TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure is directed towards a multilayered barrier garment and more particularly towards a multilayered barrier garment that allows a user to remove an outermost garment layer leaving a complete and clean garment layer intact.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Barrier garments, such as medical isolation gowns, gloves, eye protection, and facemasks, fall into the broader category of personal protective equipment (PPE). Barrier garments are fundamental adjuncts for protecting healthcare workers because they provide a physical barrier between the healthcare worker and various infectious vehicles such as body fluids and respiratory droplets. These barrier garments are used to prevent the

communication of infectious diseases between a patient and a caregiver. Barrier garments are also increasingly being utilized by various healthcare institutions to prevent the conveyance of infections between patients through contact with a common healthcare provider. Effective use of PPE includes properly removing and disposing of contaminated PPE to prevent exposing the wearer and others to infection.

[0003] The requirements for the design and construction of barrier garments are based on the anticipated location and degree of liquid contact given the expected conditions of use. Typical critical zones include those areas where direct contact with blood, body fluids, and/or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) is most likely to occur— even though areas outside of critical zones can inadvertently be splashed or sprayed as well. According to this standard, for medical isolation gowns, the whole garment is considered a critical zone due to the unpredictable types of potential contact with blood, body fluids, and OPIM. Accordingly, to meet applicable federal, state or international standards, the entire isolation gown, including the seams, but in certain instances excluding the cuffs, hems, and bindings, must achieve claimed barrier performance.

[0004] Traditionally, medical gowns are designed from a single piece of fabric with an unbroken front panel and seams extending from the armpit underneath the sleeves to the cuffs and across the back. There are no seams in the front panel of the gown, which provides a bacterial barrier free of seams or sewing needle sewn seam holes. The medical gowns have back panels that overlap to fully close the back of the gown. [0005] With traditional medical gowns, there is significant risk that contaminants will be transmitted from the exposed or soiled gown to a healthcare worker when a contaminated isolation gown is removed. Healthcare workers are vulnerable at the time of gown removal because the very act of removing the gown exposes unprotected skin and clothing to a gown that potentially became soiled with infectious vehicles such as blood, bodily fluids, droplets, or OPIM.

[0006] Further complicating the removal process is the potential presence of soiled gloves. Removal of a conventional gown generally requires disrupting the collar of the garment that encircles the neck. Common to the art, these collars can be constructed from the gown fabric itself, standard ties similar to one or more shoestrings connected to the fabric of the gown, or by various tape-adhesive closures. To disrupt the collar requires the wearer to pull forward on the front of the gown, typically at the level of the chest, until the collar is disrupted by either material breakage or overcoming the adhesive. Another technique is for the wearer to reach behind his or her head and neck to manually release the collar, or if the collar is unbreakable, to lift the collar over their head. Any and all of these removal methods brings a healthcare worker's gloves, potentially the most contaminated PPE article, closer to the healthcare worker's unprotected skin and clothing.

[0007] The common practice of disrupting or breaking the neck of an isolation gown for removal creates an additional exposure concern because these gowns are not typically designed to have a predictable pattern of breakage. This is a concern because when these gowns are subjected to a non-standardized pulling force they can break in areas that can cause inadvertent exposure of the healthcare worker to an infectious material. For example, a healthcare worker, while pulling to break the gown's collar, may inadvertently break the gown over a vulnerable area of their body such as around the front of the neck or over the torso.

[0008] Further, although PPE gloves can be removed prior to removing an isolation gown, this practice does not eliminate a healthcare worker's potential exposure to a soiled gown. Removing the gloves before gown removal is problematic because glove removal exposes bare hands to a contaminated gown that by definition is a critical area in its entirety.

[0009] Finally, used medical gowns must be removed and disposed of after a single use, for example a single patient visit, to avoid spreading infectious vehicles to other patients and medical personnel.

