Surgical scrub

Claim 2

A surgical scrub device comprising: an absorbent compressible applicator member; an elongated hollow handle member having first and second longitudinally-spaced ends, said first end being open, said second end being at least partially disposed in said absorbent applicator member, said handle member being adapted to receive an elongated fluid-containing cartridge in longitudinally slidably relation within said handle member, said cartridge having a rupturable forward end by which it is insertable into said open first end of said handle member; and first and second transversely spaced hollow spikes disposed inside said handle member proximate said second end, each spike having a pointed end projecting longitudinally toward said first end, each hollow spike providing flow communication from within said handle member to within said applicator member through said second end of said handle member; wherein said spikes are positioned to provide two transversely-spaced punctures in said forward end of said cartridge in response to a predetermined slidable insertion of said cartridge in said handle member; wherein said spikes include respective projecting portions which project in spaced relation externally of said hollow handle member beyond said second end; and

Claim 3

wherein said applicator member has first and second flow passages in the form of respective first and second bores defined therein oriented to receive respective projecting portions of said spikes, each flow passage extending beyond its received projecting spike portions.

Claim 4

wherein said applicator member has first and second flow passages in the form of respective first and second bores defined therein oriented to receive respective projecting portions of said spikes, each flow passage extending beyond its received projecting spike portions.

Claim 5

The surgical scrub device according to claim 1 further comprising a transversely flexible paddle extending from said second end of said handle member between and beyond said projecting portions of said spikes, wherein said applicator member has a slit defined therein between said flow passages to receive said flexible paddle and thereby engage said handle member.

Claim 6

The surgical scrub device according to claim 2 wherein said applicator member is a sponge-like member and has first and second opposite applicator surfaces, wherein said paddle has first and second opposite flat surfaces, and wherein said first and second hollow spikes and said flow passages provide flow communication from the interior of said handle member to locations along said first and second flat surfaces, respectively, of said paddle.

Claim 7

The surgical scrub device according to claim 3 wherein said first and second spikes are hollow tubes terminating along respective first and second bias planes to define said pointed ends, wherein said first and second bias planes converge in a direction toward said second end of said handle member.

Claim 8

The surgical scrub device according to claim 3 further comprising additional slits defined in said sponge-like member and extending perpendicular to said first-mentioned slit between said first-mentioned slit and said first and second flow passages, respectively.

Claim 9

The surgical scrub device according to claim 3 wherein said first and second flow passages in said sponge-like member are generally tubular passages extending generally parallel to said slit.

Claim 10

The surgical scrub device according to claim 6 wherein said first and second flow passages are each longer than said slit.

Claim 11

The surgical scrub device according to claim 6 wherein said first and second flow passages are each shorter than said slit.

Claim 12

The surgical scrub device according to claim 3 wherein said first and second flow passages each gradually widen along their lengths within said applicator member.

Claim 13

The surgical scrub device according to claim 3 wherein said first and second flow passages define an acute angle in a plane which is perpendicular to said slit.

Claim 14

The surgical scrub device according to claim 10 wherein said acute angle is a divergence between said first and second flow passages in a direction away from the received projecting portions.

Claim 15

The surgical scrub device according to claim 3 wherein said first and second flow passages each branch into plural further flow passages.

Claim 16

The surgical scrub device according to claim 1 wherein the hollow spikes are interiorally coated with a non-wetting material.

Claim 17

A surgical scrub device comprising: an absorbent compressible applicator member; an elongated hollow handle member having first and second longitudinally-spaced ends, said first end being open, said second end having a thin flexible member extending longitudinally therefrom to be received within said applicator member; an elongated fluid-containing cartridge adapted for longitudinal slidability in said handle member, said cartridge having a rupturable forward end by which it is insertable into said open first end of said handle member; at least one spike disposed inside said handle member proximate said second end, said spike having a pointed end projecting longitudinally toward said first end to puncture said forward end of said cartridge in response to a predetermined slidable insertion of said cartridge into said handle member; and flow passage means communicating with the interior of said handle member at said second end and projecting exteriorally of said handle member beyond said second end in a projecting portion; wherein said applicator member has at least one recess defined therein oriented to receive the projecting portion of said flow passage means, said recess comprising a bore extending deeper into said applicator member than said projecting portion to preclude impedance to flow into the applicator member by saturation of applicator member material at said projecting portion.

