item of clothing

Abstract

Garment (8) for a person (6) to be worn preferably in a clean room (6), comprising: - a sheet-like structure (16) which can be placed on the skin (12) of the person (6) along at least one support path (23) in such a way that an interior space (24) is formed between the skin (12) and the sheet-like structure (16), - a sealing element (25) for limiting an air exchange between the interior (24) and an exterior space on the support track (23), - a support structure (14) which can be accommodated in the interior (24) for maintaining a distance between the skin (12) and the sheet (16), - a suction connection (18) for a vacuum pump for extracting air from the interior (24), and - a flow resistance element (20) which is designed to allow a predetermined air flow (22) through the sheet-like structure in such a way that a pressure difference is present at the sheet-like structure (16) due to the vacuum in the interior space (24).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a garment and a clothing combination comprising the garment for extracting air close to the body.

[0002] Clothing for personal cooling or air conditioning, particularly for use in clean rooms, is well known.

[0003] For example, DD 2 26 480 A1 describes a device for heat dissipation in cooling clothing, which is constructed from a coolant circuit with a battery-operated pump in the clothing and a liquid coolant (water, silicone oil).

[0004] DE 692 05 820 T2 discloses a device exclusively for cooling a spacesuit, wherein a water coolant circuit is provided in the sealed protective suit with a cooling device outside the protective suit. The coolant is distributed via coolant hoses.

[0005] JP 2012- 52 263 A discloses a dustproof clothing for clean rooms in semiconductor and LCD production, which prevents contamination by human gases by keeping the air pressure in the clothing negative, integrates head and body covering and uses a fan and a gas absorption container for air purification.

[0006] KR 10 2005 0 105 807 A discloses a cleanroom suit with an integrated portable vacuum tweezer, which is connected to the arm by an airtight sealed vacuum line and enables wafer manipulation by means of an external vacuum source with a connection point on the leg.

[0007] US 2001 / 0 000 849 A1 shows a cooling vest that uses compressed air and distributes it through absorbent material and channels. The compressed air source is located in a belt worn by the user.

[0008] DE 200 13 797 U1 discloses a climate control system for diffusion-inhibited protective clothing with a heat exchanger worn inside the protective clothing, in which air acts as a coolant. The air either circulates or exits through an opening at the neck. The heat exchanger allows for cooling and heating and contains adsorber or absorber material for dehumidification.

[0009] WO 2003 / 065833 A1 shows a climate-regulating garment in which (body) moisture is first removed from the skin to the textile surface by capillary action, and the moisture then evaporates through the outer surface of the garment. All layers are permeable to air and feature climate channels made of textile structures.

[0010] DE 10 2004 002 287 A1 describes a garment for personal air conditioning that provides both cooling and heating by means of a fan under positive pressure and through circulation. This requires an air conditioning device outside the garment. Temperature control through air flow is achieved via an inner layer.

[0011] DE 10 2006 060 990 B4 discloses a garment for personal air conditioning that cools using compressed air or suction via a mobile air-conveying device. In the suction mode, the air flows from the neck area or the base of the sleeves and, if necessary, also over the surface of the garment, so that a flow, but not a continuous negative pressure, can be achieved under the garment.

[0012] DE 10 2011 014 383 B4 shows a garment for personal air conditioning that is structurally similar to DE 10 2006 06 0990 B4 with the objective of personal cooling, but is additionally supplemented by a) a moisture-proof outer layer and b) a layer for storing sweat or separately added liquid. Cooling is achieved by the airflow in which the sweat or liquid evaporates.

[0013] Furthermore, with the aim of exclusively cooling the body, the use of adsorber and absorber materials such as silica gel or lithium chlorite is scientifically known. These are integrated into body clothing, absorb moisture (caused by perspiration) and cool down in the process.

[0014] Furthermore, cooling gels and water-filled cooling packs are available on the market, which are first (deep-)frozen and then placed, for example, in the inside pockets of cooling clothing and, when worn, absorb the user's body heat, warm up and then thaw.

[0015] The object of the invention is to improve known garments for persons to wear preferably in clean rooms.

