Abstract: A personal protection system including a surgical garment that may be mounted to a helmet including an electrically powered assembly, such as a fan. The garment includes a shell adapted for being disposed over the helmet of the personal protection system. The garment also includes a transparent face shield coupled to the shell and an indicia, the indicia being an optically perceivable marking on the garment. The garment may also include a memory, the memory for storing data for regulating the operation of the electrically powered assembly mounted to the helmet. The helmet may also include a sensor for detecting the indicia to selectively allow the actuation of the electrically powered assembly based on the presence or absence of the indicia being positioned adjacent the sensor.

Abstract: A personal protection system including a surgical garment that may be mounted to a helmet including an electrically powered assembly, such as a fan. The garment includes a shell adapted for being disposed over the helmet of the personal protection system. The garment also includes a transparent face shield coupled to the shell and positioned so that, when the garment is disposed over the helmet, the face shield is located in front of the face of the individual. The garment may includes two fastening features spaced apart from one another for releasably securing the shell to the helmet and a conductor that extends between the two fastening features.

Abstract: A personal protection system including a surgical garment that may be mounted to a helmet including an electrically powered assembly, such as a fan. The garment includes a shell adapted for being disposed over the helmet of the personal protection system. The garment also includes a transparent face shield coupled to the shell and positioned so that, when the garment is disposed over the helmet, the face shield is located in front of the face of the individual. The garment may includes two fastening features spaced apart from one another for releasably securing the shell to the helmet and a conductor that extends between the two fastening features.

Abstract: A personal protection system including a helmet worn on the head of a user and a hood removably coupled to the helmet. The hood may comprise a shell, a transparent face shield, and a mounting element configured to removably couple the hood to the helmet. The transparent shield may comprise a first lens and a second lens. The first lens may be coupled to the shell, and the second lens may be coupled to the first lens. The second lens may be coupled to the first lens by one of an adhesive, heat staking or ultra-sonic welding. The hood may also comprise a mounting element configured to center the transparent face shield relative to a light assembly coupled to the helmet such that the light emitted from the light assembly passes through a u-shaped opening or slot defined by the second lens.

Abstract: A personal protection system including a helmet worn on the head of a user and a hood removably coupled to the helmet. The helmet may comprise a ventilation assembly, a chin bar and a control circuit. The chin bar may comprise a mounting device and a hall effect sensor mounted adjacent the mounting device. The hall effect sensor may be in communication with the control circuit. The hood may comprise a transparent face shield and a mounting element configured to removably couple with the mounting device of the helmet. The control circuit may be configured to receive a signal from said hall effect sensor indicating the coupling of said mounting element of said hood with said mounting device of said helmet.

Abstract: A specimen collection cassette for a medical fluid collection system. A housing defines a first void space and a second void space, and an outlet opening in fluid communication with the first and second void spaces. An aperture may be within a wall separating the first and second void spaces with the aperture providing fluid communication between the first and second void spaces. First and second fittings receive a suction line for drawing fluid into the first and second void spaces, respectively. A fluid communication path is established from the first fitting to the outlet opening through the first void space, aperture, and the second void space, and a bypass fluid communication path is established from the second bore to the outlet opening through the second void space. The cassette is operable in one or both of a tissue sample collection mode and a bypass mode.

Abstract: A personal protection system that includes a headband (52) to which a face shield (38) is mounted. A cooling strip (120) is mounted to the headband. The cooling strip includes at least one thermoelectric cooling module (150). A draw strip (128) formed from a flexible thermally conductive material is also part of the cooling strip. The draw strip is bonded to the heat absorbing surface (152) of the thermoelectric cooling module and extends outwardly from the module. A biasing assembly (134, 186) urges the portions of the draw strip spaced from the thermoelectric cooling module against the skin of the individual wearing the personal protection system.

Abstract: A personal protection system including a helmet worn on the head of a user and a hood removably coupled to the helmet. The helmet may comprise a ventilation assembly, a chin bar and a control circuit. The chin bar may comprise a mounting device and a hall effect sensor mounted adjacent the mounting device. The hall effect sensor may be in communication with the control circuit. The hood may comprise a transparent face shield and a mounting element configured to removably couple with the mounting device of the helmet. The control circuit may be configured to receive a signal from said hall effect sensor indicating the coupling of said mounting element of said hood with said mounting device of said helmet.

Abstract: A personal protection system including a support (100) worn around the head and a hood (400) worn over the head and the support. A ventilation unit (150) attached to the support draws air into the hood. Ultraviolet lights (360) direct light into the air stream drawn into the hood. The light renders microorganisms in the air stream innocuous.

