MXPA06006489A - Surgical gown incorporating a skin wellness agent - Google Patents

Abstract

A protective garment, such as a surgical gown, includes a front portion, a back portion, and sleeves. A skin wellness agent is deposited on an inner body-facing surface of at least one of the front portion, back portion, and sleeves, and may also be provided in the sleeve cuffs. The skin wellness agent is transferred to the wearer's skin through contact with the inner body-facing surface of the garment.

Description

SURGICAL BAG THAT INCORPORATES AN AGENT FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE SKIN Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to the field of protective garments and more particularly to an improved surgical gown configuration.

Background Protective garments such as surgical gowns are well known. Conventional disposable surgical gowns are commonly constructed of a non-woven fabric. The body section of the gown is usually a single piece of material, or is composed of a number of material panels coupled together. For example, the gown can be formed from a front panel and coupled side panels that also define a back section of the gown. The sleeves are attached to the body of the gown by any number of known techniques. An example of a surgical gown made using raglan sleeves coupled to a gown body part is the Light Weight Gown (product code 90751) of Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Neenah, Wisconsin, United States of America.

The utility of these gowns is usually influenced by a number of factors, such as the ability to breathe, resistance to fluid flow, protective barrier qualities, etc. Unfortunately, in certain applications, the desired characteristics of the gown from the point of view of protection can result in skin irritation and discomfort for many individuals. This may be particularly true in the medical field where the clinician undergoes a rigorous cleansing in preparation for a medical procedure before putting on the gown. Disinfectants, soaps, or other scrubbing agents are necessary, but they are rough on the skin of many individuals. Such scrubs leave many individuals with dry and split skin, particularly on the arms where scrubbing is most intense. Once the gowns are put on, it is not possible to alleviate the discomfort and irritation of the skin. Also, it is generally not acceptable to apply lotions or skin conditioning agents on the arms after scrubbing so as not to compromise the sterile field.

The present invention addresses certain problems noted above and provides an improved gown that treats the user's arms with a skin-care agent after putting on the gown.

Synthesis The objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in part in the following description, or they may be obvious from the description, or they may be learned through the practice of the invention.

The present invention relates to a single configuration for a protective garment, particularly a surgical gown, having a front part, a back part, and sleeves. A skin welfare agent is deposited on a surface facing the inner body of a part of the gown. The skin welfare agent is transferred to the user's skin through contact with the surface facing the internal body and provides the user with particular benefits depending on the type of agent. The skin welfare agent can be provided on the inner surface of any or a combination of the parts of the gown. For example, the agent may be provided on the inner surface of the back or front portions of the gown that generally forms the wearer's body.

In a particular embodiment, the skin welfare agent is applied to a part of the protective garment that is generally in continuous contact with the wearer's skin. This part can be a part of adjustment to the way it is generally comfortable against the user's skin. For example, the shape adjustment portion may be a portion of the sleeves, such as the forearm portion defined below a loose fitting upper arm portion, and may also include a cuff.

The skin wellness agent can be applied for each or a combination of conventional application techniques. The agent can be deposited in a generally uniform coating on the inner surface facing the body of the gown part or, alternatively, it can be applied to a desired region in discrete localized deposits, such as strips or bands, etc.

In a particular embodiment, the skin care agent can be a lotion formula which can vary widely within the scope and spirit of the invention. Various formulas are widely known and used in the art to provide skin wellness benefits and to target or prevent particular skin disorders or irritation conditions, including pain, itching, cramping, inflammation, and other skin disorders. It may be desired that the lotion formula includes at least one emollient that acts as a lubricant to reduce abrasion of the dressing material against the skin, and, with transfer to the skin, helps to maintain the condition of the skin. . The emollient can be selected, for example, from the group consisting of oils, esters, glycerol esters, ethers, alkoxylated carboxylic acids, alkoxylated alcohols, fatty alcohols, and mixtures thereof.

The lotion formula may also include at least one wax selected, for example, from the group consisting of animal-based waxes, vegetable-based waxes, mineral-based waxes, silicon-based waxes, and mixtures thereof. and all of which may be natural or synthetic.The selected wax may be natural, synthetic, or a combination thereof.

