Surgical drape adapted for use with radiological equipment
A surgical drape provides a volume to accommodate radiological equipment such as a C-arm x-ray device without pulling the bottom of the drape up which could otherwise interrupt the sterile field. In one preferred embodiment, the space is created with pleated or gathered section, which receives the equipment as it is brought up laterally without lifting any portion of the material overall. A different embodiment of the invention includes a tunnel or tent formed in the material, generally without pleating. In this case, the tunnel or tent extends from the bottom of the drape to or above a patient-contacting configurations, additional material may be included to form a slit to further shroud the radiological equipment when positioned for a medial-lateral exposure. As yet a further option to all embodiments, the bottom edge of the drape may include an adhesive, integral weights, or both, to keep the bottom edge in close proximity, or actually adhered, to the floor, to further prevent lifting.
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/214,535, filed Aug. 8, 2002, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to surgical drapes of the type used to maintain a sterile field and, in particular, to a drape better suited for use with certain types of radiological equipment, particularly C-arm configurations found in trauma and other environments.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe introduction of certain types of radiological equipment, such as C-arm x-ray machines have markedly improved the ability of surgeons and other health care professionals to obtain a rapid assessment of a patient's condition, including fractures and other trauma-related conditions in emergency-room settings. In such situations, it is general practice to position the patient in a frame used for traction or other stabilization. A surgical drape is used to separate the patient from the attending physician.
Existing drapes of this kind, shown in
Such a configuration would be entirely acceptable, where it not for the need to bring in the radiological equipment before, during, or after the procedure. In positioning a C-arm 110, for example, one portion of the arm must often be brought forward and up relative to the lateral side of the patient. When this occurs, a portion of the equipment comes in contact with the surgical drape and, in fact, causes a portion of the drape below the procedure area to be brought up to, or above, waist level, as indicated by the upwardly pointing arrow.
This is undesirable, since it is well known that any material previously below the procedural area is considered to be out of the sterile field. If the drape is brought up to waist level or higher, the sterile field is compromised. Although some surgeons attempt to pull down on the raised lower end of the drape to keep it below the level of sterility, it is very difficult to properly maintain the sterile field, since there is no extra material of the drape to accommodate the pivoting C-arm.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis invention improves upon the existing art by providing a surgical drape with additional material on either or both sides of the procedural area to accommodate radiological equipment such as a C-arm x-ray device without pulling the bottom of the drape up and interrupting the sterile field.
In one preferred embodiment, the extra material takes the form of a pleated or gathered section, which receives the equipment as it is brought up laterally without lifting any portion of the material overall. A further embodiment of the invention includes a tunnel or tent formed in the material, generally without pleating. In this case, the tunnel or tent extends from the bottom of the drape at least to a point above the procedural area, again, to receive the equipment as it is brought up for use. A different embodiment features a flap that may, or may not, be rolled up or otherwise retained against the vertically hanging drape, and extended outwardly, permitting attachment to an instrument table, Mayo stand, or the like.
As a further option, in each of the various configurations, a slit may be formed in the vertically hanging material to further shroud the radiological equipment, particularly when positioned for a medial-lateral exposure. Also in each embodiment, the drape may include an adhesive, integral weights, or both, to keep the bottom edge in close proximity, or temporarily adhered to the floor to further prevent lifting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having discussed the problems of the prior art,
While the configurations so far describe work well in hip fractures, in trauma situations the embodiments of
It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to a single channel for receiving radiological or other equipment.
Although not shown, in all of the various embodiments elastic material may be added to enhance expansion, particularly where the gatherings, tunnel, tent or flap structures attach or transition to the drape itself. Weights or adhesive may also be added, particularly along the bottom section to further ensure that the curtain does not ride up as the C-arm is raised. As yet a further option, a topical antibiotic may be included in the patient-contacting adhesive area.
Claims
1. A surgical drape for use with a piece of radiological including a C-arm,
- the drape comprising:
- a sheet of flexible material having a top edge, a bottom edge, a patient-facing side, a physician-facing side, and a vertically oriented mid-section bounded by opposing vertically oriented side sections; and
- wherein the mid-section includes sufficient additional material on the physician-facing side to receive an upwardly moving C-arm without substantially lifting the bottom edge of the sheet.
2. The surgical drape of claim 1, wherein the material extending outwardly from the vertical plane on the physician-facing side is in the form of a pleated section.
3. The surgical drape of claim 1, wherein the material extending outwardly from the vertical plane on the physician-facing side is in the form of a tent at least including side panels.
4. The surgical drape of claim 1, wherein the material extending outwardly from the vertical plane on the physician-facing side is in the form of a flap.
5. The surgical drape of claim 4, wherein the flap is rolled up or folded and retained against the sheet when not extended.
6. The surgical drape of claim 1, wherein the bottom edge is weighted to further prevent the equipment from lifting the sheet as the equipment is raised.
7. The surgical drape of claim 1, wherein the bottom edge further includes a floor-contacting adhesive to further prevent the equipment from lifting the sheet as the equipment is raised.
8. The surgical drape of claim 1, further including material to form at least two equipment-receiving spaces, one on either side of the area of adhesive.
Type: Application
Filed: May 16, 2006
Publication Date: Sep 14, 2006
Inventor: Michael Masini (Ann Arbor, MI)
Application Number: 11/435,056
International Classification: A61B 19/00 (20060101); A61B 19/08 (20060101);