Claim 18

A surgical scrub device comprising: an absorbent compressible applicator member; an elongated hollow handle member having first and second longitudinally-spaced ends, said first end being open, said second end having a thin flexible member extending longitudinally therefrom to be received within said applicator member; an elongated fluid-containing cartridge adapted for longitudinal slidability in said handle member, said cartridge having a rupturable forward end by which it is insertable into said open first end of said handle member; at least one spike disposed inside said handle member proximate said second end, said spike having a pointed end projecting longitudinally toward said first end to puncture said forward end of said cartridge in response to a predetermined slidable insertion of said cartridge into said handle member; and flow passage means communicating with the interior of said handle member at said second end and projecting exteriorally of said handle member beyond said second end in a projecting portion; wherein said applicator member has at least one recess defined therein oriented to receive the projecting portion of said flow passage means, said recess comprising a bore extending deeper into said applicator member than said projecting portion to preclude impedance to flow into the applicator member by saturation of applicator member material at said projecting portion.

Claim 19

The surgical scrub device according to claim 14 wherein said applicator member has a slit defined therein to receive the flexible member, thereby to engage said handle member.

Claim 20

The surgical scrub device according to claim 15 wherein said applicator member has an exterior application surface, wherein said flow passage means and said recess provides flow communication from the interior of said handle member to the interior of said applicator member to facilitate flow to locations along said application surface.

Claim 21

The surgical scrub device according to claim 16 wherein said spike is a hollow tube, the interior of which comprises said flow passage means.

Claim 22

The surgical scrub device according to claim 15 further comprising an additional slit defined in said applicator member extending perpendicular to said first-mentioned slit between said first-mentioned slit and said recess.

Claim 23

The surgical scrub device according to claim 14 wherein said recess in said applicator member is a generally tubular passage.

Claim 24

The surgical scrub device according to claim 14 wherein said recess gradually widens along its length.

Claim 25

The surgical scrub device according to claim 14 wherein said recess defines an acute angle with said thin flexible member.

Claim 26

The surgical scrub device according to claim 21 wherein said acute angle is a divergence between said recess and said flexible member in a direction away from said second end.

Claim 27

The surgical scrub device according to claim 14 wherein said recess branches out into plural flow passages.

Claim 28

The surgical scrub device according to claim 14 wherein said flow passage means includes two tubes defined on opposite sides of said thin flexible member and projecting exteriorally from said second end of said handle.

Claim 29

The surgical scrub device according to claim 24 wherein each of said tubes includes a sharp-pointed termination disposed inside said handle member and projecting toward said first end, and wherein one of said tubes corresponds to said at least one spike.

Claim 30

The surgical scrub device according to claim 25 wherein said sharp pointed terminations are transversely spaced, each termination being disposed in respective intersecting biased planes.

Claim 31

A surgical scrub device comprising: an elongated hollow handle member having first and second longitudinally-spaced ends, said first end being open; an absorbent applicator member disposed about said second end of said handle member; an elongated fluid-containing cartridge adapted for longitudinal slidability in said handle member, said cartridge having a rupturable forward end by which it is inserted into said open first end of said handle member; and at least one hollow spike formed as part of and inside said handle member proximate said second end, said spike having a pointed end projecting longitudinally toward said first end and providing full flow communication from within said handle member to said applicator member through said second end of said handle member, said hollow spike being interiorally coated with a non-wetting material.

Claim 32

A surgical scrub device comprising: an elongated hollow handle member having first and second longitudinally-spaced ends, said first end being open; an absorbent applicator member disposed about said second end of said handle member; an elongated fluid-containing cartridge adapted for longitudinal slidability in said handle member, said cartridge having a rupturable forward end by which it is inserted into said open first end of said handle member; and at least one hollow spike formed as part of and inside said handle member proximate said second end, said spike having a pointed end projecting longitudinally toward said first end and providing full flow communication from within said handle member to said applicator member through said second end of said handle member, said hollow spike being interiorally coated with a non-wetting material.

Claim 33

A surgical scrub device according to claim 27 wherein said non-wetting material is silicone.