A device for providing a sterile limited space for surgery

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for establishing and maintaining a sterile environment for conducting surgical procedures. In particular, the invention is related to a tent-like device providing an interior space and being attachable to a patient's skin to allow surgical treatment of the patient. Several aspects of the invention are directed to devices to be used in connection with such a surgical procedure using the tent-like device. According to the invention, an isolation device for providing a sterile operation chamber above a skin region of a patient is provided, in particular for performing a surgical procedure, said isolation device comprising an inflatable bag coupled to a support frame, the support frame having a transport configuration and an operation configuration, wherein in the transport configuration, the first inflatable bag is confined, such as to have compact dimensions; in the operation configuration, the first inflatable bag is extended, such as to form said sterile operation chamber.

1 . An assisting device for donning and removing a surgical glove, comprising:
 at least one fluid-tight wall arrangement encompassing an inner space having a volume of such a size that at least a palm portion and finger portions of the surgical glove can be arranged in the space; and   an opening adapted to sealingly engage a cuff portion of the surgical glove if the palm portion and the finger portions are arranged in the space;   wherein the fluid tight wall arrangement is adapted to be transformed from a first configuration into a second configuration and vice-versa, wherein in the first configuration the inner space has a first inner volume, and in the second configuration, the inner space has a second inner volume, wherein the first volume is smaller than the second volume.   
     
     
         2 . The assisting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall arrangement comprises at least one flexible wall section, and wherein in the first configuration the flexible wall section has a first shape, thus defining the first inner volume, and in the second configuration the flexible wall section has a second shape, thus defining the second inner volume. 
     
     
         3 . The assisting device according to  claim 2 , wherein the flexible wall section is biased into the first shape or the flexible wall section is biased into the second shape. 
     
     
         4 . The assisting device according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a second flexible wall section, wherein the second flexible wall section is coupled to the first flexible wall section along two opposed edges of the first and second flexible wall sections, wherein in the first configuration the first and second flexible wall sections form a flat pocket-like geometry with the first inner space being inside the pocket and in the second configuration the first and second wall section are bent outward to both form outer convex surfaces.   
     
     
         5 . The assisting device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the fluid-tight wall arrangement comprises a first tube segment and a second tube segment, the second tube segment being slidable attached to the first ring segment so as to form a telescope-like arrangement, wherein the second tube segment can be displaced in a fluid-tight sealing engagement towards an outer surface of the first tube segment and the second ring segment can be displaced onto the first ring segment in an axial direction from the first configuration into the second configuration, and   in the first configuration the total length in the axial direction of the fluid tight wall arrangement comprised of the first and second ring segment is shorter than in the second configuration.   
     
     
         6 . The assisting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid-tight wall arrangement comprises an elastic tube segment which can be elastically deformed from an elliptic cross-sectional shape in the first configuration to a circular cross-sectional shape in the second configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The assisting device according to  claim 1 , wherein a fluid-tight seal is provided for providing the sealing engagement of the opening and the cuff portion, the fluid tight seal comprising a strap having an outer ring, an inner ring and at least one snap ring; and
 wherein the at least one snap ring is adapted to secure the cuff portion of the surgical glove between an inner surface of the outer ring and an outer surface of the inner ring, the outer ring having an outer surface which can be partially inserted into the opening to sealingly engage the opening.   
     
     
         8 . Assisting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner space comprises a first region adjacent to the opening and adapted to accommodate the palm portion of the surgical glove and a second region adjacent to the first region and adapted to accommodate the finger portions of the surgical glove; and
 wherein in the first region the wall arrangement restricts the elastic stretching of the glove in the second configuration such that the palm region is stretched to an extent of less than 150%, and the elastic stretching is restricted by a contact of an inner surface of the wall arrangement to the surgical glove in the first region.   
     
     
         9 . The assisting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid-tight wall arrangement is elastically deformed without an external vacuum source. 
     
     
         10 . The assisting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the assisting device is disposable. 
     
