Mechanically Bonded Visor System for Surgical Hood

Abstract

A visor system for a surgical hood is provided. The system includes a base film and one or more removable films that are mechanical bonded (e.g., via ultrasonic energy and pressure, which allows ethylene oxide gas to penetrate between the films to provide for a “new” sterile surface should the surgeon elect to peel away a soiled or splattered removable film during the course of a surgical procedure so that an unobstructed view can be maintained. The mechanical bond points are intermittent rather than continuous so that the perimeter of the visor is not sealed, thus allowing for adequate ethylene oxide gas penetration and exposure to each of the films. Further, because the bond points are located about the perimeter of the removable films, viewing is not obscured, yet the layers are held securely in place until easily removed from the underlying removable film or base film.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A visor system for a personal protection system, the visor system comprising:
 a base film; and   a first removable film mechanically bonded to an outer-facing surface of the base film via a first plurality of mechanical bond points, wherein gaps are present between adjacent mechanical bond points.   
     
     
         2 . The visor system of  claim 1 , wherein the first removable film includes a tab, wherein the tab facilitates removal of the first removable film from the base film. 
     
     
         3 . The visor system of  claim 1 , wherein the base film and the first removable film are transparent. 
     
     
         4 . The visor system of  claim 1 , wherein the base film comprises a polyester or a polycarbonate. 
     
     
         5 . The visor system of  claim 1 , wherein the first removable film comprises a polyester or a polycarbonate. 
     
     
         6 . The visor system of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of mechanical bond points are ultrasonic bond points. 
     
     
         7 . The visor system of  claim 1 , wherein the gaps permit penetration of ethylene oxide gas between the base film and the first removable film. 
     
     
         8 . The visor system of  claim 1 , wherein the base film defines a perimeter and the first removable film defines a perimeter, wherein the perimeter of the first removable film is contained completely within the perimeter of the base film. 
     
     
         9 . The visor system of  claim 8 , wherein the first plurality of mechanical bond points are located about the perimeter of the first removable film. 
     
     
         10 . The visor system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second removable film, wherein the second removable film is mechanically bonded to the first removable film via a second plurality of mechanical bond points, wherein gaps are present between adjacent mechanical bond points. 
     
     
         11 . The visor system of  claim 10 , wherein the second removable film includes a tab, wherein the tab facilitates removal of the second removable film from the first removable film. 
     
     
         12 . The visor system of  claim 10 , wherein the second removable film is transparent. 
     
     
         13 . The visor system of  claim 10 , wherein the second removable film comprises a polyester or a polycarbonate. 
     
     
         14 . The visor system of  claim 10 , wherein the second plurality of mechanical bond points are ultrasonic bond points. 
     
     
         15 . The visor system of  claim 10 , wherein the gaps permit penetration of ethylene oxide gas between the first removable film and the second removable film. 
     
     
         16 . The visor system of  claim 10 , wherein the base film defines a perimeter and the second removable film defines a perimeter, wherein the perimeter of the second removable film is contained completely within the perimeter of the base film. 
     
     
         17 . The visor system of  claim 16 , wherein the second plurality of mechanical bond points are located about the perimeter of the second removable film. 
     
     
         18 . The visor system of  claim 1 , wherein the visor system is ethylene oxide gas sterilized. 
     
     
         19 . A surgical hood comprising the visor system of  claim 1 , wherein the surgical hood and the visor system are ethylene oxide gas sterilized. 
     
     
         20 . A surgical gown comprising an integrated surgical hood and the visor system of  claim 1 , wherein the surgical gown, the integrated surgical hood, and the visor system are ethylene oxide gas sterilized. 
     
     
         21 . A personal protection system including a surgical gown and a separate surgical hood comprising the visor system of  claim 1 , wherein the personal protection system is ethylene gas sterilized in a single package.