FIELD

The present invention relates to drapes for equipment used in a medical setting. In a specific application, the present invention relates to drapes for large equipment and methods for covering large medical equipment (as opposed to hand-held devices).

BACKGROUND

Equipment used in sterile medical environments (such as a surgery room) must be sterile when entering a sterile field. Small equipment can be readily sterilized between each use or packaged in a sterile manner for single use. Large equipment, such as microscopes, are typically covered with a sterile drape rather than being sterilized after each use since doing so would be impractical.

A conventional method of applying a drape to large equipment, such as a microscope, requires the sterile medical personnel, or another person within the sterile field, to fully deploy the drape during the procedure. The drape is typically a large bag-like structure that is deployed over the equipment in a substantially unfolded state which creates a very unwieldy and awkward deployment since the user must manage the length of the bag while passing the open end of the bag around the equipment. Drapes of this nature may be 4-8 m long.

A problem with the conventional method of deploying a sterile drape over a piece of equipment is that the medical procedure is often delayed since one or more people within the sterile field must deploy the drape. This lengthens the procedure and takes time away from other tasks that could be undertaken.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a drape that may be deployed over equipment in a non-sterile field thereby freeing up people in the sterile field who would otherwise typically deploy the drape. Moreover, the drape may be deployed while other parts of the procedure are performed since a person not working in the sterile field may deploy the drape of the present invention. These advantages may lead to shorter procedure times and, therefore, reduced cost and increased efficiency.

In one aspect of the invention, the drape is covered by a removable sheath that protects the drape. An advantage of using the removable sheath is that the drape may be deployed and stored in a non-sterile field. The sheath may be removed just prior to the equipment being moved into the sterile field. In this manner, the drape may be partially deployed in advance of any need for the equipment and may be stored in a non-sterile field until needed. The removable sheath may further be sealed to the drape at proximal and/or distal ends of the drape to protect the sterile surfaces prior to removal of the sheath.

The drape and/or the removable sheath may also include an expandable element, which aids in deploying the drape and/or sheath. The expandable element may be a hoop, which is collapsed in a suitable manner. For example, the expandable element may be collapsed into a “figure-8” and even further by folding the figure-8 to align the openings of the figure-8. Alternatively, the expandable element may have a first part slidably coupled to a second part, which permits the expandable element to collapse into a smaller shape when packaged. Of course, the expandable element may be provided in a number of other suitable ways without departing from the scope of the invention including forming a C-shape or U-shape (rather than a complete hoop). Numerous aspects of the present invention may also be practiced without the expandable element.

The proximal end of the drape and/or sheath may also include one or more removable portions, which are removed prior to entering the sterile field. The removable portions are typically those parts, which may be touched or manipulated by the user during deployment of the drape. An advantage of the removable portions is that these parts may be manipulated by non-sterile personnel or come into contact with non-sterile objects as long as they do not touch sterile surfaces and are removed prior to entering the sterile field.

The removable portions may be removed in any suitable manner such as a tear away portion. Of course, the removable portion may be attached with fasteners, a clasp, buttons, a zipper or any other suitable mechanism. The removable portion is removed prior to moving the drape into the sterile field as further described below in connection with use of the drape. For example, the removable handles are removed after use and/or prior to moving the drape into the sterile field. The removable portion advantageously permit parts of the device (specifically non-sterile parts or parts potentially contaminated in a non-sterile field) to be removed prior to moving the equipment into the sterile field.

The drape and/or removable sheath may also include one or more cinches which are used to cinch the drape and/or sheath to the equipment. The cinch may be operated from the radially inner side so that the sterile surfaces are not disturbed and so that the sterile surfaces may remain covered until the equipment is moved into the sterile field.

In still another aspect of the present invention, the drape may be deployed to a partially deployed state. An advantage of the partially deployed state is that the time required to fully deploy the drape is reduced thereby potentially reducing the overall procedure time. In one aspect, the drape is deployed so that at least 25% of the length is deployed and may even be at least 40% of the length. Deployment of these amounts may be preferable when using an everted drape as further described below. When the removable sheath is used, the length of the drape may be at least 80% deployed and may even be completely deployed with only removal of the sheath required to complete deployment of the drape as also described below. Although the drape may be partially deployed in the above described manner, the drape may also be partially deployed by simply coupling the drape to the equipment while the drape is still held by the packaging.

The partially deployed position also advantageously may be provided with the sterile surfaces remaining covered so that the equipment may be stored outside the sterile field while in the partially deployed state. Another advantage is that the removable sheath and/or removable portion of the drape provide parts of the device for non-sterile personnel to use in deploying the drape outside the sterile field with these non-sterile parts being removed prior to moving into the sterile field.

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

