This invention relates generally to tube and cord management and protection apparatus, and more particularly to disposable tube and cord containment apparatus for protecting and organizing tubes and cords in an operating room, including tubes and cords draped over a patient laying on a patient support table, and patient drape therewith.
The need to provide and maintain a clean, contamination free, and often sterile environment in a medical arena is well established. Patient contamination, such as from patient fluids, including blood and urine, for example, is directly associated with the known risk of infection that can be caused by bacteria from such contamination in the medical arena. As such, it is known that in order to minimize the risk of infection during a medical procedure, it is necessary to prevent the transfer of bacteria from contamination within the medical arena. Although the risks of contamination and infection during medical procedures in an operating room are recognized, it remains a goal to prevent the onset thereof. Particular challenges include preventing the contamination of surfaces within the operating room, including fluid and gas conveying tubes, electrical cords, and the like, such as those draped over a patient and surgical equipment stand. Infections have been estimated to affect upwards of 2 million patients or more annually. Aside from the complications brought about by infections, the infections create an economic burden on hospitals. For example, some studies have estimated that each bloodstream infection in a patient results in an average cost of about $27,000 to the hospital. Accordingly, advances are needed to reduce the potential of contamination within the medical arena and infection resulting therefrom.
Additionally, tubes and/or cords that become contaminated within a sterile zone of the operating room, typically defined above a patient support surface, such as those draped on an instrument stand, known as a Mayo stand, and/or over a patient during the medical procedure, must be immediately replaced, which generally causes unwanted, costly delay of the medical procedure. Further complicating matters is when contaminated tubes and/or cords are entangled with one another or with other non-contaminated tubes and/or cords. Having to replace an entangled tube and/or cord is generally time consuming and complicated, and can often lead to unintended contamination of other tubes, cords, or surgical tools and equipment.
There is no standard methodology for organizing tubes and/or cords and shielding tubes and/or cords against contamination and against the transfer of contamination. One known methodology includes laying a cloth or cloths over tubes and cords, but this methodology does not prevent contamination from soaking through the cloth, and does nothing to maintain the tubes and cords in organized arrangement with one another. Further yet, the cloths can prove problematic by obstructing visualization of the tubes and cords. Generally, it is desirable to be able to visualize fluid flowing through a tube to ensure the tube is not clogged, and it is further desirable to be able readily identify a cord connected to a specific instrument. Another current method includes using forceps and clamps to clamp items directly to the patient drape, however, this can result in damage, e.g. tearing, to the patient drape, which compromises sterility. Also, having to individually clamp items takes a excessive time, and thus, is inefficient. Further yet, unwanted constriction of a tube or damage to and electrical wire can result if clamped too tightly.
Accordingly, a need exists for an apparatus and method for organizing tubes and/or cables, for addressing at least those problems discussed above, including shielding the tubes and/or cables against contamination, allowing ease of set-up and replacement of tubes and/or cords, while allowing visualization of the uncompromised tubes and/or cords during medical procedure, preventing damage to the surgical drape, while being economical in manufacture and in use, and while being user friendly.
This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not intended to be a comprehensive and exhaustive listing of all of its features or its full scope.
It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a disposable surgical tube and/or cord containment drape for shielding at least one tube and/or cord against contamination.
It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide a disposable surgical tube and/or cord containment drape for bundling a plurality of the tube and/or cord with one another is provided, thereby allowing select tubes and/or cords to be grouped, as desired.
It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide a disposable surgical tube and/or cord containment drape that allows quick and easy identification of and access to one or more tubes and/or cords during a surgical procedure to allow quick and easy replacement of the one or more tubes and/or cords, as needed, if the one or more tubes and/or cords becomes contaminated, clogged, or damaged.
It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide a disposable surgical drape having at least one surgical tube and/or cord management drape for shielding at least one tube and/or cord against contamination.
