Abstract:
A protective garment, such as a surgical gown, includes a garment body defining sleeves. A cuff may be secured at respective ends of the sleeves. A circumferentially extending coating is disposed on the sleeves beginning at the sleeve or cuff. The coating has a high friction surface such that an end of a glove pulled over the coating is inhibited from rolling or sliding back over the coating and down the sleeve. The coating may be formed of a low-tack surface modifier and may include a dye or colorant that may be used to indicate the fluid protection level of, for example, a surgical gown.

Description:
[0001]     The present invention relates generally to protective garments for use with gloves, for example surgical gowns used with surgical gloves.  
         [0002]     Protective garments, such as coveralls and gowns, designed to provide barrier protection to a wearer are well known in the art. Such protective garments are used in situations where isolation of a wearer from a particular environment is desirable, or it is desirable to inhibit or retard the passage of hazardous liquids and biological contaminates through the garment to the wearer.  
         [0003]     In the medical and health-care industry, particularly with surgical procedures, a primary concern is isolation of the medical practitioner from patient fluids such as blood, saliva, perspiration, etc. Protective garments rely on the barrier properties of the fabrics used in the garments, and on the construction and design of the garment. Openings or seams in the garments may be unsatisfactory, especially if the seams or openings are located in positions where they may be subjected to stress and/or direct contact with the hazardous substances.  
         [0004]     Gloves are commonly worn in conjunction with protective garments, particularly in the medical industry. Typically, the gloves are pulled up over the cuff and sleeve of a gown or garment. However, the interface between the glove and the protective garment can be an area of concern. For example, a common issue with surgical gloves is glove “roll-down” or slippage resulting from a low frictional interface between the interior side of the glove and the surgical gown sleeve. When the glove rolls down or slips on the sleeve, the wearer is at greater risk of exposure to patient fluids and/or other contaminants.  
         [0005]     An additional problem associated with the use of surgical gloves is that as a result of the gloves being pulled up over the cuff and sleeve of the gown, a phenomenon known as “channeling” occurs. That is, the sleeve of the gown is bunched up under the glove as a result of pulling and rolling the glove up over the cuff and sleeve. Channels may develop along the wearer&#39;s wrist which may become accessible to patient fluids running down the outside of the sleeve of the gown. Such fluids may enter the channels and work down along the channels between the outer surface of the gown and inner surface of the surgical glove. The fluids may then contaminate the gown cuff, which lies directly against the wearer&#39;s wrist or forearm, particularly if the cuff is absorbent or fluid pervious.  
         [0006]     Surgeons and other medical personnel have attempted to address concerns with the glove and gown interface in different ways. For example, it has been a common practice to use adhesive tape wrapped around the glove portion extending over the gown sleeve to prevent channels and roll down of the glove on the sleeve. This approach unfortunately has some drawbacks. Many of the common adhesives utilized in tapes are subject to attack by water and body fluids and the seal can be broken during a procedure. Another approach has been to stretch a rubber coating around the glove and sleeve. This practice is, however, awkward to implement and difficult to adjust or to vary the pressure exerted by the rubber coating other than by using rubber coatings of different sizes and tensions, which of course necessitates having a variety of rubber coatings available for use. Yet another approach has been to incorporate a band of elastomeric polymer on the gown around the sleeve just above the cuff to provide a surface for the glove to cling to. This approach has also proved less than completely satisfactory.  
         [0007]     A need exists for an improved device and method for providing an effective sealing interface between a glove and sleeve of a protective garment, wherein the device is easily incorporated with the protective garment and economically cost effective to implement.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]     The present invention provides a protective garment incorporating an effective and economical mechanism for improving the interface area between the sleeves of the garment and a glove pulled over the sleeves. The improvement inhibits the proximal end of the glove from rolling or sliding back down the garment sleeves once the wearer has pulled the gloves on. In this way, the garment according to the invention addresses at least certain of the disadvantages of conventional garments discussed above.  
         [0009]     It should be appreciated that, although the present invention has particular usefulness as a surgical gown, the invention is not limited in scope to surgical gowns or the medical industry. The protective garment according to the present invention has wide application and can be used in any instance wherein a protective coverall, gown, robe, etc., is used with gloves. All such uses and garments are contemplated within the scope of the invention.  
