Foldable Lateral Table Drape for Surgical Equipment

Abstract

In accordance with the present disclosure, a drape for providing a sterile field around a portion of an imaging device is provided, the drape comprising an upper panel having an upper surface and a lower surface, a front panel having an outer surface and an inner surface, and a rear panel having an outer surface and an inner surface, and an opening defined between a side edge of the rear panel and a corresponding side edge of the front panel.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 432,579, filed December 14, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] (Technical field) The present invention relates to medical drapes used to cover surgical equipment, such as imaging devices, during surgical or other medical procedures requiring the maintenance of a sterile field. [Background technology]

[0003] Intraoperative X-rays are often required during surgical procedures in the operating room. In such cases, a device commonly referred to as a "C-arm" due to its C-shape is used to position the X-ray emitter and receiver of the imaging device around the patient and surgical area. The C-arm almost completely surrounds the operating table, including the area directly below the table, which is clearly a non-sterile area. This necessitates a drape that extends horizontally across the sterile field during the surgical procedure to form a barrier between the C-arm and the sterile field where the surgical procedure is being performed. Due to the large size and arcuate shape of the C-arm, attempts have been made to maintain the sterile field by covering the C-arm portion of the imaging device with multiple surgical drapes. However, the use of multiple surgical drapes is cumbersome. Therefore, there is a need for a single surgical drape that can be used to cover the C-arm portion of the imaging device to maintain the sterile field. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows, or will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

[0005] In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a drape for providing a sterile field around a portion of an imaging device, the drape comprising an upper panel having an upper surface and a lower surface, a front panel having an outer surface and an inner surface, and a back panel having an outer surface and an inner surface, and an opening defined between a side edge of the back panel and a corresponding side edge of the front panel.

[0006] In one embodiment, the back panel has a rectangular shape and the top panel has a rectangular shape.

[0007] In another embodiment, the rear panel has a curved shape and the top panel has a rectangular shape.

[0008] In another embodiment, the front panel has a rectangular shape.

[0009] In another embodiment, the back panel and the top panel each have a curved portion and a straight portion extending from the end of the curved portion toward the front panel.

[0010] Additionally, the angle formed between the side edge defined by the straight portion and an axis extending from the end of the curved portion and intersecting the front edge of the upper panel at a 90 degree angle ranges from about 5 degrees to about 45 degrees, as measured from the axis.

[0011] In another embodiment, a first fastening means is located on the top surface of the upper panel adjacent to the top edge of the front panel, and a corresponding second first fastening means is located on the top surface of the upper panel adjacent to the top edge of the back panel.

[0012] Additionally, to maintain the sterility of the upper panel prior to use of the drape of the present disclosure in a surgical procedure, when the drape of the present disclosure is folded inward along one or more fold lines, a first fastening means located on the upper surface of the upper panel adjacent to the upper edge of the front panel is aligned with another first fastening means located on the upper surface of the upper panel adjacent to the upper edge of the back panel.

[0013] In another embodiment, the upper panel includes one or more pleats that can splay outward when a drape of the present disclosure is used to surround a portion of an imaging device.

[0014] In another embodiment, at least one handle is provided on the rear panel.

[0015] In another embodiment, the support structure is attached to the top edge of the rear panel, the bottom edge of the rear panel, or a combination thereof.

[0016] In another embodiment, a second fastening means is located on the underside of the upper panel adjacent to the front panel.

[0017] In another embodiment, the front panel is spaced a predetermined distance from the leading edge of the top panel towards the back panel.

[0018] In another embodiment, the imaging device is a C-arm type imaging device.

[0019] In another embodiment, there are no side walls between the front and back panels.

[0020] In another embodiment, an opening is defined by a first side edge of the back panel and a corresponding first side edge of the front panel, and a side wall is provided between a second side edge of the back panel and a corresponding second side edge of the front panel.

[0021] In another embodiment, the top panel, front panel, back panel, or any combination thereof, is translucent, transparent, or radiolucent.

