Modular Surgical Drape with Peelable Adhesive Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical drapes are difficult to remove without cutting tools, pose risks to instruments and patients due to adhesive residue, and have costly and complex manufacturing processes, especially when using thermal welding with multiple materials.
Innovation Solution
A modular surgical drape with a separable multilayer film having an internal layer with lower mechanical resistance than the external layer, along with a layer of adhesive fixed to the internal layer, allowing for easy peeling without tools and simplifying the manufacturing process by eliminating the need for thermal welding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thermal welding is used to join the peelable ribbon to the surgical drape, then the join is impermeable to liquids, but the manufacturing process becomes complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal welding (thermal field) with mechanical adhesion through adhesive application. The adhesive layer joins the peelable ribbon to the surgical drape without requiring thermal welding equipment, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining the impermeable seal. This substitution eliminates the need for precise thermal welding gestures and reduces equipment investment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an adhesive layer as an intermediary substance between the peelable ribbon and the surgical drape. This adhesive mediator creates the join without direct thermal welding, allowing for simpler manufacturing while achieving the required impermeability. The adhesive acts as a bridge that transfers the joining function from thermal to chemical/mechanical bonding.
2Ease of operation
If adhesive ribbon is used to hold drape parts together, then the drape can be peeled off easily, but adhesive residue remains on the drape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a peelable film with controlled adhesion that is designed to be temporary. The adhesive bond is strong enough to maintain drape integrity during surgery but weak enough to allow clean peeling without residue. The peelable film itself becomes the disposable element that absorbs the adhesive, preventing residue on the main drape.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the adhesive properties by using a peelable film with specific adhesion characteristics. The adhesive strength is tuned to allow easy peeling while maintaining the seal during use. By changing the adhesion parameter of the bonding material, the patent achieves both easy removal and minimal residue, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and harmful residue.
3Manufacturing precision
If thermal welding equipment is invested in for precise handling, then welding precision improves, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal welding system with an adhesive application system. This substitution eliminates the need for expensive thermal welding equipment and the trained operators required for precise thermal welding gestures. The adhesive application process is simpler, more forgiving, and requires less specialized equipment, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining join quality.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple materials are used in the drape construction, then functional versatility improves, but welding difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal welding with adhesive bonding, which is universally applicable to multiple materials. Unlike thermal welding that requires specific material compatibility and precise parameters for each material combination, adhesive bonding can join diverse materials (polyethylene, polyamide, polypropylene, etc.) without requiring material-specific welding expertise. This substitution maintains functional versatility while dramatically reducing welding difficulty.
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
Enables safe, easy separation of surgical drapes without tools, reducing the risk of adhesive residue and lowering production costs by simplifying the manufacturing process, making it adaptable to various materials and suitable for online production.
Implementation Method 1
a layer of adhesive fixed to the internal layer, the drape attachment being fixed to the main sheet by means of the layer of adhesive
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a surgical drape (1) comprising a main sheet (10), characterized in that it comprises a drape attachment (20) composed of:a separable film (22) having at least one internal layer (22a) and one external layer (22b), the internal layer (22a) having less mechanical resistance than the external layer (22b), anda layer of adhesive (24), fixed to the internal layer (22a) of the separable film (22),the drape attachment being fixed to the main sheet (10) by means of the layer of adhesive (24).