GB2493543A

GB2493543A - Surgical dressing pack

Info

Publication number: GB2493543A
Application number: GB1113787.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mayur Patel
Original assignee: RICHARDSON HEALTHCARE Ltd
Current assignee: RICHARDSON HEALTHCARE Ltd
Priority date: 2011-08-10
Filing date: 2011-08-10
Publication date: 2013-02-13
Also published as: GB201113787D0

Abstract

The pack comprises, packed in the following order each item above the next, an apron 12, a disposable waste bag 14, two gloves 16, 20, swabs 32, a tray 34 and a primary sterile field 36 which is wrapped around all the other items with its sterile side inwards. The pack may also comprise a pain-measuring device 18 located between the two gloves, having an indexed scale (62, fig 4), a plurality of schematic pictures of faces (68, fig 4) and a verbal description of pain severity. The pack may also include a soap impregnated pad 22 found in sleeve 221, a secondary field 26 and a dressing pad 24. The pack may packed inside a blister (40, figs 1 & 2)

Description

TITLE: SURGICAL DRESSING PACKS

FIELD OF THE INNENTION

This invention relates to surgical dressing packs.

BACKGROUND

When a surgical dressing on a wound has to be changed, a suitable procedure can reduce the chances of sepsis and cross-contamination. The procedure can be broken down into sleps which, if carried out in the correct order, can achieve this purpose. To facilitate the procedure, there can be prepared a pack which includes a surgical dressing and other items needed to change the dressng on a wound, in particular with the various items being arranged so that they come to hand in the order of the steps which should be followed to carry out the correct procedure. Various medical authorities propose their own order of steps for such a procedure.

THE INVENTION

The present inventor has carefully researched the conditions under which such a procedure is to be carried out both in a hospital and in the community (e.g. at home by a disthct nurse), and has devised a procedure that he considers to give greatly improved reduction of the chances of sepsis and cross-contamination and to be a substantially foolproof such procedure and has produced a surgical dressing pack accordingly.

One aspect of the invention provides a surgical dressing pack comprising, packed in the following order, each item above the next, an apron, a disposable waste bag, two gloves, swabs, a tray and a primary sterile field which is wrapped around all the other items with its sterile side inwards. Preferably (e.g. for hospital use), the pack comprises a secondary sterile field next before the swabs. Preferably (e.g. for community use), the pack comprises a dressing next after the swabs.

The items mentioned are preferably packed in a blister which is sealed and internally sterile and is part of said pack. The blister is formed of a plastic tray-like portion sealed with a cover sheet of phnted or printable sealing material, e.g. paper, e.g. bearing name, description and/or instructions. The set of items wrapped in the primary field, including the latter, forms a package which is inverted in the blister so that, within the wrapping primary field, the inverted tray is closest to the cover sheet ot the blister. Preferably, one corner of the cover is marked to indicate that the blister can be opened at that corner, and the cover is slightly separate from the plastic ot the tray-like portion at part ot that corner (so as not to break the sterilisation seal ot the pack), to make it easy to peel the cover off the tray-like portion.

A sterile field is a sheet, preferably rectangular, more preferably square, e.g. of paper, one side of which is intended to remain sterile, and the other side of which is not intended to be kept sterile and may be called the non-sterile side. The sheet is non- absorbent and non-porous, and the non-sterile side may be plastic-coated. For use, it is laid non-sterile side down on a non-sterile surface so that its upper sterile side provides a sterile field on that surface.

Preferably, the wrapped primary sterile field (is preferably tucked into itself and) holds the other items together. This sterile field is so folded (and tucked) that it can be (untucked and) opened out using non-sterile hands that need touch it for this purpose only on its non-sterile side and/or at the tip/s of one or more of its corners. Preferably, only one corner of the primary field is visible when it is so wrapped around its contents.

The pack preferably comprises (preferably between the two gloves, e.g. to separate them and/or prevent them from sticking together) a wound-measuring device, e.g. a sheet of paper with a length scale (e.g. marked in centimetres divided into millimetres) along one edge. The pack preferably comprises a pain-measuring device in the form of an indexed scale (e.g. indexed with numerals 0-10), e.g. marked on a sheet of paper (which may be the same sheet as that of the wound-measuring device), with a plurality of schematic pictures of faces progressing along the scale from a smiling face to one crying and/or distorted with pain. In response to a patient's answers to one or more questions, e.g. by a dressing operative (healthcare professional), as to how severe the pain is, the scale is to be marked accordingly, or the relevant index marking is to be noted. Preferably, the pain scale has marked, at each such face, a verbal description of pain severity; this has been found to be psychologically highly effective in determining more reliably and consistently the degree of pain; the operative and/or the patient/s find it much easier to index the pain accurately, reliably and consistently.

