U.S. patent number 3,916,887 [Application Number 05/522,560] was granted by the patent office on 1975-11-04 for surgical drape with adhesive on top and bottom.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Johnson & Johnson. Invention is credited to Robert E. Kelly.
United States Patent |
3,916,887 |
Kelly |
November 4, 1975 |
Surgical drape with adhesive on top and bottom
Abstract
A surgical drape of the invention has a main sheet having a
pressure sensitive adhesive on its top and bottom surfaces. The
adhesive on the bottom surface extends over at least the major
portion of that surface and serves to secure the drape to a
patient, thereby providing a sterile surgical field and preventing
migration of bacteria to or from an incision site along a path
between the drape and the skin of the patient. The adhesive on the
top surface of the drape extends over a limited area of that
surface convenient to the incision site and serves as an anchoring
means to which additional surgical drapes, towels, and the like may
be secured. The exposed faces of the pressure sensitive adhesive on
the bottom and top surfaces of the drape are covered with
nonadhesive, removably adhered protective covering sheets to
facilitate packaging and handling prior to use of the drape on a
patient. These protective covering sheets are commonly referred to
as "release sheets."
Inventors: |
Kelly; Robert E. (Seabright,
NJ) |
Assignee: |
Johnson & Johnson (New
Brunswick, NJ)
|
Family
ID: |
24081355 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/522,560 |
Filed: |
November 11, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
128/851 |
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,292,33R,132R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Trapp; Lawrence W.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A surgical drape adapted to be placed on the body of a patient
comprising: a main sheet having a top surface and a bottom surface,
siad main sheet carrying normally tacky and pressure sensitive
adhesive means on a major portion of its bottom surface for
securing said main sheet to the body of a patient; normally tacky
and pressure sensitive adhesive means carried on the top surface of
said main sheet in a limited area, said limited area of adhesive
means providing anchoring means for securing operating room
articles to said main sheet.
2. A surgical drape adapted to be placed on the body of a patient
comprising: a main sheet having a top surface and a bottom surface;
said main sheet carrying normally tacky and pressure sensitive
adhesive means on a major portion of its bottom surface for
securing the main sheet to the body of a patient; a release sheet
at least coextensive with said major portion of adhesive and
removably adhered thereto; normally tacky and pressure sensitive
adhesive means carried on the top surface of said sheet in a
limited area, said limited area of adhesive means being located so
as to be convenient to an incision site when the drape is secured
to a patient; and a release sheet at least coextensive with said
limited area and removably adhered thereto, said limited area of
adhesive providing a normally protected, yet readily exposable
anchoring means for securing operating room articles to said main
sheet.
3. A surgical drape according to claim 2 wherein said adhesive on
said top surface is applied in the form of a border lying adjacent
the edges of the main sheet.
4. A surgical drape according to claim 2 wherein said release sheet
on the adhesive means on the top surface of the main sheet extends
beyond an edge of the adhesive means to form a gripping portion
whereby removal of said release sheet from the adhesive is
facilitated.
5. A surgical drape according to claim 4 wherein the release sheet
on the adhesive means on the bottom surface of the main sheet
extends beyond an edge of the adhesive means to form a gripping
portion whereby removal of said release sheet from the adhesive is
facilitated.
6. A surgical drape according to claim 2 wherein said main sheet
comprises a nonwoven fabric.
7. A surgical drape according to claim 2 wherein said main sheet
comprises a thin plastic film.
8. A surgical drape according to claim 7 wherein said film
comprises polyvinyl chloride.
9. A surgical drape according to claim 7 wherein said film
comprises a copolymer of ehtylene and an acrylate ester.
10. A surgical drape according to claim 7 wherein said film
comprises polyethylene.
11. A surgical drape according to claim 2 wherein opposed marginal
edge portions on the bottom surface of said main sheet are free of
adhesive.
12. A surgical drape according to claim 11 wherein control tabs are
adhered to the main sheet adjacent its side edges.
