Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PERSONAL PROTECTION SYSTEM INCLUDING MEDICAL GARMENT
WITH A SHIELD
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Application 16/528,018, filed
on July 31, 2019,
which is a continuation in part of U.S. Application 16/257,668, filed on
January 25, 2019, and
further claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 62/897,954, filed on
September 9, 2019,
and U.S. Provisional Application 62/906,330, filed on September 26, 2019, all
of which are
incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Personal protection systems are used in surgical procedures to provide
a sterile barrier
between the surgical personnel and the patient. Specifically, the traditional
system includes a
helmet that supports a toga or a hood. This system is worn by medical/surgical
personnel that want
to establish the sterile barrier. The toga or the hood may include a
transparent face shield. The
helmet includes a ventilation unit that includes a fan. The ventilation unit
draws air through the
toga/hood so the air is circulated around the wearer. This reduces both the
amount of heat that is
trapped within the toga/hood and the amount of CO2 that builds up in this
space. It is further known
to mount a light to the helmet, which may be directed to illuminate the
surgical site.
[0003] Conventional togas or hoods have been configured to be removably
coupled to the
helmet. This allows the toga/hood to be removed from the helmet following a
surgical procedure
and to be disposed of Prior designs of the togas and hoods have included hooks
and/or generic
fasteners for coupling the toga/hood to the helmet. Therefore, a medical
garment including an
improved fastener for coupling the medical garment to a helmet could improve
the performance
of the personal protection system.
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SUMMARY
[0004] The present disclosure relates generally to a medical garment. The
medical garment
comprises an assembly including a shield that may be configured for attachment
to a surgical
helmet, wherein the medical garment including a shield can be employed to
provide a barrier
between an individual wearing the system and the surrounding environment.
[0005] An exemplary configuration provides a medical garment comprising a
shell configured
for attachment to the surgical helmet, wherein the shell includes an
attachment member that may
be integral with the shell and configured to removably couple the shell to the
surgical helmet. The
attachment member may be configured to removably couple to the surgical helmet
on a wearer
side of a microbial barrier created by the shell. The surgical helmet may
comprise a helmet coupler
assembly configured to matingly engage the attachment member to removably
couple the shell to
the surgical helmet. The helmet coupler assembly may further comprise a
moveable member
configured to selectively engage a detector based, at least in part, on the
position of the shell
relative to the surgical helmet. The switch may be communicatively connected
to a controller
configured to control an operational characteristic of a peripheral device of
the surgical helmet.
[0006] In another exemplary configuration, a medical garment may comprise a
shell configured
to provide a microbial barrier between a medical environment and a wearer. The
shell may be
configured to be disposed over a surgical helmet including a hook at least
partially disposed within
an alignment channel, and a chin bar. The chin bar may include at least two
magnetic coupling
members. The shell may comprise a first material configured to be at least
partially disposed over
the surgical helmet. The first material may comprise an opening, said opening
configured to be
positioned in front of the wearer's face when disposed over the surgical
helmet. The shell may
further comprise a transparent face shield disposed within said opening of the
first material. The
transparent face shield may comprise a first surface and an opposing second
surface, an upper
portion and a lower portion, and a first aperture in the transparent face
shield configured to
removably engage the protrusion of the surgical helmet to align the first
material relative to the
surgical helmet. The shell may further comprise a first attachment element and
a second attachment
element, wherein the first and second attachment elements may be secured to
the lower portion of
the transparent face shield on opposing lateral sides of the first aperture.
Each of the first and
second attachment elements may comprise a retention feature configured to
secure the first and
second attachment elements to the transparent face shield. At least one of the
first and second
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attachment elements may comprise a ferromagnetic material, wherein at least
one of the first and
second attachment elements define a recess on the wearer side of the microbial
barrier, and are
each configured to removably engage one of the magnetic coupling members on
the surgical
helmet.
[0007] In yet another exemplary configuration, a medical garment may comprise
a shell
configured to provide a microbial barrier between a medical environment and a
wearer. The shell
may be configured to be disposed over a surgical helmet including at least two
magnetic coupling
members. The shell may comprise a first material configured to be at least
partially disposed over
the surgical helmet. The first material may comprise an opening. The shell may
further comprise
a transparent face shield disposed within the opening of the first material.
The transparent face
shield may comprise a first surface and an opposing second surface, an upper
portion and a lower
portion, and a first coupler disposed on wearer side of said first material to
removably engage the
surgical helmet. The shell may also comprise a first attachment element and a
second attachment
element. The first and second attachment elements may be secured to the lower
portion of the
transparent face shield. Each of the first and second attachment elements may
also comprise a
retention feature configured to secure the first and second attachment
elements to the transparent
face shield. At least one of the first and second attachment elements may
comprise a ferromagnetic
material and define a recess on said wearer side of said microbial barrier.
The recess may be
configured to removably engage the magnetic coupling member(s) on the surgical
helmet.
[0008] In yet another exemplary configuration, a medical garment may comprise
a shell
configured to provide a microbial barrier between a medical environment and a
wearer. The shell
may be configured to be disposed over a surgical helmet including at least two
magnetic coupling
members. The shell may comprise a first material configured to be at least
partially disposed over
the surgical helmet. The first material may comprise an opening. The shell may
further comprise
a transparent face shield disposed within the opening of the first material.
The transparent face
shield may comprise an upper portion and a lower portion. The shell may
further comprise a first
coupler disposed on wearer side of said first material configured to removably
engage the surgical
helmet. The shell may also comprise a first attachment element and/or a second
attachment
element. The first and second attachment elements may be secured to the lower
portion of the
transparent face shield. Each of the first and second attachment elements may
comprise a head
including a distal surface and a proximal surface. Each of the first and
second attachment elements
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may also comprise a post extending from said distal surface of the head. The
post may comprise a
distal portion and a proximal portion, wherein the proximal portion is
configured to abut the distal
surface of the head. The proximal portion may comprise a first dimension and
the distal portion
may comprise a second dimension, wherein the first dimension is greater than
said second
dimension. The head of each of the first and second attachment elements may
further comprise a
ferromagnetic material and said proximal surface of each head may be
configured to removably
engage one of the magnetic coupling members on the surgical helmet.
[0009] In yet another exemplary configuration, a protective apparel system
configured for use
with a helmet may provide a barrier between an environment and a wearer. The
helmet may include
a protrusion at least partially disposed within an alignment channel, and a
chin bar. The chin bar
may include at least two magnetic coupling members. The protective apparel
system may further
comprise a medical garment including a shell configured to be at least
partially disposed over the
helmet. The shell may comprise an opening configured to be positioned forward
of the wearer's
face when at least partially disposed over the helmet. The medical garment may
also comprise a
transparent face shield disposed within the opening of the shell. The
transparent face shield may
comprise an upper portion and a lower portion. The medical garment may further
comprise a tab
on the wearer side of the shell, wherein the tab comprises outer edges for
aligning the shell relative
to the helmet via the alignment channel of the helmet. The tab may comprise a
first aperture
configured to removably engage the protrusion of the helmet to align said
shell relative to the
helmet. The medical garment may further comprise a first attachment element
and a second
attachment element, the first and second attachment elements being secured to
the lower portion
of the transparent face shield on opposing lateral sides of the first
aperture. At least one of the first
and second attachment elements comprise a ferromagnetic material, and define a
coupling recess
on said wearer side of said barrier. The first and second attachment elements
and/or the coupling
recess are configured to removably engage the magnetic coupling members on the
helmet.
[0010] In yet another exemplary configuration, a protective apparel system
configured for use
with a helmet may provide a barrier between an environment and a wearer. The
helmet may include
a protrusion at least partially disposed within an alignment channel, and a
chin bar. The chin bar
may include at least two magnetic coupling members. The protective apparel
system may comprise
a medical garment including a shell configured to be at least partially
disposed over the helmet.
The shell may comprise an opening configured to be positioned forward of the
wearer's face when
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at least partially disposed over the helmet. The protective apparel system may
further comprise a
transparent face shield disposed within the opening of the shell. The
transparent face shield may
comprise a first surface and an opposing second surface, and an upper portion
and a lower portion.
The protective apparel system may further comprise a tab on the wearer side of
said shell, the tab
having outer edges for aligning the shell relative to the helmet via the
alignment channel of the
helmet. The protective apparel system may further comprise a first aperture at
least partially
formed in said tab and configured to removably engage the protrusion of the
helmet to align the
shell relative to the helmet. The protective apparel system may further
comprise a first attachment
element and a second attachment element, the first and second attachment
elements being secured
to said lower portion of said transparent face shield on opposing lateral
sides of said first aperture
of the tab. Each of the first and second attachment elements may comprise a
retention feature, the
retention feature being positioned closer to the second surface of the
transparent face shield than
the first surface. The first and second attachment elements may comprise a
ferromagnetic material
and define a respective coupling recess on said wearer side of said barrier.
First and second
attachment elements and/or the coupling recess are configured to removably
engage the magnetic
coupling members on the helmet.
[0011] In yet another exemplary configuration, a surgical garment assembly may
be configured
for use with a surgical helmet comprising a magnetic coupling member disposed
in a recess and a
detector spaced from the coupling member. The surgical garment assembly may be
configured to
be at least partially disposed over the surgical helmet to provide a microbial
barrier between the
user and a medical environment. The surgical garment assembly may comprise a
surgical fabric
defining an opening and a transparent face shield disposed within the opening.
The transparent
face shield may comprise an upper portion, a lower portion, a first surface
and an opposing second
surface. The surgical garment assembly may also comprise a first attachment
element coupled to
the lower portion of the transparent face shield. The first attachment element
may comprise a
ferromagnetic material. The first attachment element may define a proximal
surface facing away
from the transparent face shield, wherein the proximal surface may include a
first point that lies
on a longitudinal axis of the first attachment element and may define a first
distance from the first
surface of the transparent face shield. The proximal surface may also include
a second point that
may define a second distance from the first surface of the transparent face
shield. The second point
on the proximal surface may be spaced apart from the first point on the
proximal surface, wherein
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the proximal surface is shaped such that the first distance is less than the
second distance. The first
attachment element may be configured to removably engage the coupling member
on the surgical
helmet and trigger the detector when the first attachment element is coupled
to the coupling
member.
[0012] In yet another exemplary configuration, a surgical garment assembly may
be configured
for use with a surgical helmet comprising a coupling member disposed in a
recess and a hall-effect
sensor spaced apart from the coupling member. The surgical garment assembly
may be configured
to be at least partially disposed over the surgical helmet and configured to
provide a microbial
barrier between the user and a medical environment. The surgical garment
assembly may comprise
a surgical fabric defining an opening and a transparent face shield disposed
within the opening.
The transparent face shield may comprise an upper portion, a lower portion, a
first surface and an
opposing second surface. The surgical garment assembly may also comprise a
first attachment
element coupled to the lower portion of the transparent face shield. The first
attachment element
may define a proximal surface facing away from the transparent face shield. A
first axis of the first
attachment element may intersect the proximal surface. The proximal surface
may be shaped such
that a first point on the proximal surface that lies on the first axis defines
a first distance from the
first surface of the transparent face shield. A second point on the proximal
surface may define a
second distance from the first surface of the transparent face shield, wherein
the second point on
the proximal surface is spaced apart from the first point on the proximal
surface, and the first
distance is less than the second distance. The first attachment element may
comprise a
ferromagnetic material, wherein the first attachment element is configured to
removably engage
the coupling member on the surgical helmet.
[0013] In yet another exemplary configuration, a surgical garment assembly may
be configured
for use with a surgical helmet comprising a coupling member disposed in a
recess and a hall-effect
sensor spaced apart from the coupling member. The surgical garment assembly
may be configured
to be at least partially disposed over the surgical helmet and to provide a
microbial barrier between
the user and a medical environment. The surgical garment assembly may comprise
a surgical fabric
defining an opening and a transparent face shield disposed within the opening.
The transparent
face shield may comprise an upper portion, a lower portion, a first surface
and an opposing second
surface. The surgical garment assembly may also comprise a first attachment
element coupled to
said lower portion of the transparent face shield. The first attachment
element may define a
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proximal surface facing away from the transparent face shield. The proximal
surface may be
shaped such that a first point on the proximal surface may define a first
distance from the first
surface of the transparent face shield. A second point on the proximal surface
may define a second
distance from the first surface of the transparent face shield. The proximal
surface may be shaped
such that the second point on the proximal surface may be spaced apart from
the first point on the
proximal surface, and the first distance is less than the second distance. The
first attachment
element may comprise a ferromagnetic material and may be configured to
removably engage the
coupling member on the surgical helmet.
[0014] In yet another exemplary configuration, a surgical garment assembly may
be configured
for use with a surgical helmet comprising a coupling member disposed in a
recess and a detector
spaced from the coupling member. The surgical garment assembly may be
configured to be at least
partially disposed over the surgical helmet and to provide a microbial barrier
between the user and
a medical environment. The surgical garment assembly may comprise a surgical
fabric defining
an opening and a transparent face shield disposed within the opening. The
transparent face shield
may comprise an upper portion, a lower portion, a first surface and an
opposing second surface.
The surgical garment assembly may also comprise a first attachment element
comprising a head,
the head comprising a ferromagnetic material and defining a proximal surface
facing away from
the transparent face shield. The proximal surface may be shaped such that a
first portion of the
proximal surface extends a first distance from the first surface of the
transparent face shield, and a
second portion of the proximal surface defines a second distance from the
first surface of the
transparent face shield. The proximal surface may be shaped such that the
first distance is less than
said second distance. The first attachment element may be configured to
removably engage the
coupling member on the surgical helmet.
[0015] In yet another exemplary configuration, a surgical garment assembly may
be configured
for use with a surgical helmet comprising a coupling member disposed in a
recess and a detector
spaced from the coupling member. The surgical garment assembly may be
configured to be at
least partially disposed over the surgical helmet and to provide a microbial
barrier between the
user and a medical environment. The surgical garment assembly may comprise a
surgical fabric
defining an opening and a transparent face shield disposed within the opening.
The transparent
face shield may comprise a first surface and an opposing second surface, and
may be bisected by
a midline. The surgical garment assembly may also comprise a first attachment
element coupled
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to the transparent face shield. The first attachment element may comprise a
head defining a
proximal surface. A first point on the proximal surface that lies on an axis
of the first attachment
element may define a first distance from the first surface of the transparent
face shield. A second
point on the proximal surface may define a second distance from the first
surface of the transparent
face shield. The second point on said proximal surface may be spaced apart
from the first point on
the proximal surface, and the proximal surface may be shaped such that the
first distance is less
than the second distance. The first attachment element may be oriented
relative to the transparent
face shield such that the second point on the proximal surface is positioned
farther away from the
midline of the transparent face shield than the first point on the proximal
surface.
[0016] In yet another exemplary configuration, a surgical garment assembly may
be configured
for use with a surgical helmet comprising a coupling member disposed in a
recess and a detector
spaced from the coupling member. The surgical garment assembly may be
configured to be at least
partially disposed over the surgical helmet and configured to provide a
microbial barrier between
the user and a medical environment. The surgical garment assembly may comprise
a surgical fabric
defining an opening and a transparent face shield disposed within the opening.
The transparent
face shield may comprise a first surface and an opposing second surface, and
may be bisected by
a midline. A first attachment element may be coupled to the transparent face
shield. The first
attachment element may comprise a head defining a proximal surface and an
opposing distal
surface. A first point on the proximal surface that lies on an axis of the
first attachment element
may define a first distance from the first surface of the transparent face
shield. A second point on
the proximal surface may define a second distance from the first surface of
the transparent face
shield. The second point on said proximal surface may be spaced apart from the
first point on the
proximal surface, and the proximal surface may be shaped such that the first
distance is less than
the second distance. The transparent face shield and said first attachment
element may also
comprise complementary features configured to prevent said first attachment
element from
rotating relative to the transparent face shield. The first attachment element
may be oriented such
that the second point on the proximal surface is positioned farther away from
the midline of the
transparent face shield than the first point on the proximal surface.
[0017] The surgical garment assembly may be configured such that the
complementary features
of the transparent face shield and the first attachment element may comprise
an aperture in a lower
portion of the transparent face shield and a post extending from the distal
surface of the head. The
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aperture may have a first shape that extends between the first surface and the
second surface. The
post may comprise a complementary shape to the first shape and may be
configured to prevent the
post from rotating within the aperture.
[0018] In yet another exemplary configuration, a surgical garment assembly may
be configured
for use with a surgical helmet comprising a coupling member disposed in a
recess and a detector
spaced from the coupling member. The surgical garment assembly may be
configured to be at least
partially disposed over the surgical helmet and to provide a microbial barrier
between the user and
a medical environment. The surgical garment assembly may comprise a surgical
fabric defining
an opening and a transparent face shield disposed within the opening. The
transparent face shield
may comprise a first surface and an opposing second surface, and may be
bisected by a midline.
A first attachment element may be coupled to the transparent face shield. The
first attachment
element may comprise a head defining a proximal surface and an opposing distal
surface. The
surgical garment assembly may also comprise a means to prevent the rotation of
the first
attachment element relative to the transparent face shield. A first point on
the proximal surface
that lies on an axis of the first attachment element may define a first
distance from the first surface
of the transparent face shield. A second point on the proximal surface may
define a second distance
from the first surface of the transparent face shield. The second point on the
proximal surface may
be spaced apart from the first point on the proximal surface, and the proximal
surface may be
shaped such that the first distance is less than the second distance. The
first attachment element
may be oriented such that the second point on the proximal surface is
positioned farther away from
the midline of the transparent face shield than the first point on the
proximal surface.
[0019] The surgical garment assembly may be configured such that means to
prevent the rotation
of the first attachment element relative to the transparent face shield may
comprise an aperture that
extends between said first surface and said second surface, and a post
extending distally from said
distal surface of said head. The post may be at least partially disposed
within the aperture, and the
post and the aperture may comprise complementary features that prevent the
rotation of the post
within the aperture.
[0020] In yet another exemplary configuration, a method of making a surgical
garment assembly
for use with a surgical helmet may comprise providing a fabric suitable to
provide a microbial
barrier, the fabric defining an opening, and the fabric shaped to encompass at
least a portion of a
wearer's head, the fabric defining an environment side and a wearer side. The
method may also
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comprise providing a transparent face shield including an upper portion and an
opposing lower
portion. The method may further comprise forming a recess in a proximal
surface of a head of a
ferromagnetic attachment element. The method may also comprise attaching the
ferromagnetic
attachment element to the transparent face shield. The method may also
comprise coupling the
transparent face shield to the fabric such that the proximal surface of the
ferromagnetic attachment
element is positioned on the wearer side of the fabric.
[0021] In yet another exemplary configuration, a method of reusing a feature
of a surgical
garment may comprise obtaining a surgical garment that has been used, the
surgical garment
including a surgical fabric defining an opening and a transparent face shield
disposed within the
opening. The transparent face shield may comprise an upper portion, a lower
portion, a first surface
and an opposing second surface. The method may further comprise a first
attachment element
secured to said lower portion of said transparent face shield, wherein the
first attachment element
may comprise a ferromagnetic material and may define a coupling recess on the
wearer side of
said surgical garment. The first attachment element may be configured to
removably engage the
magnetic coupling member on the helmet. The first attachment element may
further comprise a
head comprising a distal surface and a proximal surface, and a post extending
distally from the
distal surface of the head. The coupling recess may be formed in said proximal
surface of the
head. The method may also comprise disengaging the first attachment element
from the transparent
face shield. The method may further comprise discarding the surgical garment
and the transparent
face shield. The method may also comprise cleaning and/or sterilizing the
first attachment element.
The method may also comprise coupling the cleaned or sterilized first
attachment element to a new
surgical garment having a new face shield such that, in subsequent use of the
new surgical garment,
the cleaned or sterilized first attachment element may be utilized to couple
the new surgical
garment to a helmet.
[0022] In yet another exemplary configuration, a surgical garment assembly may
be configured
for use with a surgical helmet comprising at least one coupling member. The
surgical garment
assembly may comprise a surgical fabric defining an opening and a transparent
face shield
disposed within the opening. The transparent face shield may comprise a first
surface and an
opposing second surface. A first attachment element may be coupled to the
transparent face shield,
the first attachment element comprising a proximal surface. An adapter member
may be configured
to removably couple with the first attachment element. The adapter member may
comprise a
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proximal surface and an opposing distal surface. The adapter member may
comprise a first point
on the proximal surface of the adapter member and a second point on the
proximal surface of the
adapter member. The second point on the proximal surface of the adapter member
may be spaced
apart from the first point on the proximal surface on the adapter member. The
distal surface of
said adapter member may be configured to removably engage the proximal surface
of the first
attachment element. The first point on the proximal surface of the adapter
member may define a
first distance from the first surface of the transparent face shield when the
adapter member is
coupled to the first attachment element. The second point on the proximal
surface of the adapter
member may define a second distance from the first surface of the transparent
face shield when
the adapter member is coupled to the first attachment element. The proximal
surface of the adapter
member may be shaped such that the first distance is less than the second
distance from the first
surface of the transparent face shield.
[0023] In yet another exemplary configuration, a method of coupling a surgical
garment
including a first attachment element to a surgical helmet including a first
coupling member may
comprise providing an adapter member. The adapter member may comprise a
proximal surface
and an opposing distal surface. The adapter member may also comprise a first
point on the
proximal surface of the adapter member and a second point on the proximal
surface of the adapter
member. The second point on the proximal surface of the adapter member may be
spaced apart
from the first point on the proximal surface of the adapter member. The first
point on the proximal
surface of the adapter member may define a first distance from the first
surface of the transparent
face shield when the adapter member is coupled to the first attachment
element. The second point
on the proximal surface of the adapter member may define a second distance
from the first surface
of the transparent face shield when the adapter member is coupled to the first
attachment element.
The method may also comprise removably coupling the adapter member to the
first coupling
member of the surgical helmet. The method may further comprise removably
coupling the adapter
member to the first attachment element of the surgical garment.
[0024] In yet another exemplary configuration, a surgical garment assembly may
be configured
for use with a surgical helmet comprising a magnetic coupling member disposed
in a recess and a
hall-effect sensor spaced from the coupling member. The surgical garment
assembly may be
configured to be at least partially disposed over the surgical helmet to
provide a microbial barrier
between the user and a medical environment. The surgical garment assembly may
comprise a
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surgical fabric defining an opening and a transparent face shield disposed
within the opening. The
transparent face shield may comprise an upper portion, a lower portion, a
first surface and an
opposing second surface. A first attachment element may be coupled to the
lower portion of the
transparent face shield. The first attachment element may comprise a
cylindrical head including a
distal end and an opposing proximal end. The proximal end may define a
proximal surface facing
away from the transparent face shield. The proximal surface may include a
first portion angularly
extending in a proximal direction from a medial plane of the cylindrical head
to a first edge. A
second portion may angularly extend in the proximal direction from the medial
plane of the
cylindrical head to a second edge. The cylindrical head comprises a
ferromagnetic material, and
the first attachment element may be configured to removably engage the
coupling member on the
surgical helmet and trigger the hall-effect sensor when the first attachment
element is coupled to
the coupling member.
[0025] In yet another exemplary configuration, a surgical garment assembly may
be configured
for use with a surgical helmet comprising a magnetic coupling member disposed
in a recess and a
hall-effect sensor spaced from the coupling member. The surgical garment
assembly may be
configured to be at least partially disposed over the surgical helmet to
provide a microbial barrier
between the user and a medical environment. The surgical garment assembly may
comprise a
surgical fabric defining an opening and a transparent face shield disposed
within the opening. The
transparent face shield may comprise an upper portion, a lower portion, a
first surface and an
opposing second surface. A first attachment element may be coupled to said
lower portion of said
transparent face shield. The first attachment element may comprise a
cylindrical head including a
distal end and an opposing proximal end. The proximal end may define a
proximal surface facing
away from the transparent face shield. The proximal surface may include a
planar surface (portion)
with a first side and a second side. A first face (portion) may angularly
extend in a proximal
direction from the first side of the planar surface to a first edge. A second
face (portion) may
angularly extend in the proximal direction from the second side of the planar
surface to a second
edge. The planar surface may be perpendicular to a longitudinal axis. The
cylindrical head may
comprise a ferromagnetic material, and the first attachment element may be
configured to
removably engage the coupling member on the surgical helmet and trigger the
hall-effect sensor
when the first attachment element is coupled to the coupling member.
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[0026] In yet another exemplary configuration, a surgical garment assembly may
be configured
for use with a surgical helmet comprising a magnetic coupling member disposed
in a recess and a
hall-effect sensor spaced from the coupling member. The surgical garment
assembly may be
configured to be at least partially disposed over the surgical helmet to
provide a microbial barrier
between the user and a medical environment. The surgical garment assembly may
comprise a
surgical fabric defining an opening and a transparent face shield disposed
within the opening. The
transparent face shield may comprise an upper portion, a lower portion, a
first surface and an
opposing second surface. A first attachment element may be coupled to said
lower portion of said
transparent face shield. The first attachment element may comprise a
cylindrical head including a
distal end with a distal surface and a proximal end with a proximal surface.
The proximal surface
may angularly extend in a proximal direction from a first edge of the
cylindrical head to a second
edge of the cylindrical head. The first attachment element may be configured
to removably engage
the coupling member on the surgical helmet and trigger the hall-effect sensor
when said first
attachment element is coupled to the coupling member.
[0027] In yet another exemplary configuration, a surgical garment assembly may
be configured
for use with a surgical helmet comprising a magnetic coupling member disposed
in a recess and a
hall-effect sensor spaced from the coupling member. The surgical garment
assembly may be
configured to be at least partially disposed over the surgical helmet to
provide a microbial barrier
between the user and a medical environment. The surgical garment assembly may
comprise a
surgical fabric defining an opening and a transparent face shield disposed
within the opening. The
transparent face shield may comprise an upper portion, a lower portion, a
first surface and an
opposing second surface. A first attachment element may be coupled to said
lower portion of said
transparent face shield. The first attachment element may comprise a
cylindrical head including a
bore, the bore extending along a longitudinal axis between a distal end and a
proximal end. The
cylindrical head may comprise a ferromagnetic material, and the first
attachment element may be
configured to removably engage the coupling member on the surgical helmet and
trigger the hall-
effect sensor when the first attachment element is coupled to the coupling
member.
[0028] In yet another exemplary configuration, a surgical garment assembly may
be configured
for use with a surgical helmet comprising a magnetic coupling member disposed
in a recess and a
hall-effect sensor spaced from the coupling member. The surgical garment
assembly may be
configured to be at least partially disposed over the surgical helmet to
provide a microbial barrier
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between the user and a medical environment. The surgical garment assembly may
comprise a
surgical fabric defining an opening and a transparent face shield disposed
within the opening. The
transparent face shield may comprise an upper portion, a lower portion, a
first surface and an
opposing second surface. A first attachment element may be coupled to said
lower portion of said
transparent face shield. The first attachment element may comprise a
cylindrical head including a
bore, the bore extending along a longitudinal axis between a closed distal end
and an open proximal
end. The bore may include a mouth, and the mouth may taper circumferentially
from the open
proximal end towards a center of the bore. The cylindrical head may comprise a
ferromagnetic
material, and may be configured to removably engage the coupling member on the
surgical helmet
and trigger the hall-effect sensor when the first attachment element is
coupled to the coupling
member.
[0029] In yet another exemplary configuration, a surgical apparel system may
comprise a
surgical helmet. The surgical helmet may comprise a shell, a ventilation
assembly coupled to the
shell, and a power source coupler coupled to the shell. The power source may
be configured to be
in electrical communication with the ventilation assembly. The power source
coupler may
comprise a post. The system may further comprise a power source comprising a
battery, a wiring
harness extending from the battery, and a plug coupled to the wiring harness
opposite the battery.
The plug may be configured to removably engage the power source coupler of the
surgical helmet
to power the ventilation assembly. The post and the plug may each be free from
a key and a keyway
such that the post and the plug are coupleable in any radial orientation. The
post and the plug may
also comprise complementary retention features that allow the plug to be
rotated about the post
without breaking the electrical connection.
[0030] In yet another exemplary configuration, a surgical apparel system may
comprise a
surgical helmet. The surgical helmet may comprise a shell, a ventilation
assembly coupled to the
shell, and a power source coupler disposed on the shell and in electrical
communication with the
ventilation assembly. The power source coupler may further comprise a post.
The system may also
comprise a power source, the power source comprising a battery, a wiring
harness extending from
the battery, and a plug coupled to the wiring harness opposite the battery.
The plug may be
configured to removably engage the power source coupler of the surgical helmet
to power the
ventilation assembly. The post and the plug may comprise complementary
retention features that
allow the plug to be rotated about the post without breaking the electrical
connection. The system
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may further comprise a surgical garment configured to be at least partially
disposed over the
surgical helmet to provide a microbial barrier between a medical environment
and a wearer. The
surgical garment may comprise a surgical fabric defining an opening configured
to be positioned
in front of a face of the wearer when at least partially disposed over the
surgical helmet, and a
transparent face shield disposed within the opening of the surgical fabric.
[0031] In yet another exemplary configuration, a surgical apparel system may
comprise a
surgical helmet. The surgical helmet may comprise a shell, a ventilation
assembly coupled to the
shell, and a power source coupler disposed on the shell and in electrical
communication with the
ventilation assembly. The power source coupler may comprise a post defining a
rotational axis.
The system may further comprise a power source, the power source comprising a
battery, a wiring
harness extending from the battery, and a plug coupled to the wiring harness
opposite the battery.
The plug may be configured to removably engage the power source coupler of the
surgical helmet
to power the ventilation assembly, wherein the post and the plug comprise
complementary
retention features that allow the plug to be positioned at a first orientation
relative to the rotational
axis and be rotated to a second orientation relative to the rotational axis
without breaking electrical
connection between the post and the plug.
[0032] These and other configurations, features, and advantages of the present
disclosure will
be apparent to those skilled in the art. The present disclosure is not
intended to be limited to or by
these configurations, embodiments, features, and/or advantages.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] Referring now to the drawings, exemplary illustrations are shown in
detail. Although the
drawings represent schematic embodiments and/or exemplary configurations, the
drawings are not
necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated to better
illustrate and explain an
innovative aspect of an exemplary configuration. Furthermore, the exemplary
illustrations
described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or otherwise limiting or
restricting to the precise
form and configuration shown in the drawings and disclosed in the following
detailed description.
[0034] Advantages of the present disclosure will be readily appreciated as the
same becomes
better understood by reference to the following detailed description when
considered in connection
with the accompanying drawings.
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[0035] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first configuration of a surgical
apparel system that
includes a medical garment and a surgical helmet, with the surgical helmet
shown in phantom.
[0036] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the surgical helmet of the surgical
apparel system of
Figure 1.
[0037] Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the medical garment coupled
to a chin bar of the
surgical helmet shown in Figure 1.
[0038] Figure 4A is a partial schematic top view of a first configuration of a
headband of the
surgical apparel system of Figure 1, with the medical garment coupled to the
surgical helmet.
[0039] Figure 4B is a partial schematic top view of a second configuration of
the headband of
the surgical apparel system of Figure 1, with the medical garment coupled to
the surgical helmet.
[0040] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second configuration of a surgical
apparel system that
includes a medical garment and a surgical helmet, with the surgical helmet
shown in phantom.
[0041] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the surgical helmet of the surgical
apparel system of
Figure 5.
[0042] Figure 7 is a partial perspective view of the medical garment coupled
to a chin bar of the
surgical helmet shown in Figure 5.
[0043] Figure 8 is a partial perspective view of an interior portion of a
control housing of the
surgical apparel system of Figure 5 including a first configuration of a
coupling feature.
[0044] Figure 9A is a close-up cross-sectional view of a first state of the
first configuration of
the coupling feature of Figure 8.
[0045] Figure 9B is a close-up cross-sectional view of a second state of the
first configuration
of the coupling feature of Figure 8, wherein the medical garment is coupled to
the surgical helmet.
[0046] Figure 10A is a close-up cross-sectional view of a first state of a
second configuration of
the coupling feature of Figure 8.
[0047] Figure 10B is a close-up cross-sectional view of a second state of the
second
configuration of the coupling feature of Figure 8.
[0048] Figure 11 is a close-up cross-sectional view of a third configuration
of a coupling feature
of Figure 8.
[0049] Figure 12A is a close-up cross-sectional view of a fourth configuration
of the coupling
feature of Figure 8.
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[0050] Figure 12B is a close-up cross-sectional view of a fifth configuration
of the coupling
feature of Figure 8.
[0051] Figure 13A is a perspective view of a third configuration of a surgical
apparel system
that includes a medical garment with a first configuration of tab extending
from the transparent
face shield, with the surgical helmet shown in phantom.
[0052] Figure 13B is a perspective view of the third configuration of a
surgical apparel system
that includes an alternative configuration of a medical garment with a second
configuration of tab
that is separate from the transparent face shield, with the surgical helmet
shown in phantom.
[0053] Figure 14 is a perspective view of the surgical helmet of Figures 13A
and 13B, the helmet
including an alignment channel and coupling members in the chin bar.
[0054] Figure 15A is a close-up perspective view of the alignment channel of
the helmet of
Figure 14.
[0055] Figure 15B is a close-up top view of the alignment channel of the
helmet of Figure 14.
[0056] Figure 16A is a perspective view of one of the coupling members in the
chin bar of the
helmet of Figure 14, including the detector positioned adjacent the coupling
member.
[0057] Figure 16B is a sectional view of one of the coupling members of Figure
16B.
[0058] Figure 17A is a perspective view of a first configuration of a coupling
member of the
helmet of Figure 14.
[0059] Figure 17B is atop view of the first configuration of a coupling member
of the helmet of
Figure 14.
[0060] Figure 18A is a perspective view of a front of the transparent face
shield of the surgical
apparel system of Figure 16A including apertures for attaching attachment
elements to the
transparent face shield.
[0061] Figure 18B is a perspective view of a rear of the transparent face
shield of the surgical
apparel system of Figure 13A, including attachment members coupled to the
transparent face
shield.
[0062] Figure 18C is an enlarged view of one of the attachment members coupled
to the
transparent face shield as illustrated in Figure 18B.
[0063] Figure 18D is a partial sectional view of the first configuration of an
attachment element
of a medical garment coupled to the transparent face shield of the surgical
apparel system of
Figures 13A and 13B.
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[0064] Figure 19A is a front view of a first configuration of an attachment
element of a surgical
hood of the surgical apparel system of Figures 13A and 13B.
[0065] Figure 19B is a front perspective view of the first configuration of an
attachment element
of a medical garment of the surgical apparel system of Figures 13A and 13B.
[0066] Figure 19C is a rear perspective view of the first configuration of an
attachment element
of a medical garment of the surgical apparel system of Figures 13A and 13B.
[0067] Figure 20A is a rear perspective view of a retaining member for
securing an attachment
element to the transparent face shield of the surgical apparel system of
Figures 13A and 13B.
[0068] Figure 20B is a rear view of the retaining member for securing an
attachment element to
the transparent face shield of the surgical apparel system of Figures 13A and
13B.
[0069] Figure 20C is a sectional view of the retaining member for securing an
attachment
element to the transparent face shield of the surgical apparel system of
Figures 13A and 13B.
[0070] Figure 20D is a side view of the retaining member for coupling an
attachment element to
the transparent face shield of the surgical apparel system of Figures 13A and
13B.
[0071] Figure 21A is a perspective view of a face shield of the medical
garment of Figure 13A
positioned relative to the chin bar and top beam of the surgical helmet prior
to coupling the face
shield to the surgical helmet.
[0072] Figure 21B is a perspective view of the face shield of the medical
garment of Figure 13A
positioned relative to the chin bar and top beam of the surgical helmet as the
face shield transitions
to being coupled to the surgical helmet, including a tab positioned within an
alignment channel of
the top beam of the surgical helmet.
[0073] Figure 21C is a perspective view of the face shield of the surgical
apparel system of
Figure 13A coupled to the surgical helmet.
[0074] Figure 22A is a partial sectional view of the first configuration of
the attachment member
of Figure 18D coupled to the coupling member of Figures 13A-16C.
[0075] Figure 22B is a schematic view of the magnetic field surrounding a
coupling member of
a surgical helmet relative to a detector when an attachment element is
positioned adjacent the
coupling member.
[0076] Figure 22C is a schematic view of the magnetic field surrounding a
coupling member of
a surgical helmet relative to a detector in the absence of an attachment
element.
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[0077] Figure 23A is a front view of a second configuration of the attachment
element for use
with the medical garment of the surgical apparel system of Figures 13A and
13B.
[0078] Figure 23B is a front perspective view of the second configuration of
the attachment
element of Figure 23A.
[0079] Figure 24A is a front view of a third configuration of the attachment
element for use with
the medical garment of the surgical apparel system of Figures 13A and 13B.
[0080] Figure 24B is a front perspective view of the third configuration of
the attachment
element of Figure 24A.
[0081] Figure 25A is a front view of a fourth configuration of the attachment
element for use
with the medical garment of the surgical apparel system of Figures 13A and
13B.
[0082] Figure 25B is a front perspective view of the fourth configuration of
the attachment
element of Figure 25A.
[0083] Figure 26A is a front view of a fifth configuration of the attachment
element for use with
the medical garment of the surgical apparel system of Figures 13A and 13B, the
attachment
element including magnetic material inserts.
[0084] Figure 26B is a sectional view of the fifth configuration of the
attachment element of
Figure 26A.
[0085] Figure 27A is a front view of a sixth configuration of the attachment
element for use with
the medical garment of the surgical apparel system of Figures 13A and 13B.
[0086] Figure 27B is a front perspective view of the sixth configuration of
the attachment
element of Figure 27A.
[0087] Figure 28A is a front view of a seventh configuration of the attachment
element for use
with the medical garment of the surgical apparel system of Figures 13A and
13B.
[0088] Figure 28B is a front perspective view of the seventh configuration of
the attachment
element of Figure 28A.
[0089] Figure 29A is a front perspective view of an eighth configuration of
the attachment
element coupled to a portion of the face shield of the surgical apparel system
of Figures 13A and
13B.
[0090] Figure 29B is a front perspective view of the eighth configuration of
the attachment
element of Figure 29A coupled to a portion of the face shield.
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[0091] Figure 30 is a schematic of a ninth configuration of an attachment
element and coupling
member for use with the medical garment of the surgical apparel system of
Figures 13A and 13B.
[0092] Figure 31 is a schematic of a tenth configuration of an attachment
element and coupling
member for use with the medical garment of the surgical apparel system of
Figures 13A and 13B.
[0093] Figure 32 is a schematic of an eleventh configuration of an attachment
element and
coupling member for use with the medical garment of the surgical apparel
system of Figures 13A
and 13B.
[0094] Figure 33 is a schematic of a twelfth configuration of an attachment
element and coupling
member for use with the medical garment of the surgical apparel system of
Figures 13A and 13B.
[0095] Figure 34 is a perspective view of yet another exemplary configuration
of a medical
garment for use with a surgical helmet.
[0096] Figure 35 is a perspective view of a fourth configuration of a surgical
apparel system that
includes the medical garment of Figure 34 and a surgical helmet, with the
surgical helmet shown
in phantom.
[0097] Figure 36 is a partially exploded view of the surgical helmet of Figure
35.
[0098] Figure 37 is a perspective view of the surgical helmet for use with the
surgical apparel
system of Figures 13A and 13B, the helmet including an alignment channel and a
chin bar.
[0099] Figure 38A is a partial section view of a portion of the chin bar of
the surgical helmet of
Figure 37, the chin bar including an exemplary configuration of a coupling
member and a detector
positioned proximate the coupling member.
[00100] Figure 38B is a sectional view of an exemplary configuration of the
chin bar and the
coupling member of Figure 38A.
[00101] Figure 39A is a rear view of a transparent face shield of a surgical
garment of the surgical
apparel system of Figure 13A, including an attachment element coupled to the
transparent face
shield.
[00102] Figure 39B is a partial sectional view of a configuration of an
attachment element of a
surgical garment coupled to the transparent face shield.
[00103] Figure 40 is a partial sectional view of the attachment element of
Figures 39A and 39B
coupled to a surgical garment that is coupled to the coupling member of the
surgical helmet of
Figure 37.
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[00104] Figure 41A is a front perspective view of a thirteenth configuration
of the attachment
element of the transparent face shield of Figures 39A and 39B.
[00105] Figure 41B is a side view of the thirteenth configuration of the
attachment element of
Figure 41A.
[00106] Figure 42A is a front perspective view of a fourteenth configuration
of the attachment
element of the transparent face shield of Figures 39A and 39B.
[00107] Figure 42B is a side view of the fourteenth configuration of the
attachment element of
Figure 42A.
[00108] Figure 43A is a front perspective view of a fifteenth configuration of
the attachment
element of the transparent face shield of Figures 39A and 39B.
[00109] Figure 43B is a side view of the fifteenth configuration of the
attachment element of
Figure 43A.
[00110] Figure 44A is a front perspective view of a sixteenth configuration of
the attachment
element of the transparent face shield of Figures 39A and 39B.
[00111] Figure 44B is a side view of the sixteenth configuration of the
attachment element of
Figure 44A.
[00112] Figure 44C is a partial sectional view of the sixteenth configuration
of the attachment
element of a surgical garment coupled to the coupling member of the surgical
helmet of Figure 37.
[00113] Figure 45A is a front perspective view of a seventeenth configuration
of the attachment
element of the transparent face shield of Figures 39A and 39B.
[00114] Figure 45B is a side view of the seventeenth configuration of the
attachment element of
Figure 45A.
[00115] Figure 46A is a front perspective view of an eighteenth configuration
of the attachment
element of the transparent face shield of Figures 39A and 39B.
[00116] Figure 46B is a side view of the eighteenth configuration of the
attachment element of
Figure 46A.
[00117] Figure 47A is a front perspective view of a nineteenth configuration
of the attachment
element of the transparent face shield of Figures 39A and 39B.
[00118] Figure 47B is a side view of the nineteenth configuration of the
attachment element of
Figure 47A.
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[00119] Figure 48A is a front perspective view of a twentieth configuration of
the attachment
element of the transparent face shield of Figures 39A and 39B.
[00120] Figure 48B is a side view of the twentieth configuration of the
attachment element of
Figure 48A.
[00121] Figure 49A is a front perspective view of a twenty-first configuration
of the attachment
element of the transparent face shield of Figures 39A and 39B.
[00122] Figure 49B is a side view of the twenty-first configuration of the
attachment element of
Figure 49A.
[00123] Figure 50A is a front perspective view of a twenty-second
configuration of the
attachment element of the transparent face shield of Figures 39A and 39B.
[00124] Figure 50B is a side view of the twenty-second configuration of the
attachment element
of Figure 50A.
[00125] Figure 50C is a partial sectional view of the twenty-second
configuration of the
attachment element of Figure 50A coupled to the transparent face shield.
[00126] Figure 50D is a partial sectional view of the twenty-second
configuration of the
attachment element of Figure 50A coupled to the coupling member of the
surgical helmet of Figure
37.
[00127] Figure 50E is a partial sectional view of a twenty-third configuration
of the attachment
element of Figure 50A coupled to the transparent face shield.
[00128] Figure 50F is a partial sectional view of the twenty-third
configuration of the attachment
element of Figure 50E coupled to the coupling member of the surgical helmet of
Figure 37.
[00129] Figure 51A is a front perspective view of a twenty-fourth
configuration of the attachment
element of the transparent face shield of Figures 39A and 39B.
[00130] Figure 51B is a side view of the twenty-fourth configuration of the
attachment element
of Figure 51A.
[00131] Figure 51C is a bottom view of the twenty-fourth configuration of the
attachment element
of Figure 51A and 51B.
[00132] Figure 51D is a partial sectional view of the twenty-fourth
configuration of the
attachment element of Figures 51A-51C coupled to the coupling member of the
surgical helmet of
Figure 37.
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[00133] Figure 52A is a perspective view of a configuration of a transparent
shield of a surgical
garment, the transparent shield including a shaped aperture for receiving an
attachment element.
[00134] Figure 52B is an enlarged perspective view of the shaped aperture of
the transparent
shield of Figure 52A.
[00135] Figure 53 is perspective view of an exemplary surgical helmet
including a face frame
having a coupling feature.
[00136] Figure 54 is a perspective view of the coupling feature of the face
frame of the surgical
helmet of Figure 53.
[00137] Figure 55 is a front view of the coupling feature of the face frame of
the surgical helmet
of Figure 53.
[00138] Figure 56 is sectional view of the coupling feature of Figure 55.
[00139] Figure 57 is perspective view of the exemplary surgical helmet of
Figure 53 including a
power inlet.
[00140] Figure 58 is a perspective view of the power inlet of Figure 57.
[00141] Figure 59 is a front view of the power inlet of Figure 57.
[00142] Figure 60 is a sectional view of the power inlet of Figure 57.
[00143] Figure 61 is perspective view of an exemplary power source including a
battery, a wiring
harness, a plug.
[00144] Figure 62 is front view of the plug of the power source of Figure 61.
[00145] Figure 63 is a perspective view of an exemplary post for connecting
the plug of the power
source of Figure 61 to the power inlet of the surgical helmet of Figure 57.
[00146] Figure 64 is an alternative perspective view of an exemplary post for
connecting the plug
of the power source of Figure 61 to the power inlet of the surgical helmet of
Figure 57.
[00147] Figure 65 is an exploded assembly view of the power inlet of the
surgical helmet of
Figure 57 with the post and the plug.
[00148] Figure 66A is a perspective view of the plug of the power source
coupled to the power
inlet of the surgical helmet using the post, the plug positioned in a first
orientation relative to the
surgical helmet and/or the post.
[00149] Figure 66B is a perspective view of the plug of the power source
coupled to the power
inlet of the surgical helmet using the post, the plug positioned in a second
orientation relative to
the surgical helmet and/or the post.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00150] Maintaining a reliable barrier between a healthcare provider and a
patient to prevent the
exchange and/or transfer of particles or foreign material during a medical
procedure or
examination is of the utmost importance. During medical and surgical
procedures, a healthcare
provider may wear an assembly known as a surgical apparel system, such as the
surgical apparel
system 10 illustrated in Figure 1.
[00151] Accordingly, the surgical apparel system 10 may comprise a surgical
garment assembly
comprising a surgical garment 12, which may also be referred to as a medical
garment, configured
for attachment to a surgical helmet 20. The surgical garment 12 is configured
to provide a barrier,
such as a microbial barrier, between the wearer and the surrounding
environment. The barrier
created by the surgical garment 12 may benefit both the wearer and the
patient. The barrier
provided by the surgical garment 12 may substantially eliminate the likelihood
that the wearer may
come into contact with fluid or solid particles of matter from the patient
that may be generated
during the course of a surgical procedure. The barrier may substantially
prevent the transfer of any
foreign particles emitted by the wearer from being transferred to the patient
during the surgical
procedure.
[00152] Referring to Figure 1, the surgical garment 12 may include a surgical
fabric 14, which
may also be referred to as a shell, configured to cover the surgical helmet 20
and at least a portion
of the head of the wearer. The surgical garment 12 may be configured as a
hood, as illustrated in
Figure 1. It will be understood that a hood refers to a surgical garment 12
that covers the head and
likely only extends a short distance below the neck when worn by the wearer.
However, while not
illustrated in the figures, it is further contemplated that the surgical
garment 12 may be configured
as a toga, a shirt, or a jacket. It will be understood that a toga 12 refers
to a surgical garment 12
that covers the head in the same manner as a hood and extends to at least the
waist when worn by
the wearer.
[00153] The surgical garment 12 may be manufactured from any suitable surgical
fabric 14 or
combinations of fabrics to help repel and/or absorb water, debris and other
contaminants. The
surgical fabric 14 may include multiple layers. One such layer may be a
microporous film that
allows gas to pass through the fabric while still maintaining the microbial
barrier. In certain
configurations, the surgical fabric 14 is one that satisfies the ASTM F1670-98
standard for blood
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penetration resistance and/or the ASTM F1671-97B standard for viral
penetration resistance. In
one non-limiting example of the surgical fabric 14, the surgical fabric 14 of
the surgical garment
12 has a pore size in the approximate range of 0.05 to 0.20 microns. However,
other pore sizes for
the surgical fabric 14 are also contemplated.
[00154] It is further contemplated that the surgical garment 12 may be
constructed of multiple
different fabrics coupled to one another to define the barrier. For example,
the surgical garment 12
may be primarily constructed from a barrier surgical fabric 14 and a filter
fabric 16. The filter
fabric 16 may be more permeable, and hence more breathable, than the barrier
surgical fabric 14
described above. The filter fabric 16 may be located in an area with a reduced
risk of having a
microbial particle cross the barrier, such as above the wearer's head or
proximate to the crown of
the wearer's head, and configured to aid in the circulation of air through the
barrier. The barrier
surgical fabric 14 may be attached to the filter fabric 16 using any suitable
means, such as adhesive,
sewing, welding, or a combination thereof
[00155] As illustrated in Figure 1, the surgical garment 12 may further
comprise a face shield 18.
The face shield 18 portion of the surgical garment 12 allows the wearer to see
through the barrier
provided by the surgical garment 12. The face shield 18 is generally a sheet-
like structure and may
have a thickness of approximately 1 mm or less. The face shield 18 may be
mounted and/or
attached to an opening or cut-out formed in the surgical fabric 14 of the
surgical garment 12. The
surgical fabric 14 may be attached around the periphery or edge of the face
shield 18 by sewing,
snaps, hook and loop, adhesive, welding, or combinations thereof The face
shield 18 may be
constructed from a transparent material, such as a polycarbonate. One such
polycarbonate is sold
under the trademark LEXANTm by Sabic. The face shield 18 of the surgical
garment 12 may also
be tinted to protect the wearer's eyes from heightened exposure to bright
lights. Furthermore, the
face shield 18 may be flexible such that the face shield 18 may be curved to
accommodate different
head sizes as will be described below.
[00156] The face shield 18 may further comprise an opening 56 proximate to the
top portion of
the face shield 18. The opening 56 may be generally rectangular shaped. While
not illustrated in
the figures, it is further contemplated that the opening 56 may be configured
in the shape of a
circle, oval, square, or any similar polygonal shape. The opening 56 may also
be generally centered
between the opposing ends of the face shield 18, and serve as an alignment
element and/or
centering feature. Furthermore, the opening 56 may be positioned on the face
shield 18 above the
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point of attachment for the surgical fabric 14 to the face shield 18, so as to
ensure the surgical
fabric 14 covers the opening 56 to maintain the barrier provided by the
surgical garment 12
between the wearer and the environment. For example, as illustrated in Figure
1, the surgical
fabric 14 of the surgical garment 12 is attached to the top of the face shield
18 at a location below
the opening 56 of the face shield 18.
[00157] The surgical garment 12 may also include one or more attachment
elements 58 positioned
about the surgical garment 12. The attachment elements 58 may also be referred
to as a garment
fastener or a second member. The attachment elements 58 are configured to
releasably secure the
surgical garment 12 to the surgical helmet 20. The attachment elements 58 may
take any suitable
form, and may comprise metal tacks, rivets, buttons, magnets, hook and loop,
snaps, or similar
types of fasteners, alone or in combination. As illustrated in Figure 1, the
attachment elements 58
may be mounted to the face shield 18 of the surgical garment 12 so as to
extend inwardly from the
wearer side of the face shield 18. While not illustrated in the figures, it is
also contemplated that
the attachment elements 58 may be positioned at any other position or location
about the surgical
garment 12, including being mounted to the barrier surgical fabric 14 and/or
the filtration fabric
16. The attachment elements 58 may be mounted to the face shield 18 and/or
fabric(s) 14/16 via
an adhesive, rivet, snap, similar mounting device, or combination thereof.
[00158] Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, an example configuration of the
surgical apparel
system 10 is described in detail. The system may include a surgical garment 12
and a surgical
helmet 20. The surgical garment 12 may be configured as a hood or a toga to be
placed over the
surgical helmet 20. In the hood configuration illustrated in Figure 1, the
surgical garment 12 may
be positioned over the surgical helmet 20 and configured to encompass the
surgical helmet 20 and,
correspondingly, the head of the person wearing the surgical apparel system
10, thereby covering
the wearer's face and back of the head. Alternatively, if the surgical garment
12 were configured
as a toga, the toga may be positioned over the surgical helmet 20 and
configured to encompass the
surgical helmet 20 and, correspondingly, the head, arms, shoulders, and torso
of the person wearing
the surgical apparel system 10. To place the surgical garment 12 over the
surgical helmet 20, the
surgical garment 12 will typically be turned inside out as the face shield 18
is aligned and affixed
to the surgical helmet 20 in the manner described below. Once the face shield
18 is positioned
relative to the surgical helmet 20, the remainder of the surgical fabric 14
will typically be pulled
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over the wearer's head to cover the exposed components of the surgical helmet
20 and the wearer's
head.
[00159] Referring to Figure 2, an example configuration of the surgical helmet
20 that may be
utilized as part of the surgical apparel system 10 is illustrated. The
surgical helmet 20 in Figure 2
includes a headband 22. The headband 22 may be configured to encircle the
wearer's head and
support the surgical helmet 20. The headband 22 may be constructed from a
generally flexible or
pliable material, allowing the headband 22 to conform to general shape of the
wearer's head. The
headband 22 may comprise a headband control assembly 38 configured to adjust
the size/shape of
the headband 22. The headband control assembly 38 may comprise a control
member 39 that is
manipulatable by the wearer to adjust the size of the headband 22. For
example, as illustrated in
Figure 2, the control member 39 may comprise a rotatable knob or lever. When
the wearer rotates
the control member 39 in one direction, the headband control assembly 38 may
be configured to
reduce the size, i.e., the circumference, of the headband 22. Alternatively,
when the wearer rotates
the control member 39 in the opposite direction, the headband control assembly
38 may be
configured to increase the size, i.e., the circumference, of the headband 22.
This allows for the
headband 22 of the surgical helmet 20 to be adjusted and/or customized to
securely fit on a
particular individual's head irrespective of the individual's head size and/or
shape.
[00160] The surgical helmet 20 further includes a housing 32 that is supported
by and located
above the headband 22. The housing 32 may be configured in an arcuate shape to
fit over the head
of the individual wearing the personal protection system 10. Other helmet
designs are
contemplated. Many portions of the housing 32 may be formed to define voids,
or open interior
spaces. For example, the housing 32 may comprise a center void. The center
void may be located
toward the rear of the housing 32. There may be an intake opening or aperture
in the top portion
of the housing 32 to provide access to the center void. The housing 32 may
also include additional
voids, such as a front void proximate to the front of the housing 32 and a
rear void proximate to
the rear of the housing 32. The additional voids may be configured to form
duct-like structures or
passageways within the housing 32. The additional voids may even be
interconnected to the center
void.
[00161] The surgical helmet 20 may include one or more electrically-powered
peripheral devices
30, including but not limited to, a ventilation assembly, a light, a camera,
microphone or other
communication device, cooling device, or combinations thereof These devices
may be mounted
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to and/or attached at various locations and orientations relative to the
surgical helmet 20. Each of
the peripheral devices 30 may be configured to receive commands that affect
the operating state
of the corresponding peripheral device. For example, each of the peripheral
devices 30 can receive
on/off commands. Alternatively, the peripheral devices 30 may receive commands
that change one
or more settings of the peripheral devices 30. Such configurations allow the
wearer of the surgical
helmet 20 to control the operating state of the various peripheral devices 30
during the surgical
procedure. In one specific example, when the peripheral device is a
ventilation assembly 30, the
ventilation assembly 30 may be configured to receive various commands to
control the actuation
and/or adjust the speed of the fan in the ventilation assembly 30.