The lotion formula can also include at least one 'skin protector' to protect the injured or exposed skin from harmful or irritating stimuli.

The invention has particular utility with respect to surgical gowns used in the medical industry.

In a particular embodiment of the gown, the gown body has front and back portions defining sleeve openings. The sleeves formed of white bent material members are coupled to the sleeve openings along generally continuous sleeve seams. The sleeves have an upper arm section, a lower forearm section, and cuffs at the end thereof. The sleeves may further include an adjustment section of defined shape between the section of the upper arm and the cuff corresponding to the forearm section of the sleeve. The section can be shaped so that it has a small circumference so as to fit comfortably against the user's forearm, as compared to the section of the upper arm which can be relatively loose fitting. The shape adjustment section can also be formed of an elastomeric material, or it can be extensible inherently. The shape adjustment sleeve section may include the elastomeric cuff.

The invention will be described below with reference to surgical gown incorporations illustrated in the figures.

Brief Description of the Drawings A complete and authoritative description of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, addressed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is pointed out more particularly in the rest of the specification, which refers to the attached figures in which: Figure 1 is a perspective and partial rear view of a protective garment, in particular a surgical gown, in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the gown shown in Figure 1.

Figures 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate a white material member being formed in a sleeve for subsequent attachment to a garment in accordance with the invention.

Figures 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate a white material member being formed in an alternative sleeve incorporation for subsequent engagement with the garment in accordance with the invention.

Detailed description The invention will now be described in detail with reference to particular embodiments thereof. The incorporations are provided by way of explanation of the invention, and are not significant from a limitation of the invention. For example, the features described or illustrated as part of an embodiment may be used with another embodiment to produce still further incorporation. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations as they fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.

The "coupling" refers to joining, joining, adhering, connecting, fastening, coupling, or the like, of two elements. Two elements will be considered coupled together when they are directly linked to each other or indirectly to each other, such as when each is directly coupled to intermediate elements.

The "elastomeric" refers to a material or compound that can be lengthened by at least 25 percent of its relaxed length and that will recover, with the release of the applied force, at least 10 percent of its extension. It is generally preferable that the elastomeric material or composite be capable of being elongated by at least 100 percent, more preferably by at least 300 percent, of its relaxed length and recovered, with the release of an applied force, at least 50 percent of its lengthening. An elastomeric material is therefore capable of stretching and being "stretched" and being "elastomeric" and can be used interchangeably.

"Elastic", "elasticized" and "elasticity" mean the property of a material or compound by virtue of which it tends to regain its original size and shape after removing a force that causes a deformation.

The "bonded-bonded" laminate refers to a composite material having an elastic member that is attached to a non-elastic member while the non-elastomeric member is extended in the machine direction creating a narrowed material that is elastic in the direction cross. Examples of bonded laminates are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,965,122; 4,981,747; 5,226,992; and 5,336,545, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

"Stretch bonded" laminate refers to a composite material having at least two layers in which one layer is a foldable layer and the other layer is an elastic layer. These layers are joined together when only the elastic layer is in an extended condition such that with the relaxed of the layers, the collapsible layer is folded. For example, an elastic member may be attached to another member while the elastic member extends at least about 25 percent of its relaxed length. Such elastic multi-layer composite material can be stretched until the non-elastic layer is fully extended. Examples of stretch-bonded laminates are described, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,720,415; 4,789,699; 4,781,966; 4,657,802; and 4,655,760, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

As used herein, the term, "nonwoven fabric or fabric" means a fabric having a structure of individual fibers or filaments that are interlocked, but not in an identifiably repeatable manner. Non-woven fabrics have, in the past, been formed by a variety of processes known to those skilled in the art such as, for example, spinning and meltblowing processes, spinning processes with bonding and weaving processes. carded and united.

