U.S. patent number 3,791,382 [Application Number 05/240,914] was granted by the patent office on 1974-02-12 for waterproof body coverings with fluid receiving pockets.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Kendall Company. Invention is credited to Robert F. Collins.
United States Patent |
3,791,382 |
Collins |
February 12, 1974 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
WATERPROOF BODY COVERINGS WITH FLUID RECEIVING POCKETS
Abstract
A surgical drape having a main sheet for placement on a
patient's body for performing a surgical procedure. The drape has
at least one pocket on the outer surface of the main sheet to
receive fluid runoff from the site of surgical procedure.
Inventors: |
Collins; Robert F. (Barrington,
IL) |
Assignee: |
The Kendall Company (Walpole,
MA)
|
Family
ID: |
22908451 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/240,914 |
Filed: |
April 4, 1972 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
37637 |
May 15, 1970 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
128/853 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
46/00 (20160201) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
19/08 (20060101); A61B 19/00 (20060101); A61f
013/00 (); A61f 013/18 (); A61l 015/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/132,132D
;2/247,DIG.5,DIG.7 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Charles; Lawrence
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sprunger; Powell L.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This is a Continuation-in-Part of copending application Ser. No.
37,637, filed May 15, 1970, now abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. A drape for performing a surgical procedure on a patient's body,
comprising:
a main sheet for placement over the patient's body, said main sheet
having a pair of side edges, a pair of end edges connecting the
side edges, a fenestration, an inner surface for contacting the
patient's body after placement of the drape, and an outer surface
facing away from the patient's body after placement of the drape;
and
a pair of pockets on the outer surface of said main sheet, each of
said pockets being spaced from the site of surgical procedure and
being positioned intermediate said fenestration and one of said
side edges in the expected path of fluid runoff from the surgical
site during the surgical procedure, and each of said pockets having
a pouch and an upper edge defining an opening communicating with
said pouch, with said openings facing toward the surgical site and
being sufficiently wide to receive fluid runoff in said
pouches.
2. The drape of claim 1 wherein the upper edges of the pockets are
spaced from two to ten inches from the fenestration.
3. The drape of claim 1 wherein the depth of said pockets is from
two to five inches.
4. The drape of claim 1 including an absorbent material positioned
in said pouches.
5. The drape of claim 1 wherein said upper edges is secured to the
drape at at least one point intermediate the ends of the upper.
6. A drape for performing a surgical procedure on a patient's body,
comprising:
a main sheet for placement on the patient's body, said main sheet
having a pair of side edges, a pair of end edges connecting the
side edges, a fenestration, an inner surface for contacting the
patient's body after placement of the drape, and an outer surface
facing away from the patient's body after placement of the drape;
and
a reinforcement sheet having a fenestration and secured to the
outer surface of the main sheet with the fenestrations of the main
and reinforcement sheets in registration, said reinforcement sheet
having a pair of generally aligned fold lines defining a pocket on
the outer surface of said main sheet, said pocket being spaced from
the site of surgical procedure and being positioned in the expected
path of fluid runoff from the surgical site during the surgical
procedure, and said pocket having a pouch and an upper edge
defining an opening communicating with said pouch, with said
opening facing toward the surgical site to receive fluid runoff in
said pouch.
7. A drape for performing a surgical procedure on a patient's body,
comprising:
a main sheet for placement on the patient's body, said main sheet
having a pair of side edges, a pair of end edges connecting the
side edges, an inner surface for contacting the patient's body
after placement of the drape, and an outer surface facing away from
he patient's body after placement of the drape; and
at least one pocket on the outer surface of said main sheet, said
pocket being spaced from the site of surgical procedure and being
positioned in the expected path of fluid runoff from the surgical
site during the surgical procedure, and said pocket having a pouch
and an outer flap terminating in an upper edge defining an opening
communicating with said pouch, with said opening facing toward the
surgical site to receive fluid runoff in said pouch, with said flap
having at least one pleat to increase the fluid gathering capacity
of the pocket.
