Surgery – Body protecting or restraining devices for patients or infants – Drapes
Reexamination Certificate
1994-06-13
2001-04-10
O'Neill, Michael (Department: 3713)
Surgery
Body protecting or restraining devices for patients or infants
Drapes
C128S849000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213124
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to surgical drapes; more particularly, to a drape that includes a sealable pouch to collect runoff from a surgical site.
2. Description of the Related Art
Surgical procedures often result in blood and other fluids being produced in the surgical site either directly from the patient or from irrigation fluids used to flush the site. A simple way to control these fluids is to provide towels, or other absorptive materials, in and around the surgical site. When the surgical procedure is expected to involve more fluid run-off than can be absorbed in this way, one or more pouches can be attached to the drape and/or be an integral part of the drape as it is made.
A number of patents have disclosed pouches that are designed to contain run-off generated during surgery.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,386,444, issued on Jun. 4, 1968, to O. R. Brenner et al., discloses a surgical drain bag for receiving bodily fluid draining from a patient during surgery. The bag includes an outlet opening at the bottom and a tubular drain coupling secured into the opening, through which fluid can be removed from the bag.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,860, issued on Oct. 16, 1984, to R. F. Collins et al., discloses a drape comprising a main sheet that has adhered to its top surface (away from the patient) a transparent sheet, which includes pockets for holding instruments and collecting body fluids, and a reinforcement sheet. A fenestration extends through the main sheet, transparent sheet, and reinforcement sheet. Body fluids that collect in the pockets are pumped out during surgery with an aspirator.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,559,937, issued on Dec. 24, 1985, to K. D. Vinson (see also U.S. Pat. No. 4,598,458 to McAllester), discloses a fluid collection bag attached to a surgical drape that is used for craniotomy surgical procedures. A slit in the bag permits a suction tube to be introduced into the bag for suctioning fluid out of the bag.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,628, issued on Jan. 2, 1990, to E. M. Jackson, discloses a surgical drape with attached fluid collection bag. A drainage opening at the bottom of the bag is fitted with a drain nozzle. The nozzle may be fitted with flexible tubing to continuously drain fluid into a bucket. A shutoff valve in the nozzle or tubing can control fluid release from the bag.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,798, issued on Aug. 13, 1991, to R. C. Dowdy et al., discloses an ophthalmic drape that includes a fluid collection pouch that substantially surrounds the surgical site on three sides. There is no disclosure regarding emptying the pouch.
Surgical drapes that include fluid-collection pouches near a fenestration for collecting fluids generated during surgery are also available commercially. Suppliers of such drapes are, for example, Neuromedics, Inc., Sugar Land, Tex. and Alcon Surgical, Fort Worth, Tex.
Although others have addressed the issue of collecting fluid that emanates from a surgical site, their fluid collection pouches have no provision for closing them after use to prevent leakage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a surgical drape comprises
a) a sheet for placement over a patient and comprising
i) a bottom surface for contacting the patient,
ii) a top surface for facing away from the patient after placement, and
iii) a fenestration; and
b) a pouch on the top surface of the sheet, near the fenestration, for collecting fluid runoff during surgery, the pouch comprising
i) a top edge and bottom edge joined by two opposing side edges, the side edges and bottom edge being sealed closed, and
ii) means for detachably sealing the top edge to permit opening the pouch to receive fluid and then closing the pouch to prevent leakage of the fluid.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a surgical drape comprises
a) a sheet for placement over a patient and comprising
i) a bottom surface for contacting the patient,
ii) a top surface for facing away from the patient after placement, and
iii) a fenestration; and
b) a pouch on the top surface of the sheet, near the fenestration, for collecting fluid runoff during surgery, the pouch comprising
i) a thermoplastic layer having an outer perimetric edge and an opening defined by an inner perimetric edge, the outer perimetric edge being secured to the top surface of the sheet in a liquid tight seal along a line that completely surrounds the fenestration,
and
ii) means for detachably sealing the inner perimetric edge to the top surface of the sheet to permit opening the pouch to receive fluid and then closing the pouch to prevent leakage of the fluid.
By including a sealing means on the fluid-collecting pouch, the drape of the present invention facilitates safe disposal after the drape is used in a surgical procedure during which substantial amounts of fluid are generated. Furthermore, there is no need to drain the fluid from the pouch before disposing of the drape.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3386444 (1968-06-01), Brenner et al.
patent: 3416585 (1968-12-01), Staller
patent: 4024862 (1977-05-01), Collins
patent: 4316455 (1982-02-01), Stoneback
patent: 4476860 (1984-10-01), Collins et al.
patent: 4489720 (1984-12-01), Morris et al.
patent: 4559937 (1985-12-01), Vinson
patent: 4869271 (1989-09-01), Idris
patent: 5038798 (1991-08-01), Dowdy et al.
patent: 5148940 (1992-09-01), Mendise
patent: 5161544 (1992-11-01), Morris
patent: 5339831 (1994-08-01), Thompson
patent: 5345946 (1994-09-01), Butterworth et al.
patent: 2 182 375 (1973-12-01), None
EPO Search Report for EP 94 30 2896, a corresponding foreign application.
Johnson & Johnson Medical Inc.
O'Neill Michael
LandOfFree
Surgical drape with a sealable pouch does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Surgical drape with a sealable pouch, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Surgical drape with a sealable pouch will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2477221