As used herein, the term "spunbond fibers" refers to small diameter fibers that are formed by extruding a molten thermoplastic material as filaments through a plurality of fine spinner capillaries having a configuration circular or otherwise, with the diameter of the extruded filaments being rapidly reduced as, for example, by the eductive extruder or other well-known spin-bonding mechanisms. The production of non-woven fabrics bonded with yarn is illustrated in the patents such as, for example, in United States of America Patent No. 4,340,563 issued to Appel et al .; U.S. Patent No. 3,692,618 issued to Dorschner et al .; U.S. Patent No. 3,338,992 issued to Kinney; United States of America patents number 3,338,618 and 3,341,394 issued to Levy; U.S. Patent No. 3,276,944 issued to Levy; U.S. Patent No. 3,502,538 issued to Peterson; U.S. Patent No. 3,502,763 issued to Hartman; U.S. Patent No. 3,542,615 issued to Dobo et al .; Canadian Patent No. 803,714 issued to Harmon.

As used herein, the term "meltblown fibers" means the fibers formed by the extrusion of a molten thermoplastic material through a plurality of thin and usually circular capillary matrix vessels with strands or fused filaments into gas jets. heated at high velocity (eg, air) and converging which attenuate the filaments of molten thermoplastic material to reduce its diameter, which can be to a microfiber diameter. After this, the meltblown fibers are carried by the high speed gas jet and are deposited on a collecting surface to form a randomly dispersed meltblown fabric. Such process is described for example, in the patent of the United States of America number 3,849,241 granted to Butin. The melt blown fibers can be continuous or discontinuous, are generally smaller than 10 microns in average diameter and are generally sticky when deposited on a collecting surface.

As used herein, the term "disposable" is not limited to single-use items or limited-use items, but also refers to items that are not expensive for the consumer and that can be discarded if they become soiled or otherwise not they are possible to use after a single use or several uses.

As used herein, the term "garment" means protective garments and / or shields including, but not limited to, surgical gowns, patient diapers, workwear, aprons, and the like.

As used herein, the term "liquid-resistant" or "liquid-repellent" refers to the material having a hydrostatic head of at least about 25 centimeters as determined with the standard AATCCTM hydrostatic pressure test number 127-1977 with the following exceptions: (1) The samples are longer than usual and are mounted on a stretch frame that grasps the ends of the sample on the cross machine direction, so that the samples can be tested under a variety of Stretching conditions (eg, 10%, 20%, 30% stretch) and (2) Samples are supported underneath by a wire mesh to prevent the sample from hanging under the weight of the water column .

As used herein, the term "capable of breathing" refers to a material that is permeable to water vapor. The water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) or moisture vapor transfer rate (MVTR) is measured in grams per square meter per 24 hours, and should be considered equivalent to the indicators of ability to breathe. The term "ability to breathe" desirably refers to a material that is permeable to water vapor having a minimum water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of desirably about 250 grams per square meter per 24 hours. Even more desirably, such material demonstrates a breathing capacity greater than about 1000 grams per square meter per 24 hours. Even more desirably, such material demonstrates the ability to breathe greater than about 3000 grams per square meter per 24 hours. In some embodiments, the ability to breathe greater than about 5000 grams per square meter per 24 hours.

As used herein, the term "reversible tapered material" refers to a tapered material that has been treated while tapering to impart memory to the material in such a way that, when a force is applied to extend the material to its dimensions prior to being tapered , the narrowed and treated parts will generally regain their narrowed dimensions with the termination of the force. One form of treatment is the application of heat. Generally speaking, the extent of the reversible tapered material is substantially limited to the extent of its pre-narrowing dimensions. Therefore, unless the material is elastic, extension far beyond its narrowed pre-dimensions will result in material failure. A reversible tapered material may include more than one layer. For example multiple layers of a fabric knitted together, multiple layers of melt blown fabric, or any other suitable combination or mixtures thereof. The production of reversible narrowed materials is illustrated in patents such as, for example, U.S. Patent Nos. 4,965,122 and 4,981,747, both issued to Mormon.

The present invention relates to a unique configuration for a protective garment. The garment is illustrated and described herein as a surgical gown for illustrative purposes. It should be appreciated that a garment in accordance with the invention is not limited to a gown, and may include, for example, a gown or cover for a patient, covers all of work, gown, etc.