Abstract: A personal protection system for providing a sterile barrier around medical/surgical personnel. The system includes a helmet over which a hood or a toga suspended. A microphone, an amplifier and a speaker are mounted to the helmet. Speech of the individual wearing the personal protection system is picked up by the microphone and amplified speech is broadcast by the speaker. The speaker is outwardly directed so as to broadcast the speech out through the hood or toga covering the helmet.

Abstract: A personal protection system that includes a headband (52) to which a face shield (38) is mounted. A cooling strip (120) is mounted to the headband. The cooling strip includes at least one thermoelectric cooling module (150). A draw strip (128) formed from a flexible thermally conductive material is also part of the cooling strip. The draw strip is bonded to the heat absorbing surface (152) of the thermoelectric cooling module and extends outwardly from the module. A biasing assembly (134, 186) urges the portions of the draw strip spaced from the thermoelectric cooling module against the skin of the individual wearing the personal protection system.

Abstract: A specimen collection cassette for a medical fluid collection system. A housing defines a first void space and a second void space, and an outlet opening in fluid communication with the first and second void spaces. An aperture may be within a wall separating the first and second void spaces with the aperture providing fluid communication between the first and second void spaces. First and second fittings receive a suction line for drawing fluid into the first and second void spaces, respectively. A fluid communication path is established from the first fitting to the outlet opening through the first void space, aperture, and the second void space, and a bypass fluid communication path is established from the second bore to the outlet opening through the second void space. The cassette is operable in one or both of a tissue sample collection mode and a bypass mode.

Abstract: A cassette (2600) for use with a medical waste collection system (30). The cassette includes a housing (2602, 2612) shaped to be removably attached to a receptacle (1699) integral with the housing. A sleeve (2640) is attached to the cassette so as to be located forward of the housing. The sleeve is formed with a void space. A fitting (2664) for collection to a suction line is attached to the sleeve. A screen (2714) is removably fitted in the sleeve void space. The screen is fitted in the sleeve void space when it is desirable to catch tissue that may be entrained in the fluid stream from the suction line.

Abstract: A personal protection system for providing a sterile barrier around medical/surgical personnel. The system includes a helmet over which a hood or a toga suspended. A microphone, an amplifier and a speaker are mounted to the helmet. Speech of the individual wearing the personal protection system is picked up by the microphone and amplified speech is broadcast by the speaker. The speaker is outwardly directed so as to broadcast the speech out through the hood or toga covering the helmet.

Abstract: A personal protection system for providing a sterile barrier around medical/surgical personnel. The system includes a helmet over which a hood or a toga suspended. A microphone, an amplifier and a speaker are mounted to the helmet. Speech of the individual wearing the personal protection system is picked up by the microphone and amplified speech is broadcast by the speaker. The speaker is outwardly directed so as to broadcast the speech out through the hood or toga covering the helmet.

Abstract: A personal protection system for providing a sterile barrier around medical/surgical personnel. The system includes a helmet over which a hood or a toga suspended. A microphone, an amplifier and a speaker are mounted to the helmet. Speech of the individual wearing the personal protection system is picked up by the microphone and amplified speech is broadcast by the speaker. The speaker is outwardly directed so as to broadcast the speech out through the hood or toga covering the helmet.

Abstract: A personal protection system including a support (100) worn around the head and a hood (400) worn over the head and the support. A ventilation unit (150) attached to the support draws air into the hood. Ultraviolet lights (360) direct light into the air stream drawn into the hood. The light renders microorganisms in the air stream innocuous.

Abstract: A personal protection system for providing a sterile barrier around medical/surgical personnel. The system includes a helmet over which a hood or a toga suspended. The helmet has a chin bar that extends forward of the face of the individual wearing the system. At least one manually actuated control for regulating one aspect of operation of the system is mounted to the chin bar. Sometimes the control is a button that is depressed to control the operation of a helmet mounted fan that draws air into the hood or toga. A microphone may also be mounted to the chin bar.

Abstract: A personal protection system for providing a sterile barrier around medical/surgical personnel. The system includes a helmet over which a hood or a toga suspended. The helmet has a chin bar that extends forward of the face of the individual wearing the system. At least one manually actuated control for regulating one aspect of operation of the system is mounted to the chin bar. Sometimes the control is a button that is depressed to control the operation of a helmet moutned fan that draws air into the hood or toga. A microphone may also be mounted to the chin bar.

Abstract: A cassette (2600) for use with a medical waste collection system (30). The cassette includes a housing (2602, 2612) shaped to be removably attached to a receptacle (1699) integral with the housing. A sleeve (2640) is attached to the cassette so as to be located forward of the housing. The sleeve is formed with a void space. A fitting (2664) for collection to a suction line is attached to the sleeve. A screen (2714) is removably fitted in the sleeve void space. The screen is fitted in the sleeve void space when it is desirable to catch tissue that may be entrained in the fluid stream from the suction line.