US2012246797A1PendingUtilityA1

Bioburden-reducing fabrics and methods

46
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Mar 30, 2011Filed: Feb 21, 2012Published: Oct 4, 2012
Est. expiryMar 30, 2031(~4.7 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Terry G. MontgomeryW. Allen LeonardNeil BlantonKavita Mathur
A41D 31/30D03D 15/37A47G 2009/001A47G 9/0238A41D 13/1236D10B 2503/06D10B 2401/13D10B 2331/04Y10T442/3114Y10T442/322
46
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Claims

Abstract

Bioburden reducing fabrics include a woven fabric having warp yarns and filling yarns woven together in a plain weave to provide a pill resistant fabric having identical surfaces on both sides thereof. A surface of the fabric, when exposed to a pathogenic environment for twenty hours, allows no more than a total average of about twenty-two CFUs of pathogens per square centimeter to be formed thereon.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method of reducing bioburden within a medical facility, comprising:
 (a) fitting essentially all beds within the facility with clean sheets, wherein each sheet comprises a woven fabric having warp yarns and filling yarns woven together in a plain weave to provide a pill resistant fabric having identical surfaces on both sides thereof, and wherein the fabric has zero percent (0%) weight loss after one hundred (100) launderings; then   (b) occupying the beds with patients, wherein the sheets on average contain no more than a total average of about twenty-two (22) CFUs of pathogens per square centimeter after twenty (20) hours of use by a bed occupant; and   (c) repeating steps (a)-(b) for a number of times sufficient to reduce the bioburden within the facility.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the warp yarns are about 30 denier to 100 denier, and the filling yarns are about 30 denier to 100 denier, one of the warp or filling yarns being 100% continuous filament nylon having round filament cross sections and making up at least 40% by weight of the fabric, and the other of the warp or filling yarns being continuous filament polyester having non-round filament cross sections or nylon having non-round filament cross sections and making up the remainder of the weight of the fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pathogens are selected from the group consisting of gram negative and gram positive bacterial pathogens. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the warp yarns are 100% nylon and the filling yarns are 100% polyester. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an antimicrobial substance is topically applied to the fabric. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the warp yarn is a 70 denier, 48 filament, textured, continuous filament nylon yarn, and wherein the filling yarn is a 75 denier, 36 filament, continuous filament textured polyester yarn. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the non-round filament cross sections are star shaped cross sections or clover leaf cross sections. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the continuous filament warp or filling yarns with non-round filament cross sections are configured such that adjacent filaments form wicking channels. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric has an average Kawabata geometric roughness of less than about 1.7 microns and a percent (%) dryness after 1 hour of 100%. 
     
     
         10 . A method of reducing bioburden within a medical facility, comprising:
 (a) dressing each patient within the facility with a clean hospital gown, wherein each hospital gown comprises a woven fabric having warp yarns and filling yarns woven together in a plain weave to provide a pill resistant fabric having identical surfaces on both sides thereof, and wherein the fabric has zero percent (0%) weight loss after one hundred (100) launderings;   (b) maintaining the patients within beds in the facility, wherein the gowns on average contain no more than a total average of about twenty-two (22) CFUs of pathogens per square centimeter after twenty (20) hours of use by a patient; and   (c) repeating steps (a)-(b) for a number of times sufficient to reduce the bioburden within the facility.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the warp and filling yarns are about 30 denier to 200 denier, and are continuous filament polyester having round filament cross sections. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the pathogens are selected from the group consisting of gram negative and gram positive bacterial pathogens. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the warp and filling yarns are 100% polyester. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein an antimicrobial substance is topically applied to the fabric. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the warp and filling yarns are 70 denier, 200 filament, textured, continuous filament polyester yarn. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the fabric has an average Kawabata geometric roughness of less than about 1.2 microns and a percent (%) dryness after 1 hour of 100%. 
     