[0022] In another embodiment, the top panel, the front panel, the back panel, or a combination thereof is formed from a nonwoven material.

[0023] In another embodiment, the nonwoven material comprises a spunbond material, a meltblown material, or a combination thereof.

[0024] In another embodiment, the top panel, the front panel, the back panel, or a combination thereof is formed from a film, further comprising polyethylene.

[0025] In another embodiment, the drapes of the present disclosure are sterilizable.

[0026] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0027] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in this specification, which makes reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of one embodiment of a drape of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows a bottom perspective view of one embodiment of a drape of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows a top view of one embodiment of a drape of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows a top perspective view of another embodiment of a drape of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 shows a bottom perspective view of another embodiment of a drape of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows a top view of another embodiment of a drape of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a drape of the present disclosure in a folded state. [Figure 8]FIG. 8 shows a top perspective view of yet another embodiment of a drape of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 shows a top perspective view of yet another embodiment of a drape of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 shows a top perspective view of yet another embodiment of a drape of the present disclosure. [Figure 11A] 11A shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a drape of the present disclosure attached to an operating table to cover the C-arm portion of an imaging device, with the pleats of the upper panel of the drape unfolded. [Figure 11B] 11B shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a drape of the present disclosure attached to an operating table to cover the C-arm portion of an imaging device, with the pleats of the upper panel of the drape unfolded. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] Various embodiments of the present invention and one or more examples thereof are described in detail below. Each example is provided to explain the invention, not to limit it. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0030] As used herein, the terms "about," "approximately," or "approximately," when used to modify a value, indicate that values ​​within ±5% of that value are within the scope of the disclosed embodiments. Furthermore, when multiple ranges are provided, any combination of the minimum and maximum values ​​set forth in the ranges is also contemplated by the present invention. For example, when a range of "about 20% to about 80%" and a range of "about 30% to about 70%" are provided, the range of "about 20% to about 70%" or "about 30% to about 80%" is also contemplated by the present invention.

[0031] Generally, the present disclosure relates to a drape for providing a sterile field around a portion of an imaging device. The drape of the present disclosure includes an upper panel having an upper surface and a lower surface, a front panel having an outer surface and an inner surface, and a rear panel having an outer surface and an inner surface. An opening is defined between at least one side edge of the rear panel and at least one side edge of the corresponding front panel. It should be understood that openings may be defined between both side edges of the rear panel and both side edges of the corresponding front panel. That is, the drape is free of side walls on at least one side (between the side edge of the rear panel and the corresponding side edge of the front panel), and in some cases, free of side walls on both sides. The inventors have discovered that the openings defined between the side edges of the rear panel and the corresponding side edges of the front panel allow the drape to be efficiently positioned over a desired portion of an imaging device, such as a C-arm, without compromising the drape's ability to horizontally extend the sterile field during a surgical procedure to form a barrier between the C-arm and the surgical field. The material forming the drape can be a film, a nonwoven, or a combination thereof. For example, the film can be a polyethylene film, such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE), medium-density polyethylene, or high-density polyethylene film (HDPE). Furthermore, the nonwoven material can be a spunbond material, a meltblown material, or a combination thereof. For example, the nonwoven material can be a spunbond-meltblown-spunbond (SMS) laminate. Furthermore, although not required, in some embodiments, the drape material can be translucent or transparent. In this case, the imaging device covered by the drape material can be seen through the drape material, which can assist medical personnel in accurately positioning the imaging device to capture images of a particular area of ​​interest on a patient.

[0032] Various features of the drapes of the present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to Figures 1-11B.

