US 4,730,609 AGranted

Surgical drape with limb securing structure and method for securing a surgical site

OwnerBernard E. McConnellinventor

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Abstract

An improved surgical drape form maintaining a sterile condition about a selected surgical site on a body portion of a patient during a surgical procedure such as hip surgery and the like. The surgical drape comprises generally a sheet of conformable, impervious material having an opening for receiving the patient's limb and having side portions adjoining the opening for shielding the patient with respect to direct contact and ambient air flow. A boot of conformable impervious material is attached to the sheet for receiving the patient's limb. The boot has a tubular sidewall defining a pocket which is joined in registration with the sheet opening. The tubular sidewall is sealed against the sheet portions forming the border of the opening, thereby providing a continuous, sterile barrier.

Claims8

Dependent claims

An improved drape for covering a patient during a surgical procedure comprising, in combination:

a covering sheet of conformable material having a first opening for receiving a patient's limb or other body extremity and having portions adjoining said first opening for shielding the patient with respect to direct contact and ambient air flow, and said sheet of conformable material having a second opening defining a window for framing a surgical site on a selected body portion of said patient;
a boot of conformable material attached to said covering sheet about the periphery of said first opening, said boot having a tubular sidewall defining a pocket for receiving a patient's limb adjoining the selected surgical site, said boot pocket being disposed in registration with said first sheet opening and said tubular sidewall being sealed to the covering sheet portions forming the peripheral border of said first opening;
a panel of transparent, flexible material attached to said covering sheet and disposed coextensive with said window defined by said second sheet opening;
and,
a tie strap attached to said covering sheet at a location intermediate said boot and said window panel for securing said covering sheet about the patient's limb.

2 more elements

A method for maintaining a surgical site on a selected body portion of a patient in sterile condition during a surgical procedure in which a limb of the patient adjoining the selected body portion is manipulated, comprising the steps:

sterilizing the desired surgical site on the selected body portion;
forming a sterile boundary about the sterilized surgical site;
covering the sterilized surgical site with a conformable, transparent panel;
covering the patient's skin surface surrounding the transparent panel with a sterile drape;
aligning the patient's limb with the opening of a sterile boot;
inserting the patient's limb into the sterile boot;
and,
securing the surgical drape by tie straps about the patient's limb at a location intermediate the boot and conformable transparent panel.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.