US20150327604A1

US20150327604A1 - Surgical gown with functional window

Info

Publication number: US20150327604A1
Application number: US14/277,126
Authority: US
Inventors: Patrick GOOI; Adrian GOOI; Kevin J. WARRIAN
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-05-14
Filing date: 2014-05-14
Publication date: 2015-11-19

Abstract

A surgical gown for protecting the wearer while maintaining the sterile field, and further offering the wearer the ability to directly access and interface with technological equipment being operated during a surgical procedure. The surgical gown comprising one or more functional windows positioned on the gown to allow the wearer to interface in a sterile manner with a device attached to the wearer underneath the gown, for example a device attached to the wearer's arm and/or chest. The windows disposed in the gown are sized and adapted to accommodate a variety of devices including cameras for POV filming and/or recording, as well as control displays for local or remotely located technological equipment.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Canadian Patent Application No. (to be assigned) filed 6 May 2014 which application is herein expressly incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of protective garments such as surgical gowns and, in particular, to surgical gowns having one or more functional windows configured to allow the wearer to access and control accessory equipment under sterile conditions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Creating and maintaining a sterile field is an essential component to reducing the risk of post-surgical infections in patients by decreasing the likelihood that infectious agents will invade the body during clinical procedures. A sterile field is an area created by placing sterile surgical drapes around the patient's surgical site and on the stand that will hold sterile instruments and other items needed during surgery. When a surgical team member has donned proper sterile surgical attire, such as a surgical gown, the surgical team member's sterile area is the only area that should come in contact with the sterile field. To maintain the sterile field, only sterile items should be placed within the sterile field and once a sterile object comes in contact with a non-sterile object, surface, or person, or with dust or other airborne particles, the object is no longer sterile and must be removed from the sterile field. Maintaining a sterile field is not an easy task as there are many opportunities for a breach in sterility during set-up and maintenance of the sterile area.
Technological advances in medical equipment has significantly changed the operating room environment. Medical equipment having a high level of technological complexity, introduced into the operating room, requires members of the surgical team to directly interface with these devices. This can be challenging in environments in which a sterile field must be maintained. Typically, a surgical team member may verbally direct a non-sterile member of the operating room team to control the equipment, or may use a sterile tool (such as a cotton swab) to directly push buttons on the surgical device. Alternatively, expensive voice activated equipment may be used to allow the sterile member to directly control the surgical equipment, for example Google Glass™. Overall, these methods tend to be costly, as well as imprecise, prone to error resulting from miscommunication or errors inherent to voice activated technology.
In addition to operating room conditions, persons of skill in the art will recognize other circumstances in which a sterile field may need to be maintained. In such circumstances, the need to maintain a sterile field can further restrict the ability of sterile members to operate equipment such as telecommunication devices (cell phones, tablets, computers) in order to access email and EMR charts, for example.
In addition to medical equipment, filming and recording devices are more frequently being found in operating rooms as filming and recording surgical procedures is now becoming more routine. Previously, such filming of surgical procedures was principally done for education within the hospital. Today, however, the need to film surgical procedures has expanded considerably. Cameras are used in operating rooms as a means of networking with the rest of the world. The camera has now become the vehicle by which surgeons can consult with each other during live procedures. For certain surgical procedures it is not uncommon for surgeons to consult with each other from different parts of the world during a case, commonly referred to as “telesurgery”. In teaching hospitals, clinical educators require interactive filming capabilities that can be controlled remotely from the classroom. Such procedures are either recorded for critique at a later date or simply observed “real time” for teaching. Surgeons routinely record procedures and edit the content for presentation at a conference. More surgical procedures are being recorded for future reference should the outcome of the surgery be questioned.
The ability of a surgeon to access and control such recording equipment without compromising the sterile field have been described. U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,442 describes a surgical theater system for mounting cameras, surgical lights, and monitors in the operating room. Such methods, however, do not provide a true “surgeon's view” of the surgical procedure, since the cameras are not necessarily facing the same direction as the surgeon.
Point of view (POV) cameras that can be mounted on head straps to provide a true “surgeon's view” during the operation have been developed. For example, International Patent Publication No. WO2009/063224 describes a headgear apparatus for mounting a camera on a surgeon's head. Despite the additional support provided by the described frame, the weight of the equipment, that in many cases must be held on the surgeon's head for long periods of time, places great stress on the neck and upper back leading to fatigue, headaches, stiff necks, muscular pain, and bruising. Eventually, there is the potential for prolapsed vertebrae to occur due to the surgeon supporting the weight of the head gear while looking down for extended periods of time into the surgical field. In addition, head movement during the surgical procedure can result in excessive camera shake and a poor surgical video.
The introduction of technologically sophisticated equipment in the operating room, and the demand for this equipment to be directly operable by surgical staff in a seamless and user-friendly fashion, while maintaining the sterile field, presents an ongoing need.
This background information is provided for the purpose of making known information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a surgical gown with one or more functional windows configured to allow the wearer to access and control accessory equipment under sterile conditions. In accordance with one aspect, there is described a surgical gown for protecting a wearer and maintaining a sterile field, comprising one or more flexible and transparent windows disposed in the gown to allow the wearer to directly interface in a sterile manner through the one or more windows with a device attached to the wearer underneath the gown.
