Abstract:
A splash shield for use in wound irrigation is provided. The splash shield includes at least one outlet area located along its rim so that irrigating fluid may flow from the splash shield. The splash shield is preferably oval-shaped with a substantially flat top adjacent to which is a receiver unit. The outlet area can be formed, for example, by contoured portions or by a generally V-shaped opening, each able to define a channel to enable the escape of fluid from the splash shield. The splash shield may be used in tandem with a syringe having a tip that is positioned in the receiver unit. Additionally, a basin can be provided for use during wound irrigation. The basin includes indentations to accommodate placement of a portion of the human body within the basin and an exit portion such that fluid in the basin can move in the basin to the edge of a table, bed, gurney or the like.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to the field of medical instruments and more particularly to a medical device to prevent splashing of possibly infectious patient bodily fluids and tissues onto medical personnel during wound irrigation.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In the medical field, the treatment of lacerations frequently requires that the wound be cleansed prior to closure. This cleansing ensures the removal of any foreign matter such as glass, grass, gravel, dirt, metal particles and/or bacteria. Any and all of these contaminants foster infection if not properly removed from the wound. The cleansing process also removes blood from the wound such that the treating medical personnel may properly explore the wound to verify and complete necessary treatment prior to the closing of the wound.  
           [0003]    The above cleansing of a wound is commonly performed by irrigation of the wound using a syringe and a hypodermic needle, or an intravenous catheter with a blunted stylet and where the catheter length has been cut. Typically, the catheter is of 18 gauge size. Typically, the syringe is filled with an irrigating fluid, the needle is directed toward the wound, and the plunger of the syringe is depressed. The irrigation stream from the syringe and catheter combination acts to mechanically dislodge any contaminants from the wound. One obvious drawback of this process is that inherent force of the irrigation stream necessary to cleanse the wound also creates splashing and misting of the irrigation fluid and the contaminated bodily fluid. This splashing increases the risk of infection from the patient to the medical personnel providing treatment.  
           [0004]    One known syringe splash shield provides a circular cup with integral tap on the exterior portion for connecting to a standard syringe and integral threads on the interior for attachment of a standard needle hub. The size of the circular cup is such that the needle extends beyond the base plane of thc cup. Thus, this design has the inherent disadvantage of being capable of only deflecting high-angle splashes from the wound area. Additionally, the use of a needle that extends beyond the base plane of a cup increases the possibility of stabbing the patient with the needle.  
           [0005]    Another known syringe splash shield incorporates a bell-shaped housing for deflecting splashed fluids for use with a syringe but not a needle. While this design avoids the drawback of the aforementioned syringe splash shield with a needle, it too has disadvantages. The open, planar surface of the bell-shaped housing is such that if it is held above the surface of the skin, the housing only contains high-angle splash. As such, this design may fail to fully meet its objective. On the other hand, if the bell-shaped housing is used while contacting the patient, the contained fluid cannot escape and may linger in the wound area and frustrate the intended debridement.  
           [0006]    Both of the above known syringe splash shields are defined by circular openings. While this shape may be more easily manufactured, they are less conducive to use on long, narrow portions of the body where lacerations often occur, i.e., forearms, biceps, or calves.  
           [0007]    In view of these perceived deficiencies in known syringe splash shields, it would be beneficial to provide a splash shield that enables medical personnel to properly clean a wound while containing essentially all splashed irrigating fluid and contaminants. It would also be beneficial to provide a splash shield that allows the contained fluid to escape in a controlled manner. It would be additionally beneficial to provide a splash guard in a shape that would function ideally on all parts of the patient&#39;s anatomy where a laceration may occur.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    In accordance with the present invention, a wound irrigation splash shield is disclosed. The wound irrigation splash shield allows medical personnel to properly cleanse a wound while confining the irrigating fluid within the shield. The wound irrigation splash shield of the present invention is intended to be used in contact with a patient&#39;s skin in the area surrounding the wound to prevent essentially all splashing of the irrigating fluid and other contaminants onto other parts of the patient&#39;s body or the attending medical personnel.  