It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide the disposable surgical drape, having at least one surgical tube and/or cord management drape for shielding at least one tube and/or cord against contamination, configured to drape a patient on a surgical table.
It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide the disposable surgical drape, having at least one surgical tube and/or cord management drape for shielding at least one tube and/or cord against contamination, configured to drape a surgical instrument stand, such as a Mayo stand.
In accordance with these and other objects, as will be appreciated by a person possessing ordinary skill in the art in view of the disclosure herein, a disposable surgical tube and/or cord containment drape, referred to hereafter as drape, includes a flexible wall having opposite edges extending lengthwise between opposite ends. The flexible wall has an open state, wherein one or more tubes and/or cords can be easily disposed into the drape, and a closed state, wherein the one or more tubes and/or cords are contained and protected in the drape. While the flexible wall is in the open state, upon disposing the desire tube(s) and/or cord(s) along the flexible wall of the drape, one of the opposite edges is configured to be folded about the at least one tube and/or cord toward the other of the opposite sides to bring the flexible wall to the closed state to contain and shield the at least one tube and/or cord in an inner cavity bounded by an inner surface of the flexible wall. At least one closure member is fixed to the flexible wall, with the at least one closure member being configured to releasably fix the flexible wall in the closed state.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the at least one closure member can include a first fastener portion and a second fastener portion, with the first fastener portion being configured for releasably fixed attachment to the second fastener portion.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the first fastener portion can include one of a hook portion or a loop portion, and the second fastener portion can include the other of the hook portion or the loop portion, with the hook portion being configured for releasably fixed attachment to the loop portion.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the hook portion can be fixed adjacent one of the opposite edges and the loop portion can be fixed adjacent the other of the opposite edges, thereby releasably fixing the opposite edges to one another when the flexible wall is in the closed state.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the hook portion can be fixed adjacent both of the opposite ends and the loop portion can be fixed adjacent both of the opposite ends.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the at least one closure member can include a plurality of closure members, with a plurality of the hook portions fixed adjacent one of the opposite edges and a plurality of the loop portions fixed adjacent the other of the opposite edges, and optionally, a single hook portion and a single loop portion can be disposed along the entirety of the opposite edges.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, at least one fixation member can be fixed to an outer surface of the flexible wall, wherein the at least one fixation member is configured to releasably fix the flexible wall against movement relative to an external environment surface, such as, for example, to a drape lying over a patient, over a surgical table, and/or over a Mayo stand.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the at least one fixation member can include a self-adhesive and a release film releasably covering the self-adhesive.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the at least one fixation member can include a plurality of fixation members.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a pocket can be provided to extend along the outer surface of the flexible wall, with the at least one fixation member being fixed to a first side of the flexible wall, and the pocket extending along a second side of the flexible wall, the second side being opposite the first side.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the pocket can be provided to extend from an open end of the pocket, facing a first one of the opposite ends, to a closed end of the pocket, facing a second one of the opposite ends.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the open end of the pocket can be spaced from the first one of the opposite ends, thereby allowing easy access and opening of the open end of the pocket, and the closed end can be substantially flush with the second one of the opposite ends.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, an attachment member can be fixed to an inner surface of the pocket adjacent the open end, with the attachment member being configured for attachment to a medical instrument apparatus, such as a holster configured to support a medical instrument in the pocket.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the attachment member can include a self-adhesive and a release film releasably covering the self-adhesive.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the pocket can be formed as a monolithic piece of material with the flexible wall, thereby simplifying construction.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the flexible wall and the pocket can be formed of a transparent polymeric material, thereby allowing visualization of the tube(s) and/or cord(s) disposed within the sleeve.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the material of the wall and pocket can be provided being between about 3-5 mils thick, and in one non-limiting embodiment, between about 3.5-4.5 mils, thereby making the flexible and pocket highly flexible, yet strong and tear-resistant.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the pocket has a receptacle bounded by a circumferentially continuous wall, wherein the circumferentially continuous wall can have a first bonded seam extending lengthwise between the opposite ends.