Surgery – Body protecting or restraining devices for patients or infants – Drapes
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-03
2001-11-13
Brown, Michael A. (Department: 3764)
Surgery
Body protecting or restraining devices for patients or infants
Drapes
C128S853000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314958
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to medical drapes, and, in particular, to a medical drape adapted to control fluid run-off during a medical procedure during which it is used.
Medical drapes are utilized in numerous types of surgical procedures and operations. Frequently, these drapes cover or overlay part or substantially all of the patients on whom procedures are being performed. These drapes have been designed to perform a variety of functions, including isolating the procedure site, and protecting the patient such as by reducing the likelihood for infection.
In many medical procedures, a patient lying on a hospital table or bed can be subject to contact with liquids. In a procedure such as an operative hysteroscopy, relatively large quantities of fluid are input into and output from a patient's uterus. The quantity of fluid input and output is closely watched as a loss of fluid can indicate a potential problem in the procedure. In an operative hysteroscopy, a surgical drape overlaying the patient can be provided with a pouch in which fluid running along the top surface of the drape can be collected such that the fluid is not lost and can be measured. However, on occasion, fluid can pass between the overlaying drape and the patient and run off onto the operating bed, and from there onto the floor of the operating room. This loss of fluid obviously adversely impacts the accuracy of the measurement of fluid output from the uterus. Besides potentially wetting operating room personnel, this fluid also can accumulate on the operating bed underneath the patient and remain there throughout the duration of the procedure, subjecting the patient to continuous contact with that fluid.
Fluid leakage is also a problem in medical procedures other than hysteroscopies. In some procedures, such as cystoscopies, the procedure may be performed using a specialized bed designed to collect the fluids that pass onto the patient. However, when performed in operating rooms lacking these specialized beds, cystoscopies are subject to the same fluid leakage problems as encountered during hysteroscopies.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus for collecting fluid associated with medical procedures in a convenient yet relatively simple and inexpensive fashion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a drape apparatus that can collect or redirect fluid running under a patient who is undergoing a medical procedure. The drape apparatus can be provided as a stand-alone drape or incorporated as a new feature into various styles of existing medical drapes. The drape apparatus includes a drip sheet with a conforming lip, preferably formed of plastic encapsulated foam, that adjusts to fit the contour of the underside of a patient positioned on the drape apparatus so as to form a fluid-tight seal with the patient to restrict the passage of fluid underneath the patient.
In one form thereof, the present invention provides a medical drape for controlling fluid during a medical procedure comprising a base sheet and a sealing lip. The base sheet, which is positionable between a patient and a patient supporting structure, comprises a fluid impervious material. The sealing lip is attached to the base sheet and at least partially circumscribes a surface of a region of the base sheet, which region surface comprises at least a part of the top or bottom surface of the base sheet The sealing lip comprises a construction adapted to conform to a contour of the patient to furnish a fluid-tight seal between the medical drape and patient; whereby the top surface of the base sheet region serves as a collection area for fluid that during the medical procedure may drain along a part of the patient above the base sheet region.
In another form thereof, the present invention provides an underbuttocks drape for controlling fluid reaching a buttocks area of a patient on an operating table during a medical procedure, comprising a base sheet and a sealing lip. The base sheet, which is positionable on the operating table underneath the patient, comprises a fluid impervious material and a top surface. The sealing lip is attached to the base sheet top surface in a fluid tight manner and at least substantially circumscribes the top surface of at least a portion of the base sheet operationally positioned under the patient's buttocks area. The sealing lip includes a compressible foam construction adapted to conform to a contour of the patient around the buttocks area of the patient as the patient rests on the medical drape positioned on the operating table. The sealing lip is adapted to fill gaps between the base sheet and the patient such that the sealing lip causes fluid running along the buttocks area of the patient to drain along the top surface of the at least a portion of the base sheet.
In still another form thereof, the present invention provides a method for controlling fluid during a medical procedure on a patient comprising the steps of providing a patient support platform comprising an upper surface and an edge, positioning the patient on the patient support platform, and providing a fluid control drape. The fluid control drape comprises a base sheet formed of a fluid impervious material, and means, adapted to conform to a contour of the patient resting thereon, for providing a fluid-tight seal with the patient to route fluid to a collection area of the top surface of the base sheet at least partially surrounded by the fluid-tight seal means. The method further comprises the step of positioning the base sheet on the patient support platform upper surface such that a buttocks area of the patient positioned on the patient support platform is disposed above the base sheet and the fluid-tight seal means sealingly engages the patient, whereby fluid that runs down along the buttocks area of the patient above the base sheet collection area operatively encounters the fluid-tight seal means and is routed to the collection area of the base sheet top surface.
One advantage of the present invention is that it provides an underbuttocks drape that effectively controls fluids that may pass under a patient during certain surgical procedures.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for an underbuttocks drape that allows fluids that pass under a patient during surgery to be collected so as to be measured.
Another advantage of the present invention is that its design makes it easy to install and use properly.
Still another advantage of the present invention is that fluid run-off underneath a patient is controlled without any absorption of the fluid that may interfere with keeping accurate track of fluid quantities.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3540441 (1970-11-01), Collins
patent: 4598458 (1986-07-01), McAllester
patent: 5143091 (1992-09-01), Patnode
patent: 5161544 (1992-11-01), Morris
Product brochure entitled “Innovation By Design . . . OB/Gyn Pouch Drapes,” by Microtek Medical, Inc., Columbus, MS, 1994.
Product information sheet related to “Fluid Collection Under Buttocks Drape, 40″×44″ ” by Kimberly Clark.
Harroll Bernadette A.
Lingeman Paul E.
Baker & Daniels
Brown Michael A.
Microtek Medical Inc.
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