GB2326100A

GB2326100A - Surgical drape with adjustable opening

Info

Publication number: GB2326100A
Application number: GB9811615A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Laurent Tavernier; Vac Luc Tran
Original assignee: Plasto SA
Current assignee: Plasto SA
Priority date: 1997-06-11
Filing date: 1998-06-01
Publication date: 1998-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 2018-06-01
Also published as: GB9811615D0; FR2764502A1; DE19824693A1; GB2326100B; FR2764502B1

Abstract

A surgical drape 1 is of the type comprising an opening 2 of defined dimensions delimiting an operating zone, and is characterized in that the dimensions of the opening 2 can be adjusted by means of at least two separate strips 4, each of these being equipped, on one of their faces, with a repositionable adhesive.

Description

2326100 Adjustable surgical drape The present invention relates to a

surgical drape, in which the size of the window can be adjusted as a function of the operation being performed and as a function of the extent of the operating surface area required by the surgeon.

Prior art

The role of the surgical drape is to establish, on the patient, a zone within which the surgeon can operate, and also to isolate the patient from the surrounding environment and enhance the cleanliness and aseptic nature of the operation by virtue of the property of absorbing the body fluids and by virtue of an antimicrobial action.Surgical drapes are generally classed in two principal categories: surgical drapes which can be reused, and surgical drapes which are used only once. Reusable surgical drapes must be washed meticulously, and, in particular, it is often difficult to eliminate the adhesives which have been used for fixing the drape; moreover, it is important to ensure complete sterilization of these fabrics which have been in contact with at- risk areas. However, the reusable surgical drapes have the advantage of often being more absorbent and of being less expensive to use. The surgical drapes which are used only once and discarded are more expensive, but they practically eliminate the risks of contamination and they can be treated using antimicrobial compositions during manufacture.

Another aspect is that the surgical drape has to cover the patient while allowing access to the area to be operated on. To protect the patient while at the same time creating an access window to the operating zone, the surgeon can simply cut the drape to create an opening. However, this method is not recommended because it can generate particles or fibres which then become vectors of contamination, and it is practically impossible to fix the drape correctly. A great many arrangements have been proposed, for example those described in documents US 3 887 667, EP 140 857, EP 169 316, EP 185 002, EP 619 099, WO 94 24954, EP 631 760, FR 2 720 234, WO 95 10986 or WO 96 01594. Among the most recent documents, FR 2 720 234 and WO 96 01594 propose systems of four drapes which are equipped with an adhesive edge, by means of which drapes it is possible to form the operating window, the size of which can be adjusted. However, such an arrangement has the disadvantage of having several overlapping thicknesses, creating edges which are not fixed, and it requires quite a long period of time for it to be put in place. Moreover, as the surgical drapes are either disposable or recyclable in their entirety, it is difficult to separate the heavily contaminated parts from the only slightly soiled parts. object of the invention The present invention proposes a novel type of surgical drape,. characterized in that it comprises a window which can be adjusted by means of repositionable self-adhesive elements. Description of the invention

According to the invention, the surgical drape is obtained from a drape formed in one piece and provided with an opening or window whose size essentially corresponds to the largest size of 3 window normally needed to perform a given type of operation. Arranged on this drape, and preferably in proximity to the window, there are several self-adhesive strips which are provided, on one face, with a pressure- sensitive and repositionable adhesive. By arranging these self-adhesive strips around the limits of the principal opening, the surgeon is at one and the same time able to reduce the size of the window as he sees fit, give the window the shape he wishes, f ix the drape on the patient's skin and form a leakproof seal between the drape and the patient. This set of strips, which can be offered in the form of a single pack with the strips fixed by their adhesive around or in proximity to the window, permits rapid and easily adjustable use.

Other advantages and characteristics will become clear from reading the description of several embodiments and from studying the attached drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the surgical drape according to a first embodiment of the invention, - Figure 2 is a plan view of the surgical drape according to another embodiment of the invention, - Figures 3 and 4 are plan views of the opening before and after it is reduced in size, - Figures 5 and 6 are plan views of two types of repositionable adhesive strips which can be used in the embodiments represented in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 1 shows a surgical drape 1 in which there is an opening or window 2 which is of predetermined dimensions, and around which a zone - 4 3 is formed which is intended to receive repositionable self-adhesive strips 4.

Figure 2 shows another form of surgical drape according to the invention, in which the repositionable self -adhesive strips 4 are arranged in parallel, on just one side 5 of the window 2, the said side 5 preferably being the side which is the least exposed to the discharges, that is to say, in the case of an operation on the thoracic cage or abdomen for example, the side which is situated towards the patient's head.

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the zone 3 of the surgical drape represented in Figure 1, on which zone four strips 4 are arranged, before use, around the window 2, and thus before its size has been reduced.

Figure 4 shows an example of use of the surgical drape, in accordance with which the size of the window 2 has been reduced by moving the repositionable self-adhesive strips 4 in such a way that they come to overlap the border of the original window.

By comparing Figures 3 and 4, the "operational/ positioning of the selfadhesive strips has made it possible at one and the same time to reduce the size of the window to adapt it perfectly to the intervention, to fix the surgical drape on the patient's skin by means of the strips, to create a leakproof seal all around the operating site, and to obtain an absorbent perimeter all around the operation zone.

Figures 5 and 6 show the lower f ace of the repositionable adhesive strips 4, that is to say the face which includes a layer of pressure- sensitive adhesive material: according to a is preferred embodiment of the invention, the adhesive layer 6 is arranged only on the circumference of the strip, and areas 7 are left either on a side 8 or at a corner 9 - by means of which it is easy to grip the strip in order to detach it and place it in the desired position.