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the receptacle extends from an open end, proximate a first one of the opposite ends of the wall, to a closed end, proximate a second one of the opposite ends of the wall, with the closed end being formed by a second bonded seam extending in inclined relation to the first bonded seam.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a method of constructing a disposable surgical tube and/or cord containment drape for shielding at least one tube and/or cord against contamination, and optionally, for bundling a plurality of the tube and/or cord with one another, is provided. The method includes, forming a flexible wall having opposite edges extending lengthwise along an axis between opposite ends, with the flexible wall being foldable along the axis from an open state to a closed state to bound an inner cavity by an inner surface of the flexible wall, with the inner cavity being sized for receipt of the surgical tube and/or cord therein. Further, fixing at least one closure member to the flexible wall and configuring the at least one closure member to releasably fix the flexible wall in the closed state.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further include fixing the at least one closure member to the flexible wall by fixing a first fastener member of the at least one closure member adjacent one of the opposite edges and fixing a second fastener member of the at least one closure member adjacent the other of the opposite edges.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further include providing the first fastener member being one of a hook or loop portion and the second fastener member being the other of the hook or loop portion, with the hook portion being configured for releasably fixed attachment to the loop portion.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further include fixing at least one fixation member to an outer surface of the flexible wall, wherein the at least one fixation member is configured to releasably fix the flexible wall against movement relative to an external environment surface.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further includes providing the at least one fixation member including a self-adhesive and a release film releasably covering the self-adhesive.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further include forming a pocket extending along the outer surface of the flexible wall, with the at least one fixation member being fixed to a first side of the flexible wall, and the pocket extending along a second side of the flexible wall, said second side being opposite the first side.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further include forming the pocket extending from an open end, spaced from a first one of the opposite ends, to a closed end, adjacent a second one of the opposite ends.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further include fixing an attachment member to an inner surface of the pocket adjacent the open end, with the attachment member being configured for attachment to a medical instrument apparatus, such as an instrument holster.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further include providing the attachment member including a self-adhesive and a release film releasably covering the self-adhesive.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further include forming the pocket as a monolithic piece of material with the flexible wall by folding a piece of the monolithic piece of material and bonding a free edge of the folded piece to the flexible wall, such as via a welding process.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a medical drape has at least one disposable surgical tube and/or cord containment drape, referred to hereafter as drape, integrated therewith.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the medical drape includes a drape layer and at least one surgical tube and/or cord containment drape fixed to the drape layer, with the at least one surgical tube and/or cord containment drape configured to shield at least one tube and/or cord against contamination.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the at least one surgical tube and/or cord containment drape includes a flexible wall having opposite edges extending lengthwise between opposite ends, with the flexible wall having an open state and a closed state, wherein while the flexible wall is in the open state, a first of the opposite edges is attached to the drape layer, and a second of the opposite edges is configured to be folded over the at least one tube and/or cord into releasably attached relation to the drape layer to bring the flexible wall to the closed state to contain and shield the at least one tube and/or cord in an inner cavity bounded, at least in part, by an inner surface of the flexible wall.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the inner cavity is bounded along a first side by the inner surface of the flexible wall, and the inner cavity is bounded along an opposite second side by the drape layer.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a first fastener portion is fixed to the flexible wall adjacent the second of the opposite edges and a second fastener portion fixed to the drape layer, wherein the first fastener portion is configured for releasable attachment to the second fastener portion.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the first fastener portion is one of a hook portion or a loop portion and the second fastener portion is the other of the hook portion or the loop portion.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, while the flexible wall is in the open state, one of the opposite edges is configured to be folded about the at least one tube and/or cord toward the other of the opposite sides to bring the flexible wall to the closed state to contain and shield the at least one tube and/or cord in an inner cavity bounded entirely by an inner surface of the flexible wall.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the flexible wall has at least one closure member including a first fastener portion fixed adjacent one of the opposite edges and a second fastener portion fixed adjacent the other of the opposite edges, wherein the first fastener portion is configured for releasably fixed attachment to the second fastener portion to releasably fix the flexible wall in the closed state.