GB1521260A - Surgical swabs - Google Patents

Abstract

1521260 Detecting swabs JOHNSON & JOHNSON 16 Dec 1975 [31 Dec 1974] 56155/74 Heading A5R A surgical swab or pad comprises layers of absorbent, non-woven fabric enclosed by a sealed envelope of woven fabric and includes a member 14 detectable by means not part of the swab. Member 14 may be an X-ray detectable marker or ribbon fixed to a fabric layer or to the envelope inner wall. It may alternatively be a tuned circuit excitable by radio frequency waves or it may be a magnetic material. The envelope is sealed by overlock stitching at least at one edge and is preferably cotton gauze. The non- woven layers are unwound from rolls (1)- (4), Fig. 1 (not shown), superimposed with juxtaposed edges, laid on a woven layer 5 from a roll (6) and the edges of the wider layer 5 folded over those of the non-woven fabric. A cut length is transversely folded, Fig. 2, to produce a square swab, the cut ends (9), (10) overlocked and the sides 11, 12 lock stitched. Member 14 and a handling tape 13, to facilitate positioning of the swab are added before side 12 is dosed. Alternative ways of folding the swab are described. Instead of overlock stitching, edging tape secured by adhesive or stitching, or adhesive may be used, or the swab edge may be twice folded to fold the fibre ends inside the folds. The swab may be placed in a sterile enclosure.