           [0009]    The wound irrigation splash shield of the present invention is essentially an inverted shell having an open bottom bordered by a rim or bottom edge. The top portion of the shell contains an orifice that allows for the irrigating fluid to pass into the center of the shell. The orifice can be positioned along the shell surface to optimize the direction of the irrigating fluid stream toward the wound. The top portion of the shell may take the shape of a truncated shell such that the top portion of the shell is substantially flat. The orifice may be positioned on this flat portion at the top of the shell. Further, the orifice may be centrally located within this flat portion.  
           [0010]    The orifice of the splash shield may be designed to accommodate a syringe such that the syringe fits naturally into a receiver adjacent to the orifice. The receiver and/or the syringe may be designed in such a way that the syringe may be fixedly inserted into the receiver and yet remain removable by exerting a small amount of force. In this way, the syringe may be held to the splash shield without external force and yet be easily removed to re-fill the syringe with irrigating fluid as necessary. In fact, the splash shield of the present invention may be packaged, sold, stored, and/or used with the syringe as a set.  
           [0011]    The orifice of the splash shield may also accommodate a luer tip of a bottle filled with saline solution or other irrigating fluid. The bottle may include a cap which may be removed from the bottle, e.g., by twisting or snapping. The removal of the cap may expose the luer tip. The luer tip has a similar geometry to the syringe tip. In this way, the luer tip of the bottle may be inserted directly into the orifice of the splash shield. The bottle may have collapsible sides, for example, bellows, such that attending personnel need only to squeeze the bottle to expel the irrigating fluid from the bottle through the luer tip.  
           [0012]    The splash shield of the present invention may be shaped so as to be more readily used on long, narrow portions of the patient&#39;s body. For example, the shell may be substantially oval-shaped having a lateral dimension and a longitudinal dimension wherein the longitudinal dimension is greater than the lateral dimension. In one embodiment, the longitudinal dimension is at least 1.2 greater than the lateral dimension. The shape of the splash shield of the present invention may also be defined, at least in part, by the height of the splash shield relative to the longitudinal and/or lateral dimensions of the splash shield. In one embodiment of the present invention, the lateral width of the splash shield may be 1.5 times larger than the height of the splash shield. In another embodiment, the lateral width dimension could be about 2 times larger than height of the splash shield.  
           [0013]    The bottom of the splash shield is formed with one or more outlet areas through which the combination of irrigating fluid and body fluids and/or tissues can escape for subsequent capture. In one embodiment, the outlet areas are defined using contoured portions. More specifically, the rim of the splash shield may include substantially flat portions and the contoured portions. The flat portions may be planar. The contoured portions can define channels or outlet area portions which allow the expended irrigating fluid to pass from the interior of the shell to the exterior of the shell. The irrigating fluid passing to the exterior of the shell may then be collected in various ways. For example, the fluid may be allowed to flow naturally to a pan or wound basin placed under the patient&#39;s body part or may be collected using a suction device. The contoured portions and the associated channels may be further defined in size relative to other dimensions of the splash shield. For example, at least one contoured portion may be positioned on the rim along at least one length of the rim defining the longitudinal dimension. The length of the channel can be greater than one-half the maximum longitudinal dimension. The height of the channel may be less than one-fourth the height of the splash shield. Alternatively, the length of the channel can be less than one-fourth the maximum longitudinal dimension, while the height of the channel may be at least one-third the height of the splash shield. In another embodiment, the outlet area portions include one or more generally V-shaped openings or channels that interrupt the substantially flat, planar bottom portion. Unlike the contoured portions, these generally V-shaped openings are more concentrated in the middle of the longitudinal dimension of the splash shield and the open area portions extend a much greater distance from the bottom portion.  
           [0014]    The splash shield may be used in tandem with the wound basin of the present invention. The wound basin is a walled receptacle with a central tray. The walls extend above the central tray to contain fluid deposited in the wound basin. The wound basin may have an exit extension such that the geometry of the basin is elongated in at least one direction. In this way, the fluid deposited within the basin may be directed toward a fluid disposal bucket which may be positioned beyond the treating surface. The exit extension may include an exit canal to allow fluid deposited in the wound basin to be removed from the central tray. At least one indentation, and preferably two or more indentations, may be formed in the walls at selected positions. The indentations are depressions in the wall such that the height of the indentations is less than the height of the wall, yet still extend above the height of the central tray. The width of the indentations may be greater than the typical wall thickness of the wound basin. The indentations allow medical personnel to place a portion of a patient&#39;s body within the central tray without causing undue discomfort to the patient, while the basin will still be capable of retaining any fluid deposited within the basin. Multiple indentations may be formed in the wall of the basin in selected positions to accommodate various body parts in various positions.  
