Abstract:
A disposable containment shield is operable to mount on an output housing of a surgical cutting instrument to keep spatter off of a surgeon&#39;s face shield enabling quick and complete restoration of visibility while cutting biological material. The containment shield includes a body that is substantially transparent and has a generally consistent thickness such that the body is pliable and resilient. The body is substantially planar and sterile when in the package. The containment shield forms into a three dimensional shape having a distal face and a proximal face, and a mounting hole of the containment shield engages onto the output housing of the surgical cutting instrument such that the distal face is at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis through the mounting hole and faces toward a cutting device of the surgical cutting instrument.

Description:
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an apparatus and method which provide for a disposable containment shield. More particularly, the invention relates to a disposable containment shield that may be packaged and shipped in a substantially flat, sterilized configuration and may be mounted to any surgical cutting instrument. 
     Orthopedic surgery often involves cutting hard biological tissues such as bone or cartilage. Orthopedic surgeons frequently use power tools to increase the speed and accuracy of surgical procedures which results in better patient outcomes. These power tools often include surgical cutting instruments such as saws, drills, chisels, pneumatic hammers, grinders, cutting wheels, and rotary cutting tools (e.g., a Dremel™ tool). These and other surgical cutting instruments cause spatter of biological material including blood, bone fragments, soft tissue, etc. To prevent the spread of disease, machines in the operating room are covered with surgical drapes, and orthopedic surgeons and other surgical personnel wear full surgical outfits including a gown, gloves, a hat, and a face shield. The surgeon, a nurse, or other operating room personnel must frequently clean the orthopedic surgeon&#39;s face shield to maintain visibility while the surgeon is using a surgical cutting instrument. Even with frequent cleaning, visibility is often reduced due to inadequate cleaning. This slows down orthopedic surgical procedures and may negatively impact surgical outcomes. Furthermore, the use of instruments for orthopedic surgery may result in spatter of biological material in a large area within an operating room. This can further complicate the surgical procedure as well as the subsequent cleaning of the operating room. 
     Additionally, the spattered material may rebound off of one or more items that it impacts, particularly if the spattered material is bone fragment. Thus, even with current protective gear in use, it is possible for operating room personnel to be injured by spattered material (e.g., bounce off of a face shield into an eye of someone in the operating room). Further, this rebounding effect can leave an operating room spattered not only on equipment and personnel facing the patient or subject, but also on the back, top, and underside of the equipment and personnel in the operating room making the operating room very messy and time consuming to clean. Additionally, secondary contamination can result from drippings off the ceiling or other areas and possibly infect a subsequent patient. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the invention, the zone of biological material spatter and the amount of debris, both biologic and non-biologic including smoke and vapors, may be reduced during the procedures (which may involve surgical cutting instruments) by affixing a disposable containment shield to the surgical cutting instrument. The disposable containment shield substantially blocks or contains spatter from impacting the patient or subject, operating room personnel, and operating room equipment (i.e., primary contamination). The containment shield also decreases or eliminates secondary contamination in the operation room. 
     In another aspect, a containment shield is operable to mount on an output housing of the surgical cutting instrument. The containment shield includes a body. The body has a distal face and a proximal face. The body is substantially transparent and has a generally consistent thickness such that the body is pliable and resilient. The body may have a plurality of folds, and adjacent folds may be in opposite directions with respect to the distal and proximal faces. The body has a mounting hole operable to engage the output housing of the surgical instrument. When mounted on the output housing of the surgical cutting instrument, the distal face is at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis through the mounting hole and faces toward a cutting device of the surgical cutting instrument. The proximal face is at an obtuse angle with respect to the longitudinal axis and faces toward housing side of the surgical cutting instrument. 
     In another aspect, a containment shield is operable to mount on an output housing of various other surgical instruments. The containment shield includes a body having a distal face, a proximal face, a tab, and a slot. The body may be substantially transparent and may have a generally consistent thickness such that the body is pliable and resilient. The body is generally conical when the tab is inserted in the slot, and the body may be substantially flat when the tab is not in the slot. The body has a mounting hole formed when the tab is in the slot, and the mounting hole is operable to engage the output housing of the surgical cutting instrument. When the tabs are within the slots and the body is mounted on the output housing of the surgical cutting instrument, the distal face is at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis through the mounting hole and faces toward a cutting device of the surgical cutting instrument. The proximal face is at an obtuse angle with respect to the longitudinal axis and faces toward a housing side of the surgical cutting instrument. 
