Modular surgical drape, attachment for surgical drape and related manufacturing process

Inventors

Lestoquoy, Patrick

Assignees

Vygon SA

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Publication Number

US-10206754-B2

Patent

Publication Date

2019-02-19

Expiration Date


Abstract

The invention relates to a surgical drape (1) comprising a main sheet (10), characterized in that it comprises a drape attachment (20) composed of: a separable film (22) having at least one internal layer (22a) and one external layer (22b), the internal layer (22a) having less mechanical resistance than the external layer (22b), anda layer of adhesive (24), fixed to the internal layer (22a) of the separable film (22),the drape attachment being fixed to the main sheet (10) by means of the layer of adhesive (24).

Core Innovation

The invention relates to a modular surgical drape in which a separable multilayer film attachment is fixed to a main drape sheet by a layer of adhesive. The attachment includes at least one internal layer and an external layer, with the internal layer having lower mechanical resistance and lower internal cohesion than the external layer. This internal-versus-external relationship is configured so that, under traction force, the at least one internal layer breaks or tears before the external layer.

The attachment further includes a layer of adhesive fixed to the internal layer of the separable multilayer film. The adhesive has greater mechanical resistance to peeling than that of the internal layer, such that when traction force is applied, the internal layer breaks or tears before the layer of adhesive unsticks from the main sheet or from the attachment. The internal layer material is distinct from the external layer material.

The multilayer attachment is modular and separable, and additional elements and manufacturing options are provided. The internal layer may include a support layer that is welded to the internal layer, and protective sheets covering the adhesive during handling/activation are described, as well as manufacturing approaches such as coextrusion/roller production and fastening in an online or semi-automated manner.

The modular attachment is also described as being usable to detachably fix a removable drape element, such as a drainage bag, by means of an additional outer adhesive strip configured to break at the internal layer during peeling. This use relies on the separable multilayer film failure behavior so that traction or peeling causes internal-layer break or tear rather than adhesive release.

Claims Coverage

The partial content provides two independent claim foundations: one for an operating drape and one for an attachment for an operating drape. Across these, the inventive features focus on lower mechanical resistance and cohesion of an internal layer relative to an external layer, and an adhesive with greater peeling resistance than the internal layer so failure occurs within the internal layer rather than at adhesive un-sticking.

Controlled internal-layer tearing before external layer

The separable multilayer film has at least one internal layer and an external layer, where the internal layer has lower mechanical resistance and lower internal cohesion than the external layer, such that under traction force the internal layer breaks or tears before the external layer.

Adhesive with greater peeling resistance than internal layer

A layer of adhesive fixed to the internal layer has greater mechanical resistance to peeling than that of the internal layer, such that when traction force is applied, the internal layer breaks or tears before the layer of adhesive unsticks from the main sheet or from the attachment.

Distinct internal-layer and external-layer materials

The material of the at least one internal layer is distinct from the material of the external layer, with the internal-layer material having the lower mechanical resistance and internal cohesion relationship to drive the break or tear ordering.

Longitudinal adhesive configuration on attachment

For the attachment, the layer of adhesive extends longitudinally in the direction and is fixed to the at least one internal layer of the separable multilayer film, while maintaining the condition that the adhesive’s peeling resistance is greater than that of the internal layer so the internal layer breaks or tears before adhesive un-sticking.

Both independent claim directions are centered on a separable multilayer film attachment in which traction causes the internal layer to break or tear before the external layer, and an adhesive that resists peeling more than the internal layer so the adhesive remains attached while internal-layer failure occurs.

Stated Advantages

Ensures that, under traction force, the at least one internal layer breaks or tears before the layer of adhesive unsticks from the main sheet or from the attachment.

Ensures that, under traction force, the at least one internal layer breaks or tears before the external layer.

Documented Applications

Detaches and detachably fixes a removable drape element such as a drainage bag to the modular surgical drape using an additional outer adhesive strip configured to break at the internal layer during peeling.

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