U.S. patent application number 14/583339 was filed with the patent office on 2016-06-30 for self-disinfecting protective garment.
The applicant listed for this patent is Mark Daniel Leschinsky. Invention is credited to Mark Daniel Leschinsky.
Application Number | 20160183605 14/583339 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56162768 |
Filed Date | 2016-06-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160183605 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Leschinsky; Mark Daniel |
June 30, 2016 |
Self-Disinfecting Protective Garment
Abstract
A self-disinfecting personal protective garment comprises a
plurality of pockets covered by a porous external layer. Each
pocket contains (or can be filled with) a disinfecting solution.
Applying compression to the flexible chamber of the pocket (such as
by inflation of adjacent inflatable chambers) causes pressurization
of the disinfecting solution and forces the solution to flow from
the pockets across and through the porous external layer and
ultimately to spread over the external surface of the protective
garment--so as to eradicate the pathogens on the surface and
disinfect the protective garment. Also described is a conversion
kit configured to add a self-disinfecting feature to a conventional
protective garment. The protective garment of the invention may be
used by healthcare workers treating Ebola patients or patients with
other highly contagious infections--to extend the time of garment
usage, simplify garment removal procedure and increase their
personal safety.
Inventors: |
Leschinsky; Mark Daniel;
(Mahwah, NJ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Leschinsky; Mark Daniel |
Mahwah |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
56162768 |
Appl. No.: |
14/583339 |
Filed: |
December 26, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/247 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 31/305 20190201;
A41D 27/20 20130101; A41D 13/0012 20130101; A61L 2/186 20130101;
A41D 13/1209 20130101; A61L 2/18 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A41D 13/00 20060101
A41D013/00; A41D 13/12 20060101 A41D013/12; A61L 2/18 20060101
A61L002/18; A41D 27/20 20060101 A41D027/20 |
Claims
1. A self-disinfecting protective garment having at least a portion
thereof comprising a plurality of pockets, each pocket comprising a
flexible impermeable chamber covered by and sealed along an edge
with a flexible porous external layer, said porous external layer
being a part of an external surface of said protective garment,
said flexible impermeable chamber containing a disinfecting
solution, wherein upon compression of said flexible chamber causing
pressurization of said disinfecting solution, said disinfecting
solution is urged to flow from said pocket across and through the
porous external layer and spread over said external surface of said
protective garment so as to disinfect thereof.
2. The protective garment as in claim 1, wherein said flexible
porous external layer is configured to contain said disinfecting
solution inside said pocket unless compressed.
3. The protective garment as in claim 2, wherein said disinfecting
solution is characterized by a solution viscosity, said flexible
porous external layer is characterized by a range of pore sizes,
wherein said protective garment is characterized by a predefined
combination of said solution viscosity and said range of pore sizes
selected to contain said disinfecting solution inside said flexible
chamber unless said disinfecting solution is pressurized.
4. The protective garment as in claim 1 further comprising one or
more inflatable chambers, said inflatable chambers individually
positioned inside or in close contact with said flexible
impermeable chambers containing said disinfecting solution, said
inflatable chambers are configured to cause pressurization of said
disinfecting solution when at least partially inflated, said
pressurization leading to flowing of said disinfecting solution
across and through said flexible porous external layer of said
pockets to the outside surface of said protective garment.
5. The protective garment as in claim 4, wherein said one or more
inflatable chambers are fluidly connected to a pump or a source of
compressed gas, whereby activation of said pump or said source of
compressed gas causing at least a partial inflation of said
inflatable chambers.
6. The protective garment as in claim 5, wherein said pump is
configured to be manually operated so as to cause said disinfecting
solution to flow to the external surface of said protective garment
on demand.
7. The protective garment as in claim 5, wherein said one or more
inflatable chambers are operatively connected to an automatic
inflator configured to provide pressurized gas to cause at least a
partial inflation of said inflatable chambers, said automatic
inflator is configured to have sufficient capacity to cause such at
least partial inflation one time or several times once activated to
operate on a predetermined schedule.
8. The protective garment as in claim 4 further comprising a
backing layer attached to an inside surface of said protective
garment, at least one of said inflatable chambers is incorporated
with said backing layer or placed between said backing layer and
said flexible chamber so as when inflated, said inflatable chamber
predominantly expands in a direction towards said flexible porous
external layer, whereby said backing layer is configured to limit
foreshortening of said external surface of said protective garment
upon inflation of said inflatable chamber.
9. The protective garment as in claim 1, wherein said disinfecting
solution comprises an additive with a coloring agent.
10. The protective garment as in claim 9, wherein said coloring
agent is characterized by a color selected to contrast against a
color of said external surface of said protective garment, whereas
when flowing outside said pockets, said disinfecting solution is
visible over said external surface of said protective garment so as
to allow determination of whether the desired area of said
protective garment is sufficiently covered with said disinfecting
solution.
