Fluid Management System for Protective Gown and Glove Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
The interface between the sleeve of a protective gown and the cuff of a protective glove is a weak link in personal protective equipment, allowing perspiration to contaminate the sterile environment and enabling fluids from the outside to penetrate, posing risks of infection and discomfort in surgical and other protective settings.
Innovation Solution
A fluid management system is introduced, featuring a sleeve member with a moisture-wicking interior surface and an impervious exterior surface, combined with a cuff member that secures the glove cuff, creating a barrier to prevent fluid transfer and using retention members to trap any leaked fluids, ensuring a watertight seal and maintaining sterile conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a waterproof surgical gown and waterproof surgical glove are used, then fluid penetration from outside environment is prevented, but perspiration accumulates at the gown/glove interface causing discomfort and sterile technique breaks
Solution Approach 1:
The interface system is segmented into multiple functional layers: an outer waterproof layer (gown/glove) and an inner moisture management layer (sleeve member with cuff member). This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function - the outer layer blocks external fluids while the inner layer manages perspiration, resolving the contradiction between waterproofing and moisture wicking.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeve member with moisture-wicking material acts as an intermediary layer between the waterproof gown and the waterproof glove. This intermediate layer absorbs and transports perspiration away from the gown/glove interface, preventing accumulation while maintaining the waterproof barrier's integrity.
2Ease of operation
If the glove cuff is made loose to accommodate the gown sleeve, then ease of donning is improved, but fluid channeling occurs between the glove and gown
Solution Approach 1:
The cuff member is designed as a flexible, foldable structure that can adapt to different glove sizes and shapes. When folded over the glove cuff, it creates a secure barrier that prevents fluid channeling while allowing easy donning. The flexibility maintains the barrier's effectiveness without restricting movement or requiring precise fitting.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the gown sleeve cuff is made tight to prevent fluid leakage, then fluid barrier effectiveness is improved, but glove roll-down or slippage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The solution moves from a single-dimensional tight cuff design to a multi-dimensional approach using a foldable cuff member that creates multiple barriers (layers) at the interface. This dimensional change allows the cuff to maintain fluid barrier effectiveness through layered construction while preventing glove slippage through distributed friction across multiple surfaces.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively prevents perspiration from accumulating and fluids from penetrating, enhancing user comfort and safety by maintaining a sterile environment and reducing the risk of infection, while allowing for secure and comfortable glove positioning without breaking sterile technique.
Implementation Method 1
a sleeve member having a first end, a second end, an interior surface, and an exterior surface... The interior surface of the cuff member faces and is moveable with respect to portions of the exterior surface of one or both of the sleeve member and the sleeve of the protective gown
Implementation Method 2
an impervious (waterproof) surgical gown and the cuff of the surgical glove, which is also waterproof... prevent fluids from the outside environment penetrating the gown/glove interface
Implementation Method 3
using retention members to trap any leaked fluids, ensuring a watertight seal
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid management method and system, includes: a garment having a sleeve extending from a shoulder portion of the garment, the sleeve having an interior surface and an exterior surface; and a cuff member attached to the exterior surface of the sleeve, the cuff member comprising a flap having a foldable portion and a seam portion, wherein: the seam portion is attached to the exterior surface of the sleeve by a seaming weld, the foldable portion is configured to be placed in a folded position in which it covers the seam portion and an unfolded position in which it extends proximally outwardly from the seam portion and does not cover the seam portion, the seam portion is configured to receive thereon a first O-ring of a first protective glove worn by a user of the fluid management system, and wherein the seam portion prevents distal sliding of the first O-ring.