Surgical Drape with Edge-Fixed Absorbent Pocket for Fluid Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical drapes face challenges in managing fluid during surgical procedures, with insufficient absorption leading to liquid migration and contamination, and existing solutions like separate fluid collection bags are bulky and hinder surgical workflow.
Innovation Solution
A disposable surgical drape design where the absorbent material section is permanently fixed at the edges of the liquid-impermeable base cover material, forming a pocket that enhances liquid absorption and distribution without unnecessary stiffening, using a combination of liquid-absorbent and permeable materials without an intermediate layer, and strategically placed liquid barriers to prevent leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If absorbent material section is permanently fixed at edges only, then flexibility and pocket formation are improved, but liquid barrier capability may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The joining agent is applied selectively only in edge regions of the absorbent material section, creating local fixation zones that form liquid barriers at the periphery while leaving the central area unfixed to maintain flexibility and enable pocket formation. This localized application resolves the contradiction by providing liquid barrier capability where needed (at edges) without compromising overall drape flexibility.
2Quantity of substance
If separate fluid collection bags are attached, then liquid collection capacity is improved, but device complexity and surgical workflow are hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbent material section is integrated directly into the surgical drape structure, merging the fluid collection function with the drape itself. The pocket formed by selective edge fixation creates an internal reservoir that eliminates the need for separate attached collection bags, thereby maintaining liquid collection capacity while reducing device complexity and improving surgical workflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The absorbent material section is nested within the drape structure, with the pocket formed by the relationship between the absorbent section and the drape layers. This nested configuration allows the fluid collection system to be contained within the drape itself, eliminating external attachments and reducing overall system complexity.
3Reliability
If absorbent material is heavily fixed to base cover, then liquid barrier performance is improved, but drape flexibility and conformability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The joining agent is applied only in edge regions rather than across the entire absorbent material section, creating local liquid barrier zones at the periphery while leaving the central area flexible and conformable. This localized fixation strategy resolves the contradiction by providing liquid barrier performance where it is most needed (at the edges) without compromising the drape's ability to conform to surgical sites.
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
This design provides optimized fluid management with improved absorption capacity, reduced contamination risk, and minimal construction effort, maintaining the drape's flexibility while effectively collecting and distributing liquids within the surgical field.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid-absorbent and liquid-permeable material section (12)... The material section (12) is arranged with its upper edge (18c) essentially flush with the upper end (3c) of the surgical drape (1)... the material section (12) outside of the edge regions (20c, 20d, 20e, 20f) essentially unconnected to the base cover material (2), such that a pocket (24) is formed
Implementation Method 2
The edge regions (20c, 20d, 20e, 20f) have a liquid barrier (26', 26''), at least in sections, with the liquid barrier (26', 26'') being formed by a joining agent (22') which permanently fixes the material section (12) on the upper side (6) of the base covering material (2)
Implementation Method 3
the material section (12) outside of the edge regions (20c, 20d, 20e, 20f) essentially unconnected to the base cover material (2), such that a pocket (24) is formed between the absorbent material portion (12) and the liquid impervious base cover material (2)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a disposable surgical cover having a fluid impermeable base cover material with a lower side facing the patient during use and an upper side, wherein the upper side comprises an absorbent layer, a first absorbent region, and at least one second absorbent region. For this purpose the second absorbent region is overlapped by a fluid absorbent and fluid permeable material section having outer edges and adjoining edge regions. The surgical cover as such extends in a longitudinal direction LR between an upper end and a lower end. The absorbent material section is undetachably fixed across the entire circumference on the upper side of the base cover material, and is substantially not connected to the base cover material outside of the edge regions such that a pocket is formed between the absorbent material section and the fluid impermeable base cover material. At least one of the edge regions of the absorbent material section has a fluid barrier, at least in sections, wherein the fluid barrier is formed by means of a joining means which undetachably fixes the material section to the upper side of the base cover material.