Surgical drape with separable elements
Inventors
Strauch, Eric • Corenman, Donald • Droy, Dan • VanDeWeghe, Andrew • Massi, Shayna • Brown, Phillip • LEECE, Evelina • Toure, Samba • Sievers, Nicholas • Kline, Charles
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12370006-B2
Publication Date
2025-07-29
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a surgical drape to be used in conjunction with a surgical procedure, and more specifically to a surgical drape that includes one or more of the following: (1) a patient drape for use with a standalone non-draped image acquisition device (requiring circumferential access to the patient); (2) a patient drape for use with a standalone non-draped image acquisition device with image guidance navigation technology; (3) the means to provide temporary sterile coverage of an underlying sterile field; (4) the means to provide sterile separation of at least a portion, if not the entire temporary sterile coverage; (5) the means to provide covering of the undersurface of the operating surface and enclosing any suspended medical devices, wires, cables, tubes, etc; and (6) a single-use disposable outer surgical drape that ensures sterility of a covered surgical apparatus, device, or machine, or an inner drape associated therewith.
Core Innovation
A surgical draping system is provided with an inferior sheet and a superior sheet. The superior sheet has a superior edge and an inferior edge, and it overlaps an overlap area of the inferior sheet.
A breakable attachment mechanism interconnects the inferior edge of the superior sheet to the inferior sheet about at least part of the overlap area. The breakable attachment mechanism is configured to be broken, allowing the inferior and superior sheets to be separated and removed upon application of opposing pulling forces at opposing ends.
When the breakable attachment mechanism is broken and the inferior and superior sheets are separated, no portion of the superior edge of the superior sheet passes over any portion of the inferior sheet without a portion of the inferior edge of the superior sheet intervening therebetween. No portion of the superior edge contacts any portion of the inferior sheet, so sterile separation is maintained during separation and removal.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims covering a surgical draping system and a method for maintaining sterility of a sterile surface. Across both, the core inventive structure is a breakable attachment mechanism interconnecting overlapping superior and inferior sheets so that, after separation, the superior edge does not pass over or contact the inferior sheet.
Overlapping superior and inferior sheets with breakable edge interconnection
A surgical draping system comprising an inferior sheet, a superior sheet having a superior edge and an inferior edge overlapping an overlap area of the inferior sheet, and a breakable attachment mechanism including at least one strip of material that interconnects the inferior edge of the superior sheet to the inferior sheet about at least part of the overlap area.
Separation by opposing pulling forces without superior-edge passover or contact
The breakable attachment mechanism is configured to be broken and thereby allow the inferior and superior sheets to be separated and removed upon application of opposing pulling forces at opposing ends of the surgical draping system, wherein when the breakable attachment mechanism is broken and the inferior and superior sheets are separated, no portion of the superior edge of the superior sheet passes over any portion of the inferior sheet without a portion of the inferior edge of the superior sheet intervening therebetween, or contacts any portion of the inferior sheet.
Method for maintaining sterility using the overlapping draping system
A method for maintaining sterility of a sterile surface comprising covering the sterile surface with a surgical draping system comprising an inferior sheet, a superior sheet having a superior edge and an inferior edge overlapping an overlap area of the inferior sheet, and a breakable attachment mechanism comprising at least one strip of material that interconnects the inferior edge of the superior sheet to the inferior sheet about at least part of the overlap area.
Sterility maintenance by breaking attachment under opposing pulling forces
The breakable attachment mechanism is configured to be broken and thereby allow the inferior and superior sheets to be separated and removed upon application of opposing pulling forces at opposing ends of the surgical draping system, wherein when the breakable attachment mechanism is broken and the inferior and superior sheets are separated, no portion of the superior edge of the superior sheet passes over any portion of the inferior sheet without a portion of the inferior edge of the superior sheet intervening therebetween, or contacts any portion of the inferior sheet.
Both independent claims require overlapping superior and inferior sheets interconnected by a breakable attachment mechanism, where opposing pulling forces break the mechanism and permit separation and removal while preventing the superior edge from passing over or contacting the inferior sheet.
Stated Advantages
Maintains sterility by preventing the superior edge of the superior sheet from passing over the inferior sheet without intervention and from contacting the inferior sheet after the breakable attachment mechanism is broken and separation occurs.
Documented Applications
Covering a sterile surface with the surgical draping system to maintain sterility.
Sizing and arranging inferior and superior drapes to cover and maintain sterility of one of several specified surgical items or devices.
Choosing the sterile surface from one of several specified surfaces including surfaces of a surgical back table, a Mayo stand, a patient, a patient table, an imaging device, or a surgical robot.
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