WO2019088954A2

WO2019088954A2 - Sterile handle cover

Info

Publication number: WO2019088954A2
Application number: PCT/TR2018/050523
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ulucan BARAN; Osman IMAMOGLU; Ceren AYTAR
Original assignee: Brn Teknoloji Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2017-10-30
Filing date: 2018-09-25
Publication date: 2019-05-09
Also published as: WO2019088954A3

Abstract

A handle cover (K) suitable for use in providing sterilisation of the handles of the overhead surgical lights that are used in operating rooms, characterised by comprising at least one body (1) which comprises at least one skirting (6) comprising at least one upper surface (7) in contact with the surface of the light, at least one lower surface (8) in contact with the user's hand, and at least one aperture (5) having a first diameter, and comprises at least one pocket (3) in connection with the aperture (5), being suitable for accommodating the handle by passing through the aperture (5) and thus, forming a chamber structure so as to enclose the outer surface of the handle; at least one support ring (2) provided on the lower surface (8) of the skirting (6) in order to enable endurance of the skirting (6) and minimise contamination risk by preventing the skirting from being folded upwards or downwards; at least one fixing ring (4) which is used to prevent the cover (K) from slipping and falling in the case that the handle is utilised for moving the overhead surgical light.

Description

STERILE HANDLE COVER Technical Field

The present invention relates to disposable sterile overhead surgical light handle covers suitable for use in medical applications. Background of Invention

In order to minimise the risk of infection that would occur during medical applications, it is necessary for the medical equipment in an operating room to be kept in a sterile condition. It may not be possible to directly sterilise some equipment or some components belonging to the equipment within the operating room; that is why said area is required to be covered with a non-disposable cover to be sterilised, or with a disposable sterile cover. Use of cover for the specified areas enables to save time critically as compared to process of sterilising the related area following each operation. Overhead surgical lights are important and compulsory equipment for the operating rooms. Focusing the light, which is received from said overhead lights, on the working area during the operation is the most crucial necessity. For that reason, typical overhead surgical lights comprise a handle which is located at the centre or at a point near the centre of the cap of the light and provides to adjust the light to a desired position. In order to focus the light on the working area as necessary, the operators move the overhead surgical light by means of said handle; and due to the fact that contacting the handle during a surgical operation may cause infection, these handles should be sterile.

With the aim of invalidating the need to sterilise the overhead surgical light handle after each use, disposable sterile light handle covers are utilised. Said covers form a barrier between the hand of an operator and the overhead surgical light handle. Most of the disposable handle covers used in common is compatible with a particular overhead surgical light model made of a rigid material. However, since specified covers are compatible with a particular handle structure, they cannot be used for different light models, and require a large storage yard because of having a rigid structure, whereby causing an increase in transportation costs.

Another embodiment known in the art is the disposable handle covers which are able to adapt to the overhead surgical light handles, wherein the overhead surgical light handles are made of a soft material and have different structures, by means of a specific adapter appropriate for the physical structure of the handle to be applied. However, a different base unit should be produced for each handle having different structures in which said covers are to be used, in which case the production costs are increased.

In another use known in the art, the light handle covers comprise a skirting portion holding on to the base of the overhead surgical light handle. In order to prevent cover from being accidentally removed during the manipulation of the surgical light, said skirting portion is allowed to be attached firmly around the base of the surgical light handle by an adhesive material. Use of adhesives, which enable skirting portion to adhere to the base of handle, can leave a residue at the base of the handle and this case poses a sterilisation problem.

Brief Description of Invention A handle cover suitable for use in providing sterilisation of the handles of overhead surgical lights that are used in operating rooms, characterised by comprising at least one body which comprises at least one skirting comprising at least one upper surface in contact with the surface of the light, at least one lower surface in contact with the user's hand, and at least one aperture having a first diameter, and comprises at least one pocket in connection with said aperture, being suitable for accommodating said handle by passing through said aperture and thus, forming a chamber structure so as to enclose outer surface of the handle; at least one support ring provided on said lower surface of said skirting in order to enable endurance of said skirting and minimise contamination risk by preventing the skirting from being folded upwards or downwards; at least one fixing ring which is used to prevent the cover from slipping and falling in the case that the handle is utilised for moving the overhead surgical light. Object of Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a handle cover which is used to provide sterilisation of the overhead surgical light handles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a handle cover which may be applied to the overhead surgical light handles of various structures.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable handle cover which is used to provide sterilisation of the overhead surgical light handles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a disposable overhead surgical light handle cover which is easy and cheap to produce, and practical and reliable to use. Description of Drawings

Exemplary embodiments of the handle cover according to the present invention are illustrated in accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 ; is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the handle cover according to the present invention.

Figure 2; is an upper perspective view of another embodiment of the handle cover according to the present invention.

Figure 3; is a bottom perspective view of another embodiment of the handle cover according to the present invention.

Figure 4; is a side perspective view of another embodiment of the handle cover according to the present invention.

All the parts illustrated in figures are individually assigned a reference numeral and the corresponding terms of these numbers are listed below:

Cover (K)

Body (1)

Support ring (2) Pocket (3)

Fixing ring (4)

Aperture (5)

Skirting (6)

Upper surface (7)

Lower surface (8)

Description of Invention Overhead surgical lights are important and compulsory equipment for the operating rooms. In order to focus the light on a desired area during an operation, a handle is located at the centre or at a point near the centre of the cap of the light, wherein the handle provides to adjust the light to a desired position. Since contacting said handle would cause contamination in the surgical operation room, these handles should be sterile. Light handle covers are used to enable sterilisation of the overhead surgical light handles. However, handle covers known in the art cannot be used for different light models because of being compatible with a particular handle structure; and due to having a rigid structure, they pave the way for much more stock area and transportation costs, or they are able to adapt to handles of different structures by means of a specific adapter suitable for physical structure of the handle. Yet in another use which is known in the art, the light handle covers comprise a skirting structure holding on to the base of the overhead surgical light handle, wherein the skirting portion is affixed to the base of the surgical light handle via an adhesive material. Use of adhesive materials may cause a residue at the base of the handle, and this case poses a sterilisation problem. With the present invention, there is provided a handle cover which overcomes said technical problems.

The handle cover (K) according to the present invention, exemplary views of which are illustrated in figure 1 - 4, suitable for use in providing sterilisation of the handles of the overhead surgical lights that are used in operating rooms, and comprising at least one body (1) which is preferably made of a flexible and soft material and comprises at least one skirting (6) comprising at least one upper surface (7) in contact with the surface of the light, at least one lower surface (8) in contact with the user's hand, and at least one aperture (5) preferably provided at its centre and having a first diameter, and comprises at least one pocket (3) in connection with said aperture (5), being suitable for accommodating said handle by passing through said aperture (5) and thus, forming a chamber structure so as to enclose the outer surface of the handle; at least one support ring (2) provided on said lower surface (8) of said skirting (6) in order to enable endurance of said skirting (6) and minimise contamination risk by preventing the skirting (6) from being folded upwards or downwards, comprising at least one hole j¾÷efo-that has a second diameter preferably greater than said first diameter, and being made of a material, such as foam, plastic or plastic coated cardboard, that is preferably thicker and more resilient when compared to said body; at least one fixing ring (4) which is used to prevent the cover (K) from slipping and falling in the case that the handle is utilised for moving the overhead surgical light, wherein the fixing ring (4) is preferably made of an elastic rubber or silicon material, and its diameter is preferably smaller than said first diameter.

In an exemplary embodiment of the handle cover (K) according to the invention, the body (1) is put on to the overhead surgical light handle such that the handle is passed through said aperture (5) and is seated in the pocket (3) and then the body pushed towards the top; the body (1) covers the outer surface of the handle so that the upper surface (7) of the skirting (6) is fixed to the base of the light; the aperture (5) forms a connection between the handle and the cover (K) when the cover (K) is attached to the handle; the fixing ring (4) is attached at the lower end of the handle outer surface of which is covered by the pocket (3), and is pushed towards the light (or towards the support ring (2)) to bring it to the point where the aperture (5), pocket (3) and the skirting (6) engages, so that the cover (K) is enabled to fixed to the handle. The cover (K) according to the invention is able to be applied to any kind of handle since said body (1) is made of a flexible and soft material and has a structure such that handles of different sizes can be positioned within said pocket (3) by passing through said aperture (5). Said flexible fixing ring (4) prevents accidental removal of the cover (K).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said body (1) is made of low-density polyethylene nylon.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the diameter of said skirting (6) is larger than the diameter of said aperture (5) (e.g. larger than 7 cm or within the range of 7-9 cm) such that a hand of an operator is prevented from contacting the overhead surgical light. Outer diameter of said support ring is preferably equal to or larger than the outer diameter of said skirting (6).

Handle cover (K) of the present invention allows satisfying the need for use of a particular adapter for handles of different types, and, besides, the product's being made of a flexible and foldable material provides to reduce the production, stock and transportation costs. In addition, the cover (K) according to the invention offers a structure applicable to all kinds of handles.

Claims

1. A handle cover (K) suitable for use in providing sterilisation of the handles of the overhead surgical lights that are used in operating rooms, characterised by comprising - at least one body (1) which comprises at least one skirting (6) comprising at least one upper surface (7) in contact with the surface of the light, at least one lower surface (8) in contact with the user's hand, and at least one aperture (5) having a first diameter, and comprises at least one pocket (3) in connection with said aperture (5), being suitable for accommodating said handle by passing through said aperture (5) and thus, forming a chamber structure so as to enclose the outer surface of the handle;

- at least one support ring (2) provided on said lower surface (8) of said skirting (6) in order to enable endurance of said skirting (6) and minimise contamination risk by preventing the skirting from being folded upwards or downwards;

- at least one fixing ring (4) which is used to prevent the cover (K) from slipping and falling in the case that the handle is utilised for moving the overhead surgical light.

2. A handle cover (K) according to claim 1 , characterised in that said aperture (5) is provided at the centre of said skirting (6).

3. A handle cover (K) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said body (1) is made of a flexible material.

4. A handle cover (K) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said support ring (2) comprises at least one hole that has a second diameter greater than said first diameter.

5. A handle cover (K) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said support ring (2) is made of a material that is thicker and more resilient when compared to said body (1).

6. A handle cover (K) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said support ring (2) is made of foam, plastic or plastic coated cardboard.

7. A handle cover (K) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the diameter of said fixing ring (4) is smaller than said first diameter.

8. A handle cover (K) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said fixing ring (4) is made of elastic rubber or silicon.

9. A handle cover (K) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said body (1) is made of low-density polyethylene nylon.

10. A handle cover (K) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the diameter of said skirting (6) is at least 7 cm larger than the diameter of said aperture (5).

11. A handle cover (K) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the diameter of said skirting (6) is larger than the diameter of said aperture (5) within the range of 7 to 9 cm.

12. A handle cover (K) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the outer diameter of said support ring is equal to or larger than the outer diameter of said skirting (6).