Surgical drape having improved retaining means

Claim 2

A surgical drape comprising a main sheet of flexible, drapable material, said main sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of opposed side edges; a reinforcing panel secured to the upper surface of said main sheet, said reinforcing panel having a first end edge, a second end edge, and a pair of opposed side edges; and a retainer member secured in hinge-like fashion to said drape, said retainer member comprising an elongated strip of generally flexible material and having a length equal to the distance between said first end edge of said reinforcing panel and said second end edge of said reinforcing panel.

Claim 3

A surgical drape according to claim 1 wherein the top and bottom edges of said main sheet are shorter than the opposed side edges of said main sheet and said retainer member is parallel to the opposed side edges of the main sheet.

Claim 4

A surgical drape according to claim 2 wherein said retainer member is secured to the drape in the area defined by said reinforcing panel.

Claim 5

A surgical drape according to claim 3 wherein said retainer member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a plastic film, a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric, and a liquid absorbent material laminated to a polymeric film.

Claim 6

A surgical drape according to claim 4 wherein said reinforcing panel and said retainer member comprise a single piece of material.

Claim 7

A surgical drape according to claim 5 wherein said single piece of material comprises a liquid absorbent material laminated to a polymeric film, said polymeric film portion of said laminated being secured to the upper surface of said main sheet.

Claim 8

A surgical drape according to claim 5 wherein said retainer member is positioned between the opposed side edges of the reinforcing panel.

Claim 9

A surgical drape according to claim 7 wherein said single piece of material comprises a liquid absorbent material laminated to a polymeric film, said liquid absorbent material facing outwardly when the drape is in use.

Claim 10

A surgical drape according to claim 7 further comprising a second retainer member parallel to the opposed side edges of the main sheet and being positioned between said first retainer member and one of said opposed side edges of said reinforcing panel.

Claim 11

A surgical drape according to claim 9 wherein said same piece of material comprises a liquid absorbent material laminated to a polymeric film, said liquid absorbent material facing outwardly when the drape is in use.

Claim 12

A surgical drape according to claim 10 further comprising at least one fenestration positioned between said two retainer members.

Claim 13

A surgical drape comprising a main sheet of flexible, drapable material, said main sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of opposed side edges, said top and bottom edges being shorter than said opposed side edges; a reinforcing panel secured to the upper surface of said main sheet, said reinforcing panel being smaller than said main sheet and having a first end edge, a second end edge, and a pair of opposed side edges, the first and second end edges of said reinforcing panel being shorter than the opposed side edges of said reinforcing panel and the opposed side edges of said reinforcing panel being parallel to the opposed side edges of said main sheet; and a retainer member secured in hinge-like fashion to said drape, said retainer member comprising an elongated strip of generally flexible material extending from said first end edge of said reinforcing panel to said second end edge of said reinforcing panel and being positioned between the opposed side edges of said reinforcing panel.

Claim 14

A surgical drape comprising a main sheet of flexible, drapable material, said main sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of opposed side edges, said top and bottom edges being shorter than said opposed side edges; a reinforcing panel secured to the upper surface of said main sheet, said reinforcing panel being smaller than said main sheet and having a first end edge, a second end edge, and a pair of opposed side edges, the first and second end edges of said reinforcing panel being shorter than the opposed side edges of said reinforcing panel and the opposed side edges of said reinforcing panel being parallel to the opposed side edges of said main sheet; and a retainer member secured in hinge-like fashion to said drape, said retainer member comprising an elongated strip of generally flexible material extending from said first end edge of said reinforcing panel to said second end edge of said reinforcing panel and being positioned between the opposed side edges of said reinforcing panel.

Claim 15

A surgical drape according to claim 12 wherein said reinforcing panel and said retainer member comprise a single sheet of material and said single sheet of material comprises a liquid absorbent material laminated to a polymeric film.

Claim 16

A surgical drape according to claim 13 wherein the polymeric film portion of said laminate is secured to the upper surface of said main sheet.

Claim 17

A surgical drape according to claim 12 comprising two retainer members, said reinforcing panel and said two retainer members comprising a single piece of material, said single piece of material comprising a liquid absorbent material laminated to a polymeric film.

Claim 18

A surgical drape according to claim 15 wherein the polymeric film portion of said laminate is secured to the upper surface of said main sheet.

Claim 19

A surgical drape according to claim 16 further comprising at least one fenestration positioned between said two retainer members.

Claim 20

A surgical drape comprising a main sheet of flexible, drapable material, said main sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end edge, a second end edge, and a pair of opposed side edges; a reinforcing panel secured to the upper surface of said main sheet and having a first end edge, a second end edge, and a pair of opposed side edges, the opposed side edges of said reinforcing panel being parallel to the opposed side edges of said main sheet; and a retainer member comprising an elongated strip of generally flexible material attached in hinge-like fashion to said reinforcing panel, said retainer member being parallel to said opposed side edges of said main sheet and extending from said first end edge of said reinforcing panel to said second end edge of said reinforcing panel.

Claim 21

A surgical drape comprising a main sheet of flexible, drapable material, said main sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end edge, a second end edge, and a pair of opposed side edges; a reinforcing panel secured to the upper surface of said main sheet and having a first end edge, a second end edge, and a pair of opposed side edges, the opposed side edges of said reinforcing panel being parallel to the opposed side edges of said main sheet; and a retainer member comprising an elongated strip of generally flexible material attached in hinge-like fashion to said reinforcing panel, said retainer member being parallel to said opposed side edges of said main sheet and extending from said first end edge of said reinforcing panel to said second end edge of said reinforcing panel.