11. The protective garment as in claim 1, wherein said disinfecting
solution comprises an additive with an evaporating agent so as to
increase evaporation of said disinfecting solution off the external
surface of said protective garment, whereby causing active cooling
thereof.
12. The protective garment as in claim 1, wherein said disinfecting
solution is selected from a group consisting of a chlorine bleach
solution, a hydrogen peroxide, an alcohol, a peracetic acid, a
formaldehyde, a glutaraldehyde, an ortho-phthalaldehyde, an
iodophor, a phenolic, a quaternary ammonium compound, or a
combination thereof, whereby making said protective garment to be
suitable for personal protection against the Ebola virus.
13. The protective garment as in claim 1 further comprising a
removable external protective layer configured to seal said
external porous layer and contain said disinfecting solution inside
said plurality of pockets while storing said protective garment
prior to use, whereby removal of said external protective layer
exposes each porous external layer of said plurality of pockets and
allows the disinfecting solution to flow out when pressurized.
14. The protective garment as in claim 1 further comprising a
filling port fluidly connected to each flexible chamber of said
plurality of pockets, said filling port is configured to allow
filling or replenishing of said flexible chambers with said
disinfecting solution prior to, during or after use, whereby
minimizing the weight and size of said protective garment when
stored or used with said chambers being dry, collapsed and
empty.
15. The protective garment as in claim 14 further comprising a
source of pressurized disinfecting solution configured to be
attached to said filling port with a quick-connect coupling,
whereby said protective garment can be disinfected by attaching
said source of disinfecting solution and causing said disinfecting
solution to flow towards said pockets, through said porous external
layer and spreading over at least a portion of the external surface
of said protective garment.
16. (canceled)
17. (canceled)
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to personal
protective apparel. More particularly, the invention describes a
self-disinfecting protective garment, which can be used by
healthcare worker when treating patients with communicable
diseases.
[0002] Medical professionals frequently interact with patients who
have communicable diseases. When treating such patients, the
medical professional must take care not to become infected or ill
due to the microorganisms or pathogens related to the disease. This
is frequently accomplished by donning a medical gown and gloves. If
the pathogen is particularly aggressive or life-threatening,
additional protective equipment may be used such as hazmat suites,
coveralls, masks, head covers, aprons, etc, cumulatively referred
hereto as "protective garments".
[0003] Currently unfolding Ebola crisis in West Africa is a vivid
and unfortunate example of the inadequacy of current pathogen
control protective garments. World Health Organization reports as
of November 2014 that as many as 500 plus healthcare workers had
contracted the disease while treating Ebola patients, and as many
as 300 of them died. This clearly calls for a better way to provide
personal protection for those healthcare workers who risk their own
lives when treating others.
[0004] Beyond the Ebola crisis, various other aggressive infections
and drug-resistant pathogens represent a significant public health
problem, which can affect individuals at work, at home, and even in
the hospital. SARS, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
(MRSA), Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (VRSA),
Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), influenza and other pathogens
are currently circumventing our traditional approaches to pathogen
control, and challenging our capacity to innovate new technical
solutions.
[0005] A further area of use of personal protective garments is
when dealing with chemical, radiological, or biological warfare.
Care for victims, general clean-up and other action necessary in
case of a chemical, nuclear, or biological attack necessitates
protecting of personnel from exposure to harmful compounds,
particulate or pathogens.
[0006] Existing disposable protective garments have a number of
serious limitations. First of all, they have limited time of use.
It is recommended to change the protective garment after only 30-60
minutes of using thereof, otherwise protection of the healthcare
worker may be compromised. Such frequent exchange of protective
garments increases the chance of contamination by frequent handling
of soiled garments, as well as increases the cost of treating
patients. There is a need for a novel protective garment with
extended time of use.
[0007] Secondly, donning and removal of the protective garment is a
complicated procedure requiring extensive training. Two people are
frequently required to properly remove a protective garment from
one person. A simple misstep by either one of them may also cause
inadvertent contamination and expose that healthcare worker to the
pathogen. There is a need for a novel protective garment which
simplifies removal process and minimizes the risk of infection
while removing and discarding the garment.
[0008] Another limitation of the current protective garments is
that it gets to be very hot inside for the healthcare worker who
wears the garment. This is especially true in conditions of a
typical Africa field hospital where most of the recent Ebola
patients are being treated. Uncomfortable conditions may increase
the risk of making a mistake while treating patients and the risk
of exposure to the virus. There is a need for a novel protective
garment that allows active cooling of the inside thereof and make
it more comfortable for the healthcare worker who wears it.
[0009] Finally, there is a risk of cross-contamination by the
healthcare worker of the next patient if the previous patient was
indeed infected with the virus and the doctor for some reason did
not change the protective garment between the patients.
[0010] Efforts to avoid cross-contamination could be much more
successful if healthcare workers could wear gloves, gowns, and/or
other protective garments, which were self-disinfecting, and
therefore did not need to be changed as often as standard
protective garments, and/or could continue to provide protection
against cross-contamination even if a busy doctor or nurse, for
example, occasionally forgot to change his or her gloves between
patients.
