Method and apparatus for manipulating a surgical drape via an inflatable device to collect surgical slush
First Claim
1. An apparatus for thermally treating a sterile medium comprising:
- a system housing including a top surface;
a basin recessed in said top surface of said housing for transferring thermal energy to said sterile medium;
a drape covering and hanging down from said top surface of said housing with a portion of said drape disposed in said basin for collecting said sterile medium;
thermal treatment means in thermal relation with said basin for thermally treating said sterile medium such that said sterile medium congeals and adheres to said drape adjacent walls of said basin;
manipulation means disposed in said basin for automatically manipulating said drape wherein said manipulation means includes a plurality of individually inflatable sections; and
pump means for inflating and deflating said individually inflatable sections in sequential order to manipulate said drape relative to said basin and dislodge said congealed sterile medium from said drape.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical drape for use in a thermal treatment system congealing a sterile medium within a basin and automatically dislodging the congealed sterile medium adhered to the drape adjacent basin walls is accomplished by a drape having a drape portion covering the system housing with part of the drape portion disposed in the basin. The drape may further include a pre-formed container portion fitted to match the contour of, and being disposed within, the basin. The container portion may accommodate various shaped basins and include individual fluted sections, drape deformities, or an inflatable bladder surrounded by the fluted sections for facilitating dislodgement of the congealed medium. Further, the drape or preformed container portion may include a substantially annular bladder, or a bladder having a plurality of individually inflatable sections for manipulation of the drape relative to the basin to dislodge the congealed sterile medium. Alternatively, the bladders may be disposed between the drape or container portion and bottom of the basin for manipulation of the drape as described above. Moreover, the drapes may include stirrups to secure the drape to the system. A pump or bellows inflates and deflates the bladders via a piston having a reciprocating motion within a chamber, or, alternatively, via separate connections for inflation and deflation which are controlled by selective actuation of solenoids. The individually inflatable sections are inflated and deflated one section at a time in sequential order to manipulate the drape relative to the basin to dislodge the congealed sterile medium.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus for thermally treating a sterile medium comprising:
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a system housing including a top surface; a basin recessed in said top surface of said housing for transferring thermal energy to said sterile medium; a drape covering and hanging down from said top surface of said housing with a portion of said drape disposed in said basin for collecting said sterile medium; thermal treatment means in thermal relation with said basin for thermally treating said sterile medium such that said sterile medium congeals and adheres to said drape adjacent walls of said basin; manipulation means disposed in said basin for automatically manipulating said drape wherein said manipulation means includes a plurality of individually inflatable sections; and pump means for inflating and deflating said individually inflatable sections in sequential order to manipulate said drape relative to said basin and dislodge said congealed sterile medium from said drape. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for thermally treating a sterile medium comprising:
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a system housing including a top surface; a basin recessed in said top surface of said housing for transferring thermal energy to said sterile medium; a drape covering and hanging down from said top surface of said housing with portion of said drape disposed in said basin for collecting said sterile medium; thermal treatment means in thermal relation with said basin for thermally treating said sterile medium such that said sterile medium congeals and adheres to said drape adjacent walls of said basin; an annular bladder disposed in said basin for automatically manipulating said drape; and pump means for inflating and deflating said annular bladder to manipulate said drape relative to said basin and dislodge said congealed sterile medium from said drape. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. In a thermal treatment system including a basin recessed in a top surface of a system housing for congealing a sterile medium, a drape for maintaining sterility of said sterile medium having a first portion covering said housing and hanging down from said top surface and a second portion disposed in said basin for collecting said sterile medium, manipulation means disposed between the drape and the bottom of the basin for manipulating said drape, wherein said manipulation means includes a plurality of individually inflatable sections, and pump means for inflating and deflating said manipulation means, a method for dislodging congealed sterile medium adhering to said drape adjacent walls of said basin comprising the step of:
(a) inflating and deflating said individually inflatable sections in sequential order one section at a time via said pump means to manipulate said drape relative to said basin and dislodge said congealed sterile medium adhering to said drape adjacent walls of said basin. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
Specification