while the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below , it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts . the specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention . to facilitate the understanding of the embodiments described herein , a number of terms are defined below . the terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the present invention . terms such as “ a ,” “ an ,” and “ the ” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity , but rather include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration . the terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments of the invention , but their usage does not delimit the invention , except as set forth in the claims . as used herein , “ fold ” is intended to refer to a fold , crease , or other joint . furthermore , as used herein the term “ containment shield ” includes but is not limited to embodiments that contain elements during surgical procedures or the like . this can include fluids , debris , smoke , certain wavelengths of light , biologic and non - biological material . the term “ containment shield ” can also be understood as a device that at least partially assists in blocking spatter , which may include the splashing or impact of biological and non - biological material against the shield . referring to fig1 and 4 , a containment shield 100 is operable to mount on an output housing of a surgical cutting instrument . as used herein , a surgical cutting instrument is any tool used in human or veterinary surgery , organ harvesting , or autopsy that may result in spatter or release of biological material such as a saw , drill , chisel , hammer , screwdriver , grinder , cutting wheel , laser cutting tools , laser coagulators , cauterizing devices , water pulsating device , rasp , pliers , organ harvesting tools , tissue harvesting tools , impactors , dental tools , or rotary cutting tool such as a dremel ™ tool . such surgical cutting instruments may be used primarily on biological tissue ( e . g ., removing bone spurs , fragments , etc .) or on foreign objects ( e . g ., screws , plates , wires , fusion devices , etc .). the containment shield 100 includes a body 102 having a distal face 106 and a proximal face 108 . the body 102 is substantially transparent and has a generally consistent thickness such that the body 102 is pliable and resilient . optionally , the thickness may range from about 0 . 005 inches to about 0 . 05 inches thick with many optional embodiments being around 0 . 015 inches thick . optionally , the thickness may depend on the specific application for which the device will be used . the thickness range is only an example and in some optional embodiments , the device may be thicker or thinner . in one embodiment , the body 102 includes a reflection reducing coating . in another embodiment , the body 102 is formed from a reflection reducing or non - reflective material . in fig1 , a containment shield 100 having a generally rectangular outline is shown whereas , in fig4 , a containment shield 100 having a generally ovular outline is shown . other outline shapes are contemplated within the scope of the claims . the body 102 has a plurality of folds 104 a , 104 b . quadrant folds 104 a divide the body 102 into quadrants . bisecting folds 104 b divide each quadrant generally in half . that is , the bisecting folds 104 b extend at about a 45 ° angle in each quadrant from an origin of the quadrants formed by the quadrant folds 104 a as shown in fig1 or meet an edge of the body 102 halfway between two quadrant folds 104 a ( see , for example , fig4 ). the quadrant folds 104 a and the bisecting folds 104 b are in opposite directions . that is , if the quadrant folds 104 a operate to bring two points on the distal face 106 together , then the bisecting folds 104 b operate to bring two points on the proximal face 108 together . conversely , if the quadrant folds 104 a operate to bring two points on the proximal face 108 together , then the bisecting folds 104 b operate to bring two points on the distal face 106 together . the body 102 also includes a mounting hole 110 operable to engage the output housing of the surgical cutting instrument . a shaft of the surgical cutting instrument passes through the mounting hole 110 together with a portion of the output housing of the surgical cutting instrument , and a portion of the body 102 adjacent the mounting hole 110 frictionally engages the output housing of the surgical cutting instrument . the body 102 may also include a plurality of slits 112 therethrough extending from an edge of the mounting hole 110 . in one embodiment , each slits of the plurality of slits 112 extends along one of the plurality of folds 104 a , 104 b . in one embodiment , each slit 112 extends radially from a center point of the mounting hole 110 . in another embodiment , each slit 112 extends perpendicularly from an edge of the mounting hole 110 . in one embodiment , the mounting hole 110 has a diameter of approximately one half of an inch , and each slit 112 of the plurality of slits has a length of approximately one half of an inch . in one embodiment , the body 102 has a width of between approximately 8 and 10 inches . it is contemplated that these dimensions may vary to accommodate different sizes and types of surgical cutting instruments . in an alternative embodiment , there are no slits 112 extending from the mounting hole 110 ( see , for example , fig8 ). referring to fig2 , the containment shield 100 is shown folded flat in a sterile package 202 . to fold the containment shield 100 flat , the four quadrant folds 104 a are brought