[0011] A number of self-decontaminating fabrics are currently on
the market, utilizing copper, silver, or hydantoin-attached
chloramine. However, for these fabrics the 3-log kill rates for
vegetative pathogens are in the range of 1-24 hours, and many, if
not most, of these current designs have little or no effect on
pathogens like the Ebola virus. Therefore, while these fabrics may
be useful for other purposes, they are not effective for the
purposes outlined above.
[0012] What is needed, therefore, is a self-disinfecting protective
garment such as a personal protective suit that provides persistent
protection against both cross-contamination and user contamination,
having an extended usage time and sufficiently high pathogen kill
rate for life-threatening viruses such as the Ebola virus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
overcome these and other drawbacks of the prior art by providing a
novel self-disinfecting protective garment capable of providing
extended time of use.
[0014] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
novel self-disinfecting protective garment with simplified donning
and removal procedure so as to minimize the risk of user
contamination while performing these steps.
[0015] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
novel self-disinfecting protective garment allowing removal by the
user himself and not requiring assistance of another person.
[0016] It is yet a further object of the present invention to
provide a novel self-disinfecting protective garment with visual
indication of disinfection so as to assure complete disinfection of
desired areas or the entire protective garment.
[0017] It is yet another object of the invention to provide a novel
self-disinfecting protective garment capable of active cooling of
the interior thereof during use.
[0018] Finally, it is an objective of the invention to provide a
conversion kit to add a self-disinfecting feature to a conventional
personal protective garment.
[0019] The new protective garment of the present invention
comprises a plurality of pockets, each pocket in turn comprising a
flexible impermeable chamber covered by and sealed along an edge
thereof with a flexible porous external layer. This porous external
layer may form a part of an external surface of the protective
garment by being attached to or incorporated with the garment
fabric. Importantly, each pocket may contain or can be filled with
a disinfecting solution to be placed within the flexible chamber
thereof. Applying compression to the flexible chamber of the pocket
causes pressurization of the disinfecting solution and forces this
solution to flow from the pocket across and through the porous
external layer, and ultimately to spread over the external surface
of the protective garment--so as to destroy the pathogens on the
surface and disinfect the protective garment.
[0020] Compression of the flexible chambers may be applied manually
(by pressing or rubbing a hand or another object against the
external surface of the protective garment) or by air pressure
applied to a plurality of inflatable chambers positioned inside or
in close contact with the flexible chambers behind the disinfecting
solution.
[0021] Various additives may be used in conjunction with the
disinfecting solution. One example of a suitable additive may be a
coloring agent selected to allow the user to observe how the
disinfecting solution flows over the external surface of the
protective garment--so as assure proper coverage of the garment
surface. Another example of a useful additive may be an evaporating
solution to promote active cooling of the garment's surface upon
enhanced evaporation of the disinfecting solution. A further
additive may include a thickener or a thinner of the disinfecting
solution to assure its proper viscosity and prevent premature
leakage from the flexible chambers across the pores of the porous
external layer.
[0022] In addition to providing a garment covered at least
partially by the pockets containing the disinfecting solution, the
present invention describes a conversion kit comprising a plurality
of pockets containing the disinfecting solution--such pockets may
be applied to a conventional personal protective garment with an
adhesive layer to add a self-disinfecting feature thereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] Subject matter is particularly pointed out and distinctly
claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The
foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will become
more fully apparent from the following description and appended
claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments
in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore, not to be
considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described
with additional specificity and detail through use of the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a front view of the protective garment of the
invention;
[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates various shapes of pockets filled with the
disinfecting solution;
[0026] FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d show in cross-section various
configurations and stages of use of one pocket containing the
disinfecting solution;
[0027] FIG. 4 shows the protective garment with manually-activated
air pump fluidly connected to inflatable chambers;
[0028] FIG. 5 shows the same except for use of an automated
inflator in place of the manually-activated air pump;
[0029] FIG. 6 shows the protective garment equipped with a filling
port fluidly connected to all flexible chambers so as to allow
filling and/or replenishment of pockets with the disinfecting
solution;
[0030] FIG. 7 shows a view from the inside of the garment
illustrating one useful configuration of the pockets and a backing
layer; and
[0031] FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the pockets of the
conversion kit, the pockets are equipped with outside and inside
removable protective layers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE
INVENTION
[0032] The following description sets forth various examples along
with specific details to provide a thorough understanding of
claimed subject matter. It will be understood by those skilled in
the art, however, that claimed subject matter may be practiced
without one or more of the specific details disclosed herein.
Further, in some circumstances, well-known methods, procedures,
systems, components and/or circuits have not been described in
detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring claimed subject
matter. In the following detailed description, reference is made to
the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the
drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components,
unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments
described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not
meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other
changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of
the subject matter presented here. It will be readily understood
that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described
herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged,
substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different
configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and make
part of this disclosure.