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the at least one surgical tube and/or cord containment drape includes a pocket extending along an outer surface of the flexible wall.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the at least one surgical tube and/or cord containment drape includes a plurality of surgical tube and/or cord containment drapes attached to one another.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the medical drape having at least one sleeve is a Mayo stand drape.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the medical drape having at least one sleeve is a patient drape.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a disposable surgical tube and/or cord containment drape for shielding at least one tube and/or cord against contamination, and optionally, for bundling a plurality of the tube and/or cord with one another, includes a flexible wall having opposite edges extending lengthwise between opposite ends. A fixation member extends adjacent one of the opposite edges. The fixation member includes a self-adhesive for fixation to a surgical drape. At least one closure member is provided adjacent the other of the opposite edges. The at least one closure member includes a first fastener portion fixed to the flexible wall and a second fastener portion releasably attached to the first fastener portion. The second fastener portion has a self-adhesive facing away from the first fastener portion for fixation to the surgical drape.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the first fastener portion is one of a hook portion or a loop portion, and the second fastener portion is the other of the hook portion or the loop portion.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the drape can further include a first release film covering the self-adhesive of the fixation member and a second release film covering the self-adhesive of the second fastener portion, with the first release film being selectively removable to expose the self-adhesive of the fixation member for fixation to the surgical drape, and the second release film being selectively removable to expose the self-adhesive of the second fastener portion for fixation to the surgical drape.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the drape can further include a pocket extending along an outer surface of the flexible wall.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the flexible wall of the drape is sterile.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a method of constructing a disposable surgical tube and/or cord containment drape for shielding at least one tube and/or cord against contamination, and optionally, for bundling a plurality of the tube and/or cord with one another is provided. The method includes, forming a flexible wall having opposite edges extending lengthwise between opposite ends. Further, fixing a fixation member extending adjacent one of the opposite edges, with the fixation member including a self-adhesive for fixation to an external environment surface. Further yet, fixing a first fastener portion to the other of the opposite edges in spaced relation from the fixation member and, releasably attaching a second fastener portion to the first fastener portion, with the second fastener portion being provided having a self-adhesive facing away from the first fastener portion for fixation to the external environment surface.
These and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily appreciated when considered in connection with the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments and best mode, appended claims and accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring in more detail to the drawings,
To facilitate placement of an instrument 27 for ready use by medical personnel, the sleeve 10 can further include a pocket 28 sized to hold the instrument, such as a suction tube, electrosurgical pencil (cauterizing pen), by way of example and without limitation. The pocket 28 extends along an outer surface 30 of the flexible wall 12. The pocket 28 extends from an open end 32 facing a first one of said opposite ends 18, shown as being proximate said end 18, wherein proximate is intended to mean between a midpoint of a length of the wall 12 and the end 18, to a closed end 34 facing a second one of said opposite ends 20, shown as being proximate said end 20, wherein proximate is intended to mean between a midpoint of a length of the wall 12 and the end 20. It is contemplated that the pocket 28 could be open at both ends, and if desired, one of the open ends could be closed, such as via a self-adhesive or otherwise, e.g. hook and loop fastener, but in order to best contain fluids and instruments, it is preferred to have the closed end 34. To facilitate easy opening of the open end 32, and to ensure any portion of the medical instrument extending outwardly from the pocket 28 remains over the wall 12, the open end 32 is spaced from the end 18, e.g. by about ½ inch to several inches, such that a free lip of the open end 32 of the pocket 28 can be readily grasped and opened. Further, to streamline construction, the closed end 34 can be made flush or substantially flush (meaning the end may not be perfectly flush, but within about a millimeter) with the other end 20. The pocket 28 has a suitably sized receptacle 36 bounded by a circumferentially continuous wall, with the circumferentially continuous wall having a first bonded seam 38 extending lengthwise between the opposite ends 32, 34. The closed end 34 of the receptacle 36 can be formed by a second bonded seam 40 along the end 20 of the sleeve 10, such that the second bonded seam extends in inclined relation, shown as being transverse, to the first bonded seam 38. The first and second bonded seams 38, 40 can be formed using any suitable fixation mechanism, and in a preferred embodiment, via adhesive, welding, such as ultrasonic welding, by way of example and without limitation.