Alternatively, when the peripheral
device is a cooling device 30, the cooling device 30 may be configured to
receive commands to
control the intensity of the cooling output provided by the cooling strip.
When the peripheral device
is a microphone 30, the microphone 30 may be configured to receive commands to
control the
volume of the audible signal produced by the microphone. When the peripheral
device is a light
30, the light 30 may be configured to receive commands to control the
direction and/or intensity
of light emitted. The peripheral devices 30 may of course be configured to be
responsive to other
types of commands that control the operation of the peripheral device 30.
[00162] Wearing the surgical apparel system 10, including the surgical garment
12, over a
wearer's head can inevitably result in the buildup of carbon dioxide and
increased temperatures
within the surgical garment 12 as a result of the wearer's normal breathing.
An increase in
temperature underneath the surgical garment 12 can also result in the buildup
of water vapor on
the wearer and/or the face shield 18, resulting in the wearer's view being
obstructed. In order to
prevent these undesirable effects, the surgical helmet 20 of the surgical
apparel system 10 may be
configured for the attachment and/or inclusion of one or more peripheral
devices 30 described
above, such as the ventilation assembly, the cooling device, etc. Certain
features of the surgical
helmet 20, the peripheral devices 20, and the surgical garments 12 may be
found in one or more
of the following U.S. Patents, which are hereby incorporated by reference:
6,481,019; 6,622,311;
6,973,677; 7,735,156; 7,752,682; 8,234,722; 8,282,234; 8,407,818; 8,819,869;
and 9,173,437.
[00163] The ventilation assembly 30 illustrated in Figure 2 is one example of
a peripheral device
30 that may be incorporated into the surgical helmet 20 of the surgical
apparel system 10. While
the ventilation assembly 30 is shown as an integral component of the surgical
helmet 20, it should
be appreciated that each of the other peripheral devices 30 described above
may be either an
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integral component of the surgical helmet 20, or may be removably coupled to
the surgical helmet
20. The surgical helmet 20 illustrated in Figure 2 comprises the ventilation
assembly 30 positioned
within the center void of the housing 32. The ventilation assembly 30 may
include a fan blade,
impeller, propeller, fan wheel, or similar blade mechanism configured to
induce air movement.
The blade may be coupled to a motor configured to rotate the blade when
energized by a power
source. When the blade is actuated, the ventilation assembly 30 is configured
to draw air into the
center void of the housing 32 through the intake opening in the top of the
housing 32. The
additional voids of the housing 32 may be connected to the center void and
serve as ducts for
dispersing the air drawn into the center void.
[00164] The exemplary ventilation assembly 30 may include a front bellows 36
that extends
forward from the front void in the front of the housing 32 and connects to a
front nozzle 40. The
front nozzle 40 may be mounted to the front of the headband 22. The
ventilation assembly 30 may
further include a rear bellows 34 that extends from the rear void in the rear
of the housing 32 to a
rear nozzle (not shown in figures). The rear nozzle may be mounted to the back
of the headband
22. When the ventilation assembly 30 of the surgical helmet 20 is actuated,
the fan draws air in
through the surgical garment 12 into the opening in the top of the housing 32
and disperses the air
outward through the additional voids. For example, the ventilation assembly 30
may be configured
to draw air through the filter fabric 16 of the surgical garment 12. The air
is then discharged
through front bellows 36 and rear bellows 34, respectively. The air that flows
through the front
bellows 36 is discharged through the front nozzle 40 in front of the face of
the wearer. The air
discharged through the front nozzle 40 may be discharged against the face
shield 18 and/or on the
face of the wearer. The air that flows through the rear bellows 34 is
discharged through the rear
nozzle. The rear nozzle is positioned so as to open below the headband 22. The
air discharged from
the rear nozzle can be discharged against the back of the neck of the wearer.
[00165] The front nozzle 40 of the surgical helmet 20 may include a block 42.
The block 42 is
the portion of the front nozzle 40 that is mounted to the headband 22 or a
component of the surgical
helmet 20 integral with the headband 22. In the illustrated version of the
system 10, the block 42
is mounted to a strap 44 that is part of the headband 22.
[00166] The front nozzle 40 may further be configured to include a protrusion
46. The protrusion
46 protrudes upwardly from the front edge of the front nozzle 40. As seen in
Figure 2, the
protrusion 46 protrudes outwardly from the top surface of the front nozzle 40.
As will be described
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in detail below, the protrusion 46 may be utilized to attach and/or secure the
surgical garment 12
to the surgical helmet 20. In other configurations, the protrusion 46 may
extend other portions of
the surgical helmet 20, such as the top beam 29 of the face frame, or the
housing 32 of the surgical
helmet 20.
[00167] The surgical helmet 20 may include a chin bar 24 that extends
downwardly from the front
of the headband 22. The chin bar 24 may comprise a first post 26A and a second
post 26B. Each
of the first post 26A and second post 26B may comprise a first end 27A, 27B
that is coupled to
opposing sides of the strap 44 of the headband 22. The first and second posts
26A, 26B may be
configured to be coupled to the headband 22 via the first ends 27A, 27B and to
extend from
opposing sides of the headband 22. The chin bar 24 may be constructed from a
generally flexible
or pliable material.
[00168] A beam 28 extends between the opposed free ends of the posts 26A, 26B.
The chin bar
24 is formed so that a beam 28 is located below and slightly forward of the
chin of the person
wearing the surgical helmet 20. The beam 28 may be bowed outwardly from the
free ends of posts
26A, 26B. The chin bar 24 may extend outwardly from the headband 22 such that
the chin bar 24
is positioned forward of and generally encircles the face of the wearer when
the surgical helmet
20 is secured to the wearer's head.
[00169] A plurality of coupling members 48, such as magnets, hook and loop,
metal rivets, snaps,
or similar type fasteners, may be mounted to the chin bar 24 and configured to
align and/or attach
to the face shield 18 of the surgical garment 12. Each coupling member 48 may
be positioned on
the chin bar 24 proximate to the opposed free ends of the posts 26A, 26B
and/or adjacent opposing
ends of beam 28. Alternatively, the coupling members 48 of the surgical helmet
20 could be
arranged or otherwise configured in any suitable way to cooperate with the
complementary
attachment elements 58 of the face shield 18, as described above, to
releasably secure the surgical
garment 12 to the surgical helmet 20. For example, the protrusion 46 extending
from the front
nozzle 40 may be replaced with a coupling member 48 configured to cooperate
with a
complementary attachment element 58 on the surgical garment 12.
[00170] As described above, referring now to both Figures 1 and 2, in one
configuration of the
system 10, the face shield 18 may comprise an opening 56 proximate the top
edge of the face shield
18. The opening 56 in the face shield 18 may be configured to receive the
protrusion 46 protruding
from the front nozzle 40 of the surgical helmet 20 or from another portion of
the surgical helmet.
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The opening 56 and the protrusion 46 may be configured to releasably secure
the face shield 18
and/or surgical garment 12 to the surgical helmet 20. Furthermore, the opening
56 and the
protrusion 46 may serve as an alignment feature configured to align the face
shield 18 with the
surgical helmet 20, such that the face shield 18 will be positioned in front
of the wearer's face
when the system 10 is worn. While not shown in the figures, it should be
understood that it has
been contemplated that the face shield 18 may include additional openings 56,
and the surgical
helmet 20 may be configured to include additional protrusions 46
correspondingly arranged
relative to the openings 56 of the face shield 18. For example, a plurality of
protrusions 46 may
extend from the headband 22 and/or front nozzle 40, and the face shield 18 may
be configured to
include complementary openings 56 that releasably engage the plurality of
protrusions 46 when
attaching the surgical garment 12 to the surgical helmet 20.
[00171] Furthermore, as described above, the face shield 18 and/or surgical
fabric 14 may
comprise a plurality of attachment elements 58 arranged about the surgical
garment 12. In the
example configuration of the surgical garment 12 that is illustrated in
Figures 1 and 3, the
attachment elements 58 of the surgical garment 12 may be arranged and/or
positioned on the face
shield 18 so that, when the protrusion 46 of the surgical helmet 20 is seated
in the opening 56 of
the face shield 18, and the face shield 18 is flexed around the chin bar 24
and the strap 44 of the
headband 22, each of the garment attachment elements 58 will abut and latch to
a complementary
magnet or other suitable coupling member 48 on the surgical helmet 20.
Referring to the example
configuration of the system 10 illustrated in Figure 1 and the sectional view
of the face shield 18
and chin bar 24 of Figure 3, the surgical garment 12 comprises the opening 56
proximate to the
top portion of the face shield 18 and a plurality of attachment elements 58
are positioned about the
periphery of the face shield 18. The attachment elements 58 may be spaced
about the periphery of
the face shield 18 to matingly engage complementary magnets 48 on the chin bar
24 of the surgical
helmet 20. While the surgical garment 12 illustrated in the figures comprises
the opening 56, it is
also contemplated that the opening 56 is not required in certain
configurations. Alternatively, the
attachment elements 58 may also be configured to couple and/or align the face
shield 18 with the
surgical helmet 20.
[00172] In operation, once the opening 56 in the face shield 18 is seated on
the protrusion 46 of
the surgical helmet 20, the face shield 18 may then be flexed around the
surgical helmet 20 and/or
chin bar 24 to matingly engage the attachment elements 58 spaced about the
periphery of the face
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shield 18 with the complementary coupling members 48 on the chin bar 24 of the
surgical helmet
20. The size of the face shield 18, as well as the spacing and/or position of
the attachment elements
58 on the surgical garment 12 may be changed to alter the curvature and/or
shape of the face shield
18 when attached to the surgical helmet 20. For example, the attachment
elements 58 on the
surgical garment 12 may be spaced closer together to reduce the curvature of
the face shield 18
when it is attached to the surgical helmet 20. Alternatively, the attachment
elements 58 on the
surgical garment 12 may be spaced farther apart to increase the curvature of
the face shield 18
when it is attached to the surgical helmet 20. Furthermore, as illustrated in
Figure 3, the coupling
member 48 of the chin bar 24 may be part of a protrusion 47 configured to
space the face shield
18 a defined distance from the chin bar 24 and/or surgical helmet 20. The size
of the protrusion 47
may be similarly adapted to manipulate the curvature or arc of the face shield
18. Altering the
curvature of the face shield 18 may help to reduce glare or provide an
expanded/reduced peripheral
view through the face shield 18. While not illustrated in the figures, it
should be understood that
alternative configurations for securing the surgical garment 12 and/or face
shield 18 to the surgical
helmet 20 are also contemplated. For example, in one alternative
configuration, the face shield 18
may not include a rectangular opening 56, but instead comprise only a
plurality of attachment
elements 58, such as rivets or magnets, spaced about the face shield 18 and/or
surgical garment 12
and configured to couple to complementary magnets or similar coupling members
48 spaced about
the surgical helmet 20. For example, the complementary magnets or similar
coupling members 48
may be secured to the housing 32, headband 22, and/or chin bar 24. The
surgical garment 12 and
the surgical helmet 20 of the surgical apparel system 10 described above are
typically removably
coupled to allow for disposal of the surgical garment 12 and reuse of the
surgical helmet 20
following a procedure or exam.
[00173] Referring to Figures 4A and 4B, an example configuration of the system
10 comprising
differing face shield 18 curvatures is illustrated. Figures 4A and 4B each
illustrate a top sectional
view of a portion of the surgical helmet 20 including the headband 22, strap
44, headband control
assembly 38, headband control member 39, first ends 27A, 27B of the posts 26A,
26B of the chin
bar 24, and the protrusions 47 extending from the first ends 27A, 27B. Coupled
to the headband
22 at the first ends 27A, 27B of the posts 26A, 26B is the face shield 18.
Because the posts 26A,
26B are coupled to the headband 22 as opposed to the housing 32, and because
the headband 22
can have various shapes and sizes, the contour and/or curvature of the face
shield 18 on the hood
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may change as the headband 22 is adjusted. This 'dynamic' adjustment may
improve the usability
of the face shield 18. For example, it may allow the contour and/or curvature
of the face shield 18
to be adapted to be more optimally positioned relative to the wearer's face.
While not illustrated
in the figures, it is also contemplated that the shield may comprise an array
of attachment elements
58 extending across the top of the face shield 18 that are configured to
couple the face shield 18 to
the headband 22 and/or the strap 44. In this configuration, the headband 22
and/or strap may
comprise an array of fasteners or coupling members configured to couple with
the array of
attachment elements 58 on the face shield 18. This configuration would
similarly allow the contour
of the shield 18 to change as the headband 22 is adjusted.
[00174] The diagrams of Figures 4A and 4B may illustrate the concept of a
dynamic curvature
shield in a useful manner, but shall not be construed as limiting in any
fashion, i.e., the headband
22 and face shield 18 may be understood to operate in different fashions other
than the manner
described below. A medial axis M1 that bisects the headband 22 of the surgical
helmet 20 and the
face shield 18 is illustrated in Figures 4A and 4B. A center point C is
positioned along the medial
axis M1 proximate the center of the generally circular or oval shaped headband
22. A second line
may be configured to extend between the center point C and an intersection
point P that is
positioned proximate the intersection of the face shield 18 and the protrusion
47 of the first ends
27A, 27B of the chin bar 24.
[00175] Referring to Figure 4A, the headband control member 39 of the headband
control
assembly 38 may be set to a first position to define a first circumference
and/or shape of the
headband 22, and the second line extending between the center point C and the
intersection point
P intersects with the medial axis M1 at a first angle Oi. Referring to Figure
4B, the control member
39 of the headband control assembly 38 may be set to a second position to
define a second
circumference and/or shape of the headband 22 that is larger or smaller than
the first circumference
and/or shape. The second line extending between the center point C and the
intersection point P
intersects with the medial axis M1 at a second angle 02. Assuming the length
of the face shield 18
is generally unchanged, by manipulating the control member 39 of the headband
control assembly
38 to increase or reduce the size, i.e., the circumference, of the headband 22
to fit a particular
wearer's head, the arc and/or curvature of the face shield 18 will be
manipulated by the change in
the size and/or shape of the headband 22. For example, if the size and/or
circumference of the
headband 22 is reduced, the intersection angle 0 will likely increase, which
is likely to reduce the
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radius of the arc of the face shield 18 and/or generally increase the bend
and/or the curvature of
the face shield 18. Alternatively, if the circumference of the headband 22 is
increased, the
intersection angle 0 will likely decrease, which, in some cases, is likely to
increase the radius of
the arc of the face shield 18 and/or generally flatten the curvature of the
face shield 18. The arc
and/or curvature of the face shield 18 is therefore dynamic and at least
partially defined by the size
and/or shape of the headband 22. As described above, the chin bar 24 may be
generally constructed
from a flexible and/or pliable material to allow for the components of the
chin bar 24 to flex, bend,
twist, and/or rotate as needed in response to the changes in the size and/or
shape of the headband
22.
[00176] The curvature and/or arc of the face shield 18 may also be modified or
adapted by the
size and/or shape of the attachment element(s) 58 of the face shield 18 and/or
the corresponding
coupling member(s) 48 of the surgical helmet 20.
[00177] Referring to Figure 5, an alternative configuration of a surgical
apparel system 110 is
illustrated. It should be appreciated that the various configurations of the
surgical apparel system
110 may include similar elements that may be identified by reference numerals
that are
incremented by 100. It should be understood that those elements including
reference numerals
which are incremented by 100 can have the same features as described above.
The surgical apparel
system 110 may comprise a surgical garment assembly comprising a surgical
garment 112, which
may also be referred to as a medical garment, configured for attachment to a
surgical helmet 120.
As described above, the surgical garment 112 may be configured to provide a
barrier, such as a
microbial barrier, between the wearer and the surrounding environment. The
barrier created by the
surgical garment 112 may benefit both the wearer and the patient. The barrier
provided by the
surgical garment 112 may substantially eliminate the likelihood that the
wearer may come into
contact with fluid or solid particles of matter from the patient that may be
generated during the
course of a surgical procedure. The barrier may substantially prevent the
transfer of any foreign
particles emitted by the wearer from being transferred to the patient during
the surgical procedure.
[00178] Referring to Figure 5, the surgical garment 112 may include a fabric
114, which may also
be referred to as a shell, configured to cover the surgical helmet 120 and at
least a portion of the
head of the wearer. The surgical garment 112 may be configured as a hood,
toga, or other similar
medical garment, as described above with regard to the first configuration of
the surgical apparel
system 10. The surgical garment 112 may further comprise a face shield 118 and
one or more
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attachment elements 158 positioned about the surgical garment 112. The
attachment elements 158
may also be referred to as a second member. The attachment elements 158 may be
configured to
serve as an alignment element and/or centering feature. Furthermore, the
attachment elements 158
may be positioned on the face shield 118 above the point of attachment for the
fabric 114 to the
face shield 118, so as to ensure the fabric 114 covers the attachment elements
158 to maintain the
barrier provided by the surgical garment 112 between the wearer and the
environment. The
attachment elements 158 may be configured to be constructed of one of a
ferromagnetic material
or a magnetic material. It should be appreciated that the surgical garment
112, and all components
thereof, may be configured similarly and/or have the features described above
with respect to the
surgical garment 12 described above.
[00179] Referring again to Figures 5 and 6, an example configuration of the
surgical apparel
system 110 is described in detail. The system 110 may include a surgical
garment 112 and surgical
helmet 120. Similar to the system 10 described above, the configuration of the
system 110
illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 may comprise one or more peripheral devices,
such as a ventilation
assembly.
[00180] The ventilation assembly 130 illustrated in Figure 6, is one example
of a peripheral
device 130 that may be incorporated into the surgical helmet 120 of the
surgical apparel system
110. While the ventilation assembly 130 is shown as an integral component of
the surgical helmet
120, it should be appreciated that each of the other peripheral devices 130
described above may be
either an integral component of the surgical helmet 120, or may be removably
coupled to the
surgical helmet 120. The surgical helmet 120 illustrated in Figure 6 comprises
the ventilation
assembly 130 positioned within the center void of the housing 132. The
ventilation assembly 130
may include a fan blade, impeller, propeller, fan wheel, or similar blade
mechanism configured to
induce air movement. The blade may be coupled to a motor configured to rotate
the blade when
energized by a power source. When the blade is actuated, the ventilation
assembly 130 is
configured to draw air into the center void of the housing 132 through the
intake opening in the
top of the housing 132. The additional voids of the housing 132 may be
connected to the center
void and serve as ducts for dispersing the air drawn into the center void.
[00181] The exemplary ventilation assembly 130 may include a front bellows 136
that extends
forward from the front void in the front of the housing 132 and connects to a
front nozzle (not
shown in figures). The front nozzle may be mounted to the front of the
headband 122. The
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ventilation assembly 130 may further include a rear bellows 134 that extends
from the rear void in
the rear of the housing 132 to a rear nozzle (not shown in figures). The rear
nozzle may be mounted
to the back of the headband 122. When the ventilation assembly 130 of the
surgical helmet 120 is
actuated, the fan draws air in through the surgical garment 112 into the
opening in the top of the
housing 132 and disperses the air outward through the additional voids. For
example, the
ventilation assembly 130 may be configured to draw air through the filter
fabric 116 of the surgical
garment 112. The air is then discharged through front bellows 136 and rear
bellows 134,
respectively.
[00182] The surgical helmet 120 may further comprise a control housing 150,
which may be
located on the front face of the helmet 20 and, as illustrated, be coupled to
the front bellows 136
opposite the ventilation assembly 130. It is also contemplated that the
control housing 150 may be
positioned on or within the chin bar 124. For example, the control housing 150
may be positioned
within the chin bar 124 relative to one or more of the coupling members 148.
The control housing
150 may comprise a coupling feature 146 configured to engage with at least one
of the attachment
elements 158. The coupling feature 146 may also be referred to as a helmet
coupler, as the coupling
feature 146 may generally be configured to couple and/or attach an item, such
as the surgical
garment 112, to the surgical helmet 120. The control housing 150 may be
coupled to a top beam
129 extending across the front of the surgical helmet 120 from opposing sides
of the control
housing 150.
[00183] The surgical helmet 120 may include a chin bar 124 that extends
downwardly from the
front portion of the surgical helmet 120. The chin bar 124 may comprise a
first post 126A and a
second post 126B. Each of the first post 126A and second post 126B may
comprise a first end
127A, 127B that is coupled to opposing sides of the surgical helmet 120. The
first and second posts
126A, 126B may be configured to be coupled to the top beam 129 extending from
the control
housing 150 via the first ends 127A, 127B and to extend from opposed sides of
the surgical helmet
120. For example, as illustrated in Figure 6, the first ends 127A, 127B may be
connected to
opposing ends of the top beam 129 extending from the control housing 150. The
chin bar 124 may
be constructed from a generally flexible or pliable material.
[00184] A bottom beam 128 may extend between the opposed free ends of the
posts 126A, 126B
of the chin bar 124. The chin bar 124 may be formed so that the bottom beam
128 is located below
and slightly forward of the chin of the person wearing the surgical helmet
120. The bottom beam
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128 may be bowed outwardly from the free ends of posts 126A, 126B. The chin
bar 124 may
extend outwardly from the top beam 129 such that the chin bar 124 is
positioned forward of and
generally encircles the face of the wearer when the surgical helmet 120 is
secured to the wearer's
head.
[00185] A plurality of coupling members 148, such as magnets, hook and loop,
metal rivets,
snaps, or similar type fasteners, may be mounted to the chin bar 124 and
configured to align and/or
attach to the face shield 118 of the surgical garment 112. Each coupling
member 148 may be
positioned on the chin bar 124 proximate to the opposed free ends of the posts
126A, 126B and/or
adjacent opposing ends of the bottom beam 128. Alternatively, the coupling
members 148 of the
surgical helmet 120 could be arranged or otherwise configured in any suitable
way to cooperate
with the complementary attachment elements 158 of the face shield 118, as
described above, to
releasably secure the surgical garment 112 to the surgical helmet 120.
[00186] Referring to Figure 7, a partial perspective view of the surgical
garment 112 coupled to
the chin bar 124 and the control housing 150 of the surgical helmet 120 is
illustrated. The surgical
garment 112 comprises a plurality of attachment elements 158 positioned about
the periphery of
the face shield 118. For example, as illustrated in Figure 7, the face shield
118 comprises a pair of
attachment elements 158 positioned on opposing ends of the lower portion of
the face shield 118,
and each is configured to couple with a corresponding coupling member 148 on
the chin bar 124.
The face shield 118 further comprises an attachment element 158 positioned
near the center of the
top portion of the face shield 118 and configured to couple with the coupling
feature 146 of the
control housing 150.
[00187] Referring to Figure 8, a partial perspective view of an interior
portion of the control
housing 150 of the surgical apparel system 110 of Figures 5 and 6 is
illustrated. At least partially
disposed within the control housing 150 is a portion of the coupling feature
146 of the surgical
helmet 120. While not illustrated in Figure 8, additional components of the
surgical helmet 120
and peripheral devices 130 may be at least partially disposed within or
mounted to the control
housing 150. For example, a light may be mounted to an outer surface of the
control housing 150
or another portion of the surgical helmet 120. A memory device, circuit board
or other electrical
component utilized in operation of the surgical helmet 120 and/or peripheral
device 130 may also
be at least partially disposed within the control housing 150.
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[00188] Illustrated in each of Figures 9A and 9B is a close-up sectional view
of a first
configuration of the coupling feature 146. More specifically, Figure 9A
illustrates a sectional view
of the first configuration of the coupling feature in a first state, i.e.,
when the attachment element
158 of the surgical garment 112 is not coupled to the coupling feature 146 of
the surgical helmet
120. Alternatively, Figure 9B illustrates a sectional view of the first
configuration of the coupling
feature in a second state, i.e., when the surgical garment 112 is coupled to
the coupling feature
146.
[00189] The first configuration of the coupling feature 146 may comprise a
distal surface 147
configured to removably engage an attachment element 158 of the surgical
garment 112. The distal
surface 147 may be configured in any number of shapes configured to at least
partially engage the
corresponding attachment element 158 of the surgical garment 112. For example,
the distal surface
147 may be configured as a generally flat surface configured to engage an
attachment element 158
of the surgical garment 112 comprising a flat rivet. Alternatively, the distal
surface 147 may be
curved, arched, rounded, and/or hemispherically shaped and configured to
matingly engage a
complementarily-shaped attachment element 158. While the distal surface 147 as
illustrated in
Figures 9A and 9B is generally formed in a concave or inwardly directed
hemispherical shape, it
is also contemplated that the distal surface 147 may be formed in a convex or
outwardly projected
hemispherical shape, a half-cylinder shape or other similar shapes. For
example, the distal surface
147 may be curved, arched, or rounded in a manner that projects outwardly from
an outer surface
of the control housing 150 to create a convex shaped distal surface 147. The
corresponding
attachment element 158 of the surgical garment 112 may comprise a concave
surface configured
to matingly engage the convex shaped distal surface 147 of the coupling
feature 146.
[00190] The helmet may comprise an enclosure 152 configured to define a void
space. The
enclosure 152 may be generally configured in a cylindrical or tubular shape.
Alternatively, the
enclosure 152 may be generally configured in a rectangular or similar
polygonal shape. As
illustrated in Figures 9A and 9B, the enclosure 152 is generally configured in
a cylindrical shape,
wherein the distal surface 147 forms a portion of the distal end of the
enclosure 152.
[00191] The void space defined by the enclosure 152 may be divided into one or
more regions.
For example, as illustrated in Figures 9A and 9B, the enclosure 152 may be
divided by a first line
160 to define a first region 162 and a second region 164 of the void space.
The first region 162
may be positioned on the side of the first line 160 such that the first region
162 is generally
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proximal to the surgical helmet 120 and away from the distal surface 147. By
contrast, the second
region 164 may be positioned on the side of the first line 160 such that the
second region 164 is
generally distal to the surgical helmet 120 and proximal from the distal
surface 147.
[00192] The coupling feature 146 at least partially disposed within the
control housing 150 of the
surgical helmet 120 may further comprise a first member 154 movably disposed
within the
enclosure 152. The first member 154 may be configured to move within the void
space defined by
the enclosure 152. For example, the first member 154 and the enclosure 152 may
be configured
wherein the first member 154 is movable between the first region 162 and the
second region 164
of the void space defined by the enclosure 152. The first member 154 may be
constructed of one
of a ferromagnetic material or a magnetic material, and the attachment element
158 may be
constructed from the other of the ferromagnetic material or the magnetic
material. For example,
the first member 154 may comprise a magnetic material and the attachment
element 158 may
comprise a ferromagnetic material. Alternatively, the first member 154 may
comprise a
ferromagnetic material and the attachment element 158 may comprise a magnetic
material. In
either configuration, the first member 154 and the attachment element 158 may
be configured such
that when the attachment element 158 is positioned proximate to the distal
surface 147, the
attachment element 158 and the first member 154 may be magnetically attracted
to one another.
For example, when the attachment element 158 is positioned proximate to the
distal surface 147
of the coupling feature 146, the magnetic force between the first member 154
and the attachment
element 158 may serve to attach and/or couple the surgical garment 112 to the
surgical helmet 120.
[00193] The first member 154 and the enclosure 152 may be sized and/or shaped
to allow the first
member to slidably move within the enclosure 152. For example, as illustrated
in Figures 9A and
9B, the first member 154 may be shaped like a circular or polygonal shaped
disc configured to
match the shape defined by the lateral surfaces of the enclosure 152. The
first member 154 may
further comprise opposing forward and rearward facing surfaces. For example,
as illustrated in
Figures 9A and 9B, the opposing forward and rearward facing surfaces are flat.
Alternatively,
while not illustrated in the figures, the opposing forward and rearward facing
surfaces of the first
member 154 may correspond to the distal surface 147 of the enclosure 152. For
example, the
forward facing surface of the first member 154 may be concave or
hemispherically shaped to
correspond with the shape of the distal surface 147. The rearward facing
surface of the first
member 154 may be flat. Alternatively, if the distal surface 147 were convex
shaped, the forward
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facing surface of the first member 154 may be convex or hemispherically shaped
to correspond
with the shape of the distal surface 147. The rearward facing surface of the
first member 154 may
be flat.
[00194] The coupling feature 146 may further comprise a detector 170, such as
a mechanical
switch, at least partially disposed within the void space defined by the
enclosure 152, and
positioned proximate to the first region 162. Alternatively, the detector 170
may be positioned
proximate to the second region 164. It is further contemplated that the
detector 170 may be
positioned adjacent and/or external to the perimeter defined by the enclosure
152. The detector
170 may further comprise a toggle member 172 that is moveable between a first
position and a
second position. As illustrated in Figures 9A and 9B, the toggle member 172 is
configured to
extend through a surface of the enclosure 152 that is opposite the distal
surface 147. In this
configuration, the toggle member 172 may be configured to move proximally and
distally relative
to the distal surface 147 and generally parallel to a longitudinal axis
defined by the toggle member
172. While not illustrated in the figures, it is contemplated that the
detector 170 may be positioned
adjacent to a lateral surface of the enclosure 152. In this configuration, the
toggle member 172
may be configured to extend through the lateral surface of the enclosure 152
so that the toggle
member 172 is at least partially disposed within the enclosure 152, while the
detector 170 may be
located outside the perimeter defined by the enclosure 152. The detector 170
may be positioned
adjacent to the lateral surface such that the toggle member 172 is at least
partially disposed within
the first region 162 or the second region 164 of the void space defined by the
enclosure 152. In
this configuration, the toggle member 172 may be configured to move proximally
and distally
relative to the distal surface 147 and generally perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis defined by
the toggle member 172. The detector 170 may further comprise a biasing member,
such as a
spring, that is configured to move and/or hold the toggle member 172 in the
second position absent
an additional force being applied to the toggle member 172. The detector 170
may be configured
to detect the position of the toggle member 172 and output a signal based, at
least in part, on the
position of the toggle member 172.
[00195] In operation, the first member 154 may be configured to operatively
and/or slidingly
engage the toggle member 172 of the detector 170 to move the toggle member 172
between the
first position and the second position. For example, as illustrated in Figure
9A, when the first
member 154 is in the first region 162 of the void space, the first member 154
may be configured
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to engage the toggle member 172 and overcome the force of the biasing member
to move and/or
hold the toggle member 172 in the first position. Alternatively, as
illustrated in Figure 9B, when
the first member 154 is in the second region 164 of the void space, the first
member 154 may be
configured to be disengaged from the toggle member 172 allowing the biasing
member of the
toggle member 172 to move and/or hold the toggle member 172 in the second
position. As
described above, the detector 170 may be configured to detect the position of
the toggle member
172 and output a signal based on said toggle member 172 being in either the
first position and/or
the second position. In other words, the detector 170 is configured to
determine whether the toggle
member 172 is in the first position or the second position, which corresponds
to whether or not the
surgical garment 112 is coupled to the surgical helmet 120.
[00196] The coupling feature 146 may also comprise a third member 156
positioned proximate
to the detector 170 and/or the toggle member 172. The third member 156 may be
configured as a
disk positioned on a distal tip of the toggle member 172 or a ring configured
to encircle at least a
portion of the toggle member 172. As illustrated in Figures 9A and 9B, the
third member 156 may
be configured as a loop, ring, or similar circular shape positioned adjacent a
wall or surface of the
enclosure 152 opposite the distal surface 147. The third member 156 may
encircle at least a portion
of the toggle member 172 and/or the detector 170, or may be adjacent to the
toggle member 172
or the detector 170. While the third member 156 illustrated in Figures 9A and
9B is illustrated as
being at least partially disposed within the enclosure 152, it is also
contemplated that the third
member 156 may be positioned outside the enclosure 152. Furthermore, the
surface of the
enclosure 152 opposite the distal surface 147 may be configured as the third
member 156. For
example, the surface of the enclosure 152 opposite the distal surface 147 may
be integrally formed
with the third member 156. The third member 156 may be constructed of the
other of the
ferromagnetic material or the magnetic material, such that the third member
156 and the first
member 154 may be magnetically attracted to one another. The magnetic
attraction force between
the first member 154 and the third member 156 should provide sufficient force
to overcome the
biasing member of the toggle member 172. For example, the magnetic attraction
force between
the first member 154 and the third member 156, absent the application of any
additional forces to
the first member 154, should be sufficient to allow the first member 154 to
move and/or hold the
toggle member 172 in the first position, as illustrated in Figure 9A.
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[00197] In addition, the magnetic attraction force between the attachment
element 158 and the
first member 154 should be sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction
force between the first
member 154 and the third member 156. When the attachment element 158 and the
third member
156 each comprise a ferromagnetic material, the attachment element 158 and the
third member
156 may be configured to comprise differing magnetic masses. For example, in
order to have the
magnetic attraction force between the first member 154 and the attachment
element 158 be greater
than the magnetic attraction force between the first member 154 and the third
member 156, the
attachment element 158 may be configured to comprise a greater magnetic mass
than the third
member 156. Alternatively, when the attachment element 158 and third member
156 each
comprise a magnetic material, the attachment element 158 and the third member
156 may be
configured to comprise differing strength magnetic fields. For example, in
order to have the
magnetic attraction force between the first member 154 and the attachment
element 158 be greater
than the magnetic attraction force between the first member 154 and the third
member 156, the
attachment element 158 may exploit a stronger magnetic field than the third
member 156 so that
the attachment element 158 may pull the first member 154 away from the third
member 156.
[00198] In operation, as illustrated in Figure 9B, when the attachment element
158 is positioned
adjacent to the distal surface 147 of the coupling feature 146, the magnetic
attraction force
generated between the first member 154 and the attachment element 158 should
be sufficient to
overcome the magnetic attraction force between the first member 154 and the
third member 156.
The magnetic attraction force between the first member 154 and the attachment
element 158 should
overcome the magnetic attraction force between the first member 154 and the
third member 156,
moving the first member 154 from the first region 162 to the second region 164
of the void space.
This should allow the toggle member 172 to move from the second position to
the first position,
i.e., move the first member 154 and the toggle member 172 from the
configuration illustrated in
Figure 9A to the configuration illustrated in Figure 9B. This change in
position is detected by the
detector 170. The detector 170 can be in communication with a controller 180
on the surgical
helmet 120 that is in communication with the peripheral device(s) 130. The
operation of the
controller 180 will be described in detail below.
[00199] Illustrated in each of Figures 10A and 10B is a close-up sectional
view of a second
configuration of the coupling feature 246. More specifically, Figure 10A
illustrates a sectional
view of the second configuration of the coupling feature 246 in a first state,
i.e., when the surgical
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garment 112 is not coupled to the coupling feature 246. Alternatively, Figure
10B illustrates a
sectional view of a second configuration of the coupling feature 246 in a
second configuration,
i.e., when the surgical garment 112 is coupled to the coupling feature 246.
[00200] The second configuration of the coupling feature 246 may comprise a
distal surface 247
configured to removably engage an attachment element 158. The distal surface
247 may be
configured in any number of shapes configured to engage the corresponding
attachment element
158 of the surgical garment 112. For example, the distal surface 247 may be
configured as a
generally flat surface configured to engage an attachment element 158
comprising a flat rivet of
the surgical garment 112. Alternatively, the distal surface 247 may be curved,
arched, rounded,
and/or hemispherically-shaped and configured to matingly engage a reciprocally-
shaped
attachment element 158. While the distal surface 247 as illustrated in Figures
10A and 10B is
generally formed in a concave hemispherical shape, it is also contemplated
that the distal surface
247 may be formed in a convex hemispherical shape or other similar shapes.
[00201] The coupling feature 246 further comprises an enclosure 252 configured
to define a void
space. The distal surface 247 may comprise all or a portion of at least one
surface of the enclosure
252. The enclosure 252 may be generally configured in a cylindrical or tubular
shape.
Alternatively, the enclosure 252 may be generally configured in a rectangular
or similar polygonal
shape. As illustrated in Figures 10A and 10B, the enclosure 252 is generally
configured in a
cylindrical shape wherein the distal surface 247 forms a portion of the distal
end of the enclosure
252.
[00202] The void space defined by the enclosure 252 may be divided into one or
more regions.
For example, as illustrated in Figures 10A and 10B, the enclosure 252 may be
divided by a first
line 260 to define a first region 262 and a second region 264 of the void
space. The first region
262 may be positioned on the side of the first line 260 such that the first
region 262 is generally
proximal to the surgical helmet 120 and away from the distal surface 247. By
contrast, the second
region 264 may be positioned on the side of the first line 260 such that the
second region 264 is
generally distal to the surgical helmet 120 and proximate from the distal
surface 247.
[00203] The coupling feature 246 positioned within the control housing 150 of
the surgical helmet
120 may further comprise a first member 254 movably disposed within the
enclosure 252. The
first member 254 may be configured to move within the void space defined by
the enclosure 252.
For example, the first member 254 and the enclosure 252 may be configured
wherein the first
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member 254 is movable between the first region 262 and the second region 264
of the void space
defined by the enclosure 252. The first member 254 may be constructed of one
of a ferromagnetic
material or a magnetic material, and the attachment element 158 may be
constructed from the other
of the ferromagnetic material or the magnetic material. For example, the first
member 254 may
comprise a magnetic material and the attachment element 158 may comprise a
ferromagnetic
material. Alternatively, the first member 254 may comprise a ferromagnetic
material and the
attachment element 158 may comprise a magnetic material. In either
configuration, the first
member 254 and the attachment element 158 may be configured such that when the
attachment
element 158 is positioned proximate to the distal surface 247, the attachment
element 158 and the
first member 254 may be magnetically attracted to one another. For example,
when the attachment
element 158 is positioned proximate to the distal surface 247 of the coupling
feature 246, the
magnetic force between the first member 254 and the attachment element 158 may
serve to attach
and/or couple the surgical garment 112 to the surgical helmet 120. The first
member 254 may be
sized and/or shaped similar to as described above with regard to first member
154.
[00204] The coupling feature 246 may also comprise a third member 256
positioned proximate
to the surface of the enclosure 252 opposite the distal surface 247. For
example, the surface of the
enclosure 252 opposite the distal surface 247 may be integrally formed with
the third member 256.
While the third member 256 illustrated in Figures 10A and 10B is illustrated
as being at least
partially disposed within the enclosure 252, it is also contemplated that the
third member 256 may
be positioned outside the enclosure 252. The third member 256 may be
constructed of the other of
ferromagnetic material or the magnetic material, such that the third member
256 and the first
member 254 may be magnetically attracted to one another. The magnetic
attraction force between
the first member 254 and the third member 256 should provide sufficient force
to move and/or
hold the first member 254 in the first region 262 of the void space in the
absence of an additional
force being applied to the first member 254. For example, in the absence of
the application of an
additional force to the first member 254, the attraction force between the
first member 254 and the
third member 256 should hold the first member 254 in the first region 262 of
the void space, as
illustrated in Figure 10A.
[00205] Alternatively, the magnetic attraction force between the attachment
element 158 and the
first member 254 should be sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction
force between the first
member 254 and the third member 256. When the attachment element 158 and third
member 256
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each comprise a ferromagnetic material, the attachment element 158 and the
third member 256
may be configured to comprise differing magnetic masses. For example, in order
to have the
magnetic attraction force between the first member 254 and the attachment
element 158 be greater
than the magnetic attraction force between the first member 254 and the third
member 256, the
attachment element 158 may be configured to comprise a greater magnetic mass
than the third
member 256. Alternatively, when the attachment element 158 and third member
256 each
comprise a magnetic material, the attachment element 158 and the third member
256 may be
configured to comprise differing magnetic fields. For example, in order to
have the magnetic
attraction force between the first member 254 and the attachment element 158
be greater than the
magnetic attraction force between the first member 254 and the third member
256, the attachment
element 158 may exhibit a stronger magnetic field than the third member 256.
[00206] In operation, as illustrated in Figure 10B, when the attachment
element 158 is positioned
adjacent to the distal surface 247 of the coupling feature 246, the magnetic
attraction force
generated between the first member 254 and the attachment element 158 should
be sufficient to
overcome the magnetic attraction force between the first member 254 and the
third member 256.
The magnetic attraction force between the first member 254 and the attachment
element 158, when
positioned adjacent to the distal surface 247, should overcome the magnetic
attraction force
between the first member 254 and the third member 256, moving the first member
254 from the
first region 262 to the second region 264 of the void space.
[00207] The coupling feature 246 may further comprise a detector 270
positioned adjacent to the
enclosure 252 and configured to detect the position of the first member 254.
For example, the
detector 270 may comprise a near field detector, radar, optical sensor, Hall
Effect sensor, or similar
sensor. The detector 270 may be positioned near or adjacent the enclosure 252.
The detector may
be located within the enclosure 252 or external to the perimeter defined by
the enclosure 252. For
example, as illustrated in Figures 10A and 10B, the detector 270 may be
positioned adjacent to a
lateral surface of the enclosure 252 and proximate to the second region 264 of
the void space.
Alternatively, the detector 270 may be positioned adjacent to the lateral
surface of the enclosure
252 and proximate to the first region 262 of the void space. It is further
contemplated that it is not
required that the detector 270 be attached or coupled to the enclosure 252.
For example, the
detector 270 may be radially spaced from the lateral surface of the enclosure
252. When the
detector 270 is configured as a near field detector, such as a Hall Effect
sensor, it is contemplated
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that the detector 270 may be positioned anywhere within and/or proximate the
control housing
150, which will allow the detector 270 to detect and/or identify movement
and/or the position of
the first member 254 within the enclosure 252. While not illustrated in the
figures, it is also
contemplated that the detector 270 may be positioned adjacent to the surface
of the enclosure 252
opposite the distal surface 247 and/or proximate the third member 256.
[00208] However, depending on the type of sensor that is utilized, the
positioning of the detector
270 may provide operation advantages. For example, if the detector 270 is
configured as a Hall-
Effect sensor configured to determine whether the first member 254 is
positioned in the first region
262 or the second region 264 of the void space, positioning the Hall Effect
sensor adjacent to the
lateral surface of the enclosure 252 may allow the Hall Effect sensor to more
accurately detect
whether the first member 254 is positioned in the first region 262 or the
second region 264. In an
example configuration of the coupling feature 246 wherein the first member 254
comprises a
magnetic material, a magnetic field will be created surrounding the outer
surfaces of the first
member 254. The coupling feature 246 is configured such that at least one
outer surface of the first
member 254 slidably travels adjacent to a lateral surface of the enclosure
252. By positioning the
detector 270, i.e., the Hall Effect sensor, adjacent to the lateral surface of
the enclosure 252, the
Hall Effect sensor may more accurately detect subtle changes in the magnetic
field surrounding
the first member 254 that are created when the first member 254 is in the
first region 262 or the
second region 264. For example, the Hall Effect sensor may be positioned
adjacent to the lateral
surface of the enclosure 252 proximate the first region 262. In this
configuration, the Hall Effect
sensor is likely to detect the magnetic field created by the first member 254
when the first member
254 is in the first region 262. Alternatively, the Hall Effect sensor is
likely to detect the absence
of a magnetic field when the first member 254 is in the second region 264.
Based on the presence
or absence of the magnetic field, the detector may be configured to generate a
signal indicative of
the position of the first member 254. In another example, the Hall Effect
sensor may be positioned
adjacent the lateral surface of the enclosure 252 proximate the second region
264. In this
configuration, the Hall Effect sensor is likely to detect the magnetic field
created by the first
member 254 when the first member 254 is in the second region 264.
Alternatively, the Hall Effect
sensor is likely to detect the absence of a magnetic field when the first
member 254 is in the first
region 262. Based on the presence or absence of the magnetic field, the
detector 270, i.e., the Hall
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Effect sensor, again may be configured to generate a signal indicative of the
position of the first
member 254.
[00209] In yet another configuration, as described above, the detector 270,
i.e., the Hall Effect
sensor, may be positioned on or proximate to the surface of the enclosure 252
opposite the distal
surface 247. In this configuration, wherein the first member 254 comprises a
magnetic material,
the Hall Effect sensor is likely to detect the magnetic field created by the
first member 254 when
the first member 254 is in the first region 262. Alternatively, the Hall
Effect sensor is likely to
detect the absence of a magnetic field when the first member 254 is in the
second region 264.
Based on the presence or absence of the magnetic field, the detector 270 may
be configured to
generate a signal indicative of the position of the first member 254. In the
configuration described
above, wherein the first member 254 comprises a ferromagnetic material and the
third member
256 comprises a magnetic material, the Hall Effect sensor is likely to detect
the magnetic field
created by the third member 256. In this configuration, the magnetic field
created by the third
member 256 is likely to change based on the position of the first member 254
relative to the third
member 256. For example, when the first member 254 is positioned in the first
region 262 and is
proximate the third member 256, the third member is likely to create a first
magnetic field.
Alternatively, when the first member 254 is positioned in the second region
264 and is distant from
the third member 256, the third member is likely to create a second magnetic
field. The detector
270 may be configured to detect whether the first magnetic field or the second
magnetic field
surrounds the third member 256.
[00210] In operation, the first member 254 may be configured to operatively
and/or slidingly
move between the first region 262 and the second region 264 of the void space.
For example, as
illustrated in Figure 10A, the first member 254 may be positioned in the first
region 262 of the
void space. Alternatively, as illustrated in Figure 10B, the first member 254
may be positioned in
the second region 264 of the void space. In the examples described above, the
detector 270 may
be configured as a near field sensor, such as a Hall Effect sensor. As the
first member 254 moves
between the first region 262 and the second region 264, there may be changes
in the characteristics
of the magnetic field surrounding the first member 254, and the detector 270
may be configured
to detect or identify the position of the first member 254 based, at least in
part, on the magnetic
field that is detected.
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[00211] Alternatively, the detector 270 may be configured as an optical
sensor, wherein the lateral
surface of the enclosure 252 comprises an aperture and/or transparent window.
The aperture and/or
transparent window may be positioned in the lateral surface of the enclosure
252 proximate the
first region 262 or the second region 264 of the void space. The optical
sensor may be positioned
adjacent to the enclosure 252 so as to align the optical sensor with the
aperture and/or transparent
window, allowing the optical sensor to see at least a portion of the void
space within the enclosure
252. For example, if the aperture or window in the enclosure 252 is positioned
to allow the optical
sensor to view a portion of the second region 264 of the void space, the
optical sensor may be
configured to detect the presence or absence of the first member 254 in the
second region 264.
The optical sensor may then be configured to output a signal identifying
whether the first member
254 is present or absent in the second region 264. An emitter may need to be
positioned opposite
the optical sensor in certain configurations. In this configuration, the
emitter may produce a signal
to be received and/or detected by the optical sensor. The emitter and optical
sensor may be
positioned relative to one another such that the first member 254 may be
configured to inhibit
and/or block the signal from the emitter to the optical sensor when the first
member 254 is
positioned in the first region 262 or the second region 264. The optical
sensor may then be
configured to produce a signal based on the receipt of or failure to receive
the signal from the
emitter which is indicative of whether the first member 254 is positioned in
the first region 262 or
the second region 264. For example, the emitter and optical sensor may be
positioned relative to
one another such that the first member 254 may inhibit and/or block the signal
from the emitter to
the optical sensor when the first member 254 is positioned in the first region
262. In this
configuration, the optical sensor may be configured to produce a signal
indicating the first member
254 is in the first region 262 when the optical sensor fails to receive the
signal from the emitter.
Alternatively, the optical sensor may produce a signal indicating the first
member 254 is in the
second region 262 when the optical sensor receives the signal from the
emitter. The optical sensor
and emitter may be similarly configured to identify the position of the first
member 254 if the
optical sensor and emitter are positioned such that the first member 254 may
inhibit and/or block
the signal from the emitter to the optical sensor when the first member 254 is
positioned in the
second region 264.
[00212] As described above with regard to the various configurations of the
detector 270 of the
coupling feature 246, the detector 270 may be configured to detect the
movement and/or position
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of the first member 254. The detector 270 can be in communication with a
controller 180 on the
helmet 120 that is in communication with the peripheral device(s) 130. The
detector 270 may be
further configured to communicate a signal to the controller 180 based, at
least in part, on the
position and/or movement of the first member 254. The operation of the
controller 180 will be
described in detail below.
[00213] Illustrated in Figure 11 is a close-up sectional view of a third
configuration of a coupling
feature 346. The coupling feature 346 may be at least partially disposed
within the control housing
150 of the surgical helmet 120. The third configuration of the coupling
feature 346 may comprise
a first member 354 comprising a distal surface 347 configured to removably
couple with one of
the attachment elements 158 of the surgical garment 112. The distal surface
347 of the first member
354 may be at least partially recessed within the control housing 150 of the
surgical helmet 120.
For example, as illustrated in Figure 11, the distal surface 347 may be
generally formed in a
concave hemispherical shape. It is also contemplated that the distal surface
347 may be formed in
a convex hemispherical shape or other similar curved shape configured to
receive a complementary
shaped attachment elements 158 of the surgical garment 112. While the distal
surface 347 as
illustrated in Figure 11 is generally formed in a concave or inwardly directed
hemispherical shape,
it is also contemplated that the distal surface 347 may be formed in a convex
or outwardly projected
hemispherical-shape, a half-cylinder shape or other similar shapes. For
example, the distal surface
347 may be curved, arched, or rounded in a manner that projects outwardly from
an outer surface
of the control housing 150 to create a convex-shaped distal surface 347. The
corresponding
attachment element 158 of the surgical garment 112 may comprise a concave
surface configured
to matingly engage the convex shaped distal surface 347 of the coupling
feature 346. The distal
surface 347 of the first member 354 may also be configured in a generally flat
and circular shape.
[00214] The first member 354, and by extension the distal surface 347, of the
coupling feature
346 may be constructed of the other of the ferromagnetic material or the
magnetic material. For
example, the first member 354 may comprise a magnetic material and the
attachment element 158
may comprise a ferromagnetic material. Alternatively, the first member 354 may
comprise a
ferromagnetic material and the attachment element 158 may comprise a magnetic
material. In
either configuration, the first member 354 and the corresponding attachment
element 158 may be
configured such that the first member 354 and the attachment element 158 may
be magnetically
attracted to one another. The magnetic attraction force between the first
member 354 and the
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attachment element 158 should provide sufficient force to removably couple the
surgical garment
112 to the surgical helmet 120. The distal surface 347 of the first member 354
may be configured
in a hemispherical or similar curved shape, as described above, to improve the
retaining force
between the first member 354 and the attachment element 158 when coupled.
[00215] The coupling feature 346 may further comprise a detector 370, such as
a mechanical
switch, at least partially disposed within the control housing 150. The
detector 370 may be
positioned adjacent to the first member 354 and proximate to the distal
surface 347. The detector
370 may further comprise a toggle member 372 that is moveable between a first
position and a
second position. The toggle member 372 may comprise a biasing member, such as
a spring, that
is configured to move and/or hold the toggle member 372 in the second position
absent an
additional force being applied to the toggle member 372. The detector 370 may
be configured to
detect the position of the toggle member 372 and output a signal based, at
least in part, on the
position of the toggle member 372.
[00216] In operation, the attachment element 158 of the surgical garment 112
may be configured
to operatively engage the toggle member 372 of the detector 370 to move the
toggle member 372
between the first position and the second position. For example, when the
attachment element 158
is positioned adjacent to the distal surface 347 of the first member 354, the
attachment element
158 may be configured to engage the toggle member 372. The attraction force
between the first
member 354 and the attachment element 158 may be sufficient to overcome the
force of the biasing
member to move and/or hold the toggle member 372 in the first position while
the attachment
element 158 is coupled to the coupling feature 364. Alternatively, when the
attachment element
158 is not positioned adjacent to the distal surface 347 of the first member
354, the biasing member
of the toggle member 372 may move and/or hold the toggle member 372 in the
second position.
As described above, the detector 370 may be configured to detect the position
of the toggle member
372. The detector 370 can be in communication with a controller 180 on the
helmet 120 that is in
communication with the peripheral device(s) 130. The operation of the
controller 180 will be
described in detail below. The detector 370 may be configured to communicate a
signal to the
controller 180 based, at least in part, on said toggle member 372 being in
either the first position
and/or the second position.
[00217] Illustrated in Figure 12A is a close-up sectional view of a fourth
configuration of the
coupling feature 446. The coupling feature 446 may be at least partially
disposed within the control
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housing 150 of the surgical helmet 120. The fourth configuration of the
coupling feature 446 may
comprise a first member 454 comprising a distal surface 447 configured to
removably couple with
one of the attachment elements 158 of the surgical garment 112. The distal
surface 447 of the
coupling feature 446 may be at least partially recessed within the control
housing 150 of the
surgical helmet 120. For example, as illustrated in Figure 12A, the distal
surface 447 may be
generally formed in a concave hemispherical shape. It is also contemplated
that the distal surface
447 may be formed in a convex hemispherical shape or other similar curved
shape configured to
receive a complementary attachment element 158 of the surgical garment 112.
While the distal
surface 447 as illustrated in Figure 12A is generally formed in a concave or
inwardly directed
hemispherical shape, it is also contemplated that the distal surface 447 may
be formed in a convex
or outwardly projected hemispherical shape, a half-cylinder shape or other
similar shapes. For
example, the distal surface 447 may be curved, arched, or rounded in a manner
that projects
outwardly from an outer surface of the control housing 150 to create a convex-
shaped distal surface
447. The corresponding attachment element 158 of the surgical garment 112 may
comprise a
concave surface configured to matingly engage the convex-shaped distal surface
447 of the
coupling feature 146. The distal surface 447 of the first member 454 may also
be configured in a
generally flat and circular shape.
[00218] The first member 454, and by extension the distal surface 447, of the
coupling feature
446 may be constructed of the other of the ferromagnetic material or the
magnetic material. For
example, the first member 454 may comprise a magnetic material and the
attachment element 158
may comprise a ferromagnetic material. Alternatively, the first member 454 may
comprise a
ferromagnetic material and the attachment element 158 may comprise a magnetic
material. In
either configuration, the first member 454 and the attachment element 158 may
be configured such
that the first member 454 and the attachment element 158 may be magnetically
attracted to one
another. The magnetic attraction force between the first member 454 and the
attachment element
158 should provide sufficient force to removably couple the surgical garment
112 to the surgical
helmet 120. The distal surface 447 of the first member 454 may be configured
in a hemispherical
or similar curved shape, as described above, in part to improve the retaining
force between the first
member 454 and the attachment element 158 when coupled together. The
hemispherical or
similarly curved shape distal surface 447 of the first member 454 may also
serve to align the
attachment element 158 with the center of the first member 454.
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[00219] Alternatively, referring to Figure 12B, a close-up sectional view of a
fifth configuration
of the coupling feature 546 is illustrated. The distal surface 547 of the
first member 554 may define
an aperture. The first member 554 may comprise a distal surface 547. The first
member 554, and
by extension, the distal surface 547, of the coupling feature 546 may be
constructed of one of the
ferromagnetic material or the magnetic material. By contrast, at least a
portion of the attachment
element 558 of the face shield 118 may comprise the other of the ferromagnetic
material or the
magnetic material. For example, the first member 554 may comprise a magnetic
material and the
attachment element 558 may comprise a ferromagnetic material. Alternatively,
the first member
554 may comprise a ferromagnetic material and the attachment element 558 may
comprise a
magnetic material. In either configuration, the first member 554 and the
attachment element 558
may be configured such that the first member 554 and the attachment element
558 may be
magnetically attracted to one another.