[0033] Referring first to FIG. 1 , a top perspective view of one embodiment of a drape 100 of the present disclosure is shown. The drape 100 may be, for example, a lateral table drape that can be attached to an operating table during a medical procedure. The drape 100 includes an upper panel 102, a front panel 104, and a back panel 106. The front panel 104 and the back panel 106 extend horizontally along the x-axis and vertically along the y-axis. The front panel 104 and the back panel 106 are secured to the upper panel 102. The front panel 104 has a side edge 134 that extends vertically along the y-axis. Similarly, the back panel 106 has a side edge 135 that extends vertically along the y-axis. The front panel 104 has an outer surface 122, an inner surface 124, an upper edge 152, and a lower edge 154. Similarly, the back panel 106 has an outer surface 126, an inner surface 128, a top edge 156, and a bottom edge 158. Meanwhile, the upper panel 102 extends laterally along the z-axis between the front panel 104 and the back panel 106. As shown, the upper panel 102 includes first fastening means 114A, 114B, 114C, 114D, 114E, and 114F disposed about the periphery of the upper panel 102. For example, the first fastening means 114A, 114B, and 114C are disposed along a leading edge 160 of the upper panel 102, and corresponding additional first fastening means 114D, 114E, and 114F are disposed along a trailing edge 162 of the upper panel 102. First fastening means 114A, 114B, 114C, 114D, 114E, and 114F may be in the form of hook-and-loop fasteners, tape with a removable release liner, adhesive with a release liner, or any other suitable fastening means. The use of first fastening means 114A, 114B, 114C, 114D, 114E, and 114F to maintain the sterility of drape 100 is described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 7.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the upper panel 102 includes one or more pleats 108 formed from the drape material. The pleats 108 allow the drape 100 to unfold in an accordion-like manner when it is to cover a portion of the imaging device. The pleats 108 define fold lines 132 (see FIG. 7 ) for folding the drape 100, for example, into a Z-shape. This allows the upper panel 102 to be folded on top of one another. The folded upper panel 102 can then be secured in its folded state by first securing means 114A, 114B, 114C, 114D, 114E, and 114F. This allows the sterility of the upper panel 102 to be maintained until it is used during a medical procedure. Furthermore, the unfolded drape 100 can be returned to its folded state to maintain the sterility of the upper panel 102 if the imaging device needs to be moved. Then, after the imaging device has been moved to another location or position, the drape 100 is again deployed to maintain a sterile field.

[0035] Additionally, a support structure, such as a wire 112 (e.g., a covering wire), is attached to the upper edge 156 of the rear panel 106, the lower edge 158 of the rear panel 106, or a combination thereof. The wire 112 provides structure (rigidity) and support for positioning the drape 100 around the portion of the imaging device 142 to be covered (see FIGS. 11A and 11B, described in more detail below). The wire 112 is attached to the rear panel 106 using a second fastening means 116, such as adhesive, double-sided tape, or any other suitable fastening means. It should be understood that any flexible material capable of providing rigidity and support to the drape 100, such as a flexible plastic or metal, may be used in place of the covering wire. Additionally, the rear panel 106 has at least one handle 110 disposed on its outer surface 126 near its upper edge 156. At least one handle 110 allows a user to properly position the drape 100 around the medical device (eg, imaging device) to be covered.

[0036] Additionally, gaps or openings 130 are defined between each side edge 134 of the front panel 104 and each corresponding side edge 135 of the back panel 106. That is, there are no side walls between the back panel 106 and the front panel 104, and therefore each side edge 134 of the front panel 104 does not contact each corresponding side edge 135 of the back panel 106. The openings 130 allow the drape 100 to cover the medical device more efficiently and with less bulk. The openings 130 also allow the drape 100 to be more easily handled around the medical device.

[0037] 2 , which shows a bottom perspective view of the drape 100 of FIG. 1 , the upper panel 102 has an upper surface 118 and a lower surface 120. Additionally, a leading edge 160 of the upper panel 102 extends a distance D in the z-axis direction beyond the upper edge 152 of the front panel 104. That is, the front panel 104 is spaced a distance D in the z-axis direction from the leading edge 160 of the upper panel 102 toward the back panel 106. The front panel 104 also has a rear edge 162. Additionally, a second fastening means 116, such as an adhesive, double-sided tape, or any other suitable fastening means, is disposed adjacent to the front panel 104 on the lower surface 120 of the upper panel 102, between the leading edge 160 of the upper panel 102 and the upper edge 152 of the front panel 104. The second fastening means 116 can be used to attach the upper panel 102 of the drape 100 to a patient drape 150 (see FIGS. 11A and 11B), a surgical table, or any other object around which a sterile field needs to be maintained.