Detailed description

To produce the surgical drape according to the invention, use is made of a drape 1 of a conventional type which is made of an impermeable and absorbent material on the upper face, and which can be of a disposable or recyclable type; an opening 2 is then made, the dimensions of which correspond to the largest window necessary for the type of operation envisaged, and a zone 3 around or in proximity to this window is treated so as to give it non-adhesive properties; this result can be obtained by treating the surface of the drape with a non-adhesive varnish, for example a varnish based on acrylates or based on silicone. A nonadhesive surface can also be obtained by fixing on the drape a polyethylene, polypropylene or polyester film, whose face remaining accessible will be treated with silicone.

The adhesive strips 4 are obtained starting from an absorbent material customarily used for the manufacture of surgical drapes.

The material preferably absorbent material, either woven which is impermeable to liquids treated with antimicrobial means.

used is an or non-woven, and has been This type of material has an absorbent face and an impermeable smooth face which is obtained by coating with a PE film, by which means it is 35 possible to obtain the leakproofness to liquids.

6 - These strips are lined on this smooth face with a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive of a medical grade. By way of example, use is made of adhesive compositions in the solvent or emulsion phase or of acrylic type, or hotmelt type compositions based on synthetic elastomers.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lining with the adhesive composition is limited to the periphery of the strip, so as not to increase needlessly the surface areas adhering to the patient's skin. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate examples of partial lining of the strips which are well suited for this application, and on which areas are left free on at least two edges (Figure 5) or at the corners (Figure 6) in order to form grip zones which are not covered with adhesive material. This is because it would be very awkward for the operating surgeon to manoeuvre adhesive parts if he was wearing latex surgical gloves.

The partial lining of the strips can be obtained by a flexography process in the case of a hot-melt type composition, or by a serigraphy process in the case of an acrylic composition. It is also possible to obtain an equivalent result by providing a complete lining, and then covering the grip areas and the central zone with a final protective film.

If necessary, to complement the above elements, additional devices can be provided which are able to fulfill auxiliary functions such as, for example, holding systems for tubings, pockets for collection of liquids, instrument pockets, etc- The following production examples will permit a better understanding of the invention.

The principal drape 1 is manufactured from a non-woven type of material based on polyester and cellulose, such as, for example, the product named OPTIMA supplied by the company BAXTER. A substantially rectangular drape is thus manufactured, the size of which is 3 m x 1. 95 M. In the central part, a square window is cut out measuring 40 cm x 40 cm, one side of which is parallel to the long side of the drape. A zone corresponding to the circumference of the window is then formed on the upper (absorbent) face, over a width of 15 cm, this zone being covered with a non-adhesive varnish. Alternatively, it is also possible to render this part non-adhesive by fixing a film of polyethylene either by means of an adhesive or by means of a hot-setting film placed between the drape and the polyethylene film. Four strips cut out from an absorbent nonwoven material treated with antimicrobial means, marketed under the name ISOBAC, and covered on the smooth face with a pressure -sensitive adhesive of the Acronal 101L type, are then placed on this zone. The strips measure 10 cm x 42 cm and they are lined with a pressure -sensitive adhesive only on their circumference, in accordance with the representation in Figure 6. The strips are placed all around the window, as is indicated in Figure 3. The drape prepared in this manner is then folded and packaged in the usual way and sterilized by y radiation.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the surgical drape is cut out in a manner analogous to the preceding example. A polyethylene film of rectangular shape measuring 45 x 50 cm is fixed on that side of the window intended to be positioned towards the patient's head. The film has a non-adhesively treated face and is fixed via the other face to the drape by means of a hot-setting film. Four strips, measuring 10 cm in width and 44 cm in length, are then arranged on this film, parallel to the side of the window. The strips are made of a non- woven material of the ISOBAC brand analogous to the strips described above, and they are lined on the impermeable face with a pressure- sensitive adhesive of the 'repositionable type based on acrylates. The strips are lined in such a way as to leave a gap of 1.5 cm at each end of the strip. After packaging, the drapes prepared in this way are sterilized.

When used in the operating theatre, the surgeon places the drape on the patient by aligning the window and the operating zone. He can then adjust the size of the window by repositioning the adhesive strips partly on the border of the opening and partly on the patient's skin. By using the four strips in this way, the surgeon can at one and the same time adjust the size of the operating zone precisely and fix the drape to the patient in a practically leakproof manner. It is also important to note that this preparation is rapid and does not generate any by- product of protection of the adhesive surfaces.

After the operation, removal of the adhesive strips is made easier by the grip areas formed on the edges of the strips.

Depending on the nature of the fabrics used, the soiled drape will be completely discarded (single use) or washing/sterilizing.

A preferred method of recycled by use consists in recycling the principal drape, of large size, and in disposing of the adhesive strips which are smaller and which are much more exposed to soiling due to the operation.

1 -

Claims

Surgical drape (1) of the type comprising an opening or window (2) delimiting an operating zone, characterized in that the dimensions of the opening or window (2) can be adjusted by means of at least two separate strips (4), each of these being equipped, on one of their faces, with a repositionable adhesive.
2. Surgical drape according to Claim 1, characterized in that the repositionable adhesive strips (4) are disposed, before use, on at least one non-adhesive zone (3) formed on one side of the window.

is
3. Surgical drape according to Claim 1, characterized in that the repositionable adhesive strips (4) are disposed, before use, on a nonadhesive zone formed around the window.
4. Surgical drape according to Claims 2 or 3, 20 characterized in that the non-adhesive - zone is obtained by means of a non-adhesive varnish.
Surgical drape according to Claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the nonadhesive zone (3) is obtained by means of a non-adhesively treated film fixed to the drape.
6. Surgical drape according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the strips are adhesive only on their periphery.
7. Surgical drape according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that gripping areas (7) are f ormed on at least one end part of the adhesive strips.
8. A surgical drape substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.