[00220] The distal surface 547 may further define an aperture positioned
proximate to the center
of the generally flat distal surface 547 resulting in the first member 554
having a ring-shape. The
aperture may define an aperture axis relative to the first member 554. The
first member 554 may
further comprise a lateral axis that is generally perpendicular to the
aperture axis. The first member
554 may also comprise a lateral surface 549 oriented to be generally parallel
to the lateral axis of
the first member 554. In this configuration of the coupling feature 546, the
attachment element
558 may be configured to comprise a protrusion 562 extending from a base 560.
The protrusion
562 may be constructed from the other of the ferromagnetic material or the
magnetic material.
Alternatively, the protrusion 562 may be constructed from a plastic or
polymeric material or other
non-magnetic material. For example, the protrusion 562 may be constructed from
a polymeric
material, and the base 560 of the attachment element 558 may be constructed of
a magnetic
material and configured to create a magnetic attraction with the first member
554 of the coupling
feature 546. In yet another configuration, the protrusion 562 may be
constructed from a
combination of a magnetic and a non-magnetic material. For example, an
interior portion of the
protrusion 562 may be constructed from a magnetic material, and an outer
surface of the magnetic
material may be coated with a non-magnetic material, such as a plastic
polymer. The interior
portion of the protrusion 562 comprising the magnetic material may be
magnetically attracted to
the first member 554 of the coupling feature 546.
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[00221] The protrusion 562 of the attachment element 558 may be configured to
matingly engage
the aperture of the distal surface 547 of the first member 554, wherein the
aperture of the distal
surface 547 may be configured to receive the protrusion 562 of the attachment
element 558. The
aperture may further be configured to align and/or position the attachment
element 558 relative to
the coupling feature 546 and/or with the center of the first member 554.
[00222] In both the fourth and fifth configurations of the coupling feature
446, 546 described
above, the coupling features 446, 546 may further comprise a detector 470,
570, such as a near
field sensor or Hall Effect sensor, that is at least partially disposed within
the control housing 150.
The detector 470, 570 may be positioned adjacent to the lateral surface of the
respective first
member 454, 554 and proximate to the distal surface 447, 547. The detector
470, 570 may be
configured to detect changes in the magnetic field surrounding the first
member 454, 554 created
by the presence or absence of the attachment element 158, 558 of the surgical
garment 112 being
adjacent the distal surface 447, 547. For example, if the detector 470, 570 is
configured as a Hall
Effect sensor, the detector 470, 570 may be configured to determine whether
the attachment
element 158, 558 is positioned adjacent the distal surface 447, 547 of the
first member 454, 554
based on the magnetic field surrounding the first member 454, 554. By placing
the Hall Effect
sensor adjacent to the lateral surface of the first member 454, 554 and
incorporating an alignment
feature into the distal surface 447, 547 to align the center of the attachment
element 158, 558 with
the center of the first member 454, 554, the Hall Effect sensor may be able to
more accurately
detect subtle changes in the magnetic field surrounding the first member 454,
554 created by the
presence or absence of the attachment element 158, 558 being positioned
adjacent to the distal
surface 447, 547. Furthermore, when the detector 470, 570 is configured as a
near field detector,
such as a Hall Effect sensor, it is contemplated that the detector 470, 570
may be positioned
anywhere within and/or proximate the control housing 150, which will allow the
detector 470, 570
to detect and/or identify a change in the magnetic field surrounding the first
member 454, 554.
While not illustrated in the figures, it is also contemplated that the
detector 470, 570 may be
positioned adjacent to the distal surface 447, 547 and/or proximate the first
member 454, 554.
[00223] In operation, the attachment element 158, 558 of the surgical garment
112 may be
configured to removably couple with the first member 454, 554, such that the
attachment element
158, 558 may be positioned adjacent the distal surface 447, 547 when the
surgical garment 112 is
coupled to the surgical helmet 120. For example, when the attachment element
158, 558 is
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positioned adjacent the distal surface 447, 547 of the first member 454, 554,
a third magnetic field
may surround the first member 454, 554. The detector 470, 570 may be
configured to detect the
third magnetic field. Alternatively, when the attachment element 158, 558 is
not positioned
adjacent to the distal surface 447, 547 of the first member 454, 554, a fourth
magnetic field may
surround the first member 454, 554. The detector 470, 570 may similarly be
configured to detect
the fourth magnetic field. As described above, the detector 470, 570 can be in
communication with
a controller 180 on the surgical helmet 120 that is in communication with the
peripheral device(s)
130. The detector 470, 570 may be configured to communicate a signal to the
controller 180
indicating the presence or absence of the surgical garment 112 based on
whether the detector 470,
570 detects the third magnetic field or the fourth magnetic field. The
operation of the controller
180 will be described in detail below.
[00224] Each of the various configurations of the surgical apparel system 110
described above
may further comprise an energy source 182. As each of the various
configurations of the system
10, 110 described above may comprise the energy source 182, a generic
schematic representation
of the energy source 182 in communication with the controller 180 is
illustrated in phantom in
Figure 8. The energy source 182 may be configured to be connected or
interconnected with the
system 10, 110 and/or the surgical helmet 20, 120. The energy source 182, such
as a battery, may
be configured to be portable. The energy source 182 may be rechargeable and/or
replaceable, such
that the energy source 182 of the system 10, 110 may be exchanged or replaced.
[00225] Each of the various configurations of the surgical apparel system 110
described above
may also comprise an energy sensor 186 in communication with the controller
180 and/or the
energy source 182. As each of the various configurations of the system 10, 110
described above
may comprise the energy sensor 186, a schematic representation of the energy
sensor 186 in
communication with the controller 180 and the energy source 182 is illustrated
in phantom in
Figure 8. The energy sensor 186 may be configured to detect a characteristic
of the energy source
182. The characteristic of the energy source detected by the energy sensor 186
may comprise (but
is not limited to) the remaining power level or electrical charge, state of
charge, voltage, capacity,
health, current draw or similar characteristic related to the energy source
182. The energy sensor
186 may be further configured to generate or produce an energy signal based on
the detected
characteristic. The energy sensor 186 may also be configured to communicate
the energy signal to
the controller 180. The energy sensor 186 may be configured to communicate the
energy signal to
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the controller 180 based on a default or user defined threshold value. For
example, the energy
sensor 186 may be configured to detect the remaining electrical charge of the
energy source 182
where the threshold value is defined as fifteen percent (15%) of remaining
electrical charge. In
this configuration, the energy sensor 186 may be configured to communicate the
energy signal to
the controller 180 when the remaining electrical charge reaches and/or drops
below fifteen percent
(15%) of remaining electrical charge. The energy sensor 186 may also be
configured to generate
the energy signal at a plurality of different threshold values. For example,
in the configuration
described above, the energy sensor 186 may also be configured to generate a
plurality of energy
signals based on the remaining electric charge of the energy source 182. In
operation, the energy
sensor 186 may be configured to generate a first energy signal when the energy
source 182 reaches
and/or drops below 50% remaining electric charge, a second energy signal when
the energy source
182 reaches and/or drops below 25% remaining electric charge, and/or a third
energy signal when
the energy source 182 reaches and/or drops below 10% remaining electric
charge. In this
configuration, the first, second, and/or third energy signal generated by the
energy sensor 186 and
communicated to the controller 180 may be indicative of the remaining
electrical charge of the
energy source 182.
[00226] The controller 180 may be configured to produce a signal that may be
communicated to
a user display, such as an LCD screen, digital display, or plurality of
lights, wherein the user
display is configured to display indicia indicative of the remaining electric
charge. For example,
when the user display comprises an LCD screen, the LCD screen may be
configured to display
"50%", "25%", etc. indicating the remaining electric charge. Alternatively,
when the user display
comprises a plurality of lights, each of the lights may comprise a different
color, wherein each
color light represents a different level of remaining electric charge of the
energy source 182. For
example, the user display may comprise a yellow light, an orange light, and a
red light, and the
controller 180 may be configured to communicate a signal to the user display
to illuminate the
yellow light when the remaining electric charge reaches and/or drops below
50%. The controller
180 may be configured to communicate a signal to the user display to
illuminate the orange light
when the remaining electric charge reaches and/or drops below 25%. The
controller 180 may be
configured to communicate a signal to the user display to illuminate the red
light when the
remaining electric charge reaches and/or drops below 10%. Based on which light
is illuminated,
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the user may determine the approximate remaining electric charge of the energy
source 182. The
remaining electric charge may also be conveyed with a speaker.
[00227] Each of the various configurations of the coupling feature 146, 246,
346, 446, 546
described above comprises a detector 170, 270, 370, 470, 570 configured to
detect a characteristic
of the coupling feature 146, 246, 346, 446, 546 that may be utilized to
identify whether the surgical
garment 112 is coupled to the surgical helmet 120. The detector 170, 270, 370,
470, 570 may be
further configured to output a signal based on the detected characteristic to
indicate the presence
or absence of the surgical garment 112 being coupled to the surgical helmet
120. For example, the
detector 170, 270, 370, 470, 570 may be configured to detect and/or determine
when the surgical
garment 112 is coupled to the surgical helmet 120 and output the signal
indicative of the surgical
garment 112 being coupled to or absent from the surgical helmet 120. In one
exemplary
configuration, the detector 170, 270, 370, 470, 570 may be configured to
output the signal when
the surgical garment 112 is coupled to the surgical helmet 120. In another
exemplary configuration,
the detector 170, 270, 370, 470, 570 may be configured to output the signal
when the surgical
garment 112 is absent or de-coupled from the surgical helmet 120. In yet
another exemplary
configuration, the detector 170, 270, 370, 470, 570 may be configured to
output a first signal when
the surgical garment 112 is coupled to the surgical helmet 120 and output a
second signal when
the surgical garment 112 is absent or de-coupled from the surgical helmet 120.
[00228] In each embodiment and/or configuration of the coupling feature 146,
246, 346, 446, 546
described above, the detector 170, 270, 370, 470, 570 may be in communication
with a controller
180. The controller 180 may further be in communication with one or more of
the peripheral
devices 130 of the surgical helmet 120 that are described above. It should be
understood that the
controller 180 may be positioned anywhere on the surgical helmet 120. For
example, the controller
180 may be positioned within the control housing 150 and adjacent to the
detector 170, 270, 370,
470, 570. Alternatively, the controller 180 may be positioned within the void
in the housing 132
of the surgical helmet 120.
[00229] The controller 180 may be configured to communicate operational
commands to the
detector 170, 270, 370, 470, 570, as well as be configured to receive a signal
from the detector
170, 270, 370, 470, 570 related to a characteristic of the signal detected by
the detector 170, 270,
370, 470, 570. The controller 180 may also be connected to the one or more
peripheral devices
130 of the surgical helmet 120, such as the ventilation assembly 130, wherein
the controller 180
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is configured to communicate operational commands to and from the ventilation
assembly 130, or
other peripheral device 130 based on the signal received from the detector
170, 270, 370, 470, 570.
For example, the controller 180 may be configured to adjust the amount of
power transmitted to
the ventilation system 130 to control the speed of the fan blade. It is
further contemplated that two
separate controllers may also be utilized.
[00230] Regardless of the configuration of the coupling feature 146, 246, 346,
446, 546
configuration, the detector 170, 270, 370, 470, 570 may be configured to
communicate a signal to
the controller 180 based on the presence of, absence of, and/or changes in the
characteristic to be
detected by the detector 170, 270, 370, 470, 570. For example, the detector
170, 370 of the first
configuration of the coupling feature 146 and/or the third configuration of
the coupling feature 346
may be configured to detect the presence or absence of the surgical garment
112 based on the
position of the toggle member 172, 372. Alternatively, the detector 270, 470,
570 of the second
configuration of the coupling feature 246 and/or the fourth configuration of
the coupling feature
446 and/or the fifth configuration of the coupling feature 546 may be
configured to detect the
presence or absence of the surgical garment 112 based on changes in the
magnetic field
surrounding the first member 254, 454, 554 of the coupling feature 246, 446,
546. The controller
180 may be configured to communicate a command or regulate an operational
characteristic of the
peripheral device 130 based on the signal received from the detector 170, 270,
370, 470, 570.
[00231] In one configuration, the controller 180 may be configured to
interpret the signal(s)
received from the detector 170, 270, 370, 470, 570 and control the
transmission of energy from
the energy source to the peripheral device 130. For example, if the controller
180 determines that,
based on the signal received from detector 170, 270, 370, 470, 570 or the
absence of a signal from
the detector 170, 270, 370, 470, 570, the surgical garment 112 is absent from
the surgical helmet
120, the controller 180 may be configured to prevent the transmission of
energy from the energy
source to the peripheral device 130. One disadvantage of operating the system
110 that is
eliminated by this feature is the generation of unnecessary noise that may be
produced by the
peripheral device(s) 130 when the peripheral device(s) 130 is not serving a
useful purpose. A
second disadvantage that may be eliminated by preventing the actuation of a
peripheral device 130
prior to mounting the surgical garment 112 to the surgical helmet 120 is the
drawing down of the
charge in the energy source 182 when actuation of the peripheral device 130 is
not needed.
Alternatively, if the controller 180 determines that, based on the signal
received from detector 170,
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270, 370, 470, 570 or the absence of a signal from the detector 170, 270, 370,
470, 570, the surgical
garment 112 is coupled to the surgical helmet 120, the controller 180 may be
configured to allow
the transmission of energy to the peripheral device 130. Alternatively still,
the controller 180 may
control operation of the peripheral device 130 based on the signal received
from the detector 170,
270, 370, 470, 570.
[00232] The surgical apparel system 110 may further comprise a memory device
184 coupled to
the surgical helmet 120 and in communication with the controller 180. The
memory device 184
may be positioned within or on any portion of the surgical helmet 120. For
example, the memory
device 184 may be positioned within the control housing 150. Alternatively,
the memory device
184 may be positioned within the housing 132 of the surgical helmet 120. The
memory device
184 may be configured to store data related to the operation of the peripheral
device(s) 130. For
example, the memory device 184 may store operating conditions related to each
peripheral device
130, such as operating conditions based on the various types of surgical
garments 112 that may be
attached to the surgical helmet 120. The operating conditions stored on the
memory device 184
may include a maximum and/or minimum operating speed for peripheral device(s)
130 of the
surgical helmet 120 for each type of surgical garment 112. For example, the
memory device 184
may store different operating fan speeds for a toga and a hood. The memory
device 184 may also
be configured to store operating instructions or programming steps configured
to be executed by
the controller 180. The memory device 184 may also store individual user
settings or preferences
for operating one or more of the peripheral device(s) 130. For example, the
user settings stored on
the memory device 184 may comprise the most recent fan speed of the
ventilation assembly
selected by the individual user wearing the surgical helmet 120.
[00233] In each of the various embodiments and/or configurations of the
surgical apparel system
110 and the coupling feature 146, 246, 346, 446, 546 described above, the
system 110 may
comprise additional features and/or components configured to work in
communication with the
controller 180 to prevent operation of the surgical helmet 120 and/or any
peripheral devices 130
of the surgical helmet 120 based on a defined characteristic. For example, the
controller 180 may
be configured to prevent operation of the peripheral device(s) 130 until after
the surgical garment
112 has been mounted on the surgical helmet 120. Alternatively, the controller
180 may be
configured to prevent operation of the peripheral device(s) 130 if a
previously used or incompatible
surgical garment 112 is coupled to the surgical helmet 120.
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[00234] Referring to Figures 13A and 13B, an alternative configuration of the
surgical apparel
system 610 is illustrated. It should be appreciated that the various
configurations of the surgical
apparel system 610 may include similar elements to the systems described above
and identified by
reference numerals that are incremented by 100. It should be understood that
those elements
including reference numerals which are incremented by 100 can have the same
and/or similar
features to those described above.
[00235] The third configuration of the surgical apparel system 610 may
comprise a surgical
garment assembly comprising a surgical garment 612 configured for attachment
to a surgical
helmet 620. As described above, the surgical garment 612 may provide a
barrier, such as a
microbial barrier, between the wearer and the surrounding environment. The
barrier created by the
surgical garment 612 may benefit both the wearer and the patient. The barrier
provided by the
surgical garment 612 may substantially eliminate the likelihood that the
wearer may come into
contact with fluid or solid particles of matter from the patient that may be
generated during the
course of a surgical procedure. The barrier may substantially prevent the
transfer of any foreign
particles emitted by the wearer from being transferred to the patient during
the surgical procedure.
[00236] Referring to Figures 13A, 13B, and 14, the surgical garment 612 may
include a fabric
614 configured to cover the surgical helmet 620 and at least a portion of the
head of the wearer.
The surgical garment 612 may be configured as a hood, toga, or other similar
medical garment,
similar to either of the configurations of the surgical apparel system 10, 110
described above. The
surgical garment 612 may further comprise a face shield 618, also referred to
as a transparent face
shield, and one or more attachment elements 658 positioned about the surgical
garment 612. The
attachment elements 658 may also be referred to as a second member or garment
fastener. The
attachment elements 658 may serve as an alignment element configured to
removably couple the
surgical garment 612 to the surgical helmet 620. Furthermore, the attachment
elements 658 may
be positioned proximate the outer perimeter of the face shield 618 such that
the fabric 614 covers
the attachment elements 658. This may serve to ensure the fabric 614 covers
the attachment
elements 658 to maintain the barrier provided by the surgical garment 612
between the wearer and
the environment.
[00237] The attachment elements 658 may comprise a ferromagnetic material. In
other words,
the attachment element may comprise iron, nickel, cobalt, gadolinium,
dysprosium, or alloys
thereof, or combinations thereof In certain configurations, it should be
appreciated that the
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attachment elements may comprise a material, i.e., atoms, that is attracted to
a magnetic field
exhibited by the magnetic material positioned on the helmet. It is
contemplated that the entirety of
the attachment element 658 may consist of the ferromagnetic material in
certain embodiments. It
is also contemplated that the attachment element 658 comprises both
ferromagnetic material and
diamagnetic material. For example, the attachment elements 658 may comprise a
diamagnetic
material which has been coated with a ferromagnetic material. Alternatively,
the attachment
elements 658 may be formed from a ferromagnetic material as a core, and then
coated with a plastic
or similar non-magnetic coating configured to provide a sterile and/or wear-
resistant surface. Other
arrangements of the diamagnetic and magnetic material are contemplated for the
attachment
element 658. It should be appreciated that the surgical garment 612, and all
components thereof,
may be configured similarly and/or comprise the features of the surgical
garment(s) 12, 112
described above.
[00238] The surgical garment 612 may also comprise a tab 655A, 655B. The tab
655A, 655B may
be disposed on the wearer side or interior of the surgical garment 612. The
tab 655A, 655B may
comprise a pair of opposing edges 643A, 643B and define an opening 656A, 655B.
As illustrated
in Figure 13A, the tab 655A may be formed as a portion of the face shield 618.
The tab 655A may
define at least a portion of the opening 656A, with a portion of the opening
656A also being defined
by the face shield 618. It is also contemplated that the opening 656A may be
entirely formed or
defined within the tab 655A.
[00239] Alternatively, as illustrated in Figure 13B, the tab 655B may be
formed separate from
the face shield 618. In this configuration, the tab 655B may be coupled
directly to the interior
surface of the fabric 14 of the surgical garment 612. The tab 655B may be
formed from a plastic
similar to the face shield 618 and may be coupled to the surgical garment 612
by an epoxy, glue,
or similar adhesive. Alternatively, the tab 655B may be formed from a fabric
similar to the fabric
614 of the surgical garment 612, wherein the tab 655B may be sewn or coupled
to the surgical
garment 612 by an adhesive. Furthermore, the opening 656B may be entirely
defined by the tab
655B.
[00240] Referring again to Figures 13A, 13B, and 14, an exemplary
configuration of the surgical
apparel system 610 is described in detail. The system 610 may include a
surgical garment 612 and
surgical helmet 620. Similar to the systems 10, 110 described above, the
configuration of the
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system 610 illustrated in Figures 13A, 13B, and 14 may comprise one or more
peripheral devices
630, such as a ventilation assembly.
[00241] The ventilation assembly 630 illustrated in Figure 14, is one example
of a peripheral
device 630 that may be incorporated into the surgical helmet 620 of the
surgical apparel system
610. While the ventilation assembly 630 is shown as an integral component of
the surgical helmet
620, it should be appreciated that each of the other peripheral devices 130
described above may be
either an integral component of the surgical helmet 120, or may be removably
coupled to the
surgical helmet 620. The surgical helmet 620 illustrated in Figure 14
comprises the ventilation
assembly 630 positioned within the void of the housing 632. The ventilation
assembly 630 may
include a fan blade, impeller, propeller, fan wheel, or similar blade
mechanism configured to
induce air movement. The blade may be coupled to a motor configured to rotate
the blade when
energized by a power source. When the blade is actuated, the ventilation
assembly 630 is
configured to draw air into the void of the housing 632 through the intake
opening in the top of
the housing 632. The additional voids of the housing 632 may be connected to
the void and serve
as ducts for dispersing the air drawn into the void to the wearer.
[00242] Referring to Figures 14, 15A, and 15B, the surgical helmet 620 may
comprise atop beam
629 positioned forward of the housing 632 of the surgical helmet 620 and
configured to extend
across the front of the surgical helmet 620. The top beam 629 may further
comprise a recess. The
recess of the top beam 629 may comprise a pair of laterally spaced-apart side
walls 639A, 639B,
and a proximal surface 637 that is positioned proximally from the distal
surface 631 of the top
beam 629. The side walls 639A, 639B, and the proximal surface 637 may define
an alignment
channel 645, wherein the alignment channel 645 is configured to receive a tab
655A, 655B
disposed on the interior of the surgical garment 612 to align and/or orient
the surgical garment 612
relative to the surgical helmet 620. As described above, the tab 655A may be
integrally formed
with and configured to extend from the face shield 618. Alternatively, the tab
655B may be formed
independent of the face shield 618, wherein the tab 655B is configured to be
coupled to the fabric
614 on the interior of the surgical garment 612. However, other configurations
are contemplated.
The spaced-apart side walls 639A, 639B of the alignment channel 645 should be
spaced apart a
distance greater than the width of the tab 655A, 655B to allow the tab 655A,
655B to be positioned
between the spaced-apart side walls 639A, 639B.
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[00243] The top beam 629 may further comprise a coupling feature 646
configured to removably
engage the face shield 618 and/or surgical garment 612. The coupling feature
646 may comprise
a protrusion, magnetic member, ferromagnetic member, hook and loop, or similar
coupling
mechanism configured to releasably engage the opening 656 in the tab 655A,
655B to align and/or
couple the surgical garment 612 to the surgical helmet 620. For example, as
illustrated in Figures
15A and 15B, the coupling feature 646 is realized as a protrusion 646
extending from the alignment
channel 645 of the top beam 629. Here, the top beam 629 comprises the
alignment channel 645
described above, and the coupling feature 646 may be disposed at least
partially within the
alignment channel 645, as illustrated in Figures 14, 15A, and 15B. The
coupling feature 646 may
be positioned within the alignment channel 645 such that the top of the upper
most surface coupling
feature 646 is arranged or otherwise positioned below the top of the top of
the alignment channel
645 and/or the top surface of the top beam 629. The combination of the spaced-
apart side walls
639A, 639B of the alignment channel 645 coupling feature 646 may serve to
align and/or orient
the face shield 618 and/or the surgical garment 612 relative to the surgical
helmet 620. More
specifically, the spaced-apart side walls 639A, 639B of the alignment channel
645 may serve to
guide the tab 655A, 655B such that the opening 656 in the tab 655A, 655B is
directed into
engagement with the coupling feature 646 as the surgical garment 612 is placed
over the surgical
helmet 620.
[00244] The surgical helmet 620 may include a chin bar 624 that extends
downwardly from the
front portion of the surgical helmet 620. The chin bar 624 may comprise a
first post 626A and a
second post 626B. The first and second posts 626A, 626B may be coupled to the
top beam 629,
wherein the top beam 629 is configured to extend across the front of the
surgical helmet 620. For
example, as illustrated in Figure 14, the first and second posts 626A, 626B
may be connected to
opposing ends of the top beam 129. The chin bar 624 may be constructed from a
generally flexible
or pliable material.
[00245] The chin bar 624 may further comprise a bottom beam 628 that may
extend between the
opposed free ends of the posts 626A, 626B. The chin bar 624 is formed so that
the bottom beam
628 is located below and slightly forward of the chin of the person wearing
the surgical helmet
620. The bottom beam 628 may be bowed outwardly from the free ends of posts
626A, 626B. The
chin bar 624 may extend outwardly from the top beam 629 such that the chin bar
624 is positioned
forward of and generally encircles the face of the wearer when the surgical
helmet 620 is secured
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to the wearer's head. Collectively, the combination of the top beam 629, the
posts 626A, 626B,
and the bottom beam 628 may be referred to as the face frame, as they
generally define an opening
positioned in front of the wearer's face when the surgical helmet is
positioned on top of the
wearer's head.
[00246] A plurality of coupling members 648 may be mounted to or within the
chin bar 624. The
coupling members 648 comprise magnetic material and are configured to align
and/or attach the
face shield 618 of the surgical garment 612 to the surgical helmet 620. Each
coupling member 648
may be positioned on the chin bar 624 proximate to the opposed posts 626A,
626B and/or adjacent
opposing ends of the bottom beam 628. Alternatively, the coupling members 648
of the surgical
helmet 620 could be arranged or otherwise configured in any suitable way to
cooperate with the
complementary attachment elements 658 of surgical garment 612 to releasably
secure the surgical
garment 612 to the surgical helmet 620. For example, as illustrated in Figure
14, the coupling
member 648 may be positioned on the chin bar 624 at opposing ends of the
bottom beam 628
proximate where each of the posts 626A, 626B connects to the bottom beam 628.
While the
exemplary configuration of the surgical helmet 620 illustrated in Figure 14
utilizes two coupling
members 648, it is contemplated that the surgical helmet 620 may be configured
such that the chin
bar 624 comprises a single coupling member 648 or, in other configurations,
three or more
coupling members 648 may be spaced about the chin bar 624 and/or top beam 629.
It is
contemplated that other types of coupling members 648 may be used in place of
and/or in addition
to those comprising magnetic materials, such as with a hook and loop
fasteners, snaps, coupling
members comprising ferromagnetic material, or similar type fasteners. Other
configurations are
contemplated.
[00247] Referring to Figures 16A and 16B, various views of an exemplary
configuration of a
coupling member 648 positioned within the chin bar 624 are illustrated. The
coupling member 648
may comprise a distal surface 647. The chin bar 624 may comprise a recess 627
configured to
receive the coupling feature 648. For example, as illustrated in Figures 16A
and 16B, the coupling
member 648 may be positioned within the recess of the chin bar 624, such that
the distal surface
647 of the coupling member 648 is positioned proximally to a distal surface
625 of the chin bar
624.
[00248] The coupling member 648 may comprise one of a ferromagnetic material
or a magnetic
material. This may include the coupling member 648 being formed of or
constructed from a
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ferromagnetic material or a magnetic material. It is also contemplated that
only a portion of the
coupling member 648 comprises a ferromagnetic material or a magnetic material.
For example,
the coupling member 648 may be injection-molded plastic and coated with a
ferromagnetic
material or magnetic material. Alternatively, the coupling member 648 may be
formed from a
ferromagnetic material or magnetic material, and then coated with a plastic or
similar coating to
provide a sterile and/or wear-resistant surface. It is also contemplated that
a magnet may be "over-
molded" with plastic material to define the coupling member 648. Generally,
the coupling member
648 may comprise the other of the ferromagnetic material or magnetic material
relative to the
attachment element(s) 658 of the surgical garment 612 in order to create a
magnetic attraction
between the coupling member(s) 648 and the attachment element(s) 658 to couple
the surgical
garment 612 to the surgical helmet 620.
[00249] The surgical helmet 620 may further comprise a controller or processor
(not illustrated),
which may be disposed on or within the chin bar 624 or top beam 629 of the
surgical helmet 620.
Alternatively, the controller may be positioned at any suitable location
within the surgical helmet
620. For example, the controller may be positioned in the bottom beam 628 of
the chin bar 624.
The controller may be in communication with the one or more detectors 670,
such as a Hall-effect
sensor, that is positioned within the chin bar 624 and adjacent to the
coupling member 648. The
detector 670 may be configured to detect a characteristic of the coupling
member 648. For
example, wherein the detector 670 is a Hall-effect sensor, the detector 670
may be configured to
detect any changes to the magnetic field surrounding the coupling member 648.
In operation, the
detector 670 may be configured to detect a change in the magnetic field
surrounding the coupling
member 648 created by the presence or absence of an attachment element 658 of
the surgical
garment 612 being positioned adjacent the coupling member 648.
[00250] While Figures 16A and 16B illustrate only a portion of the chin bar
624 including a single
coupling member 648, as discussed above, the chin bar 624 may comprise more
than one coupling
member 648. Similarly, the chin bar may comprise more than one detector 670.
It is contemplated
that the surgical helmet 620 may comprise a single detector 670 positioned
adjacent to a single
coupling member 648. It is also contemplated that in configurations of the
surgical helmet 620 that
include multiple coupling members 648, the surgical helmet 620 may comprise a
single detector
670 positioned adjacent to one of the multiple coupling members 648.
Alternatively, detectors 670
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may be placed adjacent to two or more of the coupling members 648. Use of
multiple detectors
may provide redundancy in the event a detector 670 is damaged.
[00251] Figure 16B illustrates a partial sectional view of the coupling member
648 disposed
within a recess 627 of the chin bar 624. The recess 627 in the chin bar 624
may define a first
dimension D1, such as a diameter. The coupling member 648 may generally be
sized to fit within
the dimension D1 of the aperture in the chin bar 624. Furthermore, the
perimeter 653 of the distal
surface 647 and the perimeter 651 of the proximal surface 657 of the coupling
member 648 may
define an Axis-A, that passes through center Cl of the proximal surface 657
and center C2 of the
distal surface 647 of the coupling member 648. A transverse plane may be
oriented to be parallel
to the Axis-A and extending through the proximal surface 657 and the distal
647 surface of the
coupling member 648 defining opposing lateral halves of the coupling member
648. In
configurations where the coupling member 648 comprises a magnetic material,
the transverse
plane may define separation between the opposing poles of the magnetic
material.
[00252] Furthermore, as can be seen in Figures 16A and 16B, the distal surface
647 of the
coupling member 648 may comprise a generally curved shape. For example, the
distal surface 647
may comprise a generally convex shaped surface. Alternatively, the distal
surface 647 may
comprise a generally protruded or polyaxial surface, such that the distal
surface comprises a
generally rounded surface extending outward from the center of the coupling
member 648. While
not illustrated in Figures 16A and 16B, it is contemplated that the distal
surface 647 of the coupling
member 648 may comprise a concave surface. Various exemplary configurations of
a coupling
member 648 included a concave or convex surface will be described in more
detail below.
[00253] Referring to Figures 17A and 17B, an exemplary configuration of the
coupling member
648 is illustrated. The coupling member 648 may comprise a generally round
cross-sectional shape
with opposing proximal 657 and distal surfaces 647. As described above, the
distal surface 647
may have a curved-shape. The coupling member 648 may also comprise one or more
indents 649A,
649B on the distal surface 647. The indent(s) 649A, 649B may be configured as
a groove, recess,
aperture, cutout, or similar shape. The coupling member 648 may comprise a
single indent or a
pair of indents 649A, 649B, as illustrated in Figures 17A and 17B. It is also
contemplated that the
coupling member 648 may comprise more than two indents 649A, 649B. The indents
649A, 649B
may serve as a structural and/or visual alignment feature for positioning the
coupling member 648
relative to the chin bar 624 and/or the detector 670. For example, in
configurations where the
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coupling member 648 comprises a magnetic material, the indents 649A, 649B or
other indicator
may provide a visual identifier as to the orientation and/or position of the
magnetic poles of the
coupling member 648. It will be appreciated that this configuration
contributes to improved
manufacturability in that the coupling member 648 can be readily and
accurately position within
the recess of the chin bar 624 so that the poles of coupling member 648 are
properly oriented
relative to the detector 670.
[00254] Referring to Figure 17B, the coupling member may also define a lateral
axis, Axis-L1,
configured to intersect Axis-A of the coupling member 648. The lateral axis
Axis-L1 may also be
oriented to be generally perpendicular to Axis-A of the coupling member 648.
For example, the
lateral axis, Axis-L1, may be oriented in a generally horizontal direction to
define opposing lateral
halves of the coupling member 648. The coupling member 648 may have a first
magnetic pole P1
and an opposing second magnetic pole P2 defined by opposing lateral halves of
the coupling
member 648 separated by lateral axis Axis-Li. For example, one lateral half of
the coupling
member 648 may define a volume representing the first magnetic pole P1 and the
opposing lateral
half of the coupling member 648 may define a volume representing the second
magnetic pole P2.
[00255] Alternatively, it is contemplated that the respective magnetic poles
Pi, P2 of the magnetic
material may be represented by individual points. The point defining each of
the magnetic poles
Pi, P2 may be defined as the point within the respective lateral half of the
coupling member 648
where the magnetic moment of the respective pole Pi, P2 is strongest. For
example, the opposing
magnetic poles Pi, P2 of the magnetic material of the coupling member 648 may
be defined as
individual points within the opposing lateral halves of the coupling member
648. In this exemplary
configuration, it is contemplated that the first magnetic pole P1 and the
second magnetic pole P2
may each be positioned within their respective lateral half of the coupling
member 648 such that
the point defining each magnetic pole Pi, P2 is closer to the perimeter of the
coupling member
than to a distal-most point (illustrated as C2 in Figure 16B) of the distal
surface 647. It is also
contemplated that each of the respective magnetic poles Pi, P2 may each be
positioned within
their respective lateral half of the coupling member 648 such that the point
defining each magnetic
pole Pi, P2 is closer to the detector 670 than to the distal-most point C2 of
the distal surface 647.
[00256] Referring to Figures 18A, 18B, 18C, and 18D, detailed views of an
exemplary
configuration of the face shield 618A for use with the surgical garment 612 is
illustrated. Similar
to the face shields 18, 118 described above, the face shield 618A may comprise
a portion of the
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surgical garment 612 that allows the wearer to see through the barrier
provided by the surgical
garment 612. The face shield 618A is generally a sheet-like structure and may
have a thickness of
approximately 1 mm or less. The face shield 618A may be mounted and/or
attached to an opening
or cut-out formed in the surgical fabric 614 of the surgical garment 612. The
surgical fabric 614
may be attached around the periphery or edge of the face shield 618A by
sewing, snaps, hook and
loop, adhesive, welding, or combinations thereof. The face shield 618A may be
constructed from
a transparent material, such as a polycarbonate. One such polycarbonate is
sold under the
trademark LEXANTM by Sabic. The face shield 618A of the surgical garment 612
may also be
tinted to protect the wearer's eyes from heightened exposure to bright lights.
Furthermore, the face
shield 618A may be flexible such that the face shield 618A may be curved to
accommodate
different head sizes, as will be described below.
[00257] The face shield 618A may further comprise the tab 655A described
above, with regard
to the surgical garment 612 of Figure 13A. The tab 655A may extend from the
top portion of the
face shield 618A and may define at least a portion of the opening 656. The
opening 656 may be
generally rectangular-shaped. While not illustrated in the figures, it is
further contemplated that
the opening 656 may be configured in the shape of a circle, oval, square, or
any similar polygonal
shape. The opening 656 may also be generally centered between the opposing
ends of the face
shield 618A and serve as an alignment element configured to interact with the
alignment channel
645 of the helmet 620 described above. Furthermore, the opening 656 may be
positioned on the
face shield 618A above the point of attachment for the surgical fabric 614 to
the face shield 618A,
so as to ensure the surgical fabric 614 covers the opening 656 to maintain the
barrier provided by
the surgical garment 612 between the wearer and the environment. While not
illustrated in Figures
18A-18D, as previously discussed with reference to Figure 13B, the tab 655B
may be formed
separate from the face shield 618B and coupled directly to the interior of the
surgical garment 612.
Aside from being formed separate from the face shield 618B, the tab 655B may
still comprise all
of the same or similar features of the tab 655A that is formed as part of the
face shield 618A. The
face shield 618A may further comprise one or more apertures 619 positioned in
the bottom portion
of the face shield 618A and be configured to couple the attachment elements
658A to the face
shield 618A.
[00258] As illustrated in Figures 18B-18D, the attachment element 658A may
comprise a head
660. The head 660 may define a second dimension D2, wherein the second
dimension D2 is less
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the first dimension D1 of the aperture in the chin bar 624 (as illustrated in
Figure 16B), such that
the head 660 is sized to be inserted within the aperture of the chin bar 624
when coupled to the
coupling member 648. The head 660 of the attachment element 658A may also
define a distal
surface 665 and an opposing proximal surface 659. The head 660 may further
define a recess
661A. The head 660 defines a recessed surface 674A that is positioned distally
from the proximal
surface 659 of the head 660. The head 660 may further comprise a rim 663 that
may be at least
partially defined by the proximal surface 659 of the head 660. The rim 663 may
at least partially
surround the recess 661A. The recess 661A may provide an increase in the
surface area contact
between the attachment element 658A and the coupling member 648 when coupled
together. The
increase in surface are contact can increase the strength and/or force of the
magnetic bond between
the attachment element 658A and the coupling member 648, required force to
decouple the
attachment element 658A and the coupling member 648. This can reduce
accidental or unintended
decoupling of the attachment element 658A and the coupling member 648 during
use of the
surgical garment 612 and surgical helmet 620. The size and/or shape of the
recess 661A may also
allow for the attachment element 658A and the coupling member 648 to interact
at varying angles,
which will be described in greater detail below.
[00259] A recess 661A may be defined as receding part, portion, or space, such
as an indent, bay,
or alcove. Generally, a recess 661A may refer to a void or absence of
material. In the context of
the attachment element 658A described above, the recess 661A may refer to a
void or absence of
material in the head 660. The size and shape of the void representing the
recess 661A in the head
660 of the attachment element 658A may be defined by the recessed surface
674A. However, the
recess 661A is not limited to being formed by a single component, such as the
head 660 of the
attachment element 658A. Any combination of components defining a void or
absence of material
may be considered a recess 661A. For example, in one configuration the void
representing the
recess 661A may be defined by a combination of the head 660 and post 667. In
yet another
configuration, the void representing the recess 661A may be defined by a
combination of the head
660 and the face shield 618, as will be described below with respect to FIGS.
28A and 28B.
Various exemplary configurations of the attachment member 658A and the recess
661A will be
described in greater detail below.
[00260] In one exemplary configuration, the recess 661A may be formed in, and
defined entirely
by, the head 660 of the attachment element 658A. However, as described above,
alternative
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configurations are contemplated. The recess 661A may removably receive at
least a portion of the
protruded surface 647 of the coupling member 648 to removably couple the
surgical garment 612
to the surgical helmet 620. The recess 661A may be formed in a variety of
shapes and sizes, which
will be discussed in greater detailed below.
[00261] The attachment element 658A may further comprise a post 667 extending
distally from
the distal surface 665 of the attachment element 658A. The post 667 may
comprise a proximal
portion 669 and a distal portion 671, wherein the proximal portion 669
comprises a third dimension
D3 and the distal portion 671 comprises a fourth dimension D4. The post 667
may be configured
such that the third dimension D3 of the proximal portion 669 is larger than
the fourth dimension
D4 of the distal portion 671, creating a shoulder. The distal portion 671 of
the post 667 should be
configured to fit within the aperture 619 of the face shield 618A to
facilitate coupling of the
attachment element 658A to the face shield 618A.
[00262] In the configuration of the post 667 wherein the third dimension D3 of
the proximal
portion 669 is larger than the fourth dimension D4 of the distal portion 671,
the shoulder created
by the proximal portion 669 of the post 667 is intended to space the head 660
of the attachment
element 658A from the face shield 618 at a distance D5. The shoulder may be
utilized to space the
attachment element 658A from the face shield 618 to allow the face shield 618
to flex relative the
distal surface 665 of the attachment element 658A. This flexibility enables a
more robust
attachment between the attachment element 658A and the coupling member 648 in
that the face
shield 618 can flex without jarring the attachment element 658A loose from its
position attached
to the coupling member 648.
[00263] While the exemplary configuration of the attachment element 658A
illustrated in Figure
18D comprises a post 667 wherein the third dimension D3 of the proximal
portion 669 is larger
than the fourth dimension D4 of the distal portion 671, it is contemplated
that the post 667 may
comprise a single uniform dimension configured to fit within the aperture 619
of the face shield
618A.
[00264] Referring still to Figure 18D, the attachment element 658A may be
coupled to the face
shield 618 by a retention feature 673. The retention feature 673 may take the
form of a cap or
similar fastener configured to engage the distal end of the post 667. For
example, as illustrated in
Figure 18D, the post 667 may be inserted through the aperture 619 of the face
shield and the
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retention feature 673 may be applied to the distal end of the post 667 to
secure the attachment
element 658A to the face shield 618.
[00265] Referring to Figures 19A, 19B, and 19C, detailed views of another
configuration of an
attachment element 658A are illustrated. Similar to the attachment element 658
described above,
the first configuration of the attachment element 658A comprises a head 660
having a distal surface
665 and an opposing proximal surface 659. The recess 661A of the attachment
element 658A may
comprise a generally concave shape, curving inward to define a void or absence
of material in the
head 660 of the attachment element 658A. The size and/or shape of the recess
661A may be defined
by the recessed surface 674 of the head 660. Furthermore, the size and/or
shape of the recess 661A
may be defined relative to the size and/or shape of the protruded surface 647
of the coupling
member 648. It is contemplated that the depth and/or radius of the recess 661A
may be varied to
allow the recess 661A to matingly receive the protruded surface 647 of the
coupling member 648
when coupled together. For example, it is contemplated that the recess 661A
defines a void space
comprising a volume that is at least ten percent (10%) of the volume defined
by the protruded
surface 647 of the coupling member 648, to allow at least a portion of the
protruded surface 647
to be disposed within the recess 661A of the attachment element 658A. However,
it is
contemplated that the recess 661A may define a void space comprising a volume
that is at twenty-
percent (20%), thirty-percent (30%), or more of the volume defined by the
protruded surface 647.
[00266] In an exemplary configuration of the attachment element 658A, it is
contemplated that
the recess 661A may define a void space that allows for the protruded surface
647 to be positioned
a certain distance within the recess 661A of the attachment element 658A. For
example, the recess
661A may define a void space that allows the distal most point (illustrated as
C2 in Figure 16B)
of the protruded surface 647 is positioned distally of the proximal surface
659 of the head 660.
Specifically, the protruded surface 647 may be positioned within the recess
661A of the attachment
element 658A such that the distal-most point (illustrated as C2 in Figure 16B)
of the protruded
surface 647 is positioned distally at least one millimeter (1-mm) of the
proximal surface 659 of the
head 660. However, it is contemplated that the distal most point (illustrated
as C2 in Figure 16B)
of the protruded surface 647 may be positioned distally two millimeters (2-
mm), three millimeters
(3-mm), four-millimeters (4-mm), or more relative to the proximal surface 659
of the head 660.
[00267] In another exemplary configuration of the attachment element 658A, the
recess 661A
may define a void space that allows for a volume of the protruded surface 647
to be positioned
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within the recess 661A of the attachment element 658A. For example, the recess
661A may define
a void space that allows at least ten percent (10%) of the protruded surface
647 to be positioned
distally of the proximal surface 659 of the head 660. However, it is
contemplated that the protruded
surface 647 may be positioned within the recess 661A of the attachment element
658A such that
twenty-percent (20%), thirty-percent (30%), or more of the protruded surface
647 is positioned
distally of the proximal surface 659 of the head 660. These various dimensions
ensure there is a
robust coupling of the surgical garment 612 to the surgical helmet 620, which
resists lateral and
axial forces, which would decouple the attachment element 658A from and
coupling member 648.
Additional exemplary configurations the recess 661A of the attachment element
658A will be
described in greater detail below.
[00268] Referring to Figures 20A, 20B, 20C, and 20D, detailed views of an
exemplary
configuration of the retention feature 673 are illustrated. The retention
feature 673 may comprise
an aperture 675 that extends at least partially through the retention feature
673. The aperture 675
of the retention feature 673 may be defined by one or more tabs 677. The tabs
677 may be sized
to define the aperture 675 such that the aperture 675 creates a friction fit
with the distal portion
671 of the post 667 when inserted through the aperture 675 to couple the
attachment element 658A
to the face shield 618. For example, referring back to Figure 18D, the distal
portion 671 of the post
667 may be inserted through the aperture 619 in the face shield 618, and the
retention feature 673
may be coupled to the attachment element 658A by inserting the distal portion
671 of the post 667
within the aperture 675 of the retention feature 673.
[00269] While not illustrated, it is contemplated that the attachment element
658A may also be
coupled to the face shield 618 by inserting the post 667 through the aperture
619 in the face shield
618 and stamping the distal end of the post 667 that extends beyond the distal
surface of the face
shield 618A such that a flange is created on the opposite side of the face
shield 618 from the head
660 of the attachment element 658A. This flange may abut a surface of the face
shield 618 and act
as the retaining feature 673 for the attachment element 658A.
[00270] In configurations where the face shield 618 does not include an
aperture, it is also
contemplated that the attachment element 658A may be coupled to the face
shield 618 via a glue,
epoxy, sealant, or other similar adhesive. It is further contemplated that the
attachment element
658A may be welded, or mechanically attached to the face shield 618 in another
manner. An
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exemplary configuration is shown in Figures 28A and 28B, where the attachment
element 1358 is
secured to the fabric 614 or face shield 618 with adhesive.
[00271] Alternatively, the attachment element 658A may be coupled to the face
shield 618 by
inserting the post 667 through the aperture 619 in the face shield 618 and
apply the adhesive to the
post 667 on the distal side of the face shield 618 to secure the attachment
element 658A to the face
shield 618.
[00272] Referring to Figures 21A-21C, perspective views of various stages of
coupling the face
shield 618A, and by extension the surgical garment 612, to the surgical helmet
620 are illustrated.
As described above, the surgical garment 612 may comprise a tab 655A, 655B
defining an opening
656. The tab 655A may be formed as part of the face shield 618A, as
illustrated in Figures 13A
and 21A-21C. Alternatively, the tab 655B may be a separate component that is
independently
coupled to the surgical garment 612, as illustrated in Figure 13B. The top
beam 629 comprises
the pair of laterally spaced-apart side walls 639A, 639B and the proximal
surface 637 of the
surgical helmet 620 that defines the alignment channel 645. The protrusion 646
may extend from
the proximal surface 639. The face shield 618 comprises a plurality of
attachment members 658A
(not visible) secured to the periphery of the face shield 618 by the retaining
feature 673.
[00273] To couple the surgical garment 612 to the surgical helmet 620 when the
tab 655A is
formed as part of the face shield 618A, the face shield 618A may be positioned
with the opening
656 in the tab 655A above the alignment channel 645 and the protrusion 646
(see Figure 21A).
The tab 655A, and by extension the face shield 618A, may then be lowered onto
the surgical helmet
620 such that at least a portion of the tab 655A is positioned within the
alignment channel 645
between the pair of laterally spaced-apart side walls 639A, 639B. The tab 655A
should be
positioned within the alignment channel 645 such that the protrusion 646 is
disposed within the
opening 656 of the tab 655A (see Figure 21B). The lower portion of the face
shield 618A, that
includes the attachment elements 658A, may then be manipulated to couple the
attachment
elements 658A to the complementary coupling members 648 positioned on the chin
bar 624 (see
Figures 21B and 21C). For example, once the tab 655A is positioned within the
alignment channel
645 and the protrusion 646 is disposed within the opening 656 of the tab 655A,
the face shield 618
may be pivoted about the protrusion 646 to position the attachment elements
658A adjacent to the
complementary coupling members 648. This is one example of a method of
coupling the surgical
garment 612 to the surgical helmet.
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[00274] Alternatively, when the tab 655B is formed independent of the face
shield 618B (see the
surgical garment 612 of Figure 13B), the surgical garment 612 may be coupled
to the surgical
helmet 620 in a similar fashion as described above. The tab 655B, coupled to
the wearer side of
the surgical garment 612, may be positioned above the alignment channel 645
and the protrusion
646. The tab 655B, and by extension the surgical garment 612, may then be
lowered onto the
surgical helmet 620, such that at least a portion of the tab 655B is
positioned within the alignment
channel 645 between the pair of laterally spaced-apart side walls 639A, 639B.
The tab 655B should
be positioned within the alignment channel 645 such that the protrusion 646 is
disposed within the
opening 656 of the tab 655B. The lower portion of the face shield 618B, that
includes the
attachment elements 658A, may then be manipulated to couple the attachment
elements 658A to
the complementary coupling members 648 positioned on the chin bar 624.
[00275] Referring to Figure 22A, a partial sectional view of the attachment
element 658A of the
surgical garment 612 coupled to the coupling member 648 of the chin bar 624 is
illustrated. The
coupling member 648 is positioned in a recess of the chin bar 624. The
coupling member 624
comprises the protruded surface 647, which is positioned proximally to the
distal surface 625 of
the chin bar 624.
[00276] The protruded surface 647 of the coupling member 648 may extend at
least partially into
the void defined by the recess 661A of the attachment element 658A. The
complementary shapes
of the protruded surface 647 of the coupling member 648 and the recessed
surface 674A of the
attachment element 658A may be configured to be in sliding contact when the
surgical garment
612 is coupled to the surgical helmet 620. Alternatively, it is contemplated
that there may be a
void space or a gap between all or a portion of the protruded surface 647 and
the recessed surface
674A. For example, the protruded surface 647 may comprise a sharp point having
a small radius
and the recessed surface 674A may comprise a concave shape having a larger
radius relative to the
radius of the protruded surface 647. In this configuration, the point or apex
of the protruded surface
647 may contact a portion of the recessed surface 674A, while having a gap
between other portions
of the protruded surface 647 and the recessed surface 674A.
[00277] The complementary shapes of the protruded surface 647 of the coupling
member 648 and
the recess 661A of the attachment element 658A may allow the attachment
element 658A to pivot
about the coupling member 648 and remain coupled with the coupling member 648
at varying
angles. This may allow for additional freedom of movement and/or positioning
of the face shield
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618 as it is manipulated or flexed to couple the attachment elements 658A to
the corresponding
coupling members 648, such as during removal of one or more film layers from
the face shield
618. Furthermore, the complementary shapes of the protruded surface 647 of the
coupling member
648 and the recess 661A of the attachment element 658A are designed to promote
and/or maintain
contact of the surgical garment 612 with the surgical helmet 620 during a
medical procedure. By
adding curvature to the coupling member 648 and/or the complementary recess
661A of the
attachment element 658A of the surgical garment 612, forces are transferred
into the physical
materials making up the coupling member 648 and/or the attachment element 658A
when the
coupling member 648 and/or the attachment element 658A are mated and put in
shear, thereby
increasing the holding or retaining force. Additional holding force is
provided by the curved and/or
recessed surface(s) because these surfaces can pivot in a position where there
is optimal magnetic
holding force provided by the magnetic material in interacting with the
ferromagnetic material.
Therefore, by allowing the attachment element 658A to rotate relative to the
coupling member
648, the force (moment arm) created by shear is dissipated. Additional holding
force is provided
because of the increased surface area that is in contact or close proximity,
resulting from curved
versus flat surfaces.
[00278] To couple the surgical garment 612 to the surgical helmet 620, in
certain configurations,
at least a portion of the head 660 of the attachment element 658A may be at
least partially disposed
within the recess 627 of the chin bar 624 in order for the recess 661 of the
attachment element 648
to contact the protruded surface 647 of the coupling member 648. It is
contemplated that the
proximal surface 659 of the head 660 may be disposed within the recess 627 of
the chin bar 624
such that the proximal surface 659 of the head 660 is positioned at least two
millimeters (2-mm)
proximally of the distal surface 625 of the chin bar 624. It is further
contemplated that the proximal
surface 659 of the head 660 may be positioned three millimeters (3-mm) or more
proximally of
the distal surface 625 of the chin bar 624. It is also contemplated that if
the attachment element
658A is coupled to the coupling member 648 at an angle, as allowed for by the
complementary
surfaces 647, 674 of the respective attachment element 658A and the coupling
member 648, the
portion of the head 660 of the attachment element 658A disposed within the
recess 627 of the chin
bar 624 may defined as a percentage of the head 660 disposed within the recess
627. For example,
at least ten percent (10%) of the volume of the head 660 of the attachment
element 658A may be
disposed within the recess 627 of the chin bar 624. Because the attachment
element 658A is at
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least partially within the recess 627, the amount of force required to
decouple the attachment
element 658A from the coupling member 648 is greater. This is because the
sidewall of the recess
627 in the chin bar 624 can provide additional resistance to decoupling of the
coupling member
648 and the attachment element 658A. For example, the sidewall of the recess
627 in the chin bar
624 may prevent the attachment element 658A from sliding off the coupling
member 648. This
may be particularly true if a shear or lateral force is applied to the face
shield 618. For example,
when the face shield 618 comprises a plurality of removable layers for
clearing debris from the
face shield 618, the face shield 618, and by extension the attachment element
658A, may
experience a shear or lateral force. The sidewalls of the recess 627 of the
chin bar 624 may prevent
any lateral movement of the attachment element 658A relative to the coupling
member 648. This
may be accomplished by configuring the dimension D1 of the recess 627 in the
chin bar 624 to be
at least slightly larger than the dimension D2 of the head 660 of the
attachment element 658A.
This can prevent the attachment element 658A from sliding laterally a
sufficient distant that the
head 660 of the attachment element 658A becomes decoupled from the coupling
member 648.
[00279] As mentioned above, the coupling member 648 comprises one of a
ferromagnetic
material or a magnetic material and the attachment element 658A comprises the
other of the
ferromagnetic material or magnetic material, so that the coupling member 648
and the attachment
element 658A may be magnetically attracted to one another. In the illustrated
configurations, the
coupling member 648 may comprise magnetic material, and hence a magnetic field
may emanate
from or otherwise be generated by the coupling member 648. When the coupling
member 648 is
coupled to the attachment element 658A, the magnetic field surrounding the
component
comprising the magnetic material will be altered when the component comprising
the
ferromagnetic material is placed adjacent to it.
[00280] The detector 670 positioned adjacent to the coupling member 648 may
comprise a Hall-
effect sensor configured to detect the change in the magnetic field,
indicating the surgical garment
612 is coupled to the surgical helmet 620. For example, when the coupling
member 648 comprises
the magnetic material and the attachment element 658A comprises the
ferromagnetic material, the
detector 670 may detect a first configuration of the magnetic field
surrounding the coupling
member 648 when the attachment element 658A is separated from the coupling
member 648. The
detector 670 may then detect a second configuration of the magnetic field
surrounding the coupling
member 648 when the attachment element 658A is adjacent to the coupling member
648,
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indicating the surgical garment 612 is coupled to the surgical helmet 620.
