Abstract: A protective guard is provided for sealing an interface. The protective guard includes a body having a fluid impervious material and proximal and distal segments that may comprise a superabsorbent or a non-superabsorbent material. The proximal and distal segments are positioned on first and second sides, respectively, of the interface. The protective guard extends about the interface to create a fluid barrier. In some embodiments, the non-superabsorbent material may be an elastic material, such as an elastic band, and in particular embodiments, the non-superabsorbent material may be nitrile. In further embodiments, the non-superabsorbent material may be an expandable material that expands upon contact or interaction with a fluid.

Abstract: Sterilization packaging systems with features for sealing a volume against an ingress of contaminants are provided. Such features include a sealing assembly including a gasket and a sheet of filter material. The sealing assembly seals a lid to a seal rim of a base. The gasket has an upper surface, outer edge, and inner edge. The upper surface of the gasket comprises a first row of alternating protrusions and indentations and a second row of alternating protrusions and indentations that define a channel therebetween. The sheet of filter material extends from an inner edge of the gasket. The gasket completely surrounds the sheet of filter material, wherein the indentations and channel facilitate delivery of a sterilization agent through the filter material. A sterilization assembly including a lid having a plurality of protrusions in its upper surface in conjunction with a gasket having a smooth upper surface is also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for sealing an interface are provided. For example, a protective guard is provided for sealing an interface. The protective guard comprises a body comprising a fluid impervious material and proximal and distal segments that may comprise a superabsorbent or a non-superabsorbent material. The proximal and distal segments are positioned on first and second sides, respectively, of the interface. The protective guard extends about the interface to create a fluid barrier. In some embodiments, the non-superabsorbent material may be an elastic material, such as an elastic band, and in particular embodiments, the non-superabsorbent material may be nitrile. In further embodiments, the non-superabsorbent material may be an expandable material that expands upon contact or interaction with a fluid.

Abstract: Sterilization packaging systems with features for sealing a volume against an ingress of contaminants are provided. Such features include a sealing assembly including a gasket and a sheet of filter material. The sealing assembly seals a lid to a seal rim of a base. The gasket has an upper surface, outer edge, and inner edge. The upper surface of the gasket comprises a first row of alternating protrusions and indentations and a second row of alternating protrusions and indentations that define a channel therebetween. The sheet of filter material extends from an inner edge of the gasket. The gasket completely surrounds the sheet of filter material, wherein the indentations and channel facilitate delivery of a sterilization agent through the filter material. A sterilization assembly including a lid having a plurality of protrusions in its upper surface in conjunction with a gasket having a smooth upper surface is also provided.

Abstract: Sterilization packaging systems with features for sealing a volume against an ingress of contaminants are provided. Such features include a sealing assembly including a gasket and a sheet of filter material. The sealing assembly seals a lid to a seal rim of a base. The gasket has an upper surface, outer edge, and inner edge. The upper surface of the gasket comprises a first row of alternating protrusions and indentations and a second row of alternating protrusions and indentations that define a channel therebetween. The sheet of filter material extends from an inner edge of the gasket. The gasket completely surrounds the sheet of filter material, wherein the indentations and channel facilitate delivery of a sterilization agent through the filter material. A sterilization assembly including a lid having a plurality of protrusions in its upper surface in conjunction with a gasket having a smooth upper surface is also provided.

Abstract: Sterilization packaging systems with features for sealing a volume against an ingress of contaminants are provided. Such features include a sealing assembly including a gasket and a sheet of filter material. The sealing assembly seals a lid to a seal rim of a base. The gasket has an upper surface, outer edge, and inner edge. The upper surface of the gasket comprises a first row of alternating protrusions and indentations and a second row of alternating protrusions and indentations that define a channel therebetween. The sheet of filter material extends from an inner edge of the gasket. The gasket completely surrounds the sheet of filter material, wherein the indentations and channel facilitate delivery of a sterilization agent through the filter material. A sterilization assembly including a lid having a plurality of protrusions in its upper surface in conjunction with a gasket having a smooth upper surface is also provided.

Abstract: A multi-layered face mask coated with discontinuous patterns of phase change material are incorporated into the face mask construction to provide for cooling of the microclimate in the dead space of the face mask. Optimized cooling is achieved by strategic placement of layers coated with a phase change material within the mask construction and the amount and density of the phase change material in contact with the temperature sensitive areas of the face, as well as areas experiencing the maximum amount of flux from exhaled breath. The shape of the mask can also be adjusted to increase skin contact with the phase change material and decrease dead space volume, which reduces the volume of warm exhaled air and can provide sufficient cooling with less phase change material. The discontinuous patterns of phase change material also provide inter-layer spacing between the layers of the mask, which can improve splash resistance.

Abstract: A multi-layered face mask coated with discontinuous patterns of phase change material are incorporated into the face mask construction to provide for cooling of the microclimate in the dead space of the face mask. Optimized cooling is achieved by strategic placement of layers coated with a phase change material within the mask construction and the amount and density of the phase change material in contact with the temperature sensitive areas of the face, as well as areas experiencing the maximum amount of flux from exhaled breath. The shape of the mask can also be adjusted to increase skin contact with the phase change material and decrease dead space volume, which reduces the volume of warm exhaled air and can provide sufficient cooling with less phase change material. The discontinuous patterns of phase change material also provide inter-layer spacing between the layers of the mask, which can improve splash resistance.