Medical protective hood with lens having one or more removable layers

Abstract

In particular, in an operating room or clean room, the protective hood 1, which is configured to be worn by a worker over a helmet 2, is configured to be positioned at least at the worker's eye level when in use and comprises a front-view lens 3 having one or more transparent layers 40, 400 that are stacked on top of each other and selectively removable on its outer surface 33, and a surrounding body 10 attached to the viewing lens 3 at its peripheral region 32 and configured to completely cover the worker's head, neck, and upper chest.

Description

Technical Field

[0003]

[0001] The present invention relates to a type of hood or cowl for use by medical personnel, particularly surgeons, in conjunction with a protective helmet.

Background Art

[0002] As is known, in current surgical procedures, doctors generally wear a protective helmet equipped with instruments, and a hood or cowl is worn thereon to protect the surgeon himself from patient infectious agents and biological substances. The hood covers the helmet, as well as part of the subject's head, neck, and chest. The hood includes a vision-transparent lens or transparent portion disposed in a dedicated opening of the helmet.

[0003] Next, a generally disposable type of gown is worn over the hood, more appropriately over its chest portion.

[0004] During some surgical procedures, liquid or semi-liquid particles may accumulate on the front part of the hood, thereby soiling the visor and significantly restricting the user's field of vision.

[0005] There is a solution in the market that utilizes one or more transparent, adhesive, and removable layers on the outer surface of the transparent lens of a disposable hood. When the lens is overly soiled or becomes opaque due to scattered particles / droplets during a surgical procedure, any dirt traces deposited thereon can be removed by removing the outermost transparent and adhesive layer. This enables the surgeon's field of vision to be instantly cleared.

[0006] The gripping points necessary to enable the outermost layer to be "peeled off" and removed from the visor must be easily locatable by a simple finding operation even when it has become slippery and / or when the double gloves generally worn by surgeons have become slippery.

[0007] For this purpose, accessories or eyelets are typically attached to the outside of each layer by adhesive or welding. However, layers thus mounted incur manufacturing costs due to the additional elements and the associated required industrial processing. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] The technical problem presented and solved by the present invention is to provide a medical protective hood that makes it possible to avoid the shortcomings of known technologies mentioned earlier. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] These problems are solved by the protective hood described in claim 1.

[0010] Preferred features of the present invention are shown in the dependent claims.

[0011] The main advantage is that the gripping points for each removable layer of the hood according to the present invention can be obtained starting from the removable layer itself, without requiring any additional components.

[0012] Other advantages, features, and uses of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description relating to several embodiments, which are shown as examples rather than for limitation.

[0013] Refer to the individual diagrams in the enclosed drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a side perspective view of a worker wearing a protective hood according to the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a schematic front view of the separated viewing lens of the hood. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] The sizes shown in the aforementioned drawings are merely illustrative and not necessarily proportional.

[0016] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a hood or cowl according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown as 1 overall. Hood 1 is suitable for a surgeon to wear during procedures in the operating room.

[0017] Applicable modifications include enabling use in other situations where coverings or clothing, especially those that are sterile, are required, such as in sterile rooms in laboratories.

[0018] Food 1 is suitable for being sterilized according to methods known in the art and then provided folded in a sterile package.

[0019] In this embodiment, hood 1 is a disposable type.

[0020] Hood 1 is intended to be worn over a surgical helmet 2 equipped with instruments.

[0021] With respect to the hood 1, an inner surface or side 15 and an outer surface or side 16 can be identified, defined in this way because the former faces or comes into direct contact with the worker's body after being worn, while the latter actually faces the external environment.

[0022] The hood is constructed to completely cover the head, neck, and upper chest of the worker wearing it, by its own enveloping main body 10. The enveloping main body 10 is actually made of a flexible material, preferably a fabric. The material is preferably a nonwoven fabric (TNT), particularly a two- or three-layer laminate.

[0023] The enclosing body 10 of the hood 1 is advantageously constructed as a single unit. It is characterized by a front section 11 and a rear section 12 connected by two opposing side sections 13 and 14.

[0024] The surrounding body 10 is attached to the peripheral region 32 of the front vision lens 3 at its own front opening 18. The front vision lens 3 is arranged at least at the position of the operator's eyes during use, and preferably extends over a wide part of the subject's face, so as to ensure an appropriate and comfortable field of view during the surgical procedure. The lens 3 is preferably made of transparent polycarbonate having a thickness in the range of, for example, 0.2 to 0.40 mm. The material preferably has the following characteristics: light transmittance > about 89%, yellow index < about 1, and haze < about 0.5%.

[0025] The lens 3 can have means for connecting to the surgical helmet 2, in particular hooking means 31 in the form of, for example, through holes, suitable for engaging with corresponding elements of the surgical helmet 2 such as, for example, hook-shaped protrusions (not shown).

