U.S. patent number 3,878,843 [Application Number 05/317,543] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-22 for surgical drape with edge grips and method.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Morgan Adhesives Company. Invention is credited to Burton D. Morgan.
United States Patent |
3,878,843 |
Morgan |
April 22, 1975 |
SURGICAL DRAPE WITH EDGE GRIPS AND METHOD
Abstract
A surgical drape or laminate is provided including a plastic
film with a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on one face
surface of the film and a flexible paper center cover layer
thereover, and parallel pairs of cover strip means on edge portions
of the adhesive whereby when an inner cover strip is removed, the
edges of the laminate can be folded inwardly on themselves to
provide a thickened laminate for drape grip and handling
action.
Inventors: |
Morgan; Burton D. (Stow,
OH) |
Assignee: |
Morgan Adhesives Company (Stow,
OH)
|
Family
ID: |
23234154 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/317,543 |
Filed: |
December 22, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
128/851; 428/121;
428/41.8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
46/40 (20160201); Y10T 428/2419 (20150115); Y10T
428/1476 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
19/08 (20060101); A61B 19/00 (20060101); A61f
013/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/132D,292,155,156
;161/36,37,38,99 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gaudet; Richard A.
Assistant Examiner: Dunne; G. F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Oldham & Oldham Co.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. That method of forming and using a surgical drape comprising the
steps of
applying a layer of adhesive to one surface of a plastic film,
covering the adhesive with a sheet having a removable center
portion therein and providing a pair of removable cover strips on
opposed marginal areas of the adhesive layer whereby the adhesive
layer is completely covered to prepare the drape for storage and
shipping, and
removing the cover strips and folding the marginal film areas
inwardly on the exposed adhesive to form handle portions for the
drape to prepare the same for use.
2. A method as in claim 1 including the steps of providing and
using a pair of parallel cover strips on each of said marginal
areas, and removing only the inner one of each of said pairs of
strips prior to the folding of the film inwardly with one edge
strip on each margin thereof.
3. A method as in claim 1 including the step of providing an
interrupted layer of adhesive on said one surface of said film,
which adhesive layer has strips applied on said opposed marginal
areas spaced from an adhesive layer section covering the center
portion of said film.
4. A surgical laminate comprising
a plastic film having a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive
thereon,
a pair of parallel strips of a paper cover means on each of a pair
of opposed margins of said film and removably adhesively attached
thereto, and
a cover sheet for the center portion of said film removably
attached to said adhesive layer, said cover means and cover sheet
having adjacent edges which are abutted, the inner one of each of
said parallel strips being removable to expose part of said
adhesive layer so that opposed edges of the laminate can be folded
over on themselves to engage the exposed part of said adhesive
layer to provide a plural laminate thickness at marginal portions
thereof to form opposed grip areas whereby the laminate can be
grasped by said grip areas and be attached to a person by said
adhesive layer after said cover sheet has been removed.
5. A surgical laminate comprising
a plastic film having a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on a
portion of one face thereof,
a pair of parallel strips of a paper cover means on each of a pair
of opposed margins of said film and removably adhesively attached
thereto,
a cover sheet for the center portion of said film, said cover means
and cover sheet having adjacent edges which are abutted, said cover
sheet being attached to said adhesive layer,
said layer of pressure sensitive adhesive being on the center
portion of one face of said film and on a pair of opposed lateral
marginal strips of the film spaced from the center portion
adhesive,
said strips of said cover means engaging the marginal strips of
said adhesive, and
a layer of release material extending the width of the laminate and
being on one face of said cover sheet and of said paper cover
means, said cover sheet being attached to the adhesive layer on the
center portion of said film with said release material being
between said film and cover sheet, release material also being
present between the inner strip of each of said pairs of strips and
said adhesive layer whereby the inner of said strips can be removed
and opposed edges of the laminate folded over on themselves to
engage the exposed adhesive to provide plural laminate thickness at
marginal areas to form opposed grip areas whereby the laminate can
be grasped by said grip areas and be attached to a person by said
adhesive layer after said cover sheet has been removed.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Heretofore there have been several patents issued on various types
of laminated surgical drapes and these patents include U.S. Pat.
