Surgical Incise Drapes and Methods for Their Application

Abstract

A surgical incise drape of the invention comprises: an essentially transparent or translucent extensible film having opposite first and second major surfaces and opposite first and second side edges; a pressure-sensitive adhesive adhered to at least a major portion of the first major surface of the extensible film; an extensible carrier removably adhered to the second major surface of the extensible film and extending past the first and second side edges of the extensible film to provide gripping portions for facilitating wrinkle-free application of the drape to a patient; and, optionally, a release liner adhered to the pressure-sensitive adhesive opposite the extensible film. Methods of applying such surgical incise drapes to a surgical site on a patient's body are also disclosed.

1 . A surgical incise drape comprising:
 an essentially transparent or translucent extensible film having opposite first and second major surfaces and opposite first and second side edges;   a pressure-sensitive adhesive adhered to at least a major portion of the first major surface of the extensible film;   an extensible carrier removably adhered across the entire second major surface of the extensible film and extending past the first and second side edges of the extensible film to provide gripping portions for facilitating wrinkle-free application of the drape to a patient; and   optionally, a release liner adhered to the pressure-sensitive adhesive opposite the extensible film.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical incise drape of  claim 1 , wherein the extensible carrier has a thickness of at least about 15 μm. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical incise drape of  claim 1 , wherein the extensible carrier comprises a material having at least about 10% elongation when tested according to according to ASTM D412. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical incise drape of  claim 1 , wherein the extensible carrier comprises a material having at least about 25% elongation when tested according to ASTM D412. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical incise drape of  claim 1 , wherein the extensible carrier comprises a material having at least about 50% elongation when tested according to ASTM D412. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical incise drape of  claim 1 , wherein the extensible carrier comprises a polyolefin. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical incise drape of  claim 1 , wherein the extensible film is polyurethane-based. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical incise drape of  claim 1 , wherein the extensible film comprises a material having at least about 10% elongation when tested according to according to ASTM D412. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical incise drape of  claim 1 , wherein the extensible film comprises a material having at least about 25% elongation when tested according to ASTM D412. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical incise drape of  claim 1 , wherein the extensible film comprises a material having at least about 50% elongation when tested according to ASTM D412. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical incise drape of  claim 1 , wherein the extensible carrier is essentially transparent or translucent. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical incise drape of  claim 1 , wherein the drape comprises the release liner. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical incise drape of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one rigid tab positioned along each of opposite sides of the surgical incise drape. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical incise drape of  claim 13 , wherein each rigid tab is positioned between the pressure-sensitive adhesive and the optional release liner. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical incise drape of  claim 13 , wherein the rigid tabs extend substantially the entire length of the opposite sides of the surgical incise drape. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical incise drape of  claim 13 , wherein a series of spaced-apart rigid tabs is positioned on opposite sides of the surgical incise drape. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical incise drape of  claim 13 , wherein the rigid tabs are opaque. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical incise drape of  claim 13 , wherein the rigid tabs further comprise an outwardly exposed adhesive. 
     
     
         19 . A method of applying a surgical incise drape to a surgical site on a patient's body, the method comprising steps of:
 providing the surgical incise drape of  claim 1 ;   optionally, disinfecting the surgical site on the patient's body;   if present, removing the optional release liner adhered to the pressure-sensitive adhesive;   gripping the extensible carrier on the gripping portions adjacent first and second side edges of the extensible film;   positioning the surgical incise drape over the surgical site on the patient's body with the pressure-sensitive adhesive directed toward the surgical site on the patient's body;   applying pressure to the extensible carrier along the surgical incise drape beginning at a point where a surgical incision is to be made on the patient's body; and   conformably adhering the surgical incise drape over the patient's body using the gripping portions.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of removing the extensible carrier from the extensible film after the surgical incise drape is adhered to the surgical site on the patient's body. 
     
     
         21 . A surgical incise drape comprising:
 an essentially transparent or translucent extensible film having opposite first and second major surfaces and opposite first and second side edges;   a pressure-sensitive adhesive adhered to at least a major portion of the first major surface of the extensible film;   an extensible carrier removably adhered to the second major surface of the extensible film essentially only along its perimeter and extending past the first and second side edges of the extensible film to provide gripping portions for facilitating wrinkle-free application of the drape to a patient; and   optionally, a release liner adhered to the pressure-sensitive adhesive opposite the extensible film.