Reflective surgical drape
Abstract
A new, lightweight reflective surgical drape which is effective in reducing the rate of heat loss in human patients during a variety of surgical procedures is disclosed. The drape comprises a core layer of non-conductive aluminum and a first and second adjacent layer of a thermoplastic material. A non-woven layer of absorbent material is attached to either the first or second adjacent layer of thermoplastic material. In a preferred embodiment, the drape of the present invention comprises a first layer of non-conductive aluminum and a second layer of a thermoplastic material. A third layer of non-woven absorbent material is attached to the first layer of non-conductive aluminum.
Claims
exact text as granted — not AI-modifiedWhat is claimed is:
1. A reflective surgical drape for covering a surgical patient and reducing heat loss from the patient's body during and after a surgical procedure, comprising: (a) .[.a.]. .Iadd.an electrically .Iaddend.non-conductive core layer of aluminum; (b) a first and second adjacent layer of a thermoplastic material; and (c) a non-woven layer of absorbent material attached to said first adjacent layer.Iadd.; wherein said drape is non-perforated.Iaddend..
2. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 1, wherein said non-conductive core layer of aluminum is vacuum deposited to said first adjacent layer of a thermoplastic material.
3. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 2, wherein said vacuum deposited non-conductive core layer of aluminum has a thickness of from 270 Å to 330 Å.
4. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 3, wherein said vacuum deposited non-conductive core layer of aluminum has a thickness of 300 Å.
5. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 1, wherein said thermoplastic material of said first adjacent layer and said second adjacent layer is selected from the group consisting of low-density polyethylene, medium-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester or polybutylene.
6. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 5, wherein said thermoplastic material of said first adjacent layer and said second adjacent layer is low-density polyethylene.
7. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 1, wherein said first adjacent layer and said second adjacent layer each have a thickness of from 0.00120 to 0.00130 mils.
8. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 7, wherein said first adjacent layer and said second adjacent layer each have a thickness of 0.00125 mils.
9. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 2, wherein said second adjacent layer of a thermoplastic material is laminated with an adhesive to said non-conductive core layer of aluminum.
10. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 9, wherein said adhesive is acrylic and moisture proof.
11. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 1, wherein said non-woven layer of absorbent material is one or a blend of cotton, polyester, rayon, polypropylene or cellulose.
12. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 11, wherein said non-woven layer has a thickness of from 0.0015 to 0.040 mils.
13. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 12, wherein said non-woven layer has a thickness of from 0.014 to 0.016 mils.
14. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 11, wherein said non-woven layer of absorbent material is attached with a adhesive to said first adjacent layer.
15. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 14, wherein said adhesive is acrylic and moisture proof.
16. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 1, wherein a selected length of said drape is fashioned to be closely received about at least a portion of the body of the patient during the surgical procedure.
17. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 16, wherein said selected length of said drape is fashioned as a blanket which is wrapped closely about the torso of a patient undergoing a surgical procedure.
18. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 16, wherein said selected length of said drape is fashioned as a cap which serves as a head covering for a patient undergoing a surgical procedure.
19. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 16, wherein said selected length of said drape is fashioned as a limb covering for a patient undergoing a surgical procedure, said limb covering comprising a cylindrically-shaped length of said drape having an open end for receiving the patient's limb and an opposite closed end.
20. A reflective surgical drape for covering a surgical patient and reducing heat loss from the patient's body during and after a surgical procedure, comprising: (a) .[.a.]. .Iadd.an electrically .Iaddend.non-conductive first layer of aluminum; (b) a second layer of a thermoplastic material attached to said non-conductive first layer of aluminum; and (c) a third layer of non-woven absorbent material attached to said non-conductive first layer of aluminum.Iadd.; wherein said drape is non-perforated.Iaddend..
21. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 20, wherein said non-conductive first layer of aluminum is vacuum deposited to said second layer of a thermoplastic material.
22. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 21, wherein said vacuum deposited non-conductive layer of aluminum has a thickness of from 270 Å to 330 Å.
23. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 22, wherein said vacuum deposited non-conductive layer of aluminum has a thickness of 300 Å.
24. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 20, wherein said thermoplastic material of said second layer is selected from the group consisting of low-density polyethylene, medium-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester or polybutylene.
25. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 24, wherein said thermoplastic material of said second layer is low-density polyethylene.
26. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 20, wherein said second layer has a thickness of from 0.00120 to 0.00130 mils.
27. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 26, wherein said second layer has a thickness of 0.00125 mils.
28. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 20, wherein said non-woven layer of absorbent material is one or a blend of cotton, polyester, rayon, polypropylene or cellulose.
29. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 28, wherein said non-woven layer has a thickness of from 0.0015 to 0.040 mils.
30. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 29, wherein said non-woven layer has a thickness of from 0.014 to 0.016 mils.
31. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 28, wherein said non-woven layer of absorbent material is attached with an adhesive to said second layer of a thermoplastic material.
32. A reflective surgical drape according to claim 31, wherein said adhesive is acrylic and moisture-proof.
33. A reflective surgical drape for covering a surgical patient and reducing heat loss from the patient's body during and after a surgical procedure, comprising: (a) .[.a.]. .Iadd.an electrically .Iaddend.non-conductive first layer of aluminum; (b) a second layer of a thermoplastic material attached to said non-conductive first layer of aluminum; and (c) a third layer of non-woven absorbent material attached to said non-conductive first layer of aluminum; wherein said reflective surgical drape has a resistance of at least one megaohm.Iadd.; and wherein said drape is nonperforated.Iaddend.. .Iadd.
34. A reflective surgical drape for covering a surgical patient and reducing heat loss from the patient's body during and after a surgical procedure, comprising: (a) an electrically non-conductive core layer of aluminum; (b) a first and second adjacent layer of a thermoplastic material; and (c) a non-woven layer of absorbent material attached to said first adjacent layer; wherein said non-woven layer of absorbent material is attached with an adhesive to said first adjacent layer of a thermoplastic material. .Iaddend. .Iadd.35. A reflective surgical drape for covering a surgical patient and reducing heat loss from the patient's body during and after a surgical procedure, comprising: (a) an electrically non-conductive first layer of aluminum; (b) a second layer of a thermoplastic material attached to said non-conductive first layer of aluminum; and (c) a third layer of non-woven absorbent material attached to said non-conductive first layer of aluminum; wherein said layer of non-woven absorbent material is attached with an
adhesive to said layer of aluminum. .Iaddend. .Iadd.36. A reflective surgical drape for covering a surgical patient and reducing heat loss from the patient's body during and after a surgical procedure, comprising: (a) an electrically non-conductive first layer of aluminum; (b) a second layer of a thermoplastic material attached to said non-conductive first layer of aluminum; and (c) a third layer of non-woven absorbent material attached to said non-conductive first layer of aluminum; wherein said reflective surgical drape has a resistance of at least one megaohm; and wherein said non-woven layer of absorbent material is attached with an adhesive to said first adjacent layer of a thermoplastic material. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37. A reflective surgical drape for covering a surgical patient and reducing heat loss from the patient's body during and after a surgical procedure, consisting of: (a) an electrically non-conductive core layer of aluminum; (b) a first and second adjacent layer of a thermoplastic material; and (c) a non-woven layer of absorbent material attached to said first adjacent
layer. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38. A reflective surgical drape for covering a surgical patient and reducing heat loss from the patient's body during and after a surgical procedure, consisting of: (a) an electrically non-conductive first layer of aluminum; (b) a second layer of a thermoplastic material integrally attached to said non-conductive first layer of aluminum; and (c) a third layer of non-woven absorbent material integrally attached to said non-conductive first layer of aluminum. .Iaddend. .Iadd.39. A reflective surgical drape for covering a surgical patient and reducing heat loss from the patient's body during and after a surgical procedure, consisting of: (a) an electrically non-conductive first layer of aluminum; (b) a second layer of a thermoplastic material attached to said non-conductive first layer of aluminum; and (c) a third layer of non-woven absorbent material attached to said non-conductive first layer of aluminum; wherein said reflective surgical drape has a resistance of at least one megaohm. .Iaddend.Cited by (0)
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