Preferably again, the pack comprises a carrier carrying decontaminating material suitable for use in washing the hands, e.g. a sheet or matrix of sheet-like form (e.g. of gauze) impregnated with, or otherwise carrying, a deconlaminating material, e.g. soap, detergent and/or gel. This is preferably located next after the gloves and before the towel. More preferably, the pack comprises a further such impregnated sheet followed next by a further towel, both preferably located next before the apron.

Possibly, either or both of the towels may be omitted.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of using any such pack comprising a plurality of items arranged in order, in which the pack is opened to retain the order of items from within the pack, and each of the items is used in turn in said order in an aseptic procedure. The method may be applied to training (to train operatives in the procedure, preferably without the need to use an actual body) or testing the efficacy of the training. Preferably, the method includes taking from the pack, in order as it appears n the pack, a piece or member impregnated with a decontaminant suitable for use in washing the hands and washing the hands (which may be gloved) with the same in a decontaminant manner.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of decontamination which comprises taking from such a pack, in order as it appears in the pack, a piece or member impregnated with a decontaminant suitable for use in washing the hands and washing the hands (which may be gloved) with the same in a decontaminant manner.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of measuring pain, in which a pain-measuring device comprising an indexed scale with a plurality of schematic pictures of faces progressing along the scale from a smiling face to one crying and/or distorted with pain and marked, at each such face, with a verbal description of pain severity is shown to a patient (or described to a blind or impaired vision patient), showing and/or describing/reading to the patient at least one of the faces and the associated verbal description, to obtain from the patient an identification of the degree of severity of the pain and noting or marking the relevant index.

The procedure is as follows: The trolley or other work surface is disinfected if this is possible, e.g. wiped down with disinfectant. The cover is peeled off the tray-like portion and the latter is inverted to deposit its contents, the wrapped package, on the disinfected work surface, with the tray at the bottom within the wrapping primary field, the tip of one partly tucked-in corner of the field thus being available on top to open the field. The latter is opened out (i.e. unwrapped), to expose the soap-impregnated pad, which is now on top in its own plastic sleeve. The impregnated pad is taken out of the sleeve and used to wash the hands. The apron is donned and tied in position. One hand is put inside the disposable waste bag which is then used like a glove to enable the old dressing to be grasped and removed without touching it; the waste bag is then everted to contain the old dressing and then hung in a suitable place to receive further non-sterile material. One glove is donned; the measuring device is placed onto the sterile upper surface of the primary field; the second glove is donned. The secondary field may then be unfolded and put under the treatment area for further protection. If cleansing liquid is to be used, the swabs (and a further pad, for any appropriate use, if provided, e.g. in a community pack option) are then tipped out onto the primary field's sterile surface; and cleansing liquid, e.g. sterile water, saline or disinfectant, is then poured into the tray and used with the swabs to clean the wound. The used swabs are placed into the waste bag. The wound can now be dressed with the dressing of choice by the healthcare professional. All contaminated materials are placed into the waste bag and this is disposed of

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION RELATING TO THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective plan view of a pack embodying the invention, unopened; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective plan view of the pack inverted, unopened; to Figure 3 is a schematic exploded view (its different parts are not to scale) of the pack without the blister, inverted and opened,

with the primary field unfolded; and

Figure 4 is a plan view of a pain-measuring device embodying the invention; and FigureS is a perspective view of a fragment of a soap pad of the pack.

Referring to the drawings, a surgical dressing pack 10 comprises, packed in the following order and folded where appropriate, each item above the next, a soap-impregnated gauze pad 22, an apron 12, a disposable waste bag 14, a first glove 16, a measuring device 18, a second glove 20, a secondary field 26, and swabs 32 (and then, for a community pack option, a dressing pad 24), a tray 34 and a primary sterile field 36 whch is wrapped around all the other items 12 to 34 with its sterile side 38 inwards. The items 12 to 36 mentioned are packed na blister 40 which is sealed and internally sterile and is part of said pack 10.

The blister 40 is formed of a transparent plastic tray-like portion 42 sealed with a cover sheet 44 of printed or printable sealing material, e.g. paper, e.g. beadng name, description and/or instructions 46. The set of items 12 to 34 wrapped in the primary field 36, including the latter, forms a package 48 (consisting of all the items shown in exploded view in Figure 3 but with field 36 not yet opened) which is inverted in the blister 40 so that, within the wrapping primary field 36 the inverted tray 34 is closest to the cover sheet 44 of the blister 40. One corner 50 of the cover 44 is marked with an instruction/indication 52 to indicate that the blister 40 can be opened at that corner 50, and the cover 44 is slightly separate from the plastic of the tray-like porlion 42 at part of that corner 50 (so as not to break the sterilisation seal of the pack 10), to make it easy to peel the cover 44 off the tray-like portion 42.