         [0010]     In an embodiment of the invention, a protective garment is provided having a garment body. The garment may be, for example, a surgical gown, a protective coverall, etc. The garment body includes sleeves, and the sleeves may have a cuff disposed at the distal end thereof. The cuffs may be formed from or include an elastic material, and may be liquid retentive or liquid impervious.  
         [0011]     In one embodiment, the raised profile area is formed from a surface modifier material applied to the garment fabric, for example by spraying, coating, etc. This coating material may be of a type to enhance (increase) surface friction between the glove and garment. For example, the area may be coated with a low-tack adhesive material applied to the sleeve near the distal end of the sleeve or proximal end of the cuff.  
         [0012]     In a further embodiment, it may be desirable to apply the surface modifier, particularly a low-tack material, to an area of the sleeve in a pattern that may improve the hold of the glove on the garment. This pattern may be one which would provide good frictional hold between the two items yet use less surface modifier material than complete coverage of the area would use. The term “pattern” is not meant to include the provision of a band of polymer about the sleeve in a location where it may come in contact with the glove. Gowns made according to the instant invention do not include a band of polymer around the sleeve, i.e., the sleeves are essentially free of a circumferentially extending polymeric band.  
         [0013]     The “low-tack” material applied to the coating and/or sleeve is desirably an inherently low-tack substance with high friction characteristics so as to prevent glove roll-down while not causing the sleeves to adhere to the gown body when the gown is folded.  
         [0014]     Embodiments of the protective garment according to the invention are described below in greater detail with reference to the appended figures. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a partial side view of an embodiment of a protective garment according to the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a partial side view of a garment sleeve according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of a garment sleeve having a coating according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of another garment sleeve having a coating deposited in a “Z” shaped configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of another garment sleeve having a coating deposited in a diagonal configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of another garment sleeve having a coating deposited in a straight line configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]     Reference will now be made in detail to one or more examples of the invention depicted in the figures. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used with another embodiment to yield still a different embodiment. Other modifications and variations to the described embodiments are also contemplated within the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates a protective garment  10  according to the invention. The garment  10  includes a main body portion  12 , a neck portion  14 , and sleeves  16  (one sleeve shown). The sleeves  16  may be made separately and attached at to the main body portion  12  at a seam  18  or formed as an integral component with the main body portion  12 . Each sleeve  16  may include an upper or proximal end  20 , a lower of distal end  22 , and an exterior surface  24 .  
         [0023]     The garment  10  is depicted as a surgical gown for illustrative purposes only. The garment  10  may be any type or style of protective covering that is generally worn about the body and includes sleeves.  
         [0024]     The terms “lower” or “distal” are used herein to denote features that are closer to the hands of the wearer. The terms “upper” or “proximal” are used to denote features that are closer to the shoulder of the wearer.  
         [0025]     It should be appreciated that the type of fabric or material used for garment  10  is not a limiting factor of the invention. The garment  10  may be made from a multitude of materials, including nonwoven materials suitable for disposable use. For example, gown embodiments of the garment  10  may be made of a stretchable nonwoven material so that the gown is less likely to tear during donning or wearing of the gown. A material particularly well suited for use with the present invention is a three-layer nonwoven polypropylene material known as SMS. “SMS” is an acronym for Spunbond, Meltblown, Spunbond, the process by which the three layers are constructed and then laminated together. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,203 to Brock et al. One particular advantage is that the SMS material 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 garment of the present invention. It is also contemplated that the garment may be coated with a liquid impervious coating to prevent fluid absorption into the garment material.  
         [0026]     The sleeves  16  may incorporate a cuff  26  attached to the distal end  22  thereof. The cuff  26  also has a distal end  28  and a proximal end  30 . The configuration and materials used in the cuff  26  may vary widely. For example, short, tight-fitting cuffs made from a knitted material may be provided. The cuff  26  may be formed with or without ribs. The cuff may be formed of a liquid repellant material or a liquid retentive material. Cuffs suitable for use with garments according to the present invention are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,594,955 and 5,680,653, both of which are incorporated herein in their entirety for all purposes.  