Nos. 3,260,360 and 3,349,765. Products made in accordance with one
or more of such patent disclosures have been used appreciably
commercially heretofore. These patents describe the problems
involved in the production of the surgical drapes and particularly
in the use of the drapes. That is, the drapes, when they are sold,
normally are provided in asceptic form and it is naturally
essential that the drapes be maintained asceptic as they are
prepared for use and used by being applied to a patient.
Problems arise in the use of surgical drapes as made heretofore
inasmuch as it has been somewhat difficult for the nurse or doctor
or other person using the surgical drapes to handle these drapes
and apply them to a patient in a convenient easily controlled
manner and yet to maintain the desired asceptic conditions at all
times. Also manufacture of prior types of drapes as shown in U.S.
Pat. No. 3,260,260 has required use of some release coated paper
covering means and some paper which is not release coated. This
requires special handling or processing of the drape as it is being
made.
The object of the present invention is to provide a new and
improved surgical drape or laminate and particularly one which is
characterized by the provision of opposed marginal grip areas
formed from plural thicknesses of the laminate; and to provide
removable cover strips at portions of a laminate spaced from the
edges thereof.
Another object of the invention is to provide surgical drapes or
laminates wherein the laminate can be conveniently and economically
manufactured by substantially conventional means and processes and
yet be provided in form for use with plural thicknesses of the
laminate at opposed marginal portions thereof to form handles for
the laminate.
Another object of the invention is to provide a surgical drape
using a pressure sensitive adhesive in the drape and wherein a
suitable plastic film provides an impervious cover means in the
laminate which can be readily used by skilled personnel without
damage to the asceptic condition of the drape or laminate.
Other objects of the invention are to fold a laminate laterally
inwardly on itself and provide a surgical drape which is extremely
convenient to handle and use and to maintain in asceptic
condition.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention
will be made more apparent as the specification proceeds.
Reference now is directed to the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a section through a laminate of the invention and
embodying the principles thereof, showing it as initially
produced;
FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the laminate of FIG. 1, but
indicating an edge folding step or action in producing the desired
end article;
FIG. 3 is a vertical section through the laminate of FIG. 2 with an
additional laterally inward edge folding action having been
performed; and
FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are views similar to FIGS. 1 to 3 of a modified
laminate.
When referring to the accompanying drawing and the specification,
corresponding numerals are used to facilitate comparison between
corresponding members found in the drawing and referred to in the
specification.
SUBJECT MATTER OF INVENTION
A surgical laminate comprising a plastic film, a layer of pressure
sensitive adhesive carried on one face of the film and including
strips or portions of adhesive at opposed lateral marginal areas of
the film which adhesive portions may be spaced from the center area
of the film, and a flexible paper covering layer on the center area
of the adhesive layer on the film. Reenforcing handle strips are
secured to the film by the adhesive layer at the lateral marginal
areas of the film and with such handle strips preferably comprising
two relatively narrow strips positioned on each of the lateral
marginal areas of the film and with the laterally inner one of the
strips being removable whereby lateral portions of the laminate can
be folded inwardly on themselves and be adhesively bonded together
to provide plural layers of laminates at opposed marginal portions
of the drape or laminate to facilitate handling thereof.
Reference now is directed to the details of the structure shown in
the drawings, and a surgical drape embodying the principles of the
invention is indicated as a whole by the numeral 10. Obviously this
drape can be prepared in any desired size in width and length and
be sold in any desired manner. However, rectangular or square
sheets of the drape normally would be provided and the laminate of
the invention is adapted to be packaged, and shipped in any
conventional manner. However, usually the drape is made and
processed so as to be asceptic in condition and then is suitably
protected and enclosed when it is transported and stored to be
ready for use.
The drape 10 comprises a sheet of suitable plastic film 12, and
this film can be made from polypropylene, or other suitable plastic
materials with the film normally being quite thin, such as from
about 0.001 to 0.005 inch. The film 12 is flexible, but tough and
durable for use to maintain a continuous, impervious surface over
the portion of the human anatomy to which the drape is applied.
In the drawings, obviously the thickness of the various layers of
material used in the drape 10 are exaggerated or magnified for
convenience in illustration and with all of the layers in the drape
being quite thin, in the order of from about 0.001 inch to any
other reasonable thickness, such as 0.005 inch.