In accordance with another aspect, there is described a surgical gown for protecting a wearer and maintaining a sterile field, the surgical gown comprising a pair of sleeves and one or more flexible and transparent windows disposed in one or both sleeves of the gown, whereby the wearer can view the device and directly interface with the device in a sterile manner through the one or more windows, the device being attached to the arm of the wearer underneath the gown.
In accordance with a further aspect, there is described a surgical gown for protecting a wearer and maintaining a sterile field, the surgical gown comprising a front body portion and a flexible and transparent window centrally disposed on the front body portion of the gown, the window sized to accommodate a camera, or video, or optical recording device attached to the wearer's chest, wherein the wearer can directly interface with the camera in a sterile manner to film or record a procedure through the window centrally disposed on the front body portion of the gown.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description in which reference is made to the appended drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a surgical gown with functional windows disposed in each sleeve of the gown, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a surgical gown with a functional window centrally disposed on the front body portion of the gown and adapted to accommodate a camera attached to the wearer's chest, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the surgical gown shown in FIG. 2 illustrating the window in an extended position, according to embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the window and the extendable sleeve shown in FIG. 3, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Protective garments, such as surgical gowns, designed to provide barrier protection are well known in the art. In the medical industry in particular, surgical gowns play a dual role of providing a protective barrier to the wearer as well as maintaining a sterile field to protect the patient from infection. Surgical gowns are made to cover the front and back torso and the arms of the wearer to protect the wearer from coming into contact with bodily fluids during surgical procedures such as blood, plasma, serum, and other liquids. Additionally, the surgical gowns are made sterile and are intended to prevent the possibility of infection being transmitted from the wearer to the patient. In this way, the surgical gown plays an integral part in maintaining the sterile field.
The surgical gown according to embodiments of the present disclosure provides the dual function of protecting the wearer while maintaining the sterile field, and further offers the wearer the ability to directly access and interface with technological equipment being operated during a surgical procedure. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the surgical gown comprises one or more functional windows positioned on the gown to allow the wearer to interface in a sterile manner with a device attached to the wearer underneath the gown. The surgical gown according to embodiments of the present disclosure provides the dual function of protecting the wearer while maintaining the sterile field, and further offers the wearer the ability to directly access and interface with technological equipment being operated during a surgical procedure. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the surgical gown comprises one or more functional windows positioned on the gown to allow the wearer to interface in a sterile manner with a device attached to the wearer underneath the gown. The functional window(s) is located on the gown to allow the wearer to easily view and actuate operation of the device, for example, by directly depressing control buttons or a touchscreen display, through the functional window(s). In this regard, the functional window(s) is positioned on the gown in locations that allow convenient and comfortable access by the wearer. For example, according to certain embodiments, the functional window(s) is located on the sleeve of the gown to allow the wearer direct access and/or control of a device that is attached to the wearer's arm directly underneath the functional window(s). According to such embodiments, the windows are positioned above the elbow area of the gown in order to maintain sterility therebelow after a surgeon has scrubbed their arms below the elbow, prior to donning the surgical gown. In this way, maintenance of the sterile field is ensured.
In other embodiments, the functional window(s) is located on the front body of the gown to allow the wearer direct access and/or control of a device that is attached to the wearer's chest directly underneath the functional window(s). In further embodiments, the surgical gown comprises multiple functional windows that can include one or more functional window(s) located on one or each sleeve and/or a functional window located on the front body of the gown. In this way, the wearer has access to multiple devices and/or control systems.
According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the functional window is transparent to allow clear visibility of the device and/or controls positioned underneath. The functional window is further flexible to allow tactile interfacing by the wearer thereby offering the wearer direct control over the connected device. According to certain embodiments, the functional window is made of a pliable or flexible material to allow the operation of physical buttons by the wearer. In other embodiments, the functional window is heat conductive to allow operation of a touchscreen display. In further embodiments, the window's transparency allows devices having biometric systems to be used. For example, retinal or iris identity verification and eye tracking technology for accessing and controlling the technological device that may be operational in combination with a holographic computer display on the users glasses, surgical scope, or loupes.
According to a further embodiment, the functional window is adapted to house a filming or recording device, such as a camera. In such embodiments, the functional window may be centrally located on the body of the gown approximately in the chest area of the wearer to allow the wearer to directly operate a camera attached to the wearer's chest underneath the functional window. By allowing the wearer to access and directly control a camera from the chest position a “surgeon's view” of a procedure is provided while avoiding the health hazards associated with known head mounted cameras. In addition to being more comfortable for the wearer, chest-mounting of a camera provides greater stability resulting in less movement of the camera and a better quality surgical recording. According to such embodiments, the functional window can be further adapted to be outwardly extendable in order to accommodate a variety of camera and lens positions. For example, the lens may be extendable to zoom in and out from the wearer's chest. In other embodiments, the camera may be mounted on an extendable mount attached to the wearer's chest.

