Latex glove with fabric-adherent cuff region

Abstract

A dipped and cured latex glove article, the inner cuff surface of which is fabric-adherent, and a method of making such a glove comprising dipping a coagulant-coated glove former into an aqueous latex emulsion thereby forming a latex first layer on the former, partially coating the latex first layer on the former with a non-tacky aqueous polymeric emulsion, heating the former to cure the first layer with the second layer, stripping from the former and inverting the article, washing the article, dressing the inverted latex glove article on a glove former such that the fabric-adherent inner cuff surface contacts the former, treating the surface of the article to minimize tackiness, stripping the article from the former, washing the article, and drying the article, after which the article can be packaged and sterilized by exposing the packaged latex glove article to gamma radiation.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a dipped and cured latex glove article, the inner cuff surface of which is fabric-adherent, and a method of making such a glove. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Skin-contacting articles, such as gloves, particularly medical gloves, are commonly used as a protective barrier against the contamination of the user by chemicals, body fluids, and micro-organisms, such as bacteria, viruses and the like. Such articles also protect patients from contamination. In addition, the gloves protect the user from injuries that result from abrasions, cuts, and needle pricks. Consequently, such articles are manufactured in such a way that they are entirely impermeable to such insults. In other words, they are free from defects, such as holes, including pinholes, and tears, and desirably are thin for surgical applications and the like where tactile sensitivity is necessary. This impermeability, however, prevents evaporation of ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The present invention provides a dipped and cured latex glove article comprising an integral glove region and a cuff region. The integral glove region comprises an inner glove surface and an outer glove surface. The cuff region comprises an inner cuff surface and an outer cuff surface. The inner glove surface is coated with a non-tacky lubricious polymeric coating, whereas said inner cuff surface is not coated and is left in the dipped and cured latex state, which is tacky. The outer glove surface and the outer cuff surface are treated to minimize the tackiness of the dipped and cured latex state. Consequently, the inner glove surface enables easy dry- and wet-donning of the glove, and the tacky inner cuff surface adheres to a fabric sleeve when the glove is donned over the end of the sleeve.

[0010] The present invention also provides a dipped and cured latex glove article made from a synthetic latex comprising nitrile, styrene-isoprene-styrene block co-polymer, chloroprene, or a combination of one or more of the foregoing. The inner glove surface and inner cuff surface are coated with synthetic polyisoprene, which is tacky. The inner glove surface is then coated with a non-tacky lubricious polymeric coating, whereas the inner cuff surface is not coated and is left tacky. The outer glove surface and the outer cuff surface are treated to minimize the tackiness of the dipped and cured latex state.

[0018] (vii) treating the surface of the latex glove article, which is not in contact with the former and which comprises a tacky integral glove region and a tacky cuff region, to minimize tackiness,

[0030] (viii) treating the surface of the latex glove article, which is not in contact with the former and which comprises a tacky integral glove region and a tacky cuff region, to minimize tackiness,

Problems solved by technology

When the glove is removed, the skin-generated moisture evaporates quickly, leaving the skin dry and prone to cracking and, consequently, susceptible to infection.

Moreover, allergic and other skin irritation reactions are common, due to the presence of naturally occurring offensive proteins in natural rubber latex, coagulants, and other processing chemical residues in the rubber glove.

If the user encounters difficulty in donning a glove, the user typically gives up trying to don the particular glove and selects a glove with superior donning, wasting time in the process.

Unfortunately, movement of the surgeon's hands during surgery generally results in gradually rolling down of the glove at the cuff, which is typically only held in place by the stretch of the latex.

The gradual rolling down of the glove results in exposure of the surgeon's skin around the wrist area, requiring immediate attention during surgery.

However, the outside surface of the glove should not be too smooth, as this would result in poor gripping properties, causing difficulty when holding / handling instruments, such as surgical instruments.

Otherwise, the gloves will pinch the hands.

Unfortunately, soft materials, such as natural rubber and polyisoprene, are inherently tacky and, therefore, require a surface treatment, such as chlorination, siliconization, or a polymer coating to circumvent the tackiness, thereby providing easy donning.