Kimberly-Clark Health Care, soon to be Halyard Health, has announced the availability of Aero Blue Performance Surgical Gown. This soft, lightweight gown is four times more protective than other comparable surgical gowns and provides users with unsurpassed comfort.

Aero Blue features a proprietary fabric with innovative Core technology that delivers the highest fluid protection available in a Level 3 surgical gown as defined by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). The AAMI standards aid in the selection of appropriate protective apparel to keep healthcare workers and their patients safe from fluid exposure.

Bodily fluids and microorganisms can be dangerous sources of contamination in the operating room, putting surgical staff and patients at risk for bacterial and viral transmission. Surgical attire that is resistant to penetration by blood and other fluids can help minimize risk of infection by preventing exposure.

“Surgical gowns provide a critical level of safety in the OR, but clinicians often feel they must sacrifice comfort for protection,” says Alex Hodges, general manager, Surgical & Infection Prevention, Kimberly-Clark Health Care. “That’s why Kimberly-Clark is excited to introduce Aero Blue Performance Gowns. With much higher fluid protection and unmatched comfort, Aero Blue represents a significant innovation in perioperative protection.”

Aero Blue’s new performance fabric has a protective inner core that prevents fluid penetration—even under extreme high-pressure testing—while allowing moisture vapor to pass through the gown. Additionally, a highly breathable back panel maximizes air flow for cool comfort. The fabric’s copolymer technology provides softness and a flexible fit, giving wearers full range of motion. Aero Blue also provides greater resistance to linting and abrasion than other leading surgical gowns.

In head-to-head fluid resistance tests with other competitive single-use surgical gowns currently available, Aero Blue delivered four times greater fluid protection than other non-reinforced gowns in the AAMI Level 3 category, and two times greater protection than fabric-reinforced gowns.

Aero Blue is one of many new innovations in the pipeline at Kimberly-Clark Health Care, which later this year will become Halyard Health, an independent medical technology company focused on preventing infection, eliminating pain and speeding recovery, according to executives.