a drape container for said liquid; sensor means in said drape container for sensing the presence and absence of liquid in contact with said sensor means; actuable means for operating said thermal treatment means to control a temperature of said basin; and power control means responsive to said sensor means for controlling said thermal treatment means in accordance with the presence and absence of liquid in contact with said sensor means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a machine for thermally treating a sterile fluid medium in a drape container to permit use of the fluid medium in a surgical procedure, a method for detecting the presence of liquid in said drape container comprising the steps of:
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(a) placing on said drape a sensor of liquid in said drape container; (b) connecting lines from said sensor to a receptacle on said machine; and (c) controlling power to a temperature controller of said drape container based on a signal from said sensor on said drape container. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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- 16. A device for use in a surgical apparatus to detect a presence of liquid in each of at least one basin comprising a drape, said drape having at least one liquid sensor secured thereto.
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21. A method for controlling operation of thermal treatment apparatus in a machine for making a thermally treated fluid medium available in a drape container disposed in a thermally treated basin during a surgical procedure, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) sensing the presence and absence of said sterile medium in said drape container by a sensor disposed within said drape container; and (b) in response to absence of said sterile medium sensed in step (a), automatically disabling the thermal treatment apparatus.
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22. A method for controlling operation of thermal treatment apparatus in a machine for making a thermally treated fluid medium available in a drape container disposed in a thermally treated basin during a surgical procedure, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) detecting the presence of said medium in said basin between said drape and said basin by a sensor disposed between said drape and said basin; and (b) in response to detection of said medium in step (a), automatically disabling the thermal treatment apparatus.
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Specification