In making the drape 10, the film layer 12 has a conventional
adhesive layer 14 applied thereby by conventional means. Normally
this adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive and it is a
continuous layer on the film 12. The center area of the drape 10
has a conventional release coated cover sheet 16 applied thereto
and this cover sheet normally is made from paper and it has a
conventional layer of a release material 18 applied to the surface
of the cover sheet engaging the adhesive layer 14 to facilitate
removal of this cover sheet when the laminate is to be used.
Special features of the invention reside in the provision of,
usually, a pair of edge strips 20 and 22 at each lateral margin of
the drape. These edge strips 20 and 22 are parallel and are formed
from paper, usually from the same material as the cover sheet 18.
Layers of the conventional release coating also are provided on the
surfaces of the edge strips engaging the adhesive layer of the
drape 10.
These edge strips 20 and 22 usually have their lateral edges
abutted and the inner strip may abut on or be spaced from the sheet
16. In all events, after the laminate as shown in FIG. 1 has been
formed it can be stored and shipped. When the drape is to be used
it is processed by hand or in other suitable manners so as to fold
or roll each lateral edge portion of the film 12 and the means
thereon laterally inwardly of the drape. Such action is only taken
after the laterally inner edge strips 22 have been removed from the
laminate. Such action exposes a portion of the adhesive layer 14 as
indicated in FIG. 2. Then the edge portions of the drape are either
folded inwardly upon themselves one time, or else they can be
folded inwardly a plurality of times, such as to be folded inwardly
on itself once and then the thus produced plural ply laminate can
be folded inwardly on itself again to provide the structure as
shown in FIG. 3.
The drawings clearly show that portions of the adhesive layer are
exposed when the edge strips 22 are removed whereby portions of the
film 12 can be folded onto these adhesive sections to achieve a
permanent bonding of the multiple ply laminate areas to each other
to form a thickened gripping edge therefrom. In folding these
lateral marginal portions of the laminate inwardly, such action can
be taken so as to bring the multiple ply laminate into substantial
engagement with the lateral margins of the cover sheet 16.
Hence, when the drape 10 is to be used, the drape can be grasped by
the multi-ply portions 30 formed at a pair of opposed edges of the
laminate and a relatively sturdy, easily grasped handle portion or
grip area is provided in the drape. By holding the drape with one
edge portion, or by holding the drape by opposed edge portions,
then one person or his associate can remove the center cover sheet
16 from the drape and it can be readily applied to a patient by
grasping the opposed marginal portions of the drape.
Naturally, no one needs to contact the center portion of the drape
except to remove the center cover sheet therefrom, and people using
the drape 10 normally would be asceptic themselves and/or be
wearing asceptic gloves whereby the drape 10 as applied and used
can be maintained easily in completely sanitary condition.
Use of these surgical drapes 10 has been accepted commercially and
by doctors as facilitating operations and the drapes aid in
maintaining the surgical procedure asceptic and to prevent
contamination of the cut areas of the patient.
A modified type of laminate 10a is shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. In
this instance, a suitable plastic film 12a is provided that has a
layer of suitable adhesive 14a applied to its center area.
Additional portions of adhesive layers are applied at 14b to
laterally opposed marginal portions of the film 12a. The laminate
of the invention is completed by a pair of release strips 20a and
22a as before. However, in this instance, when the laterally inner
cover strip 22a is removed, then there is no objectionable portion
of the adhesive layer that is exposed when the drape is ready for
use, or when it is being handled preparatory to use. The actions in
folding marginal portions of the drape inwardly on itself and the
removal of the strip 22a is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
It can be realized that the paper strips 20 and 22 and the like can
be of the same size, if desired, or they can be of different
widths. In all events, the laminate is made so that a pair of paper
strips are present at each lateral edge and the laterally inner one
of the strips can be removed. Then by one or a plurality of
laterally inwardly extending folds of portions of the laminate, a
thickened gripping section or handle portion is provided on each of
a pair of opposed margins of the sheet.
The drape of the invention is relatively inexpensive to make and to
use, and an improved laminate has been achieved without increase in
cost or any difficulty in the production thereof; also, the method
of forming and using the drape is readily practiced. Hence, it is
believed that the objects of the invention have been achieved.
While several complete embodiments of the invention have been
disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that modification of these
particular embodiments of the invention may be resorted to without
departing from the scope of the invention.
* * * * *