[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates the general concept of the protective
garment of the present invention. A protective suit or garment 100
may include one or more pockets or pocket clusters 110, 120, or
130, these pockets are configured to contain (when prefilled with)
or to be filled with a disinfecting solution. Compression of the
pockets may be used to cause the disinfecting solution to flow to
the external surface of the protective garment 100 and disinfect
thereof.
[0034] One or more pocket clusters 110, 120, or 130 may be located
on the protective garment 100 of the invention. In embodiments,
such clusters may be predominantly positioned in areas of
particular interest, such as: [0035] (i) on areas that are more
likely to be contaminated when the protective garment is in use,
for example the front chest area as shown by pocket clusters 110;
[0036] (ii) areas that are more likely to be handled and touched
during removal of the garment, such as sleeve pocket clusters 120
or leg pocket clusters 130; [0037] (iii) areas that may be located
above these areas (i) and (ii) so that when released, the
disinfecting solution may flow down the protective garment 100
towards the areas of interest.
[0038] In other embodiments, the entire protective garment 100 may
be covered with pockets containing the disinfecting solution.
[0039] Each pocket cluster 110, 120, or 130 may contain one or a
plurality of individual pockets. Such pockets may be bordering each
other as seen on the upper left panel in FIG. 2--or they may be
spaced apart but still be adjacent to each other as seen on the
lower left panel in FIG. 2. The shape of each pocket may be
rectangular, square, triangular, round, oval, or any other suitable
shape as seen in FIG. 2. In other embodiments, these pockets may be
made in the shape of parallel strips seen on the top right panel in
FIG. 2. Such strips may be positioned and oriented
horizontally--otherwise the disinfecting solution may pool down one
end of the pocket and prevent its even distribution over the
external surface of the protective garment 100 when flowing out of
the pocket.
[0040] The size and volume of each pocket may be selected to
contain a sufficient volume of the disinfecting solution for
performing the disinfecting procedure at least one time. In
embodiments, the width of each pocket may be in the range from
about 1/2 of an inch to about 50 inch. In embodiments, the width of
each pocket may be about 1/2 of an inch, 3/4 of an inch, 1 inch,
1.5 inch, 2 inches, 3 inches, 4 inches, 5 inches, 10 inches, 15
inches, 20 inches, 25 inches, 30 inches, 40 inches, 50 inches or
any other size as the present invention is not limited in this
regard. The height of each pocket may be in the range from about
1/2 of an inch to about 3 inches. In embodiments, the height of
each pocket may be about 1/2 of an inch, 3/4 of an inch, 1 inch,
1.5 inch, 2 inches, 2.5 inches, 3 inches or any other size
inbetween. Extending the height further may cause unwanted pooling
of the disinfecting solution towards the bottom of the pocket. The
term "about" is used herein and throughout the specification to
describe a plus or minus variation of 30% of the cited
parameter.
[0041] The internal volume of each pocket may vary from about 1/2
ml to about 50 ml. In embodiments, the internal volume of the
pocket may be 1/2 ml, 1 ml, 2 ml, 3 ml, 4 ml, 5 ml, 7 ml, 10 ml, 15
ml, 20 ml, 25 ml, 30 ml, 40 ml, 50 ml or any other volume
inbetween. Larger size pockets may make the protective garment 100
too heavy when filled with the disinfecting solution.
[0042] In embodiments, pockets may be sized and shaped to be the
same or individually sized and shaped to cover and fit over the
particular area of interest in an optimal way depending on the size
and shape of this area. Each pocket 200 may comprise a flexible
impermeable chamber 210 covered with and sealed along its edge 212
with a porous external layer 220 as seen in a cross-sectional
illustration in FIG. 3a. The pocket 200 may be filled at some time
prior to, during or after the use of the protective garment 100
with the disinfecting solution 250 selected to eradicate the
pathogen upon coming in contact therewith as described in greater
detail below.
[0043] The porous external layer 220 may be made from a flexible
material selected to contain the disinfecting solution 250 inside
the pocket 200 unless pressurized. The pores of the external layer
220 may be located throughout a portion thereof or throughout its
entire external surface area. The size of the pores may be selected
depending on the viscosity of the disinfecting solution and the
pressure that may be applied thereto. Importantly, the combination
of the disinfecting solution viscosity and the pore sizes may be
selected to assure that (i) the disinfecting solution 250 is
contained inside the pocket 200 when not pressurized, and (ii) the
disinfecting solution 250 is able to flow across the pores and onto
the external surface of the protective garment 100 when
pressurized. Less viscous solutions would necessitate smaller size
pores so as to contain the disinfecting solution inside the pocket
200 prior to applying pressure thereto. In embodiments, a
"puree-like" consistency of the disinfecting solution 250 may be
used so as to reliably retain the disinfecting solution 250 inside
the pocket 200. A pore size ranging from about 1/64 mm to about 1
mm may be selected in that case for the suitable external porous
layer 220.