           [0015]    Based on the foregoing summary, a number of worthwhile aspects of the present invention can be readily identified. A wound irrigation splash shield is provided that contains essentially all irrigating fluid and associated contaminants within the shield. The wound irrigation splash shield of the present invention includes channels along the rim of the splash shield for controlled removal of the spent irrigating fluid and other contaminants. In that regard, the bottom of the splash shield can remain in contact with the body part being irrigated since the irrigating fluid with possible contaminants can escape through the channels while the bottom is in contact with the patient. The wound irrigation splash shield of the present invention may also be formed in a shape that allows the splash shield to be easily used when treating wounds on a long, narrow portion of the patient&#39;s body. The wound basin contains fluid deposited within it and directs it to a proper disposal container. Multiple indentations along the walls of the basin allow the containment of the fluid without sacrificing patient comfort. A wound basin with multiple indentations also may provide attending medical personnel more options of placement of a patient&#39;s body part within the wound basin depending upon where the wound is in relation to that body part. Moreover, multiple indentations provide treating personnel with a selection of indentations such that obstacles, such as walls or medical devices, may be avoided when delivering the waste fluid to the disposal receptacle.  
           [0016]    Additional advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following discussion, particularly when taken together with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of the splash shield of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the splash shield of FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3A is an elevation view of the splash shield of FIG. 1;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3B is a bottom plan view of the splash shield of FIG. 1;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of the splash shield of the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the splash shield of FIG. 4;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevation view of the rim portion of the splash shield of FIG. 4;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 7 is an elevation view of one embodiment of the splash shield/syringe combination of the present invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 8A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the receiver unit of the splash shield of FIG. 1;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 8B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the receiver unit of an alternative embodiment of the splash shield of the present invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 9 is an elevation view of the splash shield/syringe combination of FIG. 7;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 10A is an elevation view of the bottle with collapsible sides of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 10B is an enlarged view of the luer tip portion of the bottle of FIG. 10A;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 11A is an elevation view of one embodiment of the bottle with collapsible sides of the present invention shown in application with an embodiment of the splash shield;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 11B is an enlarged view of the luer tip portion of the bottle of FIG. 11A;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 12A is an elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the bottle with collapsible sides of the present invention shown in application with an embodiment of the splash shield;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 12B is an enlarged view of the luer tip portion of the prefilled bottle of FIG. 12A;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment for supplying irrigating fluid in which an automatic filling irrigation apparatus is operably connected to the splash shield;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the splash shield/syringe combination of FIG. 7 shown in use with a drip pan in the treatment of a patient;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 15 is a plan view of one embodiment of the wound basin of the present invention;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 16 is a side elevation view of the wound basin shown in FIG. 8;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 17 is a front elevation view of the wound basin shown in FIG. 8;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the wound basin shown in FIG. 8 in application;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the wound basin shown in FIG. 8 in an alternative application; and  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the wound basin shown in FIG. 8 in an another alternative application. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0042]    With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a splash shield  10  having a body member  12  with a top  14  and an open bottom  16  is shown. The open bottom  16  of body member  12  defines a bottom rim  18 . The bottom rim  18  includes contoured portions  20  and substantially flat portions  22 . The body member  12  also includes an irrigating fluid input element  24  that allows irrigating fluid to pass into the body member  12 . The irrigating fluid input element  24  may be centrally located along the top  14  of the body member  12 . Additionally, a landing, i.e., a substantially flat section,  28  may be formed on the top  14  of the body member  12  adjacent to the irrigating fluid input element  24 .  
         [0043]    As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and more clearly in FIG. 3B, the splash shield body member  12  may be substantially oval-shaped in one embodiment. The body member  12 , when oval-shaped, has a maximum longitudinal extent X and a maximum lateral extent Y. The maximum longitudinal extent X and the maximum lateral extent Y are, essentially, the major axis and the minor axis, respectively, of the oval of the bottom rim  18 . As seen in FIG. 3A, the body member  12  of this embodiment has a height H defined as the dimension from the substantially flat portions  22  of the bottom rim  18  and the top  14 , or the landing  28  if that aspect is included in the embodiment. In one embodiment of the present invention, the maximum longitudinal extent is at least 1.2 times greater than the maximum lateral extent.  