A conventional gown 10 is conceptually illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The gown includes a gown body 12 having a front portion 14 and a back portion 16. The gown body may be formed from a single piece of material, or p. It can be defined separately - panels of material joined at the seams. For example, the front part may be a first panel, and the rear part may be formed of separate panels 16a and 16b coupled to the front panel part 14 along longitudinal side seams 15.

The sleeves 22 are generally coupled to the body of the gown 12 in the sleeve openings 18 defined in the body 12. The sleeves 22 can include any manner of known elastomeric cuffs 28 at the ends thereof. The sleeves 22 may be formed of members of white material of the same or different material as the body 12 and separately coupled to the openings 18 along a generally continuous sleeve seam 24. Any type of known fastening means, such as ties 20, can be used to secure the gown 10 over a wearer. Various configurations of robes 10 are well known to those skilled in the art and all such configurations are within the scope and spirit of the invention.

The body of the gown 12 is desirably formed of a material that is capable of breathing, however, of a liquid-resistant barrier material. The breathing ability of the material increases the comfort of someone wearing such a garment, especially if the garment is worn under conditions of high heat index, vigorous physical activity, or long periods of time. Various suitable woven and nonwoven barrier materials are known and used in the art of garments such as surgical gowns, and all such materials are within the scope of the present invention. Suitable gown material is, for example, a spunblown-melt-bonded laminate joined with spinning as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,464,688, incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, with appropriate chemical treatments to improve liquid repellency and static decay.

The gown 10 includes a skin welfare agent 34 deposited in an area 36 on a surface facing the inner body 35 of a part of the gown. The skin welfare agent 34 is transferred to the user's skin through contact with the inner surface facing the body 35 and provides the user with particular benefits depending on the type of agent. Suitable skin wellness agents 34 will be described in detail below. The skin welfare agent 34 can be provided on the inner surface facing the body 35 of any one or a combination of parts of the gown. For example, in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the agent 34 is deposited in defined areas 36 on the inner surface facing the body 35 of the front of the dressing gown 14. An area 36 can also be defined on one or both sides of the back 16. It should be appreciated that areas 36 of a skin-care agent 34 can be provided on the surface facing the body 35 of any part of the gown where the agent 34 is promptly transferred to the user through generally continuous contact with the user's skin. This part can be a form fitting part 32 in that it is generally comfortable against the wearer's skin.

In a particular incorporation, the shape adjustment part 32 is a part of the sleeves 22, such as the lower part or the forearm 30 defined between the loose fitting part of the upper arm 26 and the cuff, or may include the cuff 28. As described in Figure 1, an area 36 of the skin welfare agent 34 is provided on the inner surface facing the body 35 of the sleeves 22 generally between the elbow and wrist portions of the sleeves 22. The comfort agent of the skin 34 can also be provided on the inner surface facing the body of the cuffs 28.

Figures 3A to 3C illustrate a sleeve incorporation that is particularly useful with the gowns 10 in accordance with the invention. Each sleeve 22 is separately formed from a white material member 42. The material member 42 may be an elastomeric material, as described in detail below. The members of material 42 are cut to define a full sleeve 22 once folded. The sleeves are then coupled to the openings of the sleeve 18 in the body of the gown 12. The white material members 42 include sleeve opening edges 50a and 50b, and side side edges 53a and 53b that define the arm section. upper 26 of the bent sleeve 22. The side edges 44a and 44b form the reduced circumference of the lower arm section 30 of the bent sleeve 22. The angled side edges 48a and 48b form a transition zone between the upper arm section 26 and the lower arm section 30.

Figures 3A and 3B show the skin welfare agent 34 applied on the inner surface facing the body 35 of the lower arm section 30. The agent can also be applied to a part of the transition zone between the arm section upper 26 and lower arm section 30.