To facilitate holding the surgical instrument 27 within the receptacle 36, an attachment member 42 can be fixed to an inner surface of the pocket 28 adjacent the open end 32. The attachment member 42 can be configured for direct attachment to the instrument, or to a medical instrument apparatus, such as a container, also referred to as holster 44. The holster 44 can be provided as desired, such as from molded plastic, by way of example and without limitation. The attachment member 42, in accordance with one presently preferred, non-limiting aspect, includes a self-adhesive and a release film 46 releasably covering the self-adhesive, such that the release film can be readily removed, when desired, thereby exposing the self-adhesive for adhesion to the holster 44. It is contemplated that a hook and loop fastening mechanism could be employed, if desired.
To further streamline construction, thereby reducing costs associated therewith, as shown in
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In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a method of constructing a disposable surgical tube and/or cord containment sleeve 10 or shielding at least one tube and/or cord 21 against contamination, and optionally, for bundling a plurality of the tube and/or cord 21 with one another, is provided. The method includes, forming a flexible wall 12 having opposite edges 14, 16 extending lengthwise along an axis 24 between opposite ends 18, 20, with the flexible wall 12 being foldable along the axis 24 from an open state to a closed state to bound an inner cavity C by an inner surface 22 of the flexible wall 12, with the inner cavity C being sized for receipt of the surgical tube and/or cord 21 therein. Further, fixing at least one closure member 26 to the flexible wall 21 and configuring the at least one closure member 26 to releasably fix the flexible wall 12 the closed state.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further include fixing the at least one closure member 26 to the flexible wall 12 by fixing a first fastener portion, also referred to as first fastener member 26a, of the at least one closure member 26 adjacent one of the opposite edges 16 and fixing a second fastener portion, also referred to as second fastener member 26b, of the at least one closure member 26 adjacent the other of the opposite edges 14.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further include providing the first fastener member being a hook portion 26a and the second fastener member being a loop portion 26b, with the hook portion 26a being configured for releasably fixed attachment to the loop portion 26b. It is contemplated herein that the first and second fastener portions 26a, 26b could be snaps or other male and female type fastener members.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further include fixing at least one fixation member 48 to an outer surface 30 of the flexible wall 12, wherein the at least one fixation member 48 is configured to releasably fix the flexible wall 12 against movement relative to an external environment surface, such as a drape over a patient, a Mayo stand, a Mayo stand drape, and/or a surgical table, by way of example and without limitation.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further includes providing the at least one fixation member 48 including a self-adhesive and a release film releasably covering the self-adhesive.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further include forming a pocket 28 extending along the outer surface 30 of the flexible wall 12, with the at least one fixation member 48 being fixed to a first side 50 of the flexible wall 12, and the pocket 28 extending along a second side 52 of the flexible wall 12, with the second side 52 being opposite the first side 50.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further include forming the pocket 28 extending from an open end 32 of the pocket 28, spaced from a first one of the opposite ends 18 of the sleeve 10, to a closed end 34, adjacent a second one of the opposite ends 20 of the sleeve 10.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further include fixing an attachment member 42 to an inner surface of the pocket 28 adjacent the open end 32, with the attachment member 42 being configured for attachment to a medical device container, such as an instrument holster 44.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further include providing the attachment member 42 including a self-adhesive and a release film releasably covering the self-adhesive.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, the method can further include forming the pocket 28 as a monolithic piece of material with the flexible wall 12 by folding a piece of the monolithic piece of material and bonding a free edge of the folded piece to the flexible wall 12, such as via any desired welding, heat-sealing process, by way of example and without limitation.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure,
