Tearable Surgical Drape with Periphery Notches for Tool-Free Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical drapes require additional tools or perforations/score lines for removal, which can disturb surgical equipment and compromise sterility.
Innovation Solution
A surgical drape with a tearable first sheet featuring notches at the periphery and imperforate portions extending to fenestrations, allowing for linear tear lines without the need for tools or perforations, ensuring safe and tool-free removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If perforated or scored tear lines are implemented in the drape, then the drape can be easily torn and removed, but the drape contains a series of holes which compromises sterility and is counter to the purpose of using the drape
Solution Approach 1:
A weak interface is pre-formed between the first sheet and second sheet along the intended tear path, but the tear line is not created until needed. The notches at the periphery serve as initiation points for the tear, which then propagates along the predetermined path between the sheets, maintaining sterility until removal is required.
Solution Approach 2:
The first sheet is nested between the second sheet and third sheet (or patient's body), creating a layered structure. The tear propagates through the interface between these nested layers, allowing removal of the outer sheet while maintaining the integrity and sterility of the inner sheets that remain in contact with the surgical site.
2Ease of operation
If additional tools such as scissors are used to remove the drape, then the drape can be removed from around surgical equipment, but the surgical equipment may be disturbed
Solution Approach 1:
The removal function is extracted from the surgical equipment interaction zone. The tear initiation notches are positioned at the periphery of the drape, away from the surgical site and equipment, allowing the tear to propagate and the drape to be removed from the periphery inward without tools needing to contact or disturb the surgical equipment at the fenestration.
Solution Approach 2:
The drape structure itself provides the removal mechanism through the weak interface and notch initiation points. The tear propagates automatically along the predetermined path between the sheets once initiated, eliminating the need for external tools or manual manipulation that could disturb surgical equipment.
3Ease of operation
If score lines are formed in securing tape to allow linear tearing, then the tape can be torn along its length, but the tape becomes unstable and easily prone to unintentional tearing when the drape is manipulated
Solution Approach 1:
The weak interface is prepared in advance between the sheets along the desired tear path, but the actual tear is not created until a notch is intentionally formed at the periphery. The notches serve as controlled initiation points that trigger the tear only when deliberately created, preventing unintentional tearing during normal drape manipulation while still enabling easy removal when needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical drape having a tearable first sheet, the first sheet including at least one notch disposed at a periphery of the first sheet and an imperforate portion extending from the at least one notch to at least one fenestration, wherein tearing the first sheet via the at least one notch creates a linear tear line extending along the imperforate portion from the at least one notch to the at least one fenestration. The fenestration may be included in the first sheet. The drape may also include a second sheet, wherein the second sheet comprises the fenestration, wherein a cut extends from a periphery of the second sheet to the fenestration in the second sheet, wherein the first sheet is affixed a surface of the second sheet and extends along a length of and overlapping the cut, and wherein the notch is aligned with the cut.