Surgical Drape and Method Providing A Sterile Surface Therewith

Abstract

A surgical drape and method of providing a sterile surface therewith is provided. The drape is configured to cover at least a portion of an upper portion of a radiation shield and includes a flexible wall providing a cavity sized to receive the upper portion of the radiation shield. The flexible wall has a rear wall portion configured to cover at least in part a rear portion of the radiation shield and a front wall portion configured to cover a front portion of the radiation shield. The front wall portion extends to an upper front free edge and the rear wall portion extends to an upper rear free edge. A plurality of fasteners is attached to at least one of the front and rear wall portions to operably fix the drape to the radiation shield.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical drape configured to provide a sterile outer surface about an upper portion of a radiation shield of a radiation shield assembly, wherein the radiation shield extends vertically from a laterally extending uppermost end of the upper portion to a laterally extending lowermost end, comprising:
 a flexible wall providing a cavity sized to receive the upper portion of the radiation shield therein, said wall having a rear wall portion configured to cover at least part of a rear portion of said radiation shield and a front wall portion configured to cover at least part of a front portion of said radiation shield, said front wall portion extending between a lower front edge and an upper front free edge and said rear wall portion extending between a lower rear edge and an upper rear free edge, said upper front and rear free edges providing said wall with an open upper end; and   a plurality of fasteners attached to at least one of said front and said rear wall portions, at least one of said fasteners being adjacent at least one of said upper front free edge and said upper rear free edge and at least one said fasteners being intermediate at least one of said upper front and rear free edges and said lower front and rear edges, said fasteners being configured to releasably fix said wall to said radiation shield.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical drape of  claim 1  wherein said front wall portion and said rear wall portion each have at least one of said fasteners attached thereto. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical drape of  claim 1  wherein said front wall portion has a pair of pockets configured for receipt of substantially conforming portions of the radiation shield. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical drape of  claim 3  further including at least one fastener inside each of said pair of pockets, said at least one fastener being configured for attachment to said portions of the radiation shield. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical drape of  claim 3  wherein said pair of pockets form at least a portion of a circumferentially enclosed fenestration extending through said front and rear wall portions. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical drape of  claim 5  further including at least one elastic member gathering material of said wall in a radially outwardly direction to prevent said material from hanging loosely in said fenestration. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical drape of  claim 1  wherein said front wall portion has front wall side edges with an opening located generally centrally between said front wall side edges and said rear wall portion has rear wall side edges with an opening located centrally between said rear wall side edges, said openings in said front wall portion and said rear wall portion being aligned with one another to provide at least a portion of a fenestration. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical drape of  claim 7  wherein at least one of said fasteners is adjacent said fenestration. 
     
     
         9 . A method of providing a sterile surface on a suspended radiation shield assembly, the radiation shield assembly having a radiation shield extending vertically between a laterally extending lowermost end and a laterally extending uppermost end, comprising:
 providing a sterile flexible drape having a rear wall portion configured to cover at least in part a rear portion of the radiation shield and a front wall portion configured to cover a front portion of the radiation shield, the front wall portion extending to an upper front free edge and the rear wall portion extending to an upper rear free edge, with a plurality of fasteners attached to the drape;   positioning the lowermost edge of the radiation shield in a sterile region above a non-sterile field;   positioning the flexible drape below the lowermost edge of the radiation shield within the sterile region and raising the drape along the radiation shield with the front wall portion on one side of the radiation shield and the rear wall portion on an opposite side of the radiation shield; and   operably attaching the flexible drape to the radiation shield with the plurality of fasteners while raising the drape.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further including releasably attaching the upper front free edge and the upper rear free edge to the radiation shield assembly with at least some of the plurality of fasteners. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further including providing the flexible drape in a folded configuration with portions of the drape attached to one another with tear tabs. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  further including providing the front wall portion with a pair of pockets with each of the pockets being configured for receipt of substantially conforming portions of the radiation shield. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further including providing at least one fastener inside each of said pockets and attaching the at least one fasteners to portions of the radiation shield. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  further including providing an opening in each of the front wall portion and the rear wall portion with the openings in the front and rear wall portions being configured for alignment with one another. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further including extending a tubular member between the openings in the front and rear wall portions.