Medical gown with an adhesive closure

• US 6,138,278 A
• Filed: 12/08/1998
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Taylor, Jeffrey L., Serrano, Jorge, Pinilla, Carmen A., Hart, James Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Calvert, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENKINS, SHIRRA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US09/207,538
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 2/114, 2/46, 2/47, 2/48, 2/49.1, 2/50, 2/51, 2/52, 2/70, 2/92, 2/104
• US Class Current: 2/114
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1227 with liquid-proof sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2300/328 using adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: A41F 1/00 Fastening devices specially adapted for garments for pairing socks A41B11/002; for fur garments A41D5/006

Abstract

A medical gown and drape are disclosed in which regions thereof are imprinted with performance enhancing coatings. The gown has regions in the chest and sleeve areas imprinted with a liquid repellent coating to protect the wearer from fluids. The drape preferably has an absorbent or super absorbent coating surrounding a fenestration through which an operation may occur. The drape may also have regions coated with water repellent or friction enhancing materials. The gown further has adhesive closures rather than ties.

Claims

1. A medical gown comprising a body covering portion and sleeves extending from the body portion;

the body portion having an opening for donning the gown and at least one closure for closing the opening;

the closure comprising an adhesive on a first side of the opening; and

a region on the second side of the opening to which the adhesive attaches to close said opening; and

wherein the gown is sterile, wherein the adhesive is located on a first side of an attachment portion of the gown, and wherein the gown further comprises a removable member on a second side of the attachment portion;

whereby a non-sterile hand may press against the removable member to adhere the adhesive to the region on the second side of the opening and then remove the removable member leaving a wholly sterile gown.

2. A medical gown according to claim 1 wherein the body covering portion is formed of a nonwoven fabric.

3. A medical gown according to claim 2 wherein the adhesive is printed directly onto the gown fabric on the first side.

4. A medical gown according to claim 2 wherein the adhesive comprises a piece of double-sided tape affixed to the first side.

5. A medical gown according to claim 1 wherein the removable member comprises a release member removably placed over the adhesive.

6. A medical gown according to claim 1 wherein the at least one closure further comprises indicia indicating a sequence of steps for applying said closure in a sterile fashion.

7. A medical gown according to claim 1 wherein the at least one closure further comprises indicia indicating a sequence of steps for applying said closure in a sterile fashion.

8. A medical gown comprising a body covering portion and sleeves extending from the body portion;

the body portion having an opening for donning the gown and at least one closure for closing the opening;

the closure comprising an adhesive on a first side of the opening; and

a region on the second side of the opening to which the adhesive attaches to close said opening; and

wherein the closure further comprises a removable means adjacent the opening for manipulating the closure into position for adhering the adhesive and the gown, whereby a nonsterile hand may place closure in such position and then remove the removable means to leave a sterile closed gown.

9. A method for closing a sterile medical gown comprising the steps of:

exposing an adhesive on a first side of an opening in the gown;

manipulating the closure into position for adhering the adhesive and the gown by touching only a removable member adjacent the opening;

attaching the adhesive to a location on a second side of the opening; and

removing the removable member, leaving the gown sterile.