         [0027]     As shown for example in  FIG. 2 , protective garments are frequently used with gloves, such as a surgical glove  32  that is pulled over the hand of the wearer and has a sufficient length so that a proximal portion of the glove  32  overlaps the cuff  26  and a portion of the sleeve  16 . An interface is thus established between the glove interior surface and the exterior surface  24  of the sleeve  16  and cuff  26 . This interface region preferably inhibits undesirable fluids or other contaminants from running down the sleeve  16  to the cuff  26  or hand  34  of the wearer. However, glove slippage or roll-down occurs if the frictional interface between the glove interior surface and the sleeve exterior surface is insufficient to maintain the glove in position above the cuff  26 . When glove roll-down occurs, the wearer is at greater risk of exposure to contaminants, particularly during a surgical procedure.  
         [0028]     Many types of protective gloves, particularly elastic synthetic or natural rubber surgical gloves, have a thickened bead or region at the open proximal end  36 . This thickened portion or bead is intended to strengthen the glove  32  and provide an area of increased elastic tension to aid in holding the glove  32  up on the sleeve  16 .  
         [0029]     According to one embodiment of the invention, the garment  10  includes a circumferentially extending coating  40  formed on the sleeves  16  from the proximal end  30  of the cuff  26  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The coating  40  thus acts as a high friction surface against which the thickened proximal end  36  of the glove  32  contacts if the glove tends to slip down the exterior surface  24  of the glove. The coating  40  inhibits further slippage or roll-down of the glove  32 .  
         [0030]     The coating  40  may extend up the sleeve  16  a distance greater than the proximal end  36  of the glove  32  extends when the glove is normally donned. The dimensions of the coated area may vary as the size of the gown may also vary. As shown in any of  FIGS. 1-6 , the coated area may extend away from the cuff  26  for a distance of about 3 to 9 inches (7.6 to 22.8 cm), more particularly between about 4 and 7 inches (10.1 and 17.8 cm) and most particularly 5 inches (12.7 cm).  
         [0031]     It should be appreciated that the coating  40  can take on many different configurations.  FIG. 3  shows a flat sleeve piece before it is formed into a separate sleeve  16 . The sleeve  16  may be formed by bonding, for example ultrasonically, the two edges  50 ,  52  to each other and thereafter bonding the sleeve  16  to the main body portion  12  at the sleeve&#39;s distal end  20  to form a seam  18 . The coating  40  may be continuous around the sleeve  16  though a “band” of material as described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,090 is not desired. While the raised profile band of the &#39;090 patent has been found to be effective, the inventors have surprisingly found that a relatively uniform coating of a low-tack, high-friction polymer is also quite effective and lends itself more easily to modern manufacturing techniques.  
         [0032]     If the coating  40  interferes with the bonding or seaming process about a half inch (1.25 cm) border  56  along the edges  50 ,  52 ,  54  may be kept uncoated. If the coating  40  does not interfere with the bonding process, the half inch border  56  need not be present. The coating may alternatively be discontinuous around the sleeve  16 , such as a “Z” shape arrangement ( FIG. 4 ), a plurality of diagonal coating lines  44  ( FIG. 5 ) or coating strips  46  extending away from the distal end  22  ( FIG. 6 ). The particular geometric configuration of the coating  40  may vary widely so long as a generally circumferentially extending area or region is provided, with the coating being sufficient to inhibit glove slippage or roll-down.  
         [0033]     The coating  40  may be formed on the sleeve in various known ways and from a variety of materials. For example, a surface modifier compatible with the sleeve material may be applied directly to the sleeve in a spraying, printing, slot coating, or other conventional process.  
         [0034]     The coating  40  may be formed of an inherently low-tack material with high frictional characterisitics, such as a low-tack hot melt adhesive. This type of material increases slip resistance between the glove and sleeve  16  and may be applied directly onto the exterior surface  24  of the sleeve to form the coating  40 . In general, the surface modifier could be any polymer that is sufficiently soft and pliable so as to cling to the inside surface of the glove  32 . At the same time, the polymer should not have too high a tack level so as to cause the garment sleeve  16  to stick to the garment body  12  when the garment  10  is folded, hence the term “low-tack”. The term “high frictional characteristics” means that the coefficient of friction of the coated fabric is higher than the same, uncoated fabric.  
