U.S. patent application number 10/305764 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-27 for surgical gown having a fluid collection gutter.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.. Invention is credited to Griesbach, Henry L. III.
Application Number | 20040098782 10/305764 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32325514 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040098782 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Griesbach, Henry L. III |
May 27, 2004 |
Surgical gown having a fluid collection gutter
Abstract
The invention relates to a nonwoven surgical gown having a
bottom periphery, an upturned flap, and an overlapping folded
region. The flap extends around at least a portion of the bottom
periphery and is affixed to the gown at least at one point to form
an exterior facing gutter. The overlapping folded region forms at
least a portion of the bottom periphery. In some embodiments, the
overlapping folded region may be weighted.
Inventors: |
Griesbach, Henry L. III;
(Clarkston, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
401 NORTH LAKE STREET
NEENAH
WI
54956
|
Assignee: |
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
32325514 |
Appl. No.: |
10/305764 |
Filed: |
November 27, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/51 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41F 17/00 20130101;
A41D 13/1209 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/051 |
International
Class: |
A41D 013/12 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A nonwoven surgical gown comprising: a right sleeve; a left
sleeve; and a body comprising an open back, a closed front, a
bottom edge, and a crease extending across the front and at least
partially extending across the back to form an upturned flap, the
crease comprising the bottom edge of the front and at least a
portion of the bottom edge of the back, the flap comprising a
portion of the body disposed upon one side of the crease, facing to
an exterior of the body, and tacked to the body at least at one
point to form an exterior facing gutter.
2. The gown of claim 1 wherein the flap is about 2 cm to about 5 cm
wide.
3. The gown of claim 1 wherein the bottom edge is weighted.
4. The gown of claim 3 comprising a plurality of weights adjoined
to the bottom edge.
5. The gown of claim 1 wherein additional weight is evenly
distributed along the bottom edge.
6. The gown of claim 5 wherein the additional weight comprises a
flexible material adjoined to the bottom edge.
7. The gown of claim 5 wherein the additional weight comprises a
plicate fold of the gown body at the crease.
8. A nonwoven surgical gown comprising a bottom periphery and an
upturned flap, the flap extending around at least a portion of the
bottom periphery and affixed to the gown at least at one point to
form an exterior facing gutter.
9. The gown of claim 8 wherein at least a portion of the bottom
periphery is weighted.
10. The gown of claim 8 comprising a plurality of weights adjoined
to and spaced about the bottom periphery.
11. The gown of claim 8 comprising a front and a back, and wherein
the flap is affixed to the gown between the front and the back.
12. The gown of claim 11 wherein the flap extends across at least
the gown front.
13. The gown of claim 8 wherein the flap extends across at least
the gown front.
14. The gown of claim 8 comprising a plicated fold at least at a
portion of the bottom periphery.
15. The gown of claim 14 wherein the plicated fold comprises a
bottommost portion of the flap.
16. A nonwoven surgical gown comprising a bottom periphery, an
upturned flap, and an overlapping folded region, the flap extending
around at least a portion of the bottom periphery and affixed to
the gown at least at one point to form an exterior facing gutter,
the overlapping folded region forming at least a portion of the
bottom periphery.
17. The gown of claim 16 wherein the overlapping folded region
comprises a plicate fold.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to surgical gowns and the like
which minimize strike-through of liquids, while reducing liquid
run-off.
[0002] It is well known that a surgeon's sterile gown must
function, during the course of an operation, to prevent
contamination of the patient, surgical instruments, and other
personnel through contact with the wearer and to prevent the
clothes of the wearer from becoming saturated with blood and other
liquids.
[0003] Originally, surgical gowns were made of linen, the gowns
being sterilized prior to use in the operating room. Linen gowns
were not capable of preventing "strike-through" of various liquids
which were encountered during surgical procedures. As a result, the
wearer's clothes came into contact with blood and the like, and a
path was established for the transmission of bacteria to and from
the wearer of the gown. Additionally, linen gowns, due to their
high cost, had to be used a number of times, thus necessitating
laundering and sterilization between successive uses.
