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.

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 Hea...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome these and other drawbacks of the pr

Problems solved by technology

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.

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.

Secondly, donning and removal of the protective gar

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