[0016] The problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. Preferred developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, a garment for a person to be worn preferably in a clean room, comprising: - a sheet-like structure which can be placed on the skin of the person along at least one support path in such a way that an interior space is formed between the skin and the sheet-like structure, - a sealing element to limit air exchange between the interior and an exterior space on the support track, - a support structure that can be inserted into the interior to maintain a distance between the skin and the surface structure, - a suction connection for a vacuum pump to extract air from the interior, and - a flow resistance element which is designed to allow a predetermined air flow through the sheet material in such a way that a pressure difference is present at the sheet material due to the vacuum in the interior.

[0018] The invention is based on the consideration that in cleanrooms, as described in DIN EN ISO 14644 or DIN 1946-4, among others, the release of particles, for example from the skin flora or abrasion from the inside of the clothing of employees working there, represents a significant contamination risk for the products being processed. In the specific case of medical (surgical) cleanrooms, inanimate particles can cause granulomas and adhesions in patients, and biogenic particles (microorganisms) can cause infectious diseases.

[0019] Under the conditions of industrial cleanrooms, employees wear completely enclosing and thus largely particle-tight clothing, from which particles can only escape into the room air to a small extent.

[0020] In operating rooms, however, in addition to underwear (underwear, overalls, trousers), extensive protective clothing such as face masks, head caps, possibly arm warmers or (lead) radiation protection aprons, and a sterile protective gown over them must be worn. According to DIN EN ISO 7730, significantly higher CLO values ​​(CLO: unit of measurement for the inverse of the heat transfer coefficient) and higher MET values ​​(MET: metabolic rate) are derived for activities in operating rooms, resulting from the several hours of dynamic physical exertion of the surgeons in combination with the additional static load caused by wearing (lead) radiation protection aprons. Furthermore, the surgeons who stand directly under the operating lights absorb significant amounts of radiant heat.Based on the resulting CLO / MET constellation and other heat absorption factors such as heat conduction through physical contact with the patient, a room temperature significantly below 19 °C would be required according to DIN EN ISO 7730. However, such low temperatures are excluded by the norm (DIN 1946-4) both to protect patients from hypothermia and to ensure the thermal comfort requirements of other staff in the operating room.

[0021] Particularly during operations lasting several hours, the surgeons may experience a build-up of heat and perspiration, while the other staff in the operating room may freeze and the patients' core body temperature may need to be raised additionally using warmed infusion solutions.

[0022] To (partially) compensate for this thermal stress, the surgeons' protective clothing - unlike in industrial clean rooms - is not completely sealed in the neck area, allowing body heat to escape and cooling room air to flow into the surgical clothing. When the upper arms move, a pumping effect occurs in the surgeons' armpit area, with cooler room air being drawn in during arm abduction and warm (body) air being forced out through the neck area during adduction. However, with the warm air flowing out from the surgeon's body surface, particles or microorganisms from the skin flora can also enter the air in the operating room and pose health risks (adhesions / granulomas or infectious diseases) for the patient.

[0023] Sweat-related moisture in the arm area of ​​the surgeons can also promote the passage of microorganisms through the sterile protective gowns.

[0024] Here, the invention is based on the idea of ​​keeping the body surface permanently in a negative pressure (vacuum) compared to the external air pressure by means of the specified garment in order to reduce or exclude the release of particles or microorganisms from the skin flora or adjacent clothing into the room air or via body sweat into the sterile surgical field.

[0025] The garment allows for the extraction of particle- and moisture-laden body air, thus preventing its release into the room air. The flow resistance element defines a volume flow of cooler room air, which flows through the fabric as an outer retention layer into the interior of the specified garment. The sealing element reliably prevents uncontrolled penetration of air through the (body) openings of the garment (e.g., sleeves, legs, neck, torso) - in the sense of bypasses - and thus seals the garment. The support structure distributes the negative pressure evenly across the entire body surface covered by the specified garment in the interior, whereby the distribution of the incoming cooler room air and the flow direction into the interior are significantly influenced by the arrangement of the extraction connection for the vacuum hose to the vacuum pump.

