Abstract:
Liquid collection apparatus usable during surgery, comprising in combination, first and second collectors arrayed and configured for receiving liquid dropping from a surgery area or areas, the collectors arrayed in selected edgewise proximal relation to enhance surgical related liquid collection and transfer capability.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to liquid collection apparatus usable during surgery to collect liquid drainage from the surgery area; and more particularly concerns an easily manipulated liquid collection tray and liquid collection means in the tray allowing surgeon treading over the collector. 
         [0002]    During surgery, liquid such as sterile water supplied or used as irrigation liquid is commonly allowed to drain to the floor and collects there. This increases floor slipperiness and interferes with surgical procedures. There is need for improvements in such collection and disposal methods, as well as ease of handling and manipulation of collection and disposal apparatus, as well as ease of rolling travel of operating room heavy equipment over such apparatus, and need for foot comfort of persons standing in such a surgery area. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is a major object of the invention to provide improved apparatus meeting the above needs. Basically, the improved liquid collection apparatus usable during surgery comprises 
         [0004]    a) first and second collectors arrayed and configured for receiving liquid dropping from a surgery area or areas, 
         [0005]    b) the collectors arrayed in selected edgewise proximal relation to enhance surgical related liquid collection capability. 
         [0006]    Another object includes provision of attachment structure for attaching the collectors in the arrayed relation, whereby the second collector provides a selected position extension of the first collector. 
         [0007]    A further object includes provision of porous means facing upwardly, at each collector for receiving dropping liquid and to allow treading of a surgeon or other surgical personnel, during surgery. 
         [0008]    An added object includes provision of collectors selectively connected to provide upward facing areal continuity. 
         [0009]    Yet another object includes provision of a second collector having an alternate folded position to extend over a first collector, for draining liquid from the second collector onto the first collector, for subsequent removal from the first collector. 
         [0010]    Yet further object includes provision of:
       i) collectors mutually arrayed in L-shaped (winged) configuration;   ii) collectors arrayed in end-to-end configuration;   iii) collectors spaced apart to receive liquid drainage from surgery areas which are spaced apart relative to a surgery table;   iv) collectors having interfitting portions proximate edges of the collectors;   v) tubing at one of the collectors for receiving and emptying fluid from the one collector;   vi) tubing extending between the collectors for receiving and emptying fluid from one collector into the other collector, the tubing for example being ported for fluid inflow;   vii) at least one collector comprising a flexible impermeable tray adapted for flex-folding over the other collector;   viii) porous material in one collector extends into edge adjacency to porous material in the other collector;   ix) connection of the adjacent collectors by tape, or other means as will be seen.       
 
         [0020]    These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following specification and drawings, in which: 
     
    
     