8. The drape of claim 7 wherein said pocket includes a pair of end
edges, and said flap includes a tuck pleat adjacent the end edges
of the pocket.
9. The drape of claim 7 wherein said flap has a box pleat in which
the fold lines thereof extend to the upper edge of the pocket and
in which the two pleat folds of the box pleat are disposed inwardly
toward said pouch.
10. The drape of claim 9 wherein said box pleat has a panel section
intermediate said pleat folds, and said panel section is secured to
the drape at a point removed from said upper edge.
11. A drape for performing a surgical procedure on a patient's
body, comprising:
a main sheet for placement on the patient's body, said main sheet
having a pair of side edges, a pair of end edges connecting the
side edges, an inner surface for contacting the patient's body
after placement of the drape, and an outer surface facing away from
the patient's body after placement of the drape; and
at least one pocket on the outer surface of said main sheet, said
pocket being spaced from the site of surgical procedure and being
positioned in the expected path of fluid runoff from the surgical
site during the surgical procedure, said pocket having a pouch and
an upper edge defining an opening communicating with said pouch,
with said opening facing toward the surgical site to receive fluid
runoff in said pouch, said pocket having a pair of side edges, a
lower edge connecting the side edges of the pocket, and a
fenestration adjacent its lower edge for channeled runoff of
excessive fluid from said pocket.
12. The drape of claim 11 wherein at least a portion of said pocket
is sloped with said fenestration being located adjacent the lower
end of said slope.
13. The drape of claim 12 wherein said pocket means is
chevron-shaped with said fenestration being located at the point of
the chevron.
14. A drape for performing a surgical procedure on a patient's
body, comprising:
a main sheet for placement on the patient's body, said main sheet
having a pair of side edges, a pair of end edges connecting the
side edges, an inner surface for contacting the patient's body
after placement of the drape, and an outer surface facing away from
the patient's body after placement of the drape;
at least one pocket on the outer surface of said main sheet, said
pocket being spaced from the site of surgical procedure and being
positioned in the expected path of fluid runoff from the surgical
site during the surgical procedure, and said pocket having a pouch
and an upper edge defining an opening communicating with said
pouch, with said opening facing toward the surgical site to receive
fluid runoff in said pouch; and
a liquid permeable, non-absorbent, liner secured inside said pouch
to capture sponges during the course of the surgical procedure.
15. The drape of claim 14 wherein said liner has a color which
contrasts with the expected color of said sponges.
16. A drape for performing a surgical procedure on a patient's
body, comprising:
a main sheet for placement on the patient's body, said main sheet
having an inner surface for contacting the patient's body after
placement of the drape, and an outer surface facing away from the
patient's body after placement of the drape;
pocket means on the outer surface of said main sheet, said pocket
means being spaced from the site of surgical procedure and being
positioned in the expected path of fluid runoff from the surgical
site during the surgical procedure, and said pocket means having a
pouch and an upper edge defining an opening communicating with said
pouch, with said opening facing toward the surgical site to receive
fluid runoff in said pouch; and
an absorbent material positioned in said pouch to retain fluid
runoff in the pouch.
17. The drape of claim 16 wherein said absorbent material comprises
an absorbent sheet secured to and covering at least a portion of
the inside of said pocket means.
18. The drape of claim 16 wherein said absorbent material comprises
an absorbent sheet positioned in said pouch.
19. The drape of claim 18 wherein said absorbent sheet is folded
along a fold line, and said absorbent sheet is positioned in the
pouch with said fold line facing toward said opening.
20. The drape of claim 16 wherein said absorbent material comprises
an absorbent filler material positioned in said pouch.
21. The drape of claim 16 including a liquid permeable,
non-absorbent, liner secured inside the absorbent material in said
pouch to capture sponges during the course of the surgical
procedure.
22. The drape of claim 21 wherein said liner has a color which
contrasts with the expected color of said sponges.