DEFINITIONS

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.
As used herein, the term “disposable” describes articles that are not intended to be restored or reused and which are intended to be discarded after a single use.
As used herein, the term “camera” and “video recording device” are used interchangeably to refer to any electronic device that captures, films, records, and/or transmits pictures, videos, movies, films, photographs, or other visual images digitally, on film, or in any other form or medium.
As used herein, the term “about” refers to an approximately +/−10% variation from a given value. It is to be understood that such a variation is always included in any given value provided herein, whether or not it is specifically referred to.
Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described by reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, which show representations of the surgical gown according to the present disclosure.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a surgical gown 10 of the present disclosure is liquid impervious and includes a body 40 and sleeves 30. The surgical gown 10 comprises one or more flexible and transparent windows 20, 60 disposed in the gown 10 to allow the wearer to directly interface in a sterile manner through the windows 20, 60 with a device attached to the wearer underneath the gown 10. The surgical gown 10 of the present disclosure may comprise windows disposed anywhere in the gown 10 to allow the wearer to comfortably view and interface with the device without compromising the sterile field. For example, the windows may be disposed in the sleeves 30 of the gown 10 as shown in FIG. 1 and/or anywhere in the front portion 40 of the gown 10 such as the left or right side of the chest area or centrally located as shown in FIG. 2.
It should be appreciated that the type of fabric or material used for the surgical gown 10 is not a limiting factor of the invention. The surgical gown 10 may be made from a multitude of materials commonly used for surgical gowns. Moreover, although it is contemplated that the embodiments of the surgical gown 10 shown and described herein may be disposable, in particular embodiments, the surgical gown 10 is sterilizable, to facilitate re-use.
For example, materials that may be suitable for various embodiments of the surgical gown 10 include woven or non-woven laminates, barrier composites, and barrier fabrics including multilayer nonwoven laminates suitable for disposable use.
Windows 20, 60 may be fabricated from any one or more materials, which are substantially transparent and flexible, and capable of meeting the barrier performance standards required to maintain a sterile field. Examples of potentially suitable materials include polymeric (plastic) materials, e.g., thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers of high molecular weight and that can be made into sheets. In further embodiments, the windows 20, 60 comprise polymers such as polyethylene (PE), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), and combinations or mixtures thereof. According to certain embodiments, the windows 20, 60 are fabricated such that interfacing with a touchscreen display is not impaired by the windows 20, 60. According to certain embodiments, the materials are heat conductive for example to facilitate interaction with a touchscreen display through the windows 20, 60. In further embodiments, the materials are sufficiently transparent to allow devices having biometric systems to be used. For example, biometric systems such as retinal or iris identity verification and eye tracking technology for accessing and controlling the technological device that may be operational in combination with a holographic computer display on the users glasses, surgical scope, or loupes.
As mentioned above, in certain embodiments, the windows 20, 60 are fabricated from a material that is capable of being sterilized by sterilization techniques commonly used in hospitals and other medical facilities. Examples of sterilization techniques usable with the various embodiments discussed herein, include high temperature steam, gas sterilization including those using Ethylene Oxide (EtO) gas, formaldehyde gas, or ozone gas, dry heat, microwaves, hydrogen peroxide plasma, ionizing radiation, and various chemical solutions known in the art.
Windows 20, 60 are disposed in the surgical gown 10 in a secure manner with a seal that meets or exceeds the barrier performance standards required to maintain the sterile field.
For example, a suitable seal may be provided by heat fusion, ultrasonic welding, chemical adhesives, and/or combinations thereof, depending on the particular materials used for the surgical gown 10 and windows 20, 60.
Sterile Interface—Arm-Attached Device and/or Controls