[0026] The lens 3 has one or more removable transparent layers on its outer surface 33.

[0027] This removable layer is preferably made of a super-transparent and glossy polyester having a thickness in the range of about 45 to 55 μm, more preferably a thickness of substantially about 50 μm.

[0028] The removable layers are stacked on top of each other, and thus, by removing the outermost one, the underlying layer or the outer surface 33 of the lens is exposed.

[0029] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the removable layers are two, namely a removable outer layer 40 and a removable inner layer 400. The inner surface of the outer layer 40 of the two removable layers is removably constrained to the outer surface of the inner layer 400 of the two removable layers. And the inner surface of the innermost layer is removably constrained to the outer surface 33 of the lens 3.

[0030] The features of the removable outer layer 40 described herein are also common to the removable inner layer 400, with necessary modifications. Therefore, for the sake of simplicity, the following description will mainly focus on the removable outer layer 40.

[0031] The removable outer layer 40 is equipped with gripping elements or gripping points configured to be grasped by a medical professional, and by applying sufficient tensile force to such gripping points, particularly in the tangential and perpendicular directions, the outer transparent layer 40 to which the grasped gripping point belongs can be removed, exposing the inner transparent layer 400 immediately beneath it.

[0032] It is preferable that an adhesive substance be applied to the inner surface of the outer layer 40 so that the outermost removable layer can adhere to the innermost layer or lens 3, and at the same time, so that such outer layers can be removed when a worker applies sufficient tensile force to each gripping point. Such an adhesive substance is, for example, a silicone adhesive SI5.

[0033] Advantageously, the adhesive is selected to be as non-ripping as cellophane tape (registered trademark) or similar, thereby ensuring easy removal without leaving any adhesive residue on the remaining layers or lens.

[0034] Generally, in the configuration described, removal is easy, uniform, quiet, and "smooth."

[0035] Advantageously, the gripping element consists of a flap 41 of a removable outer layer 40, which is an integrated part of the removable outer layer 40. The flap 41 is folded outward from a lifting folding line, i.e., away from the viewing lens 3. The flap 41 is preferably an angled portion or located at the radial periphery of the central portion 45 of the removable outer layer 40 that is positioned in the worker's eye when in use. The gripping points of the removable outer layer 40 are positioned so as not to obstruct the view of the worker wearing the hood 1.

[0036] Advantageously, in a preferred embodiment, the flap 41 is positioned on the side of the layer above the eye level of the subject and is locatable.

[0037] Generally, the described positioning allows surgeons to obtain a reference position for grasping.

[0038] Near or at the location of the lift fold line 42, a through-cut portion 43 of the removable outer layer 40 is obtained. The cut portion 43 has a first end 43a and a second end 43b, both of which are obtained on the inside of the surface of the removable outer layer 40. In other words, the peripheral portion 46 of the removable outer layer 40 is not included in the cut portion 43. Preferably, the through-cut portion 43 is substantially parallel to the lift fold line 42 and is located between the flap 41 and the central portion 45 of the removable outer layer 40. This means that the cut portion 43 may also follow a direction accompanying the direction of the line 42, and / or the cut portion 43 may be located on the inside of the flap 41. Finally, the cut portion 43 may also be located along the path of the lift fold line 42.

[0039] It is preferable that circular holes or eyelets 44 are present at the first end 43a and the second end 43b of the cut portion 43.

[0040] Due to residual plastic deformation in the fold of the flap 41 along the lifting fold line 42, such flaps 41 become separated from the surface of the removable inner layer 400. The flap 41 is thus lifted to form a gripping element, making it easy to find and grasp even while wearing double surgical gloves. Otherwise, the procedure would be extremely difficult in a state where tactile sensation is almost nonexistent.

[0041] Furthermore, advantageously, the flap 41 casts a shadow due to its isolated position, which the surgeon can recognize with their peripheral vision, thereby making it even easier to locate the flap to grasp.

[0042] As the pulled flap 41 begins to lift relative to the surface below, tension is generated, which deforms the cut portion 43, made near or at the location of the lifting fold line 42, into an eyelet shape. Such eyelets allow for a firm grip with the fingers, even if the surface of the removable layer or surgical glove is slippery. In practice, the worker can insert one or more fingers into the eyelets to apply sufficient tensile force to separate the associated removable outer layer 40 from the surface below. The round holes 44 are particularly advantageous in that, when subjected to tensile force applied by the worker, the cut portion 43 does not widen to the point of completely separating the flap 41 from the central portion 45 of the removable layer 40.