[0004] In an attempt to reduce strike-through of liquids and to
eliminate the need for repeated laundering and sterilization,
disposable gowns were made from fluid repellent nonwoven fabrics.
These gowns reduced liquid strike-through for a limited time.
However, liquids have a tendency to run down the outer surface of
the gown, frequently wetting the shoes and the unprotected lower
portions of the wearer's clothing.
[0005] There exists a need for a surgical gown that maintains the
properties of minimizing fluid strike-through yet is capable of
catching fluid and minimizing the tendency of the fluid to run off
the outer surface of the gown.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] As such, one aspect of the present invention discloses a
nonwoven surgical gown having a right sleeve, a left sleeve; and a
body. The body may be configured so as to have an open back, a
closed front, a bottom edge, and a crease extending across the
front and at least partially extending across the back. The crease
forms an upturned flap and also forms the bottom edge of the front
and at least a portion of the bottom edge of the back . The flap is
formed from a portion of the gown body and is disposed upon one
side of the crease, facing to an exterior of the gown body. The
flap may be tacked to the body at least at one point to form an
exterior facing gutter.
[0007] In some embodiments the flap may be from about 2 cm to about
5 cm wide. Some embodiments weight the bottom edge of the gown
body. The weights may constitute a plurality of weights adjoined to
the bottom edge, a flexible material adjoined to the bottom edge,
and/or an overlapping fold of the gown fabric which serves to
concentrate the weight of the fabric at the bottom edge itself.
[0008] In another aspect of the invention a nonwoven surgical gown
is disclosed. The gown has a bottom periphery and an upturned flap.
The flap extends around at least a portion of the bottom periphery
and may be affixed to the gown at least at one point to form an
exterior facing gutter.
[0009] Yet another aspect of the invention discloses a nonwoven
surgical gown having a bottom periphery, an upturned flap, and an
overlapping folded region. The flap extends around at least a
portion of the bottom periphery and is affixed to the gown at least
at one point to form an exterior facing gutter. The overlapping
folded region forms at least a portion of the bottom periphery. In
some embodiments, the overlapping folded region may be a plicate
fold.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of one embodiment of a
surgical gown in accordance with the present invention
[0011] FIG. 2 is a front isometric view of the FIG. 1 surgical gown
unfolded about the line A-A.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a plan view of one embodiment of the surgical gown
depicting the gutter formed in the bottom edge of the gown.
[0013] FIG. 4 shows one possible embodiment of the bottom edge of
the gown of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the bottom edge of
the gown of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The present invention and its advantages are best understood
by referring to the drawings, like numerals being used for like and
corresponding parts of the various drawings.
[0016] Several terms may be used herein to refer to various parts
of the gown as the gown is worn. Thus, "front" refers to that part
of the gown which overlays the chest or anterior plane of the
wearer; "back" refers to that part of the gown which overlays the
back or posterior plane of the wearer, "side" or "sides" refer to
that part of the gown which overlays the side or lateral portion(s)
of the wearer and which may extend to and overlap the back or front
portions of the wearer and are generally located between the front
and the back. The term "outer" or "outside" describes that surface
of the gown which faces away from the wearer when the gown is being
worn; "inner" or "inside" refers to the surface of the gown, or
part thereof which faces either the clothes or body of the wearer,
while "left" and "right" respectively refer to portions of the gown
corresponding to the left and right hand sides of the gown,
respectively, as the gown is being worn. The term "continuous
sheet" or "continuous sheet of material" describes a sheet or a
sheet of material which is formed from a single piece of material
and not formed by affixing, such as by sewing or gluing so as to
form a seam, two or more pieces of material.
[0017] Additionally, several terms may be used herein to refer to
affixing one part of the gown to another part. These terms include
"join", "secure", "attach" and derivatives and synonyms thereof.