Alternatively, wherein
the coupling member 648 comprises the ferromagnetic material and the
attachment element 658A
comprises the magnetic material, the detector 670 may detect the absence of
the magnetic field
surrounding the coupling member 648 when the attachment element 658A is
separated from the
coupling member 648. The detector 670 may then detect the presence of the
magnetic field when
the attachment element 658A is adjacent to the coupling member 648, indicating
the surgical
garment 612 is coupled to the surgical helmet 620. As described above, the
controller may be
configured to communicate operational commands to the detector 670 as well as
be configured to
receive a signal from the detector 670 related to a characteristic detected by
the detector 670. The
signal may be based on the presence of, absence of, and/or changes in the
characteristic to be
detected by the detector 670, which may be related to the presence or absence
of the surgical
garment 612 being coupled to the surgical helmet 620. The controller may also
be connected to
the one or more peripheral devices 630 of the surgical helmet 620, such as the
ventilation assembly
630, wherein the controller is configured to communicate operational commands
to and from the
ventilation assembly 630, or other peripheral device 630 based on the signal
received from the
detector 670. For example, the controller may be configured to adjust the
amount of power
transmitted to the ventilation system 630 to control the speed of the fan
blade.
[00281] Referring to Figures 22B and 22C, a schematic of the magnetic field
surrounding a
coupling member 648 comprising a magnetic material is illustrated. Figure 22B
illustrates an
exemplary magnetic field surrounding the coupling member 648 when the
attachment element
658A is separated or absent from the coupling member 648. As described above,
the detector 670
may detect a first configuration of the magnetic field. By contrast, Figure
22C illustrates an
exemplary magnetic field surrounding the coupling member 648 when the
attachment element
658A is positioned adjacent the coupling member 648. As described above, the
detector 670 may
detect a second configuration of the magnetic field. Based on the magnetic
field detected by the
detector 670, the detector 670 may produce a signal indicating whether the
surgical garment 612
is coupled to the surgical helmet 620.
[00282] Referring to Figures 23A and 23B, detailed views of a second
configuration of an
attachment element 658B are illustrated. Similar to the attachment elements
658 described above,
the second configuration of the attachment element 658B comprises a head 660
having a distal
surface 665 and an opposing proximal surface 659. The head 660 may comprise a
recessed surface
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674B defining a recess 661b. The recessed surface 674B defining the recess
661B of the
attachment element 658B may be formed such that the recessed surface 674B has
a multi-faceted
shape. The recessed surface 674B of the head 660 may comprise two or more
faces that cooperate
to define the recess 661B. It is contemplated that the number of faces of the
multi-facetted shaped
recess 661B may be varied to allow the recess 661B to matingly receive the
protruded surface 647
of the coupling member 648 when coupled together.
[00283] Referring to Figures 24A and 24B, detailed views of a third
configuration of an
attachment element 658C are illustrated. Similar to the attachment elements
658 described above,
the third configuration of the attachment element 658C comprises a head 660
having a distal
surface 665 and an opposing proximal surface 659. The head 660 may comprise a
recessed surface
674C defining a recess 661C. The recess 661C of the attachment element 658C
comprises a
cylindrical shape. It is contemplated that the depth and/or diameter of the
cylindrical-shaped recess
661C may be varied to allow the recess 661C to matingly receive the protruded
surface 647 of the
coupling member 648 when coupled together. While the surface 674C of the
recess 661C
illustrated in Figures 24A and 24B comprises a flat surface, it is
contemplated that the recessed
surface 674C defining the recess 661C may exhibit an arcuate shape.
[00284] Referring to Figures 25A and 25B, detailed views of a fourth
configuration of an
attachment element 658D are illustrated. Similar to the attachment elements
658 described above,
the fourth configuration of the attachment element 658D comprises a head 660
having a distal
surface 665 and an opposing proximal surface 659. The head 660 may comprise a
recessed surface
674D defining a recess 661D. The recess 661D of the attachment element 658D
comprises a bowl-
like shape including a flat surface. The flat surface may be positioned to be
proximate the center
and/or at the apex of the recess 661D. It is contemplated that the depth
and/or radius of the curved
portion of the bowl-like shaped recess 661D may be varied to allow the recess
661D to matingly
receive the protruded surface 647 of the coupling member 648 when coupled
together.
[00285] Referring to Figures 26A and 26B, detailed views of a fifth
configuration of an
attachment element 658E are illustrated. Similar to the attachment element 658
described above,
the fifth configuration of the attachment element 658E comprises a head 660
having a distal surface
665 and an opposing proximal surface 659. The head 660 may comprise a recessed
surface 674E
defining a recess 661E. The head 660 may also comprise a rim 663 at least
partially surrounding
the recess 661E. The recess 661E of the attachment element 658E may comprise a
generally
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concave shape. The radius of the curvature and/or depth of the recess 661E
illustrated in Figures
26A and 26B is not intended to be limiting. It is contemplated that the depth
and/or radius of the
recess 661E may be varied to allow the recess to matingly receive the
protruded surface 647 of the
coupling member when coupled together.
[00286] As described above, the attachment element 658 comprises both
ferromagnetic material
and diamagnetic material. At least a portion of the head 660 and/or the
attachment element 658E
may comprise a diamagnetic material, and the head 660 and/or the attachment
element 658 may
then be coated with a ferromagnetic material configured to interact with the
coupling member 648
comprising a magnetic material. Alternatively, the head 660 of the attachment
element 658E may
comprise a diamagnetic material and further comprise ferromagnetic materials
disposed within the
diamagnetic material of the head 660. The fifth configuration of the
attachment element 658E
illustrated in Figures 26A and 26B is an example configuration of such an
attachment element
658E. The attachment element 658E may further comprise a plurality of inserts
633 spaced about
the rim 663 surrounding the recess 661E. The head 660 of the attachment
element 658 may be
formed of a diamagnetic material. The inserts 633 may then comprise a
ferromagnetic material
and be at least partially disposed within the head 660. The ferromagnetic
material of the inserts
633 may be configured to interact with the coupling member 648 via magnetic
attraction. The
position and orientation of the inserts 633 illustrated in Figures 26A and 26B
are only intended to
be an exemplary configuration. It is contemplated that the number of inserts
633 may be increased
or decreased as needed to create the necessary magnetic force of attraction
between the coupling
member 648 and the attachment element 658E. One or more inserts 633 may be
positioned on or
within the proximal surface 659 and/or or rim 663 of the head 660. Inserts 633
may also be
positioned and/or at least partially disposed within the recessed surface 674E
of the head 660 of
the attachment element 658E. Furthermore, while the inserts 633 illustrated in
Figures 26A and
26B are positioned in the proximal surface 659 and/or rim 663, as well as the
recessed surface
674E of the head 660, it is contemplated that the inserts 633 may only be
positioned in the proximal
surface 659 and/or or rim 663, or only in the recessed surface 674E.
Furthermore, while at least a
portion of the inserts 633 are illustrated to form a portion of the proximal
surface 659, rim 663,
and/or recessed surface 674E, it is also contemplated that the inserts 633 may
be positioned to be
entirely disposed within and/or enclosed by the head 660. Alternatively, when
the coupling
member 648 comprises a ferromagnetic material, it is contemplated that the
head 660 may
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comprise a diamagnetic material and the inserts 633 may comprise a magnetic
material configured
to interact with the coupling member 648 via magnetic attraction.
[00287] Referring to Figures 27A and 27B, detailed views of a sixth
configuration of an
attachment element 758 are illustrated. Similar to the attachment elements 658
described above,
the fifth configuration of the attachment element 758 comprises a head 760
having a distal surface
765 and an opposing proximal surface 759. However, different from previously
described
attachment elements 658, the head 760 of the attachment element 758 may be
configured in a ring,
washer, or similar shape defining an aperture through the head 760. The
attachment element 758
may further comprise a post 767 having a proximal portion 769. The proximal
portion 769 may be
coupled to the distal surface 765 of the head 760. The proximal portion 769 of
the post 767 may
comprise an arch-like, u-shape, or similar curved shape with opposing ends
coupled to the distal
surface 765 of the head 760. The combination of the head 760 and the proximal
portion 769 of
the post 767 may define a recess 761 of the attachment element 758 to receive
the protruded surface
647 of the coupling member 648. It is contemplated that the depth and/or
radius of the head 760
may be varied to allow the recess 761 to matingly receive the protruded
surface 647 of the coupling
member 648 when coupled together.
[00288] Referring to Figures 28A and 28B, detailed views of a seventh
configuration of an
attachment element 858 are illustrated. Similar to the attachment elements 658
described above,
the sixth configuration of the attachment element 858 comprises a head 860
having a proximal
surface 859A, 859B. However, different from previously described attachment
elements 658, 758,
the head 860 of the attachment element 858 may comprise an arch-like, u-shape,
or similar curved
shape with opposing ends terminating at the proximal surfaces 859A, 859B. The
head 860 of the
attachment element 858 may comprise two leg portions 863A, 863B defining a
recess 861 of the
attachment element 858 configured to receive the protruded surface 647 of the
coupling member
648. Thus, the attachment element 858 may still define a recess 861 even if
the attachment element
858 does not include surfaces that surround the recess 861 for 360 degrees. It
is contemplated that
the depth and/or radius of the leg portion 863A, 863B of the head 860 may be
varied to allow the
recess 861 to matingly receive the protruded surface 647 of the coupling
member 648 when
coupled together.
[00289] Referring to Figures 29A and 29B, detailed views of an eighth
configuration of an
attachment element 958 are illustrated. Similar to the attachment elements
658, 758, 858 described
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above, the seventh configuration of the attachment element 958 comprises a
head 960A, 960B
having a distal surface 965 and an opposing proximal surface 959. However,
different from
previously described attachment elements, the attachment element 958 may be
configured without
a post. The head 960A, 960B of the attachment element 958 may comprise two or
more similar
arcuate segments that at least partially define a ring or similar circular
shape to define a recess 961
of the head 960. While the head 960A, 960B of the attachment element 958 in
Figures 28A and
28B comprises two head portions 960A, 960B, it is contemplated that the head
960A, 960B may
be configured as a solid ring or similar polygonal shape defining an aperture
through the head
960A, 960B. Alternatively, it is also contemplated that the head 960A, 960B
may be configured
as more than two portions configured and/or arranged to define a ring or
similar polygonal shape
defining the recess 961 in combination with the face shield 618.
[00290] As the exemplary configuration of the attachment element 958
illustrated in Figures 29A
and 29B does not comprise a post, each portion of the head 960A, 960B may be
coupled directly
to the face shield 618. For example, the distal surface 965A, 965B may be
coupled directly to the
face shield 618 using an epoxy, glue, sealant, or similar adhesive. However,
it should be
appreciated that it has been contemplated that each portion of the head 960A,
960B may comprise
a post configured to couple each portion of the head 960A, 960B to the face
shield 618 via
corresponding apertures positioned to orient the portions of the head 960A,
960B in a similar
configuration, as illustrated in Figures 29A and 29B.
[00291] In this configuration, the combination of the portions of the head
960A, 960B and the
face shield 618 and/or surgical garment 612 may cooperate to define the recess
961 of the
attachment element 958 configured to receive the protruded surface 647 of the
coupling member
648. It is contemplated that the depth and/or radius of the portions of the
head 960A, 960B of the
attachment element 958 may be varied to allow the recess 961 to matingly
receive the protruded
surface 647 of the coupling member 648 when coupled together.
[00292] Previously described configurations of the coupling member 648 and the
attachment
element 658, 758, 858, 958 have included a coupling member 648 with a
protruded surface 647
and an attachment element 658, 758, 858, 958 with a recess 661, 761, 861, 961.
However, the
inverse relationship between the coupling member and attachment element is
contemplated.
Referring to Figure 30, a partial schematic view of a ninth configuration of
an attachment element
1058 coupled to a coupling member 1048 is illustrated. The attachment element
1058 may
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comprise a head 1060 including a proximal surface 1059 and an opposing distal
surface 1065. The
proximal surface 1059 may be configured to comprise a generally convex,
hemispherical, or
similar curved shape. The attachment element 1058 may also comprise a post
1067 extending
distally from the distal surface 1065 of the head 1060. The post 1067 may
comprise a proximal
portion 1069 and a distal portion 1071. As described above, the proximal
portion 1069 and the
distal portion 1071 may comprise different dimension. For example, the post
1067 may be
configured such that the proximal portion 1069 comprises a larger dimension
than the distal
portion 1071, creating a shoulder. At least the distal portion 1071 of the
post 1067 should fit within
the aperture 619 of the face shield 618 to couple the attachment element 1058
to the face shield
618. While the exemplary configuration of the attachment element 1058
illustrated in Figure 30
comprises a post 1067 wherein the proximal portion 1069 comprises a larger
dimension than the
distal portion 1071, it is contemplated that the post 1067 may comprise a
single uniform dimension
configured to fit within the aperture 619 of the face shield 618. The distal
portion of the post 1067
may further comprise a retention feature 1073 configured to couple the
attachment element 1058
to the face shield 618. The retention feature 1073 may comprise a nut, cap,
friction fit, or similar
fastener. Alternatively, a distal end of the distal portion 1071 may be
mushroomed over to define
the retention feature 1073.
[00293] The coupling member 1048 may comprise a distal surface 1047, wherein
the distal
surface 1047 comprises a concave or similarly curved shape configured to
define a recess 1061 to
receive the proximal surface 1059 of the attachment element 1048.
[00294] Referring to Figure 31, a partial schematic view of a tenth
configuration of an attachment
element 1158 coupled to a coupling member 1148 is illustrated. The attachment
element 1158 may
comprise a head 1160 including a proximal surface 1159 and an opposing distal
surface 1165. The
proximal surface 1159 may have a generally convex shape including a flat
portion 1161. The
proximal surface 1159 may be configured such that the flat portion 1161 is
positioned proximate
the apex of the convex-shaped proximal surface 1159. The attachment element
1158 may also
comprise a post 1167 extending distally from the distal surface 1165 of the
head 1160. The post
may comprise a proximal portion 1169 and a distal portion 1171. As described
above, the proximal
portion 1169 and the distal portion 1171 may comprise different dimensions.
For example, the post
1167 may be configured such that the proximal portion 1169 comprises a larger
dimension than
the distal portion 1171, creating a shoulder. At least the distal portion 1171
of the post 1167 should
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be configured to fit within the aperture 619 of the face shield 618 to couple
the attachment element
1158 to the face shield 618. While the exemplary configuration of the
attachment element 1158
illustrated in Figure 31 comprises a post 1167 wherein the proximal portion
1169 comprises a
larger dimension than the distal portion 1171, it is contemplated that the
post 1167 may comprise
a single uniform dimension configured to fit within the aperture 619 of the
face shield 618. The
distal portion of the post 1167 may further comprise a retention feature 1173
configured to couple
the attachment element 1158 to the face shield 618. The retention feature 1173
may comprise a
nut, cap, friction fit, or similar fastener. Alternatively, a distal end of
the distal portion 1171 may
be mushroomed over to define the retention feature 1173.
[00295] The coupling member 1148 may comprise a distal surface 1147, wherein
the distal
surface 1147 comprises a concave or similarly curved shape configured to
define a recess 1161 to
receive the proximal surface 1159 of the attachment element 1148.
[00296] Referring to Figure 32, a partial schematic view of an eleventh
configuration of an
attachment element 1258 coupled to a coupling member 1248 is illustrated. The
attachment
element 1258 may comprise a head 1260 including a proximal surface 1259 and an
opposing distal
surface 1265. The proximal surface 1259 may have a generally convex,
hemispherical, or similar
curved shape. The attachment element 1258 may also comprise a post 1267
extending distally
from the distal surface 1265 of the head 1260. The exemplary configuration of
the attachment
element 1258 illustrated in Figure 32 comprises a post 1267 including a single
uniform dimension
configured to fit within the aperture 619 of the face shield 618. However, as
described above, the
post 1267 may comprise a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the
proximal portion may
comprise a different dimension than the distal portion, creating a shoulder.
[00297] As described above, the distal portion of the post 1267 may further
comprise a retention
feature 1273 configured to couple the attachment element 1258 to the face
shield 618. The
retention feature 1273 may comprise a nut, cap, friction fit, or similar
fastener. Alternatively, a
distal end of the distal portion 1271 may be mushroomed over to define the
retention feature 1273.
[00298] The coupling member 1248 may comprise a distal surface 1247, wherein
the distal
surface 1247 comprises a concave or similarly curved shape configured to
define a recess to
receive the proximal surface 1259 of the attachment element 1248.
[00299] Referring to Figure 33, a partial schematic view of a twelfth
configuration of an
attachment element 1358 coupled to a coupling member 1348 is illustrated. The
attachment
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element 1358 may comprise a head 1360 including a proximal surface 1359 and an
opposing distal
surface 1365. The proximal surface 1359 may have a generally convex shape
including a plurality
of flat portions 1361A, 1361B. The proximal surface 1359 may be configured
such that at least
one of the flat portions 1361B is positioned proximate the apex of the convex-
shaped proximal
surface 1359. Another of the flat portions 1361A may be positioned at the
perimeter of the head
1360 proximate the intersection of the proximal surface 1350 and the distal
surface 1365. The
attachment element 1358 may also comprise a post 1367 extending distally from
the distal surface
1365 of the head 1360. The exemplary configuration of the attachment element
1358 illustrated in
Figure 33 comprises a post 1367 including a single uniform dimension
configured to fit within the
aperture 619 of the face shield 618. However, as described above, the post
1367 may comprise a
proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the proximal portion may
comprise a different
dimension than the distal portion, creating a shoulder. The distal portion of
the post 1367 may
further comprise a retention feature 1373 configured to couple the attachment
element 1358 to the
face shield 618. The retention feature 1373 may comprise a nut, cap, friction
fit, or similar fastener.
Alternatively, a distal end of the distal portion 1371 may be mushroomed over
to define the
retention feature 1373.
[00300] The coupling member 1348 may comprise a distal surface 1347, wherein
the distal
surface 1347 comprises a concave or similarly curved shape configured to
define a recess 1361 to
receive the proximal surface 1359 of the attachment element 1358.
[00301] In each of the various configurations illustrated in Figures 30-33,
the attachment element
1058, 1158, 1258, 1358 comprises a proximal surface 1059, 1159, 1259, 1359
having a generally
convex, hemispherical, or similar curved shape, and the complementary coupling
member 1048,
1148, 1248, 1348 comprises a distal surface 1047, 1147, 1247, 1347, having a
concave or similarly
curved shape. Similar to configurations of the attachment elements and
coupling member
described above, the shapes of the attachment element 1058, 1158, 1258, 1358
and the coupling
member 1048, 1148, 1248, 1348 of Figures 30-33 allow the attachment element
1058, 1158, 1258,
1358 to pivot or rotate relative to the coupling member 1048, 1148, 1248,
1348. This also allows
the attachment element 1058, 1158, 1258, 1358 to couple to the coupling member
1048, 1148,
1248, 1348 at various angles without reducing the strength of the magnetic
bond between the
attachment element 1058, 1158, 1258, 1358 and the coupling member 1048, 1148,
1248, 1348.
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This can increase the amount of force required to decouple the attachment
element 1058, 1158,
1258, 1358 from the coupling member 1048, 1148, 1248, 1348.
[00302] Method of operating any of the surgical apparel systems described
above:
[00303] A method of operating a surgical apparel system 110 may comprise
providing any
configuration of the surgical apparel systems 110, 610 described above. For
example, the method
may comprise providing a surgical helmet 120, 620 configured to be worn on the
head of an
individual, and a surgical garment 112, 612 configured to be removably coupled
to the surgical
helmet 120, 620 to provide a microbial barrier between a medical environment
and a wearer. The
surgical helmet 120, 620 may comprise one or more peripheral device(s) 130,
630 configured to
facilitate performance of the individual wearing the surgical helmet 120, 620
during a surgical
procedure. The surgical helmet 120, 620 may also comprise a detector 170, 270,
370, 470, 570,
670 configured to detect the coupling of the surgical garment 112, 612 to the
surgical helmet 120,
620 and to communicate a signal based, at least in part, on the presence or
absence of the surgical
garment 112, 612 being coupled to the surgical helmet 120, 620. A controller
180, 680 may also
be coupled to the surgical helmet 120, 620 and configured to be in
communication with the detector
170, 270, 370, 470, 570, 670 and/or the peripheral device(s) 130, 630. The
system 110, 610 may
also comprise, a portable energy source 182 removably interconnected with the
surgical helmet
120, 620. The portable energy source 182 may be configured to be in
communication with the
controller 180.
[00304] The method may further comprise attaching or coupling the portable
energy source 182
to the system 110, 610. For example, an energy source 182, such as a battery
pack, may be coupled
to a battery receiver of the surgical helmet 120, 620 or otherwise placed in
electrical
communication with the surgical helmet 120, 620.
[00305] Another step in the method may comprise detecting and/or determining
whether the
surgical garment 112, 612 is coupled to the surgical helmet 120, 620 utilizing
the detector 170,
270, 370, 470, 570, 670. This may be accomplished using any of the various
configurations of the
detector 170, 270, 370, 470, 570, 670 described above, or other configurations
not specifically
described herein. For example, the presence or absence of the surgical garment
112 being coupled
to the surgical helmet 120 may be accomplished using the first configuration
of the detector 170,
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wherein the first member 154 is configured to selectively engage the toggle
member 172 of the
detector 170 based, at least in part, on the proximity of the attachment
element 158 to the distal
surface 147 of the coupling feature 146. Alternatively, the presence or
absence of the surgical
garment 112 being coupled to the surgical helmet 120 may be accomplished using
the second
configuration of the detector 270, wherein the first member 254 is configured
to selectively move
between the first region and the second region based, at least in part, on the
proximity of the
attachment element 158 to the distal surface 247 of the coupling feature 246.
In yet another
example, the presence or absence of the surgical garment 612 being coupled to
the surgical helmet
620 may be accomplished using one of the combinations of the attachment
elements and coupling
members with the detector 670, wherein the detector 670 is configured to sense
or detect a
changing in the magnetic field surrounding the coupling members 648, 748, 848,
948, 1048 based
on the proximity of attachment elements 658, 758, 858, 958, 1058, 1158, 1258,
1358 to the
coupling members 648, 748, 848, 948, 1048 .
[00306] The method may further comprise controlling an operational
characteristic of the
peripheral device(s) 130, 630 based, at least in part, on whether the detector
170, 270, 370, 470,
570, 670 indicates the surgical garment 112, 612 is coupled to the surgical
helmet 120, 620. The
controller 180 may be configured to selectively control one or more
operational characteristic of
the peripheral device(s) 130, 630. The controller 180 may be configured to
control, e.g., allow, the
transmission of power to and/or from the energy source 182 to the peripheral
device(s) 130, 630.
In other words, the controller 180 may control whether or not the peripheral
device 130, 630 may
activate. It may also include controlling a maximum and/or minimum operating
speed of the
peripheral device(s) 130, 630. For example, the controller 180 may be
configured to prevent
transmission of energy and/or limit the amount of energy (such as by limiting
voltage) transferred
to the peripheral device(s) 130, 630 until the detector 170, 270, 370, 470,
570, 670 has indicated
the surgical garment 112, 612 is coupled to the surgical helmet 120, 620.
[00307] As described above, the surgical helmet 120, 620 of the system 110,
610 may further
comprise a memory device 184 coupled to the surgical helmet 120, 620 and in
communication
with the controller 180. The memory device 184 may be configured to store data
related to the
operation of the peripheral device(s) 130, 630. The data on the memory device
184 may comprise
current operational settings for the peripheral device(s), such as the fan
speed, cooling intensity,
and/or the light being on. The data on the memory device 184 may also include
maximum and
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minimum operating conditions for each of the peripheral device(s) 130, 630 of
the surgical helmet
120, 620.
[00308] As described above, the system 110, 610 may also comprise an energy
sensor 186 in
communication with the controller 180 and/or the energy source 182. The energy
sensor 186 may
be configured to detect a characteristic of energy source 182 and communicate
an energy signal to
the controller 180 based on the detected characteristic of the energy source
182. For example, the
energy sensor 186 may be configured to communicate an energy signal to the
controller 180 when
the remaining power drops below a threshold value. The threshold value may be
set by the
controller 180, or may be set by the user. For example, the energy sensor 186
may be configured
to communicate the energy signal to the controller 180 when the remaining
power level drops
below 15 percent (%).
[00309] The method may further comprise coupling the surgical garment 112, 612
to the surgical
helmet 120, 620, such that the surgical garment 112, 612 is at least partially
disposed over the
surgical helmet 120, 620. The surgical garment 112, 612 may be coupled to the
surgical helmet
120, 620 using any of the configuration of the attachment elements 158, 558,
658, 758, 858, 958,
1058, 1158, 1258, 1358, coupling members 148, 648, 748, 848, 948, 1048 and the
coupling
features 146, 246, 346, 446, 546 described above, or others not specifically
described. This may
include placing attachment elements 158, 558, 658, 758, 858, 958, 1058, 1158,
1258, 1358 of the
surgical garment 112, 612 adjacent to the coupling members 148, 648, 748, 848,
948, 1048 and/or
the coupling features 146, 246, 346, 446, 546 of the surgical helmet 120, 620.
[00310] Upon connecting the energy source 182 to the system 110, 610, the
method may further
comprise communicating the energy signal from the energy sensor 186 to the
controller 180
indicating the characteristic of the energy source 182, such as the remaining
power level of the
energy source 182. The method may then comprise storing at least one user
setting of the peripheral
device(s) 130, 630 based upon the energy signal. For example, the controller
180 may be
configured to store at least one user setting of the peripheral device(s) 130,
630 in based on the
energy signal, such as at each occurrence of the energy signal indicating a
drop of a 10 percent
(%) increment of the remaining power level. Alternatively, the controller 180
may be configured
to store at least one user setting of the peripheral device(s) 130, 630 when
the energy signal
indicates the remaining power level has dropped below a threshold value, such
as dropping 15
percent (%) of power remaining. The controller 180 may be configured to store
the current user
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settings of the peripheral device(s) 130, 630 on the memory device 184. More
generally, this
feature allows for the storage of the user settings of the peripheral device
130, 630 before the
battery enters a low power state or is no longer operational.
[00311] The method may further comprise replacing the energy source 182 with a
second energy
source 182 while the surgical garment 112, 612 is coupled to the surgical
helmet 120, 620. The
controller 180 may be configured to provide a signal to the peripheral device
130 based on the user
settings from the memory device 184 to the peripheral device(s) 130, 630, such
as the most recently
stored user settings, once the second energy source 182 is connected to the
system 110, 610. The
controller 180 may be further configured to restart the peripheral device(s)
130, 630 based on the
most recently stored user settings following replacing the energy source 182.
This may be
contingent on the signal from the detector 170, 670 indicating that the
surgical garment 112, 612
remained coupled to the surgical helmet 120, 620 while the energy source 182
was replaced, i.e.,
the controller did not receive a signal from the detector indicative of the
garment being decoupled
from the surgical helmet 120, 620 while either the first or second energy
source was in
communication with the controller. For example, if the user was operating a
peripheral device
130, 630, such as the ventilation assembly at the third fan speed setting, the
controller 180 may be
configured to restart the ventilation assembly 130, 630 at the third fan speed
setting once the
second energy source 182 is connected. This configuration of the system may
further comprise a
capacitor or secondary back-up energy source in communication with the
detector 170, 270, 370,
470, 570, 670, and configured to temporarily supply power to the detector 170,
270, 370, 470, 570,
670 while the energy source 182 is switched out. This will allow the detector
170, 270, 370, 470,
570, 670 to continue to detect the characteristic indicative of whether the
surgical garment 112,
612 remains coupled to the surgical helmet 120, 620.
[00312] The method may also comprise deleting the user settings for the
peripheral device(s) 130
stored on the memory device 184 when the detector 170, 270, 370, 470, 570, 670
indicates that the
surgical garment 112, 612 is separated or absent from the surgical helmet 120,
620 and/or the
energy source 182 or subsequent energy source 182 is disconnected from the
system 110, 610.
Once the surgical garment 112, 612 and the energy source 182 have both been
removed from the
surgical helmet 120, 620, the stored user settings related to operation of the
peripheral device(s)
130, 630 may be cleared from the memory device 184, and the peripheral
device(s) 130, 630 may
be reset to their default settings.
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[00313] In another exemplary configuration, the method may further comprise
the steps of storing
a user setting of the peripheral device(s) 130, 630 on the memory device 184
and separating the
surgical garment 112, 612 from surgical helmet 120, 620 while the energy
source 182 is in
communication with the controller 180. The controller 180 may cease providing
power to the
peripheral devices 130, 630 if the detector 170, 270, 370, 470, 570, 670
determines that the surgical
garment 112, 612 is separated from the surgical helmet 120, 620. Following
removal of the first
surgical garment 112, 612, a second surgical garment 112, 612 may be coupled
to the surgical
helmet 120, 620 while the energy source 182 remains in communication with the
controller 180.
The controller 180 may be configured to communicate the most recently stored
user settings from
the memory device 184 to the peripheral device(s) 130, 630 following coupling
of the second
surgical garment 112, 612 with the surgical helmet 120, 620. In doing so, the
controller 180 may
be configured to restart the peripheral device(s) 130, 630 based on the most
recently stored settings
prior to removal of the first surgical garment 112, 612.
[00314] The method may further comprise deleting the user settings of the
peripheral device(s)
130, 630 that are stored on the memory device 184 when the detector 170, 270,
370, 470, 570, 670
indicates to the controller 180 that the surgical garment 112, 612 is
separated from the surgical
helmet 120, 620 and the energy source 182 is disconnected from the surgical
helmet 120, 620. This
may restore or reset the peripheral device(s) 130, 630 to their default
settings.
[00315] In yet another exemplary configuration, the system may comprise a
memory device 184
configured to store data related to one or more configurations of the surgical
garment 112, 612.
The method may comprise: identifying one of the plurality of configurations of
the surgical
garment 112, 612 that is coupled to the surgical helmet 120, 620 using the
detector 170, 270, 370,
470, 570, 670, communicating the identified configuration of the surgical
garment 112, 612 to the
controller 180, and communicating a command related to at least one
operational characteristic of
the peripheral device(s) 130, 630 based, at least in part, on the identified
configuration of the
surgical garment 112, 612. For example, the controller 180 may be configured
to control an
operational characteristic of the peripheral device(s) 130, 630 based on the
thickness or density of
the fabric 114/116, 614/616 of the surgical garment 112, 612 that is coupled
to the surgical helmet
120, 620. This may include increasing the speed of a peripheral device 130,
630, such as the
ventilation assembly 130, 630, when a surgical garment 112, 612 comprising a
denser filter fabric
116, 616 material is coupled to the surgical helmet 120, 620.
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[00316] In another exemplary method of operating the system 110, 610, the
method may comprise
coupling the surgical garment 112, 612 to the surgical helmet 120, 620, such
that the surgical
garment 112, 612 is at least partially disposed over the surgical helmet 120,
620. The method may
further comprise receiving the signal from the detector 170, 270, 370, 470,
570, 670 indicating the
surgical garment 112, 612 is coupled to the surgical helmet 120, 620, and
delaying transmission
of power from the energy source 182 to the peripheral device(s) 130, 630 for a
defined first period
of time following receipt of the signal from the detector 170, 270, 370, 470,
570, 670. In other
words, the controller 180 is configured to only transmit power to the
peripheral device 130, 630
after the surgical garment 112, 612 has been coupled to the helmet 120, 620
and the first period of
time has elapsed. The length of the first period may be adjusted based on a
user preference or
anticipated amount of time needed to accomplish a task prior to transmission
of power to the
peripheral device 130, 630. For example, the controller 180 may be configured
to delay
transmission of power from the energy source 182 to the peripheral device(s)
130, 630 for five
seconds following the signal from the detector 170, 270, 370, 470, 570, 670
indicating the surgical
garment 112, 612 is coupled to the surgical helmet 120, 612. This may allow
the wearer additional
time to get the surgical garment 112, 612 appropriately fitted and or adjusted
prior to operation of
the peripheral device 130, 630, such as the ventilation assembly, beginning.
This may prevent
circulation of microorganisms in the operating room before the appropriate
sterile barrier is in
place.
[00317] The method may also comprise separating the surgical garment 112, 612
from the
surgical helmet 120, 620. The method may comprise receiving the signal from
the detector 170,
270, 370, 470, 570, 670 indicating the surgical garment 112, 612 is separated
from the surgical
helmet 120, 620, and continuing transmission of power to said peripheral
device(s) 130, 630 for a
defined second period of time following receipt of the signal from the
detector 170, 270, 370, 470,
570, 670. For example, the controller 180 may be configured to continue
transmission of power
from the energy source 182 to the peripheral device(s) 130, 630 for five
seconds following the
signal from the detector 170, 270, 370, 470, 570, 670 indicating the surgical
garment 112, 612 is
separated from the surgical helmet 120, 620. This may allow for operation of
the peripheral device
130, 630, such as the ventilation assembly, to continue momentarily after
removal of the surgical
garment 112, 612 to clear any debris from the peripheral device 130, 630.
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[00318] Additional features, components and/or sub-assemblies may be
incorporated or
combined with any of the surgical apparel systems 10, 110, 610 described
above. A number of
generic components for use with a surgical apparel system are illustrated in
Figures 34, 35, and
36, and described below with regard to a generic system 1410. It should be
understood that any of
the components and/or features of the generic system 1410 described below may
be incorporated
and/or combined with the surgical apparel systems 10, 110, 610 described
above.
[00319] The system 1410 may further comprise a transceiver 1490 that is
coupled to the surgical
helmet 1420 and in communication with the controller 1480. The controller 1480
may be operably
coupled to the transceiver 1490 and configured to communicate data between the
controller 1480
and the transceiver 1490.
[00320] The system 1410 may further comprise an electromagnetic tag 1492
attached to the
surgical garment 1412 or medical garment. For example, the electromagnetic tag
1492 may
comprise an RFID tag, or similar tag configured to contain identification
information related to
the particular surgical garment 1412. The electromagnetic tag 1492 may be
positioned anywhere
on the surgical garment 1412. For example, the electromagnetic tag 1492 may be
attached to the
filter fabric 1416 of the surgical garment 1412. Alternatively, the
electromagnetic tag 1492 may
be attached to the surgical fabric 1414 of the surgical garment 1412 or may be
attached to the
control housing of the surgical garment 1412. In one configuration, the tag
1492 may be attached
to the surgical garment 1412 on the wearer side to reduce the likelihood of
introducing a non-
sterile or contaminated item on the environment side of the barrier defined by
the surgical garment
1412. Alternatively, it is also contemplated that the tag 1492 may be attached
to the surgical
garment 1412 on the environment side of the barrier defined by the surgical
garment 1412.
[00321] The electromagnetic tag 1492 may be configured to transmit or
otherwise convey
information to the transceiver 1490 coupled to the surgical helmet 1420,
including information
related to the particular surgical garment 1412. In one exemplary
configuration, the
electromagnetic tag 1492 may be configured to activate upon receipt of a
signal, such as a request
for transmission of data, from the transceiver 1490. Upon activation of the
electromagnetic tag
1492, the electromagnetic tag 1492 may transmit a signal back to the
transceiver 1490 comprising
data related to the surgical garment 1412 associated with the electromagnetic
tag 1492. In this
configuration, the transceiver 1490 may be configured to actively broadcast a
signal requesting the
transmission of the data. The signal may be broadcast a defined distance from
the transceiver 1490,
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and the electromagnetic tag 1492 may be configured to transmit a return signal
including data
related to the surgical garment 1412 when the electromagnetic tag 1492 is
within the defined
distance of the transceiver 1490. In an exemplary configuration, the
electromagnetic tag 1492 may
be positioned on the surgical garment 1412 such that when the surgical garment
1412 is attached
to the surgical helmet 1420, the electromagnetic tag 1492 may be positioned in
close proximity to
the transceiver 1490. This arrangement may allow for the transmission of data
from the
electromagnetic tag 1492 to the transceiver 1490 when the surgical garment
1412 and surgical
helmet 1420 are coupled to one another. For example, an exemplary arrangement
of the
electromagnetic tag 1492 and transceiver 1490 may comprise the electromagnetic
tag 1492 being
attached to the filter fabric 1416 and the transceiver 1490 being encased in
the housing 1432 of
the surgical helmet 1420.
[00322] As discussed above, the electromagnetic tag 1492 may be configured to
store data and/or
an identifier related to the surgical garment 1412, such as a serial number
identifying the particular
surgical garment 1412. The electromagnetic tag 1492 may also be configured to
store information
identifying the type of surgical garment 1412 associated with the
electromagnetic tag 1492. The
electromagnetic tag 1492 may also store data regarding operational parameters
for the peripheral
devices 1430 of the surgical helmet 1420 that are best suited for operation of
the peripheral device
1430 based on the characteristics of the particular surgical garment 1412
attached to the surgical
helmet 1420, such as the size of the surgical garment 1412, the type of
fabric, whether the surgical
garment 1412 is a hood or a toga, etc.
[00323] The transceiver 1490 of the helmet 1420 may be operably connected to
the controller
1480, wherein the transceiver 1490 is configured to transmit data and/or
information received from
the electromagnetic tag 1492 to the controller 1480. As discussed above, the
information received
from the electromagnetic tag 1492 may be related to an identifier for the
individual surgical
garment 1412. The controller 1480, also being connected to the one or more
peripheral devices
1430 of the surgical helmet 1420, may be configured to communicate operational
commands to
the peripheral device(s) 1430 based, at least in part, on the information
received from the
transceiver 1490 related to the surgical garment 1412. For example, the
controller 1480 may be
configured such that only after the surgical garment 1412 is mounted to a
surgical helmet 1420, as
confirmed by the transceiver 1490 identifying the electromagnetic tag 1492 of
the surgical garment
1412, does the controller 1480 generate operational commands that result in
the actuation of the
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peripheral devices 1430 of the surgical helmet 1420. In other words, the
controller 1480 may be
prevented from generating operational commands for and/or prevented from
transmitting energy
to one or more of the peripheral devices 1430 until the transceiver 1490 sends
a signal
corresponding to a suitable identifier read on the surgical garment 1412.
Because the transceiver
1490 reads the electromagnetic tag 1492 once the surgical garment 1412 is
placed in proximity to
the surgical helmet 1420, this eliminates the disadvantages associated with
providing a surgical
apparel system 1410 with a ventilation assembly 1430 or other peripheral
device 1430 that is
actuated prior to the placement of the surgical garment 1412 on the surgical
helmet 1420. As
described above with regard to the functionality of the coupling features 146,
246, 346, 446, one
disadvantage this eliminates is the generation of noise produced by the
ventilation assembly 1430
when the ventilation assembly 1430 is not serving a useful purpose. A second
disadvantage that
may be eliminated by preventing the actuation of a peripheral device 1430
prior to mounting the
surgical garment 1412 to the surgical helmet 1420, is the drawing down of the
charge in the energy
source 182 when actuation of the peripheral device 1430 is not needed.
[00324] In another exemplary configuration, a wearable surgical garment 1412,
which may also
be referred to as a medical garment, for use with a surgical helmet 1420, the
surgical garment
1412 may further comprise an electromagnetic tag 1492 configured to store data
related to the
surgical garment 1412. The electromagnetic tag 1492 may be configured to
exchange data with
the transceiver 1490, which may also be referred to as an electromagnetic
reader, of the surgical
helmet 1420 when the electromagnetic tag 1492 and said transceiver 1490 are
within a certain
proximity to one another. The stored data on the electromagnetic tag 1492
related to the surgical
garment 1412 may comprise an identifier specific to the surgical garment 1412.
The operation of
the peripheral device 1430 of the surgical helmet 1420 may be based, at least
in part, on the stored
identifier. The stored data on the electromagnetic tag 1492 related to said
surgical garment 1412
may further comprise usage data indicating whether the surgical garment 1412
has been previously
coupled to a surgical helmet 1420. The usage data may also indicate how many
times the surgical
garment 1412 has previously been coupled to a surgical helmet 1420. The stored
data on the
electromagnetic tag 1492 related to said surgical garment 1412 may further
comprise
authentication data indicating whether the surgical garment 1412 is compatible
with said surgical
helmet 1420. This authentication data may include the size of the surgical
garment 1412, the type
of garment, the manufacturer of the garment, and the like. The stored data
related to the surgical
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garment 1412 may further comprise operational data including data utilized to
generate operational
commands for the peripheral device(s) 1430 of said surgical helmet 1420 based,
at least in part, on
said operational data. The operational data may include specific operation
modes for the peripheral
device(s) 1430 of the surgical helmet 1420 based on the characteristics of the
surgical garment
1412. For example, the operational data stored on the electromagnetic tag 1492
related to the
specific surgical garment 1412 may include minimum and maximum setting
information for each
of the peripheral device(s) 1430 based on the characteristics of the surgical
garment 1412. The
stored data related to the surgical garment 1412 may further comprise an
identifier, wherein said
identifier is utilized to identify and/or track the use of the surgical
garment 1412. For example, the
identifier may include a serial number specific to the surgical garment 1412,
so the usage and
location of the surgical garment 1412 may be tracked. The controller 1480 may
prevent operation
of the peripheral device(s) 1430 if the usage data related to the surgical
garment 1412 indicates the
usage of the specific surgical garment 1412 has exceeded a predetermined or
threshold number of
uses, such as a single use. Alternatively, the controller may be configured to
allow a particular type
of surgical garment 1412 to be worn a plurality of times, such as three uses,
before the controller
1480 is configured to prevent the operation of the peripheral device(s) 1430.
[00325] In another exemplary configuration, a surgical apparel system 1410 may
comprise a
surgical helmet 1420 to be worn over the head of a wearer. The surgical helmet
1420 may comprise
a peripheral device 1430 and a transceiver 1490. The system 1410 may further
comprise a surgical
garment 1412, which may also be referred to as a medical garment, comprising a
surgical fabric
214/216 or shell configured to be at least partially disposed over said
surgical helmet 1420 to
provide a microbial barrier between a medical environment and a wearer. An
electromagnetic tag
1492 may be coupled to the surgical garment 1412, wherein the electromagnetic
tag 1492 may be
configured to store an identifier related to the surgical garment 1412. An
antenna may be operably
coupled to the transceiver 1490 and configured to communicate with the
electromagnetic tag 1492
to receive the identifier related to the surgical garment 1412. The surgical
apparel system 1410
may further comprise a controller 1480 operably coupled to the peripheral
device(s) 1430 and to
the transceiver 1490. The controller 1480 may be configured to communicate
operational
commands to the peripheral device 1430 based, at least in part, on the
identifier related to the
surgical garment 1412. The electromagnetic tag 1492 may be configured to store
and transmit
usage data for the surgical garment 1412, and the controller 1480 may be
configured to determine
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if the surgical garment 1412 has been previously worn with the surgical helmet
1420. The
controller 1480 may be configured to prevent actuation of the peripheral
device 1430 if the surgical
garment 1412 has been previously worn based, at least in part, on the stored
usage data. The
electromagnetic tag 1492 may also be configured to store authentication data
for the surgical
garment 1412, and the controller 1480 may be configured to determine if the
surgical garment
1412 is compatible with the surgical helmet 1420. The controller 1480 may be
configured to
prevent actuation of the peripheral device(s) 1430 if the surgical garment
1412 is not compatible
with the surgical helmet 1420 based, at least in part, on the stored
authentication data. When the
identifier is related to the type of surgical garment 1412, the controller
1480 may be configured to
determine an operating mode of (generate an operational command for) the
peripheral device(s)
1430 based, at least in part, on the type of surgical garment 1412 attached to
the surgical helmet
1420. For example, the controller 1480 may be configured to increase or
decrease power output to
the peripheral device 1430 based, at least in part, on the type of surgical
garment 1412 attached to
the surgical helmet 1420. In an exemplary configuration wherein the peripheral
device 1430 is a
ventilation assembly, the controller 1480 may be configured to increase the
power output to said
ventilation assembly when the type of surgical garment 1412 comprises a
thicker fabric 1414/1416
and/or is a larger size (suggesting a larger volume of space under the
surgical garment 1412).
[00326] The transceiver 1490 may also be coupled to the memory device 184 of
the surgical
helmet 1420. The memory device 184 may be configured to store the data
received from the
electromagnetic tag 1492 of the surgical garment 1412. The information stored
on the memory
device 184 may be utilized to identify when a previously worn surgical garment
1412 has been re-
attached to the surgical helmet 1420. For example, a surgical garment 1412 may
be attached to the
surgical helmet 1420 by the wearer. The memory device 184 may be configured to
store the data,
such as a serial number, identifier, model number, garment characteristics, or
similar information,
received from the electromagnetic tag 1492 of the surgical garment 1412 for
later use. The data
stored in the memory device 184 may be utilized to prevent operation of the
peripheral device(s)
1430 in the event a previously worn surgical garment 1412 is reattached to the
surgical helmet
1420 at a later point in time. For example, in operation, when the surgical
garment 1412 is attached
to the surgical helmet 1420, and the transceiver 1490 receives data from the
electromagnetic tag
1492 of the surgical garment 1412, the memory device 184 will store the data.
The data may
include a serial number or other identifying characteristic. If a wearer were
to attempt to re-attach
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the same surgical garment 1412 to the surgical helmet 1420, when the
transceiver 1490 receives
the data from the electromagnetic tag 1492, the memory device 184 would
already contain the
same data. When the transceiver 1490 transfers the data from the memory device
184 to the
controller 1480, the controller 1480 may be configured to recognize the second
entry of data for
the surgical garment 1412. Upon recognizing the second entry for the surgical
garment 1412, the
controller 1480 may be configured to prevent operation of the peripheral
device 1430 until a new
surgical garment 1412 is attached to the surgical helmet 1420.
[00327] It is possible for the energy or power source 182 for the system 1410
to run out during a
medical procedure, which could result in a false positive identification of a
re-used surgical
garment 1412 when the system is restarted. For example, if the energy source
182, such as battery,
for the system 1410 were to run out in the middle of the procedure, when a new
battery is attached
and a new signal is transmitted from the electromagnetic tag 1492 to the
transceiver 1490, the
memory 184 is likely to show that the attached surgical garment 1412 was
previously used. As
described above, in this scenario the controller 1480 may be configured to
prevent the peripheral
device 1430 from operating. In order to prevent non-operation of the
peripheral device 1430 based
on a false positive identification of the surgical garment 1412, the system
1410 may further
comprise a capacitor operably coupled to the controller 1480 and configured to
store energy. The
controller 1480 may be configured to identify that if the capacitor is
currently storing energy, the
energy source 182 for the system 1410 was recently removed. Based on the
identification that the
energy source 182 was recently removed, the controller 1480 may be configured
to allow for
operation of the peripheral device 1430 even though the data from the memory
device 184 suggests
the surgical garment 1412 was previously worn. The controller 1480 may also be
configured to
allow for operation of the peripheral device(s) 1430 even though the data from
the memory device
184 suggests the surgical garment 1412 was previously worn based on the amount
of time between
the first instance when the surgical garment 1412 was identified as being
attached to the surgical
helmet 1420, and the second instance when the surgical garment 1412 was
identified as being
attached to the surgical helmet 1420. For example, if the controller 1480 were
to identify that the
time between the first instance in which the surgical garment 1412 was
attached and the second
instance the surgical garment 1412 was attached was less than two hours, the
controller 1480 may
be configured to allow for operation of the peripheral device(s) 1430, whereas
if the amount of
time between the first and second instances was greater than two hours, the
controller may prevent
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operation of the peripheral device 1430 with the worn surgical garment 1412.
However, the
amount of time may be configured as would be reasonably appropriate in the
given industry based
on the use of the surgical garment 1412, such as 1 hour, 24 hours, and the
like.
[00328] Other configurations of the system 1410 may have different sub-
assemblies for ensuring
that only when the surgical garment 1412 is fitted to the surgical helmet
1420, the peripheral
device(s) 1430, such as the ventilation assembly, may be actuated. For
example, it should be
understood that the surgical helmet 1420 may comprise additional and/or
alternative garment
detectors, in addition to the detectors 170, 270, 370, 470, 570, 670 described
above. The garment
detector may comprise a pressure sensor, a load sensor, or similar type of
sensor configured to
detect the attachment of the surgical garment 1412 to the surgical helmet
1420. For example, the
chin bar 1424 may comprise a garment detector in the form of a pressure sensor
configured to
detect the attachment of the surgical garment 1412 to the surgical helmet
1420.
[00329] In another exemplary configuration of the system 1410, the system 1410
may be
configured so that the controller 1480 may activate the peripheral device(s)
1430 for a
predetermined period of time once an energy source 182 is attached to the
surgical helmet 1420.
This may allow the controller 1480 to complete a status check and confirm the
peripheral device(s)
1430 are functioning properly. Once the controller 1480 has completed the
status check, the
controller 1480 may be configured to prevent any further actuation of the
peripheral device(s) 1430
until the controller 1480 receives a signal from the garment detector
indicating that the surgical
garment 1412 has been attached to the surgical helmet 1420. Upon the
controller 1480 receiving a
signal from the garment detector indicating the surgical garment 1412 has been
attached to the
surgical helmet 1420, the controller 1480 may be configured to generate an
operational command
to allow the transmission of energy from the energy source 182 to the
peripheral device(s) 1430.
[00330] For example, in operation, the wearer may place the surgical helmet
1420 including a
peripheral device 1430, such as a ventilation assembly, on their head and
attach an energy source
182 to the surgical helmet 1420. The controller 1480 may then actuate the
ventilation assembly
1430 to confirm the ventilation assembly 1430 is working properly. The
controller 1480 may then
deactivate the ventilation assembly 1430. Next, the wearer may attach the
surgical garment 1412
to the surgical helmet 1420. The attachment of the surgical garment 1412 to
the surgical helmet
1420 may be detected by a pressure sensor, switch, or transceiver 1490
configured to detect the
presence of an RFID tag 1492 or other electromagnetic tag on the surgical
garment 1412, or similar
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detector as described above. The detector may then send a signal to the
controller 1480 to confirm
the surgical garment 1412 has been attached to the surgical helmet 1420. The
controller 1480 may
then actuate the ventilation assembly 1430.
[00331] In yet another configuration of the system 1410, the surgical garment
1412 and surgical
helmet 1420 may each comprise complementary conductors. When the surgical
garment 1412 is
fitted to the surgical helmet 1420, a conductor integral with the surgical
garment 1412 closes the
connection between the surgical garment 1412 and the surgical helmet 1420. For
example, the
conductor of the surgical garment 1412 may be integrally formed with the face
shield 1418 and
the complementary conductor may be included in the chin bar 1424, such that
the circuit becomes
closed once the conductor of the face shield 1418 engages the conductor in the
chin bar 1424. The
conductors may further be in communication with the magnets/ ferromagnetic
elements of the
attachment elements 1458 and/or the corresponding coupling members 1448 of the
chin bar 1424.
A garment detector may be configured to sense the closing of the circuit
between the attachment
elements 1458 of the face shield 1418 and surgical helmet 1420. In response to
detecting this
change in circuit state, the garment detector may generate a signal to the
controller 1480 indicating
that the circuit is in the closed state and ready for actuation. In certain
configurations, the controller
1480 may only generate operational command signals that result in the
actuation of the peripheral
device(s) 1430 when this signal is received by the controller 1480.
[00332] It should be appreciated that in some configurations of the system
1410, the removal of
the surgical garment 1412 from the surgical helmet 1420 may result in the
reopening of the circuit
between the attachment elements 1458 of the surgical garment 1412 and the
surgical helmet 1420,
respectively. The garment detector, in response to the detection of the
reopening of this circuit may
generate a signal indicating that the system 1410 is in the open state to the
controller 1480. The
controller 1480, in response to receiving the signal from the garment
detector, may be configured
to return the peripheral device(s) 1430 of the surgical helmet 1420 to the off
state. Thus, a further
feature of these configurations of the system 1410 is that, when the surgical
garment 1412 is
removed from the surgical helmet 1420 and use of the peripheral device(s)
1430, such as the
ventilation assembly, is no longer required, the peripheral device(s) 1430 are
automatically shut
off or deactivated. Similar modes of operation are also contemplated with the
other garment
detector assemblies described above.
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[00333] In some versions of the surgical apparel system 1410, based on whether
or not the
surgical garment 1412 is detected/fitted to the surgical helmet 1420 the
controller 1480 may
regulate whether or not other peripheral device(s) 1430 are actuated. Thus,
the controller 1480
may inhibit the actuation of one or more of the light assembly, the
communications unit or the
cooling strip based on whether or not an appropriate surgical garment 1412 is
fitted to the surgical
helmet 1420.
[00334] The above are not directed to specific configurations of the surgical
apparel system 10,
110, 610, 1410. It should be understood that the individual features of the
different configurations
of the system 10, 110, 610, 1410 may be combined to construct alternative
configurations of the
system 10, 110, 610, 1410.
[00335] Also, while the surgical apparel system 10, 110, 610, 1410 is
generally intended to
provide a barrier between the medical practitioner and the patient during a
medical or surgical
procedure, its use is not so limited. It is within the scope of this
disclosure that the surgical apparel
system 10, 110, 610, 1410 may be used in other endeavors in which it is
desirable to provide a
barrier between an individual and the surrounding environment. One alternative
endeavor in which
it may be so desirable to use the system 10, 110, 610, 1410 is one in which it
is desirable to provide
a barrier between the individual and hazardous material in the environment in
which the individual
is working.
[00336] Additional configurations of a surgical apparel system including a
surgical garment for
use with of a surgical helmet, the surgical garment comprising an attachment
element for coupling
the surgical garment to the surgical helmet. In describing the system, it
should be understood that
features and/or structures having the same reference number and/or the same
last two digits may
have the same features and/or functions as those of the helmets, garments,
and/or systems
described above.
[00337] Referring to Figure 37, an exemplary configuration of a surgical
helmet is illustrated,
such as the surgical helmet of Figures 14-17B that is described above. The
surgical helmet 620
may comprise a top beam 629 positioned forward of the housing 632 of the
surgical helmet 620
and configured to extend across the front of the surgical helmet 620. The top
beam 629 may further
comprise a recess. The recess of the top beam 629 may comprise a pair of
laterally spaced-apart
side walls and a proximal surface that is positioned proximally from the
distal surface of the top
beam 629. The side walls and the proximal surface may define an alignment
channel 645, wherein
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the alignment channel 645 is configured to receive a tab 655 disposed on the
interior of the surgical
garment 612 to align and/or orient the surgical garment 612 relative to the
surgical helmet 620. As
described above, the tab 655 may be integrally formed with and configured to
extend from the face
shield 618. Alternatively, the tab 655 may be formed independent of the face
shield 618, wherein
the tab 655 is configured to be coupled to the fabric 614 on the interior of
the surgical garment
612. However, other configurations are contemplated. The spaced-apart side
walls of the alignment
channel 645 should be spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the
tab 655 to allow the
tab 655 to be positioned within the alignment channel 645.
[00338] The top beam 629 may further comprise a coupling feature 646
configured to removably
engage the face shield 618 and/or surgical garment 612. The coupling feature
646 may comprise
a protrusion, magnetic member, ferromagnetic member, hook and loop, or similar
coupling
mechanism configured to releasably engage the tab 655 to align and/or couple
the surgical garment
612 to the surgical helmet 620. For example, the coupling feature 646 may be
realized as a
protrusion 646 extending from the alignment channel 645 of the top beam 629.
