Surgical drape having a fluid collection pouch with an inflatable rim

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus used for collecting fluids during a medical procedure includes a fluid collection pouch having an open end, an inflatable bladder substantially surrounding a perimeter of the open end, and a pump coupled to the inflatable bladder. The pump is operable to inflate the inflatable bladder. According to another embodiment of the invention, an apparatus used for collecting fluids during a medical procedure includes a fluid collection pouch having an open end with a perimeter, a channel surrounding approximately one half of the perimeter of the open end, an inflatable bladder disposed within the channel, and a pump disposed within the channel and coupled to the inflatable bladder. The pump is operable to inflate the inflatable bladder.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method, comprising: 
 providing a fluid collection pouch having an open end, a channel extending around substantially all of a perimeter of the open end, and an inflatable bladder disposed within the channel;    inflating the inflatable bladder with a pump coupled to the inflatable bladder;    extending a limb of a patient through an aperture in a wall of the fluid collection pouch;    treating the limb; and    collecting fluids from the treatment of the limb in the fluid collection pouch.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising draining fluids from the fluid collection pouch.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein extending the limb of the patient through the aperture in the wall of the fluid collection pouch comprises extending a limb of a patient through opposed apertures in a wall of the fluid collection pouch.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising disposing the pump within the channel.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising disposing the pump outside of the channel.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus used for collecting fluids during a medical procedure, comprising: 
 a fluid collection pouch having an open end and formed with a channel surrounding a perimeter of the open end;    an inflatable bladder formed within the channel and substantially surrounding the perimeter of the open end; and    at least one pump disposed in the channel and coupled to the inflatable bladder, the pump operable to inflate the inflatable bladder.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the inflatable bladder comprises a plurality of inflatable bladders formed within the channel, the plurality of inflatable bladders, in conjunction with one another, substantially surrounding the perimeter of the open end.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising an aperture formed in a wall of the fluid collection pouch, the aperture adapted to accept a limb of a patient.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising opposed apertures formed in a wall of the fluid collection pouch, the apertures adapted to accept a limb of a patient.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a drainage port coupled to a wall of the fluid collection pouch for draining fluid from the fluid collection pouch.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the fluid collection pouch is generally cone-shaped.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the pump comprises an open cell foam disposed between two sheets of plastic.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein one of the sheets of plastic includes an aperture therein to allow ambient air to enter the open cell foam.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the pump is generally rectangular.  
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising: 
 providing a fluid collection pouch having an open end, a channel extending around approximately one half of a perimeter of the open end, an inflatable bladder formed within the channel, and a flap having an adhesive strip coupled to the other approximately one half of the perimeter of the open end;    inflating the inflatable bladder with a pump coupled to the inflatable bladder;    adhering the fluid collection pouch to a substrate via the adhesive strip such that the fluid collection pouch is positioned underneath a surgical area of a patient;    treating the surgical area; and    collecting fluids from the treatment of the surgical area in the fluid collection pouch.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising draining fluids from the fluid collection pouch.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising disposing the pump within the channel.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising disposing the pump outside of the channel.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein adhering the fluid collection pouch to a substrate comprises adhering the fluid collection pouch to a bed.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein adhering the fluid collection pouch to a substrate comprises adhering the fluid collection pouch to a drape.  
     
     
         21 . An apparatus used for collecting fluids during a medical procedure, comprising: 
 a fluid collection pouch having an open end with a perimeter;    a channel surrounding approximately one half of the perimeter of the open end;    an inflatable bladder formed within the channel; and    a pump disposed within the channel and coupled to the inflatable bladder, the pump operable to inflate the inflatable bladder.    
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the inflatable bladder comprises a plurality of inflatable bladders formed within the channel.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a drainage port coupled to a wall of the fluid collection pouch for draining fluid from the fluid collection pouch.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a flap surrounding the other approximately one half of the perimeter of the open end, the flap including an adhesive strip for coupling the apparatus to a bed.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the pump comprises an open cell foam disposed between two sheets of plastic.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein one of the sheets of plastic includes an aperture therein to allow ambient air to enter the open cell foam.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the pump is generally rectangular.  
     
     
         28 . A method, comprising: 
 providing a fluid collection pouch having an open end and an inflatable bladder extending around substantially all of a perimeter of the open end;    inflating the inflatable bladder with a pump coupled to the inflatable bladder;    positioning the fluid collection pouch underneath a surgical area of a patient; and    collecting fluids in the fluid collection pouch as a result of a treatment of the surgical area.    
     
     
         29 . An apparatus used for collecting fluids during a medical procedure, comprising: 
 a fluid collection pouch having an open end;    an inflatable bladder substantially surrounding the perimeter of the open end; and    a pump coupled to the inflatable bladder, the pump operable to inflate the inflatable bladder.    
     
     
         30 . An apparatus used for collecting fluid during a medical procedure, comprising: 
 a fluid collection pouch having an open end with a perimeter;    a channel surrounding a portion of the perimeter of the open end;    an inflatable bladder formed within the channel; and    a pump disposed within the channel and coupled to the inflatable bladder, the pump operable to inflate the inflatable bladder.