According to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 1, one or more windows 20 is disposed in one or both sleeves 30 of the gown 10, whereby the wearer can view the device and directly interface with the device through the one or more windows 20. In such embodiments, the device is attached to the wearer's arm underneath the gown 10 and positioned such that the device is accessible through the window 20.
The dimensions of the windows will depend on where in the surgical gown 10 the windows are located. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, for example, where one or more windows 20 are disposed in the sleeve 30 of the surgical gown 10, the windows 20 are sized to allow an unobstructed view by the wearer of a device that can be attached to the arm of the wearer underneath the surgical gown 10. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, one or both sleeves 30 may comprise one or more windows 20 of varying sizes to accommodate a range of devices. In certain embodiments, the device is the technological equipment itself sized such that it can be attached to the arm of the wearer. In other embodiments, the device is a control display for technological equipment that is remotely located, the control display being sized for attachment to the arm of the wearer. In this way, the wearer can directly control the remotely located equipment, for example, in a sterile manner and thereby avoid compromising the sterile field. In such embodiments, the controls are positioned directly underneath the one or more windows disposed in the sleeve. The controls can comprise buttons that can be physically actuated by the wearer through the windows which are transparent and flexible to allow tactile control therethrough. Alternatively, the controls can comprise a touchscreen display that is responsive to the wearer through the window. In other embodiments, the window's transparency will allow devices worn by the wearer to use retinal or iris identity verification and eye tracking technology for access and control of technological devices.
According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the size of the window 20 can vary up to the size allowed by the sleeve 30. It is contemplated that in certain embodiments, the entire sleeve 30 or a substantial part of the sleeve 30 can form the window 20. The dimensions of the window 20, according to embodiments, can range in size to provide a viewing area ranging from about 5 cm to about 30 cm in length, and about 5 cm to about 15 cm in width. In other embodiments, the window 20 is sized to provide a viewing area ranging from about 10 cm to about 20 cm in length, and about 7 cm to about 10 cm in width. In further embodiments, the window 20 is sized to provide a viewing area ranging from about 15 cm to about 30 cm in length, and about 10 cm to about 15 cm in width.
Moreover, while in the embodiments shown, window 20 is generally rectangular, the skilled artisan should recognize that the window 20 may be of substantially any convenient size and shape, including circular, oval, trapezoidal, and/or other polygonal or ovoid shapes, etc., suitable for enabling a wearer to view and directly interface with a device attached to the wearer's arm underneath the surgical gown 10 and beneath the window 20. Still further, the window 20 may be a single window 20, as shown disposed in each sleeve 30, or by a series of smaller windows 20 disposed in spaced relation to one another, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
It is contemplated that windows 20 similar to the embodiments shown in FIG. 1, can be disposed in the front body portion 40 of the surgical gown 10 to allow the wearer to access and interface with a device attached to the wearer's chest for example. Such embodiments would be appropriate to access devices which may require a larger viewing area than what is available through a window 20 disposed in the sleeve 30 of the gown 10. According to such embodiments, the windows can be sized to provide a viewing area that can vary up to the size allowed by the frontal body portion 40 of the gown 10. For example, the dimensions of the window, according to such embodiments, can range in size to provide a viewing area ranging from about 5 cm to about 40 cm in length, and about 5 cm to about 35 cm in width. In other embodiments, the window is sized to provide a viewing area ranging from about 10 cm to about 30 cm in length, and about 15 cm to about 25 cm in width. In further embodiments, the window is sized to provide a viewing area ranging from about 15 cm to about 25 cm in length, and about 15 cm to about 25 cm in width.
It is further contemplated that surgical gowns 10 of the present disclosure can comprise any combination of windows disposed in the sleeves 30 and/or the frontal body portion 40.

