Surgical towels with reduced lint particle generation

Abstract

Absorbent surgical towels with reduced lint particle generation are provided. The surgical towels are formed from fibrous substrates containing binder material that limits lint particle generation to 5,000 or less according to INDA standard test 160.1. The binder material can limit lint particle generation to 500 or less.

1 . A surgical towel, comprising an absorbent fibrous substrate having lint particle generation of 5,000 or less according to INDA standard test 160.1. 
     
     
         2 . The towel of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous substrate is finished with a binder, and wherein the binder comprises about 0.5% to about 50% by weight of the fibrous substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The towel of  claim 2 , wherein the binder comprises a colorant. 
     
     
         4 . The towel of  claim 2 , wherein the fibrous substrate comprises a dry, wet, and solvent crockfastness value of at least a 3 according to AATCC Standard Test Method 8. 
     
     
         5 . The towel of  claim 2 , wherein the fibrous substrate is subjected to one or more of the following to increase aesthetics and handle: embossing, creping, mechanically softening, crushing, calendaring, ring rolling, and stretching. 
     
     
         6 . The towel of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous substrate comprises binder fibers, and wherein the binder fibers comprise about 0.5% to about 50% by weight of the fibrous substrate. 
     
     
         7 . The towel of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous substrate comprises binder powder, and wherein the binder powder comprises about 0.5% to about 50% by weight of the fibrous substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The towel of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous substrate has a lint particle generation of 2,500 or less according to INDA standard test 160.1. 
     
     
         9 . The towel of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous substrate has a lint particle generation of 1,000 or less according to INDA standard test 160.1. 
     
     
         10 . The towel of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous substrate has a lint particle generation of 500 or less according to INDA standard test 160.1. 
     
     
         11 . The towel of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous substrate comprises a nonwoven fabric. 
     
     
         12 . The towel of  claim 11 , wherein the nonwoven fabric is selected from the group consisting of: spunlaced nonwovens, needlepunched nonwovens, carded thermal bonded nonwovens, wet laid nonwovens, spunmelt nonwovens. 
     
     
         13 . The towel of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous substrate comprises a laminate of at least two separate nonwoven layers. 
     
     
         14 . The towel of  claim 13 , wherein the at least two separate nonwoven layers are adhesively bonded together. 
     
     
         15 . The towel of  claim 13 , wherein the at least two separate nonwoven layers are thermally bonded together. 
     
     
         16 . The towel of  claim 13 , wherein the at least two separate nonwoven layers are ultrasonically bonded together. 
     
     
         17 . The towel of  claim 13 , wherein the at least two separate nonwoven layers are joined together via needling, stitching, or spunlacing. 
     
     
         18 . The towel of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous substrate comprises a knifted fabric. 
     
     
         19 . The towel of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous substrate comprises a woven fabric. 
     
     
         20 . The towel of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous substrate comprises hydrophobic fibers treated with hydrophilic material. 
     
     
         21 . The towel of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous substrate comprises cellulosic fiber selected from the group consisting of rayon, lyocell, Tencel, wood pulp, and cotton. 
     
     
         22 . A surgical towel, comprising an absorbent fibrous substrate having binder material that limits lint particle generation to 5,000 or less according to INDA standard test 160.1, wherein the binder material comprises about 0.5% to about 50% by weight of the fibrous substrate, and wherein the towel has a weight of less than about 10 ounces per square yard, and an absorbent capacity of greater than about 250%. 
     
     
         23 . The towel of  claim 22 , wherein the towel has a thickness of between about 0.010 inch and 0.30 inch. 
     
     
         24 . The towel of  claim 22 , wherein the binder material is selected from the group consisting of binder fibers and binder powder. 
     
     
         25 . The towel of  claim 22 , wherein the fibrous substrate has a lint particle generation of 2,500 or less according to INDA standard test 160.1. 
     
     
         26 . The towel of  claim 22 , wherein the fibrous substrate has a lint particle generation of 1,000 or less according to INDA standard test 160.1. 
     
     
         27 . The towel of  claim 22 , wherein the fibrous substrate has a lint particle generation of 500 or less according to INDA standard test 160.1. 
     
     
         28 . The towel of  claim 22 , wherein the fibrous substrate comprises a nonwoven fabric. 
     
     
         29 . The towel of  claim 22 , wherein the fibrous substrate comprises a laminate of at least two separate nonwoven layers. 
     
     
         30 . The towel of  claim 22 , wherein the fibrous substrate comprises a knitted fabric. 
     
     
         31 . The towel of  claim 22 , wherein the fibrous substrate comprises a woven fabric. 
     
     
         32 . A surgical towel, comprising an absorbent fibrous substrate having binder material that limits lint particle generation to 5,000 or less according to INDA standard test 160.1, wherein the binder material comprises about 0.5% to about 50% by weight of the fibrous substrate, and wherein the towel has a weight of less than about 10 ounces per square yard, and a thickness of between about 0.010 inch and 0.30 inch.