Sterile surgical table cover

Abstract

The invention is a device for covering a tray of a surgical table in a medical area with a sterile layer on which surgical instruments may be placed. The covering is held on the tray by an elastic band, drawstring or other adjustable means which partially or completely closes the covering underneath the tray, and which substantially pulls up the skirt of the covering to furnish a form fitting covering of the tray. The material of the covering may be sterilized paper, woven, rubber, plastic or a combination of these materials. The elastic band or drawstring provides rapid and secure positioning of the cover on the surgical table. The invention provides, either as the sole barrier or as a second barrier, a consistent and reproducible barrier to inhibit penetration and therefore violating the integrity of the sterile field which is quickly and conveniently placed and which gathers excess material to thus avoid interference with personnel or the patient.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A cover for a table or support stand comprising: 
 (a) a flexible flat top surface area with size and shape adapted to be positioned to substantially cover the top surface of a tray,    (b) a flexible side skirt area attached to said flat top surface area so as to form a continuous skirt around the perimeter of said flat top surface area,    (c) a securement means for securing the bottom edge of said side skirt area underneath the edges of the tray, whereby said side skirt area and said flat top surface area are held in position on the tray.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment means for attaching said side skirt member to said flat top surface member comprises gluing, stitching, or heat sealing by partial melting.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cover material comprises paper, plastic film, rubber or woven fabric.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the securement means comprises an adjustable band attached to the lower perimeter of said side skirt member.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cover material is impervious to liquid.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper or lower surface, or both, of said flat top surface member are coated with a non-slip coating.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein extra padding is provided for the top.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the sterile condition is produced by accepted means.  
     
     
         9 . A cover for a table or support stand comprising: 
 (a) a flexible sheet member with size and shape adapted to be positioned to substantially cover the top surface of a tray,    (b) a securement means for securing the perimeter of said flexible sheet member underneath an edge of a tray, whereby said flexible sheet member is held in position on a tray.    
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said flexible sheet member comprised of one of the following: paper, rubber, plastic film, or woven fabric.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said securement means comprises an elastic band, or a drawstring, attached to the perimeter of said flexible sheet member.  
     
     
         12 . The device  claim 9 , wherein the securement means comprises hook and fabric strips, metal or plastic mating snap buttons, hook and eyelet pairs, or belts and buckles.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the upper or lower surface, or both, of said flexible sheet member is coated with a non-slip coating.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the entire device is sterilized.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the sterile condition is produced by accepted means.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said side skirt member is substantially rectangular in shape, and further comprising a side skirt seam which connects the two opposite ends of the side skirt member to each other.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein said side skirt seam is formed by gluing, stitching, or heat sealing by melting.