       DRAWING DESCRIPTION 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  shows two collectors in edge proximity, one collector having fluid removal tubing; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  shows two collectors extending in edge proximity, to form a wing shape, proximate a surgical area or zone; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a side view showing two collectors, one folded or displaced to extend over the other, for fluid drainage from one to the other, for removal; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged vertical section to show interior construction of edge-adjacent collectors, hinge connected; and  FIG. 4   a  is a vertical section showing a modification; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of small and large collectors adjacent a surgery area; 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of two collectors with fluid drainage tubing extending from one to the other; 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is an elevation view of ported drainage tubing; 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a section showing a modification of edge-to-edge connection of two collectors; 
           [0029]      FIG. 8   a  is a section showing a further modification; and 
           [0030]      FIGS. 9-11  are sections showing various porous matrix edge-to-edge configurations. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]      FIG. 1  shows first and second collectors  10  and  11  in edge-to-edge adjacent relation at zone  12 . The collectors may comprise shallow plastic trays containing porous matrix material such as batting sheets  13  and  14  placed into the trays to enable treading of surgical personnel on the sheets. Liquid drains off the operating table  15  or off sheets  16 , into the trays. Each tray may consist of lightweight flexible plastic foam, such as closed cell polyethylene, enabling easy folding of each tray, and the sheets  13  and  14 .  FIG. 4  shows edge-to-edge location of the two trays  10  and  11 , with tray upstanding walls  10   a  and  11   a  meeting at interface  12 . Liquid falling on tops of the walls drains into the two trays (see arrows  17  and  17 ′). The walls may be interconnected as by flexible tape  18  on tops of the walls as shown, and the walls may also, or alternatively, be interconnected by flexible tape  19  under the walls, as shown in  FIG. 4   a . This allows relative parallel shifting of the walls  10   a  and  11   a  to selected positions. 
         [0032]    If only tape  18  is used, the collector  10  can be easily displaced upwardly and also guidedly inverted (tape  18  acting as a hinge), as by swinging it as indicated by arrows  20  in  FIGS. 3 , and  20   a  in  FIG. 4 , to drain liquid from collector  10 , at  21 , into collector  11 , for removal, as via a ported tube  22 . That tube can be deployed with undulation as shown in  FIG. 1 , and it exits the tray  11 , via edge wall  11   aa , to extend to a suction device, such as a pump  80  for liquid removal from tray  11 . Thus, tray  10  serves as an auxiliary tray, needing no liquid removal tubing, but still allowing liquid removal, as referred to. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  shows two trays  30  and  31 , like trays  10  and  11 , respectively, adjunct tray  30  being the smaller and extending at right angular wing configuration relative to tray  31 , as at one end  32   a  of operating table  32 . Tray  31  extends on the floor at the lower side  32   b  of table  32 . The arrangement is such that the corner  32   c  of the table is bounded as shown by the two trays, liquid from the table flowing at  33  and  34  into the trays. 
         [0034]      FIG. 8  shows a modification allowing edge-to-edge meeting at  40  of the porous matrix material layers  41  and  42  in two trays  43  and  44 , that otherwise correspond generally to trays  10  and  11  referred to. A substantially continuous upper surface  44  is thereby provided by the porous matrix layers, for liquid collection. Note that matrix material layer  41  overlaps the edge  43   a  of its tray  43 , and that tray edge  44   a  of tray  44  underlaps the edge  42   a  of matrix material layer  42 , whereby joint  45  between  43  and  44  is offset relative to the joint  46  between  41  and  42 . Joint  46  is angled, as shown, to facilitate upward folding inversion of tray  43  (see arrow  99 ) to allow liquid drainage from tray  43  into tray  44  associated with suction tubing  47 .  FIG. 8   a  shows the two trays being moved relatively together, for assembly. If only tray  44  is used, tape  49  may be extended adjacent the edge of matrix material  42 , to serve as a barrier to side drainage. 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  shows use of two trays, such as  10  and  11 , separated, and located at opposite sides of operating table  60 . Periodically, tray  10  can be emptied into tray  11 , from which liquid is removed by tubing  22 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  shows drainage tubing  70  extending from adjacent the matrix material  13  in tray  10  into the matrix material  14  in edge-adjacent tray  11 , for drainage into that tray in response to suction applied via tubing  22  in tray  11 . See suction pump  80  connected to tubing  22 . The latter extends into proximity to tubing  70 , as at  81 , to assist in draining liquid from tubing  70  into tray  11 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 7  shows typical suction tubing  90 , having side intake parts  91 , for liquid, along its length. Also shown is a suction pump  92 , discharging to a collection canister  93 , for disposal. 
         [0038]    The collectors, and porous matrix material are typically flexible, and easily foldable, for rapid and sanitary disposal. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 9-11  show three additional modifications. In  FIG. 9 , porous matrix  100  from collector  101  extends into edge-to-edge proximity to porous matrix  103  in collector  104  that has liquid removal tubing  115 . Matrix  100  extends over ledge  101   a  of  101 , and over upright sidewall  104   a  of  104 . Liquid from  100  drains into matrix  103 , as indicated by arrow  102 . 
         [0040]    The same elements are shown in  FIG. 10 , except that matrix  100  engages matrix  103 , at edge-to-edge contact locus  102   a , and liquid from  100  drains into  103  since  100  is at higher level than  103 . 
         [0041]    In  FIG. 11 , the matrix  100  is tilted downwardly toward matrix  103  and toward engagement locus at  102   b  enhancing drainage of liquid from  100  into  103 . In  FIGS. 9-11 , the matrix  100  in collector  101  has direct edge-to-edge exposure to matrix  103  in collector  104 .