         [0044]    As shown in FIG. 3A, the bottom rim  18  has a substantially flat portion  22  and at least one contoured portion  20 . In this embodiment, the substantially flat portion  22  lies within a single plane. The contoured portion  20  of the bottom rim  18  lies outside that plane. In this way, the contoured portion  20  of the bottom rim  18  naturally forms a channel  30  with a portion of the patient&#39;s body such that irrigating fluid may pass from the interior of the splash shield  10  as shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIGS. 4 and 5 show an alternative embodiment of the splash shield  12  of the present invention with lip  32  formed along the bottom rim  18 . As shown in more detail in FIG. 6, the lip  32  of this embodiment extends outwardly from the open bottom  16 , beyond the intersection of the body member  12  and the bottom rim  18 . In this embodiment, the bottom surface of the lip  32  is constructed as a radius bounded by the exterior surface of the lip  32  and the interior wall of the body member  12 . Additionally, FIGS. 4 and 5 show an alternative geometry of a channel through which spent irrigation fluid exits the splash shield  12 . Specifically, a generally V-shaped opening  20  constitutes the contoured portions of the FIG. 1 embodiment. The opening  20  has a maximum height that is at least greater than 0.1 of the height of the splash shield  10  and, preferably, greater than 0.15 of the height of the splash shield  10 . The lip  32  may be formed around the generally V-shaped opening  20  as well as the bottom rim  18 .  
         [0046]    With respect to FIG. 7, the wound irrigation device  10  may be embodied by the splash shield  12  and an irrigating fluid supply element  34 . The irrigating fluid supply element  34  of this embodiment is shown as a syringe, although other devices could be employed such as a tube that can carry irrigating fluid under pressure or a bottle with a luer tip as described below. The syringe  34  has a syringe body  36 , a syringe plunger  38 , and a syringe tip  40  with a central syringe channel  42 . The size of the syringe tip  40  is selected to be received into bore element  44  of the irrigating fluid input element  24 .  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 8A shows the irrigating fluid input element  24  of the present invention. More particularly, FIG. 8A shows an embodiment of the irrigating fluid input element  24  with a bore element  44  and a constrictor element  46 . In this embodiment, the internal wall of the bore element  44  is tapered to mate with the external surface of the syringe tip  40 . Thus, the syringe tip  40  may be inserted into the bore element  44 . The constrictor element  46  is an orifice, of a smaller diameter than the bore element  44 , connecting the bore element  44  to the interior of the body member  12 . The smaller diameter of the constrictor element  46  increases the velocity of the irrigating fluid entering the body member  12 . Therefore, the force of the irrigating fluid striking the wound is increased.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 8B shows an alternative embodiment of the bore element  44 . In this embodiment, the irrigating fluid input element  24  has a retainer element  48 , i.e., a raised portion, along the interior wall of the bore element  44 . The retainer element  48  corresponds to a retainer groove  50  on the syringe tip  40 . The retainer element  48 , when received into the retainer groove  50 , may be used to maintain proper insertion of the syringe  24  in the bore element  44 . The retainer element  48  may also provide the user with an audible and/or tactile signal indicating proper insertion of the syringe tip  40  into the bore element  44 . It is understood that the retainer element  48  may be provided on the syringe tip  40  and the retainer groove  50  may be correspondingly provided along the interior wall of the bore element  44 .  
         [0049]    In operation, the irrigating fluid supply element  34 , such as a syringe, is filled with irrigating fluid  52 . The syringe  34  may be pre-filled or may be filled when required by placing the syringe tip  40  into a reservoir of irrigating fluid  52  and drawing the syringe plunger  38  distally from the syringe  34 . The irrigating fluid  52  may be water, a saline solution or some other antiseptic solution. The syringe tip  40  is inserted into the bore element  44  of the splash shield body member  12 . The splash shield  10  is positioned over the wound to be irrigated. It is noted that the positioning of the splash shield  10  over the wound may be done at any time prior to irrigation of the wound, i.e., either before or after insertion of the syringe  34  into the body member  12 .  