13. A surgical drape adapted to be placed on the body of a patient
comprising: a main sheet having a top surface and a bottom surface;
said main sheet carrying normally tacky and pressure sensitive
adhesive means on a major portion of its bottom surface for
securing the main sheet to the body of a patient; a release sheet
at least coextensive with said major portion of adhesive and
removably adhered thereto; said main sheet carrying two strips of
normally tacky and pressure sensitive adhesive means on its top
surface; each of said strips of adhesive means having a release
sheet at least coextensive therewith and removably adhered thereto;
said strips of adhesive means providing a normally protected, yet
readily exposable anchoring means for securing operating room
articles to said main sheet.
14. A surgical drape according to claim 13 wherein said two strips
of adhesive means are in a spaced-apart, parallel relationship.
15. A surgical drape according to claim 13 wherein said two strips
of adhesive means extend from one end of the drape to the
other.
16. A surgical drape according to claim 15 wherein said main sheet
comprises a thin plastic film and each removably adhered release
sheet extends beyond an edge of the strip of adhesive means which
it covers to provide a gripping portion whereby removal of said
release sheet is facilitated.
17. A surgical drape according to claim 16 wherein control tabs are
adhered to the top surface of said main sheet adjacent its side
edges.
18. A surgical drape according to claim 17 treated to render it
sterile and individually packaged in said sterile condition.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is concerned with covering members, drapes,
sheets, towels and the like for use in surgical, obstetrical or
similar procedures. More specifically, this invention is related to
surgical drapes which are adhesively held in place on a patient
undergoing surgery to provide a sterile field in which a surgeon
can operate.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
It is well known that the surgical field, viz., the general area of
the body in which, or on which, a surgical procedure is to be
performed, must be maintained in as completely a sterile condition
as possible. It is also known that blood and other body fluids
which may be released as a result of an operation should preferably
be prevented from contacting not only other parts of the patient's
body but also the clothes and body of the various medical personnel
present in the operating room. Likewise, it is important, in order
to preclude the possibility of bacteria originating from a
non-patient source from reaching the patient, that the patient's
skin be isolated from contact with the various medical personnel
and/or the clothing which they wear during the course of an
operation.
In order to achieve these ends, the prior art has provided surgical
drapes, commonly referred to as "incise drapes," which may be
adhesively secured to the patient after he has been "prepped" for
the surgical procedure. Incise drapes have a main sheet which
preferably comprises a thin transparent plastic film which is
readily conformable to the contours of the patient's body and
through which the surgeon can readily view the surgical field.
In one method of applying an incise drape, a sterile adhesive is
sprayed onto the skin of the patient after the skin has been
treated in the usual way with an antiseptic, and the incise drape
is then adhered to the patient's skin to provide a sterile surgical
field. In another method, the drape itself carries an adhesive
which has a release sheet thereover. After the antiseptic has been
applied to the patient's skin, the release sheet is removed from
the adhesive, and the drape is adhered to the patient to provide
the sterile surgical field.
The surgical drape forms a barrier that substantially prevents the
passage through the drape of bacteria and various liquids such as
water, blood and other body fluids. As is known, incise drapes are
constructed of materials that can be readily sterilized.
Sterilization of the drape can be effected in the hospital or,
alternatively, by the manufacturer after the drape has been
suitably packaged.
Frequently an incise drape, after being adhered to the patient to
isolate the surgical field, is covered with a larger, fenestrated
surgical drape which covers the patient and falls over the sides of
the operating table. This latter drape is arranged so that its
fenestration overlies the site of the operation. The surgeon then
operates through the fenestration, making the required incisions
directly through the underlying, adhesively secured incise drape.
In some cases the surgeon chooses not to use the larger,
fenestrated drape. In such a case the incision is made directly
through the incise drape, after which the site of the operation is
"squared off," i.e., surrounded by towels, to confine and/or absorb
blood and other body fluids which may be released during the
operation. The difficulty with these procedures is that the
fenestrated drape or the towels can quite easily slip and slide
from the surface of the incise drape.
