Surgical drape having improved sealing apparatus

• US 5,832,925 A
• Filed: 06/09/1997
• Issued: 11/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Company
• Original Assignee: 3M Company
• Inventors: Rothrum, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US08/871,172
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 128/849-856
• US Class Current: 128/849
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/00 Surgical drapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/27 tubular, e.g. for arms or legs A61B46/13 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/40 Apparatus fixed or close to patients specially adapted for providing an aseptic surgical environment

Abstract

An apparatus for sealing an environment defined by a periphery is provided. The sealing apparatus includes a first frame defining an opening and being disposed on the periphery of the environment and a second frame defining an opening. A flexible material is rotatably interconnected between the first frame opening and the second frame opening to form an iris aperture. The size of the iris aperture can be adjusted by rotating the second frame with respect to the first frame. The first frame may be secured with respect to the second frame in order to fix the size of the iris aperture. For securing the frames with respect to one another, hook and loop fastening material may be provided. The environment and periphery may, for example, be a surgical patient and a surgical drape, respectively.

Claims

1. A surgical drape, comprising:

a drape sheet having a first frame defining an opening capable of receiving an appendage;

a second frame defining an opening capable of receiving the appendage; and

a flexible material rotatably interconnected between the first frame and second frame, the flexible material forming an iris aperture capable of receiving the appendage;

wherein the size of the iris aperture can be adjusted by rotating the second frame with respect to the first frame.

2. The surgical drape of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first frame and second frame includes fastening structure for securing the first frame with respect to the second frame and fixing the size of the iris aperture.

3. The surgical drape of claim 2, wherein one of the first frame and second frame includes a loop material and the other one of the first frame and the second frame includes a hook material, wherein the hook material and loop material may be interconnected to secure the first frame with respect to the second frame.

4. The surgical drape of claim 3, wherein the hook material and the loop material have a slim profile.

5. The surgical drape of claim 1, wherein the first frame is integrally formed from a portion of the drape sheet.

6. The surgical drape of claim 1, wherein the first frame is attached to the drape sheet.

7. The surgical drape of claim 6, wherein the drape sheet defines an opening, the first frame opening overlapping with the drape sheet opening.

8. The surgical drape of claim 1, wherein the flexible material is formed from a plastic material.

9. An apparatus for sealing an environment defined by a periphery, comprising:

a first frame comprising an opening in a sheet material and being disposed on the periphery of the environment;

a second frame comprising an opening in a sheet material; and

a flexible material rotatably interconnected between the first frame and second frame, the flexible material forming an iris aperture;

wherein the size of the iris aperture may be adjusted by rotating the second frame with respect to the first frame.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first frame may be secured with respect to the second frame to fix the size of the iris aperture.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein one of the first frame and second frame includes a loop material and the other one of the first frame and the second frame includes a hook material, wherein the hook material and loop material may be interconnected to secure the first frame with respect to the second frame.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the flexible material is sealingly attached to the first frame and the second frame using tape.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the iris aperture may be closed by rotating the second frame with respect to the first frame.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first and second frame openings are capable of receiving a limb, and wherein the size of the iris aperture may be adjusted to form a seal about the limb.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first frame is integrally formed from a portion of the periphery.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first frame is attached to the periphery.

17. A method of forming a sealing aperture for a surgical drape, comprising:

providing a first frame with an opening and a second frame with an opening;

attaching a first end of a tubular material to the first frame and a second end of the tubular material to the second frame such that the tubular material forms an iris aperture between the first frame opening and the second frame opening; and

attaching the first frame to the surgical drape.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein attaching the first end of the tubular material to the first frame includes:

disposing the first end of the tubular material through the opening of the first frame;

positioning the first end of the tubular material against a side of the first frame opposite the second frame; and

taping the first end of the tubular material to the side of the first frame.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein attaching the second end of the tubular material to the second frame includes:

disposing the second end of the tubular material through the opening of the second frame;

positioning the second end of the tubular material against a side of the second frame opposite the second frame; and

taping the second end of the tubular material to the side of the second frame.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein attaching the first frame to the surgical drape includes taping the first frame to the surgical drape.