Aseptic folding for cleanroom clothing

Abstract

A method of aseptically folding a garment having a body and a garment sleeve having an inner side and an outer side is provided. The method includes rolling a first portion of the garment sleeve with the outer side of the garment facing outward and tucking the rolled first portion into an unrolled second portion of the garment sleeve. The method also includes turning a portion of the body inside out after tucking.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to methods and apparatus for sterile packaging, and more particularly to the sterile packaging of garments. [Background technology]

[0002] Protective coveralls are a type of limited-use or disposable protective clothing that can provide barrier properties. Coveralls have many applications when isolation of the wearer is desirable. Such protective clothing keeps the garment clean and prevents dirt and other residue from adhering to the wearer's skin. For various reasons, it is undesirable for hazardous fluids and / or pathogens that may be carried by the fluid to pass through the protective clothing. It is also highly desirable to use protective clothing to isolate personnel from dust, powder, and other particulates that may be present in the workplace or at the scene of an accident. Conversely, in cleanrooms, critical manufacturing, and surgical environments, protective clothing protects the environment from dust and debris that may be introduced into the environment by the wearer. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] Due to the critical sterile nature of cleanroom environments, strict protocols regarding clothing and donning of clothing are followed to prevent accidental transfer of contaminants from personnel to the products and patients the environment is designed to protect. To prevent such contamination, personnel are trained to don coveralls and to do so carefully, taking care not to touch the outer surfaces of such clothing and to prevent the clothing from touching the floor. If a user touches the outer surfaces or the clothing touches the floor, the user must obtain and don another uncontaminated garment. Accordingly, the inventors herein describe an improved method and apparatus for aseptically folding clothing, such as cleanroom coveralls. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] According to some embodiments, a method of aseptically folding a garment having a body and a garment sleeve having an inner side and an outer side is described, the method including rolling a first portion of the garment sleeve with the outer side of the garment facing outward, tucking the rolled first portion into an unrolled second portion of the garment sleeve, and after tucking, placing or folding the tucked sleeve over the body and inverting a portion of the body.

[0005] According to some embodiments, a method of donning a sterile folded garment having a body and sleeves having an inside and an outside is described, the sleeves having a rolled first portion tucked into an unrolled second portion, a portion of the body being inside out, and the body and sleeves being folded over, the method including inserting a limb into the unrolled second portion of the sleeve while contacting only the inside of the garment, and pushing the rolled first portion of the sleeve to expand the first portion of the sleeve, thereby allowing the limb to move through the first portion of the sleeve.

[0006] According to some embodiments, a sterile folded garment is described, the garment comprising a body and a sleeve extending from the body, the sleeve having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being rolled and the second portion being unrolled, the rolled first portion being tucked into the unrolled second portion.

[0007] Various advantages, aspects, and novel and inventive features of the present disclosure, as well as details of illustrative embodiments thereof, will become more fully understood from the following description and drawings. The foregoing summary is not intended to, and should not be considered to, describe each embodiment or every implementation of the embodiments. Other and further embodiments of the present disclosure are described below. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates exemplary coveralls with a hood and boots according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0009] [Figure 2] FIG. 2 illustrates a garment in a flat, back-up configuration according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0010] [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows one leg sleeve of the garment of FIG. 2 being rolled up with the first portion being rolled up.

[0011] [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows shortening one of the leg sleeves by pushing the rolled first portion of FIG. 3 into the second portion of the leg sleeve shown in FIG.

[0012] [Figure 5A] FIG. 5A shows the leg sleeve of FIG. 4 shortened.

[0013] [Figure 5B] FIG. 5B shows two shortened leg sleeves.

[0014] [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows the arm sleeve of the garment shown in FIG. 2 shortened and folded in half as shown in FIGS.

[0015] [Figure 7] FIG. 7 shows the garment of FIG. 6 with the leg sleeves folded upward over the folded arm sleeves.