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In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure,
The drapes 210, and referred to hereafter in the singular as drape 210 for description purposes only, includes a flexible wall 212, constructed of the same material discussed above for flexible wall 12, having opposite edges 214, 216 extending lengthwise between opposite ends 218, 220, with the flexible wall 212 having an open state (
The drape 210 includes at least one fastener member, referred to as fixation member 248, extending adjacent the edge 216 and at least one closure member, and shown as a plurality of closure members 226, by way of example and without limitation, adjacent the other edge 214. The fixation member 248 can be provided as a self-adhesive layer 248a configured for direct fixation to the drape layer 202. Upon being adhered directly to the drape layer 202, the drape 210 is intended to remain fixed to the drape layer 202, as it is typically required by operating room protocol to avoid removing an article from direct fixation from a drape layer. Prior to fixing the self-adhesive layer 248a to the drape layer 202, a release film 248b can be provided over the self-adhesive layer 248a to protect the self-adhesive layer 248a against contamination, and then, when desired to fix the self-adhesive layer 248a to the drape layer 202, the release film 248b can be removed.
The closure members 226 are illustrated having a first fastener portion 226a fixed to the flexible wall 212 adjacent the opposite edge 214 and a second fastener portion 226b fixed to the drape layer 202. The first fastener portion 226a is configured for releasable attachment to the second fastener portion 226b, thereby allowing the edge 214 to be releasably fixed to the drape layer 202, and subsequently detached from the drape layer 202, as may be desired to service or otherwise tend to the at least one tube and/or cord 21 during a medical procedure. It is to be recognized that separation of the first and second fastener portions 226a, 226b from one another is permitted due to the second fastener portion 226b remaining fixed to the drape layer 202, while the first fastener portion 226 is detached from the second fastener portion 226b. The first fastener portion 226a can be provided as one of a hook portion or a loop portion of a hook and loop type fastener, and the second fastener portion 226b can be provided as the other of the hook portion or the loop portion of the hook and loop type fastener. The second fastener portion 226b can be provided having a self-adhesive layer 226c (
The drape 210 can include a pocket 228 extending along an outer surface 230 of the flexible wall 212. The pocket 228 can be formed as discussed above for pocket 28, or otherwise, as desired. The pocket 228 can also include an attachment member 242, as discussed above for attachment member 42.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure,
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure,
In application, the fixation member 448 can be fixed directly to the drape layer 402, whereupon the separate drapes 410a, 410b are in an open, non-deployed state (
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a method of constructing a disposable surgical tube and/or cord containment drape 210 for shielding at least one tube and/or cord 21 against contamination, and optionally, for bundling a plurality of the tube and/or cord 21 with one another is provided. The method includes, forming a flexible wall 212 having opposite edges 214, 216 extending lengthwise between opposite ends 218, 220; fixing a fixation member 248 extending adjacent one of the opposite edges 216, with the fixation member 248 including a self-adhesive 248a for fixation to an external environment surface 202; fixing a first fastener portion 226a to the other of the opposite edges 214 in spaced relation from the fixation member 248; releasably attaching a second fastener portion 226b to the first fastener portion 226a, with the second fastener portion 226b being provided having a self-adhesive 226c facing away from the first fastener portion 226a for fixation to the external environment surface 202.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is contemplated that all features of all claims and of all embodiments can be combined with each other, so long as such combinations would not contradict one another. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/452,425, filed Mar. 15, 2023, and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/341,643, filed May 13, 2022, which are both incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63452425 | Mar 2023 | US | |
63341643 | May 2022 | US |