FR2762987A3 - Cover for patients during operations - Google Patents

Abstract

A covering cloth (1) for use over the extremities of a patient during operations comprises an opaque tubular material with an open end (3) and a closed end (2), which is flattened and folded telescopically before use. When the cover is applied, the closed end is pushed to the extremity of the patient. The cloth also has an outer sleeve (7) over the open end, in which the hands of the user can locate in order to push the cloth over the patients extremities

Description

The present invention relates to sheets

  rurgical and, in particular, end sheets (i.e. sheets intended to be used on the arms or legs of patients). The present invention relates to the method of using such sheets and the form in which such sheets are provided to be

  used in operating rooms.

  The use of surgical drapes in

  operating rooms is well established. Sheets are used.

  used to cover, and to separate, non-sterile objects (especially non-sterile parts of a patient's body) from the sterile environment of the

  operating room and operating room staff-

  tion, and are available in many different forms and constructions, depending on the nature of the

  surgical process that is performed. In a way that

  health, the sheets are intended for a single use

  only and are provided to users already sterilized

  in a sterile package. Usually it is necessary that the sheets are folded so that the packages have a convenient shape and size and it is then necessary to ensure that in the operating room it is possible to unfold and lay the sheet place without contaminating the outer surface of the drape material, for example, in the case of a patient drape, the surface away from the patient's body. In other words, it is necessary to ensure that the sheet

  can be unfolded and put in place without the surface ex-

  sheet material does not come into contact with non-sterile objects (e.g. patient's body) since the surface would then no longer be

  uncontaminated. It is also desirable to be able to

  fold and position a sheet quickly and easily,

  to avoid introducing delays.

  The importance of the way in which the sheets are folded is well recognized, and various ways of folding particular sheets have been proposed. By

  For example, US Pat. Nos. 4,164,941 and 4,051,845 describe

  Wind folding methods of sheets for surgical tables, US Patent No. 4,027,665 describes a method of folding a cardiovascular sheet, US Pat. Nos. 3,537,446, 3,721,234 and 4,553,539 describe methods of folding folding sheets fitted with a window, and US patent N 4

  479,492 describes a method of folding a bi-slit sheet

  lateral. US Patent No. 4,627,427 describes a method of folding a medical cover sheet which allows the sheet to be used in a variety of processes

  different surgical procedures. We will also refer to the bre-

  US vets bearing Nos. 3,343,534, 3,934,582, 3,968,792 and

4,153,054.

  The end sheets (often called leg warmers)

  res even when intended to be used on patient arms) are frequently made in the form of tubes which are closed at one end. Sheets of this type are difficult to apply: they must be pulled, the open end first, over the patient's limb and considerable attention is required during the process, especially with a leg sheet, to ensure that the the closed end of the long tube does not come into contact with a non-sterile surface. Often two operating room staff are required to apply such a sheet to ensure that it

is contaminated.

  Due to the difficulties associated with the use of

  tion of leggings, the operating room staff chooses instead to use a tubular jersey cover having an outer plastic cover to prevent linting. The open end of the tubular jersey is rolled up on itself so that the tube can be rolled over the limb of a patient, in the same way that a person puts on a stocking. The jersey tubes are however more expensive than the sheets forming

  leggings available for the same purpose.

  US Patent No. 3,989,040 describes a surgical drape for the patient's end, and a method of telescopically folding the drape from both ends. The problem of the present invention is to allow leg sheets to be applied more easily and in a manner which reduces the risk that

  the sheet is contaminated when applied.

  The present invention provides a surgical drape.

  cal intended for use on a patient's limb, the

  sheet generally having the form of a tube

  killed with an opaque drape material that has an open end

  green and one end closed and which, before use, is flattened and folded telescopically from the open end, over almost its entire length. The sheet unfolds when the closed end of the sheet is placed on the end of the limb and the sheet is pushed on the

member of a patient.