Here, the top beam
629 comprises the alignment channel 645 as described above, and the coupling
feature 646 may
be disposed at least partially within the alignment channel 645. The coupling
feature 646 may be
positioned within the alignment channel 645 such that the top of the upper
most surface coupling
feature 646 is arranged or otherwise positioned below the top of the top of
the alignment channel
645 and/or the top surface of the top beam 629. The combination of the spaced-
apart side walls of
the alignment channel 645 and the coupling feature 646 may serve to align
and/or orient the face
shield 618 and/or the surgical garment 612 relative to the surgical helmet
620. More specifically,
the spaced-apart side walls of the alignment channel 645 may serve to guide
the tab 655 such that
the opening 656 in the tab 655 is directed into engagement with the coupling
feature 646 as the
surgical garment 612 is placed over the surgical helmet 620.
[00339] The surgical helmet 620 may include a chin bar 624 that extends
downwardly from the
front portion of the surgical helmet 620. The chin bar 624 may comprise a
first post 626A and a
second post 626B. The first and second posts 626A, 626B may be coupled to the
top beam 629,
wherein the top beam 629 is configured to extend across the front of the
surgical helmet 620. For
example, as illustrated in Figure 37, the first and second posts 626A, 626B
may be connected to
opposing ends of the top beam 629. The chin bar 624 may be constructed from a
generally flexible
or pliable material.
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[00340] The chin bar 624 may further comprise a bottom beam 628 that may
extend between the
opposed free ends of the posts 626A, 626B. The chin bar 624 is formed so that
the bottom beam
628 is located below and slightly forward of the chin of the person wearing
the surgical helmet
620. The bottom beam 628 may be bowed outwardly from the free ends of posts
626A, 626B. The
chin bar 624 may extend outwardly from the top beam 629 such that the chin bar
624 is positioned
forward of and generally encircles the face of the wearer when the surgical
helmet 620 is secured
to the wearer's head. Collectively, the combination of the top beam 629, the
posts 626A, 626B,
and the bottom beam 628 may be referred to as the face frame, as they
generally define an opening
positioned in front of the wearer's face when the surgical helmet 620 is
positioned on top of the
wearer's head.
[00341] A plurality of coupling members 648 may be mounted to or within the
chin bar 624. The
coupling members 648 comprise magnetic material and are configured to align
and/or attach the
face shield 618 of the surgical garment 612 to the surgical helmet 620. Each
coupling member 648
may be positioned on the chin bar 624 proximate to the opposed posts 626A,
626B and/or adjacent
opposing ends of the bottom beam 628. Alternatively, the coupling members 648
of the surgical
helmet 620 could be arranged or otherwise configured in any suitable way to
cooperate with the
complementary attachment elements 658 of the surgical garment 612 to
releasably secure the
surgical garment 612 to the surgical helmet 620. For example, as illustrated
in Figures 37 to 38B,
the coupling member 648 may be positioned on the chin bar 624 at opposing ends
of the bottom
beam 628 proximate where each of the posts 626A, 626B connects to the bottom
beam 628. While
the exemplary configuration of the surgical helmet 620 illustrated in Figure
37 utilizes two
coupling members 648, it is contemplated that the surgical helmet 620 may be
configured such
that the chin bar 624 comprises a single coupling member 648 or, in other
configurations, three or
more coupling members 648 may be spaced about the chin bar 624 and/or top beam
629. It is
contemplated that other types of coupling members 648 may be used in place of
and/or in addition
to those comprising magnetic materials, such as with a hook and loop
fasteners, snaps, coupling
members comprising ferromagnetic material, or similar type fasteners. Other
configurations are
contemplated.
[00342] Referring to Figures 38A and 38B, an exemplary configuration of a
coupling member
648 positioned within the chin bar 624 is illustrated. The coupling member 648
may comprise a
distal surface 647. The chin bar 624 may comprise a recess 627 configured to
receive the coupling
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feature 648. For example, as illustrated in Figures 38A and 38B, the coupling
member 648 may
be positioned within the recess of the chin bar 624, such that the distal
surface 647 of the coupling
member 648 is positioned proximally to a distal surface 625 of the chin bar
624.
[00343] The coupling member 648 may comprise one of a ferromagnetic material
or a magnetic
material. This may include the coupling member 648 being formed of or
constructed from a
ferromagnetic material or a magnetic material. It is also contemplated that
only a portion of the
coupling member 648 comprises a ferromagnetic material or a magnetic material.
For example,
the coupling member 648 may be injection-molded plastic and coated with a
ferromagnetic
material or magnetic material. Alternatively, the coupling member 648 may be
formed from a
ferromagnetic material or magnetic material, and then coated with a plastic or
similar coating to
provide a sterile and/or wear-resistant surface. It is also contemplated that
a magnet may be "over-
molded" with plastic material to define the coupling member 648. Generally,
the coupling member
648 may comprise the other of the ferromagnetic material or magnetic material
relative to one of
the attachment element 658 of the surgical garment 612 in order to create a
magnetic attraction
between the coupling member 648 and the attachment element 658 to couple the
surgical garment
612 to the surgical helmet 620.
[00344] The surgical helmet 620 may further comprise a controller or processor
(not illustrated),
which may be disposed on or within the chin bar 624 or top beam 629 of the
surgical helmet 620.
Alternatively, the controller may be positioned at any suitable location
within the surgical helmet
620. For example, the controller may be positioned in the bottom beam 628 of
the chin bar 624.
The controller may be in communication with the one or more detectors 670,
such as a Hall-effect
sensor. The detector 670 may be that is positioned within the chin bar 624 and
adjacent to the
coupling member 648, as illustrated in Figures 37 and 38A. The detector 670
may be configured
to detect a characteristic of the coupling member 648. For example, wherein
the detector 670 is a
Hall-effect sensor, the detector 670 may be configured to detect any changes
to the magnetic field
surrounding the coupling member 648. In operation, the detector 670 may be
configured to detect
a change in the magnetic field surrounding the coupling member 648 created by
the presence or
absence of an attachment element 658 of the surgical garment 612 being
positioned adjacent the
coupling member 648. For example, as illustrated in Figures 37 and 38A, the
detector 670 may be
positioned adjacent the coupling member 648 and lateral to the bottom beam
628.
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[00345] While Figures 38A and 38B illustrate only a portion of the chin bar
624 including a single
coupling member 648, as discussed above, the chin bar 624 may comprise more
than one coupling
member 648. Similarly, the chin bar may comprise more than one detector 670.
It is contemplated
that the surgical helmet 620 may comprise a single detector 670 positioned
adjacent to a single
coupling member 648. It is also contemplated that in configurations of the
surgical helmet 620 that
include multiple coupling members 648, the surgical helmet 620 may comprise a
single detector
670 positioned adjacent to one of the multiple coupling members 648.
Alternatively, detectors 670
may be placed adjacent to two or more of the coupling members 648. Use of
multiple detectors
may provide redundancy in the event a detector 670 is damaged.
[00346] Figure 38B illustrates a partial sectional view of the coupling member
648 disposed
within a recess 627 of the chin bar 624. The recess 627 in the chin bar 624
may define a first
dimension D1, such as a diameter. The coupling member 648 may generally be
sized to fit within
the dimension D1 of the aperture in the chin bar 624. Furthermore, the
perimeter 653 of the distal
surface 647 and the perimeter 651 of the proximal surface 657 of the coupling
member 648 may
define an Axis-A, that passes through center Cl of the proximal surface 657
and center C2 of the
distal surface 647 of the coupling member 648. A transverse plane may be
oriented to be parallel
to the Axis-A and extending through the proximal surface 657 and the distal
647 surface of the
coupling member 648 defining opposing lateral halves of the coupling member
648. In
configurations where the coupling member 648 comprises a magnetic material,
the transverse
plane may define separation between the opposing poles of the magnetic
material.
[00347] Furthermore, as can be seen in Figure 38B, the distal surface 647 of
the coupling member
648 may comprise a generally curved shape. For example, the distal surface 647
may comprise a
generally convex shaped surface. Alternatively, the distal surface 647 may
comprise a generally
protruded or polyaxial surface, such that the distal surface comprises a
generally rounded surface
extending outward from the center of the coupling member 648. While not
illustrated in Figure
38B, it is contemplated that the distal surface 647 of the coupling member 648
may comprise a
concave surface. Various exemplary configurations of a coupling member 648
included a concave
or convex surface will be described in more detail below.
[00348] It is also contemplated that the coupling member 648 may comprise one
or more indents.
The indents may serve as a structural and/or visual alignment feature for
positioning the coupling
member 648 relative to the chin bar 624 and/or the detector 670. For example,
in configurations
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where the coupling member 648 comprises a magnetic material, the indents or
other indicator(s)
may provide a visual identifier as to the orientation and/or position of the
magnetic poles of the
coupling member 648. It will be appreciated that this configuration
contributes to improved
manufacturability in that the coupling member 648 can be readily and
accurately positioned within
the recess of the chin bar 624 so that the poles of coupling member 648 are
properly oriented
relative to the detector 670.
[00349] Referring to Figures 39A and 39B, an exemplary configuration of a
transparent face
shield 618 of a surgical garment described above is illustrated. The surgical
garment 612 may also
comprise a tab 655. The tab 655 may be disposed on the wearer side or interior
of the surgical
garment. The tab 655 may comprise a pair of opposing edges and define an
opening 656. As
illustrated in Figure 39A, the tab 655 may be formed as a portion of the face
shield 618. The tab
655 may define at least a portion of the opening 656, with a portion of the
opening 656 also being
defined by the face shield 618. It is also contemplated that the opening 656
may be entirely formed
or defined within the tab 655. While not illustrated in the figures, it is
also contemplated that the
tab 655, including the opening 656, may be a separate component from the
transparent face shield
618. The tab 655 may also be omitted in certain configurations of the
transparent shield 618 and
or surgical garment 612.
[00350] The surgical garment 612 may also comprise one or more attachment
elements 658. The
attachment elements 658 may also be referred to as a second member or garment
fastener. The
attachment element 658 may be coupled to the transparent face shield 618. The
attachment
elements 658 may serve as an alignment element configured to removably couple
the surgical
garment 612 to the surgical helmet 620. Furthermore, the attachment element
658 may be
positioned proximate the outer perimeter of the transparent face shield 618
such that the fabric
covers the attachment elements 658. This may serve to ensure the fabric covers
the attachment
elements 658 to maintain the barrier provided by the surgical garment 612
between the wearer and
the environment. While not illustrated in the figures, it is also contemplated
that the attachment
elements 658 may be coupled to the surgical fabric 614 of the surgical garment
612 as opposed to
being coupled to the transparent face shield 618. The attachment element 658
would still function
in the same manner to removably couple the surgical garment 612 to the
surgical helmet 620.
[00351] The attachment elements 658 may comprise a ferromagnetic material
capable of creating
a magnetic attraction and/or coupling with a magnetic material. For example,
the attachment
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element 658 may be manufactured from AISI 1006 Low Carbon Steel including a
material
composition of approximately 99% iron. Alternatively, it is contemplated that
attachment element
658 may be manufactured from other suitable materials, such as metal alloys
including iron, nickel,
cobalt, carbon, gadolinium, dysprosium, or alloys thereof, or combinations
thereof. However,
regardless of the specific alloy composition of the attachment element 658,
the attachment element
658 should contain sufficient weight of at least one ferromagnetic material
capable of creating a
magnetic attraction with a magnetic material. For example, the alloy of the
attachment element
658 may comprise a composition including at least 75% iron. More specifically,
the attachment
element 658 may comprise a composition including at least 85% iron. Even more
specifically, the
attachment element 658 may comprise a composition including at least 95% iron.
Even more
specifically, the attachment element 658 may comprise a composition including
at least 98% or
more iron.
[00352] In certain configurations, it should be appreciated that the
attachment elements 658 may
comprise a material, i.e., atoms, which are attracted to a magnetic field
exhibited by the magnetic
material positioned on the helmet 620. It is contemplated that the entirety of
the attachment element
658 may consist of the ferromagnetic material in certain configurations. It is
also contemplated
that the attachment element 658 comprises both ferromagnetic material and
diamagnetic material.
For example, the attachment elements 658 may comprise a diamagnetic material
which has been
coated with a ferromagnetic material. Alternatively, the attachment elements
658 may be formed
from a ferromagnetic material as a core, and then coated with a plastic or
similar non-magnetic
coating configured to provide a sterile and/or wear-resistant surface. Other
arrangements of the
diamagnetic and magnetic material are contemplated for the attachment element
658. It is also
contemplated that the attachment element 658 may be formed from a magnetic
material. As
described above, the coupling member 648 of the surgical helmet 620 may
comprise a magnetic
material. When the attachment element 658 is formed from a magnetic material,
the coupling
member 648 may be formed from a ferromagnetic material capable of forming a
magnetic
attraction with the attachment element 658. Alternatively, it is also
contemplated that both the
coupling member 648 and the attachment element 658 are formed from a magnetic
material. In
this configuration, the coupling member 648 and the attachment element 658 may
be oriented such
that the polarity of each of the magnetic materials is inverted to allow the
two magnetic materials
to form a magnetic connection. In any of these configurations of the coupling
member 648 and the
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attachment element 658, the placing of the attachment element 658 next to the
coupling member
648 may be configured to trigger the detector 670, such as a hall effect
sensors, as described above.
It should be appreciated that the surgical garment 612, and all components
thereof, may be
configured similarly and/or comprise the features of the surgical garment(s)
12, 112, 612 described
above.
[00353] As illustrated in Figure 39B, the attachment element 658 may be
coupled to the
transparent face shield 618. The transparent face shield 618 comprising a
first surface 621 and an
opposing second surface 623. The first surface 621 being proximal to the user
on the wearer side
of the barrier created by the surgical garment 612 and the second surface 623
being distal to the
user on the environment side of the barrier. The attachment element 658 may
comprise a head
660. The head 660 may define a dimension, wherein the dimension of the head is
less than the
dimension of the recess 627 in the chin bar 624, such that the head 660 is
sized to be inserted
within the aperture of the chin bar 624 when coupled to the coupling member
648. The head 660
of the attachment element 658 may also define a distal surface 665 and an
opposing proximal
surface 659. The proximal surface 659 of the head 660 may further define a
recess 661. A first
point 662 may be positioned on the proximal surface 659 of the head 660. The
first point 662 may
be positioned at a center of the proximal surface 659. Alternatively, the
first point 662 may be
positioned at a location on the proximal surface 659 that in intersects with a
first axiFthe ass [MAS:
is this correct?], Axis-E of the attachment element 658. The first axis, Axis-
E, may also be the
longitudinal axis of the attachment element 658. A second point 664A, 664B,
may also be
positioned on the proximal surface 659 of the head 660. As illustrated in
Figure 39B, the proximal
surface 659 may comprise a plurality of second points 664A, 664B that are
spaced about the
proximal surface 659. Generally, the second point(s) 664A, 664B may be
positioned on the
proximal surface 659 such that they are spaced apart from the first point 662
on the proximal
surface 659. For example, where the proximal surface 659 of the head 660
comprises a generally
circular profile, the first point 662 may be positioned at the center of the
proximal surface 659, and
each of the one or more second point 664A, 664B may be radially spaced from
the first point 662.
Furthermore, the first point 662 may define a first distance D6 from the first
surface 621 of the
transparent face shield 618 and the second point(s) 664A, 664B may define a
second distance D7
from the first surface 621 of the transparent face shield 618. The proximal
surface 659 of the head
660 may be shaped such that the first distance D6 defined by the first point
662 is less than the
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second distance D7 defined by the second point(s) 664A, 664B defining a recess
661 in the
proximal surface 659. For example, an exemplary configuration of the
attachment element 658
may comprise the head 660 having a diameter of approximately ten (10)
millimeters in diameter
and approximately three (3) millimeters tall. The recess 661 may be generally
centered on the
proximal surface 659 of the head 660 and comprise a concave-shape. The recess
661 may have a
diameter of approximately eight (8) millimeters and a depth of approximately
one and a half (1.5)
millimeters into the head 660. The shape of the proximal surface 659 may
configured such that a
portion of the proximal surface 659 of the head 660 including the second
point(s) 664A, 664B may
be at least partially disposed within the recess 627 of the chin bar 624 when
the surgical garment
612 is coupled to the surgical helmet 620. For example, the portion of
proximal surface 659 of the
head 660 including the second point(s) 664A, 664B may positioned at least two
millimeters (2-
mm) proximally of the distal surface 625 of the chin bar 624 when the surgical
garment 612 is
coupled to the surgical helmet 620.
[00354] The head 660 of the attachment element 658 is formed from at least 50,
75, 85, or 90
wt.% of a metal alloy comprising at least 50 %, 60, 70, 80, 90, 95, or 99 wt.%
of a ferromagnetic
material capable of being magnetically attracted to the coupling member 648
comprising a magnet.
It is also contemplated that the head 660 of the attachment element 658
comprises at least 70, 80,
or 90 wt.% of a ferritic or martensitic stainless steel or other steel capable
of being attracted to a
magnet and sufficient to retain the surgical garment 612 to the surgical
helmet 620. It is further
contemplated that the head 660 of the attachment element 658 comprises at
least 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8,
0.9, 1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.5 or 1.8 g of a ferromagnetic material capable of being
magnetically attracted to
the coupling member 648 comprising a magnet. Example of suitable ferromagnetic
materials may
include iron, nickel, cobalt, carbon, gadolinium, dysprosium, or alloys
thereof, or some
combination thereof.
[00355] Referring to Figure 40, the head 660 may further comprise a rim 663
that may be at least
partially defined by the proximal surface 659 of the head 660. The rim 663 may
at least partially
surround the recess 661. The recess 661 may provide an increase in the surface
area contact
between the attachment element 658 and the coupling member 648 when coupled
together. The
increase in surface area contact can increase the strength and/or force of the
magnetic bond
between the attachment element 658 and the coupling member 648, which may
increase the force
required to decouple the attachment element 658 and the coupling member 648.
This can reduce
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accidental or unintended decoupling of the attachment element 658 and the
coupling member 648
during use of the surgical garment and surgical helmet 620. The size and/or
shape of the recess
661 may also allow for the attachment element 658 and the coupling member 648
to interact at
varying angles.
[00356] The recess 661 may be defined as a receding part, portion, or space,
such as an indent,
bay, or alcove. Generally, a recess 661 may refer to a void or absence of
material. In the context
of the attachment element 658 described above, the recess 661 may refer to a
void or absence of
material in the head 660. The size and shape of the void representing the
recess 661 in the head
660 of the attachment element 658 may be defined by the proximal surface 659.
However, the
recess 661 is not limited to being formed by a single component, such as the
head 660 of the
attachment element 658. Any combination of components defining a void or
absence of material
may be considered a recess 661. For example, in one configuration the void
representing the recess
661 may be defined by a combination of the head 660 and post 667. In yet
another configuration,
the void representing the recess 661 may be defined by a combination of the
head 660 and the face
shield 618. Various exemplary configurations of the proximal surface 659 of
the attachment
member 658, such as the recess 661 will be described in greater detail below.
[00357] The attachment element 658 may further comprise a post 667 extending
distally from
the distal surface 665 of the attachment element 658. The post 667 may
comprise a proximal
portion 669 and a distal portion 671. As described above, the proximal portion
669 of the post 667
may comprise a third dimension D3 and the distal portion 671 comprises a
fourth dimension D4.
The post 667 may be configured such that the third dimension D3 of the
proximal portion 669 is
larger than the fourth dimension D4 of the distal portion 671, creating a
shoulder. The distal portion
671 of the post 667 should be configured to fit within an aperture 619 of the
face shield 618 to
facilitate coupling of the attachment element 658 to the face shield 618.
[00358] In the configuration of the post 667 wherein the third dimension D3 of
the proximal
portion 669 is larger than the fourth dimension D4 of the distal portion 671,
the shoulder created
by the proximal portion 669 of the post 667 is intended to space the head 660
of the attachment
element 658 from the face shield 618. The shoulder may be utilized to space
the head 660 from
the face shield 618 to allow the face shield 618 to flex relative the distal
surface 665 of the head
660. This flexibility enables a more robust attachment between the attachment
element 658 and
the coupling member 648 in that the face shield 618 can flex without jarring
the attachment element
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658 loose from its position attached to the coupling member 648. For example,
an exemplary
configuration of the post 667 may extend approximately three (3) millimeters
from the distal
surface 665 of the head 660. The distal portion 671 of the post 667 may
comprise a diameter of
approximately three (3) millimeters and a length of approximately two to two
and a half (2-2.5)
millimeters. The proximal portion 669 of the of the post 667 may comprise a
diameter of
approximately five (5) millimeters and a length of approximately half (0.5) a
millimeter.
[00359] Referring to Figure 39B, the attachment element 658 may be coupled to
the face shield
618 by a retention feature 673. The retention feature 673 may take the form of
a cap or similar
fastener configured to engage the distal end of the post 667. For example, as
illustrated in Figure
39B, the post 667 may be inserted through the aperture 619 of the face shield
and the retention
feature 673 may be applied to the distal end of the post 667 to secure the
attachment element 658
to the face shield 618. While not illustrated in the figures, it is
contemplated that the attachment
element 658 may be coupled to the transparent face shield 618 in other
manners. For example, the
post 667 and/or the head 660 of the attachment element 658 may be coupled to
the transparent face
shield 618 via an epoxy, glue, or similar type of adhesive. Alternatively, it
is also contemplated
that the post 667 may be shaped such that the distal portion 671 of the post
667 may be deformed
or stamped after it the post 667 has been inserted through the aperture 619 in
the transparent face
shield 618 to secure the attachment element 658 to the transparent face shield
618.
[00360] Referring to Figure 40, a partial sectional view of the attachment
element 658 of the
surgical garment coupled to the coupling member 648 of the chin bar 624 is
illustrated. The
coupling member 648 is positioned in a recess of the chin bar 624. The
coupling member 648
comprises the protruded surface 647, which is positioned proximally to the
distal surface 625 of
the chin bar 624.
[00361] The protruded surface 647 of the coupling member 648 may extend at
least partially into
the recess 661 defined by the proximal surface 659 of the attachment element
658. The
complementary shapes of the protruded surface 647 of the coupling member 648
and the proximal
surface 659 of the attachment element 658 may be configured to be in sliding
contact when the
surgical garment 612 is coupled to the surgical helmet 620. Alternatively, it
is contemplated that
there may be a void space or a gap between all or a portion of the protruded
surface 647 and the
proximal surface 659. For example, the protruded surface 647 may comprise a
sharp point having
a small radius and the proximal surface 659 may comprise a concave shape
having a larger radius
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relative to the radius of the protruded surface 647. In this configuration,
the point or apex of the
protruded surface 647 may contact a portion of the proximal surface 659, while
having a gap
between other portions of the protruded surface 647 and the proximal surface
659.
[00362] The complementary shapes of the protruded surface 647 of the coupling
member 648 and
the proximal surface 659 of the attachment element 658 may allow the
attachment element 658 to
pivot about the coupling member 648 and remain coupled with the coupling
member 648 at
varying angles. This may allow for additional freedom of movement and/or
positioning of the face
shield 618 as it is manipulated or flexed to couple the attachment elements
658 to the
corresponding coupling members 648, such as during removal of one or more film
layers from the
face shield 618. Furthermore, the complementary shapes of the protruded
surface 647 of the
coupling member 648 and the proximal surface 659 of the attachment element 658
are designed to
promote and/or maintain contact of the surgical garment 612 with the surgical
helmet 620 during
a medical procedure. By adding curvature to the coupling member 648 and/or the
complementary
proximal surface 659 of the attachment element 658 of the surgical garment
612, forces are
transferred into the physical materials making up the coupling member 648
and/or the attachment
element 658 when the coupling member 648 and/or the attachment element 658 are
mated and put
in shear, thereby increasing the holding or retaining force. Additional
holding force is provided by
the curved and/or recessed surface(s) because these surfaces can pivot in a
position where there is
optimal magnetic holding force provided by the magnetic material in
interacting with the
ferromagnetic material. Therefore, by allowing the attachment element 658 to
rotate relative to the
coupling member 648, the force (moment arm) created by shear is dissipated.
Additional holding
force is provided because of the increased surface area that is in contact or
close proximity,
resulting from curved versus flat surfaces.
[00363] To couple the surgical garment 612 to the surgical helmet 620, in
certain configurations,
at least a portion of the head 660 of the attachment element 658 may be at
least partially disposed
within the recess 627 of the chin bar 624 in order for the proximal surface
659 of the attachment
element 648 to contact the protruded surface 647 of the coupling member 648.
It is contemplated
that a portion of the proximal surface 659 of the head 660 may be disposed
within the recess 627
of the chin bar 624 such that the proximal surface 659 of the head 660 is
positioned at least two
millimeters (2-mm) proximally of the distal surface 625 of the chin bar 624.
It is further
contemplated that the proximal surface 659 of the head 660 may be positioned
three millimeters
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(3-mm) or more proximally of the distal surface 625 of the chin bar 624. It is
also contemplated
that if the attachment element 658 is coupled to the coupling member 648 at an
angle, as allowed
for by the complementary surfaces 647, 659 of the respective attachment
element 658 and the
coupling member 648, the portion of the head 660 of the attachment element 658
disposed within
the recess 627 of the chin bar 624 may defined as a percentage of the head 660
disposed within
the recess 627. For example, at least ten percent (10%), 20, 30, 40, or 50% of
the volume of the
head 660 of the attachment element 658 may be disposed within the recess 627
of the chin bar 624.
Furthermore, the coupling member 648 may be exposed in the chin bar 624 so
that the coupling
member 648 may be placed in contact with the attachment element 658.
[00364] As mentioned above, the coupling member 648 comprises one of a
ferromagnetic
material or a magnetic material and the attachment element 658 comprises the
other of the
ferromagnetic material or magnetic material, so that the coupling member 648
and the attachment
element 658 may be magnetically attracted to one another. In the illustrated
configurations, the
coupling member 648 may comprise magnetic material, and hence a magnetic field
may emanate
from or otherwise be generated by the coupling member 648. When the coupling
member 648 is
coupled to the attachment element 658, the magnetic field surrounding the
component comprising
the magnetic material will be altered when the component comprising the
ferromagnetic material
is placed adjacent to it.
[00365] The detector 670, as illustrated in Figure 40, may be positioned
adjacent to the coupling
member 648. The detector 670 may comprise a Hall-effect sensor configured to
detect the change
in the magnetic field, indicating the surgical garment 612 is coupled to the
surgical helmet 620.
For example, when the coupling member 648 comprises the magnetic material and
the attachment
element 658 comprises the ferromagnetic material, the detector 670 may detect
a first level of the
magnetic field surrounding the coupling member 648 when the attachment element
658 is
separated from the coupling member 648. The detector 670 may then detect a
second level of the
magnetic field surrounding the coupling member 648 when the attachment element
658 is adjacent
to the coupling member 648, indicating the surgical garment 612 is coupled to
the surgical helmet
620. Alternatively, wherein the coupling member 648 comprises the
ferromagnetic material and
the attachment element 658 comprises the magnetic material, the detector 670
may detect the
absence of the magnetic field surrounding the coupling member 648 when the
attachment element
658 is separated from the coupling member 648. The detector 670 may then
detect the presence of
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the magnetic field when the attachment element 658 is adjacent to the coupling
member 648,
indicating the surgical garment 612 is coupled to the surgical helmet 620. As
described above, the
controller may be configured to communicate operational commands to the
detector 670 as well
as be configured to receive a signal from the detector 670 related to a
characteristic detected by
the detector 670. The signal may be based on the presence of, absence of,
and/or changes in the
characteristic to be detected by the detector 670, which may be related to the
presence or absence
of the surgical garment 612 being coupled to the surgical helmet 620. The
controller may also be
connected to the one or more peripheral devices 630 of the surgical helmet
620, such as the
ventilation assembly 630, wherein the controller is configured to communicate
operational
commands to and from the ventilation assembly 630, or other peripheral device
630 based on the
signal received from the detector 670. For example, the controller may be
configured to adjust the
amount of power/voltage/current transmitted to the ventilation system 630 to
control the speed of
the fan blade.
[00366] The following are description of various alternative shapes and our
configurations of the
attachment element of the surgical garment assembly. It should be understood
that any and all
features, characteristics, and/or components of the system, assembly, and
attachment element
described above may also be applied to and/or incorporated into the various
configurations of the
attachment element described below. Referring to Figures 41A and 41B, a
perspective view and
a side view of a thirteenth configuration of an attachment element 1558 are
illustrated. Similar to
the attachment elements 658 described above, the thirteenth configuration of
the attachment
element 1558 comprises a head 1560 having a distal surface 1565 and an
opposing proximal
surface 1559. The head 1560 of the attachment element 1558 may comprise a
generally cylindrical
shape. The proximal surface 1559 of the head 1560 may comprise a first point
1562 defining a
first distance D6 between the proximal surface 1559 and the first surface 621
of the transparent
face shield 618. The proximal surface 1559 of the head 1560 may also comprise
a second point
1564A, 1564B, defining a second distance D7 between the proximal surface 1559
and the first
surface 621 of the transparent face shield 618. While not illustrated in the
figures, it should be
understood that first surface 621 of the transparent face shield 618 may be
positioned distally of
the distal surface 1565 of the head 1560. The proximal surface 1559 of the
attachment element
1558 may be shaped such that the first distance D6 defined by the first point
1562 is less than the
second distance D7 defined by the second point(s) 1564A, 1564B. For example,
the attachment
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element 1558 may comprise a cylindrical head 1560 including a distal end and a
proximal end.
The proximal end may include a proximal surface 1559 having a first face
angularly extending in
a proximal direction from a medial plane of the cylindrical head to a first
edge. The proximal
surface 1559 may also have a second face angularly extending in the proximal
direction from the
medial plane of the cylindrical head to a second edge. The first point 1562
may be positioned on
the proximal surface 1559 at the medial plane and the second point 1564A,
1564B may be
positioned on the proximal surface 1559 at a point on at least one of the
first and/or the second
faces that angularly extend in the proximal direction. The first and the
second faces of the proximal
surface may generally define a recess 1561 in the head 1560 of the attachment
element. It is
contemplated that the depth and/or diameter of the cylindrical-shaped recess
1561 may be varied
based on the angle of each of the first and second faces of the proximal
surface 1559 to allow the
proximal surface 1559 to matingly receive the protruded surface 647 of the
coupling member 648
when coupled together. While the first and second faces of the proximal
surface illustrated in
Figures 41A and 41B comprises generally flat surfaces, it is contemplated that
the proximal surface
1559 may define the recess 1561 to exhibit an arcuate shape.
[00367] Referring to Figures 42A and 42B, a perspective view and a side view
of a fourteenth
configuration of an attachment element 1658 are illustrated. Similar to the
attachment elements
658 described above, the fourteenth configuration of the attachment element
1658 comprises a
head 1660 having a distal surface 1665 and an opposing proximal surface 1659.
The head 1660 of
the attachment element 1658 may comprises a generally cylindrical shape. The
proximal surface
1659 of the head 1660 may comprise a first surface 1662, wherein a point on
the first surface 1662
may define a first distance D6 between the first surface 1662 and the first
surface of the transparent
face shield 618. The proximal surface 1659 of the head 1660 may also comprise
a second surface
1664A, 1664B, wherein a point on the second surface 1664A, 1664B may define a
second distance
D7 between the second surface 1664A, 1664B and the first surface 621 of the
transparent face
shield 618. While not illustrated in the figures, it should be understood that
first surface 621 of the
transparent face shield 618 may be positioned distally of the distal surface
1665 of the head 1660.
The proximal surface 1659 of the attachment element 1658 may be shaped such
that the first
distance D6 defined by the point on the first surface 1662 is less than the
second distance D7
defined by the point on the second surface 1664A, 1664B. For example, the
attachment element
1658 may comprises a cylindrical head including a distal end and a proximal
end, the proximal
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end may define a proximal surface 1659 including a planar surface 1662 with a
first side and a
second side. The proximal surface may also include a first face 1664A
angularly extending in a
proximal direction from the first side of the planar surface 1662 to a first
edge, and a second face
1664B angularly extending in the proximal direction from the second side of
the planar surface
1662 to a second edge. The planar surface 1662 may be generally perpendicular
to a longitudinal
axis, Axis-E, of the attachment element 1658. The proximal surface 1659 may be
shaped such that
the first surface 1662 and the first and second face(s) 1664A, 1664B may
generally define a recess
1661 in the head 1660 of the attachment element 1658. It is contemplated that
the depth and/or
diameter of the recess 1661 may be varied based on the angle of each of the
first surface 1662 and
the first and second faces 1664A, 1664B of the proximal surface 1659 to allow
the proximal
surface 1659 to matingly receive the protruded surface 647 of the coupling
member 648 when
coupled together. While the first surface 1662 and the first and second faces
1664A, 1664B of the
proximal surfaces 1659 illustrated in Figures 42A and 42B comprises generally
flat surfaces, it is
contemplated that the proximal surface 1659 may define the recess 1661 to
exhibit an arcuate
shape.
[00368] Referring to Figures 43A and 43B, a perspective view and a side view
of a fifteenth
configuration of an attachment element 1758 are illustrated. Similar to the
attachment elements
658 described above, the fifteenth configuration of the attachment element
1758 comprises a head
1760 having a distal surface 1765 and an opposing proximal surface 1759. The
head 1760 of the
attachment element 1758 may comprises a generally cylindrical shape. The
proximal surface 1759
of the head 1760 may comprise a first surface 1762, wherein the first surface
1762 may be spaced
a first distance D6 from the first surface of the transparent face shield 618.
The proximal surface
1759 of the head 1760 may also comprise a second surface 1764A, 1764B, wherein
the second
surface 1764A, 1764B may be spaced a second distance D7 from the first surface
of the transparent
face shield 618. While not illustrated in the figures, it should be understood
that first surface 621
of the transparent face shield 618 may be positioned distally of the distal
surface 1765 of the head
1760. The proximal surface 1759 of the attachment element 1758 may be shaped
such that the first
distance D6 defined by the first surface 1762 is less than the second distance
D7 defined by the
second surface 1764A, 1764B. For example, the attachment element 1758 may
comprise a
cylindrical head 1760 including a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal
end may define a
proximal surface 1759 including a planar surface 1762 with a first side and a
second side. The
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proximal surface 1759 may also include a first leg including a first face
1764A, the first face spaced
proximally the first side of the planar surface 1762, and a second leg
including a second face
1764B, the second face 1764B spaced proximally from the second side of the
planar surface 1762
to a second edge. The planar surface 1762 may be generally perpendicular to a
longitudinal axis,
Axis-E, of the attachment element 1758. The proximal surface 1759 may be
shaped such that the
first surface 1662 and the first and second face(s) 1764A, 1764B may generally
define a recess
1761 in the head 1760 of the attachment element 1758. It is contemplated that
the depth and/or
diameter of the recess 1761 may be varied based on the angle of each of the
first and second
surfaces 1762, 1764A, 1764B of the proximal surface 1759 to allow the proximal
surface 1759 to
matingly receive the protruded surface 647 of the coupling member 648 when
coupled together.
While the first surface 1762 and the first and second faces 1764A, 1764B of
the proximal surfaces
1759 illustrated in Figures 43A and 43B comprises generally flat surfaces, it
is contemplated that
the proximal surface 1759 may define the recess 1761 to exhibit an arcuate
shape.
[00369] Referring to Figures 44A-44C, various views of a sixteenth
configuration of an
attachment element 1858 are illustrated. Similar to the attachment elements
658 described above,
the sixteenth configuration of the attachment element 1858 comprises a head
1860 having a distal
surface 1865 and an opposing proximal surface 1859. The head 1860 of the
attachment element
1858 may comprises a generally cylindrical shape. The proximal surface 1859 of
the head 1860
may comprise a first point 1862 defining a first distance D6 between the
proximal surface 1859
and the first surface of the transparent face shield 618. The proximal surface
1859 of the head 1860
may also comprise a second point 1864A defining a second distance D7 between
the proximal
surface 1859 and the first surface of the transparent face shield 618. While
not illustrated in the
figures, it should be understood that first surface 621 of the transparent
face shield 618 may be
positioned distally of the distal surface 1865 of the head 1860. The proximal
surface 1859 of the
attachment element 1858 may be shaped such that the first distance D6 defined
by the first point
1862 is less than the second distance D7 defined by the second point 1864A.
For example, the
attachment element 1858 may comprise a cylindrical head 1860 including a
distal end with a distal
surface 1865 and a proximal end with a proximal surface 1859. The proximal
surface 1859 may
be configured to angularly extend in a proximal direction from a first edge of
the cylindrical body
to a second edge of the cylindrical body. In yet another example, the proximal
surface 1859 of the
head 1860 may comprise a generally circular profile. The first point 1862 may
be positioned at the
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center of the proximal surface 1859, and the second point 1864A may be
radially spaced from the
first point 1862. Furthermore, the first point 1862 may define a first
distance D6 from the first
surface 621 of the transparent face shield 618 and the second point 1864A may
define a second
distance D7 from the first surface 621 of the transparent face shield 618. The
proximal surface
1859 of the head 1860 may be shaped such that the first distance D6 defined by
the first point 1862
is less than the second distance D7 defined by the second point 1864A defining
a sloped proximal
surface 1859. It is contemplated that the slope and/or size of the proximal
surface 1859 may be
varied to allow the proximal surface 1859 to engage the protruded surface 647
of the coupling
member 648 when coupled together. While the proximal surface 1859 illustrated
in Figures 44A
and 44B comprises a generally flat surface, it is contemplated that the
proximal surface 1859 may
exhibit an arcuate shape.
[00370] Referring to 44C, a partial sectional view of the attachment element
1858 of the surgical
garment coupled to the coupling member 648 of the chin bar 624 is illustrated.
The coupling
member 648 is positioned in a recess of the chin bar 624. The coupling member
624 comprises the
protruded surface 647, which is positioned proximally to the distal surface
625 of the chin bar 624.
[00371] The protruded surface 647 of the coupling member 648 may extend and be
positioned
adjacent a portion of the proximal surface 1859 of the attachment element
1858. The
complementary shapes of the protruded surface 647 of the coupling member 648
and the proximal
surface 1859 of the attachment element 1858 may be configured to be in sliding
contact when the
surgical garment is coupled to the surgical helmet 620. Alternatively, it is
contemplated that there
may be a void space or a gap between all or a portion of the protruded surface
647 and the proximal
surface 1859. For example, the protruded surface 647 may comprise a sharp
point having a small
radius and the proximal surface 1859 may comprise a sloped profile. As
described above, the
proximal surface 1859 of the head 1860 may comprise a first point 1862
defining a first distance
D6 between the proximal surface 1859 and the first surface of the transparent
face shield 618. The
proximal surface 1859 of the head 1860 may also comprise a second point 1864A,
1864B, defining
a second distance D7 between the proximal surface 1859 and the first surface
of the transparent
face shield 618. The proximal surface 1859 of the attachment element 1858 may
be shaped such
that the first distance D6 defined by the first point 1862 is less than the
second distance D7 defined
by the second point(s) 1864A, 1864B. The attachment element 1858 may be
oriented relative to
the transparent face shield 618 such that the second point 1864A, which is
spaced further from the
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first surface 621 of the transparent face shield 618 than the first point
1862, may be positioned
proximate the detector 670 when coupled to the coupling member 648 of the
surgical helmet 620.
For example, wherein the detector 670 is positioned lateral to the coupling
member 648 (as shown
in Figure 37), the attachment element 1858 may be oriented on the transparent
face shield 618
such that the second point 1864A is positioned further from the midline, Axis-
m, of the transparent
face shield 618 than the first point 1862. This may allow the portion of the
distal surface 1859 of
the head 1860 that comprises the second point 1864A to be positioned nearer
the detector 670,
allow the detector to be triggered when the surgical garment 612 is coupled to
the surgical helmet
620.
[00372] Referring to Figures 45A and 45B, a perspective view and a side view
of a seventeenth
configuration of an attachment element 1958 are illustrated. Similar to the
attachment elements
658 described above, the seventeenth configuration of the attachment element
1958 comprises a
head 1960 having a distal surface 1965 and an opposing proximal surface 1959.
The head 1960 of
the attachment element 1958 may comprises a generally cylindrical shape. The
proximal surface
1959 of the head 1960 may comprise an aperture 1968 extending along the
longitudinal axis, Axis-
E, of the head 1960. The head 1960, in combination with the first surface 621
of the transparent
face shield 618, may be shaped to define a recess 1961 when coupled to the
transparent shield 618.
The proximal surface 1659 of the head 1960 may also comprise a rim 1963
encircling the aperture
1968. The recess 1961 defined by the combination of the head 1960 and the
transparent face shield
618 may comprise a first point that is disposed within the aperture 1968 and
positioned on the first
surface 621 of the transparent face shield 618. A second point 1964 may be
disposed on the
proximal surface 1959 of the head 1960, such that the second point 1964 may be
spaced proximally
away from the first surface 621 of the face shield 618. For example, the
second point 1964 may be
on the rim 1963. With the first point 1962 being disposed on the first surface
621 of the transparent
face shield 618, and the second point being on the rim 1963 of the attachment
element 1958, the
second point 1964 is further away from the first surface 621 of the
transparent face shield 618 than
the first point 1962 is. The attachment element 1958 in combination with the
transparent face
shield 618 may be shaped to generally define the recess 1961 in the head 1960
of the attachment
element 1958. It is contemplated that the depth and/or diameter of the recess
1961 may be varied
based on the size and shape of the aperture 1968 in the head 1960 to allow the
proximal surface
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1959 to matingly receive the protruded surface 647 of the coupling member 648
when coupled
together.
[00373] Referring to Figures 46A and 46B, a perspective view and a sectioned
side view of an
eighteenth configuration of an attachment element 2058 are illustrated.
Similar to the attachment
elements 658 described above, the eighteenth configuration of the attachment
element 2058
comprises a head 2060 having a distal surface 2065 and an opposing proximal
surface 2059. The
head 2060 of the attachment element 2058 may comprises a generally cylindrical
shape. The
proximal surface 2059 of the head 2060 may comprise a first point 2062
defining a first distance
D6 between the proximal surface 2059 and the first surface 621 of the
transparent face shield 618.
The proximal surface 2059 of the head 2060 may also comprise a second point
2064A, 2064B,
defining a second distance D7 between the proximal surface 2059 and the first
surface 621 of the
transparent face shield 618. While not illustrated in the figures, it should
be understood that first
surface 621 of the transparent face shield 618 may be positioned distally of
the distal surface 2065
of the head 2060. The proximal surface 2059 of the attachment element 2058 may
be shaped such
that the first distance D6 defined by the first point 2062 is less than the
second distance D7 defined
by the second point(s) 2064A, 2064B. For example, the attachment element 2058
may comprise a
cylindrical head 2060 including a distal end with a distal surface 2065 and a
proximal end with a
proximal surface 2059. The proximal surface 2059 may be may comprise a cone-
shaped recess
2061. The first point 2062 may be positioned at the center or point of the
cone-shaped recess 2061
of the proximal surface 2059, and each of the one or more second point(s)
2064A, 2064B may be
radially spaced from the first point 2062. The proximal surface 2059 of the
head 2060 may be
shaped such that the first distance D6 defined by the first point 2062 is less
than the second distance
D7 defined by the second point(s) 2064A, 2064B defining a cone-shaped surface
659. It is
contemplated that the slope and/or size of the cone-shaped recess 2061 of the
proximal surface
2059 may be varied to allow the proximal surface 2059 to engage the protruded
surface 647 of the
coupling member 648 when coupled together. While the proximal surface 2059
illustrated in
Figures 46A and 46B comprises a generally flat surface, it is contemplated
that the proximal
surface 2059 may exhibit an arcuate shape.
[00374] Referring to Figures 47A and 47B, a perspective view and a sectioned
side view of a
nineteenth configuration of an attachment element 2158 are illustrated.
Similar to the attachment
elements 658 described above, the nineteenth configuration of the attachment
element 2158
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comprises a head 2160 having a distal surface 2165 and an opposing proximal
surface 2159. The
head 2160 of the attachment element 2158 may comprises a generally cylindrical
shape. The
proximal surface 2159 of the head 2160 may comprise a first point 2162
defining a first distance
D6 between the proximal surface 2159 and the first surface 621 of the
transparent face shield 618.
The proximal surface 2159 of the head 2160 may also comprise a second point
2164, defining a
second distance D7 between the proximal surface 2159 and the first surface 621
of the transparent
face shield 618. While not illustrated in the figures, it should be understood
that first surface 621
of the transparent face shield 618 may be positioned distally of the distal
surface 2165 of the head
2160. The proximal surface 2159 of the attachment element 2158 may be shaped
such that the first
distance D6 defined by the first point 2162 is less than the second distance
D7 defined by the
second point(s) 2164. For example, the attachment element 2158 may comprise a
cylindrical head
2160 including a distal end with a distal surface 2165 and a proximal end with
a proximal surface
2159. The proximal surface 2159 may be may comprise a cone-shaped recess 2161.
The proximal
surface 2159 may also comprise a rim 2163 encircling the cone-shaped recess
2161. The rim 2163
may increase the amount and/or mass of ferromagnetic material at the periphery
of the head 2160
near the proximal surface 2159. This may assist in triggering the detector 670
positioned adjacent
the coupling member 648. The first point 2162 may be positioned at the center
or point of the cone-
shaped recess 2161 of the proximal surface 2159, and each of the one or more
second point(s)
2164 may be radially spaced from the first point 2162. The proximal surface
2159 of the head 2160
may be shaped such that the first distance D6 defined by the first point 2162
is less than the second
distance D7 defined by the second point(s) 2164, defining a cone-shaped
proximal surface 2159.
It is contemplated that the slope and/or size of the cone-shaped recess 2161
of the proximal surface
2159 may be varied to allow the proximal surface 2159 to engage the protruded
surface 647 of the
coupling member 648 when coupled together. While the proximal surface 2159
illustrated in
Figures 47A and 47B comprises a generally flat surface, it is contemplated
that the proximal
surface 2159 may exhibit an arcuate shape.
[00375] Referring to Figures 48A and 48B, a perspective view and a sectioned
side view of a
twentieth configuration of an attachment element 2258 are illustrated. Similar
to the attachment
elements 658 described above, the twentieth configuration of the attachment
element 2258
comprises a head 2260 having a distal end 2265 and an opposing proximal end
2259. The head
2260 of the attachment element 2258 may comprise a generally cylindrical
shape. For example,
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the attachment element 2258 may comprise a cylindrical head including a bore.
The bore may
extend along a longitudinal axis of the head 2260 between a closed distal end
2265 and an open
proximal end 2259. The bore creating the open proximal end 2259 of the
attachment element 2258
may be shaped to define a cylinder-shaped recess 2261 in the head 2260. The
proximal end 2259
may also comprise a rim encircling the bore. It is contemplated that the slope
and/or size of the
cylinder-shaped recess 2261 of the proximal end 2259 may be varied to allow
the proximal end
2259 to engage the protruded surface 647 of the coupling member 648 when
coupled together.
While the proximal end 2259 illustrated in Figures 48A and 48B comprises a
generally flat surface,
it is contemplated that the proximal surface 2259 may exhibit an arcuate
shape.
[00376] Referring to Figures 49A and 49B, a perspective view and a sectioned
side view of a
twenty-first configuration of an attachment element 2358 are illustrated.
Similar to the attachment
elements 658 described above, the twenty-first configuration of the attachment
element 2358
comprises a head 2360 having a distal surface 2365 and an opposing proximal
surface 2359. The
head 2360 of the attachment element 2358 may comprises a generally cylindrical
shape. For
example, the attachment element 2358 may comprise a cylindrical head 2260
including a bore
2268. The bore 2268 may extend along a longitudinal axis, Axis-E, between a
closed distal end
and an open proximal end. The bore 2268 creating the open proximal end 2359 of
the attachment
element 2358 may be shaped to define a cylinder-shaped recess 2361 in the
proximal surface 2359
of the head 2360. The bore 2268 may include a mouth encircling the open end of
the bore 2268.
The mouth may be configured to taper or slope circumferentially from the open
proximal end
towards the hollow passage defined by the bore 2268. The proximal end 2359 may
also comprise
a rim 2363 encircling the bore 2268 and/or the mouth of the bore 2268 to
maintain a sufficient
amount and/or mass of the ferromagnetic material of the head 2360 to trigger
the detector 670
positioned adjacent the coupling member 648. It is contemplated that the slope
and/or size of the
taper of the mouth that defines a portion of the recess 2361 in the proximal
end 2359 may be varied
to allow the proximal surface 2359 to engage the protruded surface 647 of the
coupling member
648 when coupled together. Referring to Figure 50, the head 2360 may also
comprise a first point
2362 on the proximal surface that defines a first distance D6 between the
proximal surface 2359
and the first surface 621 of the transparent face shield 618. The head 2360
may also comprise a
second point 2364 on the proximal surface 2359 that defines a second distance
D7 between the
proximal surface 2359 and the first surface 621 of the transparent face shield
618. For example,
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the first point 2362 on the proximal surface 2359 may be positioned at the
distal most point of the
bore 2368. The second point 2364 may positioned on the mouth and/or the rim
2363 of the
proximal surface 2359. The proximal surface 2359 of the attachment element
2358 may be shaped
such that the first distance D6 defined by the first point 2362 is less than
the second distance D7
defined by the second point(s) 2364 forming the recess 2361. While not
illustrated in the figures,
it should be understood that first surface 621 of the transparent face shield
618 may be positioned
distally of the distal surface 2365 of the head 2360. Furthermore, while the
proximal surface 2359
illustrated in Figures 49A and 49B comprises a generally flat surface, it is
contemplated that the
proximal surface 2359 may exhibit an arcuate shape.
[00377] Referring to Figures 50A-50F, various views of a twenty-second and
twenty-third
configuration of an attachment element 2458, 2558 are illustrated. Figures 50A-
50D include the
twenty-second configuration of the attachment element 2458. The attachment
element 2458 may
be configured to couple to the transparent shield 618. The attachment element
2458 may comprise
a head 2460. The head 2460 may define a dimension, wherein the dimension of
the head is less
than a dimension of the aperture in the chin bar 624, such that the head 2460
is sized to be inserted
within the aperture of the chin bar 624 when coupled to the coupling member
648. The head 2460
of the attachment element 2458 may also define a distal surface 2465 and an
opposing proximal
surface 2459. A first point 2462 may be positioned on the proximal surface
2459 of the head 2460.
The first point 2462 may be positioned at a center of the proximal surface
2459. Alternatively, the
first point 2462 may be positioned at a location on the proximal surface 2459
that in intersects with
a first axis, Axis-E, of the attachment element 2458. The first axis, Axis-E,
may also be the
longitudinal axis of the attachment element 2458. A second point 2464 may also
be positioned on
the proximal surface 2459 of the head 2460. Generally, the second point(s)
2464 may be positioned
on the proximal surface 2459 such that it is spaced apart from the first point
2462 on the proximal
surface 2459. For example, where the proximal surface 2459 of the head 2460
comprises a
generally circular profile, the first point 2462 may be positioned at the
center of the proximal
surface 2459, and the second point 2464 may be radially spaced from the first
point 2462.
[00378] The attachment element 2458 may further comprise a post 2467 extending
distally from
the distal surface 2465 of the attachment element 2458. The post 2467 may
comprise a proximal
portion 2469 and a distal portion 2471. As described above, the proximal
portion 2469 of the post
2467 may comprise a third dimension D3 and the distal portion 2471 comprises a
fourth dimension
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D4. The post 2467 may be configured such that the third dimension D3 of the
proximal portion
2469 is larger than the fourth dimension D4 of the distal portion 2471,
creating a shoulder. The
distal portion 2471 of the post 2467 should be configured to fit within an
aperture 619 of the face
shield 618 to facilitate coupling of the attachment element 2458 to the face
shield 618.
[00379] The aperture 619 in the transparent face shield 618 and post 2467
extending from the
distal surface 2465 of the head 2460 may be complementarily sized to allow the
post 2467 to pivot
within the aperture 619. For example, the distal portion 2471 of the post 2467
may comprise a
dimension D3, such as a diameter, and aperture 619 may comprise a
complementary dimension
D5, such as a diameter. The dimension D3 of the post 2467 and the dimension D5
of the aperture
619 may be complementary sized such that the dimension D5 of the aperture 619
is larger than the
dimension D3 of the post 2467. This may allow the attachment element 2458 to
pivot relative to
the transparent face shield 618 when coupled to the surgical helmet 620.
However, the dimension
D5 of the aperture 619 should be sized relative to the dimension D3 of the
post 2467 such that the
retention feature 673 may still couple the attachment element 2458 to the
transparent face shield
618. For example, the couple member 648 may comprise a magnetic material and
the coupling
member 648 may be oriented such that the polarity of magnetic material is
configured to pivot the
attachment element 2458 relative to the transparent shield pulling a portion
of the proximal surface
2459 of the head 2460 toward the detector 670. As illustrated in Figure 50D,
the proximal surface
2459 of attachment element 2458 may comprise a first point 2462 and a second
point 2464. When
the attachment element 2458 is placed adjacent the coupling member 648 of the
surgical helmet
620, the attachment element 2458 may pivot relative to the transparent face
shield 618 such that
the first point 2462 may define a first distance D6 from the first surface 621
of the transparent
face shield 618 and the second point(s) 2464 may define a second distance D7
from the first surface
621 of the transparent face shield 618. This may allow the second point 2464
on the proximal
surface 2459 of the head 2460 to be positioned sufficiently close to the
detector 670, such as a Hall
Effect sensor, to trigger the detector 670.
[00380] Referring to Figures 50E-50F, partial sectional views of the twenty-
third configuration
of the attachment element 2558 are illustrated. Similar to the twenty-second
configuration of the
attachment element 2458, the twenty-third configuration of the attachment
element 2558 may
comprise a post 2567 extending distally from the distal surface 2565 of the
attachment element
2558. However, the post 2567 may comprise a uniform size and/or diameter. As
described above,
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the post 2567 may comprise a third dimension D3. The post 2567 may be
configured to fit within
an aperture 619 of the face shield 618 to facilitate coupling of the
attachment element 2558 to the
face shield 618.
[00381] The aperture 619 in the transparent face shield 618 and post 2567
extending from the
distal surface 2565 of the head 2560 may be complementarily sized to allow the
post 2567 to pivot
within the aperture 619. For example, the post 2567 may comprise a dimension
D3, such as a
diameter, and aperture 619 may comprise a complementary dimension D5, such as
a diameter.
The dimension D3 of the post 2567 and the dimension D5 of the aperture 619 may
be
complementary sized such that the dimension D5 of the aperture 619 is larger
than the dimension
D3 of the post 2567. This may allow the attachment element 2558 to pivot
relative to the
transparent face shield 618 when coupled to the surgical helmet 620. However,
the dimension D5
of the aperture 619 should be sized relative to the dimension D3 of the post
2567 such that the
retention feature 673 may still couple the attachment element 2558 to the
transparent face shield
618. For example, the couple member 648 may comprise a magnetic material and
the coupling
member 648 may be oriented such that the polarity of magnetic material is
configured to pivot the
attachment element 2558 relative to the transparent shield pulling a portion
of the proximal surface
2559 of the head 2560 toward the detector 670. As illustrated in Figure 50F,
the proximal surface
2559 of attachment element 2558 may comprise a first point 2562 and a second
point 2464. When
the attachment element 2558 is placed adjacent the coupling member 648 of the
surgical helmet
620, the attachment element 2558 may pivot relative to the transparent face
shield 618 such that
the first point 2562 may define a first distance D6 from the first surface 621
of the transparent
face shield 618 and the second point(s) 2564 may define a second distance D7
from the first surface
621 of the transparent face shield 618. This may allow the second point 2564
on the proximal
surface 2559 of the head 2560 to be positioned sufficiently close to the
detector 670, such as a Hall
Effect sensor, to trigger the detector 670.