         [0035]     Polymers such as metallocene based polyolefins are suitable examples of acceptable coatings. Other suitable surface coatings include, for example, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, styrene-butadiene, cellulose acetate butyrate, ethyl cellulose, synthetic rubbers including, for example, Krayton® block copolymers, natural rubber, polyethylenes, polyamides, flexible polyolefins, and amorphous polyalphaolefins (APAO). A suitable commercial hot melt adhesive for the coating application is REXtac® 2115 APAO from Huntsman Polymers Corp. of Odessa, Tex. Another suitable commercial hot melt adhesive for this application is REXtac® 2215 APAO (Amorphous PolyAlpha Olefin) also from Huntsman Polymers. The polymer may be applied to the sleeve at an amount between about 5 and 50 gsm, more particularly between 10 and 30 gsm or still more particularly about 20 gsm.  
         [0036]     Other materials may be added to the coating to provide particular characteristics. These optional materials may include, for example, dyes, pigment or other colorants to give the coated area a visually perceptible color such as yellow, green, red or blue (e.g. Sudan Blue 670 from BASF). These colors may be used to indicate the protection level accorded by the gown according to, for example, the standards of the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), e.g., ANSI/AAMI PB70:2003. A user would thus be able to select a gown for a surgical procedure where the sleeve color corresponded to or indicated the fluid protection level of the gown.  
         [0037]     In order to validate the superiority of the inventive garment sleeve coating in the retention of gloves, testing was carried out on a variety of coatings and an uncoated “control” sleeve.  
         [0038]     The control was a sleeve made from 1.7 osy (58 gsm) SMS made from polypropylene. Two samples of sleeves of the same 1.7 osy SMS material were coated with REXtac® 2115 APAO for comparison; one at an add-on rate of 10 gsm for a distance of 4 inches (10 cm) from the cuff (sample 1) and one at an add-on rate of 20 gsm for a distance of 6 inches (15 cm) from the cuff (sample 2). The sleeves were coated by a spraying process. The three sleeves were tested using human subjects and an experimental protocol designed to simulate tasks performed by medical personnel in an operating room. During and after the protocol, measurements of glove location were taken for comparison. The subjects&#39; opinions were also solicited for a qualitative indication of gown preference. A total of 47 subjects tested the three types of gowns.  
         [0000]     The protocol was as follows:  
         [0000]     1. Acclimate for 10 minutes. Review Survey Questions.  
         [0000]     2. Have the subjects wash and dry their hands using the following procedure:  
         [0039]     1 pump of triangle lotion soap  
         [0040]     15 second lather  
         [0041]     15 second rinse dry until there are no visible signs of moisture  
         [0000]     3. Have the subject don a surgical gown.  
         [0000]     4. Ask the subject to don gloves. Record the glove size. Remind subjects NOT to adjust gloves once the exercises have started.  
         [0000]     Note: Be sure that the gloves are completely extended/unrolled at the cuff and snug around the wrist. Each glove should have the same starting point.  
         [0000]     5. Mark the surgical glove in a straight line with a black marker at the bend of the wrist. Record baseline measurement from the inside of the glove bead to the wrist mark.  
         [0000]     6. Record the measurement from the inside of the glove bead to the end of the gown cuff interface (the ‘white mark’). Note whether the gown cuff interface is on the hand or the wrist. This is for both the left and right hand.  
         [0042]     Ask the subject to handle the following items (dry):  
         [0043]     at the wrist, flex hands palm down, up and down 10 times using both hands  
         [0044]     at the wrist, flex hands palm up, up and down 10 times using both hands  
         [0045]     rotate wrists to the outside 10 times using both hands  
         [0046]     rotate wrists to the inside 10 times using both hands.  
         [0047]     remove and replace stopper in test tube 5 times using each hand  
         [0048]     turn stop cock clockwise a full rotation 5 times using each hand  
         [0049]     wrap gauze 5 wraps around an artificial arm and cut gauze with scissors—unwrap, then re-wrap gauze and unwrap using other hand  
         [0050]     twist wrist to remove and replace top on a water bottle 5 times using each hand (exaggerate movements)  
         [0051]     pass a block back and forth from right hand to left hand 5 times  
         [0052]     twist the length of a long threaded rod 2 times using each hand  
         [0053]     twist the length a rope 2 times using each hand to the knot  
         [0000]     7. Measure from the wrist mark to inside of the glove cuff (bead) and record ‘After Exercise Measurement’ in mm.  
         [0000]     8. Check for flip over. Mark yes or no. If yes, measure from inside of the bead to the end of the glove fold.  
         [0000]     9. Have the subject remove and discard gloves and gown. Wait 5 minutes and repeat with next sample.  
         [0000]     10. After all gowns have been evaluated, have them complete Preference Survey.  