[0016] [Figure 8] FIG. 8 shows the garment of FIG. 2 with the hood of the garment folded downward over the folded leg sleeves.

[0017] [Figure 9A] FIG. 9A shows a sequence (part 1) for turning one side of a garment flap inside out. [Figure 9B] FIG. 9B shows a sequence (part 2) for turning one side of the garment flap inside out. [Figure 9C] FIG. 9C shows a sequence (part 3) for turning one side of the garment flap inside out.

[0018] [Figure 9D] FIG. 9D shows the folded garment after repeating the sequence of FIGS. 9A-9C for the other side of the garment.

[0019] [Figure 9E] FIG. 9E shows the garment shown in FIG. 9D folded across axis AA of FIG. 9D.

[0020] [Figure 10] FIG. 10 shows the garment shown in FIG. 9D being folded in half across axis BB in FIG.

[0021] [Figure 11] Figure 11 shows the folded garment in its final configuration ready for packaging.

[0022] [Figure 12] FIG. 12 shows a garment in a flat position with the back facing up and the proximal ends of the sleeves folded over the back, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Before describing embodiments of the present invention in detail, it should be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The present invention should not necessarily be limited to specific compositions, materials, designs, or devices, which may vary. All technical and scientific terms used herein have the ordinary meanings conventionally understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which embodiments of the present invention pertain, unless otherwise defined by context. Furthermore, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" may include plural referents unless the context clearly defines otherwise.

[0024] Embodiments of the present disclosure may be advantageously used to prevent the accidental transfer of contaminants from workers to products or patients.Embodiments of the present disclosure may be advantageously used to improve the cleanliness and productivity of cleanroom work environments.

[0025] 1 and 2 illustrate a sterile garment 200 embodied as a cleanroom coverall. The garment 200 may include a main body 202 configured to cover the torso and sleeves 204a, 204b configured to cover the limbs (e.g., arms and legs). The sleeves include arm sleeves 204a and leg sleeves 204b. The garment 200 has an interior and an exterior (the exterior is shown in FIG. 2). In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, the garment 200 may include a hood 206 configured to cover the head. In some embodiments, the garment 200 may also optionally include boots 201, shown in FIG. 1 (but not in the remaining figures), to cover the feet. The garment 200 may also include a zipper 203 connecting a chest-covering portion 205. The garment 200 may be configured to cover substantially all of a user's clothing. To allow for sterile packaging and donning of garment 200, a sterile folding method according to the present disclosure is described below with reference to Figures 2-11.

[0026] 2, garment 200 is laid flat (e.g., on a table or other support surface) with the exterior side of garment 200 facing outward, with back 208 of garment 200 facing up (e.g., away from the table or other support surface), and hood 206, arm sleeves 204a, and leg sleeves 204b fully extended from main body 202. One or more of sleeves 204a, 204b may be shortened to facilitate compact folding of garment 200. Each sleeve 204a, 204b may have a first portion (e.g., 302) with a first length L1 and a second portion (e.g., 304) with a second length L2. Each sleeve 204a, 204b may have a proximal end 502 at the body 202 and a distal end 504 away from the proximal end such that the first portion (e.g., 302) is positioned distal (relative to the body 202) to the second portion (e.g., 304).

[0027] For example, in some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3 , the first portion 302 of the leg sleeve 204b is rolled toward the second portion 304 and toward the main body 202. When rolled in this manner, the distal end 504 is inside the rolled first portion 302 and is therefore not visible. Also, as shown in FIG. 4 , the second portion 304 remains unrolled, while the rolled first portion 302 of the sleeve 204b is tucked into the second portion 304, thereby shortening the leg sleeve as shown in FIG. 5A . The other leg sleeve 204b and / or one or more arm sleeves 204a may also be shortened in the same manner. In some embodiments, at least one sleeve 204a, 204b may be shortened by rolling and tucking as described above for the sleeve 204b shown in FIG. 3 . In some embodiments, one or both arm sleeves 204a may be rolled and tucked as described above. In some embodiments, one or both leg sleeves 204b may be rolled and tucked as described above. In Figure 5B, two leg sleeves 204b are shown shortened, with the rolled first portion 302, shown in dashed lines, tucked inside the second portion 304. In this manner, when the first portion 302 is rolled and tucked inside the second portion 304, the distal end 504 is not visible.