         [0050]    The irrigating fluid  52  is forced from the syringe  34  by advancing the syringe plunger  38  toward the tip  40  of the syringe  34 . Positioning of the splash shield  10  over the wound is necessary to direct the stream  54  of irrigating fluid  52  toward the wound. Once the irrigating fluid  52  is expunged from the syringe  34 , the process may be repeated as necessary. To repeat, the syringe  34  is removed from the body member  12 , refilled, and reinserted into the body member  12 . The irrigating fluid  52  is again forced from the syringe  34 .  
         [0051]    As shown in FIG. 9, the force of the stream  54  of irrigating fluid  52  will cause at least some portion of the stream  54  to be reflected as splash  56 . This splash  56  may be contaminated by material from the wound. The splash  56  is contained within the body member  12  to prevent undesirable contamination of the attending personnel or the patient by the splash material. The contained splash  56  will travel down the interior of the body member  12 . The outlet areas, such as the contoured portions or generally V-shaped opening(s)  20 , of the splash shield rim  18  form channels between the body member  12  and the patient which allow the contained splash  56 ,to pass from the body member  12 . Because the outlet areas are formed at or adjacent to the bottom portions of the body member  12 , the irrigating fluid containing possible contaminants can pass from the splash shield  10  at the same time the bottom portions are in contact with the area of the body being irrigated. The splash  56  exiting the body member  12  through the channels may then be collected in a container for proper disposal.  
         [0052]    With reference to FIG. 10A, a bottle  58  with a collapsible side wall  60  may be used in conjunction with the splash shield  10  of the present invention. In this embodiment, the bottle  58  has a bottom  62 , bellows  64  formed in the side wall  60 , and a luer tip  66  with a central orifice  68 . The bottom  62  should be substantially flat or concave to accommodate storage on a shelf for in a cabinet. The bellows  64  provide the bottle  58  with a collapsible side wall  60 . The collapsible side wall  60  allows the attending physician, or other personnel, to expel the irrigating fluid  52  through the central orifice  68  of the luer tip  66  by exerting a pressure on the bottle, e.g., by squeezing the bottle. The luer tip  68  may be protected by a cap  70 . The cap  70  may be selectively removed from the bottle  70 , and reattached thereto, by twisting or snapping.  
         [0053]    As shown in FIG. 10B, the luer tip  66  of the bottle  58  has a similar geometry to the syringe tip  40  including a central orifice  68  for the expulsion of irrigation fluid  52  from the bottle  58 .  
         [0054]    With reference to FIG. 11A, one embodiment of the bottle  58  of the present invention is shown in application with the syringe shield  10 . In this embodiment, the luer tip  66  of the bottle  58  has a central orifice  68  larger than the constrictor element  46  of the splash shield  10 . The smaller diameter of the constrictor element  46  of the splash shield  10  increases the velocity of the irrigation fluid exiting the bore member  44  of the splash shield  10 .  
         [0055]    As shown in FIG. 11B, the luer tip  66  of the bottle  58  and the bore element  44  of the splash shield  10  have mating geometries such that, when the luer tip  66  is properly inserted into the bore element  44  of the splash shield  10 , the irrigation fluid  52  is prevented from exiting the bore element  44  of the splash shield  10  other than into the body member  12 .  
         [0056]    With reference to FIG. 12A, a bottle  58  with collapsible side wall  60  is shown with a luer tip  66  having a cental orifice  68  or diameter approximately equal to the constrictor element  46  of the bore element  44  of the splash shield  10  of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 12B, again the luer tip  66  of the bottle  58  and the bore element  44  of the splash shield  10  have mating geometries to prevent unwanted leakage of irrigation fluid  52  between these two components. The central orifice  68  of the luer tip  66  of the bottle  58  and the constrictor element  46  of the bore element  44  of the splash shield  10  are substantially in alignment.  
         [0057]    In any of the embodiments of the bottle  58  with collapsible side  60 , the irrigation fluid  52  can be ejected from the bottle  58  by squeezing or applying pressure to the side  60  or the bottom  62  of the bottle  58 . In this way, irrigation fluid  52  is expelled from the bottle  58  through the luer tip  66 . When used in conj unction with the splash shield  10 , the irrigation fluid  52  is contained within the splash shield  10  and may be collected as described below.  
