US3561439A

US3561439A - Laparotomy sheet with plastic center strip having absorbent layer

Info

Publication number: US3561439A
Application number: US783324A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert T Bayer
Original assignee: Mars Manufacturing Co Inc
Current assignee: Mars Manufacturing Co Inc; WORK WEAR CORP Inc
Priority date: 1968-12-12
Filing date: 1968-12-12
Publication date: 1971-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 1988-02-09

Abstract

A surgical sheet or drape of a relatively large rectangular panel of nonwoven paper material having a centrally disposed strip of plastic incorporated therein with a fenestration centrally disposed in the plastic strip and a layer or covering of absorbent material on the plastic strip in spaced relation to the periphery of the fenestration.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Robert T. Bayer Asheville, N.C.

Appl. No. 783,324

Filed Dec. 12, I968 Patented Feb. 9, 1971 Assignee Mars Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Asheville, N.C. a corporation of North Carolina LAPAROTOMY SHEET WITH PLASTIC CENTER STRIP HAVING ABSORBENT LAYER 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

0.8. CI 128/132, 128/ I 71 Int. Cl A61f 13/00 Field of Search 128/ 1 32,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Craddock Melges Melges Morgan Krzewinski et al Primary Examiner-Adele M. Eager Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien & Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT: A surgical sheet or drape of a relatively large rectangular panel of nonwoven paper material having a centrally disposed strip of plastic incorporated therein with a fenestration centrally disposed in the plastic strip and a layer or covering of absorbent material on the plastic strip in spaced relation to the periphery of the fenestration.

HAVING Ansonnsur LAYER -It is .well knownin the field that one of the problems encountered in surgery is postoperative infection which occurs frequently after surgery. Two of the major causes of postoperative infection is strike-through of body fluids and foreign material such as lint gaining access'to the wound or incision. Strike-through occurs when body fluids such as blood, contaminated solutions and the like leak through conventional textile material employed in surgical sheets or drapes or when such fluids break through the barrier of disposable paper surgical drapes or sheets. The strike-through of body fluid allows contaminate to travel from one surface'of the surgical drape to the other. Further, where disposable paper surgical drapes, or linens or textile surgical drapes are employed, there is a con tinuing problem of lint which would be contaminated an could easily get into a wound without being seen.

One effort to solve this problem with some degree of success has been the incorporation of a plastic stripincorporated into the center of the surgical drape which offers a superior wet resistant barrier. However, since the "static-free plastic drape has a'tendericy to flow along the surface of the plastic and downwardly off of the drape onto'the floor, clothing, feet and other equipment disposed in this area. Further, clue to the relatively slick surface of the plastic material, instruments or tools laid thereon quite frequently slip or slide especiallyif the plastic surface is relativelyinclined. v i

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a surgical drape with a plastic strip with a fenestration centrally disposed therein with the plastic strip having a layer of absorbent material laminated thereto. This absorbent material may benonwoveri material, tissue,.-wadding or the like and when combined with the plastic strip, there will be provided a superior liquid barrier and at the same time there will be an absorbent surface to eliminate rolloff or rundown of liquids and at the same time serve as a supporting surface for instruments that may be deposited thereon. The absorbent material may be laminated, glued, taped, or heat sealed into position and may be in the form of two independent spaced pads extending for a relatively short distance on either side of the fenestration or a continuous pad extending from edge to edge of thedrape with the central portion thereof omitted to provide theinner edges of the absorbent material in spaced relation to the periphery of the fenestration.

A further object of the present invention is' to provide a laparotomy sheet which is simple in construction, effective for its purposes and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter'described and claimed, reference bein'g had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. I is a top plan view of the laparotomy sheet of the present invention; I

FIG. 2 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 2-2 of FIG. 1 illustrating the structure of the sheet and the absorbent pads thereon; and