  The present invention also provides a method of applying a surgical drape to the limb of a patient, the method comprising the steps of: providing a surgical drape in the form of a tube of drape material which has one end open and

  one end closed and folded telescopically from

  shot from the open end, the accordion folds extend

  circumferentially around the tube, insert the patient's limb into the folded tube, and

  open the folds by pushing the sheet on the mem-

bre of the patient.

  Advantageously, the fold adjacent to the open end of the tube results in a sleeve of material around the open end, below which

  the user's hands are inserted when applying

  than the sheet. The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a top view of a surgical drape, shown in the unfolded state,

  - Figure 2 is a similar view shown

  both the formation of a sleeve at the open end of the sheet, Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view along line III-III of Figure 2, - Figure 4 is a view showing the sheet in a folded state, - Figure 5 is a schematic sectional view

  along the line V-V of Figure 4, according to the present in-

  vention, - Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1, of a longer sheet, - Figure 7 is a view showing the sheet of Figure 6 in a folded state, and - Figure 8 is a schematic view sectional

  along line VIII-VIII of Figure 7.

  Figure 1 shows an end sheet (i.e. a sheet for use on an arm or leg of a patient). The sheet 1 has the form of a flattened tube which is closed at one end 2 and open at the other end 3. The tube is formed from a piece of rectangular sheet material which is folded in half along of a line 4 and then sewn on

  along both edges 5. Alternatively, two pieces of material

  riau de drap can be sewn together along three edges to form a tube. In each case, these seams can be formed by any suitable means, such as

  as thermal or adhesive fixing, soldering with sol-

  vant, ultrasonic welding or stitching. Regarding ultrasonic welding and stitching, we can refer

  to US patents bearing Nos. 4,683,593 and 4,593,418.

  Different ways of forming seams are described in US Pat. No. 5,586,563. In sheet 1, one of the sewn edges 5 forms the closed end of the tube, but this is not essential, the closed end can, at the instead, be formed by the fold line 4 in which case the sewn edges will both extend in the longitudinal direction of the tube. Also, alternatively, the closed end of the tube

  can be formed in other forms, such as

dies.

  The material from which the drape 1 is formed may be any material suitable for use as a surgical drape. If the sheet 1 is a disposable sheet (that is to say intended for a single use only) the material can be made of a layer impermeable to the fluid (for example a plastic film) on which a layer is laminated absorbing fluids (e.g. non-woven layer). The plastic film may, for example, be a polyethylene or polypropylene film and the nonwoven layer may, for example, be a spun coated polypropylene material, a blown melted material or a hybrid blown melted / spun coated material . Most preferably, a polyethylene film is extruded onto the yarn layer

coated in polypropylene.

  Most preferably, the nonwoven layer is located on the inside (i.e. closest to the patient) since the coefficient of friction between the patient and the nonwoven layer is lower. the coefficient of friction of the film. Alternatively, the layer

  nonwoven can be on the outside and the film inside

  or the sheet material may be in the form of a three-layer structure (nonwoven / film / nonwoven) as established in US Patent No. 3,809,077, or a single film structure layer. Cloth materials are also included in US patent N 5

586,563.

  An alternative material for a disposable sheet is a nonwoven material which has been chemically treated to repel fluids. If sheet 1 is a reusable sheet, it can be made from a woven cotton or linen material that can be treated to repel

fluids.

  In use, the sheet 1 is applied around the limb of a patient, that is to say that the limb is inside the tube of material, the end of the limb being at the level of the closed end 2. When in position, the drape can be gathered over the limb and secured with an adhesive tape wrapped around the limb on the outside of the drape. A sheet intended for use on an arm is generally similar to that

  intended to be used on one leg and may be different

  rent only with regard to the length of the tube.

  For example, a leg sheet when laid flat as shown in Figure 1 may have a width "w" of about 35 cm and a length "L" of about 100 cm, while a sheet for arm when laid flat can have the same width but a length of only cm. It will be noted, however, that other widths and

lengths are possible.