When a fenestrated drape, towel, or the like slips, portions
thereof become either contaminated or, under present medical
practice, are deemed to have been contaminated. It then may be
necessary to interrupt the surgical procedure while the patient is
repraped.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a new
and improved surgical drape or covering means comprising a main
sheet having a pressure sensitvie adhesive covering the major
central portion of the bottom surface of the drape for adhesively
securing the drape to a patient prepared for surgery, and a
pressure sensitive adhesive on at least one limited region of the
top surface convenient to the incision site, preferably adjacent to
the operative region, to which operating room articles such as
fenestrated surgical drapes, towels, etc. may be attached. The
pressure sensitive adhesives on the surgical drape are protected
prior to use by removably adhered release sheets which are at least
coextensive with the adhesive areas.
The adhesively secured surgical drape of this invention solves a
major problem of the prior art by providing means for firmly
anchoring surgical drapes, towels, and the like in their desired
positions on top of the drape, thus preventing such items from
accidentally slipping and/or sliding from their desired
position.
The main sheet of the drape of my invention is of drapable
material, preferably transparent plastic material which is capable
of conforming to the contours of the body. It may also be of woven
materials such as linen or cotton, or nonwoven materials such as
nonwoven fabrics and paper. When such woven or nonwoven materials
are employed, they should be treated, by methods well known in the
art, to prevent the passage therethrough of liquids such as water,
blood and the like. The size, number and positioning of the
adhesive strips on the top of the drape will depend, among other
factors, on the kind of operation to be performed and on the
number, size, and weight of the articles to be secured to the top
surface of the drape.
In its broadest aspects the present invention provides a surgical
drape comprising a drapable main sheet that has at least one strip
of pressure sensitive adhesive on its top surface. These surgical
drapes may assume various dimensions and shapes depending on the
operation to be performed, the size of the patient undergoing the
operation, etc.
Generally, such drapes are square or rectangular in shape, but
whatever the shape or dimensions, the drape has a portion,
hereinafter referred to as the "operative region" (OR), in which
and through which the surgical operation is actually performed.
Since a drape of this kind is ordinarily and most conveniently
placed symmetrically over the patient with respect to the incision
site, the operative region is preferably located centrally of the
drape. In any event, it will be understood that, for maximum
convenience and utility, the adhesive on the upper surface should
be placed adjacent the operative region of the drape in a position
where it will not interfere with the operation and yet will be
available to secure other drapes, surgical towels and the like in
their desired positions.
In one embodiment of the invention the drape has two strips of
adhesive on its upper surface. These adhesive strips may be located
in any manner with respect to each other. Preferably, however, they
are placed parallel to one another and are spaced apart so as to
lie on opposite sides of the operative region of the drape. The
adhesive strips may be in any position on the drape but are
preferably placed parallel to either the ends or the sides of the
drape, and, of course, they are covered with removable release
sheets.
In a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the
surgical drape is of a generally rectangular form and has two
strips of adhesive in a spaced-apart, parallel relationship on its
upper surface. The strips are parallel to the sides of the drape
and extend from one end of the drape to the other. The operative
region of the drape lies between the spaced apart strips of
adhesive and, again, these adhesive strips are covered with
removable release sheets. In this preferred embodiment of the
invention, as in all other embodiments described herein and which
fall within the purview of the claimed invention,, on removal of
the release sheets, pressure sensitive adhesive anchoring means are
exposed to which operating room articles may readily be attached
and thus made readily available to the surgeon and his
attendants.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading
the following detailed description and upon reference to the
drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the surgical
drape of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged broken cross-sectional view, taken generally
along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged broken cross-sectional view, taken generally
along line 3--3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of a corner
portion of the surgical drape of FIGS. 1-3 and showing the main
sheet of the drape and its protective layer being separated from
one another;
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the srugical
drape of the present invention, with certain portions broken away
and with other portions folded back;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged broken cross-sectional view taken generally
along line 6--6 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of a corner
portion of the surgical drape of FIGS. 5 and 6 and showing the main
sheet of the drape and its protective layer being separated one
from another;
FIG. 8 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of a corner
portion of a surgical drape having control tabs on the upper
surface of its main sheet;
FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a third embodiment of the surgical
drape of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged broken cross-sectional view taken along
lines 10--10 of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines
11--11 of FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view with portions turned back,
of a fourth embodiment of the surgical drape of the present
invention;
FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the drape of FIG. 12; and
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 14--14 of FIG.