[0028] In some embodiments, after the sleeves 204a, 204b are shortened, they may be folded. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the shortened arm sleeve 204a of the garment 200 is folded in half, although other ratios are possible. Also, as shown in FIG. 7, the leg sleeve 204b may be folded over and placed on top of the folded arm sleeve 204a, covering the folded arm sleeve 204a. If a hood 206 is present, it may be folded over the folded leg sleeve 204a, as shown in FIG. 8.

[0029] To facilitate aseptic handling and donning of garment 200, a portion of garment 200 may be inverted before packaging so that when a user removes the folded garment from its packaging, the garment can be handled by touching only the inside of garment 200, thereby preventing contamination of the outside of the garment. For example, in some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 9A-9C, one portion 205 of garment 200 (one side of zipper 203) is inverted and wrapped around the side of garment 200. By folding garment 200 into the configuration shown in FIG. 8, zipper 203 may be at the bottom of FIG. 8. The process of FIGS. 9A-9C can be repeated with portion 205 on the other side of zipper 203, resulting in the garment folded as shown in FIG. 9D.

[0030] Garment 200 of FIG. 9D can be made more compact for packaging by further folding it across axis AA of FIG. 9D . For example, FIG. 9E shows garment 200 of FIG. 9D when folded across axis AA of FIG. 9D , such as by folding two sections 205 toward each other as shown in FIG. 9E . FIG. 10 shows garment 200 shown in FIG. 9E folded in half across axis BB to reach the final folded configuration of sterile folded garment 200 ready for sterile packaging, such as a sealed plastic bag (not shown). In some embodiments, axis BB may be located at a position other than the midpoint of garment 200 along axis AA, such that garment 200 may be folded in other proportions. For example, axis BB may be located approximately one-third of the length of the garment from one side (e.g., the left side) of FIG. 10 . In some embodiments, in the sterile folded configuration, the distal end of the sleeve (e.g., distal end 504) or opening of garment 200 remains rolled up within first portion 302 and tucked inside second portion 304, and therefore remains invisible.

[0031] A garment sterilely folded according to the present disclosure may be sterilely donned as follows. In some embodiments, a user may grasp the folded garment by the inside-out portion 205 while inserting a limb into the corresponding sleeve 204 a, 204 b of the garment 200. Specifically, the user may insert the limb into the proximal end (relative to the body 202) of the sleeve 204 a, 204 b and move the limb into the second portion 304 of the sleeve such that the limb pushes against the rolled first portion 302 of the sleeve. As the limb is pushed distally, the rolled first portion 302 unfolds, allowing the limb to pass completely through the distal end of the sleeve 204 a, 204 b without contacting the outside of the garment 200. The user may repeat the above procedure for the other limb and the other sleeve of the garment. As a result of the sterile folding described herein, donning of the folded garment can be accomplished aseptically.

[0032] Comparison Example Four folded coverall garments were tested by measuring the time a user wore the garment. Item 1 was a hooded coverall garment constructed as described herein, and item 2 was a hooded and booted coverall garment constructed as described herein. Items 1 and 2 were folded using the methods described according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0033] Items 3 and 4 were folded coverall garments that were folded using a method not in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Item 3 was a folded coverall garment with a hood, and item 4 was a folded coverall garment without a hood. Item 3 was folded as follows: the sleeves and legs were folded inward and attached to the inner portion of the garment using fasteners, and then the garment was turned inside out. Item 4 was folded as follows: only the legs of the garment were turned inside out, and then the entire garment was turned inside out (e.g., inside out). [Table 1]

[0034] During testing, the time it took a user to don each item aseptically (without handling or touching the outside of the garment) was measured. As shown in Table 1 above, items 1 and 2 took less time to don aseptically than items 3 and 4.