  Sheets are normally supplied folded, the am-

  folding crying being in each case a function of the di-

  mension of the sheet. Disposable sheets are normally supplied folded in sterile packaging and can be

  individually wrapped or with other similar sheets

  res or as part of a different sheet set

  rents. A method of folding the sheet 1 of FIG. 1, intended to facilitate the use of the sheet, will now

be described.

  FIG. 2 represents a first step of the folding process, consisting in turning over a length of the sheet 1, situated at the open end, on the outside, to form an outer sleeve 7 (and to form a

  fold indicated by a broken line 6 in Figure 1).

  The length of the material returned to form the sleeve 7 (ie the depth of the sleeve), in this case, is slightly less than a quarter of the length "L" of the sheet, for reasons which will be explained

  below. The sheet is then entered, from the

  tieur at the level of the points indicated by the references 8 in figure 3 and these points are drawn upwards towards the open end of the sheet to form two additional folds in the sheet, one indicated by a broken line 9 in the figure 1 and the other by a broken line 10. The fold 9 is in the opposite direction to the

  fold 6 while fold 10 is in the same direction, in four-

  thus forming a series of telescopic folds which extend

  tooth circumferentially around the sheet 1. The length of material between adjacent folds is about the same

  than the depth of the sleeve 7 so that the folds pro-

  two or more overlapping circumferential layers of sheet material, the outermost layer being the sleeve 7 and the innermost layer being the length of sheet located between the closed end

  2 and fold 10 as shown in FIG. 5. The fi

  gure 5 also shows that folds 6 and 10 are adjacent

  to each other and on the side of the folded sheet opposite the end

  closed mite 2, while the fold 9 and the open end 3 of the tube are adjacent to each other and on the same side

  of the folded sheet as the closed end. Because the pro-

  B caster of the sleeve 7 and the distance between the folds 6, 9,

  have been selected to be slightly smaller

  It is a quarter of the length "L" of the sheet 1, the closed end 2 protrudes slightly from the folded sheet, as shown in Figure 4. If necessary, the sheet 1 can be folded again, along one or more lines perpendicular to the folds 6, 9, 10. FIG. 4 represents, for example,

  the position of two such fold lines 11 which

  drag that the sheet is folded again in three. Additional folding can be performed if sheet 2 is to be wrapped as an individual item

  while we may prefer to leave the sheet as shown

  shown in Figure 4 if it is to be packed with other

very sheets.

  To apply the sheet to the member of a pa-

  holds, the user grasps the closed end 2 of the sheet in one hand and, with the other hand, positions the inner center of the sheet (indicated by the arrow 12 in the figure

  5). This operation is facilitated by the fact that the ex-

  closed end 2 protrudes beyond the other layers

  folded of the sheet, making it unnecessary for the user to gas-

  plunder time to seek after this among the various

  its folded layers of the sheet. The extremity of the limb of the pa-

  hold is then positioned in the center of sheet 1 and is

  therefore immediately adjacent to the closed end 2.

  The user then places his hands inside the man-

  chon 7 and push the sheet towards the other end of the member

  of the patient thereby causing the folds to open up to

  until the sheet 1 reaches the state shown in Figure 2. During this process, the closed end 2 is held in position by the patient's limb and is not likely to come into contact with a surface

  any non-sterile that may be located in the vicinity.

  In addition, the user's hands are at all times protected by the sleeve 7 and are not likely to come into contact with the patient's skin. When the sheet 2 has been opened up to the state shown in FIG. 2,

  it can be fixed in position by winding a ribbon

  turn of the limb in the usual way or, if necessary, the sleeve 7 can also be unfolded before the sheet is fixed (now in the state shown on

Figure 1).

  It will be noted that the depth of the sleeve 7 must be sufficient to ensure that it protects the hands

  of the user when the sheet is applied as

  crit above. A suitable depth for the sleeve

  is in the range of 10-20 cm, for example-

full 16 cm.

  The sheet 1 shown in Figures 1 to 5 is typically a sheet for arms. A leg sheet will generally be longer and have a larger

  number of folds but will be folded by the same process. The fi-

  gure 6 represents an unfolded leg sheet 20 and the

  placement of the folds (in this case five in number, indi-

  qués by the references 21 to 25) produced by the process described above. The folded sheet, shown in Figure 7, has an appearance generally similar to the folded sheet 1 shown in Figure 4, but, as shown in Figure 8, it has a greater number of folded layers

  superimposed located below the sleeve 26.