     
         11 . The assisting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the assisting device is disposed within an isolation device for providing a sterile operation chamber above a skin region of a patient, the isolation device comprising a first inflatable bag delimiting the sterile operation chamber against an ambient environment, a first and a second access opening to allow a user to insert a first and a second arm into the operation chamber, a chamber operation opening to allow access to the skin region of the patient out of the operation chamber, and a window for observing handling operations inside the sterile operation chamber;
 wherein the first inflatable bag is coupled to a support frame, the support frame having a transport configuration and an operation configuration, and wherein in the transport configuration, the first inflatable bag is confined, such as to have compact dimensions, and in the operation configuration, the first inflatable bag is extended, such as to form the sterile operation chamber; and   wherein the support frame comprises hollow support frame members having at least one connector for introducing a fluid material into the support frame members; and   a. in the transport configuration, the support frame members are deflated and slack and in the operation configuration the support frame members are inflated to a pressurized state such that the support members are rigid, or   b. in the transport configuration, the support frame members are deflated and slack and in the operation configuration a curable liquid is inserted into the support frame member, the curable liquid being cured to a hardened condition.   
     
     
         12 . The assisting device of  claim 11 , wherein the assisting device can be used inside the inflatable bag arranged above a surgical site on a patient's skin and is completely independent from any pressure or vacuum condition inside such inflatable bag. 
     
     
         13 . The assisting device of  claim 11 , wherein the assisting device is a disposable device equipped with one glove and is provided inside a pre-packed package within the inflatable bag to allow a surgeon to take off a glove provided inside the assisting device without the need for any help by an assisting personal or the like. 
     
     
         14 . An assisting device for donning and removing a surgical glove, comprising:
 at least one fluid-tight wall arrangement, encompassing an inner space having a volume of such a size that at least a palm portion and finger portions of the surgical glove can be arranged in the space; and   an opening adapted to sealingly engage a cuff portion of the surgical glove if the palm portion and the finger portions are arranged in the space;   wherein the fluid tight wall arrangement is adapted to be transformed from a first configuration into a second configuration and vice-versa, such that in the first configuration the inner space has a first inner volume, and in the second configuration, the inner space has a second inner volume, wherein the first volume is smaller than the second volume;   wherein the fluid-tight wall arrangement comprises a first tube segment and a second tube segment, the second tube segment being slidable attached to a first ring segment to form a telescope-like arrangement, wherein the second tube segment can be slid in a fluid-tight sealing engagement towards an outer surface of the first tube segment; and   wherein the second ring segment can be slid onto the first ring segment in an axial direction from the first configuration into the second configuration, and in the first configuration the total length in the axial direction of the fluid tight wall arrangement comprised of the first and second ring segment is shorter than in the second configuration.   
     
     
         15 . The assisting device according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the wall arrangement comprises at least one flexible wall section, and wherein in the first configuration the flexible wall section has a first shape, thus defining the first inner volume; and in the second configuration the flexible wall section has a second shape, thus defining the second inner volume.   
     
     
         16 . The assisting device according to  claim 15 , wherein
 the flexible wall section is biased into one of the first shape, or the second shape.   
     
     
         17 . The assisting device according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a second flexible wall section, wherein the second flexible wall section is coupled to the first flexible wall section along two opposed edges of the first and second flexible wall sections, wherein in the first configuration the first and second flexible wall sections form a flat pocket-like geometry with the first inner space being inside the pocket and in the second configuration the first and second wall section are bent outward to both form outer convex surfaces.   
     
     
         18 . The assisting device according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the fluid-tight wall arrangement comprises an elastic tube segment which can be elastically deformed from an elliptic cross-sectional shape in the first configuration to a circular cross-sectional shape in the second configuration.   
     
     
         19 . The assisting device according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 a fluid-tight seal provides the sealing engagement of the opening and the cuff portion; and   the fluid tight seal comprises a strap having an outer ring, an inner ring and at least one snap ring, wherein the at least one snap ring is adapted to secure the cuff portion of the surgical glove between an inner surface of the outer ring and an outer surface of the inner ring, and the outer ring having an outer surface which can be partially inserted into the opening to sealingly engage the opening.   
     
     
         20 . The assisting device according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the inner space comprises a first region adjacent to the opening and adapted to accommodate the palm portion of the surgical glove and a second region adjacent to the first region and adapted to accommodate the finger portions of the surgical glove; and   wherein in the first region the wall arrangement restricts the elastic stretching of the glove in the second configuration such that the palm region is stretched to an extent of less than 125%, and the elastic stretching is restricted by a contact of an inner surface of the wall arrangement to the surgical glove in the first region.