Layered sterile workspace assembly

Abstract

The present invention regards a sterile workspace with removable layers for use on medical surfaces such as anesthesia workstations, as well as other surfaces. The assembly of the present invention generally includes a plurality of sterile workspaces, layered to form the assembly. Each workspace has a foam layer and a barrier layer. In some configurations, the workspace also has a tray, and the foam layer is secured to the top surface of the tray. The tray may have a raised border about its perimeter. In some configurations the foam layer has a non-porous bottom surface. The assembly may have a support surface under the bottom-most workspace layer, with an elastomer or adhesive affixed thereto to prevent the assembly from moving during use. The barrier layer is affixed to either the foam layer, or the tray (if present), and is removed to expose a sterile workspace when in use.

1 . A replaceable surface assembly to assist with the prevention of cross contamination, the assembly comprising:
 a plurality of nested trays, each tray having a planate surface and a bottom surface, with a raised border about the perimeter of the tray to form a depressed area,   each of the trays further having a workspace foam layer positioned within the depressed area of the tray and a barrier layer removably affixed to the tray.   
     
     
         2 . The replaceable surface assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer has a sag sufficient to allow one of the plurality of trays to nest into another of the plurality of trays. 
     
     
         3 . The replaceable surface assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the depressed area of a first tray is sized to receive another tray. 
     
     
         4 . The replaceable surface assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tray further comprises a tab affixed to or made a part of the tray, extending from and beyond a portion of the tray's perimeter. 
     
     
         5 . The replaceable surface assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the position of the tab on one tray of the assembly is different than the position of the tab on another tray of the assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The replaceable surface assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the workspace foam layer is sized in proportion to the dimensions of the tray to leave a channel between the foam's perimeter and interior sides of the tray formed by the raised borders. 
     
     
         7 . The replaceable surface assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer is a film removably affixed to the raised border of the tray, and wherein the film is loosely affixed to the raised border to allow the film to sag into a depressed area of the tray. 
     
     
         8 . The replaceable surface assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the barrier layer comprises low density polyethylene (LDPE). 
     
     
         9 . The replaceable surface assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tray further comprises one or more support structures to maintain the structural integrity of the tray. 
     
     
         10 . The replaceable surface assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the support structures comprise a plurality of ribs, forming a depressed area between said ribs, wherein adhesive material is placed within at least a portion of the depressed area. 
     
     
         11 . The replaceable surface assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a support surface with an elastomer affixed thereto. 
     
     
         12 . The replaceable surface assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the workspace foam layer is affixed to the planate surface of the tray. 
     
     
         13 . The replaceable surface assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the workspace foam layer is affixed to the planate surface of the tray by means of a pressure sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
         14 . The replaceable surface assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the workspace foam layer comprises a closed cell foam. 
     
     
         15 . The replaceable surface assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the closed cell foam is polyethylene. 
     
     
         16 . The replaceable surface assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the bottom surface of the first tray is removably secured to the barrier layer of the another tray. 
     
     
         17 . The replaceable surface assembly of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the bottom surface of the first tray is removably secured to the barrier layer of the another tray by means of a first adhesive,   wherein the barrier layer is removably affixed to the raised border of the tray by a second adhesive applied near the circumference of the barrier layer, and   wherein the second adhesive has a peel force greater than the first adhesive.   
     
     
         18 . The replaceable surface assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the raised border extends from the top surface of the tray, and comprises a skirt extending from the outermost portion of the raised border and below the bottom surface of the tray. 
     
     
         19 . The replaceable surface assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the raised border of the first tray forms a recess sized to receive the raised border of the another tray. 
     
     
         20 . The replaceable surface assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier film extends at beyond the raised edge of the tray.