Surgical drape with separable elements
The present disclosure relates to a surgical drape to be used in conjunction with a surgical procedure, and more specifically to a surgical drape that includes one or more of the following: (1) a patient drape for use with a standalone non-draped image acquisition device (requiring circumferential access to the patient); (2) a patient drape for use with a standalone non-draped image acquisition device with image guidance navigation technology; (3) the means to provide temporary sterile coverage of an underlying sterile field; (4) the means to provide sterile separation of at least a portion, if not the entire temporary sterile coverage; (5) the means to provide covering of the undersurface of the operating surface and enclosing any suspended medical devices, wires, cables, tubes, etc; and (6) a single-use disposable outer surgical drape that ensures sterility of a covered surgical apparatus, device, or machine, or an inner drape associated therewith.
1 . A surgical drape for maintaining the sterility of a sterile surface, comprising:
an outer portion, comprising an open end or mouth at an end of the predetermined length;
an inner portion,
secured to the outer portion by a perforation, wherein the perforation is disposed about an entirety of a circumference of the surgical drape and circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the sterile surface; and
a Z-fold pleat, formed by the outer and inner portions and disposed about the entirety of the circumference of the surgical drape, overlying the perforation,
wherein the surgical drape is configured to separate along the perforation, thereby separating the outer and inner portions, when a pulling force is applied to an end of the inner portion opposite the perforation, such that edges and surfaces of the outer portion proximate the perforation move toward the open end or mouth and edges and surfaces of the inner portion proximate the perforation move away from the open end or mouth.
2 . The surgical drape of claim 1 , further comprising a selectively breakable tab further securing the outer and inner portions to each other.
3 . The surgical drape of claim 1 , further comprising at least one handle configured to aid a user in applying the pulling force.
4 . The surgical drape of claim 3 , wherein the at least one handle comprises at least one inner portion handle and at least one outer portion handle.
5 . The surgical drape of claim 1 , wherein the end of the inner portion opposite the perforation is closed and the surgical drape thus takes the shape of a bag.
6 . The surgical drape of claim 1 , wherein the end of the inner portion opposite the perforation is open and the surgical drape thus takes the shape of a tube.
7 . The surgical drape of claim 1 , further comprising a cuff or pocket disposed at the open end or mouth.
8 . The surgical drape of claim 1 , wherein the sterile surface is the top surface of a Mayo stand.
9 . The surgical drape of claim 8 , further comprising a cinch, configured to allow a user to tighten the surgical drape about one or more legs of the Mayo stand.
10 . The surgical drape of claim 1 , wherein the surgical drape has a cylindrical shape and defines an interior volume having a circular or elliptical cross-section.
11 . The surgical drape of claim 1 , further comprising an elastic element in association with the open end or mouth, configured to assist a user in positioning the surgical drape.
12 . The surgical drape of claim 11 , further comprising a tightening mechanism, configured to allow the user to selectively tighten the open end or mouth.
13 . The surgical drape of claim 1 , further comprising a peel-away adhesive mechanism, configured to permit the open end or mouth to roll away from the perforation when the pulling force is applied.
14 . The surgical drape of claim 1 , further comprising a second perforation, configured to prevent premature disengagement of the Z-fold pleat when the open end or mouth is spread or widened by a user.
15 . The surgical drape of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive element disposed on an underside of the Z-fold pleat.
16 . The surgical drape of claim 1 , further comprising one or more selectively breakable tabs, arranged in a pattern and configured to be broken in a sequence that allows a non-sterile edge of the Z-fold pleat to roll away from the edges and surfaces of the outer and inner portions proximate the perforation when the pulling force is applied.
17 . The surgical drape of claim 1 , further comprising a longitudinal perforation, configured to allow the outer portion of the surgical drape to be pulled or torn apart after the outer and inner portions are separated.
18 . The surgical drape of claim 17 , wherein the longitudinal perforation comprises a portion of the surgical drape that is weakened, or made of a material having a lower tear strength, relative to a remainder of the surgical drape.
19 . The surgical drape of claim 17 , wherein the longitudinal perforation comprises a score line.
20 . The surgical drape of claim 17 , further comprising a visual indicator of the location of the longitudinal perforation.