A STERILE, DISPOSABLE SURGICAL DRAPE

Abstract: A sterile, disposable surgical drape (49) having top and bottom layers (53) and (55) sandwiching therebetween a blank (57) of elastic material having equally spaced holes (59). The top and bottom layers (53) and (55) have aligned square openings (61) and (63) exposing thereby said elastic material and holes (59). Covering tabs (65) having sealing tabs (67) seal the openings (61) in the top layer (53) and lift tabs (69) facilitate manipulative removal of the covering tabs (65). The drape (49) is specifically designed and constructed so that tubing, wiring, cables, and the like that are operatively connected to non-sterile equipment may be sterilized and neatly arranged and carried by the spaced holes (59) of the drape (49).

Description: Description A Sterile , Disposable Surgical Drape Technical Field This invention relates to sterile , disposable surgical drape s for covering a surgical patient in the ope rating room on the operating ta¬ ble, and for providing and maintaining a sterile field in which a sur- geon can operate or perform other diagnostic procedures. Background Art The prior art, U. S. Patent No. 3 , 776 , 2 17, discloses a nursing box for babie s or similar purpo ses ; U. S. Patent No. 3 , 799, 16 1 dis ¬ closes a multiple purpo se drape . Disclosure of Invention The object of the invention is to provide a sterile , disposable sur¬ gical drape for covering a patient in the ope rating room, and for pro¬ viding and maintaining a sterile field in which a surgeon can operate or perform other diagnostic procedures. The drape is specifically designed and constructed so that tubing, wiring, cables, and the like that are operatively connected to non- sterile equipment may be ster¬ ilized and neatly arranged and carried by the spaced holes of the drape. A sterile operating field can be bacterially contaminated by bring- ing non- ste rile equipment such as an intravenous bag, TV camera, IV pole , auxiliary equipment table, light source, battery pack, up to or against a sterile surgical drape covering the patient. Tubing, wiring, cables, and the like , associated with such equipment, and lying upon the operating table, provide a path along which bacteria may migrate to bacterially contaminate such sterile operating field. Anytime tubing, wiring, cable s, and the like, or associated equip¬ ment, is disposed, or is allowed to be dispo sed, below the plane of the operating table, such condition of non-sterility or bacterial con¬ tamination is, or is deemed to have been, introduced into such ster- ile operating field and hence the surgical procedure or operation be ¬ ing performed. Such tubing, wiring, cables, and the like , must be re stricted in their functional lengths to remain on the plane of the op¬ e rating table lest their otherwise excessive lengths will caus^i --...e-- to be dispo sed below the ope ratin -ta le plane and cause such bacte ¬ rial contamination of the sterile operating field. Such tubing, wir¬ ing, cables, and the like, po ssess a degree of inflexibility such that their movement or disposition under prior-art conditions will effect and cause lifting-away or movement of the sterile surgical drape a- way from the patient when such tubing, wiring, cable s, and the like, are trained around the edges of such surgical drape thereby permit¬ ting bacterial contamination of such sterile operating field. Accordingly, the object of the invention is to contribute to the so - lution of the discussed problems of the prior art by providing a ster¬ ile, disposable surgical drape specifically designed and constructed so that tubing, wiring, cables, and the like, that are to be opera- tively connected to such non- sterile equipment, can be sterilized and neatly a<rranged and carried by such surgical drape while main- taining such sterile operating field relative to such patient, whether such non-sterile equipment is disposed under such drape or away from such sterile operating field. Not only can those portions of such tubing, wiring, cables, and the like, which will be exposed in such sterile operating field, be restricted to workable and practica- ble lengths to perform their intended functions, but also such re¬ strictions in their lengths will prevent same from being disposed be¬ low the operating -table plane. In accordance with the invention, there is provided a sterile, dis¬ posable surgical drape of suitable material having a top layer and a bottom layer sandwiching therebetween a rectangular blank of elastic material having very small holes therethrough. Such very small holes are covered and sealed by removable, sterile, folded-back tabs. The sterile, surgical drape of this invention permits such e- quipment to be utilized in connection with the operation or surgical procedure, to be disposed either or both under such sterile drape and away from such sterile operating field to maintain the sterile op¬ erating field relative to the patient. Those portions of such tubing, wiring, cable s, and the like — to be used with such equipment and to be exposed in such sterile operating field — can be sterilized and dis- posed in retentive relationship with and through such ve ry small holes after their corresponding sterile covering tabs have been re ¬ moved. Furthermore, such exposed tubing, wiring, cable s, and the like, can be restricted to workable and practicable