Medical gown with a secondary sleeve for extending over a surgical glove

Abstract

A protective gown with a tubular overlay, or tube, on each gown sleeve attached on one end at the user's forearm as the tube extends toward the upper arm as a surgical glove is donned and the gown sleeve is tucked within the glove cuff. The tube then extends downward toward the sleeve end and over the glove cuff forming a channel in which the glove cuff is positioned and retained. The tube is secured to the glove from within the tube as it engages the glove cuff. Areas of increased frictional resistance may be added to the tube underside to engage the glove cuff secondary surface as the sleeve is tucked within the glove cuff. Increased frictional resistance may be obtained by employing strips or a coating with a low tack surface.

Description

[0001]This application is a continuation of a previous application filed Aug. 29, 2008 under application Ser. No. 12 / 201,312 and claims the benefit thereof.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates generally to surgical gowns and gloves and more specifically to a protective gown with arm sleeves to which surgical gloves attach to keep the gloves from rolling down during surgery.[0004]2. Prior Art[0005]Medical gloves are used where it is important to maintain a sterile environment both to protect a surgeon and health care workers from infection from the patient and likewise to protect the patient from infection from the surgeon. To protect against transmission of bacteria through the glove, the glove must be seamless. Further, the gloves must be thin to maintain the tactile sensation and feedback response required during surgery as the surgeon performs delicate surgical procedures. Typically, the glove is formed with a generally uniform thickness fr...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Further, the gloves must be thin to maintain the tactile sensation and feedback response required during surgery as the surgeon performs delicate surgical procedures.

However, the cuffs of the surgical gloves have a tendency to roll down away from the surgeon's protective gown as the surgeon's arm and hand move.

Although the surgeon washes prior to surgery and is clean, the surgeon is not sterile, so his unsterile hands contaminate the inner surface of the glove when it is put on.

The unsterile glove inner side thus contaminates the sterile glove outer side when the glove cuff rolls down.

Additionally, it is not uncommon for the surgeon to further contaminate his gloves when he uses his other hand to unroll the glove back up his forearm and over his gown.

That is, he touches the contaminated glove of one hand with the glove of his other hand resulting in both gloves losing their sterility.

Attempts to remedy glove roll-down have been variously addressed but the problem remains substantially unresolved.

Modified gown sleeves have been commercially unsuccessful and the simple unmodified gown remains in common use.

Adhesive tape has been used between the glove and the garment, but common adhesives used in tapes can become ineffective when they are contacted with water and body fluids and the adhesion to the gown, which may be marginal even before contact with fluids, can lose adhesion to the gown during a medical procedure.

Furthermore, an adhesive between the glove and the gown limits the ability of the surgeon to change gloves quickly and easily during a procedure.

A rubber band around the glove and sleeve has been attempted, however this practice is not recommended because the rubber band is likely not sterile and it is also subject to sliding down the forearm with the glove.

For example, silicone rubber is tacky to the touch and clings to any object or material that comes in contact with it.

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