[00382] Referring to Figures 51A-51D, various views of a twenty-fourth
configuration of an
attachment element 2658 are illustrated. The attachment element 2658 may be
configured to
couple to the transparent shield 618. The head 2660 may be sized to be
inserted within the aperture
of the chin bar 624 when coupled to the coupling member 648. The head 2660 of
the attachment
element 2658 may also define a distal surface 2665 and an opposing proximal
surface 2659. The
head 2660 made be shaped such that the proximal surface 2659 and the distal
surface 2665 have a
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D-shaped profile when viewed from above. The proximal surface 2659 of the head
2660 may
comprise a first surface 2662, wherein a point on the first surface 2662 may
define a first distance
D6 between the first surface 2662 and the first surface 621 of the transparent
face shield 618. The
proximal surface 2659 of the head 2660 may also comprise a second surface
2664, wherein a point
on the second surface 2664 may define a second distance D7 between the second
surface 2664 and
the first surface 621 of the transparent face shield 618. While not
illustrated in the figures, it should
be understood that first surface 621 of the transparent face shield 618 may be
positioned distally
of the distal surface 2665 of the head 2660. The proximal surface 2659 of the
attachment element
2658 may be shaped such that the first distance D6 defined by the point on the
first surface 2662
is less than the second distance D7 defined by the point on the second surface
2664. For example,
the attachment element 2658 may comprises a D-shaped head 2660 including a
distal end and a
proximal end, the proximal end may define a proximal surface 1659 including a
planar surface
1662 with a first side and a second side. The proximal surface may also
include a first face 1664A
angularly extending in a proximal direction from the first side of the planar
surface 1662 to a first
edge. However, this is only one example an asymmetric shaped head 2660. Other
asymmetric head
configurations are contemplated. For example, any of the attachment elements
described above
may be bisected along the longitudinal axis, Axis-E, of the attachment element
to define an
asymmetric head shape.
[00383] The attachment element 2658 may further comprise a post 2667 extending
distally from
the distal surface 2665 of the attachment element 2658. The post 2667 may
comprise a D-shaped
profile when viewed from the bottom, as seen in Figure 51C. The post 2667 may
comprise a
proximal portion 2669 and a distal portion 2671. As described above, the
proximal portion 2669
of the post 2667 may comprise a third dimension D3 and the distal portion 2671
comprises a fourth
dimension D4. The post 2667 may be configured such that the third dimension D3
of the proximal
portion 2669 is larger than the fourth dimension D4 of the distal portion
2671, creating a shoulder.
The distal portion 2671 of the post 2667 should be configured to fit within an
aperture 619 of the
face shield 618 to facilitate coupling of the attachment element 2658 to the
face shield 618.
[00384] The aperture 619 in the transparent face shield 618 and post 2667
extending from the
distal surface 2665 of the head 2660 may be complementarily sized and shaped
to allow the post
2667 to be at least partially disposed within the aperture 619. For example,
the distal portion 2671
of the post 2667 may comprise a D-shaped profile and the transparent face
shield 618 may
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comprise a complementary D-shaped aperture 619. The complementary D-shaped
post 2667 and
the aperture 619 may serve to prevent rotation of the attachment element 2658
relative to the
transparent face shield 618, and by extension the coupling member 648 when the
surgical garment
612 is coupled to the surgical helmet 620. This may serve to align the
attachment element 2658
relative to the detector 670, such as when utilizing an attachment element
2658 with at least one
asymmetric profile the requires the portion of the head 2660 including the
second point and/or
second surface 2664 to be appropriately oriented relative to the transparent
face shield 618 in order
to properly trigger the detector 670. For example, as illustrated in Figure
51D, the post 2667 may
serve to orient the second surface 2664 of the proximal surface 2659 such that
the second surface
2664 is positioned proximate the detector 670 when the attachment element 2658
is magnetically
coupled to the coupling member 648 of the surgical helmet 620. Based on the
exemplary surgical
helmet 620 of Figure 37 wherein the detector 670 is positioned laterally
relative to the coupling
member 648, the post 2667 may be configured to orient the second surface 2664
away from the
midline, Axis-M, of the transparent face shield 618 to position the second
surface 2664 proximate
the detector 670. This may allow the second surface 2664 on the proximal
surface 2659 of the head
2660 to be positioned sufficiently close to the detector 670, such as a Hall
Effect sensor, to trigger
the detector 670. While not illustrated in the figures, it is contemplated
that post 2667 may
comprise other asymmetrical profiles to prevent the rotation of the attachment
element 2658 within
the aperture 619 of the transparent face shield 618. For example, the post
2667 may comprise a
star, triangle, square, rectangle, or other similar polygonal shapes as a
means of preventing the
rotation of the attachment element 2658 within the aperture 619 of the
transparent face shield 618.
[00385] The asymmetric post 2667 illustrated and describe with regard to the
attachment element
2658 of Figures 51A-51D may be applied to any of the attachment elements
described above.
Furthermore, it is also contemplated that any of the attachment elements
described above may be
configured without a post. An attachment element without a post may be coupled
to the first
surface of the transparent face shield 618 by an epoxy, glue, or other similar
adhesive. The
adhesive may be configured to provide a similar means of orienting the
attachment element relative
to the transparent face shield and/or preventing rotation of the attachment
element relative to the
transparent face shield
[00386] Referring to Figures 52A and 52B, an exemplary configuration of a
transparent face
shield 618 including an asymmetric aperture 619B is illustrated. For example,
the transparent face
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shield 618 may comprise an asymmetric aperture 619B comprising a D-shape
corresponding to
the exemplary D-shaped post 2667 of the attachment element described above.
While not
illustrated in the figures, it is contemplated that the asymmetric aperture
619B may comprise a
star, triangle, square, rectangle, or other similar polygonal shape that is
complementary to the post
of the attachment element as a means of preventing the rotation of the
attachment element within
the aperture 619B of the transparent face shield 618.
[00387] It should be appreciated that different attachment members on the same
surgical garment
may vary in design from one another.
[00388] An adapter member may be configured to removably couple with one of
the attachment
elements described above. The adapter member may comprise a proximal surface
and an opposing
distal surface. The adapter member may comprise a first point on the proximal
surface of the
adapter member and a second point on the proximal surface of the adapter
member similar to any
of the various shapes and/or configurations of the proximal surface of the
attachment elements of
the surgical garment described above. The proximal surface of the adapter
member may be
complementarily shaped to engage a coupling member on a surgical helmet and
capable of
triggering the detector. The distal surface may comprise a complementary
shaped configured to
engage the proximal surface of an attachment element of a surgical garment.
The second point on
the proximal surface of the adapter member may be spaced apart from the first
point on the
proximal surface on the adapter member. The distal surface of said adapter
member may be
configured to removably engage the proximal surface of the first attachment
element. The first
point on the proximal surface of the adapter member may define a first
distance from the first
surface of the transparent face shield when the adapter member is coupled to
the first attachment
element. The second point on the proximal surface of the adapter member may
define a second
distance from the first surface of the transparent face shield when the
adapter member is coupled
to the first attachment element. The proximal surface of the adapter member
may be shaped such
that the first distance is less than the second distance from the first
surface of the transparent face
shield.
[00389] The adapter member may be formed from at least 50, 75, 85, or 90 wt.%
of a metal alloy
comprising at least 50 %, 60, 70, 80, 90, 95, or 99 wt.% of a ferromagnetic
material or magnetic
material capable of being magnetically attracted to the coupling member and/or
the attachment
element comprising a magnet. It is also contemplated that the adapter member
may comprise at
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least 70, 80, or 90 wt.% of a ferritic or martensitic stainless steel or other
steel capable of being
attracted to a magnet and sufficient to retain the surgical garment to the
surgical helmet. It is further
contemplated that the adapter member may comprise at least 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8,
0.9, 1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.5
or 1.8 g of a ferromagnetic material capable of being magnetically attracted
to the coupling
member and/or the attachment element comprising a magnet. Example of suitable
ferromagnetic
materials may include iron, nickel, cobalt, carbon, gadolinium, dysprosium, or
alloys thereof, or
some combination thereof.
[00390] Method of reprocessing a surgical garment:
[00391] A method of reusing a feature of a surgical garment 612 may comprise
obtaining a
surgical garment 612 that has been used, the surgical garment 612 including a
surgical fabric 614
defining an opening and a transparent face shield 618 disposed within the
opening. The transparent
face shield 618 may comprise an upper portion, a lower portion, a first
surface 621 and an opposing
second surface 623. The method may further comprise a first attachment element
658 secured to
said lower portion of said transparent face shield 618, wherein the first
attachment element 658
may comprise a ferromagnetic material and may define a coupling recess 661 on
the wearer side
of said surgical garment 612. The first attachment element 658 may be
configured to removably
engage the magnetic coupling member 648 on the helmet 620. The first
attachment element 658
may further comprise a head 660 comprising a distal surface 665 and a proximal
surface 659, and
a post 667 extending distally from the distal surface 665 of the head 660. The
coupling recess 661
may be formed in said proximal surface 659 of the head 660. The method may
also comprise
disengaging the first attachment element 658 from the transparent face shield
618. The method
may further comprise discarding the surgical garment 612 and the transparent
face shield 618. The
method may also comprise cleaning and/or sterilizing the first attachment
element 658. The
method may also comprise coupling the cleaned or sterilized first attachment
element 658 to a new
surgical garment 612 having a new surgical fabric 614 and/or transparent face
shield 618 such that,
in subsequent use of the new surgical garment 612, the cleaned or sterilized
first attachment
element 658 may be utilized to couple the new surgical garment 612 to a helmet
620.
[00392] Method of coupling a surgical garment to a surgical helmet using an
adapter:
[00393] A method of coupling a surgical garment 612 including a first
attachment element 658 to
a surgical helmet 620 including a first coupling member 648 may comprise
providing an adapter
member. The adapter member may comprise a proximal surface and an opposing
distal surface.
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The adapter member may also comprise a first point on the proximal surface of
the adapter member
and a second point on the proximal surface of the adapter member. The second
point on the
proximal surface of the adapter member may be spaced apart from the first
point on the proximal
surface of the adapter member. The first point on the proximal surface of the
adapter member may
define a first distance D6 from the first surface of the transparent face
shield when the adapter
member is coupled to the first attachment element. The second point on the
proximal surface of
the adapter member may define a second distance D7 from the first surface 621
of the transparent
face shield when the adapter member is coupled to the first attachment
element. The method may
also comprise removably coupling the adapter member to the first coupling
member of the surgical
helmet. The method may further comprise removably coupling the adapter member
to the first
attachment element of the surgical garment.
[00394] AUXILIARY COMPONENTS
[00395] In describing several auxiliary components that may be included as
part of any of the
surgical apparel systems described above, a generic exemplary configuration of
a surgical apparel
system will also be described. It should be understood that features and/or
structures having the
same reference number and/or the same last two digits may have the same
features and/or functions
as those of the helmets, garments, and/or systems described above.
Furthermore, it should be
understood that the following components may be included as an optional
feature of any of the
surgical apparel systems described above.
[00396] Referring to Figure 53, an exemplary configuration of a surgical
helmet 720 is illustrated,
such as the surgical helmet of Figures 1-2 and 14-17B that is described above.
The surgical helmet
720 may comprise a headband 722. The headband 722 may be configured to
encircle the wearer's
head and support the surgical helmet 720. The headband 722 may be constructed
from a generally
flexible or pliable material, allowing the headband 722 to conform to the
general shape of the
wearer's head. The headband 722 may comprise a headband control assembly 738
configured to
adjust the size/shape of the headband 722. The headband control assembly 738
may comprise a
control member 739 that is manipulatable by the wearer to adjust the size of
the headband 722.
For example, as illustrated in Figure 53, the control member 739 may comprise
a rotatable knob
or lever. When the wearer rotates the control member 739 in one direction, the
headband control
assembly 738 may be configured to reduce the size, i.e., the circumference, of
the headband 722.
Alternatively, when the wearer rotates the control member 739 in the opposite
direction, the
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headband control assembly 738 may be configured to increase the size, i.e.,
the circumference, of
the headband 722. This allows for the headband 722 of the surgical helmet 720
to be adjusted
and/or customized to securely fit on an individual's head irrespective of the
individual's head size
and/or shape.
[00397] The surgical helmet 720 may further comprise a housing 732 that is
supported by and
located above the headband 722. The housing 732 may be configured in an
arcuate shape to fit
over the head of the individual wearing the personal protection system 710.
Other helmet designs
are contemplated. Many portions of the housing 732 may be formed to define
voids, or open
interior spaces. For example, the housing 732 may comprise a center void. The
center void may
be located toward the rear of the housing 732. There may be an intake opening
or aperture in the
top portion of the housing 732 to provide access to the center void. The
housing 732 may also
include additional voids, such as a front void proximate to the front of the
housing 732 and a rear
void proximate to the rear of the housing 732. The additional voids may be
configured to form
duct-like structures or passageways within the housing 732. The additional
voids may even be
interconnected to the center void.
[00398] Similar to the surgical helmets described above, the exemplary
surgical helmet 720 may
include one or more electrically-powered peripheral devices 730, including but
not limited to, a
ventilation assembly, a light, a camera, microphone or other communication
device, cooling
device, or combinations thereof These devices may be mounted to and/or
attached at various
locations and orientations relative to the surgical helmet 720. Each of the
peripheral devices 730
may be configured to receive commands that affect the operating state of the
corresponding
peripheral device. For example, each of the peripheral devices 730 can receive
on/off commands.
Alternatively, the peripheral devices 730 may receive commands that change one
or more settings
of the peripheral devices 730. Such configurations allow the wearer of the
surgical helmet 720 to
control the operating state of the various peripheral devices 730 during the
surgical procedure. For
example, as illustrated in Figure 53, the exemplary surgical helmet 720 may
comprise a ventilation
assembly 730, and the ventilation assembly 730 may be configured to receive
various commands
to control the actuation and/or adjust the speed of the fan in the ventilation
assembly 730.
[00399] The surgical helmet 720 may comprise a top beam 729 positioned forward
of the housing
732 of the surgical helmet 720 and configured to extend across the front of
the surgical helmet
720. The top beam 729 may further comprise a recess. The recess of the top
beam 729 may
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comprise a pair of laterally spaced-apart side walls 739A, 739B and a proximal
surface 737 that is
positioned proximally from the distal surface 731 of the top beam 729. The
side walls 739A, 739B
and the proximal surface 737 may define an alignment channel 745, where the
alignment channel
745 is configured to receive a tab disposed on the interior of the surgical
garment, as described
above, to align and/or orient the surgical garment relative to the surgical
helmet 720. As described
above, the tab may be integrally formed with and configured to extend from the
face shield.
Alternatively, the tab may be formed independent of the face shield, where the
tab is configured
to be coupled to the fabric on the interior of the surgical garment. However,
other configurations
are contemplated. The spaced-apart side walls 739A, 739B of the alignment
channel 745 should
be spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the tab to allow the tab
to be positioned within
the alignment channel 745.
[00400] The surgical helmet 720 may include a chin bar 724 that extends
downwardly from the
front portion of the surgical helmet 720. The chin bar 724 may comprise a
first post 726A and a
second post 726B. The first and second posts 726A, 726B may be coupled to the
top beam 729,
where the top beam 729 is configured to extend across the front of the
surgical helmet 720. For
example, as illustrated in Figure 53, the first and second posts 726A, 726B
may be connected to
opposing ends of the top beam 729. The chin bar 724 may be constructed from a
generally flexible
or pliable material.
[00401] The chin bar 724 may further comprise a bottom beam 728 that may
extend between the
opposed free ends of the posts 726A, 726B. The chin bar 724 is formed so that
the bottom beam
728 is located below and slightly forward of the chin of the person wearing
the surgical helmet
720. The bottom beam 728 may be bowed outwardly from the free ends of posts
726A, 726B. The
chin bar 724 may extend outwardly from the top beam 729 such that the chin bar
724 is positioned
forward of and generally encircles the face of the wearer when the surgical
helmet 720 is secured
to the wearer's head. Collectively, the combination of the top beam 729, the
posts 726A, 726B,
and the bottom beam 728 may be referred to as the face frame 735, as they
generally define an
opening positioned in front of the wearer's face when the surgical helmet 720
is positioned on top
of the wearer's head.
[00402] A plurality of coupling members 748 may be mounted to or within the
chin bar 724. The
coupling members 748 comprise magnetic material and are configured to align
and/or attach the
face shield 718 of the surgical garment 712 to the surgical helmet 720. Each
coupling member 748
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may be positioned on the chin bar 724 proximate to the opposed posts 726A,
726B and/or adjacent
opposing ends of the bottom beam 728. Alternatively, the coupling members 748
of the surgical
helmet 720 could be arranged or otherwise configured in any suitable way to
cooperate with one
of the various complementary attachment elements of the surgical garments
described above to
releasably secure the surgical garment 712 to the surgical helmet 720. For
example, as illustrated
in Figure 53, the coupling member 748 may be positioned on the chin bar 724 at
opposing ends of
the bottom beam 728 proximate where each of the posts 726A, 726B connects to
the bottom beam
728. While the exemplary configuration of the surgical helmet 720 illustrated
in Figure 53 utilizes
two coupling members 748, it is contemplated that the surgical helmet 720 may
be configured such
that the chin bar 724 comprises a single coupling member 748 or, in other
configurations, three or
more coupling members 748 may be spaced about the chin bar 724 and/or top beam
729. It is
contemplated that other types of coupling members 748 may be used in place of
and/or in addition
to those comprising magnetic materials, such as with hook and loop fasteners,
snaps, coupling
members comprising ferromagnetic material, or similar type fasteners. Other
configurations are
contemplated.
[00403] The face frame 735 may further comprise a coupling feature 746
configured to removably
engage one of the face shields and/or surgical garments as described above.
Referring to Figures
54-56, an exemplary configuration of the coupling feature 746 of the face
frame 735 is illustrated.
The coupling feature 746 may comprise a protrusion, post, hook, bracket or
similar coupling
mechanism configured to releasably engage the tab 755 to align and/or couple
the surgical garment
712 to the surgical helmet 720. For example, the coupling feature 746 may be
realized as a
protrusion 746 extending from the alignment channel 745 of the top beam 729.
Here, the top beam
729 comprises the alignment channel 745 as described above, and the coupling
feature 746 may
be disposed at least partially within the alignment channel 745. The coupling
feature 746 may be
positioned on the upper beam 729 such that a portion of the coupling feature
746 is at least partially
disposed within the alignment channel 745. The coupling feature 746 may also
be configured such
that the top of the upper most surface of coupling feature 746 is arranged or
otherwise positioned
below the top of the alignment channel 745 and/or the top surface of the top
beam 729. The
combination of the spaced-apart side walls 739A, 739B of the alignment channel
745 and the
coupling feature 746 may serve to align and/or orient the face shield and/or
the surgical garment
relative to the surgical helmet 720. More specifically, the spaced-apart side
walls 739A, 739B of
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the alignment channel 745 may serve to guide the tab 755 such that the opening
756 in the tab 755
is directed into engagement with the coupling feature 746 as the surgical
garment 712 is placed
over the surgical helmet 720. While the coupling feature 746 illustrated in
Figures 54-56 extends
from an upper beam 729 including an alignment channel 745, it is also
contemplated that the
coupling feature 746 may extend from an upper beam without an alignment
channel, such as the
upper beam 129 illustrated in Figure 6 and described above. Alternatively, it
is also contemplated
that the coupling feature may extend from another portion of the helmet, such
as from a nozzle or
vent disposed on the front of the helmet, such as the helmet 20 illustrated in
Figure 2 and described
above.
[00404] The coupling feature 746 may comprise a first portion 747 and a second
portion 748. The
first portion 747 of the coupling feature 746 may extend distally from the
upper beam 729. For
example, as illustrated in Figures 54-56, the first portion 747 may extend
transversely from said
upper beam 729 such that the longitudinal axis of the first portion 747 is
generally perpendicular
to the distal surface 731 of the upper beam 729 and/or the proximal surface
737 of the alignment
channel 745. It is also contemplated that the first portion 747 may be
positioned such that the
longitudinal axis of the first portion 747 is oriented at an angle of other
than 90 degrees relative to
the distal surface 731 of the upper beam 729 and/or the proximal surface 737
of the alignment
channel 745. For example, it is contemplated that the longitudinal axis of the
first portion 747 may
be oriented at an angle of approximately 30 degrees relative to the distal
surface 731 of the upper
beam 729 and/or the proximal surface 737 of the alignment channel 745, such
that the first portion
747 extends distally and vertically, relative to gravity, from said upper beam
729. Alternatively,
the longitudinal axis of the first portion 747 may be oriented at an angle of
approximately 120
degrees relative to the distal surface 731 of the upper beam 729 and/or the
proximal surface 737
of the alignment channel 745, such that the first portion 747 extends distally
and generally
downward, relative to gravity, from said upper beam 729.
[00405] The coupling feature 746 may further comprise a second portion 748
coupled to said first
portion 747 opposite said upper beam 729. The second portion 748 may extend in
a generally
vertical direction, relative to gravity, from the first portion 747. In this
configuration, the coupling
feature 746 may have a generally L-shaped profile. The second portion 748 may
be sized and/or
shaped to fit within the coupling aperture of the transparent shield and/or
surgical garment when
coupled together. For example, the second portion 748 may comprise a generally
cylindrical form.
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Alternatively, as illustrated in Figures 54-56, the second portion 748 may
comprise a generally
rectangular or polygonal profile having a distal surface 750 and an opposing
proximal surface 751.
[00406] The coupling feature 746 may further comprise a projection 754
extending distally from
the coupling feature 746. For example, the projection 754 may be positioned on
the distal surface
750 of the coupling feature 746. More specifically, the projection 754 may be
positioned on the
distal surface of the second portion 748of the coupling feature 746. The
projection 754 may define
a ramp-like or sloped surface to assist the user to position the coupling
aperture of the transparent
shield and/or surgical garment over the coupling feature 746. For example, the
projection 754 may
comprise a generally triangular shape, with one of the sides of the triangle
being positioned
adjacent the distal surface 750 of the coupling feature 746. A second side of
the triangular-shaped
projection 754 may extend transversely from the distal surface of the coupling
feature 746 and be
configured to retain the transparent shield of the surgical garment adjacent
to the face frame 735.
The second side of the triangular-shaped projection 754 may define a first
surface 755 of the
projection 754 that extends distally from the coupling feature 746 and
provides a stop configured
to prevent the transparent shield from inadvertently sliding off the coupling
feature 746 once
attached. A third side of the triangular-shaped projection 754 may be
configured to extend from a
distal point of the second surface 755 to the distal surface 750 of the
coupling feature 746. The
third side may define a second surface 756 having a sloped profile that
extends vertically from a
distal portion of said first surface 755 and merges into the distal surface
750 of the coupling feature
746 to define a ramp to assist a wearer in inserting the coupling feature 746
within the coupling
aperture of the transparent shield to position the transparent shield adjacent
the face frame 735.
While the projection 754 on the coupling feature 746 illustrated in Figures 54-
56 comprises a
generally triangular shape, other alternative shapes are contemplated. For
example, the second
surface 756 could have a curved shape, such as a concave- or convex-shaped
surface terminating
at the first surface 755 that extends transversely from the coupling feature
746. While the figures
illustrate the projection(s) 754 extending distally from the distal surface
750 of the coupling feature
746, it is also contemplated that the projections 754 may extend proximally
from the proximal
surface 751 of the coupling feature 746 and function in a similar manner as
described above.
[00407] The coupling feature 746 may further comprise a stop portion 757. For
example, the stop
portion 757 may be proximate the intersection of the first portion 747 and the
second portion 748
of the coupling feature 746. The stop portion 757 may comprise a fifth
dimension D5, wherein the
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fifth dimension D5 is greater than an internal dimension of the coupling
aperture of the surgical
garment. For example, the stop portion 757 may comprise a diameter greater
than the diameter of
the coupling aperture in the transparent shields and/or the surgical garments
described above. The
stop portion 757 may be configured to prevent the coupling aperture of the
transparent shield
and/or surgical garment from moving or being positioned beyond the stop
portion 757 of the
coupling feature 746. As illustrated in Figures 54-56, the first portion 747
may comprise an upper
surface 752 and an opposed lower surface 753. The upper surface 752 and the
lower surface 753
may be spaced apart a distance, such as the fifth dimension D5, that is
greater than the distance
between an upper boundary and a lower boundary defined by the interior of the
coupling aperture
of the transparent shield and/or surgical garment. This configuration of the
first portion 747 may
define a stop portion 757 at a distal end of the first portion 747. It is also
contemplated that the
stop portion 757 may be defined by shape or other characteristic that prevents
the coupling aperture
from moving beyond the stop portion 757 on the coupling feature 746. For
example, the second
portion 748 of the coupling feature 746 may comprise a generally cylindrical
form configured to
fit within the coupling aperture, and the first portion 747 may comprise a
generally square or
rectangular shape configured so that it does not fit within the coupling
aperture. Alternatively, the
coupling feature 746 may be configured to increase in dimension, such as
diameter, as you move
from a distal end of the coupling feature 746 toward the upper beam 729,
wherein the stop portion
757 is located at a point along the coupling feature 746 between the distal
end and the upper beam
729 where the dimension of the coupling feature exceeds the dimension of the
coupling aperture.
The stop portion 757 may be positioned on the coupling feature 746 to position
the transparent
shield approximately even with or generally forward of the face frame 735.
[00408] Referring to Figure 57, an alternative perspective view of the
exemplary surgical helmet
720 of Figure 53 is illustrated. The surgical helmet 720 helmet may comprise a
power input 810.
The power input 810 may be disposed on the housing 732 of the surgical helmet
720 and be
configured to be in electrical communication with the peripheral device(s) 730
of the surgical
helmet 720. For example, the power input 810 may be coupled to the ventilation
assembly 730 by
an electrical connection and configured to transfer power received at the
power input 810 to the
ventilation assembly 730 to operate the motor and/or fan.
[00409] Referring to Figures 58-60, an exemplary configuration of a power
input 810 disposed
on the housing 732 of the surgical helmet is shown. As illustrated in the
figures, the power input
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810 is disposed on a rearward portion of the housing 732. However, it is
contemplated that the
power input 810 may disposed anywhere on the surgical helmet 720. For example,
the power input
810 may be disposed on a forward portion of the housing 732. In yet another
configuration, the
power input 810 may be disposed on the headband 722 proximate the headband
control assembly
738. The power input 810 may define a recess 812 configured to receive a
connector from a power
supply, such as a plug, post, or socket.
[00410] The power input 810 may further comprise an electrical connector 814.
As illustrated in
Figures 58-60, the electrical connector 814 may be disposed in the recess 812
defined by the power
input 810. The electrical connector 814 may comprise one or more slots 816 for
receiving a prong
or wire from a plug, post, or socket. For example, as illustrated in Figures
58-60 the electrical
connector 814 may comprise three slots 816 for receiving three corresponding
prongs of a plug on
the power supply. The number of slots 816 may be dictated by the type of
electrical connection
and/or the number of peripheral devices 730 to be powered by the power supply
coupled to the
power input 810. While the figures illustrate the electrical connector 814 as
having a plurality of
slots 816 for receiving the corresponding prongs of the plug, post, or socket,
it is also contemplated
that the electrical connector 814 may comprise a plurality of prongs and the
plug, post, or socket
may comprise a corresponding set of slots that allow for an electrical
connection to be made
between the power input 810 and the power supply.
[00411] The power input 810 may also comprise an alignment feature 818. For
example, as
illustrated in Figure 58, the alignment feature 818 may comprise a groove 818A
in an interior
surface 820 of the recess 812 defined by the power input 810. The alignment
feature 818 may also
comprise a protrusion 818B and/or a recess 818C defined on a distal surface
822 of the power
input 810. The alignment feature 818 may be configured to correspond to a
complementary feature
on the plug, post, or socket of the power supply to properly align the slots
816 and prongs of the
electrical connector 814 with the plug, post, or socket to create a proper
electrical connection
between the power input 810 and the power supply. The alignment feature 818
may also serve as
an anti-rotation feature when the connection between the power input 810 and
the power supply
includes a post 834, as will be described in a greater detail below.
[00412] The power input 810 may also comprise a retention feature 824. The
retention feature
824 may comprise a snap, complementary coupling members creating a magnetic
connection, or
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similar type fasteners. For example, as illustrated in Figures 58-60, the
distal surface 822 of the
power input 810 may be shaped to define a snap-fit type retention feature 824.
[00413] Referring to Figure 61, an exemplary configuration of a power source
826 is illustrated.
For example, the power source 826 may comprise a battery pack 828 and a wiring
harness 830.
The power source 826 may further comprise a plug 832 coupled to the wiring
harness 830 opposite
the battery 828, the plug 832 may be configured to form an electrical
connection with the power
input 810 of the surgical helmet 720. The power source 826 may also comprise a
post 834. The
post 834 may be configured to serve as a type of adapter between the power
input 810 and the plug
832. For example, the post 834 may have a first surface 836 configured to
removably couple to
the plug 832 and an opposing second surface 838 configured to removably couple
to the power
input 810 of the surgical helmet 720. It is also contemplated that the second
surface 838 of the post
834 may be permanently coupled to the power input 810 of the surgical helmet
720 and the first
surface 836 may be removably coupled to the plug 832. For example, the second
surface 838 of
the post 834 may be permanently coupled to the power input 810 by epoxy, weld,
adhesive, or
another similar fastening method. In yet another configuration, the second
surface 838 of the post
834 may be removably coupled to the power input 810 of the surgical helmet 720
and the first
surface 836 may be permanently coupled to the plug 832. However, regardless of
whether the plug
832 is permanently or removably coupled to the first surface 836 of the plug
832, the type of
connection must allow for the plug 832 to be rotated about a longitudinal axis
of the post 834. An
exemplary configuration of an electrical connector including a plug that is
rotatable about a post
(referred to as a "base" or a "socket" in the following publications) is
disclosed in International
Publication No. WO 2017/0762620, filed on October 13, 2016, to Fischer
Connectors Holding SA,
which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. The corresponding
U.S. application is
U.S. Publication No. 2018/0323556, which is also incorporated by reference in
its entirety.
[00414] Referring to Figure 62, a perspective view of an exemplary
configuration of the plug 832
is illustrated. The plug 832 may define a recess 840 configured to receive the
first surface 836 of
the post 834. The plug 832 may comprise a plurality of electrical contacts 846
disposed within the
recess 846. The electrical contacts 846 may be configured to contact the first
surface 836 of the
post 834 to form an electrical connection between the plug 832 and the post
834.
[00415] The plug 832 may also comprise a plug retention feature 842 disposed
within the recess
840. For example, the plug retention feature 842 may comprise a detent or ball
bearing on an
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interior surface 844 of the recess 840 and may be configured to create a
friction fit with the post
834. The plug retention feature 842 needs to allow for coupling of the plug
832 to the post 834,
while also allowing the plug 832 to rotate about the post 834 without breaking
the electrical
connection. For example, a plug retention feature 842 may include a ball
bearing that creates a
friction fit with the post 834 while being rotated about the post 834.
[00416] Referring to Figures 63-64, The post 834 may comprise a post retention
feature 848. For
example, the post retention feature 848 may comprise a groove on the exterior
surface 850 of the
post 834 corresponding to the plug retention feature 842, such as the detent
or ball bearing. The
plug retention feature 842 may be configured to engage the post retention
feature 848 to removably
couple the plug 832 to the post 834 while still allowing the plug 832 to be
rotated about the
longitudinal axis of the post 834. For example, the plug 832 may comprise a
plurality of ball
bearings 842 on the interior surface 844 of the recess 840 and the exterior
surface 850 of the post
834 may comprise a groove 848 encircling the post 834, such that the ball
bearings 842 are at least
partially disposed within the groove 848 when the plug 832 is coupled to the
post 834. The groove
848 may be configured to allow the ball bearings 842 to remain within the
groove 848 as the plug
832 is rotated relative to the post 834. Alternatively, the inverse
configuration is also
contemplated. For example, the post 834 may comprise a plurality of ball
bearings spaced about
the circumference 850 of the post 834, and the interior surface 844 of the
recess 840 in the plug
832 may comprise a groove corresponding to the ball bearings on the post 834,
such that the ball
bearings of the post 834 may be at least partially disposed in the groove of
the plug 832 when
coupled together.
[00417] As described above, the post 834 may comprise the first surface 836
and opposing
second surface 838 for creating an electrical connection between the plug 832
and the power inlet
XX, respectively. The first surface 836 may define a conductive face including
a plurality of
concentric tracks 852 corresponding to the electrical contacts 846 of the plug
832. The plurality of
concentric tracks 852 and the electrical contacts 846 of the plug 832 may be
positioned and/or
arranged so that an individual electric contact 846 maintains an electrical
connection with the
corresponding concentric track 852 on the first surface 836 when the plug 832
is coupled to the
post 834.
[00418] The second surface 838 of the post 834 may comprise one or more prongs
854
configured to create an electrical connection with the one more slots 816 of
the electrical connector
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814. Each of said one or more prongs 854 may be configured to be disposed in
one of the
corresponding slots 816 in the electrical connector 814 to form an electrical
connection between
the post 834 and the power input 810. Furthermore, each of the prongs 854 on
the second surface
838 corresponds to one of the concentric tracks 852 of the first surface 836.
This allows a specific
electrical contact 846 of the plug 832 to be mapped to the appropriate slot
816 on the electrical
connector 814 of the power input 810 using the post 834, while also allowing
the plug 832 to be
rotated about the post 834 without breaking the electrical connection. Each of
the electrical
contacts 846 of the plug 832 maintain an electrical connection with the
corresponding concentric
track 852 irrespective of the radial orientation of the plug 832 relative to
the post 834. Power from
the battery may travel through the electrical contact 846 of the post 834,
through the concentric
track 852 to the assigned prong 854 on the second surface 838 of the post 834,
then to the
appropriate slot 816 on the electrical connector 814 of the power input 810 to
power the one or
more peripheral devices 730 of the surgical helmet 720.
[00419] The second surface 838 of the post 834 may also comprise corresponding
features to
couple with the retention feature 824 of power inlet 810 disposed on the
surgical helmet 720. For
example, the second surface 838 may comprise a protrusion 856 configured to be
disposed within
the recess 812 of the power inlet 810. The exterior surface of the protrusion
856 may comprise a
complementary alignment feature 858 corresponding to the alignment feature of
the power input
810. For example, the protrusion 856 may comprise a raised portion 858 on the
outer surface, the
raised portion 858 may be configured to be disposed within the groove 818A of
the power input
810. The complementary alignment features 818A, 858 of the post 834 and the
power input 810
may be configured to insure each of the prongs 854 on the post 834 are
disposed in the
corresponding slot 816 of the electrical connector 814 of the power input 810
disposed on the
surgical helmet 720.
[00420] Referring to Figure 65, an exploded view showing interaction between
power inlet 810
on the surgical helmet 720, the post 834, and the plug 832 as described above.
While it is
contemplated that the post 834 may be removably coupled to the surgical helmet
720, it is
contemplated that the post 834 will likely be permanently coupled to the power
input 810 and/or
the surgical helmet 720. The plug 832 may then be removably coupled to the
post 834 disposed
on the surgical helmet 720 to connect and disconnect the power source, such as
the battery, from
the surgical helmet 720 and/or the peripheral device(s) 730.
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[00421] Referring to Figures 66A and 66B, the plug 832 is illustrated coupled
to the post 834 and
surgical helmet 720 in a first and a second orientation. As described above,
the connection between
the post 834 and the plug 832 creates an electrical connection, but also
allows the plug 832 to be
rotated about the longitudinal axis of the plug 832 without breaking the
electrical connection. This
configuration allows the plug 832 to be rotated 360 degrees about the post
834. It also allows for
the post to be coupled to and disconnect from the post 834 in any orientation,
i.e. the user does not
have the orient and/or align the plug 832 to the post 834 at a specific
orientation to couple and/or
create the electrical connection between the plug 832 and the post 834.
Referring to Figure 66A,
the plug 832 is shown connected to the surgical helmet 720 via the post 834 in
a first orientation
relative to the helmet 720 and/or the post 834. Referring to Figure 66B, the
plug 832 is shown
connected to the surgical helmet 720 via the post 834 in a second orientation
relative to the helmet
720 and/or the post 834. However, the plug 832 and post 834 maintain the same
electrical
connection allowing transfer of power to the peripheral device(s) 730 of the
surgical helmet 720
irrespective of the orientation of the plug 832 relative to the helmet 720
and/or the post 834. The
ability of the plug 832 to rotate freely about the post 834 may decrease the
amount of pulling
resulting for the wiring harness of the power source 826 as the user moves
their head while wearing
the surgical helmet 720 during execution of a medical procedure. This can
provide increased
comfort to the wearer, and also eliminate a source of distraction created by
the wiring harness
kinking and/or pulling at the surgical helmet 720 when the user moves.
[00422] Clauses covering additional configurations of the system(s)
described
above: I. A surgical apparel system comprising: a surgical helmet to be worn
over the head of a
wearer, said surgical helmet comprising a helmet coupler, said helmet coupler
comprising: an
enclosure comprising a distal surface, said enclosure defining a void space
having a first region
and a second region; a mechanical switch at least partially disposed within
said void space
proximate said first region; and a first member movably disposed relative to
said mechanical
switch within said enclosure, said first member comprising one of a
ferromagnetic material or a
magnetic material; a surgical garment configured to be at least partially
disposed over said surgical
helmet to provide a microbial barrier between a medical environment and a
wearer, said surgical
garment comprising a second member; wherein said second member comprises the
other of said
ferromagnetic material or said magnetic material and is configured to
releasably engage said distal
surface of said helmet coupler; and wherein said first member is configured to
selectively contact
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said mechanical switch based, at least in part, on the proximity of said
second member relative to
said distal surface of said enclosure. II. The system of clause I, wherein
said surgical helmet
comprises a control housing that extends outwardly from said surgical helmet
and is positioned
generally forward of the face of the wearer of said surgical helmet, and said
helmet coupler is at
least partially disposed within said control housing. III. The system of
clause II, wherein said distal
surface of said enclosure is configured to be recessed within said control
housing. IV. The system
of any one of clauses Ito III, wherein said first member of said helmet
coupler is configured to
selectively engage a toggle member that is operatively attached to said
mechanical switch to move
said toggle member between a first position and a second position; wherein
said toggle member is
in said second position when said mechanical switch is engaged by said first
member and said
toggle member is in said first position when said first member abuts said
distal surface of said
enclosure. V. The system of clause IV, wherein said surgical helmet comprises
a ventilation
assembly and a controller; and wherein said controller is in communication
with said mechanical
switch, and said controller is configured to control an operational
characteristic of said ventilation
assembly based, at least in part, on said position of said toggle member of
said mechanical switch.
VI. The system of any one of clauses I to V, wherein said first member of said
helmet coupler
comprises said magnetic material and said second member comprises said
ferromagnetic material;
and wherein said first member and said second member are magnetically
attracted to couple said
surgical helmet to said surgical garment. VII. The system of any one of
clauses I to VI, wherein
said distal surface of said helmet coupler is configured to provide an
alignment feature configured
to align said second member of said surgical garment with said distal surface
of said enclosure of
said helmet coupler. VIII. The system of clause VII, wherein said distal
surface comprises a curved
shape configured to define the alignment feature. IX. The system of any one of
clauses Ito VIII,
wherein the surgical garment further comprises a transparent face shield and a
surgical fabric, and
said transparent face shield is integrally formed with said surgical fabric.
X. The system of clause
IX, wherein said second member is positioned about a perimeter of said
transparent face shield
and configured to define a curvature of said transparent face shield when
coupled to said
corresponding helmet coupler. XI. The system of any one of clauses I to X,
wherein said helmet
coupler further comprises a third member positioned within said enclosure and
proximate to said
first region of said enclosure and adjacent to said mechanical switch, said
third member comprising
said ferromagnetic material or said magnetic material of said second member.
XII. The system of
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clause XI, wherein said third member is configured to manipulate position of
said first member
based, at least in part, on the proximity of said second member relative to
said distal surface of
said enclosure. XIII. The system of clause XII, wherein said first member of
said helmet coupler
comprises a magnet, said third member comprises a first ferromagnetic
material, and said second
member comprises a second ferromagnetic material; wherein the magnetic mass of
said second
ferromagnetic material is greater than the magnetic mass of said first
ferromagnetic material such
that said magnet will be drawn distally away from said mechanical switch when
said second
member is positioned adjacent to said distal surface of said helmet coupler.
XIV. The system of
clause XIII, wherein the magnetic mass of said second ferromagnetic material
relative to the
magnetic mass of said first ferromagnetic material comprises a ratio of 1.1 to
1 or greater. XV.
The system of clause XII, wherein said first member of said helmet coupler
comprises a
ferromagnetic material, said third member comprises a first magnet, and said
second member
comprises a second magnet; wherein the magnetic field of said second magnet is
greater than the
magnetic field of said first magnet such that said ferromagnetic material will
be drawn distally
away from said mechanical switch when said second member is positioned
adjacent to said distal
surface of said helmet coupler. XVI. The system of clause XV, wherein the
magnetic field of said
second magnet relative to the magnetic field of said first magnet comprises a
ratio of 1.1 to 1 or
greater. XVII. A surgical apparel system comprising: a head unit to be worn
over the head of a
wearer, said head unit comprising a first coupler, said first coupler
comprising: an enclosure
comprising a distal surface, said enclosure defining a void space having a
first region and a second
region; and a first member positioned within said enclosure and moveable
between said first region
and said second region; a sensor positioned proximate said first region of
said enclosure; and a
surgical garment configured to be at least partially disposed over said head
unit to provide a
microbial barrier between a medical environment and a wearer, said surgical
garment comprising
a second member; wherein said first region is proximal to said sensor and said
second region is
distal to said sensor; wherein said first member is configured to selectively
move between said
first region and said second region of said enclosure based, at least in part,
on the proximity of said
second member relative to said distal surface of said enclosure; and wherein
said sensor is
configured to detect when said first member is in said first region and said
second region. XVIII.
The surgical apparel system of clause XVII, further comprising a controller
coupled to said sensor
and configured to receive a signal from said sensor; and wherein said
controller is configured to
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control an operational characteristic of said head unit based on said signal
from said sensor. XIX.
The surgical apparel system of clause XVII or XVIII, wherein said second
member is configured
to releasably engage with said distal surface of said enclosure of said first
coupler. XX. The
surgical apparel system of any one of clauses XVII to XIX, wherein said first
member comprises
a magnetic material and said sensor is a Hall Effect sensor. XXI. A surgical
helmet for use with a
surgical garment having a second member and configured to be at least
partially disposed over
said surgical helmet, said surgical helmet comprising: a helmet coupler, said
helmet coupler
comprising: an enclosure comprising a distal surface, said enclosure defining
a void space having
a first region and a second region; a mechanical switch at least partially
disposed within said void
space proximate said first region; and a first member movably disposed
relative to said mechanical
switch within said enclosure, said first member comprising one of a
ferromagnetic material or a
magnetic material; wherein the second member of the surgical garment comprises
the other of said
ferromagnetic material or said magnetic material and is configured to
releasably engage said distal
surface of said helmet coupler; and wherein said first member is configured to
selectively contact
said mechanical switch based, at least in part, on the proximity of the second
member relative to
said distal surface of said enclosure. XXII. The surgical helmet of clause
XXI, wherein said
surgical helmet further comprises a ventilation assembly and a controller,
wherein said controller
is in communication with said mechanical switch, and said controller is
configured to receive a
signal from said mechanical switch and to control an operational
characteristic of said ventilation
assembly based, at least in part, on said signal from said mechanical switch.
XXIII. A surgical
apparel system comprising: a surgical helmet to be worn over the head of a
wearer, said surgical
helmet comprising a first member and a mechanical switch, wherein: said first
member comprises
an aperture, said first member comprises one of a ferromagnetic material or a
magnetic material,
and said mechanical switch comprises a toggle member; a surgical garment
configured to be at
least partially disposed over said surgical helmet to provide a microbial
barrier between a medical
environment and a wearer, said surgical garment comprising a second member
comprising a
protrusion configured to fit within said aperture; wherein said second member
comprises the other
of said ferromagnetic material or said magnetic material; wherein said first
member and said
second member are configured to be magnetically attracted to one another to
releasably couple
said surgical garment to said surgical helmet; and wherein said protrusion of
said second member
is configured to engage said toggle member of said mechanical switch when said
surgical garment
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is coupled to said surgical helmet. XXIV. The surgical apparel system of
clause XXIII, wherein
said first member comprises said magnetic material; and wherein said second
member comprises
said ferromagnetic material. XXV. The surgical apparel system of clause XXIII
or XXIV, wherein
said first member comprises said ferromagnetic material; and wherein said
second member
comprises said magnetic material. XXVI. The surgical apparel system of any
one of clauses
XXIII to XXV, wherein said aperture further comprises a bevel or a chamfer
surrounding said
aperture, said bevel or said chamfer configured to assist insertion of said
protrusion into said
aperture. XXVII. The surgical apparel system of any one of clauses XXIII to
XXVI, wherein said
first member comprises a distal surface; wherein said second member comprises
a base, said
protrusion configured to project outward from said base; and wherein said base
is configured to
abut said distal surface when said second member is coupled with said first
member. XXVIII. The
surgical apparel system of any one of clauses XXIII to XXVII, wherein the
other of said
ferromagnetic material or said magnetic material of said second member is
coated in a plastic
polymer. XXIX. The surgical apparel system of any one of clauses XXIII to
XXVIII, further
comprising a controller in communication with said mechanical switch, said
controller configured
to receive a signal from said mechanical switch based on contact or lack of
contact of said
protrusion with said toggle member of said mechanical switch. X)0C The
surgical apparel system
of any one of clauses XXIII to XXIX, wherein said toggle member is at least
partially disposed
within said aperture of said first member. XXXI. The surgical apparel system
of clause XXX,
wherein said toggle member is moveable between a first position and a second
position. XXXII.
A surgical apparel system comprising: a surgical helmet to be worn over the
head of a wearer, said
surgical helmet comprising a cylindrical first member and a sensor, wherein:
said cylindrical first
member comprises a lateral surface and a distal surface, said distal surface
comprising an aperture;
said cylindrical first member comprises one of a ferromagnetic material or a
magnetic material;
and said aperture defining a first axis; said cylindrical first member having
a second axis
perpendicular to said first axis; and said sensor is positioned adjacent to
said lateral surface of said
cylindrical first member such that said sensor is generally aligned/parallel
with said second axis of
said cylindrical first member; a surgical garment configured to be at least
partially disposed over
said surgical helmet to provide a microbial barrier between a medical
environment and a wearer,
said surgical garment comprising a second member comprising a protrusion
configured to fit
within said aperture; wherein said second member comprises the other of said
ferromagnetic
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material or said magnetic material; wherein said cylindrical first member and
said second member
are configured to be magnetically attracted to one another to releasably
couple said surgical
garment to said surgical helmet; and wherein said sensor is configured to
detect a change in the
magnetic field surrounding said cylindrical first member created by the
presence or absence of said
second member relative to said cylindrical first member. XXXIII. The surgical
apparel system of
clause XXXII, wherein said cylindrical first member comprises a magnet; and
wherein said second
member comprises a ferromagnetic material. XXXIV. The surgical apparel system
of clause
XXXII or XXXIII, wherein said cylindrical first member further comprises a
bevel or a chamfer
surrounding said aperture, said bevel or said chamfer configured to assist
insertion of said
protrusion in said aperture. XXXV. The surgical apparel system of any one of
clauses XXXII to
XXXIV, further comprising a controller in communication with said sensor, said
controller
configured to receive a signal from said sensor based on the detection of the
presences of said
second member relative to said cylindrical first member. XXXVI. The surgical
apparel system of
any one of clauses XXXII to XXXV, wherein said sensor comprises a Hall Effect
sensor
configured to detect changes in the magnetic field surrounding said
cylindrical first member based,
at least in part, on the proximity of said second member relative to said
cylindrical first member.
XXXVII. A surgical apparel system comprising: a surgical helmet configured to
be worn on a head
of an individual; a surgical garment configured to be at least partially
disposed over said surgical
helmet to provide a microbial barrier between a medical environment and a
wearer, said surgical
garment comprising a first member configured to removably couple said surgical
garment to said
surgical helmet; wherein said surgical helmet comprises: a peripheral device
configured to
facilitate performance of the individual wearing said surgical helmet during a
surgical procedure;
a detector configured to detect the presence of said surgical garment being
positioned adjacent to
said surgical helmet and to produce a signal when said surgical garment is
coupled to the surgical
helmet; and a controller in communication with said detector and said
peripheral device, said
controller configured to regulate an aspect of the operation of the peripheral
device based, at least
in part, on said signal from said detector. XXXVIII. The surgical apparel
system of clause
XXXVII, wherein said surgical garment further comprises a transparent shield;
and wherein said
first member of said surgical garment is coupled to said transparent shield.
XXXIX. The surgical
apparel system of clause XXXVIII, wherein said detector is a mechanical
switch; and wherein said
surgical helmet and said surgical garment are configured such that said
transparent face shield
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abuts said mechanical switch when said surgical garment is positioned adjacent
said surgical
helmet. XL. The surgical apparel system of any one of clauses XXXVII to XXXIX,
wherein said
controller is configured to store data/information in said memory related to
the peripheral device
when said signal from said detector indicates the presence of a power supply
and absence of a
surgical garment. XLI. The surgical apparel system of any one of clauses
XXXVII to XL, further
comprising a portable energy source removably coupled to said surgical helmet;
wherein said
portable energy source is in communication with said controller; and wherein
said controller is
configured to control transmission of energy from said portable energy source
to said peripheral
device based, at least in part, on said signal from said detector. XLII. The
surgical apparel system
of clause XLI, wherein said controller is configured to allow transmission of
energy from said
portable energy source to said peripheral device when said signal from said
detector indicates said
surgical garment is positioned adjacent said surgical helmet. XLIII. The
surgical apparel system
of any one of clauses XXXVII to XLII, wherein said detector is configured to
monitor the presence
of a magnetic field. XLIV. The surgical apparel system of any one of clauses
XXXVII to XLIII,
wherein said peripheral device of said surgical helmet may comprise: a fan
assembly, a light, a
communication device, a cooling strip, or a video recorder. XLV. A surgical
apparel system
comprising: a surgical helmet configured to be worn on a head of an
individual; a surgical garment
configured to be at least partially disposed over said surgical helmet to
provide a microbial barrier
between a medical environment and a wearer; wherein said surgical helmet
comprises: a peripheral
device configured to facilitate performance of the individual wearing said
surgical helmet during
a surgical procedure; and a detector configured to detect the presence of said
surgical garment
being positioned adjacent to said surgical helmet and to produce a signal when
said surgical
garment is coupled to the surgical helmet; a controller in communication with
said detector and
said peripheral device, said controller configured to regulate an operational
characteristic of said
peripheral device based, at least in part, on said signal from said detector;
and a portable energy
source removably interconnected to said surgical helmet, said portable energy
source in
communication with said controller; wherein said controller is configured to
control transmission
of energy from said portable energy source to said peripheral device based, at
least in part, on said
signal from said detector. XLVI. The surgical apparel system of clause XLV,
wherein said detector
is configured to toggle between a first state and a second state; wherein said
detector is configured
to be in said first state when said surgical garment is positioned adjacent
said surgical helmet;
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wherein said detector is configured to be in said second state when said
surgical garment is
separated from said surgical helmet; and wherein said detector is configured
to produce said signal
based, at least in part, on said controller being in said first state or said
second state. XLVII. The
surgical apparel system of clause XLVI, wherein said controller is configured
to delay
transmission of power to said peripheral device for a defined first period of
time once said
controller receives said signal from said detector indicating said surgical
garment is positioned
adjacent said surgical helmet. XLVIII. The surgical apparel system of clause
XLVI, wherein said
controller is configured to continue transmission of power to said peripheral
device for a defined
second period of time once said controller receives said signal from said
detector indicating said
surgical garment is separated from said surgical helmet. XLIX. The surgical
apparel system of
any one of clauses XLVI to XLVIII, further comprising a memory device coupled
to said surgical
helmet and in communication with said controller, said memory device
configured to store data
related to the operation of said peripheral device. L. The surgical apparel
system of any one of
clauses XLVI to XLIX, further comprising an energy sensor in communication
with said
controller, said energy sensor configured to detect the power level of said
portable energy source
and an energy signal to said controller based on the power level of said
portable energy source;
and wherein said controller is configured to communicate data to said memory
device for storage
based on said energy signal from said energy sensor, said data related to a
user setting for the
peripheral device. LI. The surgical apparel system of clause L, wherein said
controller is
configured to communicate data to said memory device for storage when said
energy signal from
said energy sensor indicates that the remaining power level of said portable
energy source has
reached a threshold value, said data related to said user setting of said
peripheral device. LII. The
surgical apparel system of clause LI, wherein said memory device is configured
to store said user
setting of said peripheral device so long as said detector remains in said
first state; and wherein
said controller is configured to restart operation of said peripheral device
based on stored said user
settings upon replacement of said portable energy source. LIII. The surgical
apparel system of any
one of clauses XLVI to LII, wherein said memory device is configured to clear
said data related
to said user setting of said peripheral device when said detector toggles from
said first state to said
second state and said portable energy source is disconnected from said
surgical helmet. LIV. The
surgical apparel system of any one of clauses XLVI to LIII, wherein said
memory device is
configured to store data related to a plurality of characteristics of said
surgical garment; wherein
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said detector is configured to identify one of a plurality of configurations
of said surgical garment
that is positioned adjacent said surgical helmet; and wherein said controller
is configured to control
at least one operational characteristic of said peripheral device based, at
least in part, on the
identified one of said plurality of configurations of said surgical garment.
LV. The surgical apparel
system of any one of clauses XLV to LIV, wherein said detector comprises: an
enclosure
comprising a distal surface, said enclosure defining a void space having a
first region and a second
region; a mechanical switch at least partially disposed within said void space
proximate said first
region; and a first member movably disposed relative to said mechanical switch
within said
enclosure, said first member comprising one of a ferromagnetic material or a
magnetic material;
wherein the surgical garment comprises a second member, said second member
comprising the
other of said ferromagnetic material or said magnetic material, and is
configured to releasably
engage said distal surface of said enclosure; wherein said first member is
configured to selectively
contact said mechanical switch based, at least in part, on the proximity of
said second member
relative to said distal surface of said enclosure; and wherein said detector
is configured to
communicate said signal to said controller based, at least in part, on whether
said first member is
in contact with said mechanical switch. LVI. The surgical apparel system of
any one of clauses
XLV to LV, wherein said detector comprises: an enclosure comprising a distal
surface, said
enclosure defining a void space having a first region and a second region; a
first member positioned
within said enclosure and moveable between said first region and said second
region; and a sensor
positioned proximate said first region of said enclosure; wherein the surgical
garment comprises a
second member configured to releasably engage said distal surface of said
enclosure; wherein said
first region is proximal to said sensor and said second region is distal to
said sensor; wherein said
first member is configured to selectively move between said first region and
said second region of
said enclosure based, at least in part, on the proximity of said second member
relative to said distal
surface of said enclosure; wherein said sensor is configured to detect when
said first member is in
said first region and said second region; and wherein said detector is
configured to communicate
said signal to said controller based, at least in part, on whether said first
member is positioned
proximate said first region or proximate said second region. LVII. A method of
operating a surgical
apparel system, said method comprising: providing the surgical apparel system
comprising: a
surgical helmet configured to be worn on a head of an individual; a surgical
garment configured
to be removably coupled to the surgical helmet to provide a microbial barrier
between a medical
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environment and a wearer; wherein the surgical helmet comprises: a peripheral
device configured
to facilitate performance of the individual wearing the surgical helmet during
a surgical procedure;
a detector configured to detect the coupling of the surgical garment to the
surgical helmet and to
produce a signal based, at least in part, on the presence or absence of the
surgical garment being
coupled to the surgical helmet; and a controller in communication with the
detector and the
peripheral device; a portable energy source removably interconnected with the
surgical helmet, the
portable energy source in communication with the controller; and coupling the
portable energy
source to the surgical helmet; detecting whether the surgical garment is
coupled to the surgical
helmet utilizing the detector; controlling an operational characteristic of
the peripheral device
based, at least in part, on whether the garment is coupled; and transmitting
energy from the portable
energy source to the peripheral device if the controller received the signal
from the detector. LVIII.
