Method of selecting or identifying a surgical gown

Abstract

A method of selecting a gown for a surgical procedure is provided. The method includes the step of displaying a listing of surgical procedures and a plurality of gown identification marks at a first location. Another step involves correlating the surgical procedures to the gown identification marks. Additionally, another step involves choosing a gown from a location that is remote to the first location. The gown chosen is suited for the surgical procedure based upon indicia at the remote location that corresponds the gown to at least one of the gown identification marks or the surgical procedures.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of selecting a gown to be worn during a surgical procedure, comprising: 
 listing information pertaining to a plurality of surgical procedures in a first location;    depicting a plurality of gown identification marks in the first location, each gown identification mark corresponding to at least one of the surgical procedures;    providing a plurality of surgical gowns, the plurality being subdivided into groups wherein each group corresponds to at least one of the gown identification marks;    marking the individual gowns in each group with indicia, the indicia corresponding the gown to the gown identification mark of the group from which the gown is selected; and    selecting the gown to be worn during the procedure based upon any of the listing of information, the gown identification mark, and the indicia.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising depicting the gown identification marks at least partially pictorially.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising corresponding the procedures to the gown identification marks based upon expected fluid exposure of the procedure.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising depicting the information in chart form.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of gown identification marks comprises a group of at least three distinct marks comprising: 
 a first symbol corresponding to procedures having a first expected fluid exposure;    a second symbol corresponding to procedures having a second expected fluid exposure greater than the first expected fluid exposure; and    a third symbol corresponding to procedures having a third expected fluid exposure greater than the said second expected fluid exposure.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , comprising: 
 depicting the first symbol as a single droplet;    depicting the second symbol as two droplets; and    depicting the third symbol as three droplets.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising depicting each of the gown identification marks as a combination of words and at least one image.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising marking the gown with a gown size, a brand name, and a gown product code proximal to the indicia.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indicia is located on an inside surface of the gown.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising corresponding the procedures to low, moderate, and high levels of expected fluid exposure, wherein the low level of expected fluid exposure is less than about 100 ml of fluid, the moderate level of expected fluid exposure is between about 100 ml and about 300 ml of fluid, and the high level of expected fluid exposure is greater than about 300 ml of fluid.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising labeling a second location with the gown identification marks remote from the first location, wherein the second location corresponds to a storage area for the plurality of gowns.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising packaging the gown and labeling the package with the appropriate gown identification mark.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indicia is applied directly on the gown.  
     
     
         14 . A method of selecting a gown for a surgical procedure comprising: 
 displaying a listing of surgical procedures and a plurality of gown identification marks at a first location;    correlating the procedures to the marks; and    choosing a gown from a location remote to the first location suited for the procedure based upon indicia at the remote location corresponding the gown to at least one of the gown identification mark or surgical procedure.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising depicting the gown identification marks at least partially pictorially.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising corresponding the procedures to the gown identification marks based upon expected fluid exposure of the procedure.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , depicting the information in chart form.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of gown identification marks comprises a group of at least three distinct marks comprising: 
 a first symbol corresponding to procedures having a first expected exposure;    a second symbol corresponding to procedures having a second expected fluid exposure greater than the first expected fluid exposure; and    a third symbol corresponding to procedures having a third expected fluid exposure greater than the second expected fluid exposure.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising depicting at least one gown example corresponding to each different procedure at the first location.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising depicting each of the gown identification marks as a combination of words and at least one image.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising: 
 storing the gowns at the remote location; and    marking the indicia upon the gowns.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising marking the indicia on an inside surface of the gowns.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising corresponding the procedures to low, moderate, and high levels of expected fluid exposure, wherein the low level of expected fluid exposure is less than about 100 ml of fluid, the moderate level of expected fluid exposure is between about 100 ml and about 300 ml of fluid, and the high level of expected fluid exposure is greater than about 300 ml of fluid.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising packaging the gown and labeling the package with the appropriate gown identification mark.  
     
     
         25 . A method of identifying a gown, comprising: 
 providing information corresponding a plurality of procedures to a plurality of gown identification marks;    providing a surgical gown to be worn during a surgical procedure, the gown configured for use with at least one of the procedures; and    labeling the gown in a manner substantially similar to at least one of the plurality of gown identification marks.