[0044] To further improve the ability of the protective garment to
contain the disinfecting solution inside the pocket 200 prior to
use, a removable external impermeable protective layer may be
provided (not shown) and configured to seal the external porous
layer 220 until removed therefrom. Removal of the external
protective layer may expose the external porous layer and allow the
disinfecting solution to flow towards the external surface of the
protective garment when pressurized.
[0045] The extent of the pressurization of the disinfecting
solution may be selected to not exceed about 200 mmHg. In
embodiments, the extent of pressurization sufficient to cause the
disinfecting solution 250 to flow across the pores of the flexible
external porous layer 220 may be selected to be about 20 mmHg,
about 50 mmHg, about 75 mmHg, about 100 mmHg, about 150 mmHg, about
200 mmHg or any other suitable pressure as the present invention is
not limited in this regard.
[0046] Depending on the selection of the suitable disinfecting
solution, its viscosity may be adjusted to make it useful for the
purposes of the present invention. A suitable thickener or thinner
may be added to achieve the desired viscosity but without
compromising the ability to disinfect the protective garment of the
invention. When not pressurized, the disinfecting solution 250 may
be retained inside the flexible chamber 210 as its viscosity and
surface tension do not allow it to substantially flow through the
pores of the external layer 220.
[0047] Applying external pressure to a pocket 200 shown in FIG. 3a
may be achieved simply by rubbing a hand over the external surface
of the protective garment. Various other methods of applying
pressure may also be used such as manual compression or mechanical
compression as described below.
[0048] In other embodiments of the invention, the disinfecting
solution may be supplied inside a plurality of breakable capsules
or microcapsules. The size of such capsules may range from about
1/8 mm to about 5 mm. The external membrane of such capsules may be
made from a material that would be causes to rupture upon applying
external pressure and lead to flowing of the disinfecting solution
250 to the external surface of the protective garment 100.
[0049] In yet other embodiments, the disinfecting solution 250 may
be supplied in breakable pouches configured to rupture and release
the disinfecting solution 250 when inside the pocket 200. The pouch
may be ruptured when external compression is applied thereto, for
example when an internal capsule is broken causing the pouch to be
cut. In alternative embodiments, a pull-on tab may be provided to
cause the pouch to rupture once sealed inside the pocket 200.
[0050] In further embodiments, pressurization of the flexible
chamber 210 may be achieved by applying compression from an
inflatable chamber 230 located inside or in close contact with the
flexible chamber 210 such as behind thereof as seen in FIG. 3b,
such inflatable chamber 230 may be inflated using pressurized fluid
or gas supplied through a port 232.
[0051] FIG. 3b shows an initial state of the pocket 200 in which
the flexible impermeable chamber 210 is fully filled with
disinfecting solution 250. FIG. 3c shows a state when the
inflatable chamber 230 is at least partially expanded when filled
with compressed gas such as pressurized air causing the inflatable
chamber to inflate. Inflation of the inflatable chamber 230 in turn
causes the membrane of the flexible chamber 210 to move towards the
external layer 220 (in the direction to the left as seen in the
illustration) causing pressurization of the disinfecting solution
250. Pressure increase of the disinfecting solution 250 in turn
causes it to flow through the pores of the external layer 220 and
emerge as drops on the external layer of the protective garment
100.
[0052] In embodiments, the volume of the pocket 200 may be selected
to allow sufficient amount of the disinfecting solution to emerge
on the surface of the protective garment 100 to disinfect
thereof--once or several times. In some embodiments, the pockets
200 may be prefilled with disinfecting solution 250 prior to using
the protective garment 100. In other embodiments, the flexible
chamber 210 may be equipped with a filling port 216 configured to
allow filling of the flexible chamber 210 with the disinfecting
solution 250. The filling port 216 may be equipped with a check
valve (not shown) to prevent the disinfecting solution 250 from
flowing backwards through the filling port 216 once external
pressure is applied to the flexible chamber 210.
[0053] While in some embodiments, filling of the flexible chambers
210 may be conducted well before or just prior to use of the
garment 100, in other embodiments, such filling may be conducted
after donning the protective garment 100. In further embodiments,
such filling and refilling of the flexible chambers 210 may be
conducted once or several times prior to, during, and after use of
the protective garment 100 but prior to its removal. Depending on
the nature of the disinfecting solution, the step of filling of the
pockets 200 with this solution just prior or during use may be
advantageous so as to assure that fresh disinfecting solution is
utilized when the protective garment 100 is in use.
[0054] FIG. 4 illustrates a protective garment 100 equipped with a
plurality of tubes 140 (showed in dashed lines) configured for
operatively connecting clusters of pockets 200 together with each
other and with a central inflation point 142 configured for
inflating the inflatable chambers 230. Provisions may also be made
to fluidly and operably connect inflatable chambers 230 within each
cluster such that a single tube 140 may be used to inflate all
inflatable chambers 230 at once within each pocket cluster or the
entire protective garment.