[0026] In mechanically ventilated clean rooms, the room air is usually colder and drier than the air extracted from the body surface, so that moisture and heat accumulating under the specified garment can be removed depending on the set extraction volume flow or negative pressure, thus counteracting heat build-up among the surgeons.

[0027] The relevant occupational safety requirement of thermal comfort, as defined in DIN EN ISO 7730, is considered to be achieved when neither an excessive feeling of heat (sweating) nor an excessive feeling of cold (chilling) is perceived. To also meet the comfort requirement with regard to the health risk of shivering, the elements of the specified garment as a whole should provide sufficient thermal insulation so that the continuous extraction of body air at approximately 34°C does not cause the user to shiver, even during (temporary) low physical activity (low MET values). This applies in particular when the specified garment is used in rooms with low air temperatures of, for example, 19°C, such as in medical operating rooms.

[0028] Although personal cooling or air conditioning is known from the state of the art, garments with the specific functional goal of ensuring a permanent negative pressure for the extraction of particles from garments are unknown.

[0029] The invention prevents or at least significantly reduces the release of particles and microorganisms from (work and / or protective) clothing by continuously applying (minimal) negative pressure therein and, if necessary, additionally by pulsating air extraction (extraction clothing).

[0030] The removal of body air from the boundary area between the skin and the fabric of the specified garment has a secondary cooling effect, thus counteracting overheating or perspiration in the user. On the other hand, hypothermia of the user is prevented by the heat-insulating combination of all layers of the specified garment (supporting structure and fabric) in conjunction with a reduction of the volume flow discharged from the interior per unit of time to a minimum. The invention therefore modifies the known garment in such a way that no particles, and in particular no biogenic particles (e.g., bacteria, viruses), can be released from the specified garment.

[0031] In a further development of the specified garment, the support structure is designed to be pressure-elastic perpendicular to the surface of the skin, so that the interior space can dynamically adjust in size under the effect of the negative pressure, if, for example, a depth of the interior space needs to be compensated for in the anatomical course of the spine on the wearer's back.

[0032] In another refinement, the support structure of the specified garment comprises a spacer fabric in the form of double-face textiles, in which warp-knitted fabric surfaces are held apart by spacer threads. This ensures that even under high localized loads, such as those encountered on the shoulders of surgeons when wearing a lead apron, the aforementioned airflow is not interrupted.

[0033] In a further development of the specified garment, the support structure is worn on a hydrophobic and breathable layer that initially rests on the skin – similar to underwear. This layer mechanically decouples the support structure from the wearer's skin and allows the specified garment to be worn successively by several people without the need to wash the garment each time for hygiene reasons.

[0034] In yet another refinement of the specified garment, the flow resistance element is formed in a flat manner in at least some areas of the fabric. This allows the air flow to be distributed and prevents excessive volume flows from developing in certain areas, while reducing the volume flow extracted at other locations of the specified garment.

[0035] In an additional development of the specified garment, the flow resistance element has a locally variable flow resistance that increases toward the extraction port. This prevents a short circuit of incoming fresh air from the environment in the area of ​​the extraction port, thus ensuring that an effective volume flow is also extracted from the surfaces of the specified garment remote from the extraction port.

[0036] In a special development of the specified garment, the local increase in airflow resistance is achieved by an additional sealing element. This allows the fabric to be made of, for example, a standard woven fabric, the air permeability of which is difficult to adjust locally (manually). This local adjustment is then achieved by the sealing element.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment, the fabric of the specified garment comprises chloroprene rubber, known under the trade name neoprene, into which the flow resistance element is molded in the form of through-holes. Tests with this material have demonstrated particularly high effectiveness and optimal flow distribution of the specified garment.

[0038] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the specified garment, the sealing element is an annular waistband. This annular waistband is turned outward when the specified garment is put on and then acts as a check valve.

[0039] According to a further aspect of the invention, a clothing combination comprises water-repellent and air-permeable undergarments or underwear and a specified garment that can be placed thereon, wherein the air permeability of the underwear is lower in the area of ​​the sealing elements of the garment than in its remaining area.