     In another aspect, a method of using a containment shield is disclosed. The containment shield is operable to mount on an output housing of the surgical cutting instrument. The method begins with removing the containment shield from packaging. The shield includes a body that is substantially transparent and has a generally consistent thickness such that the body is pliable and resilient. The body is substantially planar and sterile when in the package. The containment shield is then formed into a three-dimensional shape having a distal face and a proximal face. A mounting hole of the containment shield is engaged on the output housing of the surgical cutting instrument such that the distal face is at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis through the mounting hole and faces toward a cutting device of the surgical cutting instrument. The proximal face is at an obtuse angle with respect to the longitudinal axis and faces toward a housing side of the surgical cutting instrument. 
     In another aspect, the containment shield may include a port that may be used with a suction device. Such port may be used to assist in removing smoke, vapor, and airborne particulate from within the containment shield. 
     In another aspect, the containment shield may include a coating or be formed from a material that may reduce glare. Additionally, the containment shield may be used with a laser or other optic device which may improve visibility and provide for increased safety. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate optional embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain some principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a distal face of a containment shield. 
         FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of a containment shield folded flat in sterile packaging 
         FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of a containment shield mounted on a surgical cutting instrument, particularly a saw. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a distal face of a containment shield. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a distal face of a containment shield including tabs and slots in a flat configuration for packaging. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective isometric view of a containment shield including tabs and slots in a three dimensional configuration for mounting on a surgical cutting instrument. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective side view of a containment shield having removable layers. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective side view of a flat containment shield having removable layers. 
         FIG. 9  is perspective side view of a containment shield mounted on a surgical cutting instrument, particularly a chisel. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective side view of a containment shield with a suction port mounted on a surgical cutting instrument, particularly a laser. 
     
    
    
     Reference will now be made in detail to optional embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawing and in the description referring to the same or like parts. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention. 
     To facilitate the understanding of the embodiments described herein, a number of terms are defined below. The terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the present invention. Terms such as “a,” “an,” and “the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but rather include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit the invention, except as set forth in the claims. As used herein, “fold” is intended to refer to a fold, crease, or other joint. Furthermore, as used herein the term “containment shield” includes but is not limited to embodiments that contain elements during surgical procedures or the like. This can include fluids, debris, smoke, certain wavelengths of light, Biologic and non-biological material. The term “containment shield” can also be understood as a device that at least partially assists in blocking spatter, which may include the splashing or impact of biological and non-biological material against the shield. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , a containment shield  100  is operable to mount on an output housing of a surgical cutting instrument. As used herein, a surgical cutting instrument is any tool used in human or veterinary surgery, organ harvesting, or autopsy that may result in spatter or release of biological material such as a saw, drill, chisel, hammer, screwdriver, grinder, cutting wheel, laser cutting tools, laser coagulators, cauterizing devices, water pulsating device, rasp, pliers, organ harvesting tools, tissue harvesting tools, impactors, dental tools, or rotary cutting tool such as a Dremel™ tool. Such surgical cutting instruments may be used primarily on biological tissue (e.g., removing bone spurs, fragments, etc.) or on foreign objects (e.g., screws, plates, wires, fusion devices, etc.). The containment shield  100  includes a body  102  having a distal face  106  and a proximal face  108 . The body  102  is substantially transparent and has a generally consistent thickness such that the body  102  is pliable and resilient. Optionally, the thickness may range from about 0.005 inches to about 0.05 inches thick with many optional embodiments being around 0.015 inches thick. Optionally, the thickness may depend on the specific application for which the device will be used. The thickness range is only an example and in some optional embodiments, the device may be thicker or thinner. In one embodiment, the body  102  includes a reflection reducing coating. In another embodiment, the body  102  is formed from a reflection reducing or non-reflective material. In  FIG. 1 , a containment shield  100  having a generally rectangular outline is shown whereas, in  FIG. 4 , a containment shield  100  having a generally ovular outline is shown. Other outline shapes are contemplated within the scope of the claims. 