The method of clause LVII, wherein the surgical helmet further comprises: a
memory device
coupled to the surgical helmet and in communication with the controller, the
memory device
configured to store data related to the operation of the peripheral device;
and an energy sensor in
communication with the controller, the energy sensor configured to detect the
remaining power
level of the portable energy source and communicate an energy signal to the
controller based on
the remaining power level of the portable energy source. LIX. The method of
clause LVIII, further
comprising coupling the surgical garment to the surgical helmet, such that the
surgical garment is
at least partially disposed over the surgical helmet. LX. The method of clause
LIX, further
comprising: communicating the energy signal from the energy sensor to the
controller; and storing
a user setting of the peripheral device when the energy signal from said
energy sensor indicates
that the remaining power level of the portable energy source has reached a
threshold value. LXI.
The method of clause LX, further comprising: storing the user setting of the
peripheral device on
the memory device; replacing the portable energy source with a second portable
energy source
while the detector continues to communicate the signal to the controller
indicating the surgical
garment is coupled to the surgical helmet; and restarting the peripheral
device based on the user
setting stored on the memory device. LXII. The method of clause LXI, further
comprising deleting
the user setting of the peripheral device stored on the memory device when the
detector
communicates the signal to the controller indicating the surgical garment is
separated from the
surgical helmet and the portable energy source is disconnected from the
surgical helmet. LXIII.
The method of clause LIX, further comprising: storing a user setting of the
peripheral device on
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the memory device; separating the surgical garment from the surgical helmet
while the portable
energy source is interconnected with the surgical helmet; ceasing operation of
the peripheral device
upon receiving the signal from the detector indicating the surgical garment is
separated from the
surgical helmet; coupling a second surgical garment to the surgical helmet
while the portable
energy source remains interconnected with the surgical helmet; restarting the
peripheral device
based on the user setting stored on the memory device. LXIV. The method of
clause LXIII, further
comprising deleting the user setting of the peripheral device stored on the
memory device when
the detector communicates the signal to the controller indicating the surgical
garment is separated
from the surgical helmet and the portable energy source is disconnected from
the surgical helmet.
LXV. The method of clause LIX, wherein the memory device is configured to
store data related
to a plurality of configurations of the surgical garment; and said method
further comprises:
identifying one of the plurality of configurations of the surgical garment
that is coupled to the
surgical helmet using the detector; communicating the identified configuration
of the surgical
garment to the controller; and communicating a command related to at least one
operational
characteristic of the peripheral device based, at least in part, on the
identified configuration of the
surgical garment. LXVI. The method of clause LVII, further comprising coupling
the surgical
garment to the surgical helmet, such that the surgical garment is at least
partially disposed over the
surgical helmet. LXVII. The method of clause LXVI, further comprising:
receiving the signal from
the detector indicating the surgical garment is coupled to the surgical
helmet; and delaying
transmission of power from the portable energy source to the peripheral device
for a defined first
period of time following receipt of the signal from the detector. LXVIII. The
method of clause
LXVI, further comprising separating the surgical garment from the surgical
helmet, such that the
surgical garment is not coupled to the surgical helmet. LXIX. The method of
clause LXVIII,
further comprising: receiving the signal from the detector indicating the
surgical garment is
separated from the surgical helmet; and continuing transmission of power to
said peripheral device
for a defined second period of time following receipt of the signal from the
detector. LXX. A
surgical apparel system comprising: a helmet assembly comprising a headband
with a control
element for adjusting the size of headband, said helmet assembly configured to
be worn by a user
during a surgical procedure; a surgical garment configured to define a
microbial barrier between
said helmet assembly and an environment, said surgical garment comprising: a
flexible shield
member integral with said surgical garment; an attachment member positioned
proximate a top
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portion of said flexible shield member and configured to releasably couple
said flexible shield
member to said helmet assembly; and wherein said attachment member is
configured to
operatively engage said helmet assembly which results in a curvature change of
said top portion
of said flexible shield member relative to the user's face when said control
element of said
headband is manipulated to minimize the distance between said flexible shield
member and the
user's face. LXXI. The surgical apparel system of clause LXX, wherein said
helmet assembly
further comprises a ventilation system configured to circulate air in the
space between said flexible
shield member and the user's face. LXXII. The surgical apparel system of
clause LXX of LXXI,
wherein said attachment member comprises a first attachment member and a
second attachment
member; wherein the flexible shield member comprises a centerline configured
to bisect said
flexible shield member to define a first region and a second region on
opposing sides of said
centerline; wherein said first attachment member is positioned in said first
region of said flexible
shield member; and wherein said second attachment member is positioned in said
second region
of said flexible shield member. LXXIII. The surgical apparel system of clause
LXXII, wherein
said helmet assembly further comprises a chin bar that extends outwardly from
said headband so
that the chin bar extends around and forward of the face of the user wearing
said helmet assembly.
LXXIV. The surgical apparel system of clause LXXIII, wherein said chin bar
comprises at least
two flexible members extending from opposite sides of said headband, each of
said at least two
flexible members comprising a first end configured to couple to said headband
and an opposing
second end; and a beam configured to couple to and extend between said second
end of each of
said at least two flexible members so that said beam is positioned below and
forward of the chin
of the user wearing said helmet assembly. LXXV. The surgical apparel system of
clause LXXIV,
wherein said at least two flexible members operatively engage said headband,
such that when said
control element of said headband is manipulated, said at least two flexible
members are configured
to flex based, at least in part, on the change in circumference of said
headband. LXXVI. The
surgical apparel system of clause LXXIV, wherein said helmet assembly further
comprises a first
coupler and a second coupler, each of which is positioned proximate said first
end of each of said
at least two flexible members of said chin bar; and wherein said first
attachment member is
configured to releasably engage said first coupler and said second attachment
member is
configured to releasably engage said second coupler. LXXVII. The surgical
apparel system of
clause LXXVI, wherein said first coupler comprises one of a ferromagnetic
material or a magnetic
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material; and wherein said first attachment member comprises the other of said
ferromagnetic
material or said magnetic material. LXXVIII. The surgical apparel system of
any one of clauses
LXX to LXXVII, wherein said attachment member comprises an elongate member
configured to
extend along said top portion of said flexible shield member. DOUX. A method
of adjusting a
surgical garment configured to be worn with a helmet assembly having a
headband with a control
member configured to adjust the size of the headband, said method comprising:
providing said
surgical garment configured to be worn by a user during a surgical procedure,
said surgical garment
comprising: a flexible shield member integral with the surgical garment; an
attachment member
positioned proximate a top portion of the flexible shield member; and wherein
the attachment
member is configured to operatively engage the helmet assembly to change
curvature of the top
portion of the flexible shield member relative to the user when the control
element of the headband
is manipulated to minimize the distance between the flexible shield member and
the user's eyes;
and attaching the attachment member to the helmet assembly; and manipulating
the control
member to adjust the circumference of the headband to change the curvature of
the flexible shield
member and minimize the distance between the flexible shield member and the
user's eyes.
L)0X. The method of clause LXXIX, wherein the helmet assembly further
comprises a
ventilation system configured to circulate air in the space between the
flexible shield member and
the user's face; and manipulating the control member to change the curvature
of the flexible shield
member further comprises altering the circulation pattern of the air in the
space between the
flexible shield member and the user. LXXXI. A surgical garment assembly for
use with a surgical
helmet worn by a user wherein said surgical helmet comprises an attachment
feature and at least
one coupling member, said surgical garment assembly configured to be at least
partially disposed
over the surgical helmet and configured to provide a microbial barrier between
the user and a
medical environment, said surgical garment assembly comprising: a surgical
fabric defining an
opening, a transparent face shield disposed within said opening, said
transparent face shield
comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, a first surface and an opposing
second surface; a
first aperture in said upper portion of said transparent face shield
configured to removably engage
the attachment feature of the surgical helmet to align said transparent face
shield relative to the
surgical helmet; a first attachment element, said first attachment element
being secured to said
lower portion of said transparent face shield; wherein said first attachment
element comprises a
retention feature, and said retention feature is closer to said second surface
of said transparent face
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shield than said first surface; wherein said first attachment element
comprises a magnetic material;
and wherein said first attachment element defines a coupling recess on said
wearer side of said
microbial barrier configured to removably engage one of the at least one
coupling members on the
surgical helmet. LXXXII. A surgical apparel system including a peripheral
device, said surgical
apparel system comprising: a surgical helmet to be worn over the head of a
wearer, said surgical
helmet comprising a face frame, said face frame comprising: a chin bar having
a distal surface and
defining a recess in said distal surface; a first coupling member disposed
within said recess and
having a distal surface positioned proximal to said distal surface of said
chin bar, said first coupling
member comprising one of a ferromagnetic material or a magnetic material; a
surgical garment
configured to be at least partially disposed over said surgical helmet to
provide a microbial barrier
between a medical environment and the wearer, said surgical garment
comprising: a surgical fabric
defining an opening configured to be positioned in front of the face of the
wearer when at least
partially disposed over said surgical helmet; a transparent face shield
disposed within said opening
of said surgical fabric, said transparent face shield comprising an upper
portion, a lower portion, a
first surface and an opposing second surface; a first attachment element
coupled to said transparent
face shield and comprising the other of the ferromagnetic material or the
magnetic material, said
first attachment element comprising a head having a proximal surface, said
head configured to
removably engage said first coupling member when said surgical garment is at
least partially
disposed over said surgical helmet; and wherein said proximal surface of said
head is positioned
proximal to said distal surface of said chin bar when said first attachment
element engages said
first coupling member. LXXXIII. The surgical apparel system of clause LXXXII,
wherein said
surgical helmet further comprises a sensor disposed within said chin bar and
positioned adjacent
said first coupling member; and wherein said sensor is configured to detect
when said surgical
garment first attachment element is coupled to said surgical helmet by
detecting the presence of
said first attachment element adjacent to said first coupling member. LXXXIV.
The surgical
apparel system of clause LXXXIII, wherein said first coupling member comprises
a magnetic
material and said first attachment element comprises a ferromagnetic material;
and wherein said
sensor is a Hall-Effect sensor configured to detect changes in the magnetic
field surrounding said
first coupling member based, at least in part, on the proximity of said first
attachment element to
said first coupling member. LXXXV. The surgical apparel system of clause
LXXXIII, wherein
said first coupling member comprises a ferromagnetic material and said first
attachment element
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comprises a magnetic material; and wherein said sensor is a Hall-Effect sensor
configured to detect
changes in the magnetic field surrounding said first coupling member based, at
least in part, on the
proximity of said first attachment element to said first coupling member.
LX)OVI. The surgical
apparel system of clause LXXXII, wherein said first coupling member further
comprises: a
proximal surface opposite said distal surface; and a transverse plane
extending through said
proximal and distal surfaces of said first coupling member to define opposing
lateral portions of
said first coupling member; wherein said first coupling member comprises a
magnetic material
that is polarized across said transverse plane. LXXXVII. The surgical apparel
system of clause
LXXXII, wherein said first coupling member further comprises: a proximal
surface opposite said
distal surface; and a transverse plane extending through said proximal and
distal surfaces of said
first coupling member to define opposing lateral portions of said first
coupling member; \wherein
said first coupling member comprises a magnetic material that is polarized
across said transverse
plane such that one of said opposing lateral portions of said first coupling
member comprises a
first polarity and the other of said opposing lateral portions comprises a
second polarity.
L)OXVIII. The surgical apparel system of clause L)OXVI or LXXXVII, wherein a
periphery of
each of said proximal surface and said distal surface defines a center axis of
said first coupling
member; wherein said transverse plane is configured to intersect said center
axis of said first
coupling member. LXXXIX. The surgical apparel system of any of clauses LXXXVI
to
L)OXVIII, wherein said surgical helmet further comprises a sensor positioned
on said transverse
plane and adjacent to said first coupling member; wherein said sensor is
configured to detect when
said surgical garment first attachment element is coupled to said surgical
helmet by detecting the
presence of said first attachment element adjacent to said first coupling
member. XC. The surgical
apparel system of clause LXXXII, wherein said proximal surface of said first
attachment element
defines a coupling recess on said wearer side of said microbial barrier and is
configured to
removably engage said first coupling member on said surgical helmet, said
coupling recess shaped
to resist decoupling of said surgical garment from the surgical helmet in
response to a lateral force
being applied to said transparent face shield. XCI. The surgical apparel
system of clause LXXXII,
wherein said first attachment element further comprises a coupling recess
formed in said proximal
surface of said head and is configured to engage said first coupling member;
and wherein said
coupling recess of said first attachment element is positioned proximal to
said distal surface of said
chin bar when said first attachment element engages said first coupling
member. XCII. The
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surgical apparel system of clause XCI, wherein said coupling recess defines a
coupling surface
that opens toward said proximal surface of said head, said coupling surface
having a concave
shape. XCIII. The surgical apparel system of clause LXXXII, wherein said
transparent face shield
further comprises a first aperture in said upper portion; wherein said
surgical helmet further
comprises a top beam comprising an alignment channel; and wherein said top
beam further
comprises a protrusion at least partially disposed in said alignment channel,
said protrusion
configured to engage said first aperture in said upper portion of said face
shield. XCIV. The
surgical apparel system of clause XCIII, wherein said transparent face shield
further comprises a
tab extending from said upper portion of said transparent face shield, said
tab comprising opposing
outer edges; wherein said first aperture of said transparent face shield is at
least partially disposed
within said tab; and wherein said tab is configured to be at least partially
disposed within said
alignment channel when said first aperture engages said protrusion. XCV. The
surgical apparel
system of clause LXXXII, wherein said head of said first attachment element
further comprises a
distal surface opposite said proximal surface and a post extending distally
from said distal surface
of said head. XCVI. The surgical apparel system of clause XCV, wherein said
post of said first
attachment element further comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion;
wherein said
proximal portion has a first dimension and said distal portion has a second
dimension, said post
configured such that said first dimension is greater than said second
dimension; wherein said
transparent face shield further comprises a second aperture in said lower
portion; and wherein said
distal portion of said post of said first attachment element is at least
partially disposed in said
second aperture and said proximal portion abuts said transparent face shield
to space said distal
surface of said head from said first surface of said transparent face shield.
XCVII. The surgical
apparel system of clause LXXXII, wherein said surgical helmet comprises a
second coupling
member disposed within a second recess in said distal surface of said chin bar
and comprising the
same material as said first coupling member; wherein said surgical garment
comprises a second
attachment member comprising the same material as said first attachment
member, said second
attachment member coupled to said transparent face shield such that said first
and second
attachment members are coupled to opposing lateral sides of said transparent
face shield; and
wherein said second attachment member is configured to removably engage said
second coupling
member when said surgical garment is at least partially disposed over said
surgical helmet.
XCVIII. A surgical apparel system to provide a microbial barrier between a
medical environment
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and a wearer, said system comprising: a surgical helmet including at least two
magnetic coupling
members and a protrusion; a surgical garment configured to be at least
partially disposed over the
surgical helmet, said surgical garment comprising an opening; a transparent
face shield disposed
within said opening of said surgical garment, said transparent face shield
comprising: a first surface
and an opposing second surface; an upper portion and a lower portion; a first
aperture formed in
said upper portion of said transparent face shield configured to removably
engage said protrusion
of said surgical helmet; a first attachment element and a second attachment
element, said first and
second attachment elements being secured to said lower portion of said
transparent face shield;
wherein each of said first and said second attachment elements comprises a
ferromagnetic material;
wherein each of said first and said second attachment elements defines a
respective coupling recess
on said wearer side of said microbial barrier and is configured to removably
engage the magnetic
coupling members on said surgical helmet, said coupling recesses are shaped to
resist decoupling
of said surgical garment from said surgical helmet. XCIX. The surgical apparel
system of clause
XCVIII, wherein said coupling recesses are shaped to resist decoupling of said
surgical garment
from said surgical helmet in response to a lateral force being applied to said
transparent face shield.
C. A surgical apparel system including a peripheral device, said surgical
apparel system
comprising: a surgical helmet to be worn over the head of a wearer, said
surgical helmet
comprising a face frame, said face frame comprising: a top beam comprising a
first member; a
chin bar extending from said top beam, said chin bar comprising a distal
surface and defining a
recess in said distal surface; and a coupling member at least partially
disposed within said recess
in said chin bar, said coupling member comprising one of a ferromagnetic
material or a magnetic
material; wherein said chin bar comprises a sensor; a surgical garment
configured to be at least
partially disposed over said surgical helmet to provide a microbial barrier
between a medical
environment and a wearer, said surgical garment comprising: a surgical fabric
comprising an
opening; a transparent face shield disposed within said opening of said
surgical fabric, said
transparent face shield having an upper portion and a lower portion; and a
first aperture in said
upper portion of said transparent face shield configured to removably engage
said first member of
the surgical helmet to align said transparent face shield relative to the
surgical helmet; an
attachment element comprising the other of the ferromagnetic material or the
magnetic material,
said attachment element configured to removably engage said coupling member to
couple said
surgical garment to said surgical helmet; and wherein said sensor is
positioned and configured to
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detect when said attachment element is engaged with said coupling member and
to transmit a
signal related to operation of the peripheral device based on engagement of
said attachment
element with said coupling member. CI. The surgical apparel system of clause
C, further
comprising a controller coupled to said sensor and configured to receive said
signal from said
sensor; and wherein said controller is configured to control an operational
characteristic of said
peripheral device based on said signal from said sensor. CII. The surgical
apparel system of clause
CI, wherein said sensor is configured to toggle between a first state and a
second state; wherein
said sensor is configured to be in said first state when said surgical garment
is at least partially
disposed over said surgical helmet and said attachment element is engaged with
said coupling
member; wherein said sensor is configured to be in said second state when said
surgical garment
is separated from said surgical helmet and said attachment element is
separated from said coupling
member; and wherein said sensor is configured to produce said signal based, at
least in part, on
said sensor being in said first state or said second state. CIII. The surgical
apparel system of clause
CII, wherein said controller is configured to delay transmission of power to
said peripheral device
for a defined first period of time once said controller receives said signal
from said sensor
indicating said surgical garment is at least partially disposed over said
surgical helmet. CIV. The
surgical apparel system of clause CII, wherein said controller is configured
to continue
transmission of power to said peripheral device for a defined second period of
time once said
controller receives said signal from said sensor indicating said surgical
garment is separated from
said surgical helmet. CV. The surgical apparel system of clause CII, further
comprising a memory
device coupled to said surgical helmet and in communication with said
controller, said memory
device configured to store data related to the operation of said peripheral
device. CVI. The surgical
apparel system of clause CV, further comprising an energy sensor in
communication with said
controller, said energy sensor configured to detect the power level of said
portable energy source
and communicate an energy signal to said controller based on the power level
of said portable
energy source; and wherein said controller is configured to communicate data
to said memory
device for storage based on said energy signal from said energy sensor, said
data related to a user
setting for the peripheral device. CVII. The surgical apparel system of clause
CVI, wherein said
controller is configured to communicate data to said memory device for storage
when said energy
signal from said energy sensor indicates that the remaining power level of
said portable energy
source has reached a threshold value, said data related to said user setting
of said peripheral device.
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The surgical apparel system of clause CVII, wherein said memory device is
configured
to store said user setting of said peripheral device so long as said sensor
remains in said first state;
and wherein said controller is configured to restart operation of said
peripheral device based on
stored said user setting upon replacement of said portable energy source. CIX.
The surgical apparel
system of clause CV, wherein said memory device is configured to clear said
user setting of said
peripheral device when said sensor toggles from said first state to said
second state and said
portable energy source is disconnected from said surgical helmet. CX. The
surgical apparel system
of clause CV, wherein said memory device is configured to store data related
to a plurality of
characteristics of said surgical garment; wherein said sensor is configured to
identify one of a
plurality of configurations of said surgical garment that is at least
partially disposed over said
surgical helmet; and wherein said controller is configured to control at least
one operational
characteristic of said peripheral device based, at least in part, on the
identified one of said plurality
of configurations of said surgical garment. CXI. The surgical apparel system
of any one of clauses
C to CX, wherein said coupling member comprises a magnetic material and said
attachment
element comprises a ferromagnetic material; and wherein said sensor is a Hall
Effect sensor
configured to detect changes in the magnetic field surrounding said coupling
member based, at
least in part, on the proximity of said attachment element relative to said
coupling member. CXII.
The surgical apparel system of any one of clauses C to CXI, wherein said first
coupling member
further comprises: a proximal surface opposite said distal surface; a
transverse plane extending
through said proximal and distal surfaces of said first coupling member to
define opposing lateral
portions of said first coupling member; wherein said first coupling member
comprises a magnetic
material that is polarized across said transverse plane. CXIII. The surgical
apparel system of any
one of clauses C to CXII, wherein said first coupling member further
comprises: a proximal surface
opposite said distal surface; a transverse plane extending through said
proximal and distal surfaces
of said first coupling member to define opposing lateral portions of said
first coupling member;
wherein said first coupling member comprises a magnetic material that is
polarized across said
transverse plane such that one of said opposing lateral portions of said first
coupling member
comprises a first polarity and the other of said opposing lateral portions
comprises a second
polarity. CXIV. The surgical apparel system of clauses CXII or CXIII, wherein
a periphery of each
of said proximal surface and said distal surface defines a center axis of said
first coupling member;
wherein said transverse plane is configured to intersect said center axis of
said first coupling
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member. CXV. The surgical apparel system of any of clauses CXII to CXIV,
wherein said surgical
helmet further comprises a sensor positioned on said transverse plane and
adjacent to said first
coupling member; wherein said sensor is configured to detect when said
surgical garment first
attachment element is coupled to said surgical helmet by detecting the
presence of said first
attachment element adjacent to said first coupling member. CXVI. A surgical
apparel system
including a peripheral device, said surgical apparel system comprising: a
surgical helmet to be
worn over the head of a wearer, said surgical helmet comprising a face frame,
said face frame
comprising: a top beam extending across the width of said face frame, said top
beam defining an
alignment channel; a protrusion disposed at least partially within said
alignment channel; a surgical
garment assembly to be at least partially disposed over said surgical helmet
to provide a microbial
barrier between a medical environment and the wearer, said surgical garment
assembly
comprising: a surgical fabric defining an opening configured to be positioned
in front of the face
of the wearer when at least partially disposed over said surgical helmet; a
transparent face shield
disposed within said opening of said surgical fabric, said transparent face
shield comprising an
upper portion and a lower portion; a tab extending from an outer perimeter of
said upper portion
of said transparent face shield; wherein said tab at least partially defines a
coupling aperture sized
to at least partially receive said protrusion; and wherein said tab and said
alignment channel are
complementarily sized such that said tab can be positioned within said
alignment channel and the
coupling aperture can be slid over the protrusion. CXVII. The surgical apparel
system of clause
CXVI, wherein said surgical helmet further comprises a chin bar extending from
said top beam
and configured to define a face frame, said chin bar comprising a distal
surface and a recess in said
distal surface; a first coupling member disposed within said recess of said
chin bar, said first
coupling member comprising a distal surface and formed from a magnetic
material; and wherein
said transparent face shield further comprises a first attachment element
comprising a proximal
surface and formed from a ferromagnetic material, said first attachment member
configured to
removably couple with said first coupling member when said surgical garment is
at least partially
disposed over said surgical helmet. CXVIII. The surgical apparel system of
clause CXVII, wherein
said proximal surface of said first attachment member is configured to engage
said distal surface
of said first coupling member when said surgical garment is at least partially
disposed over said
surgical helmet; and wherein said first coupling member is disposed within
said recess of said chin
bar such that said distal surface of said first coupling member is positioned
proximal to said distal
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surface of said chin bar. CXIX. The surgical apparel system of clause CXVIII,
wherein said
proximal surface of said first attachment member is configured to be
positioned proximal to said
distal surface of said chin bar when said surgical garment is at least
partially disposed over said
surgical helmet. CXX. The surgical apparel system of any of the preceding
clauses, wherein at
least one of said coupling members comprises a protruded surface; and wherein
said attachment
element comprises a reciprocal recessed surface on said wearer side of said
microbial barrier that
is configured to removably engage said protruded surface of said coupling
member on said surgical
helmet when said surgical garment is at least partially disposed over said
surgical helmet. CXXI.
A method of attaching a surgical garment to a surgical helmet, the surgical
helmet comprising a
top beam, the top beam defining an alignment channel and a first member at
least partially disposed
within the alignment channel, a chin bar defining a first attachment recess,
and a second attachment
recess, with the chin bar including a first magnet at least partially disposed
within said first
attachment recess and a second magnet at least partially disposed within said
second attachment
recess, said method comprising: providing a surgical garment including a
transparent face shield,
the face shield comprising a first aperture at least partially disposed within
a tab extending from a
top portion of the transparent face shield, and a first attachment element and
a second attachment
element coupled to a bottom portion of the transparent face shield, each of
the first and second
attachment elements having a recessed surface, the surgical garment being
inside-out; positioning
the surgical garment such that the tab of the transparent face shield is at
least partially within the
alignment channel; arranging the surgical garment such that the first member
of the surgical helmet
extends through the first aperture; and manipulating the surgical garment
about an interface
between the first aperture of the face shield and the first member to position
the transparent face
shield in front of the wearer's face. CXXII. The method of clause OM further
comprising the
step of positioning the transparent face shield such that the first
ferromagnetic attachment element
is at least partially within the first attachment recess and the second
ferromagnetic attachment
element is at least partially within the second attachment recess so that the
first and second
ferromagnetic attachment element are attracted to the first and second magnet
after the step of
manipulating. CXXIII. The method of clause CXXI or CXXII, wherein the surgical
garment is
provided in a sterile package; and wherein said method further comprises
opening the package and
removing at least a portion of the surgical garment from the package prior to
the step of positioning
the surgical garment such that the tab of the transparent face shield is at
least partially within the
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alignment channel. CXXIV. A surgical garment to provide a microbial barrier
between a medical
environment and a wearer, said surgical garment configured to be disposed over
a surgical helmet
including at least two magnetic coupling members, said surgical garment
comprising: a first
material configured to be at least partially disposed over the surgical
helmet, said first material
comprising an opening; a transparent face shield disposed within said opening
of said first material,
said transparent face shield comprising: a first surface and an opposing
second surface; and an
upper portion and a lower portion; a first attachment element and a second
attachment element,
said first and second attachment elements being secured to said transparent
face shield; wherein at
least one of said first and second attachment elements comprises a
ferromagnetic material; and
wherein at least one of said first and second attachment elements defines a
respective coupling
recess on said wearer side of said microbial barrier and is configured to
removably engage the
magnetic coupling members on the surgical helmet. CXXV. The surgical garment
of clause
C)OUV, wherein each of said attachment elements and the magnetic coupling
members comprises
a complementary polyaxial surface that allow said attachment element to
slidably engage the
respective magnetic coupling member. CXXVI. A surgical garment to provide a
microbial barrier
between a medical environment and a wearer, said surgical garment configured
to be disposed
over a surgical helmet including a magnetic coupling member, said surgical
garment comprising:
a means of coupling said surgical garment to the magnetic coupling member of
the surgical helmet;
wherein the magnetic coupling member comprises a convex shaped surface.
CXXVII. The surgical
garment of clause CXXVI, wherein said surgical garment comprises a first
attachment element;
wherein said first attachment element comprises a ferromagnetic material; and
wherein said first
attachment element defines a coupling recess on said wearer side of said
microbial barrier that is
configured to removably engage the magnetic coupling member on the surgical
helmet. CXXVIII.
A surgical garment to provide a microbial barrier between a medical
environment and a wearer,
said surgical garment configured to be disposed over a surgical helmet
including a protrusion at
least partially disposed within an alignment channel, and a chin bar, wherein
the chin bar includes
at least two magnetic coupling members, said surgical garment comprising: a
first material
configured to be at least partially disposed over the surgical helmet, said
first material comprising
an opening; a transparent face shield disposed within said opening of said
first material, said
transparent face shield comprising: a first surface and an opposing second
surface; an upper portion
and a lower portion; and a first aperture in said transparent face shield
configured to removably
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engage the protrusion of the surgical helmet to align said first material
relative to the surgical
helmet; a first attachment element and a second attachment element, said first
and second
attachment elements being secured to said lower portion of said transparent
face shield on
opposing lateral sides of said first aperture; wherein each of said first and
second attachment
elements comprises a retention feature; wherein at least one of said first and
second attachment
elements at least partially comprises a ferromagnetic material; and wherein at
least one of said first
and second attachment elements defines a respective coupling recess on said
wearer side of said
microbial barrier, and each of said first and second attachment elements is
configured to removably
engage one of the magnetic coupling members on the surgical helmet. CXXIX. The
surgical
garment of clause CXXVIII, wherein each of said attachment elements further
comprises a head
comprising a distal surface and a proximal surface, said distal surface being
closer to said first
surface of said transparent face shield than said second surface; and wherein
said coupling recess
is formed in said proximal surface of said head. CXXX. The surgical garment of
clause CXXIX,
wherein said coupling recess defines a coupling surface that opens toward said
proximal surface
of said head, said coupling surface having a concave shape configured to
resist decoupling of said
first and second attachment elements from the at least two magnetic coupling
members of the
surgical helmet. CXXXI. The surgical garment of clause CXXIX, wherein said
coupling recess
defines a coupling surface that opens toward said proximal surface of said
head, said coupling
surface being multi-faceted and configured to resist decoupling of said first
and second attachment
elements from the at least two magnetic coupling members of the surgical
helmet. CXXXII. The
surgical garment of clause CXXIX, wherein said coupling recess defines a
coupling surface that
opens toward said proximal surface of said head, said coupling surface having
a generally
hemispherical shape configured to resist decoupling of said first and second
attachment elements
from the at least two magnetic coupling members of the surgical helmet.
CXXXIII. The surgical
garment of clause CXXIX, wherein said coupling recess defines a coupling
surface that opens
toward said proximal surface of said head, said coupling surface being
generally bowl-shaped and
configured to resist decoupling of said first and said second attachment
elements from the at least
two magnetic coupling members of the surgical helmet. CXXXIV. The surgical
garment of clause
CXXIX, wherein said coupling recess is substantially arcuate in at least one
dimension and
configured to resist decoupling of said first and second attachment elements
from the at least two
magnetic coupling members of the surgical helmet. CXXXV. The surgical garment
of any one of
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clauses CXXIX to CXXXIV, wherein said head further comprises a rim that
annularly surrounds
said coupling recess on said proximal surface. CXXXVI. The surgical garment of
any one of
clauses CXXIX to CXXXV, wherein said head of each of said first and second
attachment
elements further comprises a post extending distally from said distal surface
of said head.
CXXXVII. The surgical garment of clause CXXXVI, wherein said transparent face
shield further
comprises a second aperture and a third aperture, each of said second and
third apertures positioned
in said lower portion of said transparent face shield; and wherein said post
of said first attachment
element is at least partially disposed in said second aperture and said post
of said second attachment
element is at least partially disposed in said third aperture. O'CXXVIII. The
surgical garment of
clause CXXXVI, wherein said post of said first attachment element further
comprises a proximal
portion and a distal portion; wherein said proximal portion has a first
dimension and said distal
portion has a second dimension, said post configured such that said first
dimension is greater than
said second dimension; and wherein said distal portion of said post of said
first attachment element
is at least partially disposed in said second aperture and said proximal
portion abuts said
transparent face shield to space said distal surface of said head from said
first surface of said
transparent face shield. CX)OUX. The surgical garment of clause CXXXVIII,
further comprising
a transparent layer removably coupled to said transparent face shield on said
environment side of
said microbial barrier; and wherein said transparent layer is configured to be
removed from said
transparent face shield to remove any debris accumulated on said transparent
layer that may
obstruct the wearer's view through said transparent face shield. CXL. The
surgical garment of
clause CX)'CXVII, further comprising a retaining member, said retaining member
at least partially
receives said post of said attachment element and abuts said second surface of
said transparent
face shield to define said retention feature. CXLI. The surgical garment of
any one of clauses
CXXVIII to CXL, wherein said surgical garment assembly is in the form of a
toga. CXLII. The
surgical garment of any one of clauses CXXVIII to CXLI, wherein said
transparent face shield
further comprises a first axis extending from said upper portion to said lower
portion and bisects
said transparent face shield, and said first and second attachment elements
are symmetrically
spaced relative to said first axis of said transparent face shield. CXLIII.
The surgical garment of
any one of clauses CXXVIII to CXLII, wherein said transparent face shield
further comprises a
perimeter section that is covered by said surgical garment. CXLIV. The
surgical garment of clause
CXLIII, wherein said first and second attachment elements are coupled to said
perimeter section
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of said transparent face shield. CXLV. The surgical garment of any one of
clauses CXXVIII to
CXLIV, wherein said retention features are closer to said second surface of
said transparent face
shield than said first surface. CXLVI. The surgical garment of any one of
clauses CXXVIII to
CXLV, wherein said coupling recess of at least one of said first and second
attachment elements
is defined by a combination of at least one of said first or second attachment
elements and said
first surface of said transparent face shield. CXLVII. A surgical garment to
provide a microbial
barrier between a medical environment and a wearer, said surgical garment
configured to be
disposed over a surgical helmet including at least two magnetic coupling
members, said surgical
garment comprising: a first material configured to be at least partially
disposed over the surgical
helmet, said first material comprising an opening; a transparent face shield
disposed within said
opening of said first material, said transparent face shield comprising: a
first surface and an
opposing second surface; and an upper portion and a lower portion; a first
coupler disposed on the
wearer side of said first material to removably engage the surgical helmet;
and a first attachment
element and a second attachment element, said first and second attachment
elements being secured
to said lower portion of said transparent face shield; wherein each of said
first and second
attachment elements comprises a retention feature; wherein at least one of
said first and second
attachment elements comprises a ferromagnetic material; and wherein at least
one of said first and
second attachment elements defines a respective coupling recess on said wearer
side of said
microbial barrier and is configured to removably engage the magnetic coupling
members on the
surgical helmet. CXLVIII. The surgical garment of clause CXLVII, wherein each
of said
attachment elements further comprises a head having a distal surface and a
proximal surface; and
wherein said coupling recess is formed in said proximal surface of said head.
CXLIX. The surgical
garment of clause CXLVIII, wherein said coupling recess defines a coupling
surface that opens
toward said proximal surface of said head, said coupling surface having a
concave shape
configured to resist decoupling of said first and second attachment elements
from the at least two
magnetic coupling members of the surgical helmet. CL. The surgical garment of
clause CXLVIII,
wherein said head of said first attachment element further comprises a post
extending distally from
said distal surface of said head. CLI. The surgical garment assembly of clause
CL, wherein said
transparent face shield further comprises a second aperture, said second
aperture positioned in said
lower portion of said transparent face shield; and wherein said post of said
first attachment element
is at least partially disposed in said second aperture. CLII. The surgical
garment of clause CL,
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wherein said post of said first attachment element further comprises a
proximal portion and a distal
portion; wherein said proximal portion comprises a first dimension and said
distal portion
comprises a second dimension, said post configured such that said first
dimension is greater than
said second dimension; and wherein said distal portion of said post is at
least partially disposed in
said second aperture and said proximal portion abuts said first surface of
said transparent face
shield to space said distal surface of said head from said first surface of
said transparent face shield.
CLIII. The surgical garment of any one of clauses CXLVII to CLII, wherein said
retention features
are closer to said second surface of said transparent face shield than said
first surface. CLIV. The
surgical garment of any one of clauses CXLVII to CLIII, wherein said coupling
recess of at least
one of said first and second attachment elements is defined by a combination
of at least one of said
first or second attachment elements and said first surface of said transparent
face shield. CLV. A
surgical garment to provide a microbial barrier between a medical environment
and a wearer, said
surgical garment configured to be disposed over a surgical helmet that
includes at least two
magnetic coupling members, said surgical garment comprising: a first material
configured to be at
least partially disposed over the surgical helmet, said first material
comprising an opening; a
transparent face shield disposed within said opening of said first material,
said transparent face
shield comprising an upper portion and a lower portion; a first coupler to
removably engage the
surgical helmet; and a first attachment element and a second attachment
element, said first and
second attachment elements being secured to said lower portion of said
transparent face shield;
wherein each of said first and second attachment elements comprises a head
comprising a distal
surface and a proximal surface, and a post extending from said distal surface;
wherein said post
comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion, said proximal portion
abutting said distal surface
of said head; wherein said proximal portion comprises a first dimension and
said second portion
comprises a second dimension, said first dimension being greater than said
second dimension; and
wherein said head of each of said first and second attachment elements
comprises a ferromagnetic
material and said proximal surface of each of said heads is configured to
removably engage one of
the magnetic coupling members on the surgical helmet. CLVI. A surgical garment
to provide a
microbial barrier between a medical environment and a wearer, said surgical
garment configured
to be disposed over a surgical helmet including a magnetic coupling member,
said surgical garment
comprising: a first material configured to be at least partially disposed over
the surgical helmet,
said first material comprising an opening; a transparent face shield disposed
within said opening
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of said first material, said transparent face shield comprising: a first
surface and an opposing
second surface; and an upper portion and a lower portion; a first coupler
disposed on the wearer
side of said first material that is configured to removably engage the
surgical helmet; and a first
attachment element secured to said lower portion of said transparent face
shield; wherein said first
attachment element comprises a ferromagnetic material; and wherein said first
attachment element
defines a coupling recess on said wearer side of said microbial barrier that
is configured to
removably engage the magnetic coupling member on the surgical helmet. CLVII.
The surgical
garment of clause CLVI, wherein said first attachment element comprises a
retention feature
configured to secure said first attachment element to said transparent face
shield; and wherein said
retention feature is closer to said second surface of said transparent face
shield than said first
surface. CLVIII. A medical garment configured to provide a barrier between an
environment and
a wearer, said medical garment intended for use with a helmet that includes a
protrusion at least
partially disposed within an alignment channel, and a chin bar, wherein the
chin bar includes a
magnetic coupling member, said medical garment comprising: a shell configured
to be at least
partially disposed over the helmet, said shell comprising an opening; a
transparent face shield
disposed within said opening of said shell, said transparent face shield
comprising an upper portion
and a lower portion; a tab on the wearer side of said shell, said tab having
opposing outer edges
for aligning said shell relative to the helmet via the alignment channel of
the helmet; a first aperture
formed in said tab and configured to removably engage the protrusion of the
helmet to align said
shell relative to the helmet; and a first attachment element secured to said
lower portion of said
transparent face shield; wherein said first attachment element comprises a
ferromagnetic material;
wherein said first attachment element defines a coupling recess on the wearer
side of said barrier
and is configured to removably engage the magnetic coupling member on the
helmet. CLIX. The
medical garment of clause CLVIII, wherein said attachment element further
comprises: a head
comprising a distal surface and a proximal surface; and a post extending
distally from said distal
surface of said head; and wherein said coupling recess is formed in said
proximal surface of said
head. CLX. The medical garment of clause CLIX, wherein said coupling recess
defines a coupling
surface that opens to said proximal surface of said head, said coupling
surface having a concave
shape configured to resist decoupling of said first attachment element from
the magnetic coupling
member of the helmet. CLXI. The medical garment of clause CLIX or CLX, wherein
said coupling
recess is substantially arcuate in at least one dimension. CLXII. The medical
garment of any one
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of clauses CLIX to CLXI, wherein the coupling recess of the first attachment
element provides a
means for attaching said medical garment to the magnetic coupling member
having a convex
surface. CLXIII. The medical garment of any one of clauses CLIX to CLXII,
wherein said
transparent face shield further comprises a second aperture, said second
aperture positioned in said
lower portion of said transparent face shield; and wherein said post of said
first attachment element
is at least partially disposed in said second aperture. CLXIV. The medical
garment of clause
CLXIII, wherein each of said first and second attachment elements comprises a
retention feature,
and said retention featured coupled to a distal end of said post. CLXV. The
medical garment of
any one of clauses CL VIII to CLXIV, wherein said tab is configured to extend
from said upper
portion of said transparent face shield. CLXVI. The medical garment of any one
of clauses CL VIII
to CLXV, wherein said tab is formed such that said opposing outer edges are
generally parallel to
one another. CLXVII. The medical garment of any one of clauses CLVIII to
CLXVI, wherein said
first attachment element is secured to said transparent face shield with an
adhesive. CLXVIII. A
medical garment to provide a barrier between an environment and a wearer, said
medical garment
intended for use with a helmet including a protrusion at least partially
disposed within an alignment
channel, and a chin bar, wherein the chin bar includes at least two magnetic
coupling members,
said medical garment comprising: a shell configured to be at least partially
disposed over the
helmet, said shell comprising an opening; a transparent face shield disposed
within said opening
of said shell, said transparent face shield comprising: a first surface and an
opposing second
surface; and an upper portion and a lower portion; a tab on said wearer side
of said shell, said tab
having outer edges for aligning said shell relative to the helmet via the
alignment channel of the
helmet; a first aperture at least partially formed in said tab and configured
to removably engage
the protrusion of the helmet to align said shell relative to the helmet; and a
first attachment element
and a second attachment element, said first and second attachment elements
being secured to said
lower portion of said transparent face shield on opposing lateral sides of
said first aperture; wherein
each of said first and second attachment elements comprises a retention
feature, and said retention
features are closer to said second surface of said transparent face shield
than said first surface;
wherein said first and second attachment elements each comprises a
ferromagnetic material; and
wherein at least one of said first and second attachment elements defines a
respective coupling
recess on said wearer side of said barrier, and said first and second
attachment elements are each
configured to removably engage one of the magnetic coupling members on the
helmet. CLXIX.
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The medical garment of clause CLXVIII, wherein each of said attachment
elements further
comprises a head comprising a distal surface and a proximal surface, said
distal surface being
closer to said first surface of said transparent face shield than said second
surface; and wherein
said coupling recess is formed in said proximal surface of said head of at
least one of said first and
second attachment elements. CLXX. The medical garment of clause CLXVIII or
CLXIX, wherein
said retention features are closer to said second surface of said transparent
face shield than said
first surface. CLXXI. The medical garment of any one of clauses CLXVIII to
CL)0, wherein said
coupling recess of at least one of said first and second attachment elements
is defined by a
combination of at least one of said first or second attachment elements and
said first surface of
said transparent face shield. CLXXII. The medical garment of any one of clause
CLXVIII, wherein
said tab extends from said upper portion of said transparent face shield.
CLXXIII. The medical
garment of any one of clauses CLXVIII to CLXXII, wherein each of said first
and second
attachment elements further comprises: a head comprising a distal surface and
a proximal surface;
and a post extending distally from said distal surface of said head; and
wherein said coupling recess
is formed in said proximal surface of said head of both of said first
attachment element and said
second attachment element. CLXXIV. The medical garment of clause CLXXIII,
wherein said
retention featured is coupled to a distal end of said post to secure each of
said first and second
attachment elements to said transparent face shield. CLXXV. A medical garment
configured to
provide a barrier between an environment and a wearer, said medical garment
intended for use
with a helmet that includes a protrusion at least partially disposed within an
alignment channel,
and a chin bar, wherein the chin bar includes at least two magnetic coupling
members, said medical
garment comprising: a shell configured to be at least partially disposed over
the helmet, said shell
comprising an opening; a transparent face shield disposed within said opening
of said shell, said
transparent face shield comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, a first
surface and an
opposing second surface; a tab extending from said upper portion of said
transparent face shield,
said tab having outer edges for aligning said shell relative to the helmet via
the alignment channel
of the helmet; a first aperture at least partially formed in said tab and
configured to removably
engage the protrusion of the helmet to align said shell relative to the
helmet; and a first attachment
element and a second attachment element, said first and second attachment
elements being secured
to said lower portion of said transparent face shield on opposing lateral
sides of said first aperture;
wherein said first and second attachment elements each comprises a
ferromagnetic material;
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wherein at least one of said first and second attachment elements defines
coupling recess on the
wearer side of said barrier that is configured to removably engage one of the
magnetic coupling
members on the helmet. CLXXVI. The medical garment of clause CLXXV, wherein
each of said
first and second attachment elements further comprises: a head comprising a
distal surface and a
proximal surface; and a post extending distally from said distal surface of
said head; and wherein
said coupling recess is formed in said proximal surface of said head of at
least one of said first
attachment element and said second attachment element. CL)OVII. The medical
garment of
clause CLXXVI, wherein each of said first and second attachment elements
comprises a retention
feature coupled to a distal end of said post, and said retention features are
closer to said second
surface of said transparent face shield than said first surface. CLXXVIII. A
medical garment
configured to provide a barrier between an environment and a wearer, said
medical garment
intended for use with a helmet that includes a protrusion at least partially
disposed within an
alignment channel, and a chin bar, wherein the chin bar includes a magnetic
coupling member,
said medical garment comprising: a shell configured to be at least partially
disposed over the
helmet, said shell comprising an opening; a transparent face shield disposed
within said opening
of said shell, said transparent face shield comprising an upper portion, a
lower portion, a fist
surface and an opposing second surface; a tab extending from said upper
portion of said transparent
face shield, said tab having outer edges for aligning said shell relative to
the helmet via the
alignment channel of the helmet; a first aperture at least partially formed in
said tab and configured
to removably engage the protrusion of the helmet to align said shell relative
to the helmet; and a
first attachment element, said first attachment element being secured to said
lower portion of said
transparent face shield; wherein said first attachment element comprises a
ferromagnetic material;
wherein said first attachment element defines a coupling recess on the wearer
side of said barrier
and is configured to removably engage the magnetic coupling member on the
helmet. CLXXIX.
The medical garment of clause CLXXVIII, wherein said attachment element
further comprises: a
head comprising a distal surface and a proximal surface; and a post extending
distally from said
distal surface of said head; and wherein said coupling recess is formed in
said proximal surface of
said head. CLXXX. The medical garment of clause CLXXIX, wherein said first
attachment
element comprises a retention feature coupled to a distal end of said post,
and said retention
features are closer to said second surface of said transparent face shield
than said first surface.
CLXXXI. A surgical garment assembly for use with a surgical helmet comprising
a magnetic
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coupling member disposed in a recess and a hall-effect sensor spaced from the
coupling member,
said surgical garment assembly configured to be at least partially disposed
over the surgical helmet
to provide a microbial barrier between a user and a medical environment, said
surgical garment
assembly comprising: a surgical fabric defining an opening; a transparent face
shield disposed
within said opening, said transparent face shield comprising an upper portion,
a lower portion, a
first surface and an opposing second surface; a first attachment element
coupled to said lower
portion of said transparent face shield, said first attachment element
comprising: a ferromagnetic
material; said first attachment element defining a proximal surface facing
away from said
transparent face shield, said proximal surface including a first point that
lies on a longitudinal axis
of said first attachment element and that defines a first distance from said
first surface of said
transparent face shield; said proximal surface including a second point that
defines a second
distance from said first surface of said transparent face shield, wherein said
second point on said
proximal surface is spaced apart from said first point on said proximal
surface; wherein said
proximal surface is shaped such that said first distance is less than said
second distance; and
wherein said first attachment element is configured to removably engage the
coupling member on
the surgical helmet and trigger the hall-effect sensor when said first
attachment element is coupled
to the coupling member. CLXXXII. The surgical garment assembly of clause
CLXXXI, wherein
said first point of said proximal surface is positioned at a position on said
proximal surface that is
nearest the first surface of the transparent face shield relative to the
second point. CLXXXIII. The
surgical garment assembly of clause CLXXXI or CLXXXII, further comprising a
tab disposed on
said surgical fabric on a user side of the microbial barrier, said tab
defining a first aperture
configured to removably engage an attachment feature of the surgical helmet to
align said
transparent face shield relative to the surgical helmet. CLXXXIV. The surgical
garment assembly
of any one of clauses CLXXXI to CLXXXIII, wherein said transparent face shield
further defines
a first aperture in said upper portion of said transparent face shield
configured to removably engage
an attachment feature of the surgical helmet to align said transparent face
shield relative to the
surgical helmet. CLXXXV. The surgical garment assembly of any one of clauses
CLXXXI to
CLXXXIV, wherein said first attachment element further comprises a head that
defines said
proximal surface, and a distal surface opposite said proximal surface, and a
post extending distally
from said distal surface of said head. CLXXXVI. The surgical garment assembly
of clause
CLXXXV, wherein said post of said first attachment element further comprises a
proximal portion
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and a distal portion; and wherein said proximal portion has a first dimension
and said distal portion
has a second dimension, said post configured such that said first dimension is
greater than said
second dimension. CLXXXVII. The surgical garment assembly of clause CLX)OVI,
wherein said
transparent face shield further comprises a second aperture in said lower
portion; and wherein said
distal portion of said post of said first attachment element is at least
partially disposed in said
second aperture, and said proximal portion of said post abuts said transparent
face shield to space
said distal surface of said first attachment element from said first surface
of said transparent face
shield. CLXXXVIII. The surgical garment assembly of clause CLXXXVI, wherein
said first
attachment element comprises a retention feature coupled to said distal
portion of said post, and
said retention feature is closer to said second surface of said transparent
face shield than to said
first surface. CLX)OUX. The surgical garment assembly of any one of clauses
CLXXXV to
CLXXXVIII, wherein said head of said attachment element comprises metal alloy
comprising at
least 50 % of a ferromagnetic material capable of being magnetically attracted
to the coupling
member comprising a magnet. CXC. The surgical garment assembly of any one of
clauses
CLXXXV to CLXXXVIII, wherein said head of said attachment element comprises
metal alloy
comprising at least 90 % of a ferromagnetic material capable of being
magnetically attracted to the
coupling member comprising a magnet. CXCI. The surgical garment assembly of
any one of
clauses CLXXXV to CLXXXVIII, wherein said head of said attachment element
comprises metal
alloy comprising at least half a gram (0.5g) of a ferromagnetic material
capable of being
magnetically attracted to the coupling member comprising a magnet. CXCII. The
surgical garment
assembly of any one of clauses CLXXXV to CLXXXVIII, wherein said head of said
attachment
element comprises metal alloy comprising at least 95% of a ferromagnetic
material capable of
being magnetically attracted to the coupling member comprising a magnet.
CXCIII. The surgical
garment assembly of any one of clauses CLXXX to CLXXXVIII, wherein said head
of said
attachment element comprises metal alloy comprising at least 98% of a
ferromagnetic material
capable of being magnetically attracted to the coupling member comprising a
magnet. CXCIV.
The surgical garment assembly of any one of clauses CLXXXV to CLXXXVIII,
wherein said head
of said attachment element is formed of metal alloy comprising at least 95%
wt.% of a
ferromagnetic material capable of being magnetically attracted to the coupling
member comprising
a magnet. CXCV. The surgical garment assembly of any one of clauses CLXXXIX to
CXCIV,
wherein said ferromagnetic material is a material chosen from iron, cobalt,
and nickel. CXCVI.
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The surgical garment assembly of any one of clauses CLXXXV to CLXXXVIII,
wherein an outer
perimeter of said proximal surface is radially spaced from a center of said
proximal surface.
CXC VII. The surgical garment assembly of clause CXC VI, wherein said distal
surface defines an
outer perimeter and a center; and said center of said proximal surface and
said center of said distal
surface defining a first axis. CXCVIII. The surgical garment assembly of
clause CXC VII, further
comprising a second axis orthogonal to said first axis and positioned to
bisect said proximal surface
to define a first portion and a second portion; a first protrusion extending
distally from said first
portion proximate said outer perimeter of said proximal surface; a second
protrusion extending
distally from said second portion proximate said outer perimeter of said
proximal surface; wherein
said first protrusion and said second protrusion cooperate to define a recess
in said proximal
surface; and wherein said first attachment element is oriented such that at
least one of said first
protrusion or said second protrusion is positioned proximate the hall-effect
sensor when said
surgical garment assembly is at least partially disposed over the surgical
helmet. CXCIX. The
surgical garment assembly of any one of clauses CLXXXI to CXC VIII, wherein a
portion of said
proximal surface of said first attachment element is configured to be at least
partially disposed in
the recess of the surgical helmet when said surgical garment assembly is at
least partially disposed
over the surgical helmet. CC. The surgical garment assembly of any one of
clauses CLXXXI to
CXC VIII, wherein a portion of said proximal surface that defines said second
point is configured
to be at least partially disposed in the recess of the surgical helmet when
said surgical garment
assembly is at least partially disposed over the surgical helmet. CCI. A
surgical garment assembly
for use with a surgical helmet comprising a coupling member disposed in a
recess and a hall-effect
sensor spaced apart from the coupling member, said surgical garment assembly
configured to be
at least partially disposed over the surgical helmet and configured to provide
a microbial barrier
between a user and a medical environment, said surgical garment assembly
comprising: a surgical
fabric defining an opening; a transparent face shield disposed within said
opening, said transparent
face shield comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, a first surface and
an opposing second
surface; a first attachment element coupled to said lower portion of said
transparent face shield,
said first attachment element defining a proximal surface facing away from
said transparent face
shield; a first axis of said first attachment element intersecting said
proximal surface; wherein said
proximal surface is shaped such that a first point on said proximal surface
that lies on said first
axis defines a first distance from said first surface of said transparent face
shield and such that a
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second point on said proximal surface defines a second distance from said
first surface of said
transparent face shield; wherein said second point on said proximal surface is
spaced apart from
said first point on said proximal surface, and said first distance is less
than said second distance;
wherein said first attachment element comprises a ferromagnetic material; and
wherein said first
attachment element is configured to removably engage the coupling member on
the surgical
helmet. CCII. The surgical garment assembly of clause CCI, wherein said first
point of said
proximal surface is positioned at a position on said proximal surface that is
nearest the first surface
of the transparent face shield relative to the second point. CCIII. The
surgical garment assembly
of clause CCI or CCII, further comprising a tab disposed on said surgical
fabric on a user side of
the microbial barrier, said tab defining a first aperture configured to
removably engage an
attachment feature of the surgical helmet to align said transparent face
shield relative to the surgical
helmet. CCIV. The surgical garment assembly of clause CCI, wherein said
transparent face shield
further defines a first aperture in said upper portion of said transparent
face shield configured to
removably engage an attachment feature of the surgical helmet to align said
transparent face shield
relative to the surgical helmet. CCV. The surgical garment assembly of any one
of clauses CCI to
CCIV, wherein said first attachment element further comprises a head that
defines said proximal
surface and a distal surface opposite said proximal surface. CCVI. The
surgical garment assembly
of clause CCV, wherein said head of said attachment element comprises metal
alloy comprising
at least 50 % of a ferromagnetic material capable of being magnetically
attracted to the coupling
member comprising a magnet. CCVII. The surgical garment assembly of clause
CCV, wherein
said head of said attachment element comprises metal alloy comprising at least
90 % of a
ferromagnetic material capable of being magnetically attracted to the coupling
member comprising
a magnet. CCVIII. The surgical garment assembly of clause CCV, wherein said
head of said
attachment element comprises metal alloy comprising at least half a gram
(0.5g) of a ferromagnetic
material capable of being magnetically attracted to the coupling member
comprising a magnet.