POV Recording—Chest-Mounted Sterile Interface

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, particular embodiments of the present disclosure can be adapted to accommodate devices of varying size and function. As shown, the window 60 can be adapted to accommodate such specialized technological equipment as a camera 70 to allow the wearer to photograph, film and/or record procedures from the wearer's point of view (POV). In such embodiments, the camera 70 is centrally disposed in the front body portion 40 of the surgical gown 10 to allow the wearer to directly interface in a sterile manner through the window 60 with the camera 70 attached to the wearer's chest underneath the gown. By allowing the wearer to access and directly control a camera 70 from the chest position, a “surgeon's view” of a procedure is provided while avoiding the health hazards associated with head mounted cameras, for example, known in the art. In addition to being more comfortable for the wearer, chest-mounting of the camera 70 provides greater stability resulting in less movement of the camera 70 and a better quality surgical recording.
The window 60, in such embodiments, is of an ultra-clear optical quality to avoid compromising the quality of the photos, filming and/or recording taken through the window 60. A variety of known optically clear materials are known in the art and can include polymeric (plastic) materials, e.g., thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers. In further embodiments, the windows 20, 60 comprise polymers such as polyethylene (PE), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), and combinations or mixtures thereof. One such commercially known material includes Lenzflex™.
According to further embodiments, the window 60 can be further adapted to be outwardly extendable to varying distances away from the wearer's chest in order to accommodate a variety of camera and lens positions. For example, the lens may be extendable to zoom in and out from the wearer's chest. In other embodiments, the camera 70 may be mounted on an extendable mount attached to the wearer's chest underneath the surgical gown 10. As more clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the window 60 in such embodiments includes an extendable sleeve 50 which enables the window 60 to be outwardly extended. The extendable sleeve 50, for example, may have side edges that have expandable bellows or folds to allow the window 60 to collapse substantially flush against the wearer's chest or to outwardly extend away from the wearer's chest as desired. The extendable sleeve 50 can be fabricated from a flexible and transparent material to further allow the camera to be viewed and directly accessed without compromising the sterile field. In this way, the camera 70 and/or camera controls can be viewed and directly actuated by the wearer through the extendable sleeve 50 or the window 60. Examples of potentially suitable materials that can be used for fabricating the extendable sleeve 50 include polymeric (plastic) materials, e.g., thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers of high molecular weight and that can be made into sheets. In further embodiments, the windows 20, 60 comprise polymers such as polyethylene (PE), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), and combinations or mixtures thereof.
The window 60 can further be adapted with securing means for holding the camera in place. Substantially any type of releasable fasteners may be used, including mechanical and chemical fasteners such as mechanical snaps, ties, and/or adhesives. In particular embodiments, the releasable fasteners 80 include conventional hook and loop fasteners, e.g., VELCRO™ fasteners (Velcro Industries B.V.).
It should be appreciated that, although the present invention has particular usefulness as a surgical gown, the invention is not limited in scope to surgical gowns or the medical industry. The protective garment according to the present invention has wide application and can be used in any instance wherein a protective coverall, gown, robe, etc., is used. All such uses and garments are contemplated within the scope of the invention.
It is contemplated that any embodiment discussed herein can be implemented with respect to any method or composition of the invention, and vice versa. Furthermore, compositions and kits of the invention can be used to achieve methods of the invention.
The disclosures of all patents, patent applications, publications and database entries referenced in this specification are hereby specifically incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each such individual patent, patent application, publication and database entry were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments, various modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All such modifications as would be apparent to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A surgical gown for protecting a wearer and maintaining a sterile field, comprising one or more flexible and transparent windows disposed in the gown to allow the wearer to directly interface in a sterile manner through the one or more windows with a device attached to the wearer underneath the gown.

2. The surgical gown according to claim 1, wherein the surgical gown comprises a pair of sleeves and the one or more windows is disposed in one or both sleeves of the gown, whereby the wearer can view the device and directly interface with the device through the one or more windows, the device being attached to the arm of the wearer underneath the gown.

3. The surgical gown according to claim 2, wherein the device comprises controls that are positioned directly underneath the one or more windows disposed in the sleeve.

