Method of folding sterile surgical garments before and after sterilization

• US 4,942,987 A
• Filed: 03/27/1989
• Issued: 07/24/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stack Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Stack Holding Incorporated
• Inventors: Stackhouse, Mildred K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schroeder, Werner H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOHANTY, BIBHU R
• Application Number:
  US07/329,188
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 223/37, 2/DIG. 7
• US Class Current: 223/37
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1209 Surgeons' gowns or dresses
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2400/44 Donning facilities

Abstract

A method for folding, sterilizing and using a garment of the type used in a lamina flow clean room without contaminating the sterile outside garment structure. The garment is folded in a preferred manner that places the garment more or less in a half inside out condition and the sleeves are each half folded inside out before the garment is packaged and sterilized. After the package is sterilized the user of the garment unfolds the garment back to the inside out condition and inserts each hand into a folded sleeve. This allows the user to raise the half folded garment over his head and allow the folded garment to unfold without contaminating the outside portion.

Claims

1. A method of folding a surgical gown into a complete package having a hood portion, sleeve portions cuff portion, hem portions, head portion, and an open end comprising the steps of:

placing the gown on a flat surface with the obverse side exposed;

extending the hood portion and the sleeve portions out from the body of the gown so the garment is flat;

pulling the cuff portion of each sleeve up to the shoulder portion thereby folding each sleeve in half and inside out;

gathering the hem portion and folding the gown in half by bringing the hem portion to the shoulder portion thereby leaving half the gown folded inside out with the head portion exposed and the gown substantially flat and in the form of a square;

separating the bottommost portion of the gown and folding the open end of each half sleeve within the folded gown and locating the open end along the edge of the square opposite the head portion;

attaching a pull tab on each sleeve portion within the square and approximately 2 inches from the end of the opening in the sleeve;

folding the head portion within the square;

attaching a single pull tab to the outside portion of the square between each sleeve portions and approximately 4 inches from the bottom of the square;

folding and completely wrapping the gown and inserting the wrapped gown into a sealed plastic container; and

then sterilizing the complete package.

2. The method of using the sterilized package defined in claim 1 in which the gown has folded sleeve positions and the sealed plastic container is the wrapping covering the sterilized gown comprising the steps of:

opening the sterilized packaged on a substantially flat table, removing the wrapping and opening the folded package into the form of a square;

opening the bottommost portion of the gown to expose the folded sleeve portions,

inserting a hand into each folded sleeve portion up to the cuff and raising the folded gown over the head of the user;

pulling on each of the two tabs on the folded sleeve portion thereby allowing the folded sleeves to unfold and cover the arms of the user;

pulling on the single tab thereby unfolding the gown and forcing the head of user into the head portion of the gown; and

then unfolding the hem portion of the gown thereby placing the user wholly within the gown without contaminating the outside of the gown.

3. A method of folding a surgical gown into a complete package having a hood portion, sleeve portion, folded sleeve, cuff portion, hem portion, an open end and in which the sealed plastic container is the wrapping covering the sterilized gown and without contaminating the outside surface comprising the steps of:

placing the gown on a flat surface with the obverse side exposed;

extending the hood portion and the sleeve portions out from the body of the gown so the garment is flat;

pulling the cuff portion of each sleeve up to the shoulder portion thereby folding each sleeve in half and inside out;

gathering the hem portion and folding the gown in half by bringing the hem portion to the shoulder portion thereby leaving half the gown folded inside out with the head portion exposed and the gown substantially flat and in the form of a square;

separating the bottommost portion of the gown and folding the open end of each half sleeve within the folded gown and locating the open end along the edge of the square opposite the head portion;

attaching a pull tab on each sleeve portion within the square and approximately 2 inches from the end of the opening in the sleeve;

folding the head portion within the square;

attaching a single pull tab to the outside portion of the square between each sleeve portions and approximately 4 inches from the bottom of the square;

folding and completely wrapping the gown and inserting the wrapped gown into a sealed plastic container;

then sterilizing the complete package;

opening the sterilized packaged on a substantially flat table, removing the wrapping and opening the folded package into the form of a square;

opening the bottommost portion of the gown to expose the folded sleeve portions,

inserting a hand into each folded sleeve portion up to the cuff and raising the folded gown over the head of the user;

pulling on each of the two tabs on the folded sleeve portion thereby allowing the folded sleeves to unfold and cover the arms of the user;

pulling on the single tab attached to the square between each sleeve portion thereby unfolding the gown and forcing the head of user into the head portion of the gown; and

then unfolding the hem portion of the gown thereby placing the user wholly within the gown without contaminating the outside of the gown.