23. A drape for performing a surgical procedure on a patient's
body, comprising: a main sheet for placement on the patient's body,
said main sheet having a fenestration, an inner surface for
contacting the patient's body after placement of the drape, an
outer surface facing away from the patient's body after placement
of the drape, a pair of generally aligned fold lines in the main
sheet defining a tuck extending through the main sheet below said
fenestration after placement of the drape, and means securing said
tuck to the main sheet on opposite sides of the fenestration to
define a pocket having an opening facing toward the fenestration
for receiving fluid runoff from the fenestration.
24. A drape for performing a surgical procedure on a patient's body
comprising: a main sheet for placement on the patient's body, said
main sheet having a fenestration, a pair of side edges, a pair of
end edges connecting the side edges, an inner surface for
contacting the patient's body after placement of the drape, an
outer surface facing away from the patient's body after placement
of the drape, a pair of generally aligned fold lines intermediate
said fenestration and each of said side edges, with each pair of
fold lines being generally aligned with the nearest side edge and
defining a longitudinally extending tuck in the main sheet, and
means securing each of said tucks to the main sheet intermediate
said fenestration and each of said end edges to define a pocket
under each of said tucks having an opening facing toward the
fenestration for receiving fluid runoff from the fenestration.
25. A drape for performing a surgical procedure on a patient's
body, comprising:
a main sheet for placement on the patient's body, said main sheet
having a fenestration, an inner surface for contacting the
patient's body after placement of the drape, and an outer surface
facing away from the patient's body after placement of the
drape;
a reinforcement sheet secured to the outer surface of the main
sheet, said reinforcement sheet having a pair of generally aligned
fold lines defining a tuck extending in the reinforcement sheet;
and
means securing said tuck to the reinforcement sheet on opposite
sides of the fenestration to define a pocket having an opening
facing towrd the fenestration for receiving fluid runoff from the
fenestration.
26. The drape of claim 25 wherein said tuck extends through the
reinforcement sheet, and the securing means secures the ends of
said tuck to the reinforcement sheet.
27. The drape of claim 25 wherein said reinforcement sheet includes
a fenestration in registration with the fenestration of the main
sheet.
28. A drape for performing a surgical procedure on a patient's
body, comprising:
a main sheet for placement on the patient's body, said main sheet
having a fenestration, a pair of side edges, a pair of end edges
connecting the side edges, an inner surface for contacting the
patient's body after placement of the drape, and an outer surface
facing away from the patient's body after placement of the
drape;
a reinforcement sheet secured to the outer surface of the main
sheet, said reinforcement sheet having a fenestration in
registration with the fenestration of the main sheet, a pair of
side edges intermediate the fenestrations and the side edges of the
main sheet, a pair of end edges intermediate the fenestrations and
the end edges of the main sheet, and a pair of generally aligned
fold lines intermediate the fenestrations and each of the side
edges of teh reinforcement sheet, with each of the pair of fold
lines defining a tuck in the reinforcement sheet; and
means securing each of said tucks to the reinforcement sheet
intermediate the fenestrations and each of the end edges of the
main sheet to define a pair of pockets having openings facing
toward the fenestrations for receiving fluid runoff from the
fenestrations.
29. The drape of claim 28 wherein the pairs of fold lines extend
between the end edges of the reinforcement sheet, and the securing
means secures the ends of said tucks to the reinforcement
sheet.
30. The drape of claim 28 including an absorbent material
positioned in each of the pockets.
Description
This invention relates to improvements in articles of surgical
apparel, and more particularly to surgical drapes.
It is the primary object of the invention to provide an improvement
in articles of surgical apparel whereby the random and unchecked
runoff of blood and other fluid, present in a surgical procedure,
may be controlled.
According to the invention there is provided a drape for performing
a surgical procedure on a patient's body. The drape has a main
sheet for placement on the patient's body, and at least one pocket
is located on the outer surface of the main sheet in the expected
path of fluid runoff from the site of surgical procedure. The
pocket has a pouch and an upper edge defining an opening which
communicates with the pouch, and the opening faces toward the
surgical site to receive fluid runoff in the pouch. In one
embodiment of the invention the pocket incorporates pleats to
increase its fluid retentive capacity. In another embodiment an
absorbent material is positioned in the pouch to retain fluid in
the pocket. The main sheet is folded in one form of the invention
to define the pocket, and in another embodiment a reinforcement
sheet is secured to the outer surface of the main sheet, with the
reinforcement sheet being folded to define the pocket.
