Sterilizable reflective surgical drape

Abstract

A sterilizable, lightweight reflective surgical drape which is effective in reducing the rate of heat loss in human patients and may be used to provide a sterile surgical environment and an effective barrier to bacterial migration throughout a surgical procedure. The drape has non-conductive metallized plastic sheeting and at least one of a layer of thermoplastic material and a layer of flexible non-woven sterilizable material. In a preferred embodiment, the drape of the present invention has a non-conductive first layer of aluminum and a second layer of a thermoplastic material. An optional third layer of a thermoplastic material is attached to the non-conductive first layer of aluminum. In another preferred embodiment, the drape of the present invention has a non-conductive first layer of aluminum and a second layer of flexible non-woven sterilizable material. An optional third layer of flexible non-woven sterilizable material is attached to the non-conductive first layer of aluminum.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A sterilizable reflective surgical drape for covering at least a portion of and reducing heat loss from a surgical patient's body, comprising: (a) .[.a.]. .Iadd.an electrically .Iaddend.non-conductive core layer of aluminum:   (b) a first thermoplastic material layer superposed on said core layer;   (c) a second thermoplastic material layer superposed on said core layer; and   (d) a layer of flexible non-woven sterilizable material superposed on said first thermoplastic material layer.   
     
     
       2. A sterilizable reflective surgical drape according to claim 1 wherein said non-conductive core layer of aluminum is non-continuous. 
     
     
       3. A sterilizable reflective surgical drape according to claim 1, wherein said non-conductive core layer of aluminum is vacuum deposited to said first thermoplastic material layer. 
     
     
       4. A sterilizable reflective surgical drape according to claim .[.3.]. .Iadd.4.Iaddend., wherein said vacuum deposited non-conductive aluminum has a thickness of from 270 Å to 330 Å. 
     
     
       5. A sterilizable reflective surgical drape according to claim .[.4.]. .Iadd.5.Iaddend., wherein said vacuum deposited non-conductive aluminum has a thickness of 300 Å. 
     
     
       6. A sterilizable reflective surgical drape according to claim .[.3.]. .Iadd.4.Iaddend., wherein said second thermoplastic material layer is laminated with an adhesive to said non-conductive core layer of aluminum. 
     
     
       7. A sterilizable reflective surgical drape according to claim .[.6.]. .Iadd.7.Iaddend., wherin said adhesive is acrylic and moisture proof. 
     
     
       8. A sterilizable reflective surgical drape according to claim 1, whereto said thermoplastic material of said first and second thermoplastic material layers is selected from the group consisting of low-density polyethylene, medium-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester and polybutylene. 
     
     
       9. A sterlizable reflective surgical drape according to claim .[.8.]. .Iadd.9.Iaddend., wherein said thermoplastic material of said first and second thermoplastic material layers is low-density polyethylene. 
     
     
       10. A steriliazble reflective surgical drape according to claim 1, whereto said first and second thermoplastic material layers each have a thickness of from 0.00120 to 0.00130 mils. 
     
     
       11. A sterilizable reflective surgical drape according to claim .[.10.]. .Iadd.11.Iaddend., whereto said first and second thermoplastic material layers each have a thickness of 0.0012 mils. 
     
     
       12. A sterilizable reflective according to claim 2, wherein said layer of flexible non-woven sterilizable material is nonabsorbent and nonpermeable. 
     
     
       13. A sterilizable reflective surgical drape according to claim 1, wherein said layer of flexible non-woven sterilizable material comprises a lightweight wet formed two-phase latex bonded non-woven fabric treated to impart water and alcohol repellency. 
     
     
       14. A sterilizable reflective surgical drape according to claim 1, whereto said layer of flexible non-woven sterilizable material is one or a blend of cotton, polyester, rayon, polypropylene or cellulose. 
     
     
       15. A sterilizable reflective surgical drape according to claim 14, wherein said layer of flexible non-woven sterilizable material has a thickness of from 0.0015 to 0.040 mils. 
     