[0055] Inflation of the inflatable chambers 230 may be made through
a single central inflation point 142 using a manual compressible
bulb 150 as seen in FIG. 4. In other embodiments, an automatic
inflator 160 may be positioned somewhere on the protective garment
100 and operably connected to the inflation point 142. The
automatic inflator 160 may be positioned for example in an internal
pocket of the protective garment 100--see FIG. 5, so as to prevent
its exposure to the external pathogens. The automatic inflator 160
may be equipped with a single START button 162, which can be
activated by pressing through the garment 100. In embodiments, the
automatic inflator 160 may be made reusable and configured to
attach to a disposable central inflation point 142 prior to using
the protective garment 100 via a suitable connector fitting. After
using and removal of the protective garment 100, the automatic
inflator 160 may be retrieved, disconnected, optionally recharged
and then used again with another protective garment. In other
embodiments, the automatic inflator 160 may be permanently built
into the protective garment 160 and designed for a single use. In
this case, the protective garment may be discarded together with
the automatic inflator 160 after its use is complete.
[0056] The automatic inflator 160 may be configured to cause
inflation of the inflatable chambers 230 once or every time the
START button is pressed. In other embodiments, the automatic
inflator 160 may be activated on demand, once or on a periodic
predetermined schedule, for example every 30-45 min. The automatic
inflator 160 may include a battery, a small air pump, a controller
based on a computer processor and a START button. Other components
of the automatic inflator 160 may include one or more pressure
sensors and valves configured to monitor and control the process of
inflation. In other embodiments, the automatic inflator 160 may
contain a small canister with pressurized gas. In this case, the
automatic inflator 160 may include suitable valves and pressure
sensors configured to allow at least some gas (such as compressed
air) to flow under pressure through the central inflation point 142
to cause inflation of the inflatable chambers 230.
[0057] FIG. 6 illustrates the protective garment 100 of the present
invention equipped with a system of filling tubes 172 (shown in
dotted lines) fluidly connected with the filling ports 216 of the
flexible chambers 210. These filling tubes 172 may be built into or
incorporated with the fabric of the protective garment 100 or
alternatively routed along its internal or external surface. In
embodiments, the system of filling tubes 172 may be configured to
facilitate filling of individual pockets 200 or pocket clusters
with the disinfecting solution 250. In some embodiments, additional
fluid connections may be provided within each pocket cluster to
direct disinfecting solution from the filling tubes 172 to each
flexible chamber 210.
[0058] Filling tubes 172 may be equipped with one or more filling
ports 170 configured to fill or replenish the flexible chambers 210
with the disinfecting solution 250. Appropriate quick-connect
couplings and flow stopping valves may be provided as part of each
filling port 170 to allow their opening, connecting to the source
of disinfecting solution 250, filling the protective garment
therewith and closing off the filling ports 170. In some
embodiments, one or more filling ports 170 may be positioned on the
upper portion of the protective garment 100 so as to facilitate the
disinfecting solution 250 to flow down towards the pockets 200 by
gravity. Advantageously, the presence of the external porous layer
220 eliminates the need to pull vacuum or evacuate air prior to
filling the pockets with the disinfecting solution 250--the air
will naturally escape through the pores of the external layer 220
as the pocket 200 is being filled with the disinfecting solution
250.
[0059] One further advantage of providing a filling port 170 is
that the choice of the disinfecting solution may be made at the
last minute--so as to keep it fresh and/or adjust the choice of the
disinfecting solution based on the particular pathogen or another
environmental threat if that is not known in advance.
[0060] In further embodiments, a pressurized source of disinfecting
solution may be provided and configured to connect to the filling
port 170 with a suitable quick-connect coupling. This configuration
of the protective garment 100 features the ability for the user to
wear the garment 100 with the pockets 200 being flat, collapsed and
empty, at least at the beginning of its use--making the protective
garment 100 operable with less weight. Sometime during or after use
of the protective garment 100 is complete, the user may connect the
pressurized source of the disinfecting solution to the protective
garment 100 and cause the disinfecting solution 250 to flow towards
the pockets 200. Continuous supply of pressurized disinfecting
solution will cause it to flow through the pores of the flexible
external layer 220 and onto the external surface of the protective
garment 100, whereby disinfecting thereof. The protective garment
100 may then be safely removed and discarded. This embodiment has
an additional advantage of providing the external porous layer
throughout a substantial area or the entire surface of the
protective garment, as there is little or no concern about the
increased weight of the garment due to all the disinfecting
solution contained therein. Such disinfected solution may be
forcefully infused just at the right time prior to removal of the
protective garment.
