Susan L O'Connell

US Patent:

53459466, Sep 13, 1994

Filed:

Apr 23, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/052257

Inventors:

David Butterworth - Colleyville TX
Susan L. O'Connell - Arlington TX

Assignee:

Johnson & Johnson Medical, Inc. - Arlington TX

International Classification:

A61B 1908
A61B 1900

US Classification:

128853

Abstract:

A multi-element surgical drape includes a bottom sheet that is placed over a patient and a top sheet that is reversibly secured to the bottom sheet. The two sheets each have a fenestration, and the fenestrations are aligned to provide access to the surgical site. After the surgical procedure has been completed the two sheets are separated. The top sheet is contaminated ("red-bag") medical waste, while the bottom sheet can be disposed of as non-contaminated waste, recycled, or processed for reuse. The invention permits a substantial reduction in the volume of red-bag waste generated by surgery.