Other objects, features, and advantages will appear from the
following description of a preferred embodiment, taken together
with the attached drawings thereof, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surgical drape suitable for
abdominal surgery constructed according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing details of the pocket
structure of the drape of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially as indicated along
the line 3--3 of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view illustrating an alternative
embodiment of the improved drape as used in conjunction with an
obstetrical or lithotomy procedure;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present
invention in which a reinforcement sheet is folded to define a pair
of pockets;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as
indicated along the line 6--6 of FIG. 5, and showing a folded
absorbent sheet in the pockets;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the drape of FIG. 5
showing an absorbent filler positioned in a pocket of the
drape;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the drape of FIG. 5
showing an absorbent sheet secured to the inside of a pocket of the
drape;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the drape of FIG. 5,
showing an upper edge of a pocket secured to the drape intermediate
the ends of the pocket;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present
invention in which a main sheet of the drape is folded to define a
pair of pockets;
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as
indicated along the line 11--11 of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary plan view of another embodiment of a drape
of the present invention for use in lithotomy or obstetrical
procedures;
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as
indicated along the line 13--13 of FIG. 12;
FIG. 14 is a fragmentary plan view of another embodiment of a drape
of the invention for use in lithotomy or obstetrical
procedures;
FIG. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as
indicated along the line 15--15 of FIG. 14;
FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of
the invention; and
FIG. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of
the invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, a patient for abdominal surgery is draped with
a surgical drape 10 having an appropriately located fenestration 12
for access to the site of surgery. The drape 10 may be either a
customary cloth drape or a disposable drape comprising a fluid
impervious or fluid repellent sheet. The drape 10 has a
fluid-trapping pocket structure 14 on the outer surface of a main
sheet which is located at a level below the level of the
fenestration 12 when the sheet is draped over the patient. The
pocket 14 is spaced from the fenestration 12 and is positioned in
the expected path of fluid runoff from the fenestration. (If fluid
runoff can be anticipated toward both sides of the fenestration 12,
as shown in the FIG. 1, a pocket structure 14 may be provided on
both sides of the sheet 10.)
Various alternative features of the pocket 14 may be described with
relation to the detailed views of FIS. 2 and 3. The pocket
structure 14 is basically a sheet 16 which is attached to the drape
10 along its side edges 18 and in its lower region 20. The sheet 16
may comprise either absorbent or nonabsorbent materials (e.g.,
plastic, cloth, paper, cellulosic material, etc.). In the case of a
disposable surgical drape 10 which comprises a fluid impervious
plastic material, the sheet 16 may conveniently be of the same
material as the drape 10 itself.
The sheet 16 may be attached to the drape 10 in any conventional
fashion suitable for the material chosen; including sewing, gluing,
or heat sealing.
As best seen in FIG. 3, the bottom edge 21 of the sheet 16 is
preferably folded under before attachment of lower region 20 to the
drape 10. This arrangement helps insure that the pocket structure
14 will automatically assume an open configuration, with the top or
upper edge 22 of sheet 16 spaced apart from the drape 10, when the
drape is spread over the patient.
An additional feature which also will help to insure such an open
configuration is the pleating of the sheet 16. Such pleating may be
located at the side edges 18 and at various points along the length
of the pocket structure 14. Representative pleats are indicated in
FIG. 2 with the tuck pleats 24 and 28 and the box pleat 26. The two
folds of the box pleat 26, as shown in FIG. 2, are disposed toward
the surface of the first or main sheet, inwardly toward the cavity
or pouch of the pocket defined by the first and second sheets. The
panel section of the box pleat which is between the two folds is
therefore spaced from the surface of the first sheet by a distance
at least equal to the thickness of two plies of the second
sheet.