[0043] Preferably, the inner surface of the flap 41, facing the lens 3, is configured not to adhere to the underlying surface, i.e., the outer or upper surface of the removable inner layer 400. In this way, the flap 41 is lifted sufficiently and easily accessible. For example, the inner surface of the flap 41 does not need to have an adhesive substance that allows it to adhere to the surface beneath the removable outer layer 40. Alternatively, preferably, the inner surface of the flap 41 may be covered with a film 47 that adheres to the flap 41 by the same adhesive substance that covers the inner surface of the removable outer layer 40. Advantageously, the film 47 can be an unremoved portion of a protective coating (liner) that covers the entire inner surface of the removable layer before the removable layer is adhered to the underlying surface by the adhesive substance. For further details in this regard, see the description of a method for manufacturing a removable layer to be attached to the lens 3 by a known procedure.

[0044] Below, we discuss the characteristics of the removable layers, which are specific to each layer depending on their position in the stacking of removable layers attached to lens 3.

[0045] The removable outer layer 40 film 47 has an identification symbol or marker 48, such as letters or numbers, on its surface, which adheres to the adhesive inner surface of the flap 41. In the case of a hood including multiple stacked removable layers as shown in Figure 2, the identification symbol of each removable layer allows the operator to easily understand the order in which to remove the stacked removable layers. For example, the removable outer layer 40 includes a film 47 having the identification symbol 48"1", and the removable inner layer 400 includes a film 407 having the identification symbol 408"2".

[0046] To facilitate identification by surgeons, films with locally different colors may be provided instead of, or in combination with, identification markers.

[0047] The markers and / or color differences allow even a surgeon's assistant to easily and accurately locate the gripping point for removal.

[0048] Preferably, the removable outer layer 40 substantially overlaps the removable inner layer 400, and its periphery 46 is completely enclosed inside the periphery 406 of the removable inner layer 400.

[0049] The shape of the removable outer layer 40 defined by its periphery 46 exposes the folded flap 401 of the removable inner layer 400. In fact, at the flap 401, the periphery 46 no longer follows the path of the periphery 406 on the inside, but rather has a substantially linear region substantially parallel to the cut portion 403 of the removable inner layer 400.

[0050] The following describes a preferred method for obtaining a removable layer 40 to be attached to the lens 3 using the techniques understood by the embodiments of the present invention. a) Obtain a sheet made of a transparent plastic material having an inner surface coated with an adhesive substance and covered with a protective coating (liner). b) A die punching machine is used to obtain a removable layer 40 having a peripheral portion 46 and a through-cut portion 43.

[0051] The present invention has been described so far with reference to preferred embodiments. It is intended that other embodiments belonging to the core of the invention may exist, as defined by the scope of protection reported below.

Claims

1. In particular, a protective hood (1) configured to be worn by a worker over a helmet (2) in an operating room or clean room, wherein the protective hood (1) is - A front-view lens (3) configured to be positioned at least at the eye level of the worker when in use, - A surrounding body (10) is attached to the peripheral region (32) of the visual lens (3) and is configured to completely cover the worker's head, neck, and upper chest. - One or more removable transparent layers (40;400) which are attached to the outer surface (33) of the viewing lens (3) such that by removing the outermost of the removable layers (40;400), the layer immediately below or the outer surface (33) of the lens is exposed. The removable layers (40;400) or each removable layer (40;400) is provided, - A flap (41; 401) is folded outward from the lifting fold line (42) and away from the viewing lens (3), defining the peripheral portion of the central portion (45) of the removable layer (40; 400) positioned at the worker's eye level, - A through-cut portion (43; 403) obtained near or at the same location as the lifting fold line (42), having a first longitudinal end (43a) and a second longitudinal end (43b), both formed inside the peripheral edge (46; 406) of the removable layer (40; 400), - Two holes or eyelets (44) located at the first end (43a) and the second end (43b) of the through-cut portion (43; 403) respectively. A protective hood (1) is provided.

2. The protective hood (1) according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of removable layers (40; 400) stacked on top of each other.

3. The protective hood (1) according to claim 2, wherein each flap (41; 401) has an identification mark (48; 408) configured to allow the operator to easily understand the order in which to remove the stacked removable layers (40, 400).

4. The protective hood (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein each removable layer (40; 400) is configured such that each of the flaps (41; 401) of the stacked removable layers (40, 400) is exposed.

5. The protective hood (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the inward-facing surface of the flap (41; 401) is configured not to adhere to the surface below.

6. The protective hood (1) according to claim 5, wherein an adhesive substance is applied to the inner surface of each layer (40; 400) such that the outer layer (40; 400) can adhere to the innermost layer (40; 400) or the viewing lens (3), and the inward-facing surface of the flap (41; 401) is covered by a film (47; 407) that adheres to the flap (41; 401).

7. A protective hood (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a plurality of removable layers (40; 400), each layer having an identification symbol or marker (48) and / or distinguishable coloring on its own flap (41).

8. The protective hood (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the through-cut portions (43; 403) are substantially parallel to the lifting fold lines (42) and are located between the flaps (41; 401) and the central portion (45) of the removable layer.

Images