     
       16. A sterilizable reflective surgical drape according to claim 15, wherein said layer of flexible non-woven sterilizable material has a thickness of from 0.014 to 0.016 mils. 
     
     
       17. A sterilizable reflective surgical drape according to claim 14, wherein said layer of flexible non-woven sterilizable material is attached with an adhesive to said first thermoplastic material layer. 
     
     
       18. A sterilizable reflective surgical drape according to claim 17, wherein said adhesive is acrylic and moisture proof. 
     
     
       19. A sterilizable reflective surgical drape for covering at least a portion of and reducing heat loss from a surgical patient's body, comprising: (a) .[.a.]. .Iadd.an electrically .Iaddend.non-conductive layer of aluminum;   (b) a thermoplastic material layer superposed on said non-conductive layer of aluminum; and   (c) a flexible non-woven sterilizable material layer superposed on said non-conductive layer of aluminum.   
     
     
       20. A sterilizable reflective surgical drape for covering at least a portion of and reducing heat loss from a surgical patient's body, comprising: (a) .[.a.]. .Iadd.an electrically .Iaddend.non-conductive layer of aluminum;   (b) a thermoplastic material layer superposed on said non-conductive layer of aluminum; and   (c) a flexible non-woven sterilizable material layer superposed on said thermoplastic material layer.   
     
     
       21. A sterilizable reflective surgical drape for covering at least a portion of and reducing heat loss from a surgical patient's body, comprising: (a) .[.anon-conductive.]. .Iadd.an electrically non-conductive .Iaddend.layer of aluminum; and   (b) a thermoplastic material layer superposed on said non-conductive layer of aluminum   (.Iadd.c) an additional thermoplastic material layer superposed on said non-conductive layer of aluminum.Iaddend.. .[.   
     
     
       22.  A sterilizable reflective surgical drape according to claim 21, further comprising: (c) an additional thermoplastic material layer superposed on said non-conductive layer of aluminum..]..[.23. A sterilizable reflective surgical drape for covering at least a portion of and reducing heat loss from a surgical patient's body, comprising:   (a) a non-conductive layer of aluminum; and   (b) a flexible non-woven sterilizable material layer superposed on said non-conductive layer of aluminum..]..[.24. A sterilizable reflective surgical drape according to claim 23, further comprising:   (c) an additional flexible non-woven sterilizable materiai layer superposed   
     
     
        on said non-conductive layer of aluminum..].25. A sterilizable reflective surgical drape for covering at least a portion of and reducing heat loss from a surgical patient's body, comprising: (a) .[.a.]. .Iadd.electrically .Iaddend.a non-conductive metallized plastic sheeting; .[.and.].   (b) a thermoplastic material layer superposed on said metallized plastic sheeting.Iadd.; and   (.Iadd.c) a flexible non-woven sterilizable material layer superposed on said thermoplastic material layer..Iaddend..[.26. A sterilizable reflective surgical drape according to claim 25, further comprising:   (c) a flexible non-woven sterilizable material layer superposed on said thermoplastic material layer..]..[.27. A sterilizable reflective surgical drape for covering at least a portion of and reducing heat loss from a surgical patient's body, comprising:   (a) non-conductive metallized plastic sheeting; and   (b) a flexible non-woven sterilizable material layer superposed on said metallized plastic sheeting..]..Iadd.28. A drape, comprising:   (a) a layer of aluminum having a first major surface and a second major surface;   (b) a first thermoplastic material layer superposed on said first major surface of said aluminum layer; and   (c) a second thermoplastic material layer superposed on said first thermoplastic material layer;   wherein said drape is electrically non-conductive and non-perforated.   
     