lengths both to neatly and conveniently facilitate their performing their intended functions, and to prevent or minimize the possibility of any of such tubing, wiring, cables, and the like, being bacterially contaminated by disposition below the operating -table plane. The very small holes hold and retain very tightly such tubing, wiring, cables, and the like. Since none of the tubing, wiring, cables, and the like, is disposed or trained around the edges of the sterile drape, but dis¬ posed through such sterile drape, such sterile drape will not be lift- ed-away or moved-away from the patient to bacterially contaminate such sterile, operating field. Brief Description of Drawings The object and other objects of the invention should be discerned and appreciated by reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, in which: Fig. 1 is a view showing an example of prior -art use and em- ploymeftt of a surgical drape preparatory to performing an operation; Fig. 2 is a view showing an example of prior-art use and employ- ' merit of a surgical drape preparatory to arthroscopy; Fig. 3 is a view showing the use and employment of a sterile , disposable surgi¬ cal drape of this invention, preparatory to arthroscopy and modified therefor; Fig. 4 is a top view of a portion of the sterile, surgical drape of this invention; Fig. 5 is a view of a cove ring tab sealing one of the very small hole s in the elastic material; Fig. 6 is a view of such covering tab in Fig. 5 partially removed; Fig. 7 is a view showing a very small hole in such elastic material tightly carrying tubing transversely dispo sed therethrough; Fig. 8 is a bottom view of Fig. 4; and Fig. 9 is a view of a portion of the surgical drape of- this invention with such elastic material sandwiched between the top and bottom layers, and with a covering tab sealing a very small hole in such elastic material. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Fig. 1 of the drawings shows an example of prior-art use and em¬ ployment of a surgical drape 1 preparato ry to performing an opera¬ tion on the patient lying on the operating table 3. An IV pole 5 mounts an intravenous bag 7 and TV camera 9. Tubing 11 from in- travenous bag 7 lies upon drape 1 alongside the patient and has a coupling 13 at its end. Flexible cable 15 leads from TV camera 9, lies upon drape 1 alongside the patient and has a coupling 17 at its end. A suction bottle 19 is on the operating room floor. Tubing 21 from suction bottle 19, lies upon drape 1 along the other side of the patient and has a coupling 23 at its end; and tubing 25, leading from the suction bottle 19 to join wall suction, is partially shown. An auxiliary equipment table 27 next to the operating table 3 carries thereon a battery pack 29 and light source 3 1. Wiring 33 leads from battery pack 29, lies upon drape 1 and has a male jack 35 at its end. Fiber-optic cable 37 leads from light source 3 1, lies upon drape 1 and has a coupling 39 at its end. From this description of Fig. 1 and the prior-art use and em¬ ployment of the surgical drape 1 along with equipment and associated tubing, wiring, and cables, it should be discerned and appreciated that problems of the prior art of bacterial contamination of the ster¬ ile operating field have been depicted and described. The IV pole 5, intravenous bag 7, TV camera 9, suction bottle 19, auxiliary equip¬ ment table 27, battery pack 29 and light source 3 1 are all non-ster¬ ile. Tubing 2 1 below the plane of the operating table 3 and tubing 25, by themselves, have, or are deemed to have, introduced bacte ¬ rial contamination of the sterile operating field. Further, tubing 11, flexible cable 15, tubing 2 1, wiring 33 and fiber-optic cable 37 pro¬ vide paths along which bacteria from such non-sterile equipment may migrate to bacterially contaminate the sterile operating field defined by the area generated by the sterile drape 1 covering the patient at and above the plane of the operating table 3. Fig. 2 shows an example of prior-art use and employment of a sterile, surgical drape 41 preparatory to arthroscopy. The intra¬ venous bag 7 and TV camera 9 mounted by IV pole 5 have respective tubing 1 1 and flexible cable 15 lying upon drape 41 alongside the pa- tient. An auxiliary equipment stand 43 carrie s batte ry pack 9 and light source 3 1 whose respective wiring 33 and fiber-optic cable 37 lie upon drape 41 and are trained around an edge 45 of drape 41, as does suction tubing 47 lying upon drape 41, trained around such edge 45 of drape 41 and leading to wall suction (not shown), thereby lift¬ in -away or moving -away such drape 41 from the patient and there ¬ by permitting bacterial contamination of the sterile operating field defined by the area generated by the sterile drape 41 cove ring the patient at and above the plane of the operating table 3. Tubing 1 1, flexible cable 15, wiring 33, fiber-optic cable 37 and suction tubing 47, likewise, provide paths along which bacteria from non-sterile equipment may migrate to bacterially contaminate " the ste rile oper¬ ating field. Fig. 3 shows the use and employment of the sterile, dispo sable surgical drape 49 of this invention. Drape 49 is modified for arthro¬ scopy by having a suitable hole 51 formed therethrough which tightly engages the covered leg projected through hole 51, and upon which the diagnostic or operative procedure is to be performed, to