         [0058]    Referring next to FIG. 13, another system and methodology are illustrated for supplying irrigating fluid to the splash shield  10 . In particular, an automated regaining fluid filling apparatus  68  is shown connected to the splash shield  10 . The filling apparatus  68  can be a conventional, commercially available device known to those of skill in the art that has the parts and can operate to automatically receive irrigating fluid for automated supplying thereof to the splash shield  10 .  
         [0059]    With reference to FIG. 14, a wound basin  72  may be used for collecting the splash  56  exiting the splash shield  10 . The wound basin  72  may be a contoured pan. The wound basin  72  provides a vehicle for removing the splash  56  to a desired location to be collected in a final receptacle without leakage or spillage of the splash  56 .  
         [0060]    One possible embodiment of the basin  72  is shown in FIGS. 15, 16, and  17 . The basin  72  is shown having distal end  74 , a proximal end  76 , an exterior wall  78 , a central tray  80 , and an exit extension  82  with an exit canal  84  at the proximal end  76  of the basin  72 . The central tray  80  may be formed within the basin  72  such that the surface of the central tray  80  slopes from the distal end  74  towards the proximal end  76  of the basin  72 . In this way, fluid deposited into the central tray  80  of the basin  72  will naturally flow toward and out of the exit canal  84 .  
         [0061]    At least one indentation  86  may be formed in the exterior wall  78 . The indentation  86  allows a portion of the patient&#39;s body to be placed within the central tray  80  for treatment without undue discomfort. When the basin  72  is provided with more than one indentation  86 , the indentations  86  may be formed in the exterior wall  78  at positions relative to one another such that the patient&#39;s body part is more easily received into the central tray  80 . Additionally, the multiple indentations  86  may allow the attending personnel to orient the basin  72  on the treating surface, e.g., a gurney, so that the exit extension  82  extends beyond the treating surface. Thus, any collected fluid may be deposited in a container located off the treating surface, e.g., on the floor. In this way the treating personnel may concentrate on cleansing a wound without using one hand to hold a container.  
         [0062]    [0062]FIGS. 18, 19 and  20  show a basin  72  with indentations  86  in possible applications. The indentations  86  may be located in the exterior wall  78  so as to accommodate a variety of body parts of a patient. As shown in FIG. 18, for example, an indentation  86  in the exterior wall  78  along one side and another indentation  86  on the exterior wall  78  at the distal end  74  of the basin  72  may be used to treat a wound on a patient&#39;s arm. The patient&#39;s arm may be placed in the central tray  80  with the elbow bent such that the forearm rests in one indentation  86  while the upper arm rests in another indentation  86 . Similarly, as shown in FIG. 19, a patient&#39;s leg, arm, torso or other body part may be placed in the central tray  80  of the basin  72  such that the body part extending beyond the central tray  80  is seated in indentations  86  on opposite exterior walls  78  of the basin  72 .  
         [0063]    As shown in FIG. 20, a head wound may be treated by placing the patient&#39;s head in the central tray  80  such that the patient&#39;s neck rests within an indentation  86 . If the basin  72  is provided with multiple indentations  86 , the indentation  86  selected to seat the neck may be chosen such that the exit extension  82  of the basin  72  extends beyond the treating surface and to avoid obstacles such as walls or medical equipment. For example, if the treating surface, such as a gurney, is positioned next to a wall, the indentation  86  chosen for placement of the patient&#39;s neck may be selected so that the exit extension  82  is located away from the wall, or alternatively, toward the head of the gurney.  
         [0064]    Additionally, a liner  88  may be used in connection with the basin  72 . The liner  88  can be made in substantially the same form of the basin  72 , including all indentations and other contours. The liner  88  can then be placed upon the basin  72 , essentially in a stacked position. In this way, the liner  88  may be disposable such that the basin  72  is reusable. The liner can be discarded while the liner  88  may be disinfected and reused. The use of a liner  88  reduces the risk of contamination and therefore, infection control is enhanced.  
         [0065]    The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings, and the skill or knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the present invention. The embodiments described herein are further intended to explain the best mode known for practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such, or other, embodiments and with various modifications required by the particular applications or uses of the present invention. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.