Although it is desired to have the upper edge 22 of the sheet 16
spaced apart from the drape 10 when the drape is in use, if the
material of which the pocket structure 14 is constructed lacks
stiffness the presence of pleats may cause the pocket structure to
sag to the point where trapped fluid spills over the top edge 22 of
the sheet 16. To avoid this, spots 30 or lines 32 may be provided
where the sheet 16 is attached to the underlying drape 10. It is to
be noted that the aforesaid panel section of the box pleat 26, as
shown in FIG. 2, is secured to the surface of the first sheet at a
point below the top edge 22 of the sheet 16. With the panel of the
box pleat secured to the first sheet at this point, the box pleat
at the top edge 22 can open up to provide a funnel-like opening
facing in the direction of the expected fluid runoff.
It should also be noted that horizontal pleats may be substituted
for the vertical pleats shown in FIG. 2 to provide a pocket
structure in which the top edge 22 of sheet 16 assumes an open
configuration when the drape 10 is placed over the patient.
If the fluid runoff is expected in an amount that would cause
spillage from the pocket structure (e.g., from the pressure of a
surgeon's body) or difficulty in handling the drape for disposal at
the conclusion of the procedure, an absorbent material may be
provided inside the pocket structure to aid in the positive
retention of the fluid trapped. Absorbent material 33 may be
constructed as an integral part of the inside facing 34 (see FIG.
3) of the pocket or may be a separate absorbent body placed inside
the structure at the time of the use of the drape or during the
drape construction. The placement of such an absorbent within the
pocket structure 14 would, of course, also help to insure that the
top edge 22 of sheet 16 remains spaced apart from the drape 10 so
that all fluid runoff is collected in the pocket structure 14.
Control of fluid runoff may be desirable when absorption or
containment is not practical due to the large quantity of fluid.
Such occasion might arise, for example, in an obstetrical,
abdominal, or lithotomy procedure. In such a case, as shown in FIG.
4, the pocket structure 14 may be provided with an opening 36 in
the lower part of the sheet 16. The opening 36 may be formed by
leaving an area at the desired position unattached to the
underlying drape 10 or by cutting a fenestration (as in FIG. 4) at
the desired position. A receptacle 38 may be placed directly below
the opening 36 to collect the channeled fluid.
The construction shown in FIG. 4 also incorporates a chevron-shape
of the pocket structure 14 to assure proper flow to the location of
the opening in the pocket structure.
Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and
6, in which the drape 110 has a main sheet 150 for placement on the
patient's body and a reinforcement sheet 152 secured to the main
sheet 150. The main sheet 150 has a pair of side edges 154a and
154b, a pair of end edges 156a and 156b connecting the side edges
154a and b, a fenestration 158, an inner surface 160 for contacting
the patient's body after placement of the drape, and an outer
surface 162 facing away from the patient's body after placement of
the drape.
The reinforcement sheet 152 shown is rectangular and is secured to
the outer surface 162 of the main sheet 150 by adhesive, or other
suitable means. The reinforcement sheet 152 has a fenestration 163
in registration with the fenestration 158 of the main sheet 150, a
pair of side edges 164a and 164b intermediate the fenestrations 158
and 163 and the side edges 154a and b of the main sheet 150, and a
pair of end edges 166a and 166b intermediate the fenestrations 158
and 163 and the end edges 156a and b of the main sheet 150. The
reinforcement sheet 152 has a pair of generally aligned transverse
fold lines 170a and 172a intermediate the fenestrations and the
side edge 154a of the main sheet 150, and a pair of generally
aligned transverse fold lines 170b and 172b intermediate the
fenestrations and the other side edge 154b of the main sheet 150.
The fold lines extend between the end edges 166a and b of the
reinforcement sheet 152, and the pairs of generally aligned fold
lines define corresponding tucks 174a and 174b. The tucks 174a and
b are secured to the reinforcement sheet by lines of adhesive 176,
or other suitable means, on opposite sides of the fenestrations to
define a pair of fluid receiving pockets 178a and 178b. The pockets
178a and b have corresponding outer flaps 180a and 180b terminating
in associated upper edges 182a and 182b which define openings 184a
and 184b communicating with pouches 186a and 186b in the pockets
and facing toward the fenestrations to receive runoff fluid from
the fenestrations in the pouches 186a and b.
