Medical Procedure Tray

Abstract

A sterile, medical procedure tray is disclosed, comprising a tray body having a raised rim about its periphery, and a sterile drape attached to the tray body and folded together within the rim. A gas-permeable, contamination-impermeable sheet is releasably attached to the periphery of the rim to aseptically enclose the drape and the tray body interior within the rim. Auxiliary trays can be provided which hook to the tray body to provide additional tray space.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Medical procedure trays are sterile, prepackaged containers which include most or all of the medical and surgical items necessary for performing a simple medical or surgical process, such as a liver biopsy, spinal anesthesia, or the like. The trays are very convenient for the hospital or clinical user, since all of the equipment is presterilized, and since it is sold as an "off the shelf" item. Hence, the nurse does not have to take the trouble to collect and sterilize all of the equipment necessary for the operation. Instead, the tray is merely brought to the place where the procedure is to be performed, and opened, so that the procedure can take place at once with a very substantial saving of preparation time for the nurse.

In the procedure trays which are presently available, a surgical drape is provided which is a waterproof, sterile fabric for spreading over the surgical table to provide a sterile field on which to lay the instruments. With the presently available medical procedure trays, the drape is wrapped around the tray containing the other equipment for the procedure, and the wrapped tray is, in turn, enclosed in an impermeable outer wrap. Thus the tray and drape must be removed from the outer wrap, the drape unwrapped from around the tray, and spread on the operating table. Then the tray is laind on top of the drape. In such a procedure, a substantial amount of handling of the tray and drape is required, and there is the possibility of contaminating the surgical drape or tray by accidentally brushing it against a nonsterile surface during the unwrapping and preparation procedure.

A further problem with the prior art trays is that since the equipment for each medical procedure is prepackaged in the tray, there is insufficient opportunity for the individual doctor or surgeon to exercise his professional discretion in the selection of other equipment that he might wish to use during the procedure, apart from the equipment provided in the tray.

The invention of this application provides improved solutions to the above problems, in that the trays of this invention are more conveniently opened with substantially less handling of the tray and drape, and an optional, auxiliary tray means is provided to permit the doctor or surgeon to add optional equipment of his choice to the basic package of the equipment provided by the tray, all in a sterile field. Additionally, the outer wrapping of conventional trays is replaced with a much simpler closure sheet in the tray of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention, a sterile, medical procedure tray is provided which comprises a tray body having a raised rim about its periphery. A sterile drape is attached to the tray body at positions within the rim, the drape being also folded together within the rim prior to use. A gas-permeable, contamination-impermeable sheet is releasably attached to the periphery of the rim to aseptically enclose the drape and the tray body interior therein.

If desired, one or more auxiliary trays are provided with the tray of this invention, so that the doctor or surgeon has a sterile site to place additional instruments and medicaments for the procedure. These auxiliary trays define a peripheral protrusion to form a shoulder on one surface, and a corresponding indentation on the other surface of the auxiliary tray. The indentation is proportioned to fit over the rim of the tray body in mating relationship to hook the tray body and auxiliary trays together when they are in their position of use.

For use, the contamination-impermeable sheet is torn away from the rim of the tray body to expose the optional auxiliary trays and the surgical drape. The auxiliary trays are then removed and hooked into position as described below, and the sterile drape is unfolded about the tray body and over the auxiliary trays, creating a sterile field around the tray. Thus, the tray of this invention can be simply set down on a nonsterile surface and easily opened with a simple motion by removing the impermeable sheet. The drape is then unfolded across the sterile surface to create the important sterile field in a manner much simpler than that of the prior art.

Referring to the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aseptically-sealed medical procedure tray of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same tray with the contamination-impermeable sheet being torn away from the rim of the tray body.

FIG. 3 is a view of the same tray with the impermeable sheet removed, showing the folded drape enclosed within the rim of the tray body.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the same tray with the surgical drape completely unfolded to create a sterile field, and showing the equipment and medicaments contained in said tray.

FIG. 5 is a vertical, fragmentary sectional view of the same tray of this invention, showing the surgical drape in unfolded condition.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of the tray of this invention in closed configuration, the tray containing two auxiliary trays.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view similar to the embodiment of FIG. 6, showing the position of use of the auxiliary trays, but showing a different embodiment of the surgical drape in unfolded configuration.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the same tray as shown in FIG. 7 in open position of use.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, FIG. 1 shows the closed tray of this invention, having a tray body 10 with a raised rim 12, to the periphery of which is attached a gas-permeable, contamination-impermeable sheet 14 in a releasable manner, so that it can be manually removed as shown in FIG. 2. An overlapping section 16 of sheet 14 is provided for easy grasp of the sheet. The gas-permeable, contamination-impermeable sheet is desirably made of a spun-bonded, porous sheeting made of olefin fibers, typically polyethylene, such as the material sold under the trademark TYVEK, by E. I. du Pont de Nemours. It can be conventionally glued or releasably heat sealed to the top of rim 12.

