Method of making polymeric gloves having embedded surgical support systems and discrete elements

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a glove that includes discrete elements and component systems, such as, but not limited to, lights, electrical cautery, suction, and irrigation, attached to the surgical glove. The gloves produced by this method can be used as surgical gloves or for other industrial applications. In a particular application, the method includes providing a former comprising a hand-shaped portion and a first surgical system comprising a first surgical instrument, and a first switch for controlling the first surgical system. The former includes a first depression for receiving the first surgical system. The first depression is adapted to produce an interference fit with at least a portion of the first surgical system. The first surgical system can be loaded into the first depression and a polymer coating can be applied over the loaded former to form a surgical glove.

1 . A method of making a surgical glove, comprising:
 providing a first surgical system comprising a first surgical instrument, and a first switch for controlling the first surgical system;   providing a former comprising a hand-shaped portion, the former comprising a first depression for receiving the first surgical system;   loading the first surgical system into the first depression; and   applying a polymer coating over the loaded former to form a surgical glove.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first depression is adapted to produce an interference fit with at least a portion of the first surgical system. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said interference fit is formed with a portion of one or more of said first surgical instrument, said first switch and said proximal interconnection. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said applying step comprises dipping said loaded former into a pool of coating precursor. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first depression comprises a first surgical instrument receiving portion and a first switch receiving portion. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first surgical system further comprises a first conduit. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said first depression comprises a first surgical instrument receiving portion, a first conduit receiving portion, and a first switch receiving portion. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the interference fit is formed with a portion of said first surgical instrument, a portion of said first switch, or both. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first surgical system further comprises a proximal interconnection. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising removing the surgical glove from the former by turning the surgical glove inside-out. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a portion of said first surgical system is embedded within the surgical glove and another portion of said first surgical system is exposed. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the exposed portion comprises a portion of said first surgical instrument, a portion of said first switch, or both. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the exposed portion corresponds to the portion of the first surgical system producing an interference fit with the first depression. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a second surgical system comprising a second surgical instrument and a second switch for controlling the second surgical system, wherein said former further comprises a second depression for receiving said second surgical system, and said second depression is adapted to produce a second interference fit with at least a portion of the second surgical system; and   loading said second surgical system into said second depression.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first depression comprises a first surgical instrument receiving portion and a first switch receiving portion, and the second depression comprises a second surgical instrument receiving portion and a second switch receiving portion. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first surgical system further comprises a first conduit, and the second surgical system further comprises a second conduit. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the first depression comprises a first surgical instrument receiving portion, a first conduit receiving portion, and a first switch receiving portion, and the second depression comprises a second surgical instrument receiving portion, a second conduit receiving portion, and a second switch receiving portion. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the first and second conduit receiving portions do not intersect. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein an interference fit is formed with a portion of said first surgical instrument, a portion of said first switch, or both, and a second interference fit is formed with a portion of said second surgical instrument, a portion of said second switch, or both. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first and second surgical systems further comprise first and second proximal interconnections, respectively. 
     
     
         21 .- 32 . (canceled)