Anti-Microbial Medical Garments

Abstract

Improved medical garments are disclosed which are fabricated from woven or warp knit fabrics impregnated with an anti-microbial agent, such as silver in the form of a silver chloride solution during processing, and a hydrophobic agent, such as a fluorocarbon polymer and optional cross-linking agent. The garments are provided in various forms of medical lab coats for doctors and non-doctors and for both males and females. The combination of the anti-microbial agent and the hydrophobic agent provides improved kill rates for bacteria such as MRSA.

1 . A medical garment comprising:
 a fabric impregnated with
 an anti-microbial agent, and 
 a hydrophobic agent. 
   
     
     
         2 . The medical garment of  claim 1  wherein the anti-microbial agent comprises silver. 
     
     
         3 . The medical garment of  claim 1  wherein the anti-microbial agent comprises silver chloride. 
     
     
         4 . The medical garment of  claim 1  wherein the anti-microbial agent comprises a silver chloride solution, wherein water is removed from the garment during manufacturing. 
     
     
         5 . The medical garment of  claim 1  wherein the hydrophobic agent comprises a fluorocarbon polymer. 
     
     
         6 . The medical garment of  claim 1  wherein the hydrophobic agent comprises a mixture of a fluorocarbon polymer and a cross-linking agent. 
     
     
         7 . The medical garment of  claim 6  were in the cross-linking agent is an aliphatic isocyanate. 
     
     
         8 . The medical garment of  claim 1  wherein the hydrophobic agent comprises a mixture of a fluorocarbon polymer and a polyisocyanate selected from the group consisting of blocked di-polyisocyanate, unblocked di-polyisocyanate, blocked tri-polyisocyanate, unblocked di-polyisocyanate and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The medical garment of  claim 1  wherein the fabric comprises yams comprising polyester and cotton wherein the polyester is present in an amount ranging from about 40% to about 90% and the cotton is present in an amount ranging from about 10% to about 60%. 
     
     
         10 . The medical garment of  claim 1  wherein the fabric comprises yams comprising polyester having a denier value ranging from about 50 to about 90. 
     
     
         11 . The medical garment of  claim 1  wherein the fabric or comprises yams comprising polyester and cotton wherein the polyester is present in an amount ranging from about 40% to about 90% and the cotton is present in an amount ranging from about 10% to about 60%, the anti-microbial agent comprises silver chloride and the hydrophobic agent comprises a fluorocarbon polymer and an aliphatic isocyanate. 
     
     
         12 . The medical garment of  claim 1  wherein the fabric comprises yams consisting essentially of polyester, the anti-microbial agent comprises silver chloride and the hydrophobic agent comprises a fluorocarbon polymer and an aliphatic isocyanate. 
     
     
         13 . A method of fabricating a medical garment comprising:
 providing a fabric;   jet-dying the fabric while applying an anti-microbial agent to the fabric;   drying the fabric;   passing the fabric through a J-box while applying a hydrophobic agent and a cross-linking agent;   drying the fabric; and   framing the fabric.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the anti-microbial agent comprises a 20 wt % AgCl solution. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the drying of the fabric after the application of the hydrophobic agent and cross-linking agent is carried out at a temperature ranging from about 290° to about 300° F. 
     
     
         16 . A medical garment comprising:
 a front, a back and a pair of sleeves,   the front being connected to a strip comprising opposing ends, each opposing end is connected to the front with a middle section disposed therebetween and detached from the front for receiving at least one earpiece of a stethoscope,   a first pocket connected to the front panel with an open top end and disposed vertically below the strip for receiving a sensor end of the stethoscope,   a second pocket connected to the front panel with an open top end for frictionally receiving a pager.   
     
     
         17 . The medical garment of  claim 15  further comprising a third pocket connected to the front panel with an open top end for frictionally receiving a mobile phone. 
     
     
         18 . The medical garment of  claim 16  further comprising a fourth pocket connected to the front panel with an open top end for frictionally receiving at least one writing instrument. 
     
     
         19 . The medical garment of  claim 17  further comprising a loop connected to an interior of the front panel end for receiving an end of a neck tie. 
     
     
         20 . The medical garment of  claim 18  further comprising sleeves connected to the front and rear panels and a fabric used to fabricate the front and rear panels and the sleeves and wherein the fabric is impregnated with an anti-microbial agent and a hydrophobic agent. 
     
     
         21 . The medical garment of  claim 19  wherein the hydrophobic agent is a combination of RUCO-GUARD UCS® and RUCO-GUARD XCR®, and the anti-microbial agent is silver chloride. 
     
     
         22 . The medical garment of  claim 20  further comprising a plurality of interior pockets, at least one of which includes a fastener.