     
         17 . A method of reducing bioburden within a medical facility, comprising:
 fitting essentially all beds within the facility with clean sheets, wherein each sheet comprises a woven fabric having warp yarns and filling yarns woven together in a plain weave to provide a pill resistant fabric having identical surfaces on both sides thereof, and wherein the fabric has zero percent (0%) weight loss after one hundred (100) launderings;   collecting the sheets after twenty (20) hours of use by occupants of the beds; and   laundering the collected sheets;   wherein a surface of each sheet allows no more than a total average of about twenty-five (25) CFUs of pathogens per square centimeter to be formed thereon after at least thirty (30) laundering cycles.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the warp yarns are about 30 denier to 100 denier, and the filling yarns are about 30 denier to 100 denier, one of the warp or filling yarns being 100% continuous filament nylon having round filament cross sections and making up at least 40% by weight of the fabric, and the other of the warp or filling yarns being continuous filament polyester having non-round filament cross sections or nylon having non-round filament cross sections and making up the remainder of the weight of the fabric. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the pathogens are selected from the group consisting of gram negative and gram positive bacterial pathogens. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the warp yarns are 100% nylon and the filling yarns are 100% polyester. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein an antimicrobial substance is topically applied to the fabric. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the warp yarn is a 70 denier, 48 filament, textured, continuous filament nylon yarn, and wherein the filling yarn is a 75 denier, 36 filament, continuous filament textured polyester yarn. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the non-round filament cross sections are star shaped cross sections or clover leaf cross sections. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the continuous filament warp or filling yarns with non-round filament cross sections are configured such that adjacent filaments form wicking channels. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the fabric has an average Kawabata geometric roughness of less than about 1.7 microns and a percent (%) dryness after 1 hour of 100%. 
     
     
         26 . A method of reducing bioburden within a medical facility, comprising:
 (a) fitting essentially all beds within the facility with clean sheets, wherein each sheet comprises a woven fabric having warp yarns and filling yarns woven together in a plain weave to provide a pill resistant fabric having identical surfaces on both sides thereof, and wherein the fabric has zero percent (0%) weight loss after one hundred (100) launderings; then   (b) occupying the beds with patients, wherein the sheets on average contain no more than a total average of about twenty-two (22) CFUs of pathogens per square centimeter after twenty (20) hours of use by a bed occupant;   (c) dressing each patient within the facility with a clean hospital gown, wherein each hospital gown comprises the woven fabric; then   (d) maintaining the patients within beds in the facility, wherein the gowns on average contain no more than a total average of about twenty-two (22) CFUs of pathogens per square centimeter after twenty (20) hours of use by a patient; and   (e) repeating steps (a)-(d) for a number of times sufficient to reduce the bioburden within the facility.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the warp yarns are about 30 denier to 100 denier, and the filling yarns are about 30 denier to 100 denier, one of the warp or filling yarns being 100% continuous filament nylon having round filament cross sections and making up at least 40% by weight of the fabric, and the other of the warp or filling yarns being continuous filament polyester having non-round filament cross sections or nylon having non-round filament cross sections and making up the remainder of the weight of the fabric. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the pathogens are selected from the group consisting of gram negative and gram positive bacterial pathogens. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the warp yarns are 100% nylon and the filling yarns are 100% polyester. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein an antimicrobial substance is topically applied to the fabric. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the warp yarn is a 70 denier, 48 filament, textured, continuous filament nylon yarn, and wherein the filling yarn is a 75 denier, 36 filament, continuous filament textured polyester yarn. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the non-round filament cross sections are star shaped cross sections or clover leaf cross sections. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the continuous filament warp or filling yarns with non-round filament cross sections are configured such that adjacent filaments form wicking channels. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the fabric has an average Kawabata geometric roughness of less than about 1.7 microns and a percent (%) dryness after 1 hour of 100%. 
     
     
         35 . A bioburden reducing fabric, comprising:
 a woven fabric having warp yarns and filling yarns woven together in a plain weave to provide a pill resistant fabric having identical surfaces on both sides thereof;   wherein the fabric has zero percent (0%) weight loss after one hundred (100) launderings; and   wherein a surface of the fabric, when exposed to a pathogenic environment for twenty (20) hours, allows no more than a total average of about twenty-two (22) CFUs of pathogens per square centimeter to be formed thereon.   
     
     
         36 . The fabric of  claim 35 , wherein the warp yarns are about 30 denier to 100 denier, and the filling yarns are about 30 denier to 100 denier, one of the warp or filling yarns being 100% continuous filament nylon having round filament cross sections and making up at least 40% by weight of the fabric, and the other of the warp or filling yarns being continuous filament polyester having non-round filament cross sections or nylon having non-round filament cross sections and making up the remainder of the weight of the fabric. 
     
     
         37 . The fabric of  claim 35 , wherein the pathogens are selected from the group consisting of gram negative and gram positive bacterial pathogens. 
     
     
         38 . The fabric of  claim 36 , wherein the warp yarns are 100% nylon and the filling yarns are 100% polyester. 
     
     
         39 . The fabric of  claim 35 , wherein an antimicrobial substance is topically applied to the fabric. 
     