Preferably, the pockets are positioned relatively closer to the
fenestrations than shown in FIG. 1, and may be positioned on the
drape with the upper edges spaced approximately 2 to 10 inches from
the fenestrations. Accordingly, the portion of the drape below the
upper edge would be maintained essentially in a dry condition since
fluid is collected in the pockets, and wetting of the surgeon's
gown below the upper edges is prevented. Pockets having a depth of
from 2 to 5 inches have been found generally suitable for
containing the runoff fluid.
As discussed above, an absorbent material may be placed in the
pockets to widen the openings 184a and b and to retain runoff fluid
in the pouches 186a and b. Thus, the absorbent material prevents
squeezing out of fluid from the pouches 186a and b in the event
that a surgeon or physician leans against or applies pressure to
the flaps 180a and b of the pockets 178a and b. Also, the absorbent
material prevents spilling out of fluid from the pockets when the
drape is removed from the patient after an operation. In the
embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the absorbent material comprises a pair
of absorbent sheets 133a and 133b, such as cellulosic wadding or
woven and nonwoven materials, which are positioned in the pouches
of the pockets. The sheets may be rolled or folded in some manner,
and are shown in FIG. 6 as being folded about fold lines 188a and
188b, with the sheets being positioned in the pouches with the fold
lines 188a and b facing toward the fenestrations 158 and 163.
Another example of the absorbent material 133b is shown in FIG. 7,
in which an absorbent filler material, such as cellulosic foam,
surgical sponges and pads, a cellulose wadding, cotton fibers, or
an absorbent woven or nonwoven fabric, is positioned in the pouch
186b of the pocket 178b. In FIG. 8, an absorbent sheet 133b is
secured to the inside of the pocket 178b, and covers at least a
portion of the inside of the pocket.
As shown in FIG. 9, the upper edges 182 of the pockets 178 may be
secured to the reinforcement sheet 152 at points 190 by adhesive,
or other suitable means, intermediate the ends of the pockets, if
it is desirable to maintain relatively narrow openings, such as
184b, in the pockets.
Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 10 and
11, in which pockets are formed in the main sheet 250 of the drape
210. The main sheet 210 has a pair of side edges 254a and b, a pair
of end edges 256a and b connecting the side edges 254a and b, a
fenestration 258, an inner surface 260, and an outer surface 262.
The main sheet 250 has a pair of generally aligned longitudinal
fold lines 270a and 272a intermediate the fenestration 258 and the
side edge 254a, and a pair of generally aligned longitudinal fold
lines 270b and 272b intermediate the fenestration and the side edge
254b. The pairs of fold lines are preferably aligned with the
nearest side edge, and define corresponding tucks 274a and 274b in
the main sheet. Each of the tucks 274a and b is secured to the main
sheet by adhesive lines 276, or other suitable means, to define
corresponding pockets 278a and 278b for receiving runoff fluid from
the fenestration 258. The pockets 278a and b have corresponding
openings 184a and 184b through which the runoff fluid is received
in the pockets. Preferably, the ends of the tucks 274a and b are
secured to the main sheet by suitable means, such as adhesive lines
292, and the outer edge of the tucks intermediate the adhesive
lines 276 and 292 may be secured to the main sheet by means, such
as adhesive lines 294. If desired, an absorbent material may be
placed in the pockets as described above.
