Medical isolation gown with improved donning and doffing features and method therefor

Abstract

A medical gown constructed by heat sealing a tube made by a blown film process. The medical gown having a front panel and a rear panel, a vertical perforation running along the rear panel centerline, two sleeves for covering the arms of a wearer, a sleeve perforation for enabling the wearer to penetrate a portion of their hand therethrough. Each sleeve of the medical gown having an upper seal portion and a lower seal portion, a neck opening between the upper seal portions of the two sleeves, a gap between the lower sealed portions of the two sleeves for accommodating the body of the wearer. An underarm perforation below each sleeve facilitates severing of each of the sleeves from the gown material. Supplemental perforations on either side of the gown are also provided for yielding a pair of straps that can be tied at the rear of the gown.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical gown for protecting a wearer, said gown comprising:
 a front panel and a rear panel, said front and rear panels forming a tubular structure, said tubular structure including a first side edge, a second side edge, and an open bottom end for donning said medical gown;   a first sleeve defined by a first upper sealed region and a first lower sealed region;   a second sleeve defined by a second upper sealed region and second lower sealed region, each of the first and second sleeves being configured to cover an arm of the wearer to an area proximate a wrist of the wearer;   a neck opening defined by a first unsealed region between the first upper sealed region and the second upper sealed region;   a first gap provided at a distal end of said first upper sealed region of the first sleeve;   a second gap provided at a distal end of said second upper sealed region of the second sleeve; each of said first and second gaps being configured for penetration of at least a first portion of a hand of the wearer therethrough;   a rear perforated section provided in the rear panel of the gown proximate a vertical center line, wherein the rear perforated section is configured for facilitating removal of said gown from the body of the wearer.   
     
     
         2 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first sleeve perforation provided at a distal end of said first sleeve, a second sleeve perforation provided at a distal end of said second sleeve, wherein each of said first and second sleeve perforations being configured for penetration of at least a second portion of the hand of the wearer therethrough. 
     
     
         3 . The medical gown according to  claim 2 , wherein said first and second gaps are respectively proximate to said first and second sleeve perforations, each of said first and second gaps being configured for protruding a thumb portion of the wearer therethrough, and each of said first and second sleeve perforations being configured for protruding a finger portion of the wearer therethrough. 
     
     
         4 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second gaps at the distal end of the first and second sleeves respectively are configured for protruding a thumb portion of the wearer therethrough, and wherein each of the first and second sleeves forming a loop around said thumb portion of the wearer. 
     
     
         5 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein the medical gown is comprised of a fluid impermeable material. 
     
     
         6 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein said neck opening defined by said first unsealed region ranges from about 8.5 inches to about 12.5 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein said neck opening defined by said first unsealed region is greater than 9 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein said first gap is greater than 1 inch. 
     
     
         9 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein said second gap is about 2 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein the length of the first upper sealed region ranges from 25 to 35 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein the length of the first lower sealed region ranges from 16 to 25 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein an unsealed length between the first lower sealed region of the first sleeve and the second lower sealed region of the second sleeve ranges from about 28 to 35 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein the height of the gown from the neck opening to the open bottom end ranges from 42 to 58 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein the medical gown is constructed from a plastic material. 
     
     
         15 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein the medical gown is constructed from a bioplastic material. 
     
     
         16 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein the medical gown is constructed from a non-woven material. 
     
     
         17 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein the medical gown is constructed from a combination of a plastic and a non-woven material. 
     
     
         18 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein the medical gown is constructed from a polyolefin material comprising at least one of—linear low-density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, and polypropylene. 
     
     
         19 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein the medical gown is constructed from a material comprising a blend of: polyethylene resin, a filler, an anti-block additive, and a colorant. 
     
     
         20 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular structure is formed of a blown film. 
     
     
         21 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein a printed message is provided proximate the rear perforated section for instructing the wearer for removing the gown after use. 
     
     
         22 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein the medical gown is configured for facilitating tearing of the medical gown along said rear perforated section. 
     
     
         23 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular structure has a continuous finite length. 
     
     
         24 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular structure is symmetrical along a vertical center line. 
     
     
         25 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein the medical gown is configured to meet at least the minimum level regulatory requirements of ANSI/AAMI PB70 standard. 
     