FIG. 3 is a sectionalview extending from edge to edge of the sheet illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention in which the absorbent pad is continuous throughout the length and width of the strip except in that area adjacent the fenestration.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the laparotomy sheet of the present invention is generally designated by the numeral 10 and in plan view is substantially rectangular in configuration. While not limited to any particular dimensions, it has been found that dimensions of approximately 87 inches in width and 120 inches in length perform satisfactorily. The sheet 10 includes two

panels

12 and 14 of similar shape and configuration with one panel .being about 6 inches shorter than the other and both panels being constructed of a nonwoven paper. Disposed between arid interconnecting the edges of the paper panels 12 and I4 is a plastic panel or strip 16 which extends between the side edges of the sheet an is coextensive in length to the width of the sheet 10 as illustrated in FIG. I. The edges of the panels 12 and I4 overlap the edges of the plastic strip 16 as illustrated in FIG. 2 and are secured thereto by a suitable adhesive bonding material as at 18. If desired, the edges of the panels 12 and I4 could be disposed in alignment with the edges of the strip 16 with the edges thus being interconnected by a suitable bonding adhesive tape, heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing or the like. Whether the edges overlap as in FIG. 2 or the tape is employed overlapping both adjacent edges, the major portion of the width of the plastic strip 16 is free of paper and while the width of the plastic strip 16 may vary, it has been found that astrip I6 inches in width performs effectively.

Centrally disposed within the plastic strip or insert 16 is an opening or fenestration 20 which is also rectangular in configuration with the long dimension thereof paralleling the long side edge of the sheet). The opening 20 is centrally disposed between the side edges of the plastic strip I6 and also centrally disposed between the end edges thereof as illustrated in FIG. I. While the dimensions of the opening 20 may also vary, it

has been found that an opening 2 to 4 inches in length and approximately 12 inches long enables operative procedures to be properly conducted through the opening.-

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a pair of rectangular absorbent pads 22 of nonwovcn material which'has been specially treated for high moisture resistance laminated tothe plastic strip I6 with the edges of the pads 22 extending beyond the edges of the plastic strip 16 as illustrated in FIG. '2. The pad 22 is of absorbent material and is laminated .to the surface of the plastic strip and the adjacent portions of the side panels I2 and 14 by gluing, taping, heat sealing or by any othermeans. The pads serve as an absorbent material on the upper surface of the static free plastic material which will absorb any liquids engaging the upper surface of the plastic strip thus preventing such liquids from rolling off or flowing down along the surface of the plastic strip onto the floor, surgeon's clothing, feet or the like.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which absorbent pad 24 is provided which completely covers the surface of the plastic strip except for the area thereof having the fenestration 20 therein. Thus, the construction may involve a pair of pads 22 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 or a continuous pad extending all the way to the end edges of the plastic strip 16. In either embodiment, the peripheral area of the fenestration 20 is left free of absorbent material which produces a strike-through barrier and eliminates possible contamination by lint or the like from the absorbent material. The pad of absorbentmaterial also serves to retain instruments in position thereon and prevents such instruments from slipping or sliding when deposited on a supporting surface thus avoiding any possible objection of the plastic strip not providing adequate support for surgical instruments and the like.

The laparotomy sheet of the present invention may be easily manufactured employing known techniques and the plastic strip does not adversely effect the breathability of the overall sheet and thus enables stabilivation of the condition and temperature of the patient. The plastic strip or insert 16 affords total protection against strike-through of fluid in the area where fluids are encountered during operative procedure and also affords total protection against deposit of foreign material such as lint into the wound while such operative procedures are being conducted. The

absorbent pads

22 or 24 on the plastic material serves as an absorbent for any liquid materials engaging the surface of the plastic to prevent such liquids from flowing along the surface of the plastic material. Also, the plastic material employed is static free and may have the bacteria inhibiting agent incorporated therein and has been approved for surgical use as has the nonwovcn paper and other materials employed in the laparotomy sheet.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

1 claim:

1. A surgical drape such as a laparotomy sheet enlarged lengthwise by a plastic panel having an opening disposed centrally therein, said panel being a moistureproof member defining the periphery of the opening to eliminate strike-through of fluid during a surgical procedure and to eliminate contamination of a wound by lint or other foreign material coming into contact therewith from portions of the drape outwardly of said plastic member, said plastic panel having an absorbent material on the upper surface to absorb any liquid engaging the surface of the moistureproof plastic member to prevent such liquid from flowing along the surface of the moistureproof member, the above combination enables the area immediately adjacent to the operating area to remain sterile and prevents fluids which would normally be directed downwards from the operating table to remain on the laparotomy sheet.