Figure 3B illustrates the white material member 42 after it has been bent and the edges 44a / 44b, 48a / 48b, and 53a / 53b sealed along a single generally continuous seam 52 by any suitable sealing technique. The elastomeric cuff 28 is then coupled to the longitudinal end 46, and may also include the skin welfare agent applied to the surface facing the body thereof. With this incorporation, the sleeves are folded along a single line and sealed along a single continuous seam 52.

Figure 3C illustrates the folded and sewn sleeve 22 after it has been inverted in such a way that the skin welfare agent is disposed on the inside of the sleeve 22. The sleeves 22 are then coupled to the sleeve openings 18. in the body of the robe, as understood in art.

Figures 4A to 4C illustrate an alternative embodiment of sleeve. With reference to Figure 4A, the lower arm section 30 of the white material member 42 is defined by the lateral outer edges 44a and 44b, and the opposite inner side edges 44c and 44d, such that the lower arm section 30 is defined by two separate extensions that are joined as indicated in Figure 4B along the first seam 52 and the second seam 54. Figure 4B illustrates the skin welfare agent 34 applied to the. inner surface facing the body 35, and Figure 4C illustrates the sleeve 22 after being inverted and prior to engagement with the sleeve openings 18 in the body of the gown 12.

The skin care agent 34 can be applied by any one or a combination of conventional application techniques. For example, the skin welfare agent 34 can be sprayed or coated by groove on the gown material. Other methods include rotogravure or flexographic printing techniques. The agent can be deposited in a generally uniform coating on the inner surface facing the body 35 of the dressing part, as graphically indicated by the spray pattern of the areas 36 in Figure 1. Alternatively, the agent 34 can be applied to a desired region in discrete localized deposits, such as strips or bands 40 as indicated in Figures 3A and 4A.

The part of the gown 12 containing the skin welfare agent can be rendered shape-fit in several ways. For example, with reference to embodiments where the agent 34 is deposited on the surface facing the body 35 of the sleeves 22, the shape adjustment part 32 can simply be a reduced longitudinal circumference of the sleeve 22 as described above. with respect to Figures 3A-3C and 4A-4C, such as for adjusting comfortably against the user's forearm, compared to the upper arm section 26 which can be relatively loose fitting. The sleeve material can have an inherent degree of extensibility such that the sleeves 22 can be readily applied without breaking the seams of the sleeve.

In an alternative embodiment, the shape adjustment section 32 can be formed of an elastomeric material, and includes for example the cuffs 28. For example, the sleeve material can be completely elastomeric, or only the shape adjustment section 32 can be elastomeric The elastomeric material may desirably be readily formed to the wearer's body and easily put on. Various elastomeric materials are known in the art that can be used for shape fit sections 32. Sections 32 can, for example, be composed of a single layer, multi-layer, laminates, spun-bonded fabrics, films, blown fabrics with fusion, elastic webs, microporous fabric, carded and bonded fabrics, or foams comprising elastomeric or polymeric materials. The elastomeric non-woven laminate fabrics may include a non-woven material bonded to one or more non-woven fabrics, films, or foams. Stretch bonded laminates (SBL), and bonded laminates (NBL) are examples of non-woven elastomeric laminated fabrics. Non-woven fabrics are any fabric of material that has been formed without the use of textile screening processes that produce a structure of individual fibers that are interwoven in a repeated identifiable manner. Examples of suitable materials are meltblown-bonded fabrics, spunblown-melt-spunbonded fabrics, spunbond fabrics, or laminates of such fabrics with films, foams, or other non-woven fabrics. The elastomeric materials may include molded or blown films, foams, or meltblown fabrics, composed of polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyolefin copolymers, as well as combinations thereof. The elastomeric materials can include polyether block amides such as PEBAX® elastomer (available from AtoChem, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), thermoplastic polyurethanes (e.g., both types of polyether-aliphatic and aliphatic polyester), HYTREL® elastomeric copolyester ( available from EI DuPont de Nemours, located in Wilmington, Delaware), KRATON® elastomer (available from Shell Chemical Company, located in Houston, Texas), or LYCRA® elastomer yarns (available from EI DuPont de Nemours, located in Wilmington, Delaware), or similar, as well as combinations thereof. Form fit sections 32 may include materials that have elastomeric properties through a mechanical process, printing process, reheating process, or a chemical process. For example such materials can be perforated, creped, stretched by narrowing, activated by heat, etched, and microtensed; and they can be in the form of films, fabrics or laminates.