     
         40 . The fabric of  claim 36 , wherein the warp yarn is a 70 denier, 48 filament, textured, continuous filament nylon yarn, and wherein the filling yarn is a 75 denier, 36 filament, continuous filament textured polyester yarn. 
     
     
         41 . The fabric of  claim 36 , wherein the non-round filament cross sections are star shaped cross sections or clover leaf cross sections. 
     
     
         42 . The fabric of  claim 36 , wherein the continuous filament warp or filling yarns with non-round filament cross sections are configured such that adjacent filaments form wicking channels. 
     
     
         43 . The fabric of  claim 35 , wherein the fabric has an average Kawabata geometric roughness of less than about 1.7 microns and a percent (%) dryness after 1 hour of 100%. 
     
     
         44 . A fabric, comprising:
 a non-treated woven fabric having warp yarns and filling yarns woven together in a plain weave to provide a pill resistant fabric having identical surfaces on both sides thereof, wherein the warp yarns are about 30 denier to 100 denier, and the filling yarns are about 30 denier to 100 denier, one of the warp or filling yarns being 100% continuous filament nylon having round filament cross sections and making up at least 40% by weight of the fabric, and the other of the warp or filling yarns being continuous filament polyester having non-round filament cross sections or nylon having non-round filament cross sections and making up the remainder of the weight of the fabric.   
     
     
         45 . The fabric of  claim 44 , wherein the warp yarns are 100% nylon and the filling yarns are 100% polyester. 
     
     
         46 . The fabric of  claim 44 , wherein the filling yarns are 100% nylon. 
     
     
         47 . The fabric of  claim 44 , wherein the warp yarn is a 70 denier, 48 filament, textured, continuous filament nylon yarn, and wherein the filling yarn is a 75 denier, 36 filament, continuous filament textured polyester yarn. 
     
     
         48 . The fabric of  claim 44 , wherein the non-round filament cross sections are star shaped cross sections or clover leaf cross sections. 
     
     
         49 . The fabric of  claim 44 , wherein the continuous filament warp or filling yarns with non-round filament cross sections are configured such that adjacent filaments form wicking channels. 
     
     
         50 . The fabric of  claim 44 , wherein the fabric has an average Kawabata geometric roughness of less than about 1.7 microns and a percent (%) dryness after 1 hour of 100%. 
     
     
         51 . The fabric of  claim 44 , wherein the fabric has zero percent (0%) weight loss after one hundred (100) launderings in accordance with the AATCC 61 test method. 
     
     
         52 . Use of the fabric of  claim 35  in the manufacture of bed sheets for reducing bioburden within a medical facility. 
     
     
         53 . Use of the fabric of  claim 35  in the manufacture of bed sheets for reducing bioburden within a medical facility, wherein the bioburden is reduced by at least half (e.g., 50%) on beds in the medical facility occupied by human patients when the sheets are changed at least every two days (e.g., 24-48 hours). 
     
     
         54 . Use of the fabric of  claim 35  in the manufacture of bed sheets for reducing bioburden within a medical facility maintained at a temperature of between about 60° F. (15° C.) and 80° F. (27° C.) and at a humidity level of between about 35% relative humidity and about 55% relative humidity, wherein the bioburden is reduced by at least half (e.g., 50%) on beds in the medical facility occupied by human patients when the sheets are changed at least every two days (e.g., 24-48 hours). 
     
     
         55 . Use of the fabric of  claim 35  in the manufacture of hospital gowns for reducing bioburden within a medical facility. 
     
     
         56 . Use of the fabric of  claim 44  in the manufacture of bed sheets for reducing bioburden within a medical facility. 
     
     
         57 . Use of the fabric of  claim 44  in the manufacture of bed sheets for reducing bioburden within a medical facility, wherein the bioburden is reduced by at least half (e.g., 50%) on beds in the medical facility occupied by human patients when the sheets are changed at least every two days (e.g., 24-48 hours). 
     
     
         58 . Use of the fabric of  claim 44  in the manufacture of bed sheets for reducing bioburden within a medical facility maintained at a temperature of between about 60° F. (15° C.) and 80° F. (27° C.) and at a humidity level of between about 35% relative humidity and about 55% relative humidity, wherein the bioburden is reduced by at least half (e.g., 50%) on beds in the medical facility occupied by human patients when the sheets are changed at least every two days (e.g., 24-48 hours). 
     
     
         59 . Use of the fabric of  claim 44  in the manufacture of hospital gowns for reducing bioburden within a medical facility.

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