Method and Apparatus for Securing Surgical Instruments During Surgery

Abstract

A method and apparatus for detachably securing surgical instruments to a sterile field during surgery, comprising a sterile mat disposed on a specified zone of a sterile surgical drape which mat includes a surface having one constituent of a touch fastener, a plurality of surgical instruments each having secured thereto the opposing constituent of a touch fastener where, when one of the plurality of surgical instruments is dropped onto the mat it will be releasably held to the mat.

Claims

1. A method of effortlessly detachably securing surgical instruments to a sterile field during surgery, comprising the steps of; adhering a sterile mat comprising the first constituent of a touch fastener to a specified zone of a sterile surgical drape; applying a sterile strip comprising the second constituent of a touch fastener to a surgical instrument; and dropping the surgical instrument onto the mat.

2. The method of claim 1 where the matt comprises the hook element of a touch fastener.

3. The method of claim 2 where the strip comprises the loop element of a touch fastener.

4. The method of claim 3 where the surgical instrument includes tubing.

5. A method of effortlessly releasably securing surgical instruments to a sterile field during surgery, comprising the steps of: adhering a sterile mat comprising the hook element of a touch fastener to a specified zone of a sterile surgical drape; applying a sterile strip comprising the loop element of a touch fastener to a surgical instrument; and dropping the surgical instrument onto the mat.

6. An interactive assembly for securing the position of surgical instruments dropped onto a collection zone during a surgical procedure, comprising, a surgical drape having a zone for collecting and holding surgical instruments during a surgical procedure, at least one matt having first and second opposing sides where the second side includes the hook constituent of a hook and loop fastener and the first side is detachably attached to the holding zone of the surgical drape, a plurality of surgical instruments, a plurality of material strips each having first and second opposing sides where the second side includes the loop constituent of a hook and loop fastener and the first side is detachably attached to a portion of a respective one of the plurality of surgical instruments, where, when the respective one of the surgical instruments is dropped onto the matt, the respective one of the surgical instruments will be releasably adhered to the matt.

7. The assembly of claim 6 where the plurality of surgical instruments includes tubing.

8. The assembly of claim 6 where the plurality of surgical instruments includes electrical wiring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surgical patient partially covered with an overlying drape to which is attached a fabric mat, having a surface comprising the first constituent of a touch fastener, on which a number of surgical instruments are disposed each having attached thereto the second constituent of a touch fastener, releasably attaching the surgical instruments to the mat.

[0005] FIG. 2 illustrates the prior art system of pockets to temporarily hold surgical instruments during a surgical procedure.

[0006] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the mat and the releasably attached surgical instruments as shown in FIG. 1.

[0007] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the application of a surgical instrument being fitted with a fabric strip have loop components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] A fabric mat having the hook components of a touch fastener is either adhered to a surgical drape or incorporated into the drape. The mat is adapted to catch and releasably hold a surgical instrument when the instrument is dropped onto the mat, the instrument having the loop components of a touch fastener adhered thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates the prior art open ended pockets attached to the surgical drape 4 which partially covers a patient 2. A surgeon's hand 14 is shown withdrawing a surgical instrument 10 from one of the pockets.

[0010] Referring to FIG. 1, a surgical patient 2 is partially covered in the bodily area of the surgery with a sterile drape 4. Adhered to the drape by traditional means, or made integrally as part of the drape, is a mat 6 having a surface comprising the hook components 8 of a touch fastener. Releasably secured to the mat, by engagement of the loop components of a touch fastener, are a variety of surgical instruments 10 each having secured thereto a fabric strip containing the loop components 20 of a touch fastener. A surgeon's hand 14 is shown holding a surgical instrument 15a having adhered thereto a strip of fabric 18 having the loop components of a touch fastener. An arrow 17 indicates that the instrument 15a is being dropped onto the mat 6. The dropped instrument 15b is shown in dotted lines in position on the surface of the mat 6, its loop components 20 having been engaged by the hook components 8 of the mat 6. After dropping the instrument on the mat the surgeon may pick up a chosen different instrument from the variety of instruments 10 by merely pulling the chosen instrument from its releasable hook and loop connection to the mat.

[0011] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the mat 6 with the surgical instruments 10 adhered thereto through the connectivity of the respective touch fasteners. The instrument 15b has been dropped onto the mat 6 by the surgeon's hand 14, as indicated by arrow 17. FIG. 3 illustrates that not only may surgical instruments be secured to the mat 6, but so can such other items as tubing or wiring 27.

[0012] A large area fabric pad containing the loop components of a touch fastener can be cut into a number of different sized strips 18 to be applied to a surgical instrument or device 15a, as shown in FIG. 4. These adhesive loop component fabric strips, may or may not include radiopaque markers.