Absorbent Drape with Drawstring Casing for Biohazard Containment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional disposable absorbent drapes used in endoscopic procedures expose medical personnel to biohazard materials during equipment and drape removal and disposal, as they require separate containers for contaminated items, increasing the risk of biohazard exposure and equipment damage during transport.
Innovation Solution
A disposable absorbent drape with a drawstring casing that converts into a carrying bag, utilizing permeable and impermeable layers to contain biohazard waste and equipment, reducing the need for separate containers and providing a sterile surface for transport, thereby minimizing biohazard exposure and protecting equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional disposable absorbent drapes are used, then a sterile work platform is established and waste containment is achieved, but medical personnel are exposed to biohazard materials during equipment and drape removal and disposal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drape and disposal bag into a single integrated unit. The drape itself forms the containment structure, eliminating the need for separate disposal containers. This merging allows contaminated equipment to be directly placed into the drape-formed bag, containing biohazard materials and protecting medical personnel during handling and transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The drape serves multiple functions: it creates a sterile work surface during the procedure, contains waste products during the procedure, and transforms into a disposal bag for contaminated equipment after the procedure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate containers and reduces biohazard exposure throughout the entire workflow.
2Strength
If separate containers are used for transport of contaminated equipment, then equipment protection is achieved, but device complexity and handling time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the drape and disposal bag into one unit, eliminating the need for separate transport containers. The integrated design allows contaminated equipment to be directly placed into the drape-formed bag, simplifying the system to a single container that provides both containment and protection during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The drape-drainage-bag system serves as both the procedural drape and the transport container. This universal design eliminates multiple separate containers, reducing device complexity while maintaining equipment protection capabilities throughout the entire process from procedure to disposal.
3Reliability
If separate containers are used for disposal of drapes and equipment, then proper biohazard disposal is achieved, but handling time and exposure risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drape and disposal bag into a single integrated unit that can be handled as one piece. This merging allows medical personnel to simultaneously dispose of both the drape and contaminated equipment in a single action, reducing handling time and minimizing exposure risk while ensuring proper biohazard disposal compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The drape serves as both the procedural covering and the disposal container. This multi-functional design allows for simultaneous disposal of the drape and contaminated equipment, eliminating the need for separate handling steps and reducing the time medical personnel are exposed to biohazard materials during the disposal process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces biohazard exposure to medical personnel and protects endoscopic equipment during transport by containing waste and equipment within a sterile, impermeable surface, eliminating the need for separate disposal containers and ensuring safe handling and transport.
Implementation Method 1
to contain wastes emanating from the procedure due to gravitational flow from the patients body
Implementation Method 2
Conventional disposable absorbent drapes or pads used in endoscopic procedures may be comprised of a plurality of absorbent and impermeable material layers
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A medical equipment pad is provided, the pad comprising a pliable absorbent mat (12) formed from a sheet of absorbent material (20) attached to a sheet of substantially fluid impermeable material (18). The mat is of a size to accommodate an article of medical equipment thereon, and comprises the sheet of absorbent material (20) across a majority of the area thereof. The pad has a drawstring casing (34) extending about a periphery of the mat (12) and has two openings (42,44) on opposite sides of the sheet (18). The sheet (18) has a periphery defined by two generally parallel end edges (30,32) and two side edges (26,28). A drawstring (50) is received in the drawstring casing (34) and is of a size to extend about the periphery of the mat (12). The drawstring (50) is slidably received in the drawstring casing (34) so that when portions of the drawstring (50) are pulled out of the drawstring casing (34) through the two openings (42,44), the periphery of the fluid impermeable sheet (18) forms gathers adjacent the casing (34) to permit the periphery to reduce in size and to form an enclosure sufficient to enclose said article of medical equipment therein.