In a particular embodiment, the skin care agent 34 can be a lotion formula which can vary widely within the scope and spirit of the invention. Various formulas are widely known and used in the art to provide skin wellness benefits and to target or prevent particular skin disorders or irritation conditions, including pain, itching, cramping, inflammation, and other skin problems. The amount of lotion may vary within the scope of the invention. For example, it may be desired that the lotion formula be present in an added weight of between about 0.5% to about 50% of the weight of the gown material. Although not required in the invention, the lotion formula can be substantially solid at room temperature and therefore have a decreased tendency to penetrate and migrate in the batt material during processing and elevated storage temperatures. It is desired that the formula of the lotion remain substantially on the inner surface facing the body where it can contact and transfer to the user's skin to provide the desired health benefit of the skin.

The lotion deposits may be in addition to a total skin welfare treatment uniformly applied to the gown material. For example, the dressing material can be treated with a surfactant that includes a skin care additive, or a skin care additive can be applied in an additional process. Any of the skin welfare additives described herein with respect to the lotion formula can be applied as a total separate treatment to the material.

The invention is not limited to any particular formula of the lotion. The formula of the lotion may include any combination of emollients, and may also include one or more waxes. A viscosity enhancer can also be included. The formula of the lotion may include other ingredients as well.

An emollient may be desired to act as a lubricant to reduce abrasion of the gown material against the wearer's skin and with transfer to the skin, it helps to maintain the smooth, supple and docile appearance of the skin. Suitable emollients that can be incorporated into the lotion formula include oils such as petroleum-based oils, vegetable-based oils, mineral oils, natural or synthetic oils, silicon oils, lanolin and lanolin derivatives, kaolin, and kaolin derivatives and the like and mixtures thereof; esters such as cetyl palmitate, stearyl palmitate, cetyl stearate, isopropyl laurate, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, and the like and mixtures thereof; glycerol ethers; ether such as eucalyptol, cetearyl glucosite, dimethyl isosorbicide polyglyceryl-3-cetyl ether, polyglyceryl-3-decyltetradecanol, propylene glycol myristyl ether and the like and mixtures thereof; alkoxylated carboxylic acids; alkoxylated alcohols; fatty alcohols such as octyldodecanol, lauryl, myristyl, cetyl, stearyl and venlo alcohol, and the like and mixtures thereof; and for example, a particularly suitable emollient is petrolatum. Other conventional emollients may also be added in a manner that maintains the desired properties of the lotion formulas noted herein.

To provide improved stability and transfer to the user's skin, the lotion formula can include from about 5 to about 95 percent by weight, desirably from about 20 to about 75 percent by weight, and more desirably from about 40 to about 60 percent by weight of the emollient.

The lotion formula may include a wax that primarily functions as an immobilizing agent for the emollient and any active ingredient. In addition to immobilizing the emollient and reducing its tendency to migrate, the wax in the lotion formula provides a tack to the lotion formula that improves transfer to the user's skin. The presence of the wax also modifies the mode of transfer in which the lotion tends to fracture or become flaked instead of actually rubbing on the wearer's skin which can lead to improved transfer to the skin. This wax can also function as an emollient, occlusion agent, humectant, highlight the barrier, and combinations thereof.

