Fluid control pad with pouches

A fluid control pad for placement on a supporting structure under a patient's body to absorb and control body fluids discharged during a medical procedure comprising:

• a backup sheet of liquid impermeable material having an exterior surface for placement on the supporting structure;
• the backup sheet having a generally rectangular configuration defined in part by a pair of opposite longitudinal edges and a pair of opposite lateral edges;
• a layer of absorbent material disposed on an interior surface of the backup sheet intermediate the edges of the backup sheet;
• the absorbent material layer having a generally rectangular configuration with a pair of opposite longitudinal edges and a pair of opposite lateral edges smaller than the respective lateral edge of the backup sheet;
• a layer of cover stock disposed on the layer of absorbent material for placement of the patient's body on the layer of cover stock;
• a pair of pouches with one of the pouches extending respectively along one longitudinal edge of the layer of absorbent material and the other pouch extending respectively along the opposite longitudinal edge of the layer of absorbent material;
• a respective longitudinal opening formed as part of each pouch adjacent to the layer of absorbent material and communicating with each pouch;
• and
• a strip of porous web material disposed on the absorbent material adjacent to the opening of each pouch.

A method of forming a fluid control pad for placement on a patient supporting structure between a patient's body and the supporting structure during a medical procedure, the patient supporting structure having a generally rectangular configuration with a length, width and four edges, comprising the steps of:

• forming a film layer from fluid impervious material with an exterior surface for placement on the patient supporting structure;
• placing a generally rectangular layer of superabsorbent material within the proximate center of the film layer and the layer of superabsorbent material extending longitudinally and laterally over a middle portion of the film layer;
• placing a layer of cover stock over the superabsorbent material layer for placement of the patient's body thereon;
• folding at least one edge of the film layer over a selected portion of the superabsorbent material layer to form a pouch attached to the fluid control pad and extending from the superabsorbent material layer for collecting liquids therein;
• and
• selecting the size of the film layer and the superabsorbent material layer to allow the pouch to extend along at least a portion of the length of the patient supporting structure and to extend downwardly from one edge of the patient supporting structure when the fluid control pad is disposed thereon.