Innovations in PPE: Advancements and What's Next

Innovations in PPE

Certain items like gloves and masks are very prevalent in certain healthcare settings, but there remain questions about how to manufacture and develop them with an eye toward comfort for everyone while continuing to hit the right marks safety-wise.

There are a couple of products Cardinal Health has been working on in this vein, and HPN was able to see them in-person at AORN25. The first is the Hydrogel Anti-Fog Surgical Mask. This mask appears at first to look just like the classic blue surgical mask seen in every operating room, but it contains a hydrogel strip that peels off to create a strong adhesive seal against the bridge of the wearer’s nose. It also reduces fogging for people who wear glasses.

We spoke to Brittany Julian, director of communications, Global Medical Products and Distribution at Cardinal, and Jennifer Nichols, BSN, BA, RN, clinical manager, OR, business and clinical optimization. They specifically called out the fact that this product was being asked for by healthcare workers, especially those who participate in lengthy, complex surgeries. The adhesion hydrogel in these masks is the same that is found in Cardinal’s neonatal electrodes. The mask “forms a moisture barrier across the bridge of the nose, helping reduce skin irritation and adhesive residue upon removal.” The hydrogel also “has an absorbative capacity to better manage sweat and exhaled moisture.”²

Marc Michaud, MD, an orthopedic surgeon in New Hampshire who has used the new hydrogel mask, stated, “When I do five or six surgeries a day, which I often do, my skin tends to get pretty torn up from other surgical masks. My glasses would get fogged up during surgeries, so I’d have to get a new mask, which means that I have to scrub in again before I return to the surgery. I’ve found that it’s hard to get a good fit with surgical masks, especially because I wear glasses. I don’t have that problem with [these masks].”

Kathy Tremblay, director of research and development at Cardinal, spoke on common concerns on the mask front. She said, "Clinicians often wear facial protection for long durations which can limit functionality and lead to mask movement, poor adhesion, moisture flow, residue and skin irritation. For lengthy, complex surgeries, clinicians want and need a mask that offers enhanced comfort, a snug fit and reduced moisture build-up or fogging.

“Surgeons require a clear field of view during patient procedures, which drove our development of a design that allows healthcare professionals to maintain comfortability and a clearer view during operative care.”

Cardinal has also developed a surgical glove that contains a material called Neu-Thera on the inside. Neu-Thera is a “moisturizing coating” placed on the inside of the gloves, which are referred to as “Protexis PI Blue” gloves. The coating moisturizes the skin of the wearer without compromising on safety, tactility, or durability. In addition, the gloves have a distinct blue color that “aids in alerting wearers to perforations in the outer glove.” The gloves are also made with synthetic polyisoprene as opposed to natural rubber latex, which obviously aids people with latex allergies or sensitivities.³

Annie Copeland, global marketing director for Cardinal’s PPE portfolio, spoke about another glove of theirs, the FLEXAL Nitrile Biodegradable Exam Glove, that has just been launched in the U.S. She said, “Our customers have expressed a major desire to have more sustainable options in high-use disposables like PPE, and specifically exam gloves, because these products are used in such great volume every day across the care continuum. The Covid-19 pandemic heightened awareness of the volume of PPE waste ending up landfills, which made biodegradable options more appealing to healthcare providers and suppliers.

“During the manufacturing process for these gloves, an organic additive is introduced to the product, a crucial step that differentiates a biodegradable glove from a standard nitrile glove. The organic additive and subsequent biodegradable process allows the glove to break down nearly 40% through the first year and nearly 75% through the second year in a landfill, while traditional gloves can take decades to biodegrade. The product also meets the same standards as traditional nitrile gloves, offering the same storage conditions and a three-year shelf life.

“In addition to the biodegradable nature of the product, the corrugate and dispenser cartons for the gloves are recyclable and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, the leader in sustainable forestry. Each carton of gloves is packed in alternating layers to dispense a single glove at a time, which helps reduce the number of wasted gloves compared to traditional packing methods.”

Speaking on PPE in general, Larissa Torkelson, RN, MSN, senior global medical advisor for Cardinal Health PPE, said, “Healthcare professionals work tirelessly to provide exceptional care to patients, and they do not pause to consider if their PPE will adequately protect them when moving quickly to immediately treat a patient. Clinicians expect to have effective PPE, and we appreciate the confidence they have in us to design and provide reliable solutions. It’s our responsibility to continue evolving and innovating a portfolio customers can trust.”

Women’s PPE

Isis Lamphier commented on the need for women’s PPE and increased awareness for PPE fitting different body types in general.

Lamphier said that women’s PPE “entails all specialized clothing and equipment to protect a woman’s body from harm, injury, and infection.” However, most PPE tends to be unisex. Lamphier explained that this is because PPE was “tested primarily on men in the 1990s. When it was designed, males were also predominately making up the workforce which is no longer the case.”

She also stated that PPE not fitting correctly can lead to harm: “Healthcare workers can have injuries or be exposed to blood and bodily fluid if PPE is not secure. Depending on the healthcare worker’s role, they may be wearing PPE for hours, so it is important it fits correctly.” The risk of injury impacts both productivity and, most importantly, safety. She says that the problem is not being addressed appropriately by and large. “PPE is primarily unisex. It is easier to only have small, medium, large, extra large, etc. in our society because these items are mass-produced and used by millions every day,” she stated. “This makes PPE available at a lower cost too.”

Generally, she identifies a need to have more PPE specifically designed for a woman’s body, “especially masks.” She also said it would be “more appropriate if the organization has more size options and availability for employees” in general for other types of PPE.