13.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
While the invention will be described in connection with its
preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not
intended to limit the invention thereto. On the contrary, it is
intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents
as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as
defined by the appended claims.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is illustrated an incise drape
in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Incise
drape 10 comprises a generally rectangularly shaped main sheet 12
having a top surface 14, a bottom surface 16, generally parallel
side edge 18 and 18', and generally parallel end edges 20, 20'
disposed generally perpendicularly with resepect to side edges 18
and 18'. A major central portion of the bottom surface of the main
sheet is coated with pressure sensitive adhesive 22 which extends
from end edge 20 to end edge 20' (FIG. 3) and which terminates
inwardly of side edges 18, 18' (FIG. 2). The opposite edges of the
adhesive are parallel with one another and parallel with and spaced
generally equally from the adjacent side edges of the main sheet.
Thus, marginal portions 19,19' are provided at opposite sides of
the main sheet which are left free of adhesive.
Adhesive 22 carries a removably adhered protective covering 26
which is coextensive and coterminous with main sheet 12. Since
marginal portions 19, 19' are free of adhesive, non-adhesive
gripping portions are provided at oppostie sides of the drape which
facilitate removal of protective covering 26 from pressure
sensitive adhesive 22. When the protective covering is removed, the
drape is applied to the body of the patient so that the operative
region ("OR" in FIG. 1) of the drape overlies the incision
site.
Top surface 14 of main sheet 12 carries a limited area (as compared
to the area of sheet 12 or adhesive 22) of pressure sensitive
adhesive 30 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is a narrow
rectangular strip having a length several times its width. This
strip of adhesive lies parallel to the side edges of the drape and
is positioned just outwardly of operative region OR. Adhesive area
30 is preferably centered between end edges 20 and 20' and extends
from about one-sixteenth to about one-half of the length of the
main sheet. When the drape is secured to the patient by means of
adhesive 22 so that operative region OR overlies the body area to
be incised, adhesive area 30 lies immediately adjacent the incision
site where it is readily and conveniently available to firmly
anchor an article, for example, a surgical towel, in a desired
position on the upper surface of the drape.
Adhesive area 30 is covered with a release covering 32 which
extends beyond a side edge of the adhesive strip to provide tab
32a. This tab may be readily grasped to facilitate removal of the
release covering from the adhesive strip. Alternatively, release
member 32 may have the same width as adhesive area 30 but be longer
in length to provide a gripping tab at one or both ends thereof. In
use, it should be understood that release member 32 need not be
removed in its entirety if it is desired to attach a relatively
small article to the drape.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the main sheet is of a
thin transparent film of polyethylene. As indicated earlier the
transparency of main sheet 12 makes it possible for the surgeon to
readily inspect the entire surgical field. It is also preferred
that the main sheet have a non-glare surface; this can be
accomplished by extruding on a matte finished chill roll or by
extruding onto silicone resin treated paper. It will be understood
that flexible films of other synthetic polymers such as
polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, copolymers of ethylene with
vinyl acetate, copolymers of ethylene with acrylate esters such as
methyl or ethyl acrylate, and the like, may be used in place of
polyethylene. If a plastic film is used for the main sheet, it
should be from about 1 mil to about 5 mils in thickness, and
preferably, from about 1.5 mils to 3.0 mils. Where the thickness is
less than 1.5 mils, the film may contain pin holes formed during
manufacture, and if the thickness exceeds about 5 mils, flexibility
of the sheet may be reduced. The plastic film may include
antioxidants, antistatic agents, and plasticizers, in conventional
amounts, if so desired, as long as these are stable to
sterilization and do not present a hazard to the patient.
