APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTION OF LEAKS IN SURGICAL DRAPES

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for preventing damage to drapes and to heating and cooling mechanisms used in conjunction with apparatus for containing and thermally treating sterile liquid, and to preserving the sterile field when using such apparatus. A surgical drape (...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors LICATA, MARK, FARIES, DURWARD I., JR
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
French
Published 09.09.2008
Subjects
BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS
DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF,TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, E.G. STENTS
DIAGNOSIS
FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS
FIRST-AID KITS
FOMENTATION
HUMAN NECESSITIES
HYGIENE
IDENTIFICATION
MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE
ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES
PROSTHESES
SURGERY
TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS
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Summary:The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for preventing damage to drapes and to heating and cooling mechanisms used in conjunction with apparatus for containing and thermally treating sterile liquid, and to preserving the sterile field when using such apparatus. A surgical drape (17) is combined with a sensor (14), preferably attached to the drape (17), to detect whether or not liquid is present in a drape container conforming to a heating/cooling basin (11). An alternative embodiment employs sensors at opposite sur- faces of the drape to measure conductance and, thereby, leakage through the drape. A microprocessor in each embodiment receives a signal representing, for example, an electrical conductance measurement from the sensors and determines if liquid is present, or alternatively if the conductance is sufficient to represent the presence of a leak.
Bibliography:Application Number: CA19962218469