Moisture-Activated Colorimetric Indicator for Medical Gown Fluid Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical gowns lack clear indication of contact with fluids or pathogens, making it difficult to determine if they need to be replaced, which can lead to potential contamination of medical professionals and patients.
Innovation Solution
A gown with an absorbent and liquid-impermeable layer combination, incorporating an activatable dye or moisture indicator that changes color upon contact with liquids, alerting the user to contamination and the need for replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gown is made with protective material to prevent fluid contact, then protection function is improved, but ability to detect fluid contact is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a moisture-activated colorimetric indicator that changes color when it comes into contact with moisture or fluid. This allows the gown to visually indicate fluid contact through a color change from yellow to purple, resolving the contradiction by making fluid contact detectable while maintaining the protective barrier function of the gown material
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a moisture-activated colorimetric indicator as an intermediary substance between the protective gown material and the fluid. This indicator acts as a mediator that detects fluid contact and provides visual feedback, allowing the protective function to be maintained while enabling detection of fluid contact
2Reliability
If a gown provides complete fluid barrier protection, then protection function is improved, but visibility of fluid contact is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a moisture-activated colorimetric indicator that changes color when it comes into contact with moisture or fluid. This allows the gown to visually indicate fluid contact through a color change from yellow to purple, resolving the contradiction by making fluid contact detectable while maintaining the protective barrier function of the gown material
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a moisture-activated colorimetric indicator as an intermediary substance between the protective gown material and the fluid. This indicator acts as a mediator that detects fluid contact and provides visual feedback, allowing the protective function to be maintained while enabling detection of fluid contact
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 gown effectively alerts the user to fluid contact, preventing the wear of contaminated garments and reducing the risk of infection by visually indicating exposure, thus ensuring safer medical practices.
Implementation Method 1
The moisture-activated colorimetric indicator may be comprised of a yellow color that turns purple upon exposure to moisture
Data Source
AI summary
A gown (100) includes a body covering (101) disposed between a first sleeve (102) and a second sleeve (103). The body covering portion includes a first layer (106) coupled to a second layer (107) by an adhesive (108) comprising a unactivated colorant, such as an unactivated dye (109). The unactivated colorant transitions to an activated colorant (201) when wet, and the second layer absorbs the activated colorant.