[0040] The above-described properties, features, and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become more clearly understood in connection with the following description of the exemplary embodiments, which are explained in more detail in conjunction with the drawings. Fig. 1 a schematic diagram of a clean room with an operator wearing a garment, Fig. 2 a schematic diagram of a part of a first embodiment of the garment of the Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a schematic diagram of a part of a second embodiment of the garment of the Fig. 1, Fig. 4 a schematic diagram of part of a third embodiment of the garment of the Fig. 1, Fig. 5 a schematic diagram of the garment of the Fig. 1, Fig. 6 a schematic diagram of a further development of the garment of the Fig. 1, Fig. 7 a schematic diagram of a cross-section of the garment of the Fig. 1, Fig. 8 a schematic diagram of a section of the garment of the Fig. 7, Fig. 9 a schematic diagram of a section of the garment of the Fig. 8,

[0041] In the figures, identical technical elements are provided with identical reference symbols and described only once. The figures are purely schematic and, above all, do not represent the actual geometric relationships.

[0042] Fig. Figure 1 shows a basic illustration of a clean room 2, in which, along with other elements not shown, an operating table 4 is arranged. A person in the form of a surgeon 6 stands at the table, wearing a garment 8. A suction hose 10 is connected to the garment 8, which is connected to a vacuum pump and is configured to extract air from the garment 8.

[0043] The garment 8 can be any garment such as a jacket, trousers, a hood or a (lead) radiation protection apron and has a multi-layer structure which is determined by Fig. 2 will be explained in more detail.

[0044] A supporting structure in the form of an open-pore elastic compression layer 14 rests on the skin 12. In practice, this compression layer 14 should be less than 20 mm thick and is enclosed by a sheet-like structure in the form of an outer retention layer 16. An adapter 18 for connecting the suction hose 10 penetrates the retention layer 16, creating a defined negative pressure in the compression layer 14. The retention layer 16 is penetrated by flow resistance elements, here in the form of small through-openings 20, through which room air 22 can flow into an interior space 24 between the skin 12 and the retention layer 16. In the case of jackets and overalls as garment 8, pressure distribution should be possible in the shoulder area through a stabilizing layer 31, so that a radiation protection (lead) apron worn thereon does not impair the most homogeneous flow and suction of body air.The adapter 18 should be located in the back area of ​​the garment 8. To prevent room air from accidentally entering the skin 12 via the support panels 23 of the garment 8, the skin 12 should be sealed with sealing elements 25, which will be discussed in more detail later.

[0045] Sealing surfaces 30, which will be described later, can be arranged in partial areas of the retention layer 16, thus ensuring efficient airflow throughout the entire garment. The garment 8 should be made of, for example, washable, reprocessable textile material and laminates, and should be available in various sizes.

[0046] By applying a negative pressure to the adapter 18, the air volume in the compression layer 14 (in the case of a jacket: approximately 20 l) is extracted within 0.5 minutes, with the compression layer 14 contracting due to the higher external air pressure and its elasticity. With the body air thus extracted, a portion of the existing heat and moisture is removed from the surface of the skin 12.

[0047] Due to the negative pressure in the compression layer 14 and its elastic restoring force, colder and drier room air 22 then flows through the retention layer 16 into the interior 24 and thereby achieves a cooling effect on the skin of the surgeon 6. The time until the complete flow of room air 22 into the compression layer 14 can be determined by the specific air permeability [I / (sec*m 2 )] of the retention layer 16 can be defined.

[0048] In addition to the basic structure of the Kleisungsstück 2 according to Fig. 2, a hydrophobic base layer 28 with very high air permeability (≥ 1 l / (sec*m 2 )) which is Fig. 3. Due to its wide-meshed fabric structure and low grammage (≤ 150 g / m 2 ), the base layer 28 achieves effective turbulent flushing in the boundary region of the skin 12 when the compression layer 14 alternates between vacuum and turbulent airflow. Furthermore, the base layer can significantly improve wearing comfort.