The tail sheets of drapes which are designed for lithotomy
procedures, such as vaginal hysterectomy, are shown in FIGS. 12-15,
with pockets in the tail sheets having a structure similar to that
described in connection with the drapes of FIGS. 5-11. As
illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, the drape 310 has a reinforcement
sheet 352 secured to a main sheet 350, and the reinforcement sheet
352 has a fenestration 363 in registration with a fenestration 350
in the main sheet 350. The reinforcement sheet 352 also has a pair
of transverse fold lines 370 and 372 defining a tuck 374 which may
be secured to the reinforcement sheet by adhesive lines 376,
preferably on opposite sides of the fenestrations. The secured tuck
thus forms a pocket 378 having a pouch 386 and opening 384 facing
the fenestrations, in a manner similar to the drape 110 described
in connection with FIGS. 5 and 6.
The drape 410 shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 has a tuck 474 defined in a
main sheet 450 by a pair of transverse fold lines 470 and 472, in a
manner similar to the drape 210 described in connection with FIGS.
10 and 11. The tuck 474 may be secured to the main sheet 450 by
adhesive lines 476 to form a pocket 478, as described above. If
desired, the drapes shown in FIGS. 12-15 may also contain an
absorbent material in the pouches of their pockets.
Thus, there has been described in the specification a surgical
drape having a pocket or pockets to receive runoff fluid from the
surgical site. The drape of the present invention maintains the
outer surface of the drape in a dry condition throughout
substantial areas of the drape, and prevents fluid from running off
the drape onto the surgeon's gown or shoes and the floor. For
example, the laparotomy drape of the present invention provides
improved asepsis since the liquid containment within the pockets
helps eliminate the runoff wetting through the surgeon's gown in
the chest, abdomen and portions of the underarm area normally
resulting from contact with conventional drapes.
It has been found that the pockets on the drapes of the present
invention provide a convenient device for retaining such items as
suction tubing and a cautery cord leading to a Bovie gun, which is
utilized to seal off bleeding cappilaries, during the course of an
operation.
The applicant's invention also helps to alleviate another
difficulty which faces the surgical team. After completion of a
surgical procedure it is necessary to account for all of the
sponges utilized during the operation to insure that none are
inadvertently left in the incision. Occasionally, such sponges, and
particularly very small sponges, such as neuro patti sponges used
in lamenectomy procedures, run off conventional drapes onto the
floor, and may become lodged on the bottom of the surgeon's shoes.
Accordingly, at times it becomes difficult to locate all of the
sponges. However, when utilizing the drapes of the present
invention, the pockets on the drapes will usually catch such
sponges which might otherwise fall off the drapes, and, if desired,
the surgeon or nurse can place used sponges in the pockets during
the operation. After the operation is complete, the sponges
retained in the pockets may be readily counted by simply removing
them from the pockets.
Embodiments of the invention which facilitate retrieval of such
sponges from the pockets are illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17. When
the sponges run into the pockets, often they will have already
assumed a blood-red color due to the fluid they contain, and it is
desirable to provide a color contrast in the pockets to aid in
locating the sponges in the collected fluid or adjacent the
absorbent material which may also assume a blood-red tint.
Accordingly, there is shown in FIG. 16 a drape 510 having a
reinforcement sheet 552 secured to a main sheet 550 and defining a
pocket 578. A liquid permeable, non-absorbent, liner 592, such as a
non-woven or a perforated plastic sheet, is secured inside the
pouch 586 of the pocket by suitable means, such as adhesive, and
the liner 592 preferably has a color which contrasts with the
expected color of the sponges S. The sponges S are captured inside
the permeable liner 592, which retains its original color due to
its permeability and non-absorbability, and the sponges S are
relatively easy to locate due to the color contrast against the
liner 592.
In FIG. 17 a similar drape 610 is shown having an absorbent sheet
633 secured to the inside of the pocket 678, and a liquid
permeable, non-absorbent, liner 692 of contrasting color is secured
inside the absorbent sheet 633 in the pouch 686 of the pocket 678.
The liner 692 permits wicking through of liquid to the absorbent
sheet, while preventing the sponges S from contacting the absorbent
sheet 633, and thus aids in locating the sponges due to the color
contrast. If desired, the liner 692 may be secured to the absorbent
sheet 633 throughout the pocket.
The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of
understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be
understood therefrom as modifications will be obvious to those
skilled in the art.
* * * * *