Surgical gown with functional window

Abstract

A surgical gown for protecting the wearer while maintaining the sterile field, and further offering the wearer the ability to directly access and interface with technological equipment being operated during a surgical procedure. The surgical gown comprising one or more functional windows positioned on the gown to allow the wearer to interface in a sterile manner with a device attached to the wearer underneath the gown, for example a device attached to the wearer's arm and/or chest. The windows disposed in the gown are sized and adapted to accommodate a variety of devices including cameras for POV filming and/or recording, as well as control displays for local or remotely located technological equipment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical gown for protecting a wearer and maintaining a sterile field, comprising one or more flexible and transparent windows disposed in the gown to allow the wearer to directly interface in a sterile manner through the one or more windows with a device attached to the wearer underneath the gown. 
     
     
         2 . The surgical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein the surgical gown comprises a pair of sleeves and the one or more windows is disposed in one or both sleeves of the gown, whereby the wearer can view the device and directly interface with the device through the one or more windows, the device being attached to the arm of the wearer underneath the gown. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical gown according to  claim 2 , wherein the device comprises controls that are positioned directly underneath the one or more windows disposed in the sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical gown according to  claim 3 , wherein the controls comprise buttons that are actuated by the wearer through the one or more windows. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical gown according to  claim 3 , wherein the controls comprise a touchscreen display that is actuated by the wearer through the one or more windows. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical gown according to  claim 3 , wherein the controls comprise a biometric system that is responsive to the wearer through the one or more windows. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein the surgical gown comprises a front body portion and a window centrally disposed on the front body portion of the gown to allow the wearer to directly interface in a sterile manner through the window centrally disposed on the front body portion of the gown with a device attached to the wearer's chest underneath the gown. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical gown according to  claim 7 , wherein the window is sized to accommodate a camera attached to the wearer's chest. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical gown according to  claim 8 , wherein the window comprises an optically-clear material to allow a clear view through the window for filming and/or recording therethrough. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical gown according to  claim 9 , wherein the optically-clear material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene (PE), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical gown according to  claim 8 , wherein the window further comprises an extendable sleeve wherein the flexible and transparent window can be outwardly extended to varying distances away from the wearer's chest to accommodate a variety of camera and lens positions. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical gown according to  claim 11 , wherein the camera comprises controls that can be viewed and directly actuated by the wearer through the extendable sleeve or the window. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical gown according to  claim 7 , further comprising one or more windows disposed on one or both sleeves of the gown, whereby the wearer can view an additional device and directly interface with the additional device through the one or more windows, the additional device being attached to the arm of the wearer underneath the gown. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein the gown and window are impermeable to fluids. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein the gown is for disposable use. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein the window is fabricated from a sterilizable polymeric material. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical gown according to  claim 16 , wherein the material comprises a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical gown according to  claim 17 , wherein the polymer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene (PE), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein the window is heat conductive to allow the wearer to directly interface with a touchscreen display on the device. 
     
     
         20 . A surgical gown for protecting a wearer and maintaining a sterile field, the surgical gown comprising a pair of sleeves and one or more flexible and transparent windows disposed in one or both sleeves of the gown, whereby the wearer can view the device and directly interface with the device in a sterile manner through the one or more windows, the device being attached to the arm of the wearer underneath the gown. 
     
     
         21 . The surgical gown according to  claim 20 , wherein the device comprises controls that are positioned directly underneath the one or more windows disposed in the sleeve. 
     
     
         22 . The surgical gown according to  claim 21 , wherein the controls comprise buttons that are actuated by the wearer through the one or more windows. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical gown according to  claim 21 , wherein the controls comprise a touchscreen display that is actuated by the wearer through the one or more windows. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical gown according to  claim 23 , wherein the window is heat conductive to allow the wearer to directly interface with the touchscreen display. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical gown according to  claim 21 , wherein the controls comprise a biometric system that is responsive to the wearer through the one or more windows. 
     
     
         26 . A surgical gown for protecting a wearer and maintaining a sterile field, the surgical gown comprising a front body portion and a flexible and transparent window centrally disposed on the front body portion of the gown, the window sized to accommodate a camera attached to the wearer's chest, wherein the wearer can directly interface with the camera in a sterile manner to film or record a procedure through the window centrally disposed on the front body portion of the gown. 
     
     
         27 . The surgical gown according to  claim 26 , wherein the window comprises an optically-clear material to allow a clear view through the window for filming and/or recording therethrough. 
     
     
         28 . The surgical gown according to  claim 27 , wherein the optically-clear material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene (PE), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The surgical gown according to  claim 26 , wherein the window further comprises an extendable sleeve wherein the flexible and transparent window can be outwardly extended to varying distances away from the wearer's chest to accommodate a variety of camera and lens positions. 
     
     
         30 . The surgical gown according to  claim 29 , wherein the camera comprises controls that can be viewed and directly actuated by the wearer through the extendable sleeve or the window. 
     
     
         31 . The surgical gown according to  claim 26 , further comprising one or more windows disposed on one or both sleeves of the gown, whereby the wearer can view an additional device and directly interface with the additional device through the one or more windows, the additional device being attached to the arm of the wearer underneath the gown. 
     
     
         32 . The surgical gown according to  claim 31 , wherein the additional device comprises controls that are positioned directly underneath the one or more windows disposed in the sleeve.