Indicator system for a combined procedure drape and bag
View Patent ↗The present specification discloses a combined drape and carrying bag unit used in medical and surgical settings with an indicator attached to a drawstring of the unit. Conversion of the unit from a drape or mat configuration involves pulling on exposed drawstring sections and results in deployment of the identifying indicator. The indicator includes preprinted information, a barcode for scanning, and/or space for the inscription of information by medical personnel. The inclusion of an integrated indicator with the combined drape and carrying bag unit informs medical personnel of the contents of the unit when in the bag configuration and obviates the need for opening the bag and discovering its contents, thereby reducing exposure of medical personnel to biohazard waste.
1. A device for identifying contents of a combined drape and carrying bag unit, comprising
an octogonally shaped drape and carrying bag unit having a centrally positioned rectangular absorbent mat having a first, mat configuration and a second, carrying bag configuration;
a drawstring extending around a periphery of said drape and carrying bag unit and contained within a drawstring casing, for use in medical and surgical settings, comprising an indicator fixedly attached to a portion of said drawstring, wherein said indicator is compressed and hidden in the drawstring casing while said drape and carrying bag unit is in the first, mat configuration and said indicator is deployed and exposed outside the drawstring casing when said drape and carrying bag unit is converted into the second, carrying bag configuration, wherein conversion of said unit from said first configuration to said second configuration results in said indicator automatically becoming deployed and exposed from said drawstring casing through at least one of said drawstring access openings, wherein said drape and carrying bag unit is converted from the first, mat configuration into the second, carrying bag configuration by pulling the drawstring through at least one space in the drawstring casing, and wherein, when the unit is in the first, mat configuration, the indicator is positioned along the drawstring approximately 20-60 cm from the at least one space.
2. The device for identifying contents of a combined drape and carrying bag unit used in medical and surgical settings of claim 1 , wherein said indicator is sewn to the drawstring.
3. The device for identifying contents of a combined drape and carrying bag unit used in medical and surgical settings of claim 1 , wherein said indicator comprises at least one of a flag, label, tag, card, rectangle, square, circle, or oval.
4. The device for identifying contents of a combined drape and carrying bag unit used in medical and surgical settings of claim 3 , wherein said indicator is rectangular in shape and measures between 3 and 6 inches in length by 2 and 4 inches in width.
5. The device for identifying contents of a combined drape and carrying bag unit used in medical and surgical settings of claim 1 , wherein, when the unit is in the first, mat configuration, the indicator is positioned along the drawstring approximately 40 cm from the at least one space.
6. The device for identifying contents of a combined drape and carrying bag unit used in medical and surgical settings of claim 1 , wherein said indicator contains preprinted information, a barcode for scanning, space for inscription of information by medical personnel, or any combination of the above.
7. A system for identifying contents of a combined drape and carrying bag unit used in medical and surgical settings, comprising:
an octogonally shaped drape and bag carrying unit convertible from a first, mat configuration to a second, carrying bag configuration, said drape and bag carrying unit comprising a centrally positioned, generally rectangular shaped absorbent portion for receiving an instrument, a drawstring casing along the periphery of said drape and bag carrying unit with a continuous drawstring disposed therein, and at least two drawstring access openings positioned along said drawstring casing, thereby exposing a portion of said drawstring to medical personnel; and
an indicator fixedly attached to said drawstring along a particular length of said drawstring, said indicator is contained within said drawstring casing while said combined drape and bag carrying unit is in said first configuration, such that conversion of said drape and bag carrying unit from said first, mat configuration to said second, carrying bag configuration results in said indicator automatically becoming deployed and exposed from said drawstring casing through at least one of said drawstring access openings, wherein said indicator is attached to said drawstring at a position between 20 and 60 cm along the drawstring from at least one of said drawstring access openings when said unit is in said first configuration.
8. The system for identifying contents of a combined drape and carrying bag unit used in medical and surgical settings of claim 7 , wherein said indicator is attached to said drawstring at a position 40 cm along the drawstring from at least one of said drawstring access openings when said unit is in said first configuration.
9. The system for identifying contents of a combined drape and carrying bag unit used in medical and surgical settings of claim 7 , wherein said indicator is sewn to the drawstring.
10. The system for identifying contents of a combined drape and carrying bag unit used in medical and surgical settings of claim 7 , wherein said indicator comprises at least one of a flag, label, tag, card, rectangle, square, circle, or oval.
11. The device for identifying contents of a combined drape and carrying bag unit used in medical and surgical settings of claim 10 , wherein said indicator is rectangular in shape and measures between 3 and 6 inches in length by 2 and 4 inches in width.
12. A device for identifying contents of a combined drape and carrying bag unit, comprising
an polygonally shaped drape and carrying bag unit having a centrally positioned absorbent mat having a first, mat configuration and a second, carrying bag configuration;
a drawstring extending around a periphery of said drape and carrying bag unit and contained within a drawstring casing, for use in medical and surgical settings, comprising a first indicator portion of said drawstring and a second portion of said drawstring, wherein said first indicator portion visually differentiates said first indicator portion from the second portion of the drawstring, wherein said first indicator portion is hidden in the drawstring casing while said drape and carrying bag unit is in the first, mat configuration, wherein said first indicator portion is deployed and exposed outside the drawstring casing when said drape and carrying bag unit is converted into the second, carrying bag configuration, and wherein conversion of said drape and carrying bag unit from said first, mat configuration to said second, carrying bag configuration results in said indicator automatically becoming deployed and exposed from said drawstring casing through at least one drawstring access openings, wherein said drape and carrying bag unit is converted from the first, mat configuration into the second, carrying bag configuration by pulling the drawstring through at least one space in the drawstring casing, and wherein, when the drape and carrying bag unit is in the first, mat configuration, the first indicator portion is positioned along the drawstring approximately 20-60 cm from the at least one space.
13. The device for identifying contents of a combined drape and carrying bag unit used in medical and surgical settings of claim 12 , wherein said first indicator portion comprises a portion of the drawstring that is a different color from the second portion of the drawstring.
14. The device for identifying contents of a combined drape and carrying bag unit used in medical and surgical settings of claim 12 , wherein, when the unit is in the first, mat configuration, the first indicator portion is positioned along the drawstring approximately 40 cm from the at least one space.