[0010] The present embodiments described herein are intended to overcome one or more of the problems discussed above. SUMMARY

[0011] A first aspect disclosed herein is a garment system. The garment system comprises an innermost layer and at least two detachable outer layers. Each outer layer may be removably attached to an outer surface of an immediately preceding layer and each outer layer may cover the entirety of the immediately preceding layer prior to removal. Further, removal of an outermost layer from the outer surface of the immediately preceding layer leaves the immediately preceding layer intact.

[0012] The innermost layer of the garment system can be secured directly to a user by at least one of a belt, string, zipper, snap, button, tape, hook, clip, interlocking groove and ridge mechanism, hook loop tape or similar devices. Securing the innermost layer directly to the user helps hold the innermost layer and any number of outer layers in place while a user is removing the outermost layer. Further, the innermost layer can be treated or made with a material that is impervious to liquid, more comfortable or has other advantages over the material used for outer layers.

[0013] Each detachable outer layer may be removably attached to the preceding layer by attachments comprising at least one of breakable seams, breakable perforations, adhesive, magnets, strings, zippers, snaps, buttons, tape, hooks, clips, interlocking grooves and ridges hook and loop tapes, or other mechanisms. The attachments are configured to bind each outer layer to the immediately preceding layer prior to removal of the outermost layer and further configured to provide for removal of the entire outermost layer while leaving the immediately preceding layer intact. The attachments may provide predictable breakage points or seams such as along a user's shoulder or at the collar.

[0014] In order to prevent the spread of contaminants to preceding layers, the attachments may be covered with at least one of tape, a flap, or a liquid proof material.

Alternatively, the locations of selected attachments between pairs of layers may be staggered such that corresponding attachments between adjacent pairs of layers do not overlap.

[0015] Further, each outer layer may be larger than the immediately preceding layer to ensure that each outer layer completely covers the immediately preceding layer. Having each outer layer be slightly larger than the immediately preceding layer prevents the spread of foreign materials from the outermost layer to the preceding layers of the garment. Each layer can be a single piece of material or can comprise two or more garment elements joined by one or more seams. In seamed embodiments, the garment elements and seams of adjacent layers can be oriented differently so that foreign contaminants cannot contaminate more than two layers of the garment system.

[0016] In another embodiment, the garment system may comprise one or more handholds attached to each detachable outer layer for facilitating removal of the outermost layer and for further facilitating turning a selected layer inside-out upon removal. The handhold(s) may only be accessible when said layer is the outermost layer. Each handhold may be at least one of a tab, hook, loop, string or similar graspable structure.

[0017] The one or more of the layers of the garment system may further comprise an indicator to indicate that foreign materials have contaminated the garment system. The layers of the garment system may also be color coded to provide a visual indication of which layer is the outermost layer.

[0018] Another aspect disclosed herein is a method for using a garment system. The method comprises providing a garment system comprising an innermost layer and at least two detachable outer layers, wherein each outer layer is removably attached to an outer surface of an immediately preceding layer, and wherein each outer layer covers the entirety of the immediately preceding layer prior to removal, and wherein removal of an outermost layer from the outer surface of the immediately preceding layer leaves the immediately preceding layer intact. The method further comprises placing the garment system on a user and securing the innermost layer of detachable garments on the user. The innermost layer may be secured directly to the user by at least one of a belt, string, zipper, snap, button, tape, hook, clip, interlocking groove and ridge, hook and loop tape or similar mechanism. Additionally, the method comprises, removing, after use, the outermost layer of detachable garments while leaving the immediately preceding layer of detachable garments intact on the user. The method may further include disposing of the outermost layer.

[0019] In order to remove the outermost layer, a handhold may be attached to each detachable outer layer for facilitating removal of the outermost layer. The user may then remove a selected layer by pulling the handhold and turning the selected layer inside- out.

[0020] The method may further comprise providing a garment system where one or more of the layers comprises an indicator to indicate that foreign materials have contaminated the garment system and checking a selected layer to determine whether there is an indication that the layer has been contaminated by foreign materials. Two or more of the layers may also be color coded to provide a visual indication of which layer is the outermost layer and a user may check the outermost layer color to ensure that the outermost layer color corresponds with a selected situation.

