U.S. patent number 3,826,253 [Application Number 05/328,905] was granted by the patent office on 1974-07-30 for surgical drape with closed fenestration.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Kleen Test Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to Ray E. Larsh, Donald I. Urbansky.
United States Patent |
3,826,253 |
Larsh , et al. |
July 30, 1974 |
SURGICAL DRAPE WITH CLOSED FENESTRATION
Abstract
A surgical drape includes a main drape body of suitable
material, with a fenestration disposed therein. A sheet of
imperforate transparent film is provided with at least one surface
coated with a tacky adhesive. The film is dimensioned larger than
the fenestration and is positioned with the tacky surface adhering
to the drape body surrounding the fenestration, which is completely
closed by the sheet. The tacky surface is exposed through the
fenestration, and a release liner is peelably secured thereto. Upon
removal of the release liner and draping of the patient, the
exposed tacky film is immediately pressed directly onto the area to
be incised, and the said area remains fully protected from
contamination.
Inventors: |
Larsh; Ray E. (Milwaukee,
WI), Urbansky; Donald I. (Milwaukee, WI) |
Assignee: |
Kleen Test Products, Inc.
(Milwaukee, WI)
|
Family
ID: |
23282976 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/328,905 |
Filed: |
February 2, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
128/854 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
46/00 (20160201); A61B 2046/205 (20160201) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
19/08 (20060101); A61B 19/00 (20060101); A61f
013/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/132D,132R,156,292 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Gerspacher, et al., Modern Plastics - Vinyl Surgical Drapes; May
1951..
|
Primary Examiner: Gaudet; Richard A.
Assistant Examiner: Recla; Henry J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Andrus, Sceales, Starke &
Sawall
Claims
We claim:
1. A surgical drape comprising, in combination:
a. a sheet-like drape body for protectively covering a patient,
b. said body having a finite surgical fenestration therein for
access through said body by a surgeon to the area of the patient's
skin to be incised,
c. the periphery of said fenestration being disposed inwardly from
the edges of said drape body,
d. transparent penetrable closure means for said fenestration for
protecting the said area to be incised from contamination prior to
surgery,
e. and sterile means forming part of said closure means for
securing said drape to the skin of the patient completely and
exclusively within the area defined by the fenestration
periphery.
2. A surgical drape comprising, in combination:
a. a sheet-like drape body for protectively covering a patient,
b. said body having a finite surgical fenestration therein for
access through said body by a surgeon to the area of the patient's
skin to be incised,
c. the periphery of said fenestration being disposed inwardly from
the edges of said drape body,
d. transparent penetrable closure means for said fenestration for
protecting the said area to be incised from contamination prior to
surgery, said closure means comprising a film-like imperforate
sheet of larger dimension than said fenestration and completely
closing the latter,
e. means securing the edge portion of said sheet in a continuous
peripheral bond to the area of said drape body surrounding said
fenestration,
f. and sterile adhesive means on said sheet for securing said drape
to the skin of the patient completely and exclusively within the
area defined by the fenestration periphery.
3. A surgical drape comprising, in combination:
a. a sheet-like drape body for protectively covering a patient,
b. said body having a finite surgical fenestration therein for
access through said body by a surgeon to the area of the patient's
skin to be incised,
c. the periphery of said fenestration being disposed inwardly from
the edges of said drape body,
d. penetrable closure means for said fenestration for protecting
the said area to be incised from contamination prior to surgery,
said closure means comprising a film-like imperforate transparent
sheet of larger dimension than said fenestration and completely
closing the latter,
e. at least one side of said sheet having a pressure-sensitized
sterile adhesive thereon,
f. the edge portion of the pressure-sensitized side of said sheet
extending outwardly beyond the finite edge of the fenestration and
being secured in a continuous peripheral bond to the area of the
upper side of said drape body surrounding said fenestration,
g. and the central portion of the said pressure-sensitized side of
said sheet being exposed downwardly through said fenestration and
forming means for securing said drape to the skin of the patient
completely and exclusively within the area defined by the
fenestration periphery.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a surgical drape with closed
fenestration, and more particularly to a drape for use in various
types of surgical procedures which provides a simplified structure
with increased protection against infiltration of bacteria into the
area of the incision both before and during surgery.
Cleanliness of the area immediately adjacent the surgical incision
is of utmost importance. In accordance with accepted hospital
procedure, the incision area is coated with a suitable antiseptic
prior to application of a protective drape and performance of
surgery to reduce the possibility of infection. However, no
antiseptic is 100 percent effective and there remains some danger
of infection of the area from exposure to air or contact by
contaminated materials. For this reason, surgical drapes have been
designed to be as sterile as possible to enhance the over-all
sterility of the surgical area.
