Surgical drape with improved critical zone panel

A reusable, surgical drape adapted to overlie a patient during the performance of a surgical procedure and having a fenestration for registration with the site of a surgical procedure,

• said drape being constructed of launderable/sterilizable fabric panels comprising
• a main panel of a given lateral extent,
• a "critical zone" panel
• having a substantially smaller, lateral extent, and
• extending outwardly from said fenestration,
• the "critical zone" panel comprises
• an upper barrier panel, and
• a lower barrier panel, and
• the upper barrier panel is joined to the main panel only by stitching marginally of the fenestration, and
• the upper barrier panel is joined to the lower barrier panel by stitching marginally of their outer peripheries,
• wherein
• said "critical zone" panel, in an unfolded condition has a rectangular outline comprising side edges and end edges, disposed at right angles to each other at the corners thereof, and angled edges at the corners angled at 45.degree. to the adjacent side and end edges,
• marginal side edge portions, on opposed sides of the "critical zone" panel are folded on themselves to define bottom, folded portions,
• said marginal side edge portions being in spaced relation to the main portion of the "critical zone" panel and forming upwardly open, side troughs, extending upwardly from the bottom, folded portion, for the reception therein of liquids incident to the performance of a surgical procedure, and
• marginal end edge portions of the "critical zone" panel are folded on themselves to define bottom, folded portions,
• said end marginal edge portions being in spaced relation to the main portion of the "critical zone" panel and forming an upwardly open, end trough, extending upwardly from the bottom, folded portion, for the reception therein of liquids incident to the performance of a surgical procedure,
• said end trough, at its opposite ends intersecting with the side troughs, at the corners of the "critical zone" panel,
• and releasable means for securing the folded portions of the "critical zone" panel to the underlying portions thereof, said releasable means comprising
• snap fastener elements mounted on the side edges and said end edge of the "critical zone" panel and cooperating snap fastener elements mounted inwardly therein and secured to the upper barrier panel, but not to the lower barrier panel.

A reusable, surgical drape adapted to overlie a patient during the performance of a surgical procedure and having a fenestration for registration with the site of a surgical procedure,

• said drape being constructed of launderable/sterilizable fabric panels comprising
• a main panel of a given lateral extent,
• a "critical zone" panel of substantially smaller lateral extent and extending outwardly from said fenestration,
• wherein
• the "critical zone" panel comprises
• a liquid repellant, barrier panel, and
• a side marginal edge portion of the barrier panel is folded on itself to define a bottom, folded portion, said marginal edge portion being in spaced relation to the main portion of the barrier panel and forming an upwardly open, side trough of substantial depth, extending upwardly from the bottom folded portion, for the reception therein of liquids incident to the performance of a surgical procedure, and
• an end marginal edge portion of the barrier panel is folded on itself to define an end bottom, folded portion, said marginal edge portion being in spaced relation to the main portion of the barrier panel and forming an upwardly open, end trough, extending upwardly from the bottom folded portion, for the reception therein of liquids incident to the performance of a surgical procedure,
• said end and side troughs intersecting at a corner of the "critical zone" panel,
• means for releasably securing said folded, marginal edge portions of the barrier panel to the main portion of the barrier panel, and
• further characterized by releasable means for securing the folded side and end marginal edge portions, at said corner, in further folded relation that closes the intersecting ends of said troughs.

A method of constructing a reusable, surgical drape adapted to overlie a patient during the performance of a surgical procedure and having a fenestration for registration with the site of a surgical procedure,

• wherein the surgical drape comprises a plurality of launderable/sterilizable fabric panels, including
• a main panel of a given lateral extent,
• a "critical zone" panel
• having a substantially smaller, lateral extent, and
• extending outwardly from said fenestration, and the "critical zone" panel comprises
• an upper barrier panel, and
• a lower barrier panel,
• said method comprising the steps of
• joining the upper and lower barrier panels and the main panel by stitching marginally of the fenestration and
• joining the outer edges of the upper and lower barrier panel by stitching marginally thereof.

A reusable, surgical drape adapted to overlie a patient during the performance of a surgical procedure in which an electrical instrument is to be employed,

• wherein the drape includes a tube loop for releasably holding the electrical instrument,
• said tube loop comprising
• an endless loop formed of fabric,
• said fabric loop being flattened to form a strap comprised of an upper fabric ply and a lower fabric ply,
• means for securing one end portion of the strap to the drape, leaving the remainder of the strap as a free end portion,
• a first, metallic snap fastener element mounted on the free end portion of the strap,
• a second, metallic snap fastener element mounted on the secured end portion of the strap and adapted to be engaged by the first snap fastener element in holding an electrical instrument,
• characterized in that
• the second snap fastener element is mounted onto the upper fabric ply and the lower fabric ply is disposed between the second snap fastener element and the drape to thereby space the snap fastener elements from a patient upon whom the drape has been positioned and thus protect the patient from an electrical shock and/or burn.