[0021] A third aspect is a method of manufacturing a garment system. The method comprises providing an innermost layer and at least two detachable outer layers, removably attaching each outer layer to an outer surface of an immediately preceding layer, wherein removal of an outermost layer from the outer surface of the immediately preceding layer leaves the immediately preceding layer intact, and covering, with each outer layer, the entirety of the immediately preceding layer prior to removal.

[0022] At least one of a belt, string, zipper, snap, button, tape, hook, clip, interlocking groove and ridge, hook and loop tape or similar structure may be attached to the innermost layer for securing the innermost layer to a user. A handhold may be attached to each detachable outer layer for facilitating removal of the outermost layer.

[0023] The method may further comprise removably attaching the layers with attachments that are configured to bind each outer layer to the immediately preceding layer prior to removal of the outermost layer and further configured to provide for removal of the entire outermost layer while leaving the immediately preceding layer intact and making each outer layer larger than the immediately preceding layer to ensure that each outer layer completely covers the immediately preceding layer.

[0024] By providing a multilayered garment system as described above several advantages are realized. First, a multilayered garment lessens the risk of unintended contamination of a healthcare worker's skin or clothing during gown removal because an additional layer remains in place while the potentially contaminated outermost layer is removed.

[0025] Second, a multilayered garment allows a healthcare worker to come into contact with potentially multiple different contaminants without completely removing the garment in its entirety. A multilayered garment allows an individual healthcare worker to don a single multi-layer gown and enter one potentially infectious environment and then pull off the outermost exposed layer after leaving that first environment but before entering a second potentially infectious environment or both the healthcare worker and patient are protected by the clean second layer of the gown that resided immediately underneath the first layer. By employing this method, a healthcare worker can save time and energy because the worker does not have to put on an entire new gown every time he or she enters an infectious environment. [0026] Third, the multilayered gown provides predictable breakage points or seams for removing layers of the garment. By constructing the garment with predictable breakage points or seams, healthcare workers will have a more controlled and reproducible technique for correctly removing the garment. Further, by providing multiple layers and predictable breakage points or seams, it is much less likely that contaminated gloves will contact the healthcare worker's skin or clothing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a multilayered barrier garment system in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0028] Fig. 2 is a front view of the multilayered barrier garment system of Fig. 1.

[0029] Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of staggered seams on the layers of the multilayered barrier garment system of Fig. 1

[0030] Fig. 4 is a front view of the multilayered barrier garment system of Fig. 1.

[0031] Fig. 4A is an enlarged view graphically representing the colors or other visual indicia of the multilayered barrier garment system of Fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] An embodiment of a multilayered barrier garment system 10 is illustrated in

Fig. 1. The representative garment system 10 illustrated in Fig. 1 is a disposable medical isolation gown of the type typically used by healthcare providers in hospitals, clinics, doctor's offices, and extended care facilities. The garment system 10 can be constructed to be placed on by either pulling over the head of a user or wrapping around the body of the user. The wrap around configuration can be constructed with the opening placed in either the back like hospital gowns or in the front like a woman's housecoat.

[0033] The multilayered garment system 10 includes an innermost layer 12 and at least two detachable outer layers (14, 16). Each layer may be constructed such that each layer will cover the arms, the entire torso, and varying lengths of the legs of the user.

[0034] One purpose of the multilayered garment system 10 is to provide a healthcare worker with at least three complete layers (12, 14, 16) of complete protection from foreign contaminants. As described in more detail below, the multilayered garment 10 also presents a clean outermost layer as required, for example when the healthcare worker is visiting a second or third patient. Therefore, the multilayered garment 10 provides enhanced protection to both the healthcare worker and a series of patients.

[0035] The multilayered garment 10 can be constructed with more than three layers and selected garment layers may be constructed from a material that is multilayered in itself. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to any particular number of layers provided the garment includes three or more layers in total. As noted above, each layer (12, 14, 16) serves to reduce a healthcare worker's risk of physically contacting foreign contaminants in a patient's room or other areas. However, it is possible that immediately after the last outer layer 14 is removed, a healthcare worker could remove their gloves and remove the innermost layer 12 without gloves. This would further reduce the risk that contaminated gloves contact a healthcare worker's skin or clothes.