4. The surgical gown according to claim 3, wherein the controls comprise buttons that are actuated by the wearer through the one or more windows.

5. The surgical gown according to claim 3, wherein the controls comprise a touchscreen display that is actuated by the wearer through the one or more windows.

6. The surgical gown according to claim 3, wherein the controls comprise a biometric system that is responsive to the wearer through the one or more windows.

7. The surgical gown according to claim 1, wherein the surgical gown comprises a front body portion and a window centrally disposed on the front body portion of the gown to allow the wearer to directly interface in a sterile manner through the window centrally disposed on the front body portion of the gown with a device attached to the wearer's chest underneath the gown.

8. The surgical gown according to claim 7, wherein the window is sized to accommodate a camera attached to the wearer's chest.

9. The surgical gown according to claim 8, wherein the window comprises an optically-clear material to allow a clear view through the window for filming and/or recording therethrough.

10. The surgical gown according to claim 9, wherein the optically-clear material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene (PE), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), and combinations thereof.

11. The surgical gown according to claim 8, wherein the window further comprises an extendable sleeve wherein the flexible and transparent window can be outwardly extended to varying distances away from the wearer's chest to accommodate a variety of camera and lens positions.

12. The surgical gown according to claim 11, wherein the camera comprises controls that can be viewed and directly actuated by the wearer through the extendable sleeve or the window.

13. The surgical gown according to claim 7, further comprising one or more windows disposed on one or both sleeves of the gown, whereby the wearer can view an additional device and directly interface with the additional device through the one or more windows, the additional device being attached to the arm of the wearer underneath the gown.

14. The surgical gown according to claim 1, wherein the gown and window are impermeable to fluids.

15. The surgical gown according to claim 1, wherein the gown is for disposable use.

16. The surgical gown according to claim 1, wherein the window is fabricated from a sterilizable polymeric material.

17. The surgical gown according to claim 16, wherein the material comprises a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer.

18. The surgical gown according to claim 17, wherein the polymer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene (PE), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), and combinations thereof.

19. The surgical gown according to claim 1, wherein the window is heat conductive to allow the wearer to directly interface with a touchscreen display on the device.

20. A surgical gown for protecting a wearer and maintaining a sterile field, the surgical gown comprising a pair of sleeves and one or more flexible and transparent windows disposed in one or both sleeves of the gown, whereby the wearer can view the device and directly interface with the device in a sterile manner through the one or more windows, the device being attached to the arm of the wearer underneath the gown.

21. The surgical gown according to claim 20, wherein the device comprises controls that are positioned directly underneath the one or more windows disposed in the sleeve.

22. The surgical gown according to claim 21, wherein the controls comprise buttons that are actuated by the wearer through the one or more windows.

23. The surgical gown according to claim 21, wherein the controls comprise a touchscreen display that is actuated by the wearer through the one or more windows.

24. The surgical gown according to claim 23, wherein the window is heat conductive to allow the wearer to directly interface with the touchscreen display.

25. The surgical gown according to claim 21, wherein the controls comprise a biometric system that is responsive to the wearer through the one or more windows.

26. A surgical gown for protecting a wearer and maintaining a sterile field, the surgical gown comprising a front body portion and a flexible and transparent window centrally disposed on the front body portion of the gown, the window sized to accommodate a camera attached to the wearer's chest, wherein the wearer can directly interface with the camera in a sterile manner to film or record a procedure through the window centrally disposed on the front body portion of the gown.

27. The surgical gown according to claim 26, wherein the window comprises an optically-clear material to allow a clear view through the window for filming and/or recording therethrough.

28. The surgical gown according to claim 27, wherein the optically-clear material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene (PE), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), and combinations thereof.

29. The surgical gown according to claim 26, wherein the window further comprises an extendable sleeve wherein the flexible and transparent window can be outwardly extended to varying distances away from the wearer's chest to accommodate a variety of camera and lens positions.

30. The surgical gown according to claim 29, wherein the camera comprises controls that can be viewed and directly actuated by the wearer through the extendable sleeve or the window.

31. The surgical gown according to claim 26, further comprising one or more windows disposed on one or both sleeves of the gown, whereby the wearer can view an additional device and directly interface with the additional device through the one or more windows, the additional device being attached to the arm of the wearer underneath the gown.

32. The surgical gown according to claim 31, wherein the additional device comprises controls that are positioned directly underneath the one or more windows disposed in the sleeve.