Apparatus and method for sterilization

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for disinfecting a target area of a patient's body, such as an arm, leg or a chest, in a pre-surgical environment. The apparatus and method disclosed herein further provides for maintaining the target area of the patient's body in an aseptic condition while transporting the patient to and into the surgery room. The most preferred embodiments of the present invention contemplate the use of one or more sterile layers (e.g., sterilized bags or the like) that are used to enclose the target area of the patient's body coupled with a sterile substance delivery mechanism that disinfects the target area and also maintains the target area in an aseptic condition.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a body portion, said body portion comprising and defining:
 an interior space; 
 a longitudinal axis; and 
 a circumference; 
   a strap affixed to said body portion, said strap comprising at least one adhesive zone;   a first perforation formed in said body portion, said first perforation being positioned substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis; and   a second perforation formed in said body portion, said second perforation being substantially perpendicular to said first perforation and being positioned around said circumference.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least one tab affixed to said body portion. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a delivery system disposed within interior space of said body portion. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said delivery system comprises at least one length of tubing and at least one aeration mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said at least one aeration mechanism comprises an air stone and wherein a quantity of a disinfectant is introduced into said interior space of said body portion via said at least one length of tubing and said air stone. 
     
     
         20 . A method comprising the steps of:
 enclosing a target area of a patient's body within an apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
 an inner bag, said inner bag comprising an interior surface, an annular space, an exterior surface, and an interior space, said interior space comprising said annular space and said interior surface; said interior space and exterior surface being selectively configured to be sterile; 
 an outer bag, said outer bag comprising an interior surface, an annular space, an exterior surface, and an interior space, said interior space comprising said annular space and said interior surface; said interior space being selectively configured to be sterile; 
 a delivery mechanism selectively configured to deliver at least one sterile substance selected from a group consisting of an aseptic and a disinfectant. 
   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising the steps of:
 disposing said inner bag within said interior space of said outer bag; 
 contacting a cuff of said inner bag with a contact-portion of said patient's body, said contact-portion of said patient's body adjacent and not coextensive with said target area of said patient's body, said cuff comprising a hem and at least one body-fastener, said at least one body-fastener selectively configured to detachably affix said cuff to said contact-portion of said patient's body, said hem extending beyond an cuff-portion of said outer bag, said hem being folded back over said extended-portion of said outer bag and forming said cuff, said cuff being substantially U-shaped, said cuff partially surrounding said extended-portion of said outer bag; 
 connecting a first end of at least one length of tubing with at least one pump, said at least one length of tubing being selectively configured to transport at least one sterile substance, said at least one sterile substance being selected from the group consisting of air, at least one disinfectant, at least one antiseptic, at least one vapor, at least one fluid, at least one liquid, and at least one gas; said at least one pump being selectively configured to introduce into and suck from said interior surface of said inner bag at least one element selected from the group consisting of disinfectants, antiseptics, air, gases, vapors, mists, liquids, fluids, moistures, foams, gels, nanoparticles, particles, molecules, pressure, negative pressure, positive pressure, ambient pressure, equilibrium pressure, dynamic pressure, vapor pressure, stagnation pressure, surface pressure, and combinations thereof; 
 inserting a second end of said at least one length of tubing through at least one flow port; 
 inserting said second end of said at least one length of tubing into at least one of the elements selected from the group consisting of said interior space of said inner bag and said interior space of said outer bag; 
 pumping at least one sterile substance into at least one of the elements selected from the group consisting of said interior space of said inner bag and said interior space of said outer bag, said at least one sterile substance selected from the group consisting of aseptic and disinfectants; and 
 contacting said sterile substance with a target area of said patient's body. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising the steps of:
 forming a mixture of said sterile substance and an amount of air, said mixture comprising an amount of said sterile substance and an amount of air; 
 contacting said mixture with at least one aerating mechanism, said at least one aerating mechanism being selectively configured to convert said mixture an amount of foam; 
 contacting said target area of said patient's body with said foam; and 
 detaching said outer bag from said inner bag. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the step of contacting said target area of said patient's body with said foam further comprises the step of disinfecting said target area of body patient's body, wherein said target area of said patient's body comprises a surface area of said patient's body. 
     
     
         24 . The method of step  20  further comprising the step of inserting at least one target area of a patient's body through an orifice of said inner bag, said at least one target area being selected from the group consisting of at least one limb, at least one arm, at least one elbow, at least one finger, at least one toe, at least one ear, at least one genital, at least one buttock, at least one nose, at least one chin, at least one forehead, at least one wrist, at least one palm, at least one hand, at least one leg, at least one knee, at least one chest, at least one torso, at least one shoulder, at least one back, at least one head, at least one face, at least one neck, and at least one foot.