The affixing of these pieces of gown parts to one another may be
accomplished by any of several conventional methods. By way of
example and not limitation, these methods include stitching,
gluing, heat sealing, zipping, snapping, sonic or thermal bonding
or using a hook and loop fastening system and other methods
familiar to those skilled in the art.
[0018] Turning now to the drawings and referring first to FIG. 1,
the gown 10 may be formed from a sheet of material and more
particularly a continuous sheet of material. The gown 10 includes a
body 12 and right and left sleeves 14 and 16, respectively. Both
the right and left sleeves, 14 and 16, respectively, may be
provided with form fitting cuff sections 18. The right sleeve 14 is
secured to the body 12 at a right edge 20 and the left sleeve 16 is
secured to the body 12 at a left edge 22.
[0019] In certain embodiments, the body 12 has a closed front
section 24 and an open back section 26. The back section 26 is
provided with a pair of opposed panels, i.e., a left back panel 28
and a right back panel 30 which open and close about the wearer's
body. Though the gown is described as having sections, it should be
understood that the gown can be a single unitary piece of
continuous material. It will also be understood that while the
sections 24 and 26 are described above as front and back sections,
respectively, the gown of the present invention may be worn such
that the opposed panels, 28 and 30, of the section 26 open and
close about the wearer's chest and the closed section 24 is located
about the wearer's back.
[0020] The left back panel 28 is generally defined by a left upper
edge 32, a left back panel edge 34, a bottom edge 36 and a left
side edge 38. The right back panel 30 is generally defined by a
right upper edge 40, a right back panel edge 42, a right side edge
44 and a bottom edge 46. When the surgical gown 10 is in use, the
left back panel edge 34 and the right back panel edge 42 may be
non-parallel. A portion of the right back panel 30 around the right
back panel edge 42 and a portion of the left back panel 28 around
the left back panel edge 34 overlie when the gown is in use and
form an area of overlap 48. Some embodiments include a slit 50,
defined by edges 34 and 42, which generally extends the length of
the back section 26.
[0021] The front section 24 is defined by the upper edges 32 and
40, a bottom edge 52, is the right side edge 44 and the left side
edge 38. A neck opening 54, defined by a neck edge 56, is formed
generally between the left upper edge 32 and the right upper edge
40.
[0022] The slit 50 extends from the neck opening 54 to the bottom
edges 36 and 46 of the back panels 28 and 30 (FIG. 2). The area of
overlap 48, which may be generally shaped in an inverted V
configuration, may extend from the neck opening 54 to the bottom
edges 36 and 46 of the back panels 28 and 30, respectively. The
amount of overlap between the right and left back panels, 28 and
30, respectively, may generally increase from the neck opening 54
to the bottom edges 36 and 46.
[0023] The right back panel 30 is secured to the front section 24
along the right side edge 44. The left back panel 34 is secured to
the front section 24 along the left side edge 38. The right side
edge 44 extends from the bottom edge 52 and terminates around the
base of the right edge 20. The left side edge 38 extends from the
bottom edge 52 and terminates around the base of the left edge
22.
[0024] The gown 10 may also include a plurality of ties 58 a-d. The
ties 58 a-d are for the purpose of conformably securing the gown 10
about the body of the wearer. The quantity of ties provided may
depend upon gown style, size, or other design criteria.
[0025] Looking now to FIG. 3 it can be seen that the left bottom
edge 36, the right bottom edge 46, and the front bottom edge 52
together define a bottom periphery of the gown 10. The gown body 12
is creased at crease 62 so that an upturned flap 60 is formed which
extends around at least a portion of the bottom periphery. As can
be seen, the crease 62 itself constitutes at least a portion of the
bottom edges 36, 46, and 52. The upturned flap 60 is made to face
toward the exterior of the gown 10 and forms an exterior facing
gutter 64. The gutter 64 serves to collect and divert to the sides
of the gown 10 low volumes of fluid that may accumulate from a
surgical procedure.
