Fluid collection apparatus

Abstract

Fluid collection pouches and surgical drapes for use in surgical procedures are described. The described fluid collection pouches can be configured in some cases to define a region of greater depth of the pouch beneath a patient's limb extending through the pouch on the lateral side of the limb than on the medial side. In some cases, the fluid collection pouches can be configured to define an upper surface with a region that extends at a greater height above a patient's limb extending through the pouch on the lateral side of the limb than on the medial side.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A surgical drape for arthroscopy knee surgery, comprising:
 a drape formed of a flexible material, the drape having proximal portion containing a first opening and a distal portion containing a second opening, and wherein said first and second openings are suitable for permitting passage of a human leg there through, and wherein the proximal portion is configured to fit about a portion of a human leg above the knee, and the distal portion is configured to fit about a portion of a human leg below the knee; and   a support element supporting the drape to define a pouch when the drape is installed around a patient's leg, and extending both and above and below the patient's knee, wherein the pouch is asymmetrical relative to the patient's leg, with the portion of the pouch on the lateral side of the leg having a greater depth than the portion of the pouch on the medial side of the leg.   
     
     
         3 . The surgical drape of  claim 2 , wherein the support element supports an upper perimeter of the surgical drape to define the pouch. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical drape of  claim 3 , wherein the upper perimeter of the surgical drape is asymmetrical between the lateral and medial sides of the patient's leg, with the upper perimeter having a greater dimension to the lateral side of the patient's leg than to the medial side of the patient's leg. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical drape of  claim 4 , wherein the upper perimeter defines a generally elliptical shape. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical drape of claim number  5 , wherein the support element at the upper perimeter of the surgical drape has a discontinuity in a relatively proximal portion of the surgical drape extending generally above the first opening and proximate the patient's thigh when the surgical drape is installed around a patient's leg. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid collection apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a structure defining the first opening in the proximal portion and a structure defining the second opening in the distal portion, are each configured to provide a substantially fluid tight seal around the patient's leg. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid collection apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the bottom portion of the pouch includes at least a portion defining an arc with a varying radius, and with the area of a relatively greater radius extending to the lateral side of the patient's leg. 
     
     
         9 . A surgical drape for arthroscopic knee surgery, comprising:
 a sheet portion, configured to cover at least a portion of a patient's body; and   a pouch portion extending from the sheet portion extending under the patient's leg when the surgical drape is in place on a patient's leg, the pouch formed of a material capable of retaining fluids;   wherein the surgical drape has an upper perimeter supported by a pliable and deformable retention member;   wherein the surgical drape comprises a first aperture configured to sealingly engage a patient's thigh, and a second aperture configured to engage a patient's leg below the knee; and   wherein the surgical drape has an asymmetrical upper perimeter, the upper perimeter having a greater dimension on the lateral side of the patient's leg than on the medial side of the patient's leg; and   wherein the pouch has an asymmetrical depth, which is deeper on the lateral side of the patient's leg than on the medial side of the patient's leg.   
     
     
         10 . The surgical drape of  claim 9 , wherein the pouch includes a bottom surface, and wherein the bottom surface is defined by an asymmetrical curve of varying radius relative to at least one axis. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical drape of  claim 9 , wherein the retention member proximate the upper perimeter of the pouch includes a discontinuity. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical drape of  claim 11 , wherein the retention member has a first end at a first side of the discontinuity and a second end at a second side of the discontinuity. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical drape of  claim 12 , wherein the upper perimeter and the retention member are configured to allow the first and second ends of the retention member to overlap one another when the drape is positioned on a patient. 
     
     
         14 . A surgical drape for use during knee surgery, comprising:
 a drape material comprising a sheeting portion for covering at least a portion of a patient's body, and a fluid-retentive pouch portion extending from the sheeting portion and configured to retain fluids resulting from the knee surgery; and   a pliable and deformable support structure extending around the perimeter of the surgical drape and configured to support what will be the upper portion of the surgical drape and the pouch portion, when the surgical drape is in place on a patient's leg;   wherein the pouch portion includes a first aperture defined at least in part by a sealing structure, the first aperture configured to extend around the patient's thigh and to sealingly engage the patient's leg to prevent the passage of fluid beyond the drape;   wherein the pouch portion further includes a second aperture defined at least in part by a sealing structure, the second aperture configured to extend around the patent's calf and to sealingly engage the patient's leg to prevent the passage of fluid beyond the drape;   wherein the first and second apertures generally define the axis of a leg through the pouch when the pouch is in place on a patient; and   wherein the pouch includes a lower surface that transitions from a first distance below the axis through the first and second apertures on the intended medial side of the axis to a second, greater, distance below said axis on the intended lateral side of the axis.   
     
     
         15 . The surgical drape of  claim 14 , wherein the support structure defines a top perimeter that transitions from a first distance above said axis on the intended medial side of said axis to a second, greater, distance above said axis on the intended lateral side of said axis. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical drape of  claim 14 , wherein the support structure extending around the perimeter of the surgical drape has a discontinuity providing first and second ends of the support structure, a first end extending from said medial side of said axis, and a second end extending from the lateral side of said axis, and wherein the second end extends to a location that will be proximally above the first end relative to the patient's knee when the surgical drape is in place on a patient.