[0036] Each layer (12, 14, 16) may be constructed as a single continuous piece of material or by assembling and joining several different pieces such as sleeves and panels. Stitched or perforated seams on the layers (12, 14, 16) of garment 10 can use anti-wick thread or seam tape to ensure that contaminants cannot leak to layers underneath the outermost layer. Stitching style can also aid in creating an impervious union at any seam junction.

Stich techniques such as plain, serged, flat (abutted), lapped, French, bound and staggered seams can all be used in the garment's construction to prevent contaminates from reaching layers underneath the outermost layer of the garment system 10.

[0037] The material used in each gown layer (12, 14, 16) may be the same or different among various layers. Thus, layers may be constructed of any suitable fabric, plastic or technologically advanced sheet material or combinations thereof. For example, the innermost layer 12 which immediately contacts healthcare worker's clothes and skin could be constructed from a relatively more expensive liquid impervious, antimicrobial, or antiviral material while the outer layers (14, 16) could be made of an inexpensive material that does not provide the same amount of protection as the material of the innermost layer 12.

Alternatively, the innermost layer 12 material may be selected to enhance user comfort or for another purpose.

[0038] The geometric shape of each of the layers (12, 14, 16) can be configured and designed to provide complete (both front and back) or partial (primarily front) torso coverage. Alternatively, the innermost layer 12 can be configured and designed to provide complete (both front and back) torso coverage while the outer layers (14, 16) can be configured and designed to provide partial (primarily front) torso coverage. [0039] Each outer layer (14, 16) may be designed to cover the entirety of the immediately preceding layer (12, 14) prior to removal. For example, each outer layer (14, 16) may be larger than the immediately preceding layer (12, 14) to ensure that each outer layer (14, 16) completely covers the immediately preceding layer (12, 14). In order to ensure that the each outer layer (14, 16) is larger than the immediately preceding layer (12, 14), the sleeves, collar, and length of the gown of each outer layer may be constructed to ensure coverage of the entire sleeve, collar, and length of the immediately preceding layer. Ensuring that each outer layer (14, 16) completely covers the immediately preceding layer (12, 14), may involve orienting the outer layers (14, 16) to ensure that the edges of the garment system 10 are not exposed to foreign contaminants during use.

[0040] Each detachable outer layer (14, 16) is removably attached to an outer surface

(18, 20) of an immediately preceding layer. In addition, removal of an outermost layer from the outer surface of the immediately preceding layer leaves the immediately preceding layer completely intact. For example, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, removal of the complete outermost layer 14 from the outer surface 18 of the immediately preceding layer 12 leaves the immediately preceding layer 12 completely intact on the user. The outermost layer of the garment system 10 can either be removed in its entirety or in parts (panels and sleeves).

[0041] As shown in Fig. 2, in order to aid in removal of the outermost layer 14, the innermost layer 12 may be attached directly to a user for example by a belt, string 22 or other attachment mechanism. The innermost layer 12 could also be secured to a user by at least one of a zipper, snap, button, tape, hook, clip, interlocking groove and ridge system, hook and loop tape or other attachment mechanism. Failure to attach the innermost layer 12 directly to a user is possible, but typically disadvantageous since this configuration can cause all of the layers of the garment 10 to move and potentially tear instead of just the outermost layer during the process of outermost layer removal.

[0042] Further, as shown in Fig. 2, each detachable outer layer (14, 16) is removably attached to the preceding layer by attachments 24. The attachments 24 are configured to removably bind each outer layer (14, 16) to the immediately preceding layer prior to removal of the outermost layer and further configured to provide for removal of the entire outermost layer while leaving the immediately preceding layer intact. Attachments 24 also help hold the preceding layers in place (so that they are not accidentally ripped or partially removed) as the outermost layer is removed from the garment system 10.