         [0000]     11. Record on each subject&#39;s preference sheet, the order of the Concept Gown Display.  
         [0000]     12. Change the order of the Concept Gown Display after each team has completed their Concept Preference.  
         [0054]     Results of the testing protocol were as follows:  
         [0055]     Average movement (slip-down) measured from the starting point was, for the control: 42 mm, for sample 1: 17 mm and for sample 2: 13 mm. This indicates a significant advantage for either of the coated sleeves over the uncoated sleeve.  
         [0056]     Qualitative survey responses were also gathered. The areas of inquiry were “cuff stays in place”, “acceptability of glove slip-down”, “how well to protect from fluid”, “gown acceptability”. The three gown sleeves were preferred by the subjects in the same order as their finish in the slip-down measurements.  
         [0057]     In addition to the above testing, the control and sample 2 sleeves were tested for breathability using a TEXTEST FX 3300 air permeability machine from Schmid Corporation of Spartanburg, S.C., using a 38 cm 2  head at a test pressure of 125 Pa using 20 samples. According to the testing, the control sleeve fabric had a breathability of about 21.985 cubic feet per minute (CFM) (0.6225 cubic meter/min) and the sample 2 (coated) sleeve fabric had a breathability of about 21.020 CFM (0.5952 cubic meter/min). This indicates that, despite having a relatively heavy polymeric coating of 20 gsm, the breathability was not reduced by even 10 percent, and more particularly not even 5 percent. This indicates almost no change in the degree of comfort felt by a wearer of the coated sleeve.  
         [0058]     Testing in order to quantify to some degree the coefficient of friction (COF) of the coated sleeve was also carried out. The control and sample 2 sleeves were tested using test method ASTM D1894 using both a glass surface and a steel surface. The data is given in the following table:  
                                                                         Peak load   Glass   Steel                                        Control   92.1   180.5           Sample 2   140.7   214.4                      
 
         [0059]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Static COF 
                 Glass 
                 Steel 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Control 
                 0.47 
                 0.92 
               
               
                   
                 Sample 2 
                 0.72 
                 1.09 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0060]     The glass and steel in the previous test were replaced with a commercial, market leading latex glove (Biogel Surgical glove by Regent) in order to gain a more realistic picture of the sleeve&#39;s performance. A number of commercially available gowns were used for comparison testing and their fabric was tested against the inside surface of the glove. The testing was done according to ASTM D1894 using the outside surface of each gown fabric, with the fabric oriented in the machine direction, as it would be orientated on a wearer.  
         [0061]     In the table below, gown A is a commercially available gown with sleeves made from two 1.0 osy (33.9 gsm) SMS layers glued together. Gown B has a 0.6 osy (20.3 gsm) spunbond layer over a film and SMS fabric with the spunbond on the outside. Gown C has a 0.75 mil film on an SMS fabric with the film on the outside. Gown D has 1.6 osy (54.3 gsm) SMS sleeves. Gown E has 2.1 osy (71.1 gsm) spunlace sleeves.  
         [0062]     The following table shows the test results.  
                                                                                     COF Peak   COF   COF   COF Avg.           Load   Static   Dynamic   Load                                    Gown A   Average   26.846   0.135   0.114   22.61           Std. Dev.   11.992   0.06   0.056   11.171       Gown B   Average   44.445   0.223   0.204   40.564           Std. Dev.   4.648   0.023   0.016   3.178       Gown C   Average   86.257   0.433   0.404   80.362           Std. Dev.   18.303   0.092   0.082   16.318       Gown D   Average   47.166   0.237   0.22   43.842           Std. Dev.   4.951   0.025   0.021   4.23       Gown E   Average   75.974   0.382   0.343   68.277           Std. Dev.   11.48   0.058   0.054   10.803       Sample 2   Average   196.658   1.003   0.774   151.655           Std. Dev.   39.746   0.203   0.146   28.584                  
 
         [0063]     This data shows that the sample 2 fabric had a much higher coefficient of friction in all areas than any of the competitive, commercially available gowns. Gowns having the coating according to the invention thus have a much higher ability to retain gloves and avoid slip down and roll down, and they do so without sacrificing comfort and breathability.  
         [0064]     It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments of the present invention described and illustrated herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The invention includes such modifications and variations coming within the meaning and range of equivalency of the appended claims.