2. A surgical drape such as a laparotomy sheet comprising an enlarged panel having an opening disposed centrally therein, and a moistureproof member defining the periphery of the opening to eliminate strike-through of fluid during a surgical procedure and to eliminate contamination of a wound by lint or other foreign material coming into contact therewith from portions of the drape outwardly of the moistureproof member, and absorbent material on the upper surface of the moistureproof member to absorb any liquid engaging the surface of the moistureproof member to prevent such liquid from flowing along the surface of the moistureproof member, said moistureproof member including a strip of flexible plastic material extending completely across said panel and being relatively narrow to separate the panel into side panels having the edges thereof secured to the plastic strip, said absorbent material being spaced from the periphery of the opening in the plastic strip.

3 The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said absorbent material is in the form of a pair of pads, one pad being disposed on each side of the opening in the plastic strip and terminating substantially inwardly from the end edges of the plastic strip.

4. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said absorbent material is in the form of a pad extending along the surface of the plastic strip completely to the end edges'thereof with the inner edges of the absorbent material being spaced from the central opening.

5. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said absorbent material is laminated to the surface of the plastic strip to absorb liquids thereon and also to provide a nonslipping surface for instruments or the like placed thereon.

6. A laparotomy sheet comprising a pair of enlarged panels of fabric or nonwoven paper material having sufficient porosity to enable passage of filtered air from one surface to the other, an elongated strip of flexible plastic material interconnecting the adjacent edges of the panels with the width of the strip of plastic material being relatively small as compared with the total length of the sheet to permit filtered air to pass through a major portion of the sheet while preventing strikethrough of fluids through the plastic strip, said plastic strip including a centrally disposed fenestration therein with the periphery of the fenestration being slightly spaced'from the edges of the panels, and absorbent material laminated to the strip of plastic material to absorb liquids engaging the upper surface thereof to prevent flow of liquids along the upper surface of the plastic material and to provide supporting engagement with instruments placed thereon.

7. A laparotomy sheet comprising a pair of enlargcd panels of fabric or nonwoven paper material having sufiicient porosity to enable passa e of filtered air from one surface to the other, an elongate stnp of flexible moistureproof material interconneeting the adjacent edges of the panels with the width of the strip of moistureproof material being relatively small as compared with the total length of the sheet to permit filtered air to pass through a major portion of the sheet while preventing strike-through of fluids through the moistureproof strip, said moistureproof strip including a centrally disposed fenestration therein with the periphery of the fenestration being slightly spaced from the edges of the panels, and absorbent material laminated to the strip of moistureproof material to absorb liquids engaging the upper surface thereof to prevent flow of liquids along the upper surface of the moistureproof material and to provide supporting engagement with instruments placed thereon.

Claims

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said absorbent material is in the form of a pair of pads, one pad beiNg disposed on each side of the opening in the plastic strip and terminating substantially inwardly from the end edges of the plastic strip.

4. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said absorbent material is in the form of a pad extending along the surface of the plastic strip completely to the end edges thereof with the inner edges of the absorbent material being spaced from the central opening.

6. A laparotomy sheet comprising a pair of enlarged panels of fabric or nonwoven paper material having sufficient porosity to enable passage of filtered air from one surface to the other, an elongated strip of flexible plastic material interconnecting the adjacent edges of the panels with the width of the strip of plastic material being relatively small as compared with the total length of the sheet to permit filtered air to pass through a major portion of the sheet while preventing strike-through of fluids through the plastic strip, said plastic strip including a centrally disposed fenestration therein with the periphery of the fenestration being slightly spaced from the edges of the panels, and absorbent material laminated to the strip of plastic material to absorb liquids engaging the upper surface thereof to prevent flow of liquids along the upper surface of the plastic material and to provide supporting engagement with instruments placed thereon.

7. A laparotomy sheet comprising a pair of enlarged panels of fabric or nonwoven paper material having sufficient porosity to enable passage of filtered air from one surface to the other, an elongated strip of flexible moistureproof material interconnecting the adjacent edges of the panels with the width of the strip of moistureproof material being relatively small as compared with the total length of the sheet to permit filtered air to pass through a major portion of the sheet while preventing strike-through of fluids through the moistureproof strip, said moistureproof strip including a centrally disposed fenestration therein with the periphery of the fenestration being slightly spaced from the edges of the panels, and absorbent material laminated to the strip of moistureproof material to absorb liquids engaging the upper surface thereof to prevent flow of liquids along the upper surface of the moistureproof material and to provide supporting engagement with instruments placed thereon.