     
         26 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first underarm perforated section located proximately below the first lower sealed region of the first sleeve, said first underarm perforated section being configured for severing said first sleeve from a first gown portion below said first sleeve, and   a second underarm perforated section located proximately below the second lower sealed region of the second sleeve, said second underarm perforated section being configured for severing said second sleeve from a second gown portion below said second sleeve.   
     
     
         27 . The medical gown according to  claim 26 , wherein the first and second gown portions below said first and second sleeves are secured with an adhesive tape after donning of the gown by the wearer. 
     
     
         28 . The medical gown according to  claim 26 , wherein the first and second gown portions below said first and second sleeves are secured at a back of the wearer with an adhesive tape. 
     
     
         29 . The medical gown according to  claim 26 , wherein the first underarm perforated section is shorter than the first lower sealed region of the first sleeve, and second underarm perforated section is shorter than the second lower sealed region of the second sleeve. 
     
     
         30 . The medical gown according to  claim 26 , wherein each of the first and second underarm perforated sections do not extend to an armpit area of the wearer. 
     
     
         31 . The medical gown according to  claim 26 , further comprising a first auxiliary sealed region proximately below said first underarm perforated section, and a second auxiliary sealed region proximately below said second underarm perforated section. 
     
     
         32 . The medical gown according to  claim 31 , wherein a proximal end of the first auxiliary sealed region abuts a proximal end of the first lower sealed region, and, a proximal end of the second auxiliary sealed region abuts a proximal end of the second lower sealed region. 
     
     
         33 . The medical gown according to  claim 31 , wherein the first lower sealed region of the first sleeve and the first auxiliary sealed region are parallel, and the second lower sealed region of the second sleeve and the second auxiliary sealed region are parallel. 
     
     
         34 . The medical gown according to  claim 31 , further comprising a first arcuate armpit sealed region connecting proximal ends of the first lower sealed region and the first auxiliary sealed region; and, a second arcuate armpit sealed region connecting proximal ends of the second lower sealed region and the second auxiliary sealed region. 
     
     
         35 . The medical gown according to  claim 31 , wherein said first and second auxiliary sealed regions have a dual lip seal configuration. 
     
     
         36 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second lower sealed regions have a dual lip seal configuration. 
     
     
         37 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second upper sealed regions have a dual lip seal configuration. 
     
     
         38 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sleeves are substantially straight with a uniform gap between the upper and the lower sealed regions of each of the first and second sleeves. 
     
     
         39 . The medical gown according to  claim 38 , wherein the uniform gap ranges from 9 to 12 inches. 
     
     
         40 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second sleeves is tapered comprising a constricted distal end relative to a proximal end thereof. 
     
     
         41 . The medical gown according to  claim 31 , further comprising a first supplemental perforation located proximately below the first auxiliary sealed region, and a second supplemental perforation located proximately below the second auxiliary sealed region. 
     
     
         42 . The medical gown according to  claim 41 , wherein said first supplemental perforation being configured to yield a first strap, and said second supplemental perforation being configured to yield a second strap; and, wherein said first and second straps being configured for tying said gown at a back of the wearer. 
     
     
         43 . The medical gown according to  claim 41 , wherein the first sleeve perforation, the first underarm perforated section and the first supplemental perforation are respectively co-symmetric with the second sleeve perforation, the second underarm perforated section and second supplemental perforation. 
     
     
         44 . The medical gown according to  claim 41 , wherein the first sleeve perforation, the first underarm perforated section and the first supplemental perforation extend inwardly from the first side edge of the tubular structure and are approximately perpendicular to the first side edge; and wherein the second sleeve perforation, the second underarm perforated section, and the second supplemental perforation extend inwardly from the second side edge and are approximately perpendicular to the second side edge of the tubular structure. 
     
     
         45 . The medical gown according to  claim 41 , wherein the first sleeve perforation, the first underarm perforated section and the first supplemental perforation extend inwardly downward from the first side edge of the tubular structure and are inclined towards the open bottom end of the gown; and wherein the second sleeve perforation, the second underarm perforated section, and the second supplemental perforation extend inwardly downward from the second side edge of the tubular structure and are inclined towards the open bottom of the gown. 
     
     
         46 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the front and rear panels of the medical gown features a smooth surface. 
     
     
         47 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the front and rear panels of the medical gown features a textured surface. 
     
     
         48 . The medical gown according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the front and rear panels of the medical gown features an embossed surface.