[0043] Various methods may be used to attach the layers (12, 14, 16) together and also allow for the individual separation of the layers (12, 14, 16). Thus, individual layers may have breakable portions, joints, perforations, or tape areas within a single layer or other structure that facilitates removal of a single layer. In order to create breakable perforations, a series of holes are punched or "perforated" in a row though a layered material creating a series of small weak bridges that can easily be torn apart. Once the perforations are created, an outer layer (14, 16) can be torn along the perforation to reveal a preceding layer of the garment 10. In embodiments with perforations, the perforations may be staggered as described below in order to prevent contamination through perforation holes of multiple underlying layers.

[0044] Alternatively, or in conjunction with breakable perforations, breakable seams, ties or other structures, adhesives of low to moderate tensile strength (similar to the adhesive included on a "Post-It"® brand note) may be used as attachments 24. The adhesive could be applied directly to various points around the gown layers, such as at the neckline or the wrist cuffs. The adhesive could also be applied to an intermediary material, similar to a two-sided tape, which is then placed between successive gown layers. Once the adhesive is applied, an outer layer (14, 16) can be pulled along the adhesive to reveal an entire preceding layer of the garment 10.

[0045] Alternatively, a zip-tape strip may be used as attachments 24. In order to create a zip-tape strip, an adhesive is applied to a thin strip of cellophane or similar material and adhered to the inside of the cellophane wrapper with a protruding tab that can be pulled to cut cleanly through the wrapper. Once the zip-tape is applied, the zip-tape tab can be pulled to remove the outermost layer and to reveal an intact preceding layer of the garment 10.

[0046] Other attachments 24 that may be used include breakable seams, magnets of opposite polarity, strings, zippers, snaps, buttons, tape, hooks, clips, interlocking grooves and ridges (similar to a Zip-Lock ® mechanism), or hook and loop tapes or surfaces. Each of the attachments 24 must be strong enough to hold the layers (12, 14, 16) together while pliable or separable enough to permit removal an outermost layer while leaving the preceding layer intact on the user.

[0047] In order to prevent the spread of contaminants between layers through the attachments 24 or associated breakpoints, openings, perforations or breakable seams, attachments 24 may be staggered among the layers (as shown in Fig. 3) so that the outermost layer will completely cover the attachments 24 or associated breakpoints, openings, perforations or breakable seams on the underling layers of the garment system 10. Similarly, the layer attachments 24 can be oriented in different anatomical or spatial planes. For example, garment elements (such as sleeves, pockets, and collars) and attachments 24 can be alternated between the layers along the frontal, sagittal, and transverse planes. Thus, at most, foreign materials could contaminate two layers of the garment system 10 by leaking through the attachments 24 and the remaining underlying layers would still be usable.

[0048] Attachments 24 may also be covered by flaps 26 as shown in Fig. 4 to prevent contaminates from reaching additional layers of the garment system 10. The attachments 24 could also be covered with tape or a liquid proof material. If attachments 24 are breakable seams, then anti-wick thread could be used to prevent leakage of contaminants to preceding layers.

[0049] It is also possible, depending upon its intended use, that the attachments 24 are anchored to a single exposed portion of the innermost layer 12 such as the cuffs and collar of the innermost layer 12. In this configuration, the cuffs and collar on the innermost layer 12 would typically be exposed to contamination as long as the entire garment was worn and not protected by the removal of each individual layer. In this configuration the single anchor point on the innermost layer 12 could be covered and protected from exposure by a series of flap material specifically added to each garment layer (12, 14, 16) that will intentionally cover the common, and otherwise exposed, anchor.

[0050] To facilitate the donning and removal of the garment 10, the garment 10 may be constructed with each layer attached to one or more common aspects on the preceding layer, such as the collar or the shoulder, with attachments 24. Attaching the attachments 24 to one or more common aspects on each layer of the garment system 10, allows for each layer in sequence to be separated from the common aspect in a predictable and reproducible fashion. In other words, a healthcare worker will know the places that the layers (12, 14, 18) are likely to break and be able to implement a standardized "safe" method of, removal.

