Importance

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Abstract

A surgical drape for use in a thermal treatment system congealing a sterile medium within a basin and automatically dislodging the congealed sterile medium adhered to the drape adjacent basin walls is accomplished by a drape having a drape portion covering the system housing with part of the drape portion disposed in the basin. The drape may further include a pre-formed container portion fitted to match the contour of, and being disposed within, the basin. The container portion may accommodate various shaped basins and include individual fluted sections, drape deformities, or an inflatable bladder surrounded by the fluted sections for facilitating dislodgement of the congealed medium. Further, the drape or pre-formed container portion may include a substantially annular bladder, or a bladder having a plurality of individually inflatable sections for manipulation of the drape relative to the basin to dislodge the congealed sterile medium. Alternatively, the bladders may be disposed between the drape or container portion and bottom of the basin for manipulation of the drape as described above. Moreover, the drapes may include stirrups to secure the drape to the system. A pump or bellows inflates and deflates the bladders via a piston having a reciprocating motion within a chamber, or, alternatively, via separate connections for inflation and deflation which are controlled by selective actuation of solenoids. The individually inflatable sections are inflated and deflated one section at a time in sequential order to manipulate the drape relative to the basin to dislodge the congealed sterile medium.

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First Claim