GB2105971A - Body exhaust gown arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

A body exhaust gown arrangement for use in environments where contamination or cross-contamination from body bacterial emissions are to be avoided and use of an all-enveloping gown with air exhaust is impracticable comprises a gown 10 which fits the wearer only up to the neck where a close fitting collar 21 is provided. A loop 12 composed of alternating lengths of flexible corrugated tubing and short sections of relatively non-flexible tubing having exhaust inlets fits after the manner of a necklet over the wearer's shoulders and has a Y-shaped connector 16 by which it connects to a flexible exhaust tube 18. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Body exhaust gown arrangement This invention relates to a body exhaust gown arrangement for use in operating theatres and other locations where contamination may occur.

It has been well established that bacteria-carrying particles and epithelial scales are released con tinuouslyfrom the human body and that it is essential, in order to eliminate or cross contamination of the patient by the operating theatre personnel, to take precautions to rid the atmosphere of the operating theatre of such particles and scales. As part of the precautions relative hereto, conditioning of the air in the operating theatre and/or in the immediate vicinity of the operating table is now generally practised. It is also known to provide operating theatre personnel with all-enveloping gown-and-hood assemblies incorporating means adapted for connection to an air exhaust system.In the use of such an arrangement the interior of the gown is maintained at a negative pressure so that all airborne emissions therein are conducted away by an air current to the exhaust system.

In practice, it is not always possible or practible for personnel, doing work where there is a risk of contamination or cross-contamination, to make use of all-enveloping gowns. This may be the case, for instance, where use of a microscope or other type of magnifier is essential, when satisfactory interface between the mask of the hood and the magnifier may not be possible.

An object of the present invention is to provide a body exhaust gown arrangement which is of practical use in such circumstances but is not of the all-enveloping kind, so it does not involve the difficulties which may arise where a hood is employed.

With this object in view, the present invention provides a body exhaust gown arrangement comprising a fabric gown incorporating means adapted for connection to an air exhaust system characterised in that the gown is designed to envelope a wearer only up to the neck and includes a collar for fitting snugly around the neck and in that the means for connection to an air exhaust system comprises exhaust duct means including portions which extend over each of the wearer's shoulders and which provide a plurality of exhaust inlets in the region of the wearer's chest, beneath the gown.

Preferably the exhaust duct means is in the form of a loop for fitting to the wearer after the manner of a relatively large necklet, and having exhaust inlets at intervals therealong.

The loop conveniently connects by its ends to a Y-shaped connector whereby it may be connected to a single flexible exhaust tube leading up the gown in the rear thereof and adapted to be connected to the air exhaust system.

The loop preferably has a tie or the like connected to it to enable the user, after positioning the loop conveniently or comfortably on his chest, to secure it in place by then tying the tie around his waist.

The present invention is based upon the appreciation that over 90% of body bacterial emissions come from below the neck. Accordingly, by use of the gown arrangement of the invention in company with a traditional face mask and a hair-enclosing cover, one achieves a very high degree of elimination of risk from such emissions, approaching that available from the all-enveloping gowns.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, it will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic fragmentary front perspective view showing a user having positioned, around his neck, an exhaust duct loop which forms part of a preferred embodiment of the body exhaust gown arrangement of the invention; and Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view showing the user wearing the entire gown arrangement.

As shown in the drawing, a preferred embodiment of the body exhaust gown arrangement of the invention comprises, in combination, a fabric gown indicated generally at 10 in Fig. 2 and exhaust duct means 11 part of which is illustrated in each of the figures.

The exhaust duct means 11 comprises a loop 12 composed of alternating lengths 13 of flexible corrugated tubing and short sections 14 of non-flexible (e.g. metal) tubing each of which has therein a respective exhaust inlet in the form of a slot 15. This loop 12 is of a form suitable for fitting to a wearer, as shown particularly in Fig. 1, after the manner of a relatively large necklet and has two ends which, as can be seen from Fig. 2, fit into a Y-shaped connector 16. A tie cord 17 is provided on the loop 12 at a position approximately opposite to the connector 16, and the user uses this to retain the loop 12 in position with portions thereof extending over his shoulders and the principal part of the loop overlying the front of his torso, by tying the cord 17 appropriately around his waist as shown.

After positioning the loop 12 around his neck, it is coupled up, by means of the Y-shaped connector 16, to a single flexible exhaust tube 18 which is led to and connected to an air exhaust system (not shown) installed in an operating theatre in which the arrangement is to be used.

The exhaust duct means 11 having been fitted in place, the user dons the gown 10 which is preferably made of a closely-woven textile fabric and includes a relatively loose-fitting body part 19 having sleeves 20 which can be fitted tightly to the user's wrists and having a so-called "mandarin-type" collar 21 which can be fastened up (e.g. using fastening fabric commercially available under the Trade Mark "Velero") closely to the user's neck.

As has already been mentioned herein, over 90% of the user's body bacterial emissions emanate from below the user's neck. Accordingly, as shown in Fig.

2, with the user having enclosed his hair fully with a hair cover 30, wearing a traditional face mask 31 and wearing the body exhaust gown arrangement as described, the protection afforded against possible cross-contamination approaches closely that available from an all-enveloping gown.

The invention is not confined to the precise details of the foregoing example, and variations may be made thereto. Thus, the precise form of the exhaust duct means, and the manner in which it is coupled with the air exhaust system can differ in detail from what has been shown and described.

Claims (7)

1. A body exhaust gown arrangement comprising a fabric gown incorporating means adapted for connection to an air exhaust system characterised in that the gown is designed to envelope a wearer only up to the neck and includes a collar for fitting snugly around the neck and in that the means for connection to an air exhaust system comprises exhaust duct means including portions which extend over each of the wearer's shoulders and which provide a plurality of exhaust inlets in the region of the wearer's chest, beneath the gown.

2. A body exhaust gown arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the exhaust duct means is in the form of a loop for fitting to the wearer after the manner of a relatively large necklet, and having exhaust inlets at intervals therealong.

3. A body exhaust gown arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the loop is composed of alternating lengths of flexible corrugated tubing and short sections of non-flexible tubing each of which has therein a respective exhaust inlet.

4. A body exhaust gown arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the exhaust inlets are in the form of slots.

5. A body exhaust gown arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the loop connects by its ends to a Y-shaped connector whereby it may be connected to a single flexible exhaust tube leading up to the gown in the rear thereof and adapted to be connected to the air exhaust system.

6. A body exhaust gown arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the loop has a tie or the like connected to it to enable the user after positioning the loop conveniently or comfortably on his chest, to secure it in place by then tying the tie around his waist.

7. A body exhaust gown arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.