together , and one pair of opposing quadrant folds are substantially flattened . the four bisecting folds 104 b are folded such that portions of the distal face 106 adjacent each bisecting fold 104 b are touching or in close proximity . the package 202 maintains the containment shield 100 in a substantially flat configuration within the sealed sterile enclosure of the package 202 . referring to fig3 , the containment shield 100 is mounted on an output housing 302 of a surgical cutting instrument 300 . the distal face 106 is at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis 304 through the mounting hole 110 , and the distal face 106 faces toward a cutting device 306 of the surgical cutting instrument 300 . the proximal face 108 is at an obtuse angle with respect to the longitudinal axis 304 and faces toward a housing side 308 of the surgical cutting instrument 300 opposite the cutting device 306 of the surgical cutting instrument 300 . in one embodiment , the containment shield 100 further includes a collar 316 retaining the mounting hole 110 of the body 102 on the output housing 302 of the surgical cutting instrument 300 . as shown , the collar 316 slips onto the output housing 302 after the containment shield 100 to prevent the containment shield 100 from slipping down the output housing 302 toward the cutting device 306 . in another embodiment , the collar 316 slides onto the output housing 302 before the containment shield 100 , and after the containment shield 100 is installed on the output housing 302 , the collar 316 is slid over a portion of the body 102 adjacent the mounting hole 110 to increase the frictional engagement of the body 102 to the output housing 302 . in one embodiment , the collar 316 is silicone rubber . the collar 316 may be turned inside out to roll down the output housing 302 onto the portion of the body 102 adjacent the mounting hole 302 ( i . e ., the portion free to lay flat against the output housing 302 due to slits 112 ). referring to fig5 and 6 , a containment shield 500 operable to mount on the output housing 302 of the surgical cutting instrument 300 includes a body 502 having a distal face 506 , a proximal face 508 , a tab 520 , and a slot 522 . as shown , the containment shield 500 has a plurality of tabs 520 and a plurality of corresponding slots 522 . the body 502 is substantially transparent and has a generally consistent thickness such that the body 502 is pliable and resilient . in one embodiment of the body 502 having a generally consistent thickness , the body 502 is formed from a sheet of non - reflective plastic having a thickness of 0 . 025 mm +/− 0 . 005 mm . when the tab 520 is inserted into the corresponding slot 522 , the containment shield 500 takes a generally conical form as shown in fig6 . when the tab 520 is not in the corresponding slot 522 , the containment shield takes a generally flat form as shown in fig5 . the body 502 has a mounting hole 510 formed when the tab 520 is in the corresponding slot 522 . the mounting hole 510 is operable to engage the output housing 302 of the surgical cutting instrument 300 . when the tab 520 is in the corresponding slot 522 , and the body 502 is mounted on the output housing 302 of the surgical cutting instrument 300 , the distal face 506 is at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis 604 through the mounting hole 510 . the distal face 506 faces toward the cutting device 306 of the surgical cutting instrument 300 . the proximal face 508 is at an obtuse angle with respect to the longitudinal axis 604 and faces toward a housing 308 of the surgical cutting instrument 300 opposite the cutting device 306 of the surgical cutting instrument 300 . in the embodiment illustrated in fig5 , the body 502 has an outline that is substantially semicircular ( e . g ., a half - moon shape ). the tab 520 extends from the generally straight edge 530 of the outline of the body 502 . the slot 522 corresponding to the tab 520 is adjacent the straight edge of the outline of the body . that is , the slot is through the body 502 and set back from the straight edge 530 . disregarding the tab 520 and slot 522 , the outline of the body 502 is substantially symmetrical about an axis . the axis thus divides the outline of the body 502 into a first half and an opposing , symmetrical second half . the straight edge 530 of the outline in the first half appears as a mirror image about the axis in the second half . for example , if the straight edge 530 is perpendicular to the axis in the first half , then it is also perpendicular to the axis in the opposing second half . however , if the straight edge is at 45 degrees with respect to the axis in the first half , then the straight edge is at 45 degrees with respect to the axis in the second half . the tab 520 extends from the straight edge in the first half of the outline of the body . the slot 522 is adjacent the straight edge 530 in the second half of the outline of the body 502 . in an alternative embodiment , the outline of the body 502 is fan shaped such that when the tabs 520 are in the corresponding slots 522 , a cross section of the containment shield 100 is substantially square or rectangular . in one embodiment , a method of using a containment shield begins with removing the containment shield from packaging . the shield includes a body that is substantially transparent and as a generally consistent thickness such that the body is pliable and resilient . the body is substantially planar and sterile when in the package . the method then continues with forming the containment shield into a three - dimensional shape having a distal face and a