Segmented Surgical Draping System for Sterile Corridor Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical draping systems fail to maintain a sterile surgical field during patient articulation, particularly when patients are rotated using specialized surgical tables, as conventional drapes do not accommodate dynamic patient positioning without compromising sterility.

Innovation Solution

A surgical draping system comprising an under-draping, an over-draping, and a connecting draping that forms a sterile surgical corridor. The under-draping is positioned statically over the patient, the over-draping is positioned above the under-draping, and the connecting draping, which is expandable and contractible, attaches between the under-draping and the over-draping to maintain access to surgical sites during patient articulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional surgical drape is used to establish a sterile field, then the sterile field can be established initially, but the sterile field cannot be maintained during patient articulation and rotation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterile field maintenanceVSAvoidaccommodation of dynamic patient positioning

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical drape is divided into multiple independent components: an under-drape, an over-drape, and a connecting drape. This segmentation allows each component to be positioned and secured independently, enabling the system to adapt to dynamic patient positioning while maintaining sterility. The under-drape remains with the patient on the articulating table, the over-drape covers the surgical site, and the connecting drape links them together.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical drape system is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The connecting drape is specifically configured to accommodate movement and articulation of the patient on the surgical table. This dynamic design allows the drape system to maintain its sterile barrier function during patient repositioning operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the patient is rotated using a specialized surgical table to access multiple surgical sites, then simultaneous access to multiple sites is enabled, but portions of the patient and drape may pass into the non-sterile field

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimultaneous access to multiple surgical sitesVSAvoidcontamination of sterile field

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting drape acts as an intermediary element between the under-drape and over-drape. It specifically addresses the contamination risk during patient rotation by providing a sterile bridge that maintains the sterile barrier even when the patient and drape move relative to each other during articulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The connecting drape is designed as a flexible component that can accommodate movement while maintaining the sterile barrier. This flexible design allows it to conform to the dynamic positioning requirements during patient rotation without compromising the sterile field integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Stability of the object's composition

If a static surgical drape is used, then the drape remains in a fixed position, but it cannot maintain access to surgical sites during patient articulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestatic positioning of drapeVSAvoidaccess to surgical sites during articulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the drape into under-drape, over-drape, and connecting drape components, the system achieves both stability and adaptability. The under-drape provides stable positioning on the patient, the over-drape maintains stable coverage of the surgical site, while the connecting drape adapts to the movement between these stable positions during articulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250049528A1Surgical draping system and method for using same

Publication Date: 2025.02.13 WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC INC

AI summary

A surgical draping system includes an under-draping, an over-draping, and a connecting draping connected by the under-draping and the over-draping. The surgical draping system is used to establish and maintain a surgical corridor to a surgical site or sites on a patient supported by a surgical table. The surgical draping system can accommodate rotation of the patient on the surgical table, such that the sterile surgical corridor is maintained even during such rotation. The sterile surgical corridor extends through an aperture formed in the over-draping, through an enclosed passageway formed through the connecting draping, and through an aperture formed in the under-draping.