     
        .Iadd.9.  A drape according to claim 28, further comprising a layer of flexible non-woven sterilizable material superposed on said second major surface of said aluminum layer. .Iaddend..Iadd.30. A drape accordinq to claim 29, wherein said layer of flexible non-woven sterilizable material is attached with an adhesive to said aluminum layer. .Iadd.31. A drape according to claim 28, further comprising a layer of flexible non-woven sterilizable material superposed on said second thermoplastic material layer. .Iaddend..Iadd.32. A drape according to claim 31, wherein said layer of flexible non-woven sterilizable material is attached with an adhesive to said second thermoplastic material layer. .Iaddend..Iadd.33. A drape comprising: (a) a layer of aluminum having a first major surface and a secod major surface;   (b) a first thermoplastic material layer superposed on said first major surface of said aluminum layer; and   (c) a layer of flexible non-woven sterilizable material superposed on said first thermoplastic material layer;   wherein said drape is electrically non-conductive and non-perforated. .Iaddend..Iadd.34. A drape according to claim 33, wherein said layer of flexible non-woven sterilizable material is attached with an adhesive to said first thermoplastic material layer. .Iaddend..Iadd.35. A drape comprising:   (a) a layer of aluminum having a first major surface and a second major surface;   (b) a first thermoplastic material layer superposed on said first major surface of said aluminum layer; and   (c) a layer of flexible non-woven sterilizable material superposed on said second major surface of said aluminum layer;   wherein said drape is electrically non-conductive and non-perforated. .Iaddend..Iadd.36. A drape according to claim 35, wherein said layer of flexible non-woven sterilizable material is attached with an adhesive to said aluminum layer. .Iaddend..Iadd.37. A drape comprising:   (a) a layer of aluminum having a first major surface and a second major surface;   (b) a first thermoplastic material layer superposed on said first major surface of said aluminum layer; and   (c) a second thermoplastic material layer superposed on said second major surface of said aluminum layer;   wherein said drape is electrically non-conductive and non-perforated. .Iaddend..Iadd.38. A drape according to claim 37, wherein said is attached with an adhesive to said aluminum layer second thermoplastic material layer. .Iaddend..Iadd.39. A drape according to claim 37, further comprising a layer of flexible non-woven sterilizable material superposed on said first thermoplastic material layer. .Iaddend..Iadd.40. A drape according to claim 39, wherein said layer of flexible non-woven sterilizable material is attached with an adhesive to said first thermoplastic material layer. .Iaddend..Iadd.41. A drape, comprising:   (a) a layer of aluminum having a first major surface and a second major surface;   (b) a layer of flexible non-woven sterilizable material superposed on said first major surface of said aluminum layer; and   (c) a layer of flexible non-woven sterilizable material superposed on said second major surface of said aluminum layer;   wherein said drape is electrically nonconductive. .Iaddend..Iadd.42. A drape comprising:   (a) a layer of aluminum having a first major surface and a second major surface;   (b) a thermoplastic material layer superposed on said first major surface of said aluminum layer; and   (c) a layer of flexible non-woven sterilizable material superposed on said second major surface of said aluminum layer, wherein said layer of flexible non-woven sterilizable material overlaps said aluminum layer.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.43.  A drape, comprising: (a) a layer of aluminum having a first major surface and a second major surface;   (b) a first thermoplastic material layer superposed on said first major surface of said aluminum layer; and   (c) a second thermoplastic material layer superposed on said first thermoplastic material layer;   wherein said drape is electrically non-conductive. .Iaddend..Iadd.44. A drape comprising:   (a) a layer of aluminum having a first major surface and a second major surface;   (b) a first thermoplastic material layer superposed on said first major surface of said aluminum layer; and   (c) a second thermoplastic material layer superposed on said second major surface of said aluminum layer;   
     
     
       wherein said drape is electrically non-conductive. ep .Iadd.45.  A sterilizable reflective surgical drape covering at least a portion of and reducing heat loss from a surgical patient's body, comprising: (a) an electrically non-conductive layer of aluminum;   (b) a flexible non-woven sterilizable material layer integrally attached to said electrically non-conductive layer of aluminum; and   (c) an additional flexible non-woven sterilizable material layer integrally attached to said electrically non-conductive layer of aluminum. .Iaddend.