proximal face . the third step of the method is engaging a mounting hole of the containment shield on to the output housing of the surgical cutting instrument such that the distal face is at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis through the mounting hole and faces toward a cutting device of the surgical cutting instrument . the proximal face is at an obtuse angle with respect to the longitudinal axis and faces toward a housing side of the surgical cutting instrument . in one embodiment , forming the containment shield into the three - dimensional shape includes flexing a plurality of folds of the body of containment shield . in an alternative embodiment , forming the containment shield into the three - dimensional shape includes engaging a tab of the body with a corresponding slot in the body to form the containment shield into a generally conical shape . the method may also include operating the surgical cutting instrument to cut biological material , and replacing the containment shield with another containment shield ( i . e ., repeating the removing , forming , and engaging steps of the method ) when visibility through the containment shield is reduced due to debris from cutting the biological material . referring to fig7 , a containment shield 100 has one or more layers of film on a distal face 106 of the body 102 . in one embodiment , a distal layer of film 702 is a thin layer of plastic adhered to the body 102 or underlying layer of film by static cling or a light duty adhesive . in one embodiment , the film is 0 . 5 mil thick polyvinyl chloride ( pvc ). when visibility through the distal layer 702 of the plurality of layers becomes obscured by spatter , operating room personnel can peel the layer of film 702 from the containment shield 100 , resulting in a substantially spatter free containment shield . the film has a peel tab 704 protruding from the edge of the body 102 . successive tabs 708 corresponding to successively less distal layers of film are adjacent the peel tab 704 corresponding to the most distal layer 702 . in one embodiment , the most distal layer of film 702 has a slit 706 therethrough from an outer edge of the layer of film to an inner edge adjacent the mounting hole 110 . the slit 706 allows the layer of film 702 to be peeled from the containment shield 100 with reduced interaction with the cutting device 306 of the cutting instrument 300 which helps to prevent injury to operating room personnel . although the distal layer of film 702 is shown as inset from the edges of the body 102 , it is contemplated that the edges of the layers of film may be inset or coextensive with the edges of the body 102 . referring to fig8 , a containment shield 100 has a plurality of layers of film on a distal face 106 of the body 102 . the distal layer of film 702 is a thin layer of plastic adhered to the body 102 or underlying layer of film by static cling . the distal layer of film 702 has a peel tab 704 protruding from the edge of the body 102 . successive tabs 708 corresponding to successively less distal layers of film are adjacent the peel tab 704 corresponding to the most distal layer 702 . in one embodiment , the most distal layer of film 702 has a slit 706 therethrough from an outer edge of the layer of film to an inner edge adjacent the mounting hole 110 . additionally , the mounting hole 110 in this embodiment may be substantially square and does not have slits extending radially therefrom . this style of mounting hole 110 may be used to mount on a square output housing , or for mating with a collar that retains the containment shield 100 on a surgical cutting instrument . although the outline of the containment shield 100 of fig8 is substantially square , it is contemplated that the containment shield 100 may have a generally circular , rectangular , or oblong outline . in one embodiment , a side of the square mounting hole 110 of the containment shield 100 of fig8 is 3 / 16 ″. in an alternative embodiment , the mounting hole 110 is circular with a diameter of 3 / 16 ″. referring to fig9 , the containment shield 100 includes the body 102 and a collar 302 . in one embodiment , the collar 302 has a collar top 904 and a neck 902 extending therefrom toward the body 102 . the neck 902 joins the collar top 904 to the body 102 . in one embodiment , the neck 902 is integral with the collar top 904 . the neck 902 may be of the same material as the collar top 904 , or the neck 902 may be a harder material that helps the containment shield 100 and collar top 904 maintain their shape . alternatively , the neck 902 may be welded or affixed to the collar top 904 with an adhesive . similarly , the next 902 is affixed to the body 102 via a welding process ( e . g ., ultrasonic welding ) or via an adhesive . in the embodiment shown in fig9 , the collar top 904 of the collar 302 includes a mounting hole 110 having a diameter of approximately 3 / 16 of an inch with slits 912 extending radially outward . in fig9 , the surgical cutting instrument 300 shown is a chisel 906 ( e . g ., a bone chisel ) and a hammer 908 . referring to fig1 , a laser 1002 is shown as the surgical cutting instrument 300 . the laser 1002 can generate both spatter and smoke when high energy pulses of light 1010 are emitted from the laser 1002 and impinge on biological material . in certain surgeries , the smoke can spread pathogens ( e . g ., pathogens that cause warts ) to operating room personnel . therefore , in one embodiment , the collar 302 fits tightly ( i . e ., elastically ) around the output housing of the laser 1002 to substantially seal to the output housing of the laser 1002 . in optional