  It should be noted that it is not essential for the depth of the various folds formed in FIGS. 5 and 8 to be the same as the depth of the outer sleeve 7

  or 26 and that it is also not essential that the extreme

  closed half of the folded sheet protrudes as shown in Figures 5 and 8 although, as explained above, this helps the user of the sheet to place the

drape over the patient's limb.

  It will also be noted that although the sheet must

  be generally tubular, the exact shape re-

  presented in Figures i and 6 is not essential

  as long as the sheet can be flattened and folded as

crit above.

Claims (11)

  1. Surgical drape (1; 20) for use on a patient's limb, the drape (1; 20) having   generally the shape of a tube of ma-   opaque sheet material which has an open end (3) and a closed end (2), and which, before use, is flattened and folded telescopically from the open end to almost its entire length, characterized in that when the closed end (2) of the drape is placed over one end of the limb and as the drape (1; 20) is pushed over the limb of a patient, the drape (1; 20) further includes an outer sleeve (7, 26 ) located around the open end (3) of the sheet material tube, into which a user's hands can be inserted to push the sheet (1; 20) onto the patient's limb.   2. Surgical drape (1; 20) as claimed   cation 1, characterized in that the sleeve (7; 26) is formed by the length of drape material located between the open end (3) of the tube and a first ply (6;   21) adjacent to the open end (3).   3. Surgical drape (1; 20) as claimed   cation 2, characterized in that the sleeve (7; 26) before   the use of the sheet (1; 20) is the circumferential layer   outermost among several circulating layers   layered sheet material lectures formed   by said folds (6, 9, 10; 21, 22, 23, 24, 25), the cover   innermost circumferential che being formed   by the length of sheet material located between the end   closed half (2) of the tube and a first fold (10; 25) adjja- cent at the closed end.   4. Surgical drape (1; 20) according to one   conch of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the   sheet material tube has a first surface formed of a nonwoven material and a second surface formed of a fluid impermeable layer laminated on the nonwoven material, the sleeve (7; 26) comprising an additional ply of the material sheet into which a user's hands can be inserted to push the sheet (1; 20) over a patient's limb.   5. Surgical drape (1; 20) according to one   conch of the preceding claims, characterized in   that the folds are such that before the sheet is used, the closed end of the sheet material tube is located adjacent to the open end of the tube and the first fold   adjacent to the closed end is located adjacent to the first   mier fold adjacent to the open end.   6. Surgical drape (1; 20) according to one   conch of the preceding claims, characterized in   that the closed end (2) of the sheet material tube, before using the sheet, protrudes beyond the   multiple layers of drape material.   7. Surgical drape (1; 20) according to one   conch of the preceding claims, characterized in   that the tube is formed from a single rectangular piece of drapery material folded in half and sewn (5) on along two sides.   8. Surgical drape (1; 20) as claimed   cation 7, characterized in that the seams (5) are formed by thermal fixation.   9. Method for applying a surgical drape   (1; 20) according to any one of the preceding claims.   teeth, on the limb of a patient, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the limb of the patient inside the folded tube, and opening the folds (9, 10; 22, 23, 24, 25) in   pushing the sheet (1; 20) on the patient's limb.   10. Method for applying a surgical drape   (1; 20) according to any one of claims 1 to 4,   the method comprising the steps of: inserting the patient's limb into the folded tube, inserting the user's hands below the sleeve of material (7; 26), and opening the folds (9, 10; 22, 23, 24, 25) by pushing the sheet (1; 20) on the patient's limb.   11. The method of claim 10, character-   laughed in that the fold (6; 21) adjacent to the end or-   tube green (3) is kept unopened when the drape (1; 20) is applied along the patient's limb so that the sleeve (7; 26) remains around the end open (3) of the tube.