[0061] A variety of disinfecting solutions may be suitable for the
purposes of the present invention depending on the nature of the
pathogen or another environmental threat. In case of the Ebola
virus, a chlorine bleach solution may be used as well as a variety
of other commercially available and approved solutions. Other
substances that may be used alone or in combination as a
disinfecting solution 250 may include a hydrogen peroxide, an
alcohol, a peracetic acid, a formaldehyde, a glutaraldehyde, an
ortho-phthalaldehyde, an iodophor, a phenolic, and a quaternary
ammonium compound.
[0062] In addition to a core disinfected compound (optionally
adjusted to achieve proper viscosity with a thickener or a thinner
additive), the disinfecting solution 250 may further include an
additive with a coloring agent, which may be selected to have a
color in contrast with the color of the external surface of the
protective garment 100. This may be advantageous so as to easily
assure that the external surface of the garment 100 is fully
covered with the disinfecting solution 250. Examples of pair of
contrast color may include providing the protective garment in
white or yellow, while providing the coloring agent in green or
blue. The choice of the coloring agent may be selected to not
compromise the ability of the disinfecting solution 250 to
eradicate the pathogen on contact. One example of a suitable
coloring agent may be an inert food coloring.
[0063] A further improvement to the disinfecting solution 250 may
be an optional addition of an additive with an evaporating agent
selected to increase a rate of drying of the disinfecting solution
250 once on the external surface of the protective garment 100.
Rapid evaporation of the disinfecting solution 250 off the surface
of the protective garment may be used to cause active cooling of
the external surface of the protective garment 100. Reducing the
temperature of the protective garment 100 may be especially
beneficial when the protective garment is used in hot ambient
environment such as a field hospital in Africa. Cooling the
protective garment 100 may improve the comfort of the user while
wearing thereof. Examples of suitable evaporating agents include
alcohol, water, various organic and inorganic solvents.
[0064] Inflation of an inflatable chamber inside or next to the
flexible impermeable chamber 210 containing the disinfecting
solution 250 may cause a change in the shape of the cross-section
of the flexible chamber 210 from essentially flat to become more
oval and ultimately round upon full inflation. That may have an
undesirable effect of foreshortening the external surface of the
overall fabric of the protective garment 100 and simultaneous
bulging of the pockets 200. To minimize this effect, the protective
garment 100 of the present invention may be equipped with a backing
layer placed along the inside surface thereof. Such backing layer
may be placed behind the flexible chambers 210 so as to position
the flexible chambers 210 and the inflatable chambers between
itself and the external surface of the garment. The backing layer
may be made more rigid (less flexible) than the garment fabric
itself. Inflation of the inflatable chamber in that case will cause
its predominant expansion in a direction towards the flexible
porous external layer, whereby limiting foreshortening of the
external surface of the garment.
[0065] FIG. 7 illustrates a view from the inside of the protective
garment 100 in one example of such arrangement. A larger backing
layer 240 is seen placed over the inside surface of the garment 100
and sealed thereto along its peripheral edge, whereby forming a
single inflatable chamber inbetween itself and the external surface
of the garment 100. Incorporated with the external surface of the
garment 100 are one or more flexible chambers 210 located under the
backing layer 240 and shown in FIG. 7 in dashed lines. Inflation of
the space between the backing layer 240 and the fabric of the
protective garment 100 may be conducted through an inflation port
140, operably connected to a source of pressurized gas elsewhere in
the protective garment 100.
[0066] In use, injection of the compressed air through the
inflation port 140 may cause applying external compression to the
flexible chambers 210 therefore causing the disinfecting solution
to emerge on the external surface of the protective garment.
[0067] To minimize foreshortening of the garment fabric 100, the
backing layer 240 in addition (or as an alternative) to being more
rigid than the garment fabric 100, may be attached to the fabric
100 not only along its peripheral edge, but also at least partially
along the areas between the spaced apart flexible chambers 210.
[0068] Various techniques of attaching one or more layers of the
protective garment 100 to each other may be used in production
thereof. Examples of suitable attachment techniques may include
gluing, stitching, welding, heat sealing, crimping, stapling, laser
sealing, etc. In addition to providing a fluid-tight seal, such
techniques may be selected to assure suitable flexibility of the
assembly so as not to impede onto the movement freedom of the user
while wearing the garment of the present invention.
[0069] Attachment of the backing layer 240 to the fabric 100 may be
done along the lines 250 between the flexible chambers 210--such
lines 250 may have interruptions 260 to allow pressurized gas (such
as compressed air) to penetrate everywhere throughout the area of
the backing layer 240 using a single inflation port 140. In
embodiments, attachment lines 250 may be selected to go along a
portion of a single flexible chamber or along several spaced apart
flexible chambers. In other embodiments, the backing layer 240 may
be attached to the fabric 100 at one or a plurality of attachment
dots, such dots located throughout the area of the backing layer
240 at areas between the spaced apart flexible chambers 210.
