One-Piece Surgical Drape with Separable Sterile Zones

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical draping methods for spinal surgery are time-consuming, complicated, and fail to maintain sterility, especially when using 3D radiographic devices, leading to potential contamination and inaccuracies in navigation technology readings.

Innovation Solution

A one-piece customized disposable surgical drape with a clear plastic region or lens for navigation readability, sterile longitudinal separation, and under-table wrapping capabilities, allowing for efficient and sterile coverage of both the patient and radiographic equipment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple separate drapes are used to cover the patient and equipment, then sterile coverage can be provided, but the draping process becomes time-consuming and complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesterile coverageVSAvoiddraping time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate draping functions into a single integrated drape that simultaneously covers the patient, equipment, and provides sterile barriers. This unified drape eliminates the need to separately position multiple drapes, reducing draping time while maintaining comprehensive sterile coverage of all surgical elements including the patient, radiographic equipment, and surgical field.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If radiological equipment is draped to maintain sterility, then contamination is prevented, but the equipment maneuverability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesterility maintenanceVSAvoidequipment maneuverability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The drape is designed with separable sections that allow the radiological equipment to move through designated openings without compromising the sterile field. The segmented design includes a patient portion, equipment portion, and surgical field portion that can be independently positioned and separated, enabling equipment maneuverability while maintaining sterility through controlled access points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If the reference frame is exposed for navigation readability, then navigation accuracy is improved, but sterility is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation accuracyVSAvoidsterility
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a transparent window or translucent material as an intermediary between the reference frame and the sterile field. This intermediary allows navigation system readings to be taken through the barrier, enabling optical penetration while maintaining the sterile seal. The transparent portion permits laser or optical signals to pass through for reference frame detection without breaching sterility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Loss of time

If a one-piece drape is used to simplify the process, then draping time is reduced, but adaptability to different surgical configurations is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedraping timeVSAvoiddraping flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The one-piece drape incorporates dynamic, adjustable features including elastic sections, expandable panels, and reconfigurable fastening systems that allow the drape to adapt to different patient sizes, surgical approaches, and equipment configurations. The integrated design maintains flexibility through built-in adjustment mechanisms rather than requiring separate drapes for different scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2713935B1Surgical drape with separable elements
Publication Date: 2022.04.20 CREATIVE SURGICAL SOLUTIONS LLC
  • EP2713935B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1D
  • EP2713935B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP2713935B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a one piece customized disposable surgical drape to be used in any surgery, and more specifically to a one piece customized disposable surgical drape that includes one or more of the following: (1) a patient drape for use with a standalone non-draped image acquisition device (requiring circumferential access to the patient); (2) a patient drape for use with a standalone non-draped image acquisition device with image guidance navigation technology; (3) the means to provide temporary sterile coverage of an underlying sterile field; (4) the means to provide sterile separation of at least a portion, if not the entire temporary sterile coverage; and (5) the means to provide covering of the undersurface of the operating surface and enclosing any suspended medical devices, wires, cables, tubes, etc.