embodiments , the collar top 904 does not include slits in the embodiment shown in fig1 in order to improve sealing of the containment shield 100 about the output housing of the laser 1002 . the body 102 includes a suction port 1004 for receiving a suction tube 1006 from a suction device 1008 . the suction tube 1006 may pass through the suction port 1004 or a fitting may couple the suction tube 1006 to the suction port 1004 . the suction device 1008 may thus evacuate harmful smoke from the area adjacent the distal face of the containment shield 100 and filter pathogens and toxins from the air , reducing or eliminating the health risk to operating room personnel during certain surgeries or procedures . in optional embodiments , the containment shield 100 is made of a material that filters certain wavelengths of light ( e . g ., the wavelength of the light pulses emitted by the laser 1002 ). when used with the laser 1002 , this may eliminate the need for operating room personnel to wear protective lenses for filtering the wavelength of the laser or at least provide an additional layer of protection for the eyes of operating room personnel from the emitted high energy pulses of light 1010 . providing a seal between the containment shield 100 and the surgical cutting device 300 and the suction port 1004 may also be particularly advantageous for laser coagulators and cauterizing instruments . in other optional embodiments , the device may have a coating that can block or reduce laser light transmission through the device to protect or minimize light exposure to operating room personnel . it is contemplated that an output housing of a surgical cutting instrument may be generally integral with the housing of the surgical cutting instrument . it is also contemplated within the scope of the claims that the mounting hole may be any size or shape ( e . g ., square , circular , or otherwise ) so as to generally correspond to a class or type of surgical cutting instruments . further , the overall size of the containment shield may vary according to the intended surgical cutting instrument . additionally , it is contemplated that “ conical ” or “ generally conical ” includes a shape generally corresponding to a pyramid within the scope of the claims . furthermore , while the device is described as being used for surgical applications , particularly orthopedics , the device can also be used for a variety of other applications as well . this included various different medical procedures , dental surgery , veterinary medicine , organ transplants and harvesting , and also forensic applications . additionally , while in a variety of optional embodiments of the invention , the device may be formed from a flat sheet , in optional further embodiments , the device may maintain a three - dimensional shape . in such optional embodiments , the three dimensional shape may be conical or trapezoidal or have some other non - flat design . such optional embodiments can possess many of the other traits , from rigidity to transparency of the other optional embodiments . this written description uses examples to disclose the invention , including the best mode , and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention , including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods . the patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims , and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art . such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims , or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims . it will be understood that the particular embodiments described herein are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention . the principal features of this invention may be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention . those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize numerous equivalents to the specific procedures described herein . such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims . all of the compositions and / or methods disclosed and claimed herein may be made and / or executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure . while the compositions and methods of this invention have been described in terms of the embodiments included herein , it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that variations may be applied to the compositions and / or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept , spirit , and scope of the invention . all such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit , scope , and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims . thus , although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful containment shield for surgical instruments , it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims .
a disposable containment shield is operable to mount on an output housing of a surgical cutting instrument to keep spatter off of a surgeon &# 39 ; s face shield enabling quick and complete restoration of visibility while cutting biological material . the containment shield includes a body that is substantially transparent and has a generally consistent thickness such that the body is pliable and resilient . the body is substantially planar and sterile when in the package . the containment shield forms into a three dimensional shape having a distal face and a proximal face , and a mounting hole of the containment shield engages onto the output housing of the surgical cutting instrument such that the distal face is at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis through the mounting hole and faces toward a cutting device of the surgical cutting instrument .