     The body  102  has a plurality of folds  104 A,  104 B. Quadrant folds  104 A divide the body  102  into quadrants. Bisecting folds  104 B divide each quadrant generally in half. That is, the bisecting folds  104 B extend at about a 45° angle in each quadrant from an origin of the quadrants formed by the quadrant folds  104 A as shown in  FIG. 1  or meet an edge of the body  102  halfway between two quadrant folds  104 A (see, for example,  FIG. 4 ). The quadrant folds  104 A and the bisecting folds  104 B are in opposite directions. That is, if the quadrant folds  104 A operate to bring two points on the distal face  106  together, then the bisecting folds  104 B operate to bring two points on the proximal face  108  together. Conversely, if the quadrant folds  104 A operate to bring two points on the proximal face  108  together, then the bisecting folds  104 B operate to bring two points on the distal face  106  together. The body  102  also includes a mounting hole  110  operable to engage the output housing of the surgical cutting instrument. A shaft of the surgical cutting instrument passes through the mounting hole  110  together with a portion of the output housing of the surgical cutting instrument, and a portion of the body  102  adjacent the mounting hole  110  frictionally engages the output housing of the surgical cutting instrument. 
     The body  102  may also include a plurality of slits  112  therethrough extending from an edge of the mounting hole  110 . In one embodiment, each slits of the plurality of slits  112  extends along one of the plurality of folds  104 A,  104 B. In one embodiment, each slit  112  extends radially from a center point of the mounting hole  110 . In another embodiment, each slit  112  extends perpendicularly from an edge of the mounting hole  110 . In one embodiment, the mounting hole  110  has a diameter of approximately one half of an inch, and each slit  112  of the plurality of slits has a length of approximately one half of an inch. In one embodiment, the body  102  has a width of between approximately 8 and 10 inches. It is contemplated that these dimensions may vary to accommodate different sizes and types of surgical cutting instruments. In an alternative embodiment, there are no slits  112  extending from the mounting hole  110  (see, for example,  FIG. 8 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the containment shield  100  is shown folded flat in a sterile package  202 . To fold the containment shield  100  flat, the four quadrant folds  104 A are brought together, and one pair of opposing quadrant folds are substantially flattened. The four bisecting folds  104 B are folded such that portions of the distal face  106  adjacent each bisecting fold  104 B are touching or in close proximity. The package  202  maintains the containment shield  100  in a substantially flat configuration within the sealed sterile enclosure of the package  202 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the containment shield  100  is mounted on an output housing  302  of a surgical cutting instrument  300 . The distal face  106  is at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis  304  through the mounting hole  110 , and the distal face  106  faces toward a cutting device  306  of the surgical cutting instrument  300 . The proximal face  108  is at an obtuse angle with respect to the longitudinal axis  304  and faces toward a housing side  308  of the surgical cutting instrument  300  opposite the cutting device  306  of the surgical cutting instrument  300 . In one embodiment, the containment shield  100  further includes a collar  316  retaining the mounting hole  110  of the body  102  on the output housing  302  of the surgical cutting instrument  300 . As shown, the collar  316  slips onto the output housing  302  after the containment shield  100  to prevent the containment shield  100  from slipping down the output housing  302  toward the cutting device  306 . In another embodiment, the collar  316  slides onto the output housing  302  before the containment shield  100 , and after the containment shield  100  is installed on the output housing  302 , the collar  316  is slid over a portion of the body  102  adjacent the mounting hole  110  to increase the frictional engagement of the body  102  to the output housing  302 . In one embodiment, the collar  316  is silicone rubber. The collar  316  may be turned inside out to roll down the output housing  302  onto the portion of the body  102  adjacent the mounting hole  302  (i.e., the portion free to lay flat against the output housing  302  due to slits  112 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a containment shield  500  operable to mount on the output housing  302  of the surgical cutting instrument  300  includes a body  502  having a distal face  506 , a proximal face  508 , a tab  520 , and a slot  522 . As shown, the containment shield  500  has a plurality of tabs  520  and a plurality of corresponding slots  522 . The body  502  is substantially transparent and has a generally consistent thickness such that the body  502  is pliable and resilient. In one embodiment of the body  502  having a generally consistent thickness, the body  502  is formed from a sheet of non-reflective plastic having a thickness of 0.025 mm+/−0.005 mm. When the tab  520  is inserted into the corresponding slot  522 , the containment shield  500  takes a generally conical form as shown in  FIG. 6 . When the tab  520  is not in the corresponding slot  522 , the containment shield takes a generally flat form as shown in  FIG. 5 . The body  502  has a mounting hole  510  formed when the tab  520  is in the corresponding slot  522 . The mounting hole  510  is operable to engage the output housing  302  of the surgical cutting instrument  300 . When the tab  520  is in the corresponding slot  522 , and the body  502  is mounted on the output housing  302  of the surgical cutting instrument  300 , the distal face  506  is at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis  604  through the mounting hole  510 . The distal face  506  faces toward the