[0051] To aid in grasping and removing the outermost layer of the garment 10, handholds 28 (shown in Fig. 2) can be situated on each layer (12, 14, 16) in various positions. The handholds 28 may be placed near the attachment 24 to aid in removal of the outermost layer or, considering common removal procedures, handholds 28 can be placed near the shoulders or the collar. The handhold 28 can be one or more of a tab, handle, hook, loop, string or other structure which provides a user with a grip, a pull surface or a similar graspable structure. A potential variation of the string design is to extend the string along the periphery of the layers (12, 14, 16) to pull the discarded layer inside-out and into a ball, similar to a drawstring purse. The handhold 28 could also be the flap 26 (shown in Fig. 4). Further, the handhold 28 may be accessible only when a layer is an outermost layer to reduce the chances of removing more than one garment layer at a time.

[0052] The handholds 28 allow for an additional level of protection when removing the outer layer. The handholds 28 can be oriented at various angles to encourage proper removal technique such as a cross arm removal technique. In this technique, the wearer crosses his or her arms across the torso to grasp the handhold 28 on the contralateral side and then holds onto that handhold 28 while returning his hand and arm to a normal anatomic position. By performing this removal motion, each sleeve is rolled inside-out, moving from the shoulder towards the cuff. The cross arm technique also pulls the sleeve that has been turned inside-out across the wearer's body and into the contralateral sleeve. During this removal procedure, the entire outer surface of the outermost layer of the gown will be turned inside-out and into itself, effectively encasing the contaminated portion of the gown away from the wearer for disposal.

[0053] To help facilitate the rolling removal maneuver, the handholds 28 can be constructed to have various points of contact with the periphery of the gown by way of guidelines or struts that are constructed into the material or on its outer surface. Once the outer layer is turned inside-out, the wearer has access to the inner surface of gown and their PPE gloves can then be slipped off and left residing inside of the discarded outer layer. The handholds 28 may be incorporated into each layer (12, 14, 16) of the garment 10 so that the cross arm removal technique can be applied for each and every layer (12, 14, 16) of the gown 10.

[0054] To help recognize inadvertent contamination of the inner layers by a breech in the integrity of the outer layer, indicators 30 (shown in Fig. 4) may be used to change color or otherwise indicate when a layer (12, 14, 16) has been contaminated with foreign materials. For example, water sensitive material that indicate or change color when water has contaminated the layer can be added to the inner layer panels and sleeves or selectively applied to the seams. Further, materials that indicate variations in pH or microbial contamination can similarly be used to alert healthcare workers that a layer of the garment 10 has been contaminated with foreign materials. This ensures that a healthcare worker does not treat a new patient with a contaminated garment and further serves to prevent personal exposure to a contaminated garment.

[0055] Further, as shown in Fig. 4A, to ensure that the outermost layer of the garment system 10 is removed after any use that could cause contamination, each layer (12, 14, 16) may be color coded or otherwise visually coded to provide visual separation between various layers. For example, each layer (12, 14, 16) of the garment system 10 could be of a different color to remind the wearer of the need to remove the outermost layer after one instance of intended use. For example, when first donned, the outermost layer of the gown might have a red color 32. After leaving a first patient's room, the red outer gown layer is removed and disposed of exposing a blue second layer 34. After completing a task in the blue gown layer the wearer would remove and dispose of it, exposing a white color before the next patient. The process of coded layer removal can continue until only the innermost layer remains. When the innermost layer is removed, a new multilayer protective garment 10 may be donned.

[0056] It is common for health workers to require various types of equipment when wearing isolation gowns. Examples of this type of equipment would be pens, stethoscopes, small lights, note cards and similar items. To access this equipment in a multilayer gown construct 10, pockets of various sizes can be positioned in logical places on each layer (12, 14, 16).

