Universal sterile drape and support system for in-operating-room safe patient handling equipment
Inventors
Assignees
US Department of Veterans Affairs
Publication Number
US-9855178-B2
Publication Date
2018-01-02
Expiration Date
2032-08-23
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Abstract
Described are surgical drapes and system with universal application to heavy equipment useful in operating room environments. Surgical drape systems of the invention are particularly capable of covering patient support machinery such as hoists, lifts, and slings, whether the equipment is mobile or stationary, or configured as a floor-based or as an overhead support/lifting system. The drapes of the current invention provide for protecting the equipment from exposure to surgical biohazard waste e.g.; blood or body fluids, as well as providing the ability to use equipment that is otherwise not presently allowed to enter into an operating room because of the impossibility to render such equipment sterile. The drapes further allow for the holding, lifting and positioning of the patient whole body or limbs while maintaining sterility during prepping and surgical procedures. Also included are support slings for use with the drapes.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to sterile drapes and systems with universal application to heavy equipment used in operating room environments. Specifically, the invention comprises surgical drape systems capable of covering patient support machinery such as hoists, lifts, slings, whether mobile or stationary, floor-based or overhead. The drapes protect equipment from exposure to surgical biohazard waste like blood or body fluids and enable the use of equipment that cannot otherwise be introduced into sterile operating rooms due to sterilization challenges.
The invention also includes support slings designed to work in concert with the sterile drapes, enabling patient holding, lifting, and positioning of whole bodies or limbs while maintaining sterility during surgical procedures. Improvements include novel crossbars for hanging slings with multiple sling loops allowing improved positioning, reinforced sling loops, and polyethylene sealed sterile sling assemblies meeting ISO 14644 Class B standards.
The problem being solved arises from the difficulty of sterility maintenance in operating rooms concerning bulky patient handling equipment such as hoists, lifts, and slings. Existing operating room solutions predominantly focus on draping the patient, leaving the equipment unsterile. Manual sterilization methods for heavy equipment are time-consuming, impractical, and sometimes impossible to perform within operating rooms. This results in a lack of safe patient handling under sterile conditions, risks of contaminating surgical environments, and occupational injuries to operating room staff due to manual lifting and manipulation of patients and limbs.
Claims Coverage
The patent includes one independent claim defining a sterile encapsulation apparatus for a patient hoist system, addressing draping and reinforcement features.
Flexible drape covering patient hoist system
A drape with a flexible body spanning two ends, featuring an opening adapted to slide over the cross bar and cover the cross bar and support framework of the hoist system, with the second end adjacent to the cross bar.
Reinforced areas to reduce stress between drape and sling
A first reinforcing web at the drape's second end adjacent the cross bar, and a second reinforcing web on the sling. Contact between these reinforcing webs reduces stresses acting upon the sling supporting the patient body portion.
Loop reinforcement on sling
The sling presents at least one loop at respective ends reinforced by the second reinforcing web to strengthen sling hanging points.
Adaptability to different patient hoist frameworks
The drape's first end is adapted to surround the base of a ground support patient hoist or the depending framework of an overhead patient hoist system, providing coverage consistent with the hoist type.
The independent claim focuses on a sterile drape apparatus with reinforced ends and adapted openings to cover various patient hoist systems, emphasizing stress reduction between the drape and sling to maintain sterility and improve safety in patient handling.
Stated Advantages
Provides the ability to use patient handling equipment in operating rooms under sterile conditions that were previously not allowed due to sterilization difficulties.
Protects patient support machinery from exposure to surgical biohazard waste, maintaining equipment sterility.
Improves safe patient handling by enabling lifting, holding, and positioning of the patient body or limbs while maintaining sterility, reducing risk of patient injury or contamination.
Reduces occupational injuries to operating room staff by allowing equipment-assisted patient manipulation rather than manual lifting.
Includes reinforced drape and sling components to prevent tearing and stress at critical attachment points, increasing durability and safety.
Documented Applications
Covering patient lifting and support hoists, hoist motors, hoist framing, yokes, crossbars, and sling attachment hooks in sterile operating room environments.
Use with both mobile and stationary, floor-based, or overhead patient lifting and hoisting equipment in operative settings.
Supporting, lifting, and positioning patient bodies or limbs during surgical procedures under sterile conditions while utilizing sterile slings and sealed sling assemblies.
Providing sterile coverings for patient handling equipment to prevent hospital-associated infections through contamination control.
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