[0038] 3 illustrates a top view of one embodiment of the drape 100. As shown in detail in FIG. 3, the upper panel 102 of the drape 100 has a curved portion 136 and a straight portion 138 extending from an end 140 of the curved portion 136. Additionally, the angle α formed between a side edge 166 defined by the straight portion 138 and an axis 164 extending from the end 140 of the curved portion 136 and intersecting the leading edge 160 of the upper panel 102 at a 90-degree angle, as measured from the axis 164, can be in the range of about 5 degrees to about 45 degrees, such as about 7.5 degrees to about 30 degrees, or such as about 10 degrees to about 25 degrees. 2, it should be noted that the back panel 106 has a shape corresponding to the curved portion 136 of the upper panel 102 and is secured to the curved portion 136 by any suitable means, such as, but not limited to, heat welding, adhesive, double-sided adhesive tape, ultrasonic bonding, etc. Meanwhile, the front panel 104 has a shape corresponding to the shape (e.g., a straight portion) of the leading edge 160 of the upper panel 102. Furthermore, although not required, the length along the x-axis of the top edge 152 of the front panel 104 may be the same as the length along the x-axis of the leading edge of the upper panel 102 (see FIG. 2). However, in another embodiment, the length along the x-axis of the top edge 152 of the front panel 104 may be shorter than the length along the x-axis of the leading edge of the upper panel 102.

[0039] Referring now to FIG. 4, a top perspective view of another embodiment of a drape 100 according to the present disclosure is shown. Similar to the drape of FIG. 1, the drape 100 may be, for example, a lateral table drape that can be attached to an operating table during a medical procedure. The drape 100 includes an upper panel 102, a front panel 104, and a rear panel 106. The front panel 104 and the rear panel 106 extend horizontally along the x-axis and vertically along the y-axis. The front panel 104 and the rear panel 106 are secured to the upper panel 102. Additionally, the front panel 104 has a side edge 134 that extends vertically along the y-axis. Similarly, the rear panel 106 has a side edge 135 that extends vertically along the y-axis. The front panel 104 has an outer surface 122, an inner surface 124, an upper edge 152, and a lower edge 154. Similarly, the back panel 106 has an outer surface 126, an inner surface 128, a top edge 156, and a bottom edge 158. Meanwhile, the upper panel 102 extends laterally along the z-axis between the front panel 104 and the back panel 106. As shown, the upper panel 102 includes first fastening means 114A, 114B, 114C, 114D, 114E, and 114F disposed about the periphery of the upper panel 102. For example, the first fastening means 114A, 114B, and 114C are disposed along a leading edge 160 of the upper panel 102, and corresponding additional first fastening means 114D, 114E, and 114F are disposed along a trailing edge 162 of the upper panel 102. First fastening means 114A, 114B, 114C, 114D, 114E, and 114F may be in the form of hook-and-loop fasteners, tape with a removable release liner, adhesive with a release liner, or any other suitable fastening means. The use of first fastening means 114A, 114B, 114C, 114D, 114E, and 114F to maintain the sterility of drape 100 is described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 7.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the upper panel 102 includes one or more pleats 108 formed from the drape material. The pleats 108 allow the drape 100 to unfold in an accordion-like manner when it is to cover a portion of the imaging device. The pleats 108 define fold lines 132 (see FIG. 7 ) for folding the drape 100, for example, into a Z-shape. This allows the upper panel 102 to be folded on top of one another. The folded upper panel 102 can then be secured in its folded state by first securing means 114A, 114B, 114C, 114D, 114E, and 114F. This allows the sterility of the upper panel 102 to be maintained until it is used during a medical procedure. Furthermore, the unfolded drape 100 can be returned to its folded state to maintain the sterility of the upper panel 102 if the imaging device needs to be moved. Then, after the imaging device has been moved to another location or position, the drape 100 is again deployed to maintain a sterile field.

