V-Neck Collar Design for Disposable Surgical Gown
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical gowns are either too restrictive and uncomfortable due to tight neck openings and heavy, impervious materials, which can lead to exposure risks during medical procedures, while also being caught by fastening means like hook and loop closures.
Innovation Solution
A disposable surgical gown with a collar featuring a v-neck shape forming an angle greater than 90°, made from extensible and breathable materials, including a spunbond-meltblown-spunbond laminate and a liquid impervious, moisture vapor breathable elastic film, to prevent gapping and secure the gown without interfering with other personal protective equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the neck opening is made tight and restrictive to prevent fluid contact, then protection against bodily fluids is improved, but comfort and ease of wear deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is designed with differentiated properties: the outer surface uses a liquid-impermeable material for fluid protection, while the inner surface uses a soft, breathable material for comfort. This local quality differentiation allows the collar to simultaneously provide reliable protection and ease of wear by addressing each function in its specific location.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar is constructed as a composite structure with an outer liquid-impermeable layer and an inner breathable layer. This composite material approach enables the collar to combine the protective function of fluid impermeability with the comfort function of breathability, resolving the contradiction between protection and comfort.
2Reliability
If impervious material is used to ensure liquid barrier performance, then protection against bodily fluids is improved, but weight and breathability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid-impermeable property is applied locally to the collar and critical zone areas where fluid exposure is most likely, rather than making the entire gown from impervious material. This localized approach maintains necessary protection while reducing overall weight and improving breathability in non-critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The gown uses composite material construction with an outer liquid-impermeable layer and an inner breathable layer, particularly in the collar region. This allows the garment to achieve AAMI level 4 liquid barrier performance where needed while maintaining breathability and reducing weight through the composite structure.
3Ease of operation
If hook and loop closures are used to secure the gown, then ease of fastening is improved, but interference with personal protective equipment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening mechanism is extracted from the traditional hook-and-loop design and replaced with a tie cord system. This extraction eliminates the problematic hook-and-loop structure that causes interference with personal protective equipment, while maintaining ease of fastening through the alternative tie cord mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a closed fastening system like hook-and-loop, the design inverts the approach by using an open tie cord system that can be easily tied and untied. This inversion resolves the interference problem by eliminating the hook structure that catches on personal protective equipment.
4Ease of operation
If a v-neck collar design with angle greater than 90 degrees is used, then comfort and breathability are improved, but structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The v-neck collar design with angle greater than 90 degrees is applied locally to the front portion of the collar, while the back portion maintains a more traditional structure. This localized application of the v-neck design provides comfort and breathability where needed without compromising the overall structural stability of the collar.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar uses composite material construction that accommodates the v-neck geometry while maintaining structural integrity. The layered composite structure allows the angled v-neck design to provide comfort and breathability while the material properties and layering maintain the necessary structural stability.
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 solution provides a comfortable, secure, and protective surgical gown that prevents exposure to bodily fluids while maintaining high levels of breathability and liquid resistance, meeting AAMI level 4 standards without the drawbacks of traditional designs.
Implementation Method 1
a spunbond-meltblown-spunbond laminate and a liquid impervious, moisture vapor breathable elastic film
Implementation Method 2
moisture vapor breathable elastic film
Data Source
AI summary
A collar for a disposable surgical gown is provided. The collar includes a first portion having a first end and second end and a second portion having a first and second end. The first ends of the first portion and the second portion meet at a front of the collar to form a v-neck shape and the second ends of the first portion and the second portion meet at a rear of the collar to define a neck opening. The v-neck shape at the front of the collar forms an angle of greater than 90° at the neck opening, while the second end of the first portion and the second end of the second portion are tapered at the rear of the collar. Such an arrangement prevents the collar from gapping when a wearer leans forward or moves during, for instance, a surgical procedure.