Improvements to operating drapes with window
Inventors
Carrez, Jean-Luc • Hocq, Xavier • Lestoquoy, Patrick
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8783262-B2
Publication Date
2014-07-22
Expiration Date
Abstract
A surgical drape has an impermeable cloth with a window providing access to the surgical site. The cloth has two peelable impermeable films which are a continuation of one another and are sealed together by a heat weld making it possible to separate the films by peeling. The window is shared between the two sheets. The invention has application in surgical drapes used in operations.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an operating drape having a window through which a device can be extended to a surgical site. The operating drape comprises a first impermeable film and a second impermeable film, with the window being shared between the first film and the second film. A bond is provided comprising a heat weld between a margin of a surface of the first impermeable film and a margin of a surface of the second impermeable film.
The bond is defined as strong enough to maintain the first film and the second film in extension of one another, while having tear resistance small enough to permit the first film and the second film to be peeled apart. When the films are peeled apart, a border of the window is opened, thereby permitting removal of the drape without dislodgement of the device. The described shared window structure is intended to maintain impermeability around the surgical site yet allow peeling separation of the films.
The described configurations include using an impermeable heat-welded strip or forming the heat weld between superposed and rectilinear edges to create a releasable sealed bond. Window arrangements include a substantially half-shared window and multiple superposed windows with descending sizes, with peelable adhesive masks that are slitted to enable lateral peeling. Absorbent means are attached around the window, including frame means using slit and side-overlap arrangements and U-shaped absorbent strips with adhesive bonding patterns leaving overlap regions free.
Preferred material examples include polyethylene sheets with one ultra-low-density polyethylene layer to enable selective melting during heat welding and low tear resistance upon peeling. Absorbent layers can include non-woven fabric absorbent layers, and protective layers can include silicone paper protective release layers. The document also describes that lines such as tubing, wire, or perfusion lines can pass through the window.
Claims Coverage
The claim set includes one independent claim directed to the operating drape structure and window behavior, with multiple dependent claims refining heat-weld placement/configuration and adding absorbent material features around the window. Across the independent claim and its dependent refinements, the inventive core comprises a shared window between two impermeable films with a heat-weld bond that is strong in extension yet tear-resistant only enough to permit peeling, opening a border of the shared window for removal without dislodgement.
Shared window between first and second impermeable films with heat-weld bond
An operating drape having a window shared between a first impermeable film and a second impermeable film, wherein the first and second films are joined by a bond comprising a heat weld between margins of surfaces of the first and second impermeable films, the bond being strong enough to maintain the films in extension of one another and having tear resistance small enough to permit the films to be peeled apart.
Border opening of shared window to permit removal without dislodgement
The window being shared between the first film and the second film, such that a border of the window is opened when the first film and the second film are peeled apart, thereby permitting removal of the drape without dislodgement of the device.
Releasable heat-seal bond using an impermeable heat-welded strip
The operating drape comprising an impermeable heat-welded strip between margins of a first film and a second film, holding the margins in parallel juxtaposition via a releasable heat-seal bond allowing the films to be peeled apart and separated.
Heat weld formed between superposed edges
An operating drape having first and second films with superposed edges, wherein the heat weld is formed between the superposed edges.
Heat weld between rectilinear edges
The operating drape in which edges of the first and second films are rectilinear, with the heat-weld arrangement associated with those rectilinear edges.
Absorbent material with a slit enabling lateral peeling
An operating drape including absorbent material attached to the first and second films around the window, with a slit in the absorbent material to allow lateral peeling of the first film away from the second film.
U-shaped absorbent strips around the window
The operating drape including absorbent strips that are U-shaped.
The claim coverage centers on a shared surgical-site window defined between first and second impermeable films joined by a heat-weld bond that maintains extension yet permits peeling separation; peeling opens a window border to permit drape removal without dislodgement. Dependent claims further refine where the heat weld is formed and add absorbent structures around the window, including slit-based lateral peeling support and U-shaped absorbent strips.
Stated Advantages
Maintains impermeability around the surgical site yet allows peeling separation of the films.
Permits removal of the drape without dislodgement of the device.
Provides a border of the shared window that opens when the films are peeled apart.
Documented Applications
An operating drape for surgical site access in which a device is extended through a shared window formed by first and second impermeable films, with the window configured to allow drape removal without dislodgement of the device.
Use of the drape window to permit passage of tubing, wire, or perfusion lines through the window.
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