[0026] some embodiments, a flap height of between about 2 cm and 5
cm is contemplated. It has been determined that a flap height
between these dimensions is sufficiently stiff enough to form and
maintain a gutter 64 for the collection of fluids. Nevertheless,
other flap dimensions are possible and are in fact contemplated as
well. Moreover, in some embodiments, the flap 60 may be tacked to
the body 12 at a single location or a plurality of locations. In
some cases this may constitute two locations, positioned between
the front section 24 and back section 26 on both sides of the body
12. Other embodiments contemplate additional tack points. In fact
the location of tack points may depend upon the stiffness of the
material used to construct the gown body as well as the height of
the flap 60 formed from the body 12.
[0027] The flap 60 itself may be made so that it extends around the
entire bottom periphery of the gown 10 or it may be made so as to
extend around the front section 24 and at least partially around
the back section 26.
[0028] In certain embodiments at least a portion of the bottom
edges 36, 46, and 52 may be weighted. The addition of weight serves
the added purpose of removing dead folds for the gown as the gown
is unfolded or otherwise donned. That is, the added weight tends to
pull the gown body 12 downward due to gravity thereby removing
creases imparted into the body 12 due to the manufacture or
sterilization of the gown. This additional weight may be added by
adjoining a weight or a plurality of weights at or to the bottom
edges 36, 46, and 52 or a portion of the bottom periphery of the
gown 10. The weight may comprise a plurality of solid weights, a
bead of hot melt adhesive, a bead of hot melt adhesive
incorporating additional organic or inorganic matter, a flexible
filled-polymer bead or band attached, or the like adjoined to at
least some portion of the bottom edges 36, 46, and 52.
[0029] FIGS. 4 and 5 depict some of the possible embodiments in
which additional weight is incorporated into the bottom edges 36,
46, and 52. It should be known that these embodiments are not
exclusive and may be combined in various ways. Moreover, other
embodiments are recognized to exist and are contemplated as well.
FIG. 4 depicts a cross section through the gown body 12 at a point
along at least one of the bottom edges 36, 46, and 52. In this
embodiment, it can be seen that a weight 66 is located at the
bottom of the gutter 64 proximate to the crease 62. As stated
above, the weight may be a continuous element or a plurality of
spaced apart discrete elements. As shown, the gown body 12 may be
bonded to itself in some manner to partially or fully encompass the
weight 66 however this is not critical. In fact, some embodiments
contemplate the use of an absorbent or superabsorbent material to
absorb fluid impacts and encompassing such a material may not be
desired in all cases.
[0030] FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment in which the weight is
concentrated at the bottom edges 36, 46, and 52 by actually folding
over the material comprising the body 12 itself. The fold 12 may be
a single fold, a pleat, a plicate fold as shown in FIG. 5, or may
constitute any other fold pattern that concentrates weight at the
bottom periphery.
[0031] It is noted that the present invention may be made from a
multitude of materials including nonwoven materials suitable for
disposable uses. For examples the gown may be made of stretchable
nonwoven material so that the gown is less likely to tear during
the donning or wearing of the gown. A material well-suited for use
with the present invention is a three-layer nonwoven polyolefin
fabric such as a spunbond, meltblown, spunbond (SMS) laminate as
described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,203 to Brock et al. One particular
advantage is that the SMS fabric exhibits enhanced fluid barrier
characteristics. It should be noted, however, that other nonwovens
as well as other materials including wovens, films, foam/film
laminates and combinations thereof may be used to construct the
gown of the present invention. It is also contemplated that the
gown may be coated with a liquid repellant coating to prevent fluid
absorption into the gown material.
[0032] Although the present invention and its advantages have been
described in detail, it should be understood that various changes,
substitutions, and alterations can be made therein without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by
the appended claims.
* * * * *