Method and apparatus for draping an eye for surgical procedures
OwnerJohn M. Graetherinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for draping an eye for surgical procedures has a drape fabric with a center opening. A resilient U-shaped speculum is attached to the drape fabric at the center opening and is attached to the periphery thereof. The speculum has two spaced upstanding clips that can be compressed together to diminish the area of the speculum, so that it can be inserted into the eye underneath the eyelids. Release of the compressive pressure allows the speculum to expand within the eye against the underneath portion of the eyelids. Then drape material around the speculum is then folded over the speculum and the eyelid margins to expose the globe of the eye but to completely cover the eyelids and the eyelashes.
Claims20
An integrated speculum-drape for eye surgery, comprising,
- a flexible fabric sheet of drape material having a center portion,
- an opening in the center portion having a perimeter complimentary in shape to the globe of the human eye,
- a resilient elongated speculum being generally of an arcuate shape and having opposite side portions connected by an arcuate hoop portion, and with ends terminating in upstanding clip elements,
- the sides and the hoop portion of the speculum being connected to the perimeter of the opening in the center portion of the drape material with the upstanding clip elements protruding upwardly in spaced condition from the drape material, whereupon movement of the clips toward each other will reduce the area of the speculum and the opening in the center portion of the drape material to allow the speculum to be inserted underneath the eyelids of a patient, whereupon release of the clips will allow the speculum and the center opening of the drape material to be resiliently held underneath the eyelids, whereupon the drape material can be folded over upon itself in a direction away from the globe of the eye to drape the area surrounding the patient's eye.
A method of draping a patient's eye for a surgical procedure, comprising,
- supplying a resilient elongated speculum being generally of an arcuate shape and having opposite side portions connected by an arcuate hoop portion, and with ends terminating in upstanding clip elements,
- inserting into a patient's eye a drape having an opening complimentary in shape to the patient's eye, by compressing the speculum secured to a drape portion around the perimeter of the opening by applying pressure to the clip elements, and locating the speculum and the portion of the drape attached to the speculum into the cul-de-sac of the eye underneath the eyelids of the patient, and releasing the compression of the speculum so that the speculum with the drape attached will expand underneath the eyelids and be resiliently held in place against an underneath surface of the eyelid to hold the draped eyelid in a retracted position around the globe of the eye where surgery is to be conducted,
- and allowing the remainder of the drape to cover the area of the patient's face around the eye.
An integrated speculum-drape for eye surgery, comprising,
- a flexible fabric sheet of drape material having a center portion,
- an opening in the center portion having a perimeter complimentary in shape to the globe of the human eye,
- a resilient elongated speculum being generally of an arcuate shape and having opposite side portions connected by an arcuate hoop portion, and with ends terminating in clip elements,
- the sides and the hoop portion of the speculum being connected to the perimeter of the opening in the center portion of the drape material with the clip elements protruding in spaced condition from the drape material, whereupon movement of the clips toward each other will reduce the area of the speculum and the opening in the center portion of the drape material to allow the speculum to be inserted underneath the eyelids of a patient, whereupon release of the clips will allow the speculum and the center opening of the drape material to be resiliently held underneath the eyelids, whereupon the drape material can be folded over upon itself in a direction away from the globe of the eye to drape the area surrounding the patient's eye.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.