Suitable waxes that can be incorporated in the lotion formula include animal, vegetable, mineral or silicon based waxes, which may be natural or synthetic such as, for example, laurel berry wax, beeswax, alkyl dimethicone C30 , candelilla wax, carnauba, ceresin, cetil esteres, esparto, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, hydrogenated jojoba oil, hydrogenated jojoba wax, hydrogenated microcrystalline wax, hydrogenated brown rice wax, Japan wax, jojoba butter, esters of jojoba, jojoba wax, lanolin wax, microcrystalline wax, mink wax, wax of moth acid, wax motano, wax ouricuri, ozokerite, paraffin, beeswax PEG-6, PEG-8 beeswax, prayer wax, brown rice wax, shellac wax, spent grain wax, spermaceti wax, stearyl dimethicone, synthetic beeswax, synthetic candelilla wax, synthetic carnauba wax, wax of synthetic Japan, synthetic jojoba wax, synthetic wax, and the like and mixtures thereof. For example, a particularly suitable wax includes about 70 percent by weight of ceresin wax, of about 10 percent by weight of microcrystalline wax, about 10 percent by weight of paraffin wax, and about 10 percent by weight. of cetil esteres (synthetic spermaceti wax).

To provide the improved transfer to the user's skin, the lotion formula can include from about 5 to about 95 percent by weight, desirably from about 25 to about 75 percent by weight, and more desirably from around from 40 to around 60 percent wax. Lotion formulas that include a quantity of wax less than the amounts recited tend to have lower viscosity which undesirably leads to migration of the lotion. While, lotion formulas that include a greater amount of wax than the recited amounts tend to provide less transfer to the wearer's skin.

A viscosity enhancer can be added to the lotion formula to increase the viscosity to help stabilize the formula on the surface facing the body 35 of the gown material and thereby reduce migration and improve transfer to the skin. Desirably, the viscosity improver increases the viscosity of the lotion formula by at least about 50 percent, more desirably at least about 100 percent, still more desirably by at least about 500 percent, even more desirably by at least about 1000 percent, and even more desirably by at least about 5000 percent. Suitable viscosity improvers that can be incorporated in the lotion formula include polyolefin resins, lipophilic / oil thickeners, vinyl acetate copolymers) ethylene, polyethylene, silicon, talc, colloidal silicon dioxide, zinc stearate, hydroxyethyl cetyl cellulose , and other modified celluloses and the like and mixtures thereof. For example, a particularly suitable viscosity improver is a vinyl acetate / ethylene copolymer, commercially available from E.I. DuPont de Nemours, a business with office in Wilmington, Delaware, under the brand name of ELVAX.

To provide the improved transfer to the user's skin, the lotion formula can include from about 0.1 to about 25 percent by weight, desirably, from about 5 to about 20 percent by weight, and more desirably from about 10 to about 15 weight percent of the viscosity improver for reduced migration and improved transfer to the wearer's skin.

It is desired that the lotion formula treats the skin, may also include an active ingredient such as a skin protector. The skin protectors can be a drug product that protects the affected or exposed skin or the surface of the mucous membrane from harmful or irritating stimuli. Suitable active ingredients, in addition to those mentioned above as suitable emollients, which may be incorporated in the lotion formula include, but are not limited to, allantoin and its derivatives, aluminum hydroxide gel, calamine, cocoa butter, dimethicone, cod liver oil, glycerin, kaolin and its derivatives, lanolin and its derivatives, mineral oil, shark liver oil, talc, topical starch, zinc acetate, zinc carbonate, and zinc oxide, and the like, and mixtures thereof. The lotion formula can include from about 0.10 to about 95 percent by weight of the active ingredient depending on the skin protector and the amount desired to be transferred to the skin.

In order to better highlight the benefits to the user, additional ingredients may be included in the formulas of the lotion of the present invention. For example, the kinds of ingredients that can be used and their corresponding benefits include, without limitation: anti-foaming agents (reduce the tendency to foam during processing); antimicrobial assets; active antifungicides; antiseptic assets; antioxidants (product integrity); astringent-cosmetics (induce a tingling or tingling sensation on the skin); astringent-drug (a drug product that oozes, discharges, or bleeds when applied to the skin or mucous membrane and functions by coagulation protein); biological additives (improves the performance or appearance of the consumer of the product); dyes (imparts color to the product); deodorants (reduces or eliminates unpleasant odor and protects against the formation of bad odor on the surfaces of the body); Other emollients (help maintain the soft, smooth and supple appearance of the skin by its ability to remain on the surface of the skin or in the stratum corneum to act as a lubricant, to reduce the scaling, and to improve the appearance of the skin); external analgesic (a topical drug that has a topical analgesic, anesthetic, or antipruritic effect by suppressing the cutaneous sensory receptors, has an effect against topical irritation by stimulating the cutaneous sensory receptors); skin formers (to hold active ingredients on the skin by producing a continuous film on the skin with drying); fragrance (consumer appearance), silicon / organ modified silicon (protection, fabric water resistance, lubricated, soft tissue), oils (minerals, vegetables and animals); natural wetting agents (NMF), and other skin moisturizing ingredients known in the art; opaque (reduce the clarity or transparent appearance of the product); powders (improve lubrication, oil adsorption, provide protection to the skin, astringency, opacity, etc.); skin conditioning agents; solvents (liquids used to dissolve the components found useful in cosmetics or drugs); and surfactants (such as cleaning agents, emulsifying agents, solubilizing agents, and suspending agent).

