Abstract The invention relates to diffuser drapes and has a particularly useful application in such drapes as those used in surgical operations. Early experiments met with difficulties in providing a diffuser drape which would produce the necessary air patterns to keep the work surface clean and would not interfere with the regular activities of the operator. The diffuser drape comprises an apertured drape member with an inflatable clean air duct integral with the drape and surrounding the aperture. The clean air duct has a diffuser in it which surrounds the aperture and is shaped to diffuse low velocity clean air radially therethrough outwardly of the periphery and inwardly across the aperture from opposites sides thereof to produce a resultant flow away from the aperture. Two clean air inlets for the duct are provided on the underside of the drape member. The duct is preferably eliptical in shape and the inlets are sleeves which flare to merge tangentially into the duct.
A diffuser drape comprising: a. a drape member having a substantially elliptical aperature therein; b. inflatable clean air duct means of substantially elliptical shape integral with said drape and surrounding said aperture; c. diffuser means in said clean air duct means surrounding said aperture and shaped to diffuse, in operation, low velocity clean air radially through the diffuser means outwardly of the periphery thereof and inwardly across said aperture from opposite sides thereof to produce a resultant flow away therefrom; and d. at least two opposed clean air inlets for said clean air duct means on the underside of said drape member, which clean air inlets are sleeve means flared to merge substantially tangentially into said duct means and inclined at an angle of between 22* and 35* to the longitudinal axis of said aperture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A diffuser drape comprising: a. a drape member having a substantially elliptical aperature therein; b. inflatable clean air duct means of substantially elliptical shape integral with said drape and surrounding said aperture; c. diffuser means in said clean air duct means surrounding said aperture and shaped to diffuse, in operation, low velocity clean air radially through the diffuser means outwardly of the periphery thereof and inwardly across said aperture from opposite sides thereof to produce a resultant flow away therefrom; and d. at least two opposed clean air inlets for said clean air duct means on the underside of said drape member, which clean air inlets are sleeve means flared to merge substantially tangentially into said duct means and inclined at an angle of between 22* and 35* to the longitudinal axis of said aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A diffuser drape as claimed in claim 1 in which the air duct means is of a material which; in operation, diffuses a small amount of clean air radially therethrough in addition to the air through the diffuser means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A diffuser drape as claimed in claim 1 in which said sleeve means are inclined at an angle of 27* to the longitudinal axis of said aperture.