[0041] Additionally, a support structure, such as a wire 112 (e.g., a covering wire), is attached to the upper edge 156 of the rear panel 106, the lower edge 158 of the rear panel 106, or a combination thereof. The wire 112 provides structure (rigidity) and support for positioning the drape 100 around the portion of the imaging device 142 to be covered (see FIGS. 11A and 11B, described in more detail below). The wire 112 is attached to the rear panel 106 using a second fastening means 116, such as adhesive, double-sided tape, or any other suitable fastening means. It should be understood that any flexible material capable of providing rigidity and support to the drape 100, such as a flexible plastic or metal, may be used in place of the covering wire. Additionally, the rear panel 106 has at least one handle 110 disposed on its outer surface 126 near its upper edge 156. At least one handle 110 allows a user to properly position the drape 100 around the medical device (eg, imaging device) to be covered.

[0042] Additionally, gaps or openings 130 are defined between each side edge 134 of the front panel 104 and each corresponding side edge 135 of the back panel 106. That is, there are no side walls between the back panel 106 and the front panel 104, and therefore each side edge 134 of the front panel 104 does not contact each corresponding side edge 135 of the back panel 106. The openings 130 allow the drape 100 to cover the medical device more efficiently and with less bulk. The openings 130 also allow the drape 100 to be more easily handled around the medical device.

[0043] 5, which shows a bottom perspective view of the drape 100 of FIG. 4, the upper panel 102 has an upper surface 118 and a lower surface 120. Additionally, a leading edge 160 of the upper panel 102 extends a distance D in the z-axis direction beyond the upper edge 152 of the front panel 104. That is, the front panel 104 is spaced a distance D in the z-axis direction from the leading edge 160 of the upper panel 102 toward the back panel 106. The front panel 104 also has a rear edge 162. Additionally, a second fastening means 116, such as an adhesive, double-sided tape, or any other suitable fastening means, is disposed adjacent to the front panel 104 on the lower surface 120 of the upper panel 102, between the leading edge 160 of the upper panel 102 and the upper edge 152 of the front panel 104. The second fastening means 116 can be used to attach the upper panel 102 of the drape 100 to a patient drape 150 (see FIGS. 11A and 11B), a surgical table, or any other object around which a sterile field needs to be maintained.

[0044] Furthermore, Figure 6 illustrates a top view of one embodiment of the drape 100. As shown in detail in Figure 6, the upper panel 102 of the drape 100 has a curved portion 136 that extends from one end of the upper edge 152 of the front panel 104 to the other end of the upper edge 152 of the front panel. That is, the upper panel 102 of the drape 100 does not have a straight portion 138 as shown in Figure 3. Furthermore, with reference again to Figure 5, it should be noted that the back panel 106 has a shape that corresponds to the curved portion 136 of the upper panel 102 and is secured to the curved portion 136 by any suitable means, such as, but not limited to, heat welding, adhesive, double-sided adhesive tape, ultrasonic bonding, etc. Meanwhile, the front panel 104 has a shape that corresponds to the shape (e.g., straight portion) of the leading edge 160 of the upper panel 102. Additionally, although not required, the length along the x-axis of the top edge 152 of the front panel 104 may be the same as the length along the x-axis of the leading edge of the upper panel 102 (see FIG. 5). However, in another embodiment, the length along the x-axis of the top edge 152 of the front panel 104 may be shorter than the length along the x-axis of the leading edge of the upper panel 102.