[0057] Another embodiment is a method for using a multilayered barrier garment system 10 shown in Fig. 1. A garment system 10 may be provided comprising an innermost layer 12 and at least two detachable outer layers (14, 16). Each outer layer (14, 16) may be removably attached to an outer surface of an immediately preceding layer (12, 14). Each outer layer (14, 16) may cover the entirety of the immediately preceding layer (12, 14) prior to removal. Removal of an outermost layer from the outer surface of the immediately preceding layer leaves the immediately preceding layer intact on the user.

[0058] The garment system 10 may then be placed on a user and the innermost layer

12 may be secured to the user. After using the outermost layer, the outermost layer of the garment system 10 may be removed while leaving the immediately preceding layers of the garment system 10 intact on the user. The layers (12, 14, 16) may be removably attached to each other at a common point (such as the collar or shoulders) to aid in placing the garment system 10 on the user and removing the outermost layer from the garment system 10 in a predictable way.

[0059] A handhold 28 (shown in Fig. 2) may be attached to each layer (12, 14, 16) to aid in removal of the outermost layer. A user may remove a layer by pulling on the handhold 28 of a selected layer and turning the selected layer inside-out. The garment may also comprise an indicator 30 to indicate whether foreign materials have contaminated the garment or two or more layers may be color coded to provide a visual indication of which layer is the outermost layer. A user may then check each layer to see if there is an indication that a selected layer has been contaminated by foreign materials or check the outermost layer color to ensure that an outermost layer corresponds to a selected situation.

[0060] A third embodiment is a method for manufacturing a multilayered barrier garment system 10 (shown in Fig. 1). An innermost layer 12 and at least two detachable outer layers (14, 16) may be provided. Each outer layer (14, 16) may be removably attached to an outer surface of an immediately preceding layer (12, 14). Removal of an outermost layer from the outer surface of an immediately preceding layer may leave the immediately preceding layer intact on the user. Each outer layer (14, 16) may cover the entirety of the immediately preceding layer (12, 14) prior to removal. The layers (12, 14, 16) may be removably attached to each other with attachments 24 that are configured to bind each outer layer (14, 16) to the immediately preceding layer prior to removal of the outermost layer and further configured to provide for removal of the entire outermost layer while leaving the immediately preceding layer intact

[0061] A handhold 28 (shown in Fig. 2) may be attached to each layer (12, 14, 16) of the garment system 10 in order to facilitate removal of the outermost layer. Each outer layer (14, 16) may be larger than the immediately preceding layer to reduce the chances that the immediately preceding layers (12, 14) are contaminated with foreign materials. Each layer (12, 14, 16) of the garment system 10 may further be treated with an indicator 30 to indicate whether the layer (12, 14, 16) has been contaminated with foreign materials or color coded to provide a visual indication of which layer is the outermost layer.

[0062] The multilayered garment system disclosed herein can have applications in a wide variety of areas where personal protection is used, including, but not limited to, hospitals, doctors offices, other medical care facilities, laboratories, manufacturing plants, hazardous material sites and the like. Further, the multilayered garment system disclosed herein can have applications in a wide variety of occupations, including, but not limited to, medicine, agriculture, chemical processing, pharmaceutical preparation, prison work, food handling, cosmetology, hazardous material containment, environmental remediation and other fields where contamination is of concern. Finally, multilayered barrier garments are not just limited to gowns. Similar multilayered systems could be used to create lab coats, scrubs, work clothing, coveralls, hazmat suits or similar garments.

[0063] In this application and the claims, the use of the singular includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise. In addition, use of "or" means "and/or" unless stated otherwise. Moreover, the use of the term "including", as well as other forms, such as "includes" and "included", is not limiting. Also, terms such as "element" or "component" encompass both elements and components comprising one unit and elements and components that comprise more than one unit unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0064] Various embodiments of the disclosure could also include permutations of the various elements recited in the claims as if each dependent claim was a multiple dependent claim incorporating the limitations of each of the preceding dependent claims as well as the independent claims. Such permutations are expressly within the scope of this disclosure. While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a number of embodiments, it would be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in the form and details may be made to the various embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and that the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to act as limitations on the scope of the claims. All references cited herein are incorporated in their entirety by reference.