Surgical drape 18 is stored under sheet 14, as shown in FIG. 3, and is accessible for unfolding to the position shown in FIG. 4 to provide a sterile field after removal of sheet 14 from the top of tray 10. After drape 18 has been unfolded, the various instruments and medicaments 20 for the medical procedure are exposed to the user. If desired, other separate fenestrated drapes to cover the patient can also be included.

As shown in FIG. 5, the bottom of tray body 10 forms ridges 22 for defining separate compartments 24 for holding the instruments, medicaments, and the like. Drape 18 overlies the tray bottom in contour-matching relationship, and is attached thereto. Suitably, the drape 18 is attached to tray 10 by a thermo-forming or pressure welding step, in which the tray simultaneously is molded from a flat sheet of plastic to the desired three-dimensional configuration. However, as shown in a later embodiment, the drape 18 can have an aperture in it of a size slightly less than rim 12, so that the edges of the aperture can be glued or otherwise sealed to the interior of rim 12. The operation of converting the tray from the configuration of FIG. 1 to that of FIG. 4 requires only a few seconds, and the medical or surgical procedure can proceed immediately thereafter.

The gas-permeable, contamination-impermeable sheet 14 permits the tray to be presterilized at the manufacturing site with ethylene oxide gas or the like after assembly of the tray.

Referring to FIGS. 6 through 8, variants of the tray of FIGS. 1 through 5 are shown having two auxiliary trays 26, 28 for providing extra tray space for the medical practitioner to add medicaments and equipment to the procedure tray according to his discretion. Each tray 26, 28 defines a peripheral protrusion to form a shoulder 30 on one surface and a corresponding indentation 32 on the other surface of the tray. The indentation 32 is proportioned to fit over rim 12 in mating relationship to hook the tray body 10 and each auxiliary tray 26, 28 together in the position of use, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. This tray also includes the gas-permeable, contamination-impermeable sheet 14 for the same purpose as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

For use of the tray, after removal of sheet 14, auxiliary trays 26, 28 are removed and hooked onto rim 12 of tray 10. Thereafter, drape 18a is unfolded to overlie auxiliary trays 26, 28 in the position as shown in FIG. 8. Drape 18a is shown to be pressed down in trays 26, 28 to follow the tray contours.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, drape 18a has an aperture which is slightly smaller than rim 12, so that the drape covers only inner shoulder 36, but not the rest of the tray bottom. The drape 18a is heat welded, solvent sealed, or otherwise attached to inner shoulder 36. Otherwise, FIG. 7 shows a tray identical to that of FIG. 6.

The tray of this invention can be used to set up a sterile, surgical field, and instruments ready for use within the sterile field, in a matter of seconds after the tray has been set down on a surface. The auxiliary trays provide sterile spaces for storing extra medicaments and instruments as desired by the doctor or surgeon.

The above disclosure is offered for illustrative purposes only, and is not intended to limit the invention, which is defined in the claims below.

Claims

We claim:

1. A sterile medical procedure tray which comprises a tray body having a raised rim about its periphery, a sterile drape attached to said tray body within said rim, said drape being folded together within said rim, and a gas-permeable, contamination-impermeable sheet releasably attached to the periphery of said rim to aseptically enclose said drape and the tray body interior within said rim, and at least one auxiliary tray, positioned underneath said gas-permeable, contamination-impermeable sheet within said rim, said auxiliary tray defining a peripheral protrusion to form a shoulder on one surface and an indentation on the other surface of said tray, said indentation being proportioned to fit over said rim in mating relationship to hook said trays together in position of use.

2. The medical procedure tray of claim 1 having a tray bottom which forms ridges for defining separate compartments for holding instruments, medicaments, and the like, and in which said drape overlies said tray bottom in contour-matching relationship, and is attached thereto.

3. The medical procedure tray of claim 1 in which said sterile drape has an aperture defined therein of smaller dimension than said rim, the drape edges defining said aperture being affixed to the inner portions of said rim.

4. A sterile medical procedure tray which comprises:

a tray body having a raised rim about its periphery,

a sterile drape attached to said tray body within said rim, said drape being folded together within said rim,

an auxiliary tray resting on said drape, said auxiliary tray defining a peripheral protrusion to form a shoulder on one surface and an indentation on the other surface of said auxiliary tray, said indentation being proportioned to fit over said rim in mating relationship to hook said tray body and said auxiliary tray together in position of use, and

a gas-permeable, contamination-impermeable sheet releasably attached to the periphery of said rim to aseptically enclose said drape, auxiliary tray, and the tray body interior within said rim.

5. The medical procedure tray of claim 4 in which a plurality of auxiliary trays are included within the space sealed by said rim and contamination-impermeable sheet.