[0045] Referring now to FIG. 7, a method of folding drape 100 (or drapes 200, 300, and 400, described below) to maintain sterility of upper panel 102 is shown. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 1, illustrating the folding of drape 100 (solid arrows) and the unfolding of drape 100 (dashed arrows). When drape 100 is folded to maintain sterility of upper surface 118 of upper panel 102, attachment means 114B is coupled to attachment means 114E as shown. Similarly, attachment means 114A is coupled to attachment means 114D, and attachment means 114C is coupled to attachment means 114F. To fold drape 100, drape 100 is folded between pleats 108 along fold lines 132 to form a Z-shape in cross section. In the folded position, the top surface 118 of the upper panel 102 remains inside the other panels of the drape 100, thereby maintaining the sterility of the top surface 118 of the upper panel 102. Furthermore, in addition to folding the upper panel 102, the front panel 104 and the back panel 106 also fold along fold lines 132, thereby enabling packaging and sterilization (e.g., with ethylene oxide, hydrogen peroxide vapor, steam, etc.).

[0046] 8 , yet another embodiment of a drape 200 according to the present disclosure is shown. Similar to the drape 100 described above, the drape 200 has gaps or openings 130 defined between each side edge 134 of the front panel 104 and each corresponding side edge 135 of the back panel 106. That is, there are no side walls between the back panel 106 and the front panel 104, and therefore each side edge 134 of the front panel 104 does not contact each corresponding side edge 135 of the back panel 106. However, unlike the drape 100, the upper panel 102 or the back panel 106 of the drape 200 does not have a curved portion 136. Instead, the upper panel 102 of the drape 200 has a generally rectangular or linear shape and is joined to the side edge 134 of the front panel 104 and the side edge 135 of the back panel 106 at a generally right angle or a 90-degree angle. Additionally, the rear panel 106 also has a rectangular or rectilinear shape.

[0047] 9 shows yet another embodiment of a drape 300 according to the present disclosure. On one side of the drape 300, a gap or opening 130 is defined between the side edge 134 of the front panel 104 and the side edge 135 of the back panel 106. In contrast, on the other side of the drape 300, no gap or opening is defined between the side edge 134 of the front panel 104 and the side edge 135 of the back panel 106. That is, one side of the drape 300 has a side wall 168. The left and right side edges of the side wall 168 are joined to one side edge 134 of the front panel 104 and one side edge 135 of the back panel 106, respectively, and the upper edge of the side wall 168 is joined to the upper panel 102. In addition, the upper panel 102 of the drape 300 in FIG. 9 does not have a curved portion 136. Instead, the top panel 102 of the drape 200 has a generally rectangular or linear shape and is joined to the side edges 134 of the front panel 104 and the side edges 135 of the back panel 106 at a generally right angle or 90 degree angle.

[0048] FIG. 10 illustrates yet another embodiment of a drape 400 according to the present disclosure. Similar to the drape 200 of FIG. 8, the drape 400 has gaps or openings 130 formed between each side edge 134 of the front panel 104 and each corresponding side edge 135 of the back panel 106. That is, there are no side walls between the back panel 106 and the front panel 104. The upper edge of the back panel 106 of the drape 400 has a curved shape. The upper panel 102 of the drape 400 has a rectangular or linear shape and is joined to the side edge 135 of the back panel 106 at point 174. Thus, the upper panel 102 has an overlap portion 172 that extends beyond the upper edge of the back panel 106 in the x-direction. The overlapping portion 172 forms an angle α with respect to the x-axis, and the angle α may range from about 10 degrees to about 60 degrees, such as from about 15 degrees to about 60 degrees, such as from about 20 degrees to about 40 degrees. Without intending to be limited to a particular theory, the inventors have found that the curved shape of the back panel 106 can provide additional coverage for the medical device.

[0049] Next, FIG. 11A shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the drape 100 (or drape 200, 300, or 400) of the present disclosure, illustrating a state in which the drape 100 of the present disclosure is attached to a patient drape 150 of an operating table. In FIG. 11A, the imaging device 142 includes an upper imaging unit 144, a lower imaging unit 146, and a C-arm portion 148 (not shown; see FIG. 11B). The lower imaging unit 146, located at one end of the C-arm portion 148, has not yet been moved below the patient drape 150 and the table, and therefore the pleats 108 of the upper panel 102 of the drape 100 of the present disclosure have not yet unfolded. Meanwhile, FIG. 11B shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the drape 100 of the present disclosure, illustrating a state in which the C-arm portion 148 of the imaging device 142 has been moved below the patient drape 150 and the operating table. The pleats 108 of the upper panel 102 of the drape 100 are extended to cover one end of the C-arm portion 148. This provides a sterile field around the lower imaging unit 146 located at one end of the C-arm portion 148.

