GB2272644A

GB2272644A - Surgical skin preparation device

Info

Publication number: GB2272644A
Application number: GB9222121A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Olarewaju Olagbo Oladipo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-10-21
Filing date: 1992-10-21
Publication date: 1994-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 2012-10-21
Also published as: GB2272644B; GB9222121D0

Abstract

A compressible and easily distensible plastic container prefilled with antiseptic solution has a threaded opening to allow it to be screwed into the proximal end of a tubular body. The proximal end of the tubular body contains an inner tube through which fluid is conveyed distally and means of allowing air to enter the plastic container to allow easy distension whenever a vacuum is created The distal part of the tubular body is designed to fit into specially designed perforated blocks. The blocks have cotton gauze rolled round them and the compression of the plastic container discharges fluid through the flow channel via the perforations to soak the gauze and allow the skin preparation to commence. <IMAGE>

Description

SURGICAL SKIN PREPARATION DEVICE This relates to an easily assembled surgical skin preparation device.

The traditional means of preparing the skin before surgery is to use a folded sterile gauze grasped between the tongs of a sponge holding forcep. This gauze is then dipped in a chosen antiseptic solution placed in a gallipot on the nurse's trolley and transferred to the operation site.

The process described above, involves a lot of wastage of antiseptic solution because the gauze drips on the floor as it is transferred to the operation site.

Secondly, because the gauze is grasped between the two tongs of the sponge holding forceps, there is suboptimal surface contact between the gauze and the skin.

Sometimes the gauze is dipped in the antiseptic solution twice before a good cleansing effect is achieved.

Occasionally, the solution contained in the gallipot has to be tipped onto the operation site. There is no control on the part of the surgeon on the wetness of the gauze since it is wet at the onset and dries up as cleaning continues. This makes the whole procedure cumbersome at times.

According to the present invention, there is provided an easily assembled skin preparation device. This consist of: 1. A firm but compressible plastic container with a threaded neck to allow attachment to the second component (the tubular body).

2. The tubular body consists of an outer supporting tube and an inner tube with a lumen to allow flow of antiseptic solution. The proximal end of this component has a threaded receptacle (developed from the outer supporting tube) for component 1 to screw on to (Fig.2).

It also has some modifications to allow unidirectional flow of air to distend the plastic container everytime itacompressed (Fig.2).

The inner tubular lumen of this component prot#des further distally, and is threaded to allow attachment to the third component (Fig.3). This component is made of hard plastic to give a supporting effect to the whole device. It must also be autoclaveable.

3. The block: This is made of a firm, durable and auto claveable plastic. It is shaped as a rectangular (Fig.4b) or a cylindrical block (Fig.4c). On its upper end is a small threaded nozzle that receives the inner tube of the second component (Fig.3). This fairly wide nozzle has some modifications just at the lowest part of the thread to prevent backflow (Fig.3). The block has small circular perforations on all its surfaces except the base, through which antiseptic solution flows to soak the cotton gauze that is wrapped round the block (Fig.1).

The interior of the block has flow channels to allow uniform flow of the solution into the perforations (Fig.4).

To use this device, the gauze is wrapped round the block loosely, and is held in place by a device incorporated in the block.

The plastic container pre-filled with antiseptic solution is then screwed into the upper end of the tubular body.

The distal end of the tubular body is also attached to the block, and the device is ready for use. By gently squeezing the plastic container, antiseptic solution is discharged into the inner tube of the tubular body, and flows into the block. The fluid now leaks through the perforations in the block to soak the attached gauze.

The whole device is made of tough plastic that would withstand the temperature of the autoclave. It is meant for repeated use, and be attached to specially made pre-filled compressible containers.

Claims

1. A surgical skin preparation device comprising of a firm but compressible plastic container, a tubular body to allow flow of fluid and an air-inlet to allow redisten tion of the plastic container, the tubular body being adapted to screw on and off the various shaped perforated blocks to allow soaking of the gauze that is wrapped round it.

2. A surgical skin preparation device in claim 1 wherein the opening of the compressible container is thread to be screwed on and off the proximal end of the tubular body.

3. A surgical skin preparation device as claimed in Claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the proximal end of the tubular body has a threaded receptacle to screw on to the compressible plastic container, with the interior of the receptacle fitted with an inner tubular lumen to convey fluid, and the circumference of the inner tube modified to serve as a unidirectional air inlet with two shelves incorpo rated to prevent exit of fluid through this air inlet.

4. A surgical skin preparation device as claimed in Claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the outer tube of the tubular body gives support to the whole device, and has openings leading into the space between it and the inner tube to alle air to enter and pass through the unidirectional air inlets to distend the container whenever a vacuum is created in it.

5. A surgical skin preparation device as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the distal end of the tubular body is designed such that the inner tube protrudes further than the outer supporting tube, and threaded to allow it to be screwed on or off the blocks.

6. A surgical skin preparation device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein, the blocks are created with flow channels to allow uniform distribution of fluid.

and with perforations on all surfaces except the base to allow fluid passage to soak the rolled-on gauze.

7. A surgical skin preparation device as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the blocks are of varying shapes i.e. cylindrical, or rectangular, with means of holding the gauze in place once it is wrapped round the block.

8. A surgical skin preparation device as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the block is provided with a threaded top which receives the distal end of the tubular body, and fitted with a shelve at the bottom of the threaded portion to prevent backflow of fluid.

9. A surgical skin preparation device substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-4 of the accompanying drawing.