Surgical draping system

Abstract

A draping system provides a continuous sterile field between a patient incision area and one or more medical practitioners. The draping system has a quick release system incorporated into the drape that enables a medical practitioner to separate from the continuous sterile field without disrupting the sterile field around the practitioner or the patient. The draping system may include an abbreviated practitioner gown, a drain and an integral patient incision area or a flap for extending the continuous sterile field around to one or more additional operating room tables. A modular drape and gown system extends the sterile field beyond the operating table allowing practitioners to couple to the extended field. A tent provides an enclosed sterile field useful in mobile or other non operating room surgical environments. Integral lighting and information displays facilitate field surgical procedures.

1 . A draping system for surgery, comprising: 
 a drape for providing a continuous sterile field over a patient; and    an information display disposed on said drape and viewable by a practitioner, said flexible color display showing information benefiting the patient to the practitioner.    
     
     
         2 . The draping system according to  claim 1 , wherein said information display is flexible.  
     
     
         3 . The draping system according to  claim 1 , wherein said information display shows colors.  
     
     
         4 . The draping system according to  claim 1 , wherein said information display includes an organic light emitting diode (OLED).  
     
     
         5 . The draping system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a means for communicating the information to said display.  
     
     
         6 . The draping system according to  claim 5 , wherein said means for communicating the information to said display is a wire.  
     
     
         7 . The draping system according to  claim 5 , wherein said means for communicating the information to said display is a wireless receiver.  
     
     
         8 . The draping system according to  claim 7 , wherein said wireless receiver receives information according to the 802.11b standard.  
     
     
         9 . The draping system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a battery connected to and powering said display.  
     
     
         10 . The draping system according to  claim 1 , wherein the information is remotely generated.  
     
     
         11 . The draping system according to  claim 1 , wherein the information includes data regarding the patient.  
     
     
         12 . The draping system according to  claim 1 , wherein the information includes instructions from a further practitioner.  
     
     
         13 . A draping system for surgery, comprising: 
 a drape for providing a continuous sterile field over a patient; and    a hook supporting said drape to extend the sterile field.    
     
     
         14 . The draping system according to  claim 13 , further comprising a fastener fastening said drape to said hook.  
     
     
         15 . The draping system according to  claim 13 , wherein said hook is connected to a wall.  
     
     
         16 . The draping system according to  claim 13 , wherein said hook is connected to an operating table supporting the patient.  
     
     
         17 . A portable surgical enclosure, comprising: 
 a tent enclosing a continuous sterile field configured to be disposed above a patient; and    a means for operating on the patient from outside the tent without compromising the continuous sterile field.    
     
     
         18 . The portable surgical enclosure according to  claim 17 , wherein said tent includes an incision area disposed on the patient.  
     
     
         19 . The portable surgical enclosure according to  claim 17 , wherein said tent includes a portion disposed over a table, said portion being configured to support a surgical instrument.  
     
     
         20 . The portable surgical enclosure according to  claim 17 , further comprising an air handler connected to said tent and supplying sterilized air to said tent.  
     
     
         21 . The portable surgical enclosure according to  claim 20 , wherein said air handler provides a positive pressure of the sterilized air to fill said tent.  
     
     
         22 . The portable surgical enclosure according to  claim 20 , wherein said air handler supplements the sterilized air by adding an additive selected from the group consisting of ions, thrombin mist, and a therapeutic substance.  
     
     
         23 . The portable surgical enclosure according to  claim 20 , wherein said tent has an air exit formed therein.  
     
     
         24 . The portable surgical enclosure according to  claim 23 , wherein said air exit is connected to said air handler for recirculating the air.  
     
     
         25 . The portable enclosure according to  claim 23 , wherein said air exit controls an amount of the air exiting said tent.  
     
     
         26 . The portable enclosure according to  claim 17 , wherein said means for operating on the patient is a hole formed in said tent, said hole providing access for a practitioner to operate on the patient.  
     
     
         27 . The portable enclosure according to  claim 26 , further comprising a flap for closing said hole.  
     
     
         28 . The portable enclosure according to  claim 17 , wherein said tent includes a transparent portion.  
     
     
         29 . The portable enclosure according to  claim 17 , wherein said tent includes an opaque portion.  
     
     
         30 . The portable enclosure according to  claim 17 , further comprising a drain connected to said tent for collecting fluids during surgery on the patient.  
     
     
         31 . The portable enclosure according to  claim 19 , wherein said tent includes a further portion disposed over a further table, said further portion being configured to support a surgical instrument.  
     
     
         32 . The portable enclosure according to  claim 19 , further comprising a hook connected to said tent, said hook being configured to connect to a support in order to suspend said tent.  
     
     
         33 . The portable enclosure according to  claim 32 , wherein: 
 said tent has a ceiling; and    a pole disposed within said tent for supports said ceiling.    
     
     
         34 . A glove for illuminating a patient, comprising: 
 a sterile exterior surface covering a hand of a practioner; and    a light integrally disposed in said sterile exterior surface.    
     
     
         35 . The glove according to  claim 34 , wherein said sterile exterior surface includes a light transmisive portion, said light emitting through said light transmisive portion.  
     
     
         36 . The glove according to  claim 34 , wherein said light is an organic light emitting diode.  
     
     
         37 . The glove according to  claim 34 , further comprising a switch connected to said light for activating said light.  
     
     
         38 . The glove according to  claim 34 , further comprising flexible wiring connected to said light.  
     
     
         39 . The glove according to  claim 34 , wherein: 
 said sterile exterior surface has a finger portion for receiving a finger of the practitioner; and    said light is disposed in said finger.    
     
     
         40 . The glove according to  claim 34 , further comprising a battery connected to said light and powering said light.  
     
     
         41 . The glove according to  claim 40 , wherein said battery is a flexible film battery.  
     
     
         42 . A method for forming a continuous sterile field over a patient, which comprises: 
 providing a drape having a fenestration; and    disposing said fenestration of said drape over a location on a patient where an incision is to be made.    
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 42 , which further comprises: 
 folding said drape with said fenestration on a bottom before said disposing step; and    unfolding said drape after said disposing step.    
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 42 , which further comprises attaching said drape to a practitioner.  
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 44 , which further comprises attaching said drape to a further practitioner.  
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 42 , which further comprises disposing said drape over an instrument table.