Tear-away surgical drape

• US 5,975,082 A
• Filed: 07/28/1997
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Dowdy, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US08/901,568
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 128/849-856
• US Class Current: 128/849
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2046/205 Adhesive drapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/00 Surgical drapes

Abstract

A tear-away surgical drape is provided by the present invention. The drape has a fluid absorbent pad attached to the upper surface of an underlying base sheet. The drape has an opening, or fenestration, therein through which the operation is to be performed. The absorbent pad has a score line in it which extends from an edge of the pad to the fenestration so that it, like the tear-away material forming the base sheet, may be easily torn away after surgery. The present drape is particularly useful when it is necessary to leave a tube, catheter, or other apparatus attached o the patient after the surgery. The tear-away aspects of the drape allow it to be removed without disturbing the attached apparatus.

Claims

1. A tear-away surgical drape for covering the body of a patient during surgery, said drape comprising:

a) a base sheet having an upper surface and a bottom surface and at least one edge, said base sheet defining at least one aperture therein for surrounding a surgical site on the body of said patient, and said base sheet being constructed of a tear-away material; and

b) a reinforcing pad attached to the upper surface of said base sheet, said pad defining at least one aperture therein for surrounding a surgical site on the body of said patient and being positioned on said base sheet so that said aperture on said base sheet and said aperture on said pad are in substantial alignment to define a fenestration in said drape, said pad having an upper surface with fluid absorbent capabilities, said pad further having a plastic material with an adhesive material on one surface thereof, said plastic material being positioned and located on said pad so that said plastic material extends across said aperture defined by said pad and so that the adhesive surface of said plastic material may be adhered to the patient'"'"'s body when the drape is in position during surgery, and said pad further having perforations extending therethrough and away from said aperture toward an edge of said base sheet to define a score line along which said pad may be torn when said drape is torn away from a patient.

2. The tear-away surgical drape of claim 1 wherein said score line extends from said aperture all the way to an end of said pad.

3. The tear-away surgical drape of claim 1 wherein said base sheet has a notch at an edge thereof which is in substantial linear alignment with said score line on said pad.

4. The tear-away surgical drape of claim 1 wherein said base sheet has perforations which are in substantial linear alignment with said score line on said pad.

5. The tear-away surgical drape of claim 1 wherein both of said base sheet and said reinforcing pad have at least two apertures therethrough which are in substantial alignment when said pad is attached thereto.

6. The tear-away surgical drape of claim 1 wherein said pad is attached to said upper surface of said base sheet by an adhesive material.

7. The tear-away surgical drape of claim 1 wherein said pad has a notch at an edge thereof which is in substantial linear alignment with said score line.

8. A tear-away surgical drape for covering the body of a patient during surgery, said drape comprising a tearable base sheet having an upper surface with a pad adhered thereto and a bottom surface for contact with said patient, said base sheet and said pad defining an aperture therein through which an operation on the patient'"'"'s body may be performed when said drape is in place on said patient, said drape having an adhesive material on said bottom surface thereof for adhering said drape in position during surgery, said pad having perforations therein defining a score line extending from said aperture to an end of said pad to allow said pad to be easily torn away from said patient after surgery when said base sheet is torn away.

9. The tear-away surgical drape of claim 8 wherein said base sheet has a notch at an end thereof which is located in substantial linear alignment with said score line on said pad.

10. The tear-away surgical drape of claim 8 wherein said score line extends from said aperture all the way to an end of said pad.

11. A tear-away surgical drape for covering the body of a patient during surgery, said drape comprising:

a) a base sheet having an upper surface and a bottom surface and four edges, said base sheet defining at least one aperture therein for surrounding a surgical site on the body of said patient, and said base sheet being constructed of a tear-away material;

b) a reinforcing pad attached to the upper surface of said base sheet, said pad defining at least one aperture therein for surrounding a surgical site on the body of said patient and being positioned on said base sheet so that said aperture on said base sheet and said aperture on said pad are in substantial alignment to define a fenestration in said drape, said pad having an upper surface with fluid absorbent capabilities, said pad further having a plastic material with an adhesive material on one surface thereof, said plastic material being positioned and located on said pad so that said plastic material extends across said aperture defined by said pad and so that the adhesive surface of said plastic material may be adhered to the patient'"'"'s body when the drape is in position during surgery, and said pad further having perforations extending therethrough and away from said aperture towards an edge of said base sheet and to an end of said pad to define a score line along which said pad may be torn when said drape is torn away from a patient; and

c) said base sheet having a notch located at an edge thereof and positioned in substantial linear alignment with said score line on said pad.