Woven fabrics such as cotton or linen, nonwoven fabrics, and even
paper, may also be used for the main sheet, provided the same are
substantially impervious to the passage of liquid or are treated,
e.g., with a suitable water repellent, such as a silicone or
fluorocarbon resin, to provide this property.
Any of the well known normally tacky and pressure sensitive
adhesives are suitable for adhesive layers 22 and 30. As used
herein, the term "pressure sensitive adhesive" refers to an
adhesive which is characterized by a property which permits it to
adhere on contact with an adhesive receptive surface (in this case,
the patient's skin). Once such an adhesive contacts an adhesive
receptive surface, it can no longer be moved about without first
being stripped from the surface. The pressure sensitive adhesives
must be non-irritating and otherwise safe for contact with the skin
and capable of being sterilized by the usual steam, gas or
radiation sterilization methods without deleterious effect on their
adhesive characteristics. The specific types of adhesives which may
be used are well known and do not form part of this invention. It
will be understood that differing pressure sensitive adhesives may
be used for adhesive layers 22 and 30, if so desired.
Adhesive area 30 is protected prior to use of the drape by
protective covering 32, and adhesive layer 22 is protected by
protective covering 26. These protective coverings are releasable
from the pressure sensitive adhesive which they protect and may
comprise, e.g., waxed paper, glassine, or paper treated with a
silicone release resin. Any protective covering which can be
removably adhered to the adhesive to protect it from dust and
premature contact with other surfaces and yet be easily removed
from the underlying adhesive at the proper time is suitable.
Although, as has been illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, protective
covering 32 preferably extends beyond adhesive strip 30 to provide
grasping tabs 32a, the protective covering may be coextensive with
the adhesive which it covers.
FIG. 4 illustrates how protective layer 26 is separated from the
pressure sensitive adhesive on the bottom surface 16 of the main
sheet of the drape prior to use. The main sheet is grasped with one
hand at the adhesive-free side edge of the drape. Simultaneously,
release sheet 26 is grasped with the other hand. The release sheet
is then easily removed from the pressure sensitive adhesive layer
by moving the hands as indicated by arrows in FIG. 4. There is, of
course, no difficulty in separating and grasping the main sheet and
the release sheet at the side edges of the drape, since pressure
sensitive adhesive layer 22 does not cover the marginal side
portions of the drape.
Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is illustrated a second
embodiment of an incise drape in accordance with the teachings of
the present invention. Drape 40 comprises a generally rectangular
main sheet 42 having a top surface 44, a bottom surface 46,
generally parallel side edges 48 and 48', and generally parallel
end edges 50 and 50' disposed generally perpendicularly to side
edges 48 and 48'. Bottom surface 46 of the base layer is entirely
coated with pressure sensitive adhesive 52. Release cover 56, which
is coextensive with main sheet 42, is placed over pressure
sensitive adhesive 52 on the bottom of the drape.
Control tabs 54, 54' comprising Mylar polyester strips one-half
inch in width are adhered to pressure sensitive adhesive 52 on the
bottom of main sheet 42 adjacent side edges 48,48', respectively.
The control tabs, which extend lengthwise of the drape from end to
end, render those portions of pressure sensitive adhesive 52 to
which they are adhered ineffective, so that main sheet 42 does not
adhere to protective covering 56 along the sides of the drape.
Since, as can be seen in FIG. 6, protective covering 56 does not
adhere to pressure sensitive adhesive 52 along the sides of the
drape, it is easy for the surgeon, or an assistant, to separate the
protective covering from the bottom of the drape prior to placing
the drape on the patient.
