Surgical covering material
View Patent ↗A surgical covering material formed by extruding a sheet, either by a blown film or a cast film process. The upper exposed layer of the material is made by using a foaming agent to create elongated depressions that are surrounded by raised areas. The alternating raised and depressed areas provide the material with a coefficient of friction that compares well to standard drape materials that include a non-woven layer. The raised and depressed areas also provide the material with hydrophilic and non-glare properties that make is a highly effective drape or covering material for use in making mayo stand covers, back table covers and patient drapes. The size and shape of the depressions may be varied to create materials of different toughness or tearability, and differing materials may be combined to form customized drapes with the ability to gain access or make pathways through the drape.
1. A surgical covering comprising: a sheet formed from a process selected from the group consisting of a blown film and a cast film process, the sheet having a plurality of layers, an outer exposed textured layer having a surface texture defined by laterally elongated depressions that are oval-like in shape and laterally elongated raised portions, at least one of the other layers of said plurality of layers being substantially solid and without through openings, and wherein the depressions are the result of the stretching and bursting of bubbles formed by said foaming agent as the plurality of layers leave an extrusion die.
2. A surgical covering in accordance with claim 1 wherein the depressions have lengths of between about 0.02 inches up and about 0.2 inches.
3. A surgical covering in accordance with claim 2 where the elongated oval-like depressions have a length to width ratio of about 5:1.
4. A surgical covering in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outer exposed textured layer is made of a material selected from the group consisting of linear low density polyethylene and low density polyethylene.
5. A surgical covering in accordance with claim 1 where in the outer exposed textured layer has a kinetic coefficient of friction against metal of at least about 0.36.
6. A surgical covering in accordance with claim 1 where in the outer exposed textured layer has a static coefficient of friction against metal of at least about 0.39.
7. A surgical covering in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outer exposed textured layer has a kinetic coefficient of friction, using the covering itself, of at least about 0.42.
8. A surgical covering in accordance with claim 1 where in the outer exposed textured layer has a static coefficient of friction, using the covering itself, of at least about 0.49.
9. A surgical covering in accordance with claim 1 wherein the overall thickness of the covering is between about 1 mil and about 4 mils, and the thickness of the outer exposed textured layer is between about 0.5 mils and about 2.0 mils.
10. A surgical covering in accordance with claim 1 wherein the depressions have lengths of up to about 0.5 inches.
11. A surgical covering in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outer exposed textured layer, when oriented in a vertical position, retains water droplets having a diameter of greater than approximately 1/16″.
12. A surgical covering in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outer exposed textured, when oriented in a vertical position, retains water droplets having a diameter of greater than approximately 1/32″.
13. A surgical covering in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outer exposed textured layer is non-glare.
14. A surgical covering in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outer exposed textured layer has a satin-like texture.
15. A surgical covering in accordance with claim 1 wherein the covering is readily tearable by hand without the use of tools in the direction of the length of the elongated oval-like depressions.
16. A surgical covering in accordance with claim 1 wherein the covering is readily tearable by hand without the use of tools or the use of excessive force in the direction of the length of the elongated oval-like depressions.
17. A surgical covering comprising:
a sheet with a first layer defining a plane, the first layer having an outer exposed textured surface defined by oval-like depressions elongated in the direction of the plane of the first layer and raised portions, and
a core layer, and
a third layer on a side of the core opposite the first layer, the core and the third layer being solid layers,
the core and third layers being co-extruded together with the first layer to form a single surgical covering, and the first layer being formed by use of a blowing agent forming bubbles that pop to create said depressions and said raised portions.
18. A surgical covering in accordance with claim 17 wherein at least one opening formed in said sheet is covered by a patch sealed to said sheet, said patch being readily tearable by hand to form a passageway through the at least one opening in the sheet of the surgical covering.
19. A surgical covering in accordance with claim 18 wherein material comprising the sheet is substantially more difficult to tear than the material comprising the patch.
20. A surgical covering comprising:
a sheet having at least two layers being co-extruded to form a single surgical covering;
the sheet having an outer exposed textured surface defined by a plurality of elongated oval-like depressions elongated in the direction of a plane defined by a first of said at least two layers and raised portions between the plurality of oval-like depressions, and
the outer exposed textured surface being capable of retaining liquid droplets having a diameter of greater than approximately 1/32″, when the sheet is oriented in a vertical position;
the outer exposed textured surface having a kinetic coefficient of friction against metal of at least about 0.36; and,
the outer exposed textured surface being formed by the inclusion of a foaming agent in the extrusion process, and said foaming agent creating bubbles that pop to form said depressions and said raised portions.