As seen in Figure 2, the wrapped primary sterile field 36 is tucked into itself and holds the other items 12 to 34 together. This sterile field 36 is so folded and tucked that it has an opening 28 (due to its folding) out of which projects a corner 56 of field 36 so that it can be untucked and opened out using non-sterile hands that need touch it for this purpose only on its non-sterile side 54 (underneath, as seen in Figure 3) and at the tips of its corners, starting with exposed corner 56, being the only one that is visible when field 36 is so wrapped around its contents 12 to 34.

The measuring device 18 comprises a wound-measuring device 58 comprising a sheet of paper 60 with a length scale 62 marked in centimetres divided into millimetres along one edge 64 and a pain-measuring device 72 in the form of an indexed scale 66 indexed with a series 74 of numerals 0-10 marked on the sheet of paper 60 with a plurality of schematic pictures of faces 68 progressing along the scale 66 from a smiling face 681 to one 682 crying and distorted with pain. The pain scale 66 also has marked, at each such face 68, a verbal description 70 of pain severity. The said verbal descriptions of pain levels are, in order: No Pain; Mild Pain; Moderate Pain; Severe Pain; Very Severe Pain; Worst Possible Pain.

The soap-impregnated gauze 22 (of which an enlarged fragment 22 is shown in Figure 5) comprises a carrier 221 carrying decontaminating material 222 suitable for use in washing the hands in the form of a sheet or matrix of sheet-like form 22 (a pad of gauze 22) impregnated with, or otherwise carrying, a decontaminating soap 222.

The procedures used are as described above. The trolley or other work surface (not shown) is disinfected if this is possible, e.g. wiped down with disinfectant. The cover 44 is peeled off the tray-like portion 42 and the latter is inverted (to the position shown in Figure 2) to deposit its contents, the wrapped package 12 to 36, on the disinfected work surface, with the tray 34 at the bottom within the wrapping primary field 36, the tip 56 of one partly tucked-in corner 56 of the field thus being available on top to open the field 36. The field 36 is opened out (i.e. unwrapped), to expose the soap-impregnated pad 22, which is now on top in its own plastic sleeve 221. The impregnated pad 22 is taken out of the sleeve 221 and used lo wash the hands. The apron 12 is donned and tied in position. One hand is put inside the disposable waste bag 14 which is then used like a glove to enable the old dressing (not shown) to be grasped and removed without touching it; the waste bag 14 is then everted to contain the old dressing and then hung in a suitable place to receive further non-sterile material. The first glove 16 to be encountered is donned; the measuring device 18 is placed onto the sterile upper surface 38 of the primary field 36; the second glove 20 is donned. The secondary field 26 (if provided) may then be unfolded and put under the treatment (wound) area (not shown) for further protection. If cleansing liquid (not shown) is to be used, the swabs 32 (and a further pad 24, for any approphate use, if provided, e.g. in a community pack option) are then tipped out onto the pdmary field's sterile surface 38; and cleansing liquid, e.g. sterile water, saline or disinfectant, is then poured into the tray 34 and used with the swabs 32 to clean the wound. The used swabs 32 are placed into the waste bag 14. The wound can now be dressed with the dressing of choice (not shown) by the healthcare professional (not shown). All contaminated materials are placed into the waste bag 14 and this is disposed of Many vahations of the invention and embodiments herein described will be apparent to people skilled in the art. For example, features of the different embodiments disclosed herein may be omitted, selected, combined or exchanged in order to form further embodiments. Again, where a preference or particuladsation is stated, there is implicit the possibility of its negative, i.e. a case in which that preference or particularisation is absent. 5

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS1. A surgical dressing pack comprising, packed in the following order, each item above the next, an apron, a disposable waste bag, two gloves, swabs, a tray and a primary sterile field which is wrapped around aU the other items with its sterile side inwards.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A pack as claimed in claim 1, comprising a pain-measuring device in the form of an indexed scale with a plurality of schematic pictures of faces progressing along the scale from a smiling face to one crying and/or distorted with pain and, marked at each such face, a verbal description of pain severity.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A pack as claimed in claim 2, in which said device is located between said two gloves.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A pack as claimed in any preceding claim, compdsing a carrier carrying decontaminaling matedal suitable for use in washing the hands.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A pack as claimed in claim 4, comprising a second such carrier.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A pack as claimed in claim 4 or 5, comprising a towel next to the or each said carrier.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A pack substantially according to any example hereinbefore described.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A pack substantially according to any example hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A method of using a pack as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a plurality of items arranged in order, in which the pack is opened to retain the order of items from within the pack, and each of the items is used in turn in said order in an aseptic procedure.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A method as claimed in claim 9, in which said procedure is used to change a dressing on a wound.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. A meihod as claimed in claim 10, in which a pain-measuring device as described in claim 2, taken from the pack, is used to measure pain.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. A method as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, in which a carrier as described in claim 4, taken from the pack, is used in washing the hands.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. A method of using a surgical dressing pack, which method is substantially according to any example hereinbefore described.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. A method of using a surgical dressing pack, which method is substantially according to any example hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.</claim-text>