Sterile glove with touchless donning

Abstract

A sterile glove includes a cuff that has an inside surface and an outside surface. The cuff is folded over at a fold when the glove is packaged and when it is initially removed from the package. The glove further includes a hand and finger portion. The glove further includes a detachable tab that is coupled to the cuff and includes a free end. The detachable tab is adapted to facilitate a donning of the glove before being detached.

1 . A sterile glove comprising:
 a hand and finger portion;   a cuff having an inside surface and an outside surface and a cuff rim, wherein the cuff is adapted to be folded over at a fold when the glove is packaged; and   a first detachable tab coupled to the cuff and comprising a free end;   wherein the first detachable tab is adapted to facilitate a donning of the glove before being detached.   
   
   
       2 . The sterile glove of  claim 1 , wherein the first detachable tab is coupled substantially near the fold. 
   
   
       3 . The sterile glove of  claim 1 , wherein the first detachable tab is coupled substantially near the cuff rim. 
   
   
       4 . The sterile glove of  claim 1 , wherein the first detachable tab is coupled using a releasable adhesive. 
   
   
       5 . The sterile glove of  claim 1 , wherein the first detachable tab is coupled using a releasable fastener. 
   
   
       6 . The sterile glove of  claim 1 , wherein the first detachable tab comprises a perforated region that allows at least a portion of the first detachable tab to be detached from the cuff. 
   
   
       7 . The sterile glove of  claim 1 , wherein the first detachable tab comprises a non-free end, and wherein the non-free end is rigid in order to hold the fold in an open position. 
   
   
       8 . The sterile glove of  claim 2 , further comprising a second detachable tab coupled substantially near the cuff rim. 
   
   
       9 . The sterile glove of  claim 2 , further comprising a second detachable tab coupled substantially near the fold on the inside surface of the cuff. 
   
   
       10 . The sterile glove of  claim 1 , wherein the first detachable tab is coupled to the inside surface of the cuff. 
   
   
       11 . The sterile glove of  claim 1 , further comprising a package adapted to contain the glove. 
   
   
       12 . A method of packaging a sterile glove that comprises a hand and finger portion and a cuff having an inside surface, an outside surface and a cuff rim, the method comprising:
 folding the cuff at a fold so that at least a portion of the inside surface faces outward; and   coupling a first detachable tab on the cuff, wherein the first detachable tab comprises a free end and wherein the first detachable tab is adapted to facilitate a donning of the glove before being detached.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first detachable tab is coupled substantially near the fold. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first detachable tab is coupled substantially near the cuff rim. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first detachable tab comprises a non-free end, and wherein the non-free end is rigid in order to hold the fold in an open position. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising;
 coupling a second detachable tab substantially near the cuff rim.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first detachable tab is coupled to the inside surface. 
   
   
       18 . A method of donning a sterile glove that comprises a hand and finger portion, a cuff having an inside surface, an outside surface and a cuff rim, wherein the cuff is adapted to be folded over at a fold when the glove is packaged, and a first detachable tab coupled to the cuff and having a first free end, the method comprising:
 donning the glove by touching a portion of the first free end of the first detachable tab and using the portion to facilitate the donning; and   detaching at least the touched portion of the first detachable tab prior to using the glove.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first detachable tab is coupled substantially near the cuff fold, the donning comprises:
 holding the glove by touching only the first free end of first detachable tab; and   inserting a hand into the hand and finger portion of the glove.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first detachable tab is coupled substantially near the cuff rim and the donning comprises unfolding the folded over cuff by touching only the first free end.