CCIX. The surgical garment assembly of clause CCV, wherein said head of said
attachment
element comprises metal alloy comprising at least 95% of a ferromagnetic
material capable of
being magnetically attracted to the coupling member comprising a magnet. CCX.
The surgical
garment assembly of clause CCV, wherein said head of said attachment element
comprises metal
alloy comprising at least 98% of a ferromagnetic material capable of being
magnetically attracted
to the coupling member comprising a magnet. CCXI. The surgical garment
assembly of clause
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CCV, wherein said head of said attachment element is formed of metal alloy
comprising at least
95% wt.% of a ferromagnetic material capable of being magnetically attracted
to the coupling
member comprising a magnet. CCXII. The surgical garment assembly of any of
clauses CCVI to
CCXI, wherein said ferromagnetic material is a material chosen from iron,
cobalt, and nickel.
CCXIII. The surgical garment assembly of clause CCXV, further comprising a
post extending
distally from said distal surface of said head. CCXIV. The surgical garment
assembly of clause
CCXIII, wherein said post of said first attachment element further comprises a
proximal portion
and a distal portion; and wherein said proximal portion has a first dimension
and said distal portion
has a second dimension, said post configured such that said first dimension is
greater than said
second dimension. CCXV. The surgical garment assembly of clause CCXIV, wherein
said
transparent face shield further defines a second aperture in said lower
portion; and wherein said
distal portion of said post of said first attachment element is at least
partially disposed in said
second aperture, and said proximal portion abuts said transparent face shield
to space said distal
surface of said first attachment element from said first surface of said
transparent face shield.
CCXVI. The surgical garment assembly of clause CCXIV or CCXV, wherein said
first attachment
element comprises a retention feature coupled to said distal portion of said
post, and said retention
feature is closer to said second surface of said transparent face shield than
said first surface.
CCXVII. The surgical garment assembly of any of clauses CCV, wherein an outer
perimeter of
said proximal surface is radially spaced from a center of said proximal
surface. CCXVIII. The
surgical garment assembly of any of clauses CCXVII, wherein said distal
surface defines an outer
perimeter and a center; and said center of said proximal surface and said
center of said distal
surface defining a first axis. CCXIX. The surgical garment assembly of clause
CCXVIII, further
comprising a second axis orthogonal to said first axis and positioned to
bisect said proximal surface
to define a first portion and a second portion; a first protrusion extending
distally from said first
portion proximate said outer perimeter of said proximal surface; a second
protrusion extending
distally from said second portion proximate said outer perimeter of said
proximal surface; wherein
said first protrusion and said second protrusion cooperate to define a recess
in said proximal
surface; and wherein said first attachment element is oriented such that at
least one of said first
protrusion or said second protrusion is positioned proximate the detector hall-
effect sensor when
said surgical garment assembly is at least partially disposed over the
surgical helmet. CCXX. The
surgical garment assembly of any of clauses CCI to CCXIX, wherein a portion of
said proximal
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surface of said first attachment element is configured to be at least
partially disposed in the recess
of the surgical helmet when said surgical garment assembly is at least
partially disposed over the
surgical helmet. CCXXI. The surgical garment assembly of any of clauses CCI to
CCXIX, wherein
a portion of said proximal surface that defines said second point is
configured to be at least partially
disposed in the recess of the surgical helmet when said surgical garment
assembly is at least
partially disposed over the surgical helmet. CCXXII. A surgical garment
assembly for use with a
surgical helmet, said surgical garment comprising a coupling member disposed
in a recess and a
hall-effect sensor spaced apart from the coupling member, said surgical
garment assembly
configured to be at least partially disposed over the surgical helmet and
configured to provide a
microbial barrier between a user and a medical environment, said surgical
garment assembly
comprising: a surgical fabric defining an opening; a transparent face shield
disposed within said
opening, said transparent face shield comprising an upper portion, a lower
portion, a first surface
and an opposing second surface; a first attachment element coupled to said
lower portion of said
transparent face shield, said first attachment element defining a proximal
surface facing away from
said transparent face shield; wherein said proximal surface is shaped such
that a first point on said
proximal surface defines a first distance from said first surface of said
transparent face shield and
such that a second point on said proximal surface defines a second distance
from said first surface
of said transparent face shield; wherein said second point on said proximal
surface is spaced apart
from said first point on said proximal surface, and said first distance is
less than said second
distance; wherein said first attachment element comprises a ferromagnetic
material; and wherein
said first attachment element is configured to removably engage the coupling
member on the
surgical helmet. CCXXIII. The surgical garment assembly of any of clauses
CCXXII, wherein
said first attachment element further comprises a head that defines said
proximal surface and a
distal surface opposite said proximal surface. CCXXIV. The surgical garment
assembly of clause
CCXXIII, wherein said head of said attachment element comprises metal alloy
comprising at least
50 % of a ferromagnetic material capable of being magnetically attracted to
the coupling member
comprising a magnet. CCXXV. The surgical garment assembly of clause CCXXIII,
wherein said
head of said attachment element comprises metal alloy comprising at least 90%
of a ferromagnetic
material capable of being magnetically attracted to the coupling member
comprising a magnet.
CCXXVI. The surgical garment assembly of clause CCXXIII, wherein said head of
said
attachment element comprises metal alloy comprising at least half a gram
(0.5g) of a ferromagnetic
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material capable of being magnetically attracted to the coupling member
comprising a magnet.
CCXXVII. The surgical garment assembly of clause CCXXIII, wherein said head of
said
attachment element comprises metal alloy comprising at least 95% of a
ferromagnetic material
capable of being magnetically attracted to the coupling member comprising a
magnet. CCXXVIII.
The surgical garment assembly of clause CCXXIII, wherein said head of said
attachment element
comprises metal alloy comprising at least 98% of a ferromagnetic material
capable of being
magnetically attracted to the coupling member comprising a magnet. CCXXIX. The
surgical
garment assembly of clause CCXXIII, wherein said head of said attachment
element is formed of
metal alloy comprising at least 95% wt.% of a ferromagnetic material capable
of being
magnetically attracted to the coupling member comprising a magnet. CCXXX.
The surgical
garment assembly of any one of clauses CCXXIV to CCXXIX, wherein said
ferromagnetic
material is a material chosen from iron, cobalt, and nickel. CCXXXI. The
surgical garment
assembly of clause CCXXIII, further comprising a post extending distally from
said distal surface
of said head. CCXXXII. A surgical garment assembly for use with a surgical
helmet comprising a
coupling member disposed in a recess and a detector spaced from the coupling
member, said
surgical garment assembly configured to be at least partially disposed over
the surgical helmet and
configured to provide a microbial barrier between a user and a medical
environment, said surgical
garment assembly comprising: a surgical fabric defining an opening; a
transparent face shield
disposed within said opening, said transparent face shield comprising an upper
portion, a lower
portion, a first surface and an opposing second surface; a first attachment
element comprising a
head, said head defining a proximal surface facing away from said transparent
face shield; wherein
said proximal surface is shaped such that a first portion of said proximal
surface extends a first
distance from said first surface of said transparent face shield, and a second
portion of said
proximal surface extends a second distance from said first surface of said
transparent face shield;
wherein said first distance is less than said second distance; and wherein
said first attachment
element is configured to removably engage the coupling member on the surgical
helmet.
CCXXXIII. The surgical garment assembly of clause CCXXXII, wherein said head
of said
attachment element comprises metal alloy comprising at least 50 % of a
ferromagnetic material
capable of being magnetically attracted to the coupling member comprising a
magnet. CCXXXIV.
The surgical garment assembly of clause CCXXXII, wherein said head of said
attachment element
comprises metal alloy comprising at least 90 % of a ferromagnetic material
capable of being
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magnetically attracted to the coupling member comprising a magnet. CCXXXV. The
surgical
garment assembly of clause CCXXXII, wherein said head of said attachment
element comprises
metal alloy comprising at least half a gram (0.5g) of a ferromagnetic material
capable of being
magnetically attracted to the coupling member comprising a magnet. CCXXXVI.
The surgical
garment assembly of clause CCXXXII, wherein said head of said attachment
element comprises
metal alloy comprising at least 95% of a ferromagnetic material capable of
being magnetically
attracted to the coupling member comprising a magnet. CCXXXVII. The surgical
garment
assembly of clause CCXXXII, wherein said head of said attachment element
comprises metal alloy
comprising at least 98% of a ferromagnetic material capable of being
magnetically attracted to the
coupling member comprising a magnet. CCXXXVIII. The surgical garment assembly
of clause
CCXXXII, wherein said head of said attachment element is formed of metal alloy
comprising at
least 95% wt.% of a ferromagnetic material capable of being magnetically
attracted to the coupling
member comprising a magnet. CCXXXIX. The surgical garment assembly of any one
of clauses
CCXXXIII to CCXXXVIII, wherein said ferromagnetic material is a material
chosen from iron,
cobalt, and nickel. CCXL. A surgical garment assembly for use with a surgical
helmet comprising
a coupling member disposed in a recess and a detector spaced from the coupling
member, said
surgical garment assembly configured to be at least partially disposed over
the surgical helmet and
configured to provide a microbial barrier between a user and a medical
environment, said surgical
garment assembly comprising: a surgical fabric defining an opening; a
transparent face shield
disposed within said opening, said transparent face shield comprising a first
surface and an
opposing second surface, and being bisected by a midline; a first attachment
element coupled to
said transparent face shield, said first attachment element comprising: a head
defining a proximal
surface; a first point on said proximal surface that lies on an axis of said
first attachment element
and defines a first distance from said first surface of said transparent face
shield; a second point
on said proximal surface that defines a second distance from said first
surface of said transparent
face shield; wherein said second point on said proximal surface is spaced
apart from said first point
on said proximal surface; wherein said proximal surface is shaped such that
said first distance is
less than the second distance; wherein said first attachment element is
oriented such that said
second point on said proximal surface is positioned farther away from said
midline of said
transparent face shield than said first point on said proximal surface. CCXLI.
The surgical garment
assembly of clause CCXL, wherein said head of said attachment element
comprises metal alloy
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comprising at least 50 % of a ferromagnetic material capable of being
magnetically attracted to the
coupling member comprising a magnet. CCXLII. The surgical garment assembly of
clause CCXL,
wherein said head of said attachment element comprises metal alloy comprising
at least 90 % of a
ferromagnetic material capable of being magnetically attracted to the coupling
member comprising
a magnet. CCXLIII. The surgical garment assembly of clause CCXL, wherein said
head of said
attachment element comprises metal alloy comprising at least half a gram
(0.5g) of a ferromagnetic
material capable of being magnetically attracted to the coupling member
comprising a magnet.
CCXLIV. The surgical garment assembly of clause CCXL, wherein said head of
said attachment
element comprises metal alloy comprising at least 95% of a ferromagnetic
material capable of
being magnetically attracted to the coupling member comprising a magnet.
CCXLV. The surgical
garment assembly of clause CCXL, wherein said head of said attachment element
comprises metal
alloy comprising at least 98% of a ferromagnetic material capable of being
magnetically attracted
to the coupling member comprising a magnet. CCXLVI. The surgical garment
assembly of clause
CCXL, wherein said head of said attachment element is formed of metal alloy
comprising at least
95% wt.% of a ferromagnetic material capable of being magnetically attracted
to the coupling
member comprising a magnet. CCXLVII. The surgical garment assembly of any one
of clauses
CCXLI to CCXLVI, wherein said ferromagnetic material is a material chosen from
iron, cobalt,
and nickel. CCXLVIII. A surgical garment assembly for use with a surgical
helmet comprising a
coupling member disposed in a recess and a detector spaced from the coupling
member, said
surgical garment assembly configured to be at least partially disposed over
the surgical helmet and
configured to provide a microbial barrier between a user and a medical
environment, said surgical
garment assembly comprising: a surgical fabric defining an opening; a
transparent face shield
disposed within said opening, said transparent face shield comprising a first
surface and an
opposing second surface, and being bisected by a midline; and a first
attachment element coupled
to said transparent face shield, said first attachment element comprising: a
head defining a
proximal surface and an opposing distal surface; a first point on said
proximal surface that defines
a first distance from said first surface of said transparent face shield; a
second point on said
proximal surface that defines a second distance from said first surface of
said transparent face
shield; wherein said second point on said proximal surface is spaced apart
from said first point on
said proximal surface; wherein said proximal surface is shaped such that said
first distance is less
than the second distance; wherein said transparent face shield and said first
attachment element
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comprise complementary features configured to prevent said first attachment
element from
rotating relative to said transparent face shield; and wherein said first
attachment element is
oriented such that said second point on said proximal surface is positioned
farther away from said
midline of said transparent face shield than said first point on said proximal
surface. CCXLIX. The
surgical garment assembly of clause CCXLVIII, wherein said complementary
features of said
transparent face shield and said first attachment element comprise: an
aperture in a lower portion
of said transparent face shield extending between said first surface and said
second surface, said
aperture having a first shape; and a post extending from said distal surface
of said head, said post
having a complementary shape to said first shape configured to prevent said
post from rotating
within said aperture. CCL. The surgical garment assembly of clause CCXLVIII,
wherein said head
of said attachment element comprises metal alloy comprising at least 50 % of a
ferromagnetic
material capable of being magnetically attracted to the coupling member
comprising a magnet.
CCLI. The surgical garment assembly of clause CCXLVIII, wherein said head of
said attachment
element comprises metal alloy comprising at least 90 % of a ferromagnetic
material capable of
being magnetically attracted to the coupling member comprising a magnet.
CCLII. The surgical
garment assembly of clause CCXLVIII, wherein said head of said attachment
element comprises
metal alloy comprising at least half a gram (0.5g) of a ferromagnetic material
capable of being
magnetically attracted to the coupling member comprising a magnet. CCLIII. The
surgical garment
assembly of clause CCXLVIII, wherein said head of said attachment element
comprises metal
alloy comprising at least 95% of a ferromagnetic material capable of being
magnetically attracted
to the coupling member comprising a magnet. CCLIV. The surgical garment
assembly of clause
CCXLVIII, wherein said head of said attachment element comprises metal alloy
comprising at
least 98% of a ferromagnetic material capable of being magnetically attracted
to the coupling
member comprising a magnet. CCLV. The surgical garment assembly of clause
CCXLVIII,
wherein said head of said attachment element is formed of metal alloy
comprising at least 95%
wt.% of a ferromagnetic material capable of being magnetically attracted to
the coupling member
comprising a magnet. CCLVI. The surgical garment assembly of any of clauses
CCL to CCLV,
wherein said ferromagnetic material is a material chosen from iron, cobalt,
and nickel. CCLVII. A
surgical garment assembly for use with a surgical helmet comprising a coupling
member disposed
in a recess and a detector spaced from the coupling member, said surgical
garment assembly
configured to be at least partially disposed over the surgical helmet and
configured to provide a
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microbial barrier between a user and a medical environment, said surgical
garment assembly
comprising: a surgical fabric defining an opening; a transparent face shield
disposed within said
opening, said transparent face shield comprising a first surface and an
opposing second surface,
and being bisected by a midline; a first attachment element coupled to said
transparent face shield,
said first attachment element comprising: a head defining a proximal surface
and an opposing
distal surface; said surgical garment assembly comprising a means to prevent
the rotation of the
first attachment element relative to said transparent face shield; a first
point on said proximal
surface that defines a first distance from said first surface of said
transparent face shield; a second
point on said proximal surface that defines a second distance from said first
surface of said
transparent face shield; wherein said second point on said proximal surface is
spaced apart from
said first point on said proximal surface; wherein said proximal surface is
shaped such that said
first distance is less than the second distance; wherein said first attachment
element is oriented
such that said second point on said proximal surface is positioned farther
away from said midline
of said transparent face shield than said first point on said proximal
surface. CCL VIII. The surgical
garment assembly of clause CCLVII, wherein said means to prevent the rotation
of the first
attachment element relative to said transparent face shield comprises: an
aperture that extends
between said first surface and said second surface; and a post extending
distally from said distal
surface of said head, said post at least partially disposed within said
aperture; wherein said post
and said aperture comprise complementary features that prevent the rotation of
said post within
said aperture. CCLIX. The surgical garment assembly of clause CCLVII, wherein
said head of
said attachment element comprises metal alloy comprising at least 50 % of a
ferromagnetic
material capable of being magnetically attracted to the coupling member
comprising a magnet.
CCLX. The surgical garment assembly of clause CCLVII, wherein said head of
said attachment
element comprises metal alloy comprising at least 90 % of a ferromagnetic
material capable of
being magnetically attracted to the coupling member comprising a magnet.
CCLXI. The surgical
garment assembly of clause CCLVII, wherein said head of said attachment
element comprises
metal alloy comprising at least half a gram (0.5g) of a ferromagnetic material
capable of being
magnetically attracted to the coupling member comprising a magnet. CCLXII. The
surgical
garment assembly of clause CCLVII, wherein said head of said attachment
element comprises
metal alloy comprising at least 95% of a ferromagnetic material capable of
being magnetically
attracted to the coupling member comprising a magnet. CCLXIII. The surgical
garment assembly
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of clause CCL VII, wherein said head of said attachment element comprises
metal alloy comprising
at least 98% of a ferromagnetic material capable of being magnetically
attracted to the coupling
member comprising a magnet. CCLXIV. The surgical garment assembly of clause
CCLVII,
wherein said head of said attachment element is formed of metal alloy
comprising at least 95%
wt.% of a ferromagnetic material capable of being magnetically attracted to
the coupling member
comprising a magnet. CCLXV. The surgical garment assembly of any one of
clauses CCLIX to
CCLXIV, wherein said ferromagnetic material is a material chosen from iron,
cobalt, and nickel.
CCLXVI. A method of making a surgical garment assembly for use with a surgical
helmet, said
method comprising: providing a fabric suitable to provide a microbial barrier,
the fabric defining
an opening, and the fabric shaped to encompass at least a portion of a
wearer's head, the fabric
defining an environment side and a wearer side; providing a transparent face
shield including an
upper portion and an opposing lower portion; forming a recess in a proximal
surface of a head of
an attachment element, wherein the head of the attachment element comprises at
least 90 wt.% of
a ferromagnetic material; attaching the attachment element to the transparent
face shield; and
coupling the transparent face shield to the fabric such that the proximal
surface of the head of the
attachment element is positioned on the wearer side of the fabric. CCLXVII. A
method of reusing
a feature of a surgical garment, comprising: obtaining a surgical garment that
has been used, the
used surgical garment including: a surgical fabric defining an opening; a
transparent face shield
disposed within the opening, the transparent face shield comprising an upper
portion, a lower
portion, a first surface and an opposing second surface; a first attachment
element secured to the
lower portion of the transparent face shield; wherein the first attachment
element defines a
coupling recess on a wearer side of the surgical garment and is configured to
removably engage a
magnetic coupling member on a helmet, wherein the first attachment element
further comprises: a
head comprising a distal surface and a proximal surface, wherein the first
attachment element
comprises at least 95 wt.% of a ferromagnetic material; and a post extending
distally from the
distal surface of the head; wherein the coupling recess is formed in the
proximal surface of the
head; and disengaging the used first attachment element from the used
transparent face shield;
discarding the used surgical garment and the used transparent face shield;
cleaning and/or
sterilizing the used first attachment element; and coupling the cleaned or
sterilized first attachment
element to a new surgical garment having a new face shield such that, in
subsequent use of the
new surgical garment, the cleaned or sterilized first attachment element may
be utilized to couple
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the new surgical garment to a helmet. CCLXVIII. A surgical garment assembly
for use with a
surgical helmet comprising a coupling member, said surgical garment assembly
comprising: a
surgical fabric defining an opening; a transparent face shield disposed within
said opening, said
transparent face shield comprising a first surface and an opposing second
surface; a first attachment
element coupled to said transparent face shield, said first attachment element
defining a proximal
surface; an adapter member configured to removably couple with said first
attachment element,
said adapter member comprising: a proximal surface and an opposing distal
surface; a first point
on said proximal surface of said adapter member; a second point on said
proximal surface of said
adapter member; wherein said second point on said proximal surface of said
adapter member is
spaced apart from said first point on said proximal surface of said adapter
member; and wherein
said distal surface of said adapter member is configured to removably engage
said proximal surface
of said first attachment element; wherein said first point on said proximal
surface of said adapter
member defines a first distance from said first surface of said transparent
face shield when said
adapter member is coupled to said first attachment element; wherein said
second point on said
proximal surface of said adapter member defines a second distance from said
first surface of said
transparent face shield when said adapter member is coupled to said first
attachment element;
wherein said proximal surface of said adapter member is shaped such that said
first distance is less
than the second distance from said first surface of said transparent face
shield. CCLXIX. The
surgical garment assembly of clause CCLXVIII, wherein said first attachment
element comprises
a magnetic material and said adapter member comprises a ferromagnetic
material. CCLXX. A
method of coupling a surgical garment including a first attachment element to
a surgical helmet
including a coupling member, said method comprising: providing an adapter
member comprising:
a proximal surface and an opposing distal surface; a first point on the
proximal surface of the
adapter member; a second point on the proximal surface of the adapter member;
wherein the
second point on the proximal surface of the adapter member is spaced apart
from the first point on
the proximal surface of the adapter member; and wherein the first point on the
proximal surface of
the adapter member defines a first distance from the first surface of a
transparent face shield when
the adapter member is coupled to the first attachment element; wherein the
second point on the
proximal surface of the adapter member defines a second distance from the
first surface of the
transparent face shield when the adapter member is coupled to the first
attachment element; and
removably coupling the adapter member to the first coupling member of the
surgical helmet; and
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removably coupling the adapter member to the first attachment element of the
surgical garment.
CCLXXI. The method of clause CCLXX, wherein each of the first attachment
element and the
first coupling member comprises a magnetic material, and the adapter member
comprises a
ferromagnetic material. CCLXXII. The method of clause CCLXX, wherein said
adapter member
comprises metal alloy comprising at least 50 % of a ferromagnetic material
capable of being
magnetically attracted to the coupling member comprising a magnet. CCDOUII.
The method of
clause CCLXX, wherein said adapter member comprises metal alloy comprising at
least 90 % of
a ferromagnetic material capable of being magnetically attracted to the
coupling member
comprising a magnet. CCLXXIV. The method of clause CCLXX, wherein adapter
member
comprises metal alloy comprising at least half a gram (0.5g) of a
ferromagnetic material capable
of being magnetically attracted to the coupling member comprising a magnet.
CCLXXV. The
method of clause CCLXX, wherein said adapter member comprises metal alloy
comprising at least
95% of a ferromagnetic material capable of being magnetically attracted to the
coupling member
comprising a magnet. CCLXXVI. The method of clause CCLXX, wherein said adapter
member
comprises metal alloy comprising at least 98% of a ferromagnetic material
capable of being
magnetically attracted to the coupling member comprising a magnet. CCLXXVII.
The method of
clause CCLXX, wherein said adapter member is formed of metal alloy comprising
at least 95%
wt.% of a ferromagnetic material capable of being magnetically attracted to
the coupling member
comprising a magnet. CCLXXVIII. The method of any one of clauses CCLXXII to
CCLXXVII,
wherein said ferromagnetic material is a material chosen from iron, cobalt,
and nickel. CCLXXIX.
A surgical garment assembly for use with a surgical helmet comprising a
coupling member
disposed in a recess and a hall-effect sensor spaced from the coupling member,
said surgical
garment assembly configured to be at least partially disposed over the
surgical helmet to provide
a microbial barrier between a user and a medical environment, said surgical
garment assembly
comprising: a surgical fabric defining an opening; a transparent face shield
disposed within said
opening, said transparent face shield comprising an upper portion, a lower
portion, a first surface
and an opposing second surface; a first attachment element coupled to said
lower portion of said
transparent face shield, said first attachment element comprising: a head
including a distal end and
an opposing proximal end; wherein the proximal end defines a proximal surface
facing away from
said transparent face shield, said proximal surface including: a first portion
angularly extending in
a proximal direction from a medial plane of the head to a first edge; and a
second portion angularly
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extending in the proximal direction from the medial plane of the head to a
second edge; wherein
said head comprises a ferromagnetic material; and wherein said first
attachment element is
configured to removably engage the coupling member on the surgical helmet and
trigger the hall-
effect sensor when said first attachment element is coupled to the coupling
member. CCLXXX. A
surgical garment assembly for use with a surgical helmet comprising a magnetic
coupling member
disposed in a recess and a hall-effect sensor spaced from the coupling member,
said surgical
garment assembly configured to be at least partially disposed over the
surgical helmet to provide
a microbial barrier between a user and a medical environment, said surgical
garment assembly
comprising: a surgical fabric defining an opening; a transparent face shield
disposed within said
opening, said transparent face shield comprising an upper portion, a lower
portion, a first surface
and an opposing second surface; a first attachment element coupled to said
lower portion of said
transparent face shield, said first attachment element comprising: a head
including a distal end and
an opposing proximal end; wherein said proximal end defines a proximal surface
facing away from
said transparent face shield, said proximal surface including: a planar
surface with a first side and
a second side; a first face angularly extending in a proximal direction from
said first side of said
planar surface to a first edge; a second face angularly extending in said
proximal direction from
said second side of said planar surface to a second edge; wherein said planar
surface is
perpendicular to a longitudinal axis; wherein said head comprises a
ferromagnetic material; and
wherein said first attachment element is configured to removably engage the
coupling member on
the surgical helmet and trigger the hall-effect sensor when said first
attachment element is coupled
to the coupling member. CCLXXXI. A surgical garment assembly for use with a
surgical helmet
comprising a magnetic coupling member disposed in a recess and a hall-effect
sensor spaced from
the coupling member, said surgical garment assembly configured to be at least
partially disposed
over the surgical helmet to provide a microbial barrier between a user and a
medical environment,
said surgical garment assembly comprising: a surgical fabric defining an
opening; a transparent
face shield disposed within said opening, said transparent face shield
comprising an upper portion,
a lower portion, a first surface and an opposing second surface; a first
attachment element coupled
to said lower portion of said transparent face shield, said first attachment
element comprising: a
head including a distal end with a distal surface and a proximal end with a
proximal surface;
wherein said proximal surface angularly extends in a proximal direction from a
first edge of said
head to a second edge of said head; and wherein said first attachment element
is configured to
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removably engage the coupling member on the surgical helmet and trigger the
hall-effect sensor
when said first attachment element is coupled to the coupling member.
CCLX)OUI. A surgical
garment assembly for use with a surgical helmet comprising a magnetic coupling
member disposed
in a recess and a hall-effect sensor spaced from the coupling member, said
surgical garment
assembly configured to be at least partially disposed over the surgical helmet
to provide a microbial
barrier between a user and a medical environment, said surgical garment
assembly comprising: a
surgical fabric defining an opening; a transparent face shield disposed within
said opening, said
transparent face shield comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, a first
surface and an
opposing second surface; a first attachment element coupled to said lower
portion of said
transparent face shield, said first attachment element comprising: a head
defining a bore, said bore
extending along a longitudinal axis between a distal end and a proximal end;
wherein said head
comprises a ferromagnetic material; and wherein said first attachment element
is configured to
removably engage the coupling member on the surgical helmet and trigger the
hall-effect sensor
when said first attachment element is coupled to the coupling member.
CCLXXXIII. A surgical
garment assembly for use with a surgical helmet comprising a magnetic coupling
member disposed
in a recess and a hall-effect sensor spaced from the coupling member, said
surgical garment
assembly configured to be at least partially disposed over the surgical helmet
to provide a microbial
barrier between a user and a medical environment, said surgical garment
assembly comprising: a
surgical fabric defining an opening; a transparent face shield disposed within
said opening, said
transparent face shield comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, a first
surface and an
opposing second surface; a first attachment element coupled to said lower
portion of said
transparent face shield, said first attachment element comprising: a head
defining a bore, said bore
extending along a longitudinal axis between a closed distal end and an open
proximal end; wherein
said bore includes a mouth, said mouth tapers from said open proximal end
towards a center of
said bore; wherein said head comprises a ferromagnetic material; and wherein
said first attachment
element is configured to removably engage the coupling member on the surgical
helmet and trigger
the hall-effect sensor when said first attachment element is coupled to the
coupling member.
CCL)OXIV. The surgical garment assembly of any one of clauses CCLXXIX to
CCLXXXIII,
wherein said head of said attachment element comprises metal alloy comprising
at least 50 % of a
ferromagnetic material capable of being magnetically attracted to the coupling
member comprising
a magnet. CCLXXXV. The surgical garment assembly of any one of clauses CCLXXIX
to
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CCLXXXIII, wherein said head of said attachment element comprises metal alloy
comprising at
least 90 % of a ferromagnetic material capable of being magnetically attracted
to the coupling
member comprising a magnet. CCLXXXVI. The surgical garment assembly of any one
of clauses
CCLXXIX to CCLXXXIII, wherein said head of said attachment element comprises
metal alloy
comprising at least half a gram (0.5g) of a ferromagnetic material capable of
being magnetically
attracted to the coupling member comprising a magnet. CCLXXXVII. The surgical
garment
assembly of any one of clauses CCLXXIX to CCLXXXIII, wherein said head of said
attachment
element comprises metal alloy comprising at least 95% of a ferromagnetic
material capable of
being magnetically attracted to the coupling member comprising a magnet.
CCLXXXVIII. The
surgical garment assembly of any one of clauses CCLXXIX to CCLXXXIII, wherein
said head of
said attachment element comprises metal alloy comprising at least 98% of a
ferromagnetic material
capable of being magnetically attracted to the coupling member comprising a
magnet.
CCL)OXIX. The surgical garment assembly of any one of clauses CCLXXIX to
CCLXXXIII,
wherein said head of said attachment element is formed of metal alloy
comprising at least 95%
wt.% of a ferromagnetic material capable of being magnetically attracted to
the coupling member
comprising a magnet. CCXC. The surgical garment assembly of any one of clauses
CCLXXXIV
to CCLXXXIX, wherein said ferromagnetic material is a material chosen from
iron, cobalt, and
nickel. CCXCI. The surgical garment assembly of any one of clauses CCLXXI to
CCLXXXIII,
wherein said head is cylindrically shaped. CCXCII. A surgical garment assembly
for use with a
surgical helmet comprising a magnetic coupling member disposed in a recess and
a hall-effect
sensor spaced from the coupling member, said surgical garment assembly
configured to be at least
partially disposed over the surgical helmet to provide a microbial barrier
between a user and a
medical environment, said surgical garment assembly comprising: a surgical
fabric defining an
opening; a transparent face shield disposed within said opening, said
transparent face shield
comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, a first surface and an opposing
second surface; a
first attachment element coupled to said surgical fabric, said first
attachment element comprising:
a ferromagnetic or magnetic material; said first attachment element defining a
proximal surface
facing away from said fabric, said proximal surface including a first point
that defines a first
distance from a surface of said surgical fabric; said proximal surface
including a second point that
defines a second distance from said surface of said surgical fabric, wherein
said second point on
said proximal surface is spaced apart from said first point on said proximal
surface; wherein said
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proximal surface is shaped such that said first distance is less than said
second distance; and
wherein said first attachment element is configured to removably engage the
coupling member on
the surgical helmet and trigger the hall-effect sensor when said first
attachment element is coupled
to the coupling member. CCXCIII. A surgical garment assembly for use with a
surgical helmet
comprising a magnetic coupling member disposed in a recess and a hall-effect
sensor spaced from
the coupling member, said surgical garment assembly configured to be at least
partially disposed
over the surgical helmet to provide a microbial barrier between a user and a
medical environment,
said surgical garment assembly comprising: a surgical fabric defining an
opening; a transparent
face shield disposed within said opening, said transparent face shield
comprising an upper portion,
a lower portion, a first surface and an opposing second surface; a first
attachment element coupled
to said surgical fabric, said first attachment element comprising: a
ferromagnetic or magnetic
material; said first attachment element having any of the shapes described
through the drawings
and specification, including figures 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 41,
42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47,
48, 49, 50, 51; wherein said first attachment element is configured to
removably engage the
coupling member on the surgical helmet and trigger the hall-effect sensor when
said first
attachment element is coupled to the coupling member. CCXCIV. A method of
attaching a surgical
garment to a surgical helmet, the surgical helmet comprising a chin bar
defining a first attachment
recess, with the chin bar including a first magnet at least partially disposed
within said first
attachment recess, said method comprising: providing a surgical garment
including a transparent
face shield and a surgical fabric, and a first attachment element coupled to
the transparent face
shield or the fabric, the surgical garment being inside-out, the first
attachment element comprising
a ferromagnetic material or a magnetic material, the first attachment element
optionally having
any of the shapes or features described through the drawings and
specification, including figures
18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51
or have a flat cylindrical
shape; positioning the surgical garment such that the first attachment element
is at least partially
within the first attachment recess sufficient to trigger a hall-effect sensor
in the surgical helmet;
and manipulating the surgical garment to position the transparent face shield
in front of the
wearer's face. CCXCV. A surgical garment assembly for use with a surgical
helmet comprising a
magnetic coupling member disposed in a recess and a hall-effect sensor spaced
from the coupling
member, said surgical garment assembly configured to be at least partially
disposed over the
surgical helmet to provide a microbial barrier between a user and a medical
environment, said
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surgical garment assembly comprising: a surgical fabric defining an opening; a
transparent face
shield disposed within said opening, said transparent face shield comprising
an upper portion, a
lower portion, a first surface and an opposing second surface; a first
attachment element coupled
to said surgical fabric or the transparent face shield, said first attachment
element comprising: a
magnetic material; said first attachment element having any of the shapes or
features described
through the drawings and specification, including figures 18, 19, 23, 24, 25,
26, 27, 28, 29, 41, 42,
43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51; wherein said first attachment element is
configured to removably
engage the coupling member on the surgical helmet and trigger the hall-effect
sensor when said
first attachment element is coupled to the coupling member. CCXC VI. A
surgical helmet for use
with a surgical garment including a transparent face shield having a coupling
aperture for securing
the surgical garment to said surgical helmet, said surgical helmet comprising:
a face frame, said
face frame comprising: a top beam extending across the width of said face
frame, said top beam
comprising a pair of laterally spaced-apart side walls and a proximal surface
defining an alignment
channel; a protrusion aligned with said alignment channel; and a projection
extending transversely
from said protrusion to retain the transparent face shield adjacent said face
frame. CCXC VII. The
surgical helmet of clause CCXC VI, wherein said projection comprises a first
surface extending
distally from said protrusion; and a second surface having a sloped profile
that extends vertically
from a distal portion of said first surface and merges into an exterior
surface of said protrusion to
define a ramp to assist a wearer in inserting said protrusion within the
coupling aperture of the
transparent face shield to position the transparent face shield adjacent said
face frame. CCXC VIII.
The surgical helmet of clause CCXCVI or CCXC VII, wherein said protrusion
further comprises a
stop portion having a dimension larger than the corresponding dimension of the
coupling aperture
of the transparent face shield to prevent the transparent face shield from
sliding beyond the stop
portion. CCXCIX. The surgical helmet of clause CCXC VIII, wherein said top
beam comprises a
distal surface; and wherein said stop portion of said protrusion is configured
to position an upper
portion of the transparent face shield distally of said distal surface of said
top beam. CCC. The
surgical helmet of any one of clauses CCXCVI to CCXCIX, wherein said
protrusion comprises a
first portion and a second portion, said first portion extending distally from
said top beam and said
second portion extending vertically from said first portion; and wherein said
second portion of said
protrusion comprises a proximal surface and opposing distal surface; and a
projection extending
transversely from said distal surface of said second portion of said
protrusion. CCCI. The surgical
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helmet of clause CCC, wherein said first portion of said protrusion further
comprises an upper
surface and opposing lower surface; wherein said upper surface and said lower
surface of said
second portion are spaced apart a first distance to define a stop position;
wherein the coupling
aperture comprises and interior surface that defines an upper boundary and a
lower boundary;
wherein said upper boundary and said lower boundary are spaced apart a second
distance; and
wherein said first distance is greater than said second distance to prevent
the coupling aperture
from moving beyond said stop position of said second portion of said
protrusion. CCCII. A surgical
helmet for use with a surgical garment including a transparent face shield
having a coupling
aperture for securing the surgical garment to said surgical helmet, said
surgical helmet comprising:
a face frame, said face frame comprising: a top beam; a protrusion extending
from said top beam
and configured to removably secure the transparent face shield to said face
frame; and a projection
extending transversely from said protrusion to retain the transparent face
shield adjacent said face
frame. CCCIII. The surgical apparel system of clause CCCII, wherein said top
beam further
comprises a pair of laterally spaced-apart side walls and a proximal surface
defining an alignment
channel; and wherein said protrusion is aligned with said alignment channel.
CCCIV. The surgical
apparel system of clause CCCIII, further comprising a chin bar extending from
said top beam, said
chin bar comprising a distal surface and a recess in said distal surface; and
a first coupling member
disposed within said recess of said chin bar, said first coupling member
comprising a distal surface
and formed from a magnetic material for coupling the transparent face shield
to said face frame.
CCCV. The surgical apparel system of clause CCCIV, wherein said projection
comprises a first
surface extending distally from said protrusion; and a second surface having a
sloped profile that
extends vertically from a distal portion of said first surface and merges into
an exterior surface of
said protrusion to define a ramp to assist a wearer in inserting said
protrusion within the coupling
aperture of the transparent face shield to position the transparent face
shield adjacent said face
frame. CCCVI. A surgical apparel system comprising: a surgical helmet; a face
frame disposed on
said surgical helmet, said face frame comprising: a top beam extending across
the width of said
face frame, said top beam comprising a pair of laterally spaced-apart side
walls and a proximal
surface defining an alignment channel; a protrusion aligned with said
alignment channel; and a
projection extending transversely from said protrusion; a surgical garment
assembly to be at least
partially disposed over said surgical helmet to provide a microbial barrier
between a medical
environment and a wearer, said surgical garment assembly comprising: a
surgical fabric defining
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an opening configured to be positioned in front of the face of the wearer when
at least partially
disposed over said surgical helmet; a transparent face shield disposed within
said opening of said
surgical fabric, said transparent face shield comprising an upper portion and
a lower portion; a tab
extending from an outer perimeter of said upper portion of said transparent
face shield; wherein
said tab at least partially defines a coupling aperture sized to at least
partially receive said
protrusion; and wherein said tab and said alignment channel are
complementarily sized such that
said tab can be positioned within said alignment channel and the coupling
aperture can be slid over
the protrusion; and wherein said projection is configured to retain the
transparent face shield
adjacent said face frame. CCCVII. The surgical helmet of clause CCCVI, wherein
said projection
comprises a first surface extending distally from said protrusion; and a
second surface having a
sloped profile that extends vertically from a distal portion of said first
surface and merges into an
exterior surface of said protrusion to define a ramp to assist a wearer in
inserting said protrusion
within the coupling aperture of the transparent face shield to position the
transparent face shield
adjacent said face frame. CCCVIII. The surgical helmet of clause CCCVI or
CCCVIII, wherein
said protrusion further comprises a stop portion having a dimension larger
than the corresponding
dimension of the coupling aperture of the transparent face shield to prevent
the transparent face
shield from sliding beyond the stop portion. CCCIX. The surgical helmet of
clause CCCVIII,
wherein said top beam comprises a distal surface; and wherein said stop
portion of said protrusion
is configured to position an upper portion of the transparent face shield
distally of said distal
surface of said top beam. CCCX. The surgical helmet of any one of clauses
CCCVI to CCCIX,
wherein said protrusion comprises a first portion and a second portion, said
first portion extending
distally from said top beam and said second portion extending vertically from
said first portion;
and wherein said second portion of said protrusion comprises a proximal
surface and opposing
distal surface; and a projection extending transversely from said distal
surface of said second
portion of said protrusion. CCCXI. The surgical apparel system of clause CCCX,
wherein said
first portion of said protrusion further comprises an upper surface and
opposing lower surface;
wherein said upper surface and said lower surface of said second portion are
spaced apart a first
distance; wherein said coupling aperture comprises and interior surface that
defines an upper
boundary and a lower boundary; wherein said upper boundary and said lower
boundary are spaced
apart a second distance; and wherein said first distance is greater than said
second distance to
prevent said coupling aperture from completely encircling said second portion
of said protrusion.
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CCCXII. The surgical apparel system of any one of clauses CCCVI to CCCXI,
wherein said
surgical helmet further comprises a chin bar extending from said top beam and
configured to define
a portion of said face frame, said chin bar comprising a distal surface and a
recess in said distal
surface; a first coupling member disposed within said recess of said chin bar,
said first coupling
member comprising a distal surface and formed from a magnetic material; and
wherein said
transparent face shield further comprises a first attachment element
comprising a proximal surface
and formed from a ferromagnetic material, said first attachment member
configured to removably
couple with said first coupling member when said surgical garment is at least
partially disposed
over said surgical helmet. CCCXIII. The surgical apparel system of clause
CCCXII, wherein said
proximal surface of said first attachment member is configured to engage said
distal surface of
said first coupling member when said surgical garment is at least partially
disposed over said
surgical helmet; and wherein said first coupling member is disposed within
said recess of said chin
bar such that said distal surface of said first coupling member is positioned
proximal to said distal
surface of said chin bar. CCCXIV. The surgical apparel system of clause
CCCXIII, wherein said
proximal surface of said first attachment member is configured to be
positioned proximal to said
distal surface of said chin bar when said surgical garment is at least
partially disposed over said
surgical helmet. CCCXV. A face frame for use with a surgical helmet to couple
a garment
including a transparent face shield with a coupling aperture to the surgical
helmet, said face frame
comprising: a top beam extending across the width of said face frame, said top
beam comprising
a pair of laterally spaced-apart side walls and a proximal surface defining an
alignment channel; a
protrusion aligned with said alignment channel; and a projection extending
transversely from said
protrusion to retain the transparent face shield adjacent said face frame.
CCCXVI. The face frame
of clause CCCXV, wherein said projection comprises a first surface extending
distally from said
protrusion; and a second surface having a sloped profile that extends
vertically from a distal portion
of said first surface and merges into an exterior surface of said protrusion
to define a ramp to assist
a wearer in inserting said protrusion within the coupling aperture of the
transparent face shield to
position the transparent face shield adjacent said face frame. CCCXVII. The
face frame of clauses
CCCXV or CCCXVI, further comprising a chin bar extending from said top beam,
said chin bar
comprising a distal surface and a recess in said distal surface; and a first
coupling member disposed
within said recess of said chin bar, said first coupling member comprising a
distal surface and
formed from a magnetic material for coupling the transparent face shield to
said face frame.
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CCCXVIII. The face frame of any one of clauses CCCXV to CCCXVII, wherein said
protrusion
further comprises a stop portion having a dimension larger than the
corresponding dimension of
the coupling aperture of the transparent face shield to prevent the
transparent face shield from
sliding beyond the stop portion. CCCXIX. The face frame of clause CCCXVIII,
wherein said top
beam comprises a distal surface; and wherein said stop portion of said
protrusion is configured to
position an upper portion of the transparent face shield distally of said
distal surface of said top
beam. CCCXX. A face frame for use with a surgical helmet to couple a garment
including a
transparent face shield with a coupling aperture to the surgical helmet, said
face frame comprising:
a top beam extending across the width of said face frame, said top beam
comprising a pair of
laterally spaced-apart side walls and a proximal surface defining an alignment
channel; and a
protrusion aligned with said alignment channel, wherein said protrusion
further comprises a stop
portion having a dimension larger than the corresponding dimension of the
coupling aperture of
the transparent face shield to prevent the transparent face shield from
sliding beyond the stop
portion. CCCXXI. The face frame of clause CCCXX, wherein said top beam
comprises a distal
surface; and wherein said stop portion of said protrusion is configured to
position an upper portion
of the transparent face shield distally of said distal surface of said top
beam. CCCXXII. The face
frame of any one of clauses CCCXX to CCCXXI, further comprising a projection
extending
transversely from said protrusion to retain the transparent face shield
adjacent said face frame.
CCCXXIII. The face frame of clause CCCXXII, wherein said projection comprises
a first surface
extending distally from said protrusion; and a second surface having a sloped
profile that extends
vertically from a distal portion of said first surface and merges into an
exterior surface of said
protrusion to define a ramp to assist a wearer in inserting said protrusion
within the coupling
aperture of the transparent face shield to position the transparent face
shield adjacent said face
frame. CCCXXIV. The face frame of any one of clauses CCCXX to CCOOMI, further
comprising a chin bar extending from said top beam, said chin bar comprising a
distal surface and
a recess in said distal surface; and a first coupling member disposed within
said recess of said chin
bar, said first coupling member comprising a distal surface and formed from a
magnetic material
for coupling the transparent face shield to said face frame. CCCXXV. A
surgical apparel system
comprising: a surgical helmet, said surgical helmet comprising: a shell; a
ventilation assembly
coupled to said shell; and a power source coupler coupled to said shell and in
electrical
communication with said ventilation assembly, said power source coupler
comprising a post; a
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power source comprising: a battery; a wiring harness extending from said
battery; and a plug
coupled to said wiring harness opposite said battery, said plug configured to
removably engage
said power source coupler of said surgical helmet to power said ventilation
assembly; wherein said
post and said plug are each free from a key and a keyway such that said post
and said plug are
coupleable in any radial orientation, and wherein said post and said plug
comprise complementary
retention features that allow said plug to be rotated about said post without
breaking electrical
connection. CCCXXVI. The surgical apparel system of clause CCCXXV, wherein
said post
comprises a substantially cylindrical form having a rotational axis, said post
comprising a first
surface and an opposed second surface, said first surface is coupled to said
shell said second
surface configured to removably engage with said plug. CCCXXVII. The surgical
apparel system
of clause CCCXXVI, wherein said second surface comprises a plurality of
conductive tracks
forming circular arcs, each arc having a center that substantially coincides
with said rotational axis
of said post; and wherein said plug comprises a plurality of contacts, at
least one of the plurality
of contacts configured for mechanical electrical coupling with a corresponding
one of said plurality
of conductive tracks, each one of the plurality of contacts configured to be
axially mobile
independently of said other contacts. CCCXXVIII. The surgical apparel system
of clause
CCO'CXVII, wherein at least two of said plurality of conductive tracks are
arranged concentrically
to allow said plug to be rotated about said post without breaking electrical
connection between
said plug and said post. CCCXXIX. The surgical apparel system of any one of
clauses CCCXXV
to CCCXXVIII, wherein said post of said power source coupler further
comprises: a cylindrical
body having a rotational axis and defining an exterior surface; and a groove
in said exterior surface
of said cylindrical body that encircles said rotational axis of said post;
wherein said plug further
defines: a coupling surface, said coupling surface defining a recess
configured to receive said post;
and a detent on an interior surface of said recess; wherein said detent is
configured to operatively
engage said groove when said plug is coupled to said power source coupler; and
wherein said
groove and said detent comprise said complementary retention features
configured to allow said
plug to be rotated about said rotational axis of said post without breaking
electrical connection.
CCO'CXX. The surgical apparel system of any one of clauses CCCXXV to CCCXXIX,
wherein
said plug is configured to connect to said post to rotate about said post.
CCCXXXI. The surgical
apparel system of any one of clauses CCCXXV to CCCXXX, further comprising a
peripheral
device selected from the following: a ventilation assembly, a light, a camera,
a video recorder, a
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microphone or other communication device, a cooling device, or a combination
thereof
CCO'CXXII. The surgical apparel system of any one of clauses CCO'CXV to
CCCXXXI, wherein
said surgical helmet further comprises a face frame, said face frame
comprising: a top beam
extending across the width of said face frame, said top beam comprising a pair
of laterally spaced-
apart side walls and a proximal surface defining an alignment channel; a
protrusion aligned with
said alignment channel; and a projection extending transversely from said
protrusion to retain a
transparent face shield adjacent said face frame. CCCXXXIII. The surgical
apparel system of
clause CCCXXXII, wherein said face frame further comprises a chin bar
extending from said top
beam, said chin bar comprising a distal surface and a recess in said distal
surface; and a first
coupling member disposed within said recess of said chin bar. CCCXXXIV. A
surgical apparel
system comprising: a surgical helmet, said surgical helmet comprising: a
shell; a ventilation
assembly coupled to said shell; and a power source coupler disposed on said
shell and in electrical
communication with said ventilation assembly, said power source coupler
comprising a post; a
power source comprising: a battery; a wiring harness extending from said
battery; and a plug
coupled to said wiring harness opposite said battery, said plug configured to
removably engage
said power source coupler of said surgical helmet to power said ventilation
assembly; wherein said
post and said plug comprise complementary retention features that allow said
plug to be rotated
about said post without breaking electrical connection; and a surgical garment
configured to be at
least partially disposed over said surgical helmet to provide a microbial
barrier between a medical
environment and a wearer, said surgical garment comprising: a surgical fabric
defining an opening
configured to be positioned in front of a face of the wearer when at least
partially disposed over
said surgical helmet; and a transparent face shield disposed within said
opening of said surgical
fabric. CCCX)'CXV. The surgical apparel system of clause CCCXXXIV, wherein
said plug and
said post are disposed on a wearer side of said microbial barrier when said
surgical garment is at
least partially disposed over said surgical helmet. CCCXXXVI. The surgical
apparel system of
clause CCCXXXIV, wherein said surgical helmet further comprises a face frame,
said face frame
comprising: a top beam extending across the width of said face frame, said top
beam comprising
a pair of laterally spaced-apart side walls and a proximal surface defining an
alignment channel; a
protrusion aligned with said alignment channel; and a projection extending
transversely from said
protrusion to retain the transparent face shield adjacent said face frame.
CCCXXXVII. The
surgical apparel system of clause CCCXXXVI, wherein said transparent face
shield further
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comprises: an upper portion and a lower portion; a tab extending from an outer
perimeter of said
upper portion of said transparent face shield; wherein said tab at least
partially defines a coupling
aperture sized to at least partially receive said protrusion; and wherein said
tab and said alignment
channel are complementarily sized such that said tab can be positioned within
said alignment
channel and the coupling aperture can be slid over the protrusion. CCCXXXVIII.
The surgical
apparel system of clause CCCXXXVI, further comprising a chin bar extending
from said top
beam, said chin bar comprising a distal surface and a recess in said distal
surface; and a first
coupling member disposed within said recess of said chin bar, said first
coupling member
comprising a second distal surface and formed from a magnetic material for
coupling said surgical
garment to said face frame. CCCXXXIX. A surgical apparel system comprising: a
surgical helmet,
said surgical helmet comprising: a shell; a ventilation assembly coupled to
said shell; and a power
source coupler disposed on said shell and in electrical communication with
said ventilation
assembly, said power source coupler comprising a post defining a rotational
axis; a power source
comprising: a battery; a wiring harness extending from said battery; and a
plug coupled to said
wiring harness opposite said battery, said plug configured to removably engage
said power source
coupler of said surgical helmet to power said ventilation assembly; wherein
said post and said plug
comprise complementary retention features that allow said plug to be
positioned at a first
orientation relative to said rotational axis and be rotated to a second
orientation relative to said
rotational axis without breaking electrical connection between said post and
said plug. CCCXL. A
face frame for use with a surgical helmet to couple a garment including a
transparent face shield
with a coupling aperture to the surgical helmet, said face frame comprising: a
top beam extending
across the width of said face frame, said top beam comprising a pair of
laterally spaced-apart side
walls and a proximal surface defining an alignment channel; a protrusion
aligned with said
alignment channel; and a projection extending transversely from said
protrusion to retain the
transparent face shield adjacent said face frame. CCCXLI. The face frame of
clause CCCXL,
wherein said projection comprises a first surface extending distally from said
protrusion; and a
second surface having a sloped profile that extends vertically from a distal
portion of said first
surface and merges into an exterior surface of said protrusion to define a
ramp to assist a wearer
in inserting said protrusion within the coupling aperture of the transparent
face shield to position
the transparent face shield adjacent said face frame. CCCXLII. The face frame
of clauses CCCXL
or CCCXLI, further comprising a chin bar extending from said top beam, said
chin bar comprising
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a distal surface and a recess in said distal surface; and a first coupling
member disposed within
said recess of said chin bar, said first coupling member comprising a distal
surface and formed
from a magnetic material for coupling the transparent face shield to said face
frame. CCCXLIII.
The face frame of any of clauses CCCXL to CCCXLII, wherein said protrusion
further comprises
a stop portion having a dimension larger than the corresponding dimension of
the coupling aperture
of the transparent face shield to prevent the transparent face shield from
sliding beyond the stop
portion. CCCXLIV. The face frame of clause CCCXLIII, wherein said top beam
comprises a distal
surface; and wherein said stop portion of said protrusion is configured to
position an upper portion
of the transparent face shield distally of said distal surface of said top
beam. CCCXLV. A face
frame for use with a surgical helmet to couple a garment including a
transparent face shield with
a coupling aperture to the surgical helmet, said face frame comprising: a top
beam extending across
the width of said face frame, said top beam comprising a pair of laterally
spaced-apart side walls
and a proximal surface defining an alignment channel; and a protrusion aligned
with said
alignment channel, wherein said protrusion further comprises a stop portion
having a dimension
larger than the corresponding dimension of the coupling aperture of the
transparent face shield to
prevent the transparent face shield from sliding beyond the stop portion.
CCCXLVI. The face
frame of clause CCCXLV, wherein said top beam comprises a distal surface; and
wherein said
stop portion of said protrusion is configured to position an upper portion of
the transparent face
shield distally of said distal surface of said top beam. CCCXLVII. The face
frame of clauses
CCCXLV or CCCXLVI, further comprising a projection extending transversely from
said
protrusion to retain the transparent face shield adjacent said face frame.
CCCXLVIII. The face
frame of clause CCCXLVII, wherein said projection comprises a first surface
extending distally
from said protrusion; and a second surface having a sloped profile that
extends vertically from a
distal portion of said first surface and merges into an exterior surface of
said protrusion to define
a ramp to assist a wearer in inserting said protrusion within the coupling
aperture of the transparent
face shield to position the transparent face shield adjacent said face frame.
CCCXLIX. The face
frame of any of clauses CCCXLV to CCCXLVIII, further comprising a chin bar
extending from
said top beam, said chin bar comprising a distal surface and a recess in said
distal surface; and a
first coupling member disposed within said recess of said chin bar, said first
coupling member
comprising a distal surface and formed from a magnetic material for coupling
the transparent face
shield to said face frame.
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[00423] Several configurations have been discussed in the foregoing
description. However, the
configurations discussed herein are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the
system 10, 110, 610,
1410 to any particular form. The terminology which has been used is intended
to be in the nature
of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and
variations are possible
in light of the above teachings and the system may be practiced otherwise than
as specifically
described. Furthermore, it should be understood that elements described in the
various
configurations including reference numbers in increments of 100 may comprise
similar features.
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