Surgical Apparel System

Abstract

A surgical garment configured to be at least partially disposed over the helmet, the surgical garment comprising a transparent face shield, a surgical fabric coupled to the transparent face shield, and first and second attachment elements. The first and second attachment elements configured to removably couple the surgical garment to the helmet. The garment includes a first conductor forming an electrical connection between the first and second attachment elements. The first conductor comprises a first trace that is applied to the transparent face shield, wherein the first and second attachment elements with the first trace are configured to define a first circuit when coupled to the helmet. The first trace defines a first electrical resistance corresponding to a feature of the surgical garment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical apparel system comprising:
 a helmet comprising:
 a ventilation assembly; 
 a controller electrically connected to the ventilation assembly; and 
 a first helmet terminal and a second helmet terminal, each of the first and second helmet terminals in electrically connected to the controller; 
   a surgical garment configured to be at least partially disposed over the helmet, the surgical garment comprising:
 a transparent face shield; 
 a surgical fabric coupled to the transparent face shield, the surgical fabric having a first fabric property; 
 a first garment terminal and a second garment terminal; 
 a conductor forming an electrical connection between the first and second garment terminals; 
 wherein each of the first and second garment terminals configured to removably engage the first and second helmet terminals to form a circuit between the helmet and the surgical garment; 
   a sensor in communication with the controller, the sensor configured to detect an electrical parameter of the conductor associated with the first and second garment terminals;   wherein the controller is configured to control an operational characteristic of the ventilation assembly based on electrical parameter of the conductor detected by the sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to measure the electrical resistance across the conductor;
 wherein the conductor defines a first electrical resistance when the circuit is closed; and   wherein the controller is configured to control the operational characteristic of the ventilation assembly based on the first electrical resistance in the circuit.   
     
     
         3 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 2 , wherein the first electrical resistance is correlated to the first fabric property of the surgical fabric of the surgical garment such that the controller is configured to control the operational characteristic of the ventilation assembly based on the first fabric property of the surgical fabric. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 3 , wherein the surgical fabric comprises a filter fabric, and the first fabric property comprises a filter efficiency rating for the filter fabric and the controller is configured to control the operational characteristic of the ventilation assembly based on the filter efficiency rating of the surgical fabric. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 2 , wherein the first electrical resistance is correlated to a characteristic of the surgical garment such that the controller is configured to control the operational characteristic of the helmet based on the characteristic of the surgical garment. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second garment terminals are disposed on the transparent face shield; and
 wherein the conductor connecting the first and second garment terminals is formed on the transparent face shield.   
     
     
         7 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 1 , wherein the conductor connecting the first and second garment terminals comprises a conductive trace or a conductive layer. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 1 , wherein the conductor connecting the first and second garment terminals is a conductive trace, and the conductive trace is formed from a conductive ink. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 1 , wherein the conductor connecting the first and second garment terminals comprises a trace formed from at least one of silver, carbon nanoparticles, or printable inks. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect a voltage across the conductor between the first and second garment terminals when the first and second garment terminals of the surgical garment are coupled to the first and second garment terminals of the helmet. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 1 , wherein the conductor connecting the first and second garment terminals is a conductive trace, and a resistance of the conductive trace is determined by at least one of, a material of the conductive trace, a depth of the conductive trace, a width of the conductive trace, a length of the conductive trace, or a pattern/shape of the conductive trace. 
     
     
         12 . A surgical apparel system comprising:
 a helmet comprising:
 a ventilation assembly; 
 a controller electrically connected to the ventilation assembly; and 
 a first coupling member and a second coupling member, each of the first and second coupling members formed from one of a ferromagnetic material or magnetic material; 
   a surgical garment configured to be at least partially disposed over the helmet, the surgical garment comprising:
 a transparent face shield; 
 a surgical fabric coupled to the transparent face shield; 
 a first attachment element and a second attachment formed from the other of the magnetic material or ferromagnetic material; 
 a conductor forming an electrical connection between the first and second attachment elements, the conductor having/defining an electrical resistance; 
   wherein the first and second attachment elements configured to removably engage the first and second coupling members of the helmet to form a circuit between the helmet and the surgical garment;   wherein the controller is configured to control an operational characteristic of the ventilation assembly based on the resistance of the conductor when the circuit between the helmet and the surgical garment is closed.   
     
     
         13 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 12 , wherein the conductor connecting the first and second attachment elements comprises a conductive trace or a conductive layer. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 13 , wherein the resistance of the conductor is defined by a width of the conductive trace. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 13 , wherein the resistance of the conductor is defined by a thickness of the conductive trace or a number of conductive layers. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 13 , wherein the resistance of the conductor is defined by a shape of the conductive trace. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 13 , wherein the conductor is configured to define the electrical resistance to provide a first ohm resistance; and
 wherein the first ohm resistance is correlated to the surgical fabric having a first filtration efficiency.   
     
     
         18 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 13 , wherein the conductor is configured to define the electrical resistance to provide a second ohm resistance; and
 wherein the second ohm resistance is correlated to the surgical fabric having a second filtration efficiency.   
     
     
         19 . The surgical apparel system of  claim 13 , wherein the conductor is configured to define the electrical resistance to provide a third ohm resistance; and
 wherein the third ohm resistance is correlated to the surgical fabric having a third filtration efficiency.   
     
     
         20 . A surgical garment configured to be at least partially disposed over a helmet, the surgical garment comprising:
 a transparent face shield;   a surgical fabric coupled to the transparent face shield;   a first attachment element and a second attachment element formed from one of a magnetic material or ferromagnetic material, the first and second attachment elements configured to removably couple the surgical garment to the helmet;   a first conductor forming an electrical connection between the first and second attachment elements, the first conductor comprising a first trace that is applied to the transparent face shield; and   wherein the first and second attachment elements with the first trace are configured to define a first circuit when coupled to the helmet, the first trace defining a first electrical resistance corresponding to a feature of the surgical garment.