Trapezoidal Surgical Incise Drape for Wrinkle-Free Shoulder Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Surgical-site infections are prevalent due to the difficulty in draping contoured areas like the shoulder, leading to inadequate disinfection and bacterial introduction, exacerbated by the increasing antibiotic resistance.

Innovation Solution

A trapezoidal-shaped surgical incise drape with an antimicrobial adhesive composition and delivery systems to prevent wrinkling, ensuring thorough disinfection and coverage of the shoulder area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a standard square or rectangular surgical incise drape is used, then the drape can be easily manufactured and stored, but it wrinkles, creases, or folds onto itself when draping contoured areas like the arm, creating gaps that prevent thorough disinfection and allow bacterial introduction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisinfection efficacyVSAvoiddraping difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical incise drape is designed with a curved configuration that matches the anatomical contours of the patient's body, specifically the shoulder and arm regions. This curvature allows the drape to conform to the body surface without wrinkling or creasing, eliminating gaps that would compromise disinfection efficacy while maintaining ease of application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Reliability

If the surgical incise drape is made to conform to contoured areas, then disinfection efficacy is improved, but the drape shape becomes more complex and may be harder to manufacture and store

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisinfection efficacyVSAvoiddrape fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The drape design incorporates specific dimensional parameters and curvature radii that are optimized for common anatomical contours. By standardizing these parameters for different body regions, the drape achieves contoured conformity for improved disinfection while maintaining manufacturability through repeatable fabrication processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the surgical incise drape uses adhesive composition for securing, then the drape stays in place and maintains skin contact for continuous disinfection, but the adhesive may cause skin irritation or allergic reactions in some patients

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrape stabilityVSAvoidskin irritation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive composition is applied selectively to specific regions of the drape where secure attachment is needed, rather than covering the entire surface. This localized application maintains drape stability and continuous skin contact for disinfection while minimizing the total adhesive exposure to the patient's skin, thereby reducing the risk of irritation or allergic reactions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

The trapezoidal design and delivery systems enhance application control, reducing the risk of infection by maintaining skin contact and preventing creasing, thus enhancing disinfection efficacy.

Implementation Method 1

an antimicrobial adhesive composition including an antimicrobial agent and a pressure-sensitive adhesive

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAntimicrobial action:

Implementation Method 2

an antimicrobial adhesive composition including an antimicrobial agent and a pressure-sensitive adhesive

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure-sensitive adhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP4312861B1Surgical incise drape

Publication Date: 2026.02.18 SOLVENTUM INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES CO

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AI summary

Trapezoidal surgical incise drapes designed for shoulder surgery are described. Also described are methods of preparing trapezoidal surgical incise drapes and methods of using trapezoidal surgical incise drapes for shoulder surgery.