[0050] While the present disclosure has been described above with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art could make various modifications to the described embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention. The terms and descriptions used herein are set forth for purposes of illustration only and are not meant to be limiting. In particular, the present invention has been described by way of example, but various compositions and processes may embody the inventive concepts described herein. While the present invention has been described and disclosed using various terms and specific embodiments, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, and should not be considered, limited thereby. Such other modifications or embodiments that may be suggested by the teachings herein are specifically reserved, as they fall within the scope of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will recognize that these and other variations are possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. 1. A drape for providing a sterile field around a portion of an imaging device, comprising: an upper panel having an upper surface and a lower surface; a front panel having an outer surface and an inner surface; a rear panel having an outer surface and an inner surface; The drape has an opening defined between a side edge of the back panel and a side edge of the front panel.

2. 10. The drape of claim 1, The drape, wherein the back panel has a rectangular shape and the top panel has a rectangular shape.

3. 10. The drape of claim 1, The drape, wherein the back panel has a curved shape and the top panel has a rectangular shape.

4. 10. The drape of claim 1, The drape, wherein the front panel has a rectangular shape.

5. 10. The drape of claim 1, the rear panel and the upper panel each have a curved portion and a straight portion extending from an end of the curved portion toward the front panel; a drape, wherein the angle formed between the side edge defined by the straight portion and an axis extending from the end of the curved portion and intersecting the front edge of the upper panel at a 90 degree angle ranges from about 5 degrees to about 45 degrees, as measured from the axis.

6. 10. The drape of claim 1, a first fastening means disposed on the top surface of the upper panel adjacent to an upper edge of the front panel; a corresponding separate first fastening means disposed on the top surface of the upper panel adjacent the upper edge of the back panel.

7. 7. The drape of claim 6, When the drape is folded inward along one or more fold lines to maintain the sterility of the upper panel prior to using the drape in a surgical procedure, a first fastening means disposed on the top surface of the upper panel adjacent to the top edge of the front panel is aligned with another first fastening means disposed on the top surface of the upper panel adjacent to the top edge of the back panel.

8. 10. The drape of claim 1, the upper panel includes one or more pleats; A drape, wherein the pleats can be spread outward when the drape is used to enclose a portion of the imaging device.

9. 10. The drape of claim 1, The drape further comprises at least one handle on the back panel.

10. 10. The drape of claim 1, A drape having a support structure attached to an upper edge of the back panel, a lower edge of the back panel, or a combination thereof.

11. 10. The drape of claim 1, A drape wherein a second fastening means is disposed on the lower surface of the upper panel adjacent to the front panel.

12. 10. The drape of claim 1, The front panel is positioned a predetermined distance from the front edge of the upper panel toward the back panel.

13. 10. The drape of claim 1, A drape having no side walls between the front panel and the back panel.

14. 10. The drape of claim 1, the opening is defined by a first side edge of the back panel and a corresponding first side edge of the front panel; The drape further comprises a side wall between the second side edge of the back panel and the corresponding second side edge of the front panel.

15. 10. The drape of claim 1, The drape, wherein the top panel, the front panel, the back panel, or any combination thereof, is translucent, transparent, or radiolucent.

16. 10. The drape of claim 1, The drape, wherein the top panel, the front panel, the back panel, or a combination thereof is formed from a nonwoven material.

17. 17. The drape of claim 16, The drape, wherein the nonwoven material comprises a spunbond material, a meltblown material, or a combination thereof.

18. 10. The drape of claim 1, A drape wherein the top panel, the front panel, the back panel, or a combination thereof is formed from a film.

19. 20. The drape of claim 18, The drape, wherein the film comprises polyethylene.

20. 10. The drape of claim 1, The drape is sterilizable.

Images