Many prior surgical drapes have been constructed in a manner so
that the area to be incised is unnecessarily exposed to the air
through the drape and prior to the commencement of surgery. In the
event the surgeon is delayed from proceeding for any reason, the
danger of infection will increase. This problem may be particularly
acute in abnormal environments, such as makeshift battlefield
"hospitals." An example of such a drape is shown in the U.S. patent
to Krebs, No. 3,667,458, wherein a surgical drape having an open
fenestration is placed over the patient, thus exposing the surgical
area to the possibility of undue contamination.
In addition, some prior surgical drapes require special and time
consuming procedures before the drape can be applied to the
patient. Thus, in the U.S. Patent to Pereny et al., No. 3,060,932,
an adhesive must be sprayed onto the patient's skin before a
transparent sheet-like drape is applied thereto. Although the
adhesive may be sterile, the increased movement of air adjacent the
surgical area which is inherent in a spraying technique will also
increase the danger of contamination. This, in effect, nullifies
any advantage obtained by covering the surgical area with the sheet
and requiring the surgeon to cut through it.
The present invention is directed to an improved surgical drape
which eliminates the disadvantages of the aforementioned drapes,
while providing a simplified structure which is easy to manipulate
in the operating room.
In accordance with the invention, the surgical drape includes a
main drape body of suitable material, with a surgical fenestration
disposed therein. A sheet of imperforate transparent film is
provided with at least one surface coated with a tacky adhesive.
The film is dimensioned larger than the fenestration and is
positioned with the tacky surface adhering to the drape body
surrounding the fenestration, which is completely closed by the
sheet. The tacky surface is exposed through the fenestration, and a
release liner is peelably secured thereto. Upon removal of the
release liner and draping of the patient, the exposed tacky film is
immediately pressed directly onto the area to be incised, and the
said area remains fully protected from contamination.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The accompanying drawing illustrates the best mode presently
contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention.
In the drawing:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a surgical drape constructed in
accordance with the invention, and with parts broken away;
FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the drape, and with parts broken
away; and
FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As shown in the drawing, the surgical drape 1 of the invention
comprises a sheet-like main drape body 2 of a shape and dimension
determined by the type of operation to be performed. Body 2 may be
made from any suitable well-known material, such as woven or
pressed cellulose fibers, plastic or the like.
The drape is adapted to protectively cover at least a portion of
the patient, and has means therein for permitting access by the
surgeon to the area to be incised. For this purpose, a finite
surgical aperture or fenestration 3 is disposed in body 2 so that
it is surrounded thereby. That is, the fenestration is disposed
completely inwardly of the body edges, and in any desired position.
As shown in the drawing, fenestration 3 is disposed centrally of
the body.
After the skin of the patient is suitably treated with an
antiseptic, it is desired to firmly secure the drape to the patient
in a way which nevertheless permits lifting of the drape edges by a
nurse, if necessary. Furthermore, the manner of securement should
require a minimum of manipulative procedures, and the area to be
incised should be fully protected both before and during the
operation.
For this purpose, means are provided to secure the drape to the
patient's body exclusively throughout the full area of fenestration
3, said means also comprising a complete closure for the
fenestration. As shown, a thin film-like imperforate preferably
transparent plastic sheet 4 is provided which is normally smooth on
its upper side 5 and which has a lower side 6 having a tacky
surface throughout its extent. This tacky quality of side 6 may be
created by coating the entire side with a suitable pressure
sensitive sterile adhesive of a type well known in the art.
As shown, sheet 4 is larger than fenestration 3 and the edge
portion thereof is applied to the upper side of drape body 2 and
extends outwardly beyond the finite edge of the fenestration so
that the pressure sensitive adhesive firmly adheres in a continuous
peripheral bond to the body portion which surrounds the periphery
of the fenestration. In addition, sheet 4 extends completely across
fenestration 3 to provide an imperforate closure therefor. As best
shown in FIG. 2, tacky side 6 is exposed downwardly through the
fenestration on the lower or patient side of the drape.
As a protective measure, and to assist in handling and bulk
shipping of the drape, a removable release line 7 is applied to the
exposed lower tacky side 6, and preferably extends outwardly beyond
the periphery of the fenestration.
The entire product is treated at the time of manufacture so that
all surfaces are sterile, as by heating in a steam or hot air
chamber. This cleanliness is maintained during subsequent shipment
and storage by suitable packaging.
At the point of use, the patient's skin is antiseptically treated,
release liner 7 is quickly peeled from the drape, and sheet side 6
is pressed down so that its tacky surface firmly adheres to the
skin at the planned incision line as well as in the surrounding
area limited by the fenestration periphery. No additional treatment
of the skin, such as spraying with adhesive, is necessary. In
addition, the planned incision line and limited surrounding area
will remain completely sealed and protected by the fenestration
closure against contamination by bacteria in the air or the like.
The seal will remain during the entire period prior to the
operation, and until the surgeon penetrates through sheet 4 when
making the incision. During the surgery, the remaining portions of
sheet 4 surrounding the incision line can be left in adhering
relationship to the patient's skin, or can be peeled back to the
fenestration periphery if desired.
Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as
being within the scope of the following claims particularly
pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is
regarded as the invention.
* * * * *