Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Corporation

Kimberley-clark Corporation

Avent, Inc.

Michael P Mathis

John Anthony Rotella

Uyles Woodrow Bowen, Jr

John Joseph Lassig

Joy Francine Jordan

Renette E Richard

Vicky S Polashock

Steve Wayne Fitting

David William Koenig

Ali Yahiaoui

Ann Louise McCormack

Phillip A Schorr

Eric Clayton Steindorf

Ajay Yashvantrao Houde

Michael David Powers

John Joseph Sayovitz

Douglas Robert Hoffman

Henry L Griesbach

Timothy Wilson Reader

Vivian Gray

Daniel Kenneth Schiffer

Corrine A Sukiennik

Brian Eric Lin

Leonard E Duello

William G Reeves

Kenneth J Mitchell

Angela Dobson

Anthony Steve Spencer

Brian Lin

Uyles Woodrow Bowen

A protective garment, such as a surgical gown, includes a garment body defining sleeves. A cuff may be secured at respective ends of the sleeves. A circumferentially extending coating is disposed on the sleeves beginning at the sleeve or cuff. The coating has a high friction surface such that an end of a glove pulled over the coating is inhibited from rolling or sliding back over the coating and down the sleeve. The coating may be formed of a low-tack surface modifier and may include a dye or colorant that may be used to indicate the fluid protection level of, for example, a surgical gown.

Surgical sleeve for glove retention

A protective garment, such as a surgical gown, includes a garment body defining sleeves. A cuff may be secured at respective ends of the sleeves. An elastic fiber layer is disposed on the sleeves beginning at the sleeve or cuff. The elastic fiber layer has a high friction surface such that an end of a glove pulled over the elastic fiber layer is inhibited from rolling or sliding back over the elastic fiber and down the sleeve. The elastic fiber may be formed of a polyolefin or other polymers according to known processes and may include a dye or colorant that may be used to indicate the fluid protection level of, for example, a surgical gown.

Surgical gown with elastomeric fibrous sleeves

A face mask for reducing the amount of microbes to which a wearer is exposed is provided. The face mask includes a body portion that has an outer layer that has been treated with a germicidal agent in an effective amount. The layer may be a nonwoven fabric like a spunbond, meltblown or coform layer and may be a laminate of such layers. The face mask having such a germicidal treatment can result in a reduction in microbial activity as compared to another face mask, identical but for the germicidal agent.

Germicidal face mask

A three-piece surgical drape with fluid diverting channel or sleeve therein and method of making or assembling the same. The drape generally including a first liquid impermeable section attached at either end thereof to second and third sections of the drape, respectively. At least a portion of one end of the first section of the drape folded back upon itself and intermittently tacked or bonded to the first section to create a channel or sleeve adapted to divert fluids. The channel or sleeve may also have a tube or hose placed therein to facilitate or enhance fluid diversion through the channel or fluid removal therefrom.

Three piece drape with fluid diversion capabilities

A breathable barrier film laminate having a microporous multilayer film formed by extruding a polymer loaded with a filler having a particle size suitable for pore formation, hot blowing the extruded film, forming a hot blown film bubble, collapsing the hot blown film bubble, forming a multilayer film and stretching the multilayer film, forming a plurality of micropores, and a nonwoven web material layer bonded to at least one surface of the microporous multilayer film. The breathable barrier film laminate is particularly suitable for use in protective apparel such as surgical gowns, surgical drapes, and coveralls.

Enhanced barrier film and laminate and method for producing same

The present invention is directed to cloth-like, liquid-impervious, breathable composite barrier fabrics. More particularly, the present invention is directed to cloth-like, liquid-impervious, breathable film-nonwoven composite fabrics having biological liquid barrier capabilities for use as, for example, sterilization wrap, surgical draping, surgical gowns, cover garments, such as over-suits, and the like.

Cloth-like, liquid-impervious, breathable composite barrier fabric

The present invention is directed to novel absorbent surgical drapes containing at least one hydrophilic meltspun fabric layer and a liquid impervious film layer. The meltspun fabric layer may include at least one spunbonded fabric, meltblown fabric or other nonwoven fabric that is made hydrophilic. The filaments or microfibers of the spunbonded or meltblown fabrics may contain a hydrophilic additive in or on the filaments or microfibers. In one embodiment, the film of the surgical drape is breathable. In another embodiment, the film of the surgical drape has anti-slip properties, due to the inherent properties of the film or to a pattern coating of latex or hot melt adhesive on an exposed surface of the film.

Absorbent surgical drape

A conformable face mask for health care workers is provided. The use of elastomeric materials applied under tension helps define a plurality of gathers which facilitate the donning and positioning of the mask. An elastomeric headband maintains a comfortable and efficient seal while a similar elastomeric chin strap helps provides a pouch-like enclosure for the wearer's chin. The substantially rectangular face mask includes a plurality of horizontal stays which are individually adjustable to create a three dimensional shaped mask which defines a spaced breathing area around the wearer's nose and mouth. Additional rigidity is provided by the selected melting of horizontal bands of the filter portion of the mask.

Universal fit face mask

An elastic laminate, and particularly a liquid impermeable elastic laminate, having a stretchable layer secured to an elastic liquid impermeable film wherein the film is formed from an elastic self-adhering adhesive is disclosed. The disclosed elastic laminate may be incorporated in a variety of products, such as diapers, feminine care articles, stockinettes, cuffs, and garments, such as surgical gowns.

Surgical gown cuff and method for making the same

Improved treatment, composition and method of obtaining a naturally hydrophobic nonwoven web with desired conductivity and/or water repellency, and alcohol repellency. To obtain conductivity, the web is contacted with a composition containing an oxygen or nitrogen rich compound such as ethers, acids or alcohols and especially polymers thereof such as polyethers, and polyacids having an affinity for the substrate. In a further preferred embodiment alcohol repellency is obtained by subsequent or simultaneous contact of the treated web under appropriate pH conditions with a fluorocarbon-containing composition. The result is a conductive material satisfying anti-static requirements for surgical room use and still maintaining desirable water and alcohol repellent properties. Preferred embodiments include treatment with compounds having both moieties as part of the molecule producing a combination of both desired effects. Materials produced in accordance with the invention find applications where ever it is necessary that conductivity eliminate static and that water repellency be achieved. In particular, the materials are useful for surgical applications as gowns, drapes, and the like. Specific examples of treatment compositions include sulfonated polystyrene as a polyacid and ethylene oxide condensates as polyethers, for example. For repellency of fluids having lower surface tension than water, certain fluorocarbons or silicones may be used.

Method of making conductive, water and/or alcohol repellent nonwoven

Improved method of forming bonded web laminates by application of a liquid spray between the component layers prior to application of high frequency vibrational energy commonly referred to as 'ultrasonic energy'. The liquid is preferably water and added in a minor amount, preferably less than about 25% by weight of the combined webs. The water may be added by spraying or misting and, after bonding and drying, provides improved uniformity and web bonding while allowing increased bonding rates. The method of the invention is particularly useful with heavier basis weight thermoplastic polymeric nonwoven fiber webs to be combined for durable applications such as recreational fabrics for tents and the like.

Method of ultrasonically bonding nonwoven webs

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Marietta, GA, United States of America

Michael P Mathis