It should be appreciated for those skilled in the art that the protective garments in accordance with the invention have wide applications, and that the example and incorporations set forth herein are merely exemplary. It is the intention that the present invention includes such uses and incorporations as come within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

Claims (16)

R E I I N D I C A C I O N S

1 . A protective garment, said garment comprises: a front part, a back part and sleeves; Y an agent for the welfare of the skin deposited on a surface facing the inner body of at least one of said front part, said rear part, or said sleeves, said agent for the welfare of the skin being transferred to the skin of the user through contact with said surface facing the inner body.

2. The protective garment as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the surface facing the inner body corresponds to a part of said protective garment that is in a generally continuous contact with the wearer's skin.

3. The protective garment as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that said part of the protective garment comprises a shape notch part.

4. The protective garment as claimed in clause 3, characterized in that the shape notch part comprises a part of said sleeves.

5. The protective garment as claimed in clause 4, characterized in that said part of said sleeves is a forearm part defined between one end of said sleeves and an elbow part.

6. The protective garment as claimed in clause 5, characterized in that said sleeves comprise an upper arm part of loose notch between said elbow part and a shoulder part of said garment.

7. The protective garment as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that said sleeves comprise a section of upper arm and cuffs at one end thereof; Y said sleeves further comprise a notch section of shape defined below said upper arm section, said shaped notch section comprising a reduced circumference such as to form a notch for a user forearm, said shaped notch section defining said notched surface face to the inner body; and the skin welfare agent deposited on an inner circumferential surface of said shaped notch section, said skin welfare agent being transferred to the user's skin through contact with said shaped notch section.

8. The protective garment as claimed in clause 7, characterized in that said upper arm section comprises a circumference so as to have a loose notch on the user.

9. The protective garment as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that said sleeves are formed of section members folded with a single seam along said folded section member.

10. The protective garment as claimed in any one of clauses 3 to 9, characterized in that said sleeves are formed of section members folded with two seams along said section or shaped notch part.

11. The protective garment as claimed in any one of clauses 7 to 10, characterized in that said skin welfare agent is applied to said sleeves below said upper arm section and includes said cuffs.

12. The protective garment as claimed in any one of clauses 4 to 11, characterized in that at least one section or part. Shaped notch of said sleeves is formed of an elastomeric material.

13. The protective garment as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that said skin welfare agent is deposited as a generally uniform coating on said surface facing the inner body or is deposited at discrete locations on said surface, facing the inner body.

14. The protective garment as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that said skin welfare agent comprises any one or combination of agents selected from the group consisting of a lotion formula, an emollient, a wax and a protector of the skin.

15. The "protective garment such and" as claimed in any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that said surface facing the inner body is formed of an elastomeric material that is generally shaped to a part of the user's body.

16. The protective garment as claimed in clause 15, characterized in that said surface facing the inner body is defined within a notch portion of said sleeves. SUMMARY A protective garment such as a surgical suit includes a front, a back and sleeves. An agent for the welfare of the skin is deposited on a surface facing the inner body of at least one of the front, the back, and the sleeves and can also be provided in the cuffs of sleeves. The skin welfare agent is transferred to the skin of the wearer through contact with the surface facing the inner body of the garment.