cutting device  306  of the surgical cutting instrument  300 . The proximal face  508  is at an obtuse angle with respect to the longitudinal axis  604  and faces toward a housing  308  of the surgical cutting instrument  300  opposite the cutting device  306  of the surgical cutting instrument  300 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the body  502  has an outline that is substantially semicircular (e.g., a half-moon shape). The tab  520  extends from the generally straight edge  530  of the outline of the body  502 . The slot  522  corresponding to the tab  520  is adjacent the straight edge of the outline of the body. That is, the slot is through the body  502  and set back from the straight edge  530 . Disregarding the tab  520  and slot  522 , the outline of the body  502  is substantially symmetrical about an axis. The axis thus divides the outline of the body  502  into a first half and an opposing, symmetrical second half. The straight edge  530  of the outline in the first half appears as a mirror image about the axis in the second half. For example, if the straight edge  530  is perpendicular to the axis in the first half, then it is also perpendicular to the axis in the opposing second half. However, if the straight edge is at 45 degrees with respect to the axis in the first half, then the straight edge is at 45 degrees with respect to the axis in the second half. The tab  520  extends from the straight edge in the first half of the outline of the body. The slot  522  is adjacent the straight edge  530  in the second half of the outline of the body  502 . In an alternative embodiment, the outline of the body  502  is fan shaped such that when the tabs  520  are in the corresponding slots  522 , a cross section of the containment shield  100  is substantially square or rectangular. 
     In one embodiment, a method of using a containment shield begins with removing the containment shield from packaging. The shield includes a body that is substantially transparent and as a generally consistent thickness such that the body is pliable and resilient. The body is substantially planar and sterile when in the package. The method then continues with forming the containment shield into a three-dimensional shape having a distal face and a proximal face. The third step of the method is engaging a mounting hole of the containment shield on to the output housing of the surgical cutting instrument such that the distal face is at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis through the mounting hole and faces toward a cutting device of the surgical cutting instrument. The proximal face is at an obtuse angle with respect to the longitudinal axis and faces toward a housing side of the surgical cutting instrument. In one embodiment, forming the containment shield into the three-dimensional shape includes flexing a plurality of folds of the body of containment shield. In an alternative embodiment, forming the containment shield into the three-dimensional shape includes engaging a tab of the body with a corresponding slot in the body to form the containment shield into a generally conical shape. The method may also include operating the surgical cutting instrument to cut biological material, and replacing the containment shield with another containment shield (i.e., repeating the removing, forming, and engaging steps of the method) when visibility through the containment shield is reduced due to debris from cutting the biological material. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a containment shield  100  has one or more layers of film on a distal face  106  of the body  102 . In one embodiment, a distal layer of film  702  is a thin layer of plastic adhered to the body  102  or underlying layer of film by static cling or a light duty adhesive. In one embodiment, the film is 0.5 mil thick polyvinyl chloride (PVC). When visibility through the distal layer  702  of the plurality of layers becomes obscured by spatter, operating room personnel can peel the layer of film  702  from the containment shield  100 , resulting in a substantially spatter free containment shield. The film has a peel tab  704  protruding from the edge of the body  102 . Successive tabs  708  corresponding to successively less distal layers of film are adjacent the peel tab  704  corresponding to the most distal layer  702 . In one embodiment, the most distal layer of film  702  has a slit  706  therethrough from an outer edge of the layer of film to an inner edge adjacent the mounting hole  110 . The slit  706  allows the layer of film  702  to be peeled from the containment shield  100  with reduced interaction with the cutting device  306  of the cutting instrument  300  which helps to prevent injury to operating room personnel. Although the distal layer of film  702  is shown as inset from the edges of the body  102 , it is contemplated that the edges of the layers of film may be inset or coextensive with the edges of the body  102 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a containment shield  100  has a plurality of layers of film on a distal face  106  of the body  102 . The distal layer of film  702  is a thin layer of plastic adhered to the body  102  or underlying layer of film by static cling. The distal layer of film  702  has a peel tab  704  protruding from the edge of the body  102 . Successive tabs  708  corresponding to successively less distal layers of film are adjacent the peel tab  704  corresponding to the most distal layer  702 . In one embodiment, the most distal layer of film  702  has a slit  706  therethrough from an outer edge of the layer of film to an inner edge adjacent the mounting hole  110 . Additionally, the mounting hole  110  in this embodiment may be substantially square and does not have slits extending radially therefrom. This style of mounting hole  110  may be used to mount on a square output housing, or for mating with a collar that retains the containment shield  100  on a surgical cutting instrument. Although the outline of the containment shield  100  of  FIG. 8  is substantially square, it is contemplated that the containment shield  100  may have a generally circular, rectangular, or oblong outline. In one embodiment, a side of the square mounting hole  110  of the containment shield  100  of  FIG. 8  is 3/16″. In an alternative embodiment, the mounting hole  110  is circular with a diameter of 3/16″. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the containment shield  100  includes the body  102  and a collar  302 . In one embodiment, the collar  302  has a collar top  904  and a neck  902  extending therefrom toward the body  102 . The neck  902  joins the collar top  904  to the body  102 . In one embodiment, the neck  902  is integral with the collar top  904 . The neck  902  may be of the same material as the collar top  904 , or the neck  902  may be a harder material that helps the containment shield  100  and collar top  904  maintain their shape. Alternatively, the neck  902  may be welded or affixed to the collar top  904  with an adhesive. Similarly, the next  902  is affixed to the body  102  via a welding process (e.g., ultrasonic welding) or via an adhesive. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 , the collar top  904  of the collar  302  includes a mounting hole  110  having a diameter of approximately 3/16 of an inch with slits  912  extending radially outward. In  FIG. 9 , the surgical cutting instrument  300  shown is a chisel  906  (e.g., a bone chisel) and a hammer  908 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , a laser  1002  is shown as the surgical cutting instrument  300 . The laser  1002  can generate both spatter and smoke when high energy pulses of light  1010  are emitted from the laser  1002  and impinge on biological material. In certain surgeries, the smoke can spread pathogens (e.g., pathogens that cause warts) to operating room personnel. Therefore, in one embodiment, the collar  302  fits tightly (i.e., elastically) around the output housing of the laser  1002  to substantially seal to the output housing of the laser  1002 . In optional embodiments, the collar top  904  does not include slits in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10  in order to improve sealing of the containment shield  100  about the output housing of the laser  1002 . The body  102  includes a suction port  1004  for receiving a suction tube  1006  from a suction device  1008 . The suction tube  1006  may pass through the suction port  1004  or a fitting may couple the suction tube  1006  to the suction port  1004 . The suction device  1008  may thus evacuate harmful smoke from the area adjacent the distal face of the containment shield  100  and filter pathogens and toxins from the air, reducing or eliminating the health risk to operating room personnel during certain surgeries or procedures. 
     In optional embodiments, the containment shield  100  is made of a material that filters certain wavelengths of light (e.g., the wavelength of the light pulses emitted by the laser  1002 ). When used with the laser  1002 , this may eliminate the need for operating room personnel to wear protective lenses for filtering the wavelength of the laser or at least provide an additional layer of protection for the eyes of operating room personnel from the emitted high energy pulses of light  1010 . Providing a seal between the containment shield  100  and the surgical cutting device  300  and the suction port  1004  may also be particularly advantageous for laser coagulators and cauterizing instruments. In other optional embodiments, the device may have a coating that can block or reduce laser light transmission through the device to protect or minimize light exposure to operating room personnel. 
     It is contemplated that an output housing of a surgical cutting instrument may be generally integral with the housing of the surgical cutting instrument. It is also contemplated within the scope of the claims that the mounting hole may be any size or shape (e.g., square, circular, or otherwise) so as to generally correspond to a class or type of surgical cutting instruments. Further, the overall size of the containment shield may vary according to the intended surgical cutting instrument. Additionally, it is contemplated that “conical” or “generally conical” includes a shape generally corresponding to a pyramid within the scope of the claims. 
     Furthermore, while the device is described as being used for surgical applications, particularly orthopedics, the device can also be used for a variety of other applications as well. This included various different medical procedures, dental surgery, veterinary medicine, organ transplants and harvesting, and also forensic applications. 
     Additionally, while in a variety of optional embodiments of the invention, the device may be formed from a flat sheet, in optional further embodiments, the device may maintain a three-dimensional shape. In such optional embodiments, the three dimensional shape may be conical or trapezoidal or have some other non-flat design. Such optional embodiments can possess many of the other traits, from rigidity to transparency of the other optional embodiments. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims. 
     It will be understood that the particular embodiments described herein are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention. The principal features of this invention may be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize numerous equivalents to the specific procedures described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims. 
     All of the compositions and/or methods disclosed and claimed herein may be made and/or executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this invention have been described in terms of the embodiments included herein, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that variations may be applied to the compositions and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit, and scope of the invention. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope, and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful CONTAINMENT SHIELD FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims.