Sterile Solution Warming System with Self-Locating Sterile Drape

A method of covering a fluid heating device with a cavity defined by a basin with a basin bottom, the method comprising:

• obtaining a drape comprising:
• a device layer sized sufficiently to cover a top of the fluid heating device and extend downward around a perimeter of the fluid heating device while a portion of the device layer is in proximity to the basin;
• a basin layer smaller than the device layer and sized sufficiently to cover at least the basin bottom;
• the basin layer separate from the device layer and positioned below the portion of the device layer so that the basin layer is surrounded by the device layer;
• a perimeter frame trapped between the basin layer and the device layer by a set of bonds between the basin layer and the device layer;
• wherein the perimeter frame is sized slightly smaller than a basin bottom perimeter;
• the trapped perimeter frame having an open window devoid of frame material, the open window comprising a single uninterrupted open area that is a majority of the basin bottom;
• the trapped perimeter frame serving to substantially center the basin layer on the basin bottom wherein the basin layer combines with the device layer to provide a two-layer drape over the basin bottom to reduce a risk of drape puncture from surgical instruments dropped into the draped basin;
• the set of bonds between the basin layer and the device layer arranged to allow egress of air from between the basin layer and device layer so a volume of air between the basin layer and the device layer is reduced when liquid is placed onto the drape after the drape is positioned to cover the basin and the fluid heating device;
• the trapped perimeter frame serving to maintain a portion of the basin layer within a perimeter of the perimeter frame so that the maintained portion of the basin layer lacks an air gap caused by a wrinkle;
• positioning the perimeter frame into the basin bottom so that the basin layer covers at least the basin bottom and the device layer covers the top of the fluid heating device and extends downward around the perimeter of the fluid heating device;
• adding a volume of liquid to the basin so that the volume of liquid rests on the drape without making contact with the basin, the volume of liquid reducing the volume of air between the basin layer the device layer;
• adding heat to the basin bottom of the basin to allow heat to pass through the drape and into the volume of liquid;
• and
• monitoring at least one temperature of the basin and controlling the heat added to the basin based upon the monitored at least one temperature of the basin to maintain the volume of liquid within a desired range of a selected target temperature.

A drape for covering an interior of a basin and at least a top of a fluid heating device;

• the basin having an upper side defining a cavity for receipt of a fluid to be heated;
• the upper side of the basin having:
• a basin bottom;
• and
• a set of basin sidewalls running from the basin bottom to the top of the fluid heating device;
• the drape comprising:
• a basin layer sized sufficiently to cover at least the basin bottom;
• the basin layer having a coefficient of film-to-film kinetic friction of less than 0.20 to allow the basin layer to slip into place on the basin bottom with a reduced risk of air-trapping wrinkles;
• and
• a device layer sized sufficiently to cover the top of the fluid heating device and extend downward around a perimeter of the fluid heating device while a portion of the device layer is in proximity to the basin;
• the device layer is partially covered on a lower side of the device layer by the basin layer which is smaller than the device layer, the device layer having a coefficient of film-to-film kinetic friction of more than 0.50 to help prevent unintended movement of the drape relative to the fluid heating device so that the basin layer is surrounded by the device layer so that a lower face of the drape has two distinct coefficients of film-to-film kinetic friction.