Surgical gown having a fluid collection gutter

Abstract

The invention relates to a nonwoven surgical gown having a bottom periphery, an upturned flap, and an overlapping folded region. The flap extends around at least a portion of the bottom periphery and is affixed to the gown at least at one point to form an exterior facing gutter. The overlapping folded region forms at least a portion of the bottom periphery. In some embodiments, the overlapping folded region may be weighted.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A nonwoven surgical gown comprising: 
 a right sleeve;    a left sleeve; and    a body comprising an open back, a closed front, a bottom edge, and a crease extending across the front and at least partially extending across the back to form an upturned flap, the crease comprising the bottom edge of the front and at least a portion of the bottom edge of the back, the flap comprising a portion of the body disposed upon one side of the crease, facing to an exterior of the body, and tacked to the body at least at one point to form an exterior facing gutter.    
     
     
         2 . The gown of  claim 1  wherein the flap is about 2 cm to about 5 cm wide.  
     
     
         3 . The gown of  claim 1  wherein the bottom edge is weighted.  
     
     
         4 . The gown of  claim 3  comprising a plurality of weights adjoined to the bottom edge.  
     
     
         5 . The gown of  claim 1  wherein additional weight is evenly distributed along the bottom edge.  
     
     
         6 . The gown of  claim 5  wherein the additional weight comprises a flexible material adjoined to the bottom edge.  
     
     
         7 . The gown of  claim 5  wherein the additional weight comprises a plicate fold of the gown body at the crease.  
     
     
         8 . A nonwoven surgical gown comprising a bottom periphery and an upturned flap, the flap extending around at least a portion of the bottom periphery and affixed to the gown at least at one point to form an exterior facing gutter.  
     
     
         9 . The gown of  claim 8  wherein at least a portion of the bottom periphery is weighted.  
     
     
         10 . The gown of  claim 8  comprising a plurality of weights adjoined to and spaced about the bottom periphery.  
     
     
         11 . The gown of  claim 8  comprising a front and a back, and wherein the flap is affixed to the gown between the front and the back.  
     
     
         12 . The gown of  claim 11  wherein the flap extends across at least the gown front.  
     
     
         13 . The gown of  claim 8  wherein the flap extends across at least the gown front.  
     
     
         14 . The gown of  claim 8  comprising a plicated fold at least at a portion of the bottom periphery.  
     
     
         15 . The gown of  claim 14  wherein the plicated fold comprises a bottommost portion of the flap.  
     
     
         16 . A nonwoven surgical gown comprising a bottom periphery, an upturned flap, and an overlapping folded region, the flap extending around at least a portion of the bottom periphery and affixed to the gown at least at one point to form an exterior facing gutter, the overlapping folded region forming at least a portion of the bottom periphery.  
     
     
         17 . The gown of  claim 16  wherein the overlapping folded region comprises a plicate fold.