Staff & patient safety
Different levels of protections – from a basic level to an advanced level for high risk procedures
By: Mölnlycke Health Care, December 22 2011Posted in: Staff & patient safety
Varying demands of surgery create a need for different combinations of protection and comfort.
BARRIER® surgical gown material platform provide different levels of protection – from a basic level to an advanced level for high risk procedures, our material comply with EN 137951* and AAMI2** standards and provide high comfort levels – from lightweight to very soft and highly breathable material.
Beck and Colette found in 1952 that cotton which is non-impermeable will not prevent bacterial migration when the gown gets wet. It has also been established that it is the front and sleeves that are more likely to get wet and hence these areas are often reinforced so that they are impermeable.4
Our different material platform comprises four main materials:
PRIMARY - SMS
- Fluid repellent for adequate protection
- Nonwoven polypropylene fibres
- Spunbond for strength, meltblown for repellency
- Lightweight for added comfort
- Comply with EN 13795* Standard/High Performance
CLASSIC - Spunlace
- Fluid repellent spunlace for all types of surgeries
- Nonwoven pulp/polyester fibres
- Treated to provide increased repellency to low surface tension fluids, such as blood
- Soft and breathable for high comfort
- Comply with EN 13795* Standard/High Performance and AAMI** Level 2/AAMI Level 3
ULTIMATE - Soft SMS
- Highly fluid repellent material for advanced protection
- Nonwoven polypropylene fibres
- Spunbond for strength, increased meltblown for higher repellency
- Treated to provide increased repellency to low surface tension fluids, such as blood
- Very soft and breathable for ultimate comfort
- Comply with EN 13795* Standard/High Performance and AAMI** Level 3
FLUID PROTECTION PLUS (FPP) - 2 ply laminate
- Our highest protective material, impermeable to body fluids all over
- Microporous polyethylene film and polyester/polyethylene nonwoven comfort layer
- The micropores allow air and moisture to move from the body to the outside of the gown and the film protects against blood and fluid penetration, the comfort layer against the skin increase the comfort of the gown
- Ultra-light, breathable material for thermal comfort
- Comply with EN 13795* High Performance, AAMI** Level 3 and ASTM F16703
Click to download BARRIER Surgical gown material guide (pdf).
Please note local variations may occur.
Minimise the risk for strike through
All BARRIER high performing surgical gowns are reinforced in the critical zone, in front and in sleeves, to maximise the protection against contamination of the surgical wound. All our gowns comply with the requirements of the European Directive EN 137951 for high performing surgical gowns.
* European Directive EN 13795-3:2006: The European harmonized standard specifying requirements for single-use and reusable gowns, drapes and clean air suits used as medical devices for patients, clinical staff and equipment and intended to prevent the transmission of infective agents between patients and clinical staff during invasive surgical procedures.
** ANSI/AAMI PB-70:2003: Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation. AAMI is the US reference standard establishing a system of classification for protective apparel and drapes based on their liquid barrier performance and specifies related labelling requirements and standardised test methods.