Claim 22

In a surgical drape comprising a main sheet of flexible drapable material and means to which elongated elements such as suction tubing and electrical wires may be attached and thereby retained in desired position on said drape, the improvement wherein said means comprises an elongated strip of generally flexible material secured to said main sheet in hinge-like fashion whereby, during use, said means may be disposed in an upstanding position which is more or less perpendicular to the plane of said main sheet.

Claim 23

In a surgical drape comprising a main sheet of flexible drapable material and means to which elongated elements such as suction tubing and electrical wires may be attached and thereby retained in desired position on said drape, the improvement wherein said means comprises an elongated strip of generally flexible material secured to said main sheet in hinge-like fashion whereby, during use, said means may be disposed in an upstanding position which is more or less perpendicular to the plane of said main sheet.

Claim 24

A surgical drape according to claim 19 wherein said strip of generally flexible material comprises a nonwoven fabric.

Claim 25

In a surgical drape comprising a main sheet of flexible drapable material, a fenestration having at least one edge, and means to which elongated elements such as suction tubing and electrical wires may be attached and thereby retained in desired position on said drape, the improvement wherein said means comprises an elongated strip of generally flexible material secured to said main sheet in hinge-like fashion whereby, during use, said means may be disposed in generally upstanding position which is more or less perpendicular to the plane of said main sheet; said means having a length which is substantially equal to the length of said one edge.

Claim 26

In a surgical drape comprising a main sheet of flexible drapable material, a fenestration having at least one edge, and means to which elongated elements such as suction tubing and electrical wires may be attached and thereby retained in desired position on said drape, the improvement wherein said means comprises an elongated strip of generally flexible material secured to said main sheet in hinge-like fashion whereby, during use, said means may be disposed in generally upstanding position which is more or less perpendicular to the plane of said main sheet; said means having a length which is substantially equal to the length of said one edge.

Claim 27

A surgical drape according to claim 20 wherein said strip of generally flexible material comprises a nonwoven fabric.

Claim 28

A surgical drape comprising a main sheet of flexible, drapable material, said main sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of opposed side edges; a reinforcing panel secured to the upper surface of said main sheet; said drape having a fenestration located within the perimeter of said reinforcing panel, said fenestration being defined by at least one interior edge of the drape; and a retainer member secured in hinge-like fashion to said drape and comprising an elongated strip of generally flexible material, said retainer member having a length substantially equal to the length of said interior edge.

Claim 29

A surgical drape comprising a main sheet of flexible, drapable material, said main sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of opposed side edges; a reinforcing panel secured to the upper surface of said main sheet; said drape having a fenestration located within the perimeter of said reinforcing panel, said fenestration being defined by at least one interior edge of the drape; and a retainer member secured in hinge-like fashion to said drape and comprising an elongated strip of generally flexible material, said retainer member having a length substantially equal to the length of said interior edge.

Claim 30

A surgical drape comprising a main sheet of flexible, drapable material, said main sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of opposed side edges; said top and bottom edges of said main sheet being shorter than the opposed side edges of said main sheet; a reinforcing panel secured to the upper surface of said main sheet, said reinforcing panel having a first end edge, a second end edge and a pair of opposed side edges; the first and second end edges of said reinforcing panel being shorter than said opposed side edges of said reinforcing panel, the opposed side edges of said reinforcing panel being generally parallel to the opposed side edges of said main sheet; a fenestration within the perimeter of said reinforcing panel, said fenestration being defined by a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of opposed side edges, the top and bottom edges defining said fenestration being shorter than the opposed side edges defining said fenestration, said opposed side edges defining said fenestration being generally parallel to the opposed side edges of said main sheet; and a retainer member secured in hinge-like fashion to said drape and comprising a strip of elongated, flexible material, said retainer member having a length at least substantially equal to the length of one of said opposed side edges defining said fenestration.

Claim 31

A surgical drape comprising a main sheet of flexible, drapable material, said main sheet having an upper surface, a lower surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of opposed side edges; said top and bottom edges of said main sheet being shorter than the opposed side edges of said main sheet; a reinforcing panel secured to the upper surface of said main sheet, said reinforcing panel having a first end edge, a second end edge and a pair of opposed side edges; the first and second end edges of said reinforcing panel being shorter than said opposed side edges of said reinforcing panel, the opposed side edges of said reinforcing panel being generally parallel to the opposed side edges of said main sheet; a fenestration within the perimeter of said reinforcing panel, said fenestration being defined by a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of opposed side edges, the top and bottom edges defining said fenestration being shorter than the opposed side edges defining said fenestration, said opposed side edges defining said fenestration being generally parallel to the opposed side edges of said main sheet; and a retainer member secured in hinge-like fashion to said drape and comprising a strip of elongated, flexible material, said retainer member having a length at least substantially equal to the length of one of said opposed side edges defining said fenestration.

Claim 32

A surgical drape according to claim 24 wherein said retainer member is secured to one of the edges defining said fenestration.

Claim 33

A surgical drape according to claim 24 wherein a retainer member is secured to each of the opposed side edges defining said fenestration.

Claim 36

A method according to claim 27 wherein two said looped portions are formed in said reinforcing panel.

Claim 39

A surgical drape according to claim 19 wherein said strip of generally flexible material comprises a plastic film.

Claim 40

A surgical drape according to claim 19 wherein said strip of generally flexible material comprises a liquid absorbent material laminated to a polymeric film.

Claim 41

A surgical drape according to claim 20 wherein said strip of generally flexible material comprises a plastic film.

Claim 42

A surgical drape according to claim 20 wherein said strip of generally flexible material comprises a liquid absorbent material laminated to a polymeric film.