Adhered to top surface 44 of main sheet 42 are two strips of
pressure sensitive adhesive 60, 60' of equal length and width which
are covered by removably adhered protective coverings 62, 62'. As
seen in FIG. 6, these protective coverings are extended beyond the
side edges of the pressure sensitive adhesive strips which they
cover to provide tabs 62a, 62'a which may be readily grasped to
facilitate removal of the release coverings from the adhesive
strips. In the particular embodiment shown in FIGS. 5-7, drape 40
measures 30 inches between its sides and 24 inches between its
ends. Adhesive strips 60, 60' are 2 inches long, 1/2 inches wide,
and are placed parallel to each other and to the sides of the
drape. Strips 60, 60' are separated from each other by 81/2 inches
(center-to-center basis) and define an operative region OR
measuring 2 inches by 8 inches, within which the surgeon will make
his incision and perform the surgical procedure. The above
dimensions are given by way of specific example and are not to be
construed in any way as limiting the present invention. It will be
apparent, for example, that the distance between strips 60 and 60'
may be varied to suit different purposes. Generally speaking, the
distance between the strips should not be less than about 2 inches,
and is preferably from about 6 inches to about 10 inches.
Although, as has been illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, release
coverings 62 and 62' preferably extend beyond adhesive strips 60
and 60' to provide grasping tabs 62a and 62'a, it is sufficient if
the release coverings are coextensive with the adhesive which they
cover.
Referring to Fig. 7, which shows, in enlarged cross section, the
lower right hand portion of drape 40 being grasped, it will be seen
how the release covering on the bottom of the drape is removed
prior to applying it to the patient. Release covering 56 does not
adhere to pressure sensitive adhesive 52 on the bottom surface of
the main sheet due to the presence, at the side of the drape, of
control tab 54. Thus, a person may easily grasp the main sheet,
including the control tab adhered thereto by adhesive 52, between
the thumb and forefinger of one hand, and grasp the release sheet
with his other hand. The release sheet may then be peeled from the
pressure sensitive adhesive by moving the hands in the direction
indicated by the arrows in FIG. 7. If desired, the opposite side of
the drape may be handled in similar fashion by a second person
cooperating with the first. Thus, it is seen that the control tabs
facilitate application of the drape to the patient and, once the
drape is adhesively secured to the patient, they function to
prevent the side of the drape from curling. When the operation has
been completed, the control tabs facilitate removal of the drape
from the patient.
As another example of an alternative construction using control
tabs, reference is made to FIG. 8. In this embodiment, there is no
pressure sensitive adhesive along the marginal portions of the
bottom surface 46 of main sheet 42, and control tab 54 is adhered
by any suitable adhesive means (not illustrated) to the upper
surface of main sheet 42.
Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS.
9-11, there is illustrated a drape 70 comprising a main sheet 72
having a top surface 74, a bottom surface 76, side edges 78, 78'
and end edges 80, 80'. Main sheet 72 comprises a 2 mil thick sheet
of clear polyvinyl chloride measuring 30 inches along its side
edges and 24 inches along its end edges. Bottom surface 76 of main
sheet 72 is coated with pressure sensitive adhesive 82 over a major
central portion thereof. Main sheet 72 has marginal portions 79,
79', extending inwardly of the drape from side edges 78, 78'. These
marginal portions are 31/2 inches wide and are left free of
adhesive.
Release covering 86 protects pressure sensitive adhesive 82 on the
bottom of the drape and is coextensive with the main sheet. Upper
surface 74 of the main sheet has strips 90, 90' of pressure
sensitive adhesive which are one-half inch in width and which are
separated by 6 inches (center to center). The adhesive strips are
parallel to each other and to the sides of the drape, and extend
from one end to the other. The adhesive strips are protected prior
to use by release coverings 92, 92' respectively.
Control tabs 94, 94' are provided on the upper surface of the main
sheet. These control tabs, which comprise polyethylene
terephthalate strips 10 mils thick, 3/4 inches wide, and 30 inches
long, are adhesively secured to main sheet 72 adjacent side edges
78, 78', respectively. In addition to facilitating removal of
release covering 86 and application of the drape to the patient,
the control tabs reinforce the drape at its sides and prevent
curling of the drape during use.
Any of the materials described earlier herein may be used for the
main sheet, pressure sensitive adhesive, release coverings and
control tabs comprising the incise drape described in FIGS. 9-11.