main- • tain the sterile operating field defined by the area generated by the sterile -drape 49 covering the patient at or above the plane of the op¬ erating table 3. With reference to Figs. 4-9, the sterile, dispo sable surgical drape 49 of this invention has a top layer 53 and a bottom layer 55 sandwiching therebetween a rectangular blank 57 of suitable, elastic material having therealong a plurality of equally- spaced, very small hole s 59 therethrough. Formed through the top and bottom layers 53 and 55 are aligned, square -shaped openings 6 1 and 63, respec¬ tively, which expose such elastic material of the rectangular blank 57 and the very small holes centered therewith. Each of the cover- ing tabs 65 has a sealing tab 67 coated or otherwise formed with a suitable adhe sive for adhe sion of sealing tab 67 to the portion of the top layer 53 bordering on opening 6 1 to thereby seal top layer 53 and maintain the sterile condition of drape 49. Each covering tab 65 has a folded -back lift tab 69 that a human operator can engage between his thumb and index finger to pull away and remove the sealing tab sealing an opening in top layer 53. With reference again to Fig. 3 , the TV pole 5, intravenous bag 7 and TV camera 9 are non-sterile, but their respective tubing 11 and flexible cable 15 cannot bacterially contaminate the sterile operating field because tho se portions of such tubing 11 and flexible cable 15, to be exposed in such sterile operating field, were sterilized, then inserted tightly through conveniently located holes 59 of such elastic material and then operatively connected to their respective intrave ¬ nous bag 7 and TV camera 9. The battery pack 29 and light source 3 1 are non-sterile, but their respective wiring 33 and fiber-optic cable 37 cannot bacterially contaminate the sterile operating field because those portions of such wiring 33 and cable 37, to be exposed in such sterile operating field were sterilized, then inserted through conveniently located holes 59 of such elastic material and then oper- atively connected to their respective battery pack 29 and light source 3 1. The same procedure was followed with respect to suction tubing 47. The covering tabs 65 remain over the openings 61 -whose small holes 59 are not being used, thereby maintaining the sterile condi¬ tion of drape 49 and the sterile operating field. The lengths of the tubing I I, cable 15, wiring 33, fiber-optic cable 37 and suction tub¬ ing 47 that are disposed upon and lie upon the drape 49 are restricted to the workable and practicable lengths to neatly and conveniently fa¬ cilitate performance of their intended functions. The remaining por¬ tions of such tubing 11, cable 15, wiring 33 , fiber-optic cable 37 and suction tubing 47 are disposed beneath the sterile drape 49 and away from the sterile operating field being maintained.

Claims: Clajm 1. A sterile, disposable surgical drape for covering a surgical pa¬ tient on the operating table, and for providing and maintaining a sterile field in which a surgeon can operate or perform other di¬ agnostic procedure s requiring the use of tubing, wiring, cables, or the like , operatively connected to non-sterile equipment; said surgical drape comprising top and bottom layers, elastic materi¬ al, very small hole s, openings and covering tabs, said top and bottom layers sandwiching said elastic material therebetween, said very small holes being in said elastic material, said very small hole s being substantially, equally- spaced thereon, said very small holes functioning to tightly hold and retain said tubing, cables, wiring, and the like, said openings being in said top and bottom layers , said openings being in aligned relationship, said openings exposing said elastic material and said very small holes, said very small holes being substantially centered within said o- penings, said covering tabs having sealing tabs to seal said open¬ ings and maintain the sterile condition of said drape , said cover¬ ing tabs having lift tabs engageable in manipulative relationship to pull away and remove said sealing tabs sealing said openings and to thereby expose said very small hole s; and whereby said tubing, wiring, cables, and the like, may be sterilized, and neat ¬ ly arranged and carried by said very small holes, whereby those portions of said tubing, wiring, cables, and the like , exposed in such sterile operating field, may be restricted to workable and practicable lengths to both perform their intended functions and to prevent same from being disposed below the operating -table plane and from thereby introducing the condition of non-sterility or bac ¬ terial contamination into such sterile operating field, and where ¬ by said tubing, wiring, cables, and the like, being disposed through and carried by said very small holes, prevents same from lifting said sterile drape away from or moving said sterile drape away from such patient to bacterially contaminate such ster¬ ile operating field, and whereby such drape, so arranged and con¬ structed, cooperatively functions to prevent bacterial c o nt.arsjϊnajz. "7"* ' tion of such sterile operating field regardle ss of whether said non- sterile equipment is disposed or located under said drape or away from such sterile operating field.

Inventors: WIRTH CARL R
Applicants: WIRTH CARL R
Application year: 1982
Main classification: A61F13
IPC codes: A61B19