US-12622764-B1 - Surgical tray protector

US12622764B1US 12622764 B1US12622764 B1US 12622764B1US-12622764-B1

Abstract

The invention concerns an apparatus comprising a sterile cover and a protective cover. The sterile cover may be configured to prevent a contamination of a surface. The protective cover may be configured to fit over a first portion of the sterile cover and provide protection against a sharp edge piercing the sterile cover. The first portion of the sterile cover may be within the protective cover. A second portion of the sterile cover creates an open end that may extend out of an open edge of the protective cover. The open end and the open edge may enable the sterile cover and the protective cover to slide over a top side and a bottom side of the surface together. An attachment may connect the protective cover to the sterile cover.

Inventors

Anthony Kenneth Downs

Assignees

Anthony Kenneth Downs

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20240914

Claims (14)

1 . An apparatus comprising: a sterile cover configured to prevent a contamination of a surface; and a protective cover configured to (i) fit over a first portion of said sterile cover and (ii) provide protection against a sharp edge piercing said sterile cover, wherein (a) said first portion of said sterile cover is within said protective cover, (b) a second portion of said sterile cover creates an open end that extends out of an open edge of said protective cover, (c) said open end and said open edge enable said sterile cover and said protective cover to slide over a top side and a bottom side of said surface together, and (d) an attachment connects said protective cover to said sterile cover, (e) said protective cover comprises (i) a first piece of a robust material on a top face of said sterile cover and (ii) a second piece of said robust material on a bottom face of said sterile cover, and (f) said attachment comprises connecting said first piece of said robust material to said second piece of said robust material over said first portion of said sterile cover.
2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said surface comprises a medical tray configured to provide support for a medical tool comprising said sharp edge.
3 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said contamination of said medical tray supporting said medical tool requires discarding said medical tool according to a safety protocol.
4 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said apparatus is used to stage said medical tray and said medical tool for a surgical procedure.
5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said sterile cover is a thin material that is unable to withstand a first amount of force by said sharp edge.
6 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said protective cover prevents said sterile cover from being pierced when said first amount of force of said sharp edge is applied to said protective cover.
7 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said protective cover comprises said open edge, a closed edge parallel to said open edge and two closed edges perpendicular to said open edge and said closed edge.
8 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said contamination of said surface is prevented by sliding said open end of said sterile cover over said top side and said bottom side of said surface such that said surface is inserted into said sterile cover.
9 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein (i) said sterile cover prevents said contamination of said top side and said bottom side of said surface and (ii) said protective cover provides said protection of a top face and a bottom face of said first portion of said sterile cover.
10 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said attachment comprises an adhesive.
11 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said attachment comprises a hook and loop fastener.
12 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said protective cover comprises an overlay film and said attachment is enabled by a heat source.
13 . The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said heat source is generated by a heat press configured to apply said heat source onto all of said protective cover.
14 . The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said heat source is generated by a heating iron configured to apply said heat source to a seam that creates said attachment between said protective cover and said sterile cover.

Description

This application relates to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/540,670, filed on Sep. 27, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a sterile product generally and, more particularly, to a method and/or apparatus for implementing a surgical tray protector. BACKGROUND Surgery requires a sterile environment and sterile tools. Ensuring a sterile environment can be time consuming for workers. Ensuring a sterile environment can be wasteful because tools determined to be non-sterile are disposed. Surgical staff prepare the surgical room and the surgical instruments before a surgery occurs. Surgical trays for holding the surgical instruments are covered to ensure the surgical instruments remain sterile. If the surgical instruments directly make contact with the surface of the surgical tray, then the surgical instruments are considered contaminated and must be disposed. Sterile covers are used to cover surgical trays to prevent direct contact between the surgical instruments and the surface of the surgical tray. However, sterile covers are not robust and surgical instruments are often sharp. If a surgical instrument pierces the sterile cover, then there is a risk of contamination, which requires the surgical instruments to be disposed and replaced. Disposing and replacing the surgical instruments is costly, and adds time, which can delay important medical procedures. It would be desirable to implement a surgical tray protector. SUMMARY The invention concerns an apparatus comprising a sterile cover and a protective cover. The sterile cover may be configured to prevent a contamination of a surface. The protective cover may be configured to fit over a first portion of the sterile cover and provide protection against a sharp edge piercing the sterile cover. The first portion of the sterile cover may be within the protective cover. A second portion of the sterile cover creates an open end that may extend out of an open edge of the protective cover. The open end and the open edge may enable the sterile cover and the protective cover to slide over a top side and a bottom side of the surface together. An attachment may connect the protective cover to the sterile cover. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claims and drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating sliding an example embodiment of the present invention over a tray. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating attaching a protective cover to a sterile cover using a button fastener. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating attaching a protective cover to a sterile cover using staples. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating attaching a protective cover to a sterile cover using an adhesive. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating attaching a protective cover to a sterile cover using hook and loop fasteners. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating attaching a protective cover to a sterile cover using a heat source. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example embodiment of the present invention implemented to fit over a surgical tray stand. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention include providing a surgical tray protector that may (i) implement a protective cover for a sterile cover, (ii) prevent surgical instruments from piercing a sterile cover, (iii) enable surgical staff to quickly install the sterile cover over a surgical tray, (iv) be implemented as a single piece, (v) attach a protective cover to a sterile cover, (vi) implement an adhesive to connect a protective cover to a sterile cover, (vii) prevent wasteful disposal of surgical tools, and/or (viii) facilitate efficient surgical room preparation for health workers. Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented as one piece that may comprise a protective cover and a sterile cover. The protective cover may be attached together with the sterile cover. When attached together as one piece, the protective cover and the sterile cover may be used to fit over a surface. The surface may be a sterile surface used in a health setting (e.g., a surgical room). In one example, the surface may be a medical tray and/or a surgical tray (e.g., a mayo stand). The protective cover and the sterile cover may be implemented having a size that may fit over a particular model of surgical tray. Different sizes of protective cover and sterile cover combinations may be implemented based on the size of the surface. The shape and/or size of the protective cover and/or the sterile cover may be varied according to the design criteria of a particular implementation. The sterile cover may be implemented to prevent direct contact of surgical tools with the surface. Generally, the sterile cover may be a thin material (e.g., a thin plastic material). The thin plastic tool may be easily damag