Reusable surgical drape with fluid-retaining trough

Abstract

A reusable surgical drape having a fenestration to be positioned at the surgical site and a trough for collecting liquids which flow from the surgical site. The trough comprises a substantially rectangular panel of liquid repellant fabric having rounded corners and having an opening formed therein corresponding to the drape fenestration. The trough-forming panel is sewn to the drape about the peripheries of their corresponding opening and fenestration. In one embodiment all four sides of the trough-forming panel are folded inwardly toward the fenestration to form liquid receiving and retaining trough segments about the drape fenestration. At each of the corners, where adjacent trough segments meet, the outer peripheral edge of the trough-forming panel is gathered, resulting in a continuous rectangular trough about the fenestration, having substantially rectilinear side segments and rounded corner segments free of seams, stitches, folds or multiple layers. Snaps are provided to maintain the shape of the trough segments. In another embodiment the structure is substantially the same except that only three sides of the trough-forming panel are folded inwardly to form trough segments with rounded gathered corners therebetween. The fourth side is sewn to the drape for a part of its length. Snaps are provided to fold and close those ends of those trough segments adjacent the unfolded fourth side of the trough-forming panel.