After release covering 86 is removed, drape 70 may be placed over
the patient so that its sides 78, 78' and its adhesive strips 90,
90' run parallel with the sides of the patient's body. The drape is
adhesively secured to the patient by means of adhesive 82 so that
the incision site will lie within operative region OR defined by
adhesive strips 90, 90'.
Turning now to FIGS. 12-14, there is illustrated a fourth
embodiment of a surgical drape in accordance with this invention.
Drape 100 comprises a generally rectangular main sheet 112 having a
top surface 114, a bottom surface 116, opposed side edges 118,
118', and opposed end edges 120, 120'. A major central portion of
the bottom surface of the main sheet is coated with a normally
tacky and pressure sensitive adhesive 122 which terminates inwardly
of both the side edges and the end edges of the main sheet. Thus,
marginal portions at the ends and sides of the main sheet are left
free of adhesive.
Adhesive 122 is protected with a removably adhered release sheet
126 which is generally coextensive with the main sheet. Since the
entire marginal portion of the bottom surface of the main sheet is
free from adhesive, non-adhesive gripping portions are provided at
both ends and both sides of the drape. Thus, the separation of the
release sheet from the under side of the drape may be conveniently
initiated at any point along the perimeter of the drape.
The marginal portions of the top surface of the main sheet are
coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive 130 which, in the
embodiment under discussion, extends inwardly from the edges of the
main sheet. Thus the upper surface of the main sheet carries a
border of adhesive which is available, when the drape is in use, to
secure various operating room articles to the upper surface of the
main sheet. The border of adhesive is conveniently about one inch
in width, but this dimension can be varied if so desired.
The border of pressure sensitive adhesive is protected, prior to
use, by a release sheet 132 in the form of a flat type gasket. This
release sheet must be wide enough to cover the adhesive prior to
use, but optionally may be extended beyond an edge of the adhesive
to provide a gripping tab to facilitate its removal.
It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that innumerable
variations and modifications can be made in the foregoing
embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the
present invention. The overall size of the incise drape may be
varied to a considerable extent depending, for example, on the size
of the patient and the operation to be performed. Typically,
rectangular drapes may be provided in sizes of 24 inches .times. 30
inches, 18 inches .times. 20 inches, and 10 inches .times. 10
inches but these measurements are illustrative only. Other drapes,
in varying sizes and shapes, may be made to suit special purposes.
The number, width, and length of the adhesive strips on the top
surface of the drape may be varied to suit particular purposes. The
control tabs may be made of any suitable material that is capable
of being secured, e.g., with an adhesive or by heat sealing, to the
main sheet and which, by virtue of its particular physical
characteristics or its thickness, serves to reinforce the edges of
the main sheet. It is evident that a single control tab at any edge
of the drape would facilitate handling during removal of the bottom
release covering; however, it is preferred that two control tabs,
one placed at each of two opposed edges, be used since this
construction facilitates application of the drape to the patient
and more effectively prevents curling of the drape during use.
The drapes of the present invention may be rolled into cylindrical
or similar form or may be folded in the shape of a flattened
cylinder as shown in FIG. 12. However folded, the drapes are
inserted into packages which are designed to maintain sterility of
the drape once it has been sterilized and to provide for removal of
the drape from the package without destroying asepsis. The folded
drape may be sterilized by techniques such as those, e.g., which
employ gas, steam, or radiation. The details of the above mentioned
folding, sterilizing, and packaging methods are well known to those
skilled in the art.
While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been
illustrated as incise drapes in which the main sheet comprises a
plastic film, it will be understood by those skilled in the art
that the inventive concept could as well be applied to other items,
such as surgical towels and utility drapes, commonly used in
hospitals. In accordance with the invention, for example, one could
provide a utility drape, the main sheet thereof comprising a
nonwoven fabric. The adhesive on the lower surface of such a
utility drape would be used to secure the drape to an underlying
surface, with the adhesive on the upper surface then being
available to secure other items to the upper surface of the utility
drape itself.
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