[0070] The stiffness of the backing layer 240 may be selected to be
at least twice higher than that of the fabric 100. On the other
hand, making the backing layer 240 too rigid while covering a large
portion of the protective garment 100 is not desirable as it may
restrict the motion of the user inside the garment. To address this
concern, some embodiments of the protective garment 100 may feature
the backing layer 240 divided into sections, each section may be
configured to flex relative to another section--for example along
the flexing living hinges that may be formed using the attachment
lines 250.
[0071] While FIG. 7 shows the backing layer 240 forming an integral
portion of the inflatable chamber, in other embodiments, such
inflatable chambers may be made separately from a suitable flexible
polymer material such as polyethylene, polyurethane or alike. In
further embodiments, such inflatable chambers may be made to be
integral with the flexible chambers 210, while in yet other
embodiments, all elements of the protective garment may be made
separately and attached together to form several successive layers
of protective garment: the external fabric 100; the external porous
layer; the internal flexible chamber with the disinfecting
solution, the inflatable chamber; and finally the backing layer
240--as the invention is not limited in this regard.
[0072] In addition to a full protective garment with a
self-disinfecting feature as described above, the present invention
describes a conversion kit allowing to add a self-disinfecting
feature to a conventional personal protective garment. Such
conversion kit may include a plurality of pockets, each pocket
comprising a flexible impermeable chamber covered by and sealed
along an edge with a flexible porous external layer. The flexible
chamber in turn may contain the disinfecting solution or be
configured to be filled with the disinfecting solution. The
flexible chamber may be further configured in such a way that
compression thereof may cause pressurization of the disinfecting
solution, which in turn may force this disinfecting solution to
flow from the pocket across and through the porous external layer
and spread over the external surface of the personal protective
garment so as to disinfect thereof.
[0073] One example of a conversion kit 300 is illustrated in FIG. 8
and includes a backing layer 340 forming an inflatable chamber 330
between itself and the flexible membrane 310. The membrane 310 in
turn forms a flexible chamber with the external porous layer 320,
all three elements may be attached together and sealed along the
seals 312. As described above, the backing layer 340 may be made
less flexible than other elements of the conversion kit 300 so as
to cause preferential expansion of the inflatable chamber towards
the flexible chamber and cause the disinfecting solution located
inside the flexible chamber to flow through the pores of the
external porous layer 320 towards the external surface of the
conversion kit (on the left side of the drawing in FIG. 7).
[0074] Other design elements as described above may also be
incorporated in the conversion kit such as various shapes and
relative positions of the pockets, a variety of filling ports,
variety of disinfecting solutions and solution additives, use of
compressed air, etc.
[0075] To attach the conversion kit 300 to a personal protective
garment, an adhesive layer may be provided on the surface of the
backing layer 340 facing the garment. Such adhesive layer may be
covered with a first removable protective layer 370. In embodiments
without the inflatable chamber, the adhesive layer (and the first
removable protective layer 370) may be applied to the outside
surface of the flexible chamber 310, which in that case will face
the external surface of the personal protective garment.
[0076] In use, the conversion kit 300 may include one or more
pockets containing the disinfecting solution or configured to be
filled with or to be replenished with the disinfecting solution.
The protective layer 370 may be removed and the pockets may be
placed on top of the personal protective garment over its external
surface. Positioning of the pockets may be conducted over the
entire area of the personal protective garment or over the areas of
most importance such as those described above.
[0077] In addition to the first removable protective layer 370
cover the adhesive layer suitable for attachment of the pockets
onto the protective garment, a second removable protective layer
360 may be provided on the other side of the pockets of the
conversion kit 300--to cover the porous external layer 320 and
prevent premature leakage of the disinfecting solution from the
pockets during storage and prior to use. Once the pockets are
positioned on the personal protective garment, the second removable
layer 360 may be removed prior to or during the use of the
protective garment--and before its removal by the user.
[0078] In addition to using the protective garment by healthcare
workers when treating patients with Ebola virus or other highly
contagious infections, the protective garment of the invention may
be used in the clean-up or aftermath of a nuclear, radiological,
chemical or biological attack including a terrorist attack with a
"dirty bomb"--in order to neutralize the harmful environment and
protect the hazmat crew. In that case, appropriate solution may be
selected depending on the nature of the contaminated
environment.
[0079] The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates
different components or elements contained within, or connected
with, different other components or elements. It is to be
understood that such depicted architectures are merely examples,
and that in fact many other architectures may be implemented which
achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any
arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is
effectively "associated" such that the desired functionality is
achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a
particular functionality may be seen as "associated with" each
other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective
of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two
components so associated may also be viewed as being "operably
connected", or "operably coupled", to each other to achieve the
desired functionality, and any two components capable of being so
associated may also be viewed as being "operably couplable", to
each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specific examples
of operably couplable include but are not limited to physically
mateable and/or physically interacting components and/or wirelessly
interactable and/or wirelessly interacting components and/or
logically interacting and/or logically interactable components.
[0080] Although the invention herein has been described with
respect to particular embodiments, it is understood that these
embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and
applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be
understood that numerous modifications may be made to the
illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention which is defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *