Transparent shielding device for use with autopsy saw

Claim 1

A protective shield and saw assembly for use during an autopsy by a prosector operating upon a subject comprising, in combination: a transparent shield for attachment to and for draping about said subject, said shield having an inside and an outside face and, when said shield is draped about said subject, the inside face is adjacent said subject; one or more attachment means for sealing said body to the subject, said attachment means for isolating the portion of said subject to be dissected and for defining a sealed dissection chamber thereabout; at least one autopsy instrument port means for inserting an oscillating autopsy saw partly into said chamber with the handle thereof adjacent the outside face of said body; and, an instrument seal means for sealing said port means to said saw; an oscillating autopsy saw mounted with the blade portion in the dissection chamber and the instrument seal means sealed to the shank of the saw; whereby the prosector, when the protective shield and saw assembly is employed, is enabled to use with an unobstructed view thereof, said oscillating autopsy saw upon said subject while restricting the effluent from the dissection of the subject to said sealed dissection chamber and thereby protecting the prosector from infection.

Claim 7

A method of protecting autopsy room staff during an autopsy by a prosector operating with hand-held instruments upon a subject comprising the following steps: a. draping a transparent sheet-like body about said subject, said sheet-like body having at least one instrument port therethrough and having an inside and an outside face which, when said sheet-like body is draped about said subject, the inside face of said sheet-like body is adjacent said subject, said sheet like body being tubular with two open ends with one open end thereof adapted for attachment to the neck of the subject and with the other open end thereof adapted for attachment to the hips of the subject forming a dissection chamber adjacent the spine of the subject for use during a spinal cored removal procedure; b. sealing said sheet-like body to the subject; c. isolating the portion of said subject to be dissected and defining a sealed dissection chamber thereabout; d. at an autopsy instrument port, inserting an oscillating autopsy saw partly into said chamber with the handle thereof adjacent the outside face of said body; and, e. sealing said port to said instrument; whereby the prosector, when the protective device is employed, is enabled by the method to use, with an unobstructed view thereof, said instrument upon said subject while restricting the effluent from the dissection of the subject to said sealed dissection chamber and thereby protecting the said autopsy room staff from infection.

Claim 8

A method of protecting autopsy room staff during an autopsy by a prosector operating with hand-held instruments upon a subject comprising the following steps: a. draping a transparent sheet-like body about said subject, said sheet-like body having at least one instrument port therethrough and having an inside and an outside face which, when said sheet-like body is draped about said subject, the inside face of said sheet-like body is adjacent said subject, said sheet like body being tubular with two open ends with one open end thereof adapted for attachment to the neck of the subject and with the other open end thereof adapted for attachment to the hips of the subject forming a dissection chamber adjacent the spine of the subject for use during a spinal cored removal procedure; b. sealing said sheet-like body to the subject; c. isolating the portion of said subject to be dissected and defining a sealed dissection chamber thereabout; d. at an autopsy instrument port, inserting an oscillating autopsy saw partly into said chamber with the handle thereof adjacent the outside face of said body; and, e. sealing said port to said instrument; whereby the prosector, when the protective device is employed, is enabled by the method to use, with an unobstructed view thereof, said instrument upon said subject while restricting the effluent from the dissection of the subject to said sealed dissection chamber and thereby protecting the said autopsy room staff from infection.

Claim 11

A method of protecting autopsy room staff during autopsy by a prosector operating with hand-held instruments upon a subject comprising the following steps: a. draping a transparent sheet-like body about said subject, said sheet-like body having at least one instrument port therethrough and having an inside and an outside face which, when said sheet-like body is draped about said subject, the inside face of said sheet-like body is adjacent said subject, said sheet like body being bag-shaped with the mouth thereof adapted for attachment to the torso of the subject and adapted for forming a dissection chamber adjacent the head of the subject for use during a brain removal procedure; b. sealing said sheet-like body to the subject; c. isolating the portion of said subject to be dissected and defining a sealed dissection chamber thereabout; d. at an autopsy instrument port, inserting an oscillating autopsy saw partly into said chamber with the handle thereof adjacent the outside face of said body; and, e. sealing said port to said instrument; f. holding the chamber wall away from the dissection site by a chamber support means; g. cutting through the cranial bones to expose the brain; and, h. retaining the effluent of the brain removal procedure within the dissection chamber; whereby the prosector, when the protective device is employed, is enabled by the method to use, with an unobstructed view thereof, said instrument upon said subject while restricting the effluent from the dissection of the subject to said sealed dissection chamber and thereby protecting the said autopsy room staff from infection.

Claim 12

A method of protecting autopsy room staff during autopsy by a prosector operating with hand-held instruments upon a subject comprising the following steps: a. draping a transparent sheet-like body about said subject, said sheet-like body having at least one instrument port therethrough and having an inside and an outside face which, when said sheet-like body is draped about said subject, the inside face of said sheet-like body is adjacent said subject, said sheet like body being bag-shaped with the mouth thereof adapted for attachment to the torso of the subject and adapted for forming a dissection chamber adjacent the head of the subject for use during a brain removal procedure; b. sealing said sheet-like body to the subject; c. isolating the portion of said subject to be dissected and defining a sealed dissection chamber thereabout; d. at an autopsy instrument port, inserting an oscillating autopsy saw partly into said chamber with the handle thereof adjacent the outside face of said body; and, e. sealing said port to said instrument; f. holding the chamber wall away from the dissection site by a chamber support means; g. cutting through the cranial bones to expose the brain; and, h. retaining the effluent of the brain removal procedure within the dissection chamber; whereby the prosector, when the protective device is employed, is enabled by the method to use, with an unobstructed view thereof, said instrument upon said subject while restricting the effluent from the dissection of the subject to said sealed dissection chamber and thereby protecting the said autopsy room staff from infection.