[0035] FIG. 12 illustrates garment 200 in a flat position with back 208 facing up and sleeve 204a folded over back 208 at proximal end 502 of sleeve 204a, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12, sleeve 204a is not folded, tucked, or rolled between proximal end 502 and distal end 504. Also, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12, sleeve 204a is not shortened. Instead, the entire length of sleeve 204a extends beyond back 208. In some embodiments, proximal end 502 of sleeve 204a may extend along a seam of garment 200 connecting sleeve 204a to main body 202 of garment 200. In some embodiments, one or more arm sleeves 204a may be folded as illustrated in FIG. 12. In some embodiments, one or more leg sleeves 204b may be folded like arm sleeve 204a illustrated in FIG. 12.

[0036] Although several embodiments have been discussed above, other implementations and applications are within the scope of the following claims. While specific reference has been made herein to various embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the various embodiments. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the illustrative embodiments and that other embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0037] All publications and references cited herein, including but not limited to patents and patent applications, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety as if each individual publication or reference was specifically and individually indicated to be fully set forth herein. Any patent application to which this application claims priority is also incorporated by reference herein in the manner described above for publications and references.

Claims

1. 1. A method of aseptically folding a garment having a body and garment sleeves having an inner and outer side, the method comprising: Rolling a first portion of a garment sleeve; tucking the rolled first portion into an unrolled second portion of the garment sleeve; after the pushing, turning the portion of the body inside out; A method comprising:

2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the garment sleeve has a proximal end at the body portion and a distal end remote from the proximal end, and the first portion is disposed distal to the second portion.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising folding the body portion after turning the body portion inside out.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising repeating the rolling and tucking for at least one additional garment sleeve of the garment.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising folding at least one of a hood or boots attached to the garment.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising placing a portion of the body over the body before inverting it.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising folding the garment sleeve before turning the portion of the body inside out.

8. 1. A method of donning a sterile folded garment having a body and sleeves having an inside and an outside, the sleeves having a rolled first portion tucked into an unrolled second portion, a portion of the body being inside-out, and the body and sleeves being folded; inserting a limb into the unrolled second portion of the sleeve while contacting only the inside of the garment; pushing the rolled first portion of the sleeve to expand the first portion of the sleeve, thereby allowing the limb to move through the first portion of the sleeve; A method comprising:

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising unfolding at least one of the body or the sleeve before inserting the limb.

10. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the sterile folded garment includes at least one additional sleeve, and further comprising repeating the inserting and advancing for the at least one additional sleeve of the sterile folded garment.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising unfolding at least one of the body or each sleeve before inserting the limb.

12. The main body and a sleeve extending from the body; The sterile folded garment, wherein the sleeve has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being rolled and the second portion being unrolled, and the rolled first portion being tucked into the unrolled second portion.

13. The garment of claim 12 , wherein the sleeves and the main body are folded over.

14. 14. The garment of claim 13, wherein the sleeve has a proximal end at the body and a distal end remote from the proximal end, the sleeve being folded over at the proximal end.

15. 14. The garment of claim 13, wherein the body and the sleeves have an inside and an outside, and a portion of the body is in an inside-out configuration.

16. The garment of claim 12, further comprising at least one of a hood attached to the body or boots attached to the sleeves.

17. 17. The garment of claim 16, wherein the hood is folded over at least one of the main body or the sleeves.

18. The garment of claim 12 , wherein the sleeves are folded over the back of the main body.

19. The garment of claim 12 , wherein the garment includes a plurality of the sleeves extending from the main body.

20. The garment of claim 12 , wherein the sleeves are folded over the main body.

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