Thermal treatment system and method for maintaining integrity and ensuring sterility of surgical drapes used with surgical equipment

Abstract

A thermal treatment system warming basin for warming a sterile liquid or medium includes a heating pad disposed on the exterior surface of the basin floor in various configurations (e.g., spiral, 'I', 'X' or serpentine configurations, multiple heating pad segments disposed about the basin floor, etc.) to prevent damage to a sterile surgical drape placed over the system when objects are placed within the basin. The configurations cover a portion of the basin floor to permit the basin to absorb thermal energy that may otherwise be absorbed by and cause damage to the drape. In addition, a thermal treatment system and corresponding sterile surgical drape may include a variety of mechanisms to ensure sterility of a sterile liquid within a basin. In particular, the drape may include a reflective material segment to reflect infrared light emitted from an infrared light source toward a detector to indicate the proper positioning and/or presence of the drape on the thermal treatment system. The infrared light source and corresponding detector may be disposed within the thermal treatment system below the basin or within the system top surface. Alternatively, magnetic media may be attached to the drape, while a magnetic detector is disposed within the thermal treatment system on the exterior surface of the basin floor or within the system top surface. The magnetic detector senses the drape magnetic media to detect the proper positioning and/or presence of the drape on the thermal treatment system.