Patent Publication Number: US-2002002984-A1

Title: Surgical scrub brush and method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
     [0001] This application claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 60/199,430, filed Apr. 25, 2000, entitled “Thermometer and Method.” 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The present invention relates to surgical cleansing devices and methods, and, more particularly, to such devices and methods for cleaning the hands.  
       [0004] 2. Description of Related Art  
       [0005] Preparatory to and during surgery, the surgical team must take considerable pains to avoid contamination. Part of this process involves cleaning the hands, a particular portion of which, the interdigital “web” area between the fingers, is known to be difficult to address adequately.  
       [0006] Surgical brushes are known in the art that have different types of bristles and/or surfaces for different areas of the hand (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,966,335, 4,480,351, and 5,312,197) and also having a cleansing solution compartment (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,880,111 and 5,312,197).  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved surgical scrub brush.  
       [0008] It is an additional object to provide such a brush that is adapted for reaching the web area of the hands.  
       [0009] It is a further object to provide such a brush that has means for containing a cleansing solution.  
       [0010] These objects and others are attained by the present invention, a surgical scrub brush adapted for improved hand cleaning prior to and during surgery. The brush comprises a unitary device comprising a generally flat base having a plurality of cleaning means affixed thereto along different portions of the periphery thereof, the periphery shaped for optimal accessibility to the interdigital hand area. Preferably the brush also comprises an absorbent portion adapted to hold a cleansing fluid, such as a soap solution. 
     
    
    
     [0011] The features that characterize the invention, both as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description used in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. It is to be expressly understood that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. These and other objects attained, and advantages offered, by the present invention will become more fully apparent as the description that now follows is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.  
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0012]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a first embodiment of the surgical scrub brush.  
     [0013]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the surgical scrub brush. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0014] A description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be presented with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.  
     [0015] A first embodiment of the scrub brush  10  of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The brush  10  in a preferred embodiment comprises a molded plastic base  12 . The base  12  is substantially flat and adapted for holding securely in one hand.  
     [0016] The periphery  14  of the base comprises two sections: a first, substantially front face  16 ; and a generally sigmoidal side and rear  18  extending away from the first section  16 . A first  20  and a second  22  substantially planar support member each extends perpendicular to the front face  16  from the corners at which the front face  16  joins the side and rear face  18 . The planar support members  20 ,  22  are generally parallel to each other. A third substantially linear support member  24  joins the first  20  and second  22  support members at approximately right angles to form a substantially rectangular enclosure  26  with the base first section  16 .  
     [0017] To the third support member  24  front face  16  are attached a plurality of a first set of bristles  28  at their ends  31 . The first set of bristles  28  are generally adapted for cleaning the fingernails. To the base side and rear face  18  are affixed a second set of bristles  30  at their ends  32 , generally adapted for cleaning the interdigital area between the fingers.  
     [0018] Within the enclosure  26  to the support members  20 ,  22 ,  24  and the base first section  16  is affixed a sponge member  32  that is for assisting in the cleansing process, and may in a particular embodiment be impregnated with a cleaning composition such as soap.  
     [0019] A second embodiment of the scrub brush  40  of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 2. The brush  40  in a preferred embodiment also comprises a molded plastic base  42 . The base  42  is substantially flat and adapted for holding securely in one hand.  
     [0020] The periphery  44  of the base comprises two sections: a first, substantially planar rear face  46 ; and an outwardly arched side and front face  48  extending away from the rear face  46 . A first  50  and a second  52  substantially planar support member each extends approximately perpendicular to the rear face  46 , joining the ends of the rear face  46  at a first end  64 . The planar support members  50 ,  52  are generally parallel to each other. A third arched support member  54  joins the first  50  and second  52  support members at their second ends  63  to form a substantially half-oval enclosure  56  with the base rear face  46 .  
     [0021] To the side and front face  48  are affixed a plurality of bristles  60  at an end  61 , generally adapted for cleaning the interdigital area between the fingers.  
     [0022] Within the enclosure  56  to the support members  50 ,  52 ,  54  and to the base first section  46  is affixed a sponge member  62  that is for assisting in the cleansing process, and may in a particular embodiment be impregnated with a cleaning composition such as soap.  
     [0023] It may be appreciated by one skilled in the art that additional embodiments may be contemplated, including various alternative base shapes adapted for improved cleaning characteristics from the prior art.  
     [0024] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity, and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for description purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the embodiments of the apparatus illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.  
     [0025] Having now described the invention, the construction, the operation and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby, the new and useful construction, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thererof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.