[0049] An additional stabilization layer 31 can also be integrated into or on the compression layer 14, which influences the outer shape of the garment 8 and thus enables morphological adaptation to the individual anatomical contours of the surgeon 6. This stabilization function can be further supplemented for different clothing sizes by hook-and-loop fasteners and other length-adjustable quick fastenings located on the outer retention layer 16.

[0050] In an additional training course, which is Fig. 4, the surgeon 6 can first put on separate undergarments 32 made of hydrophobic fabric with very high air permeability, which are worn under the garment 8. In this clothing combination 34, the additional undergarments 32 are particularly necessary for hygienic reasons if the garment 8 is to be worn successively by several people without washing after the change.

[0051] In order to ensure homogeneous particle extraction throughout the entire garment 8 and to adjust the body heat individually desired by the surgeon, partial areas of the retention layer 16 (particularly in the vicinity of the extraction adapter) should be covered by Fig.6. The sealing surfaces 36 shown can be replaced. Compared to the remaining retention layer 16, the sealing surfaces 36 have a significantly lower (at least 90%) specific air permeability and guide the warm / moist body air through the compression layer 14 to the suction adapter 18. This prevents additional room air from entering the compression layer 14 in the immediate vicinity of the suction adapter 18 - in the sense of a bypass - and thereby hindering the outflow of body air from the areas of the negative pressure clothing element that are as far away as possible from the suction adapter 18. The sealing surfaces 30 are therefore located in the vicinity of the suction adapter 18 around it, both on the front and in the back area of ​​the garment 8 - if this is designed as a jacket or overalls - and prevent fluid-mechanical bypasses.

[0052] Furthermore, an uncontrolled inflow of ambient air 22 through the physiological body part openings of the garment 8 (example jacket: sleeves, neck, torso) must also be excluded. For this purpose, annular cuffs in the form of textile circular cuffs 36 are incorporated as sealing elements 25, which act like check valves and are drawn closer to the skin 12 as the negative pressure increases. The higher static pressure of the ambient air 22 (relative to the vacuum in the interior 24 of the garment 8) presses the circular cuffs 36 (example jacket) against the surface of the skin 12 of the arms, the torso, and the neck area, sealing them.

Claims

[1] Garment (8) for a person (6) to be worn preferably in a clean room (6), comprising: - a sheet-like structure (16) which can be placed on the skin (12) of the person (6) along at least one support path (23) in such a way that an interior space (24) is formed between the skin (12) and the sheet-like structure (16), - a sealing element (25) for limiting an air exchange between the interior (24) and an exterior space on the support track (23), - a support structure (14) which can be accommodated in the interior (24) for maintaining a distance between the skin (12) and the sheet (16), - a suction connection (18) for a vacuum pump for extracting air from the interior (24), and - a flow resistance element (20) which is designed to allow a predetermined air flow (22) through the sheet-like structure in such a way that a pressure difference is present at the sheet-like structure (16) due to the vacuum in the interior space (24). [2] Garment (8) according to claim 1, wherein the support structure (14) is elastically formed perpendicular to the surface of the skin (12). [3] Garment (8) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the supporting structure (14) comprises a spacer fabric in the form of double-face textiles in which warp-knitted fabric surfaces are kept at a distance by spacer connecting threads. [4] A garment (8) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support structure (14) is worn on a hydrophobic and air-permeable layer (28) which can be placed on the skin. [5] Garment (8) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow resistance element (20) is formed at least partially in the planar structure (16). [6] Garment (8) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow resistance element (20) has a locally variable flow resistance which increases towards the suction connection (18). [7] Garment (8) according to claim 6, wherein the local increase in flow resistance is formed by an additional sealing element (30). [8] Garment (8) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet material (16) comprises chloroprene rubber into which the flow resistance element (20) is molded in the form of through-openings. [9] Garment (8) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing element (25) is an annular collar. [10] Clothing combination (34) comprising a water-repellent and air-permeable undergarment (32) and a garment (8) which can be placed thereon according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the air permeability of the undergarment (32) is lower in the region of the sealing element (25) of the garment (8) than in its remaining region.

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