Apparatus, systems, and methods for sealing an interface
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.
1. A protective guard for sealing an interface, the protective guard comprising:
a body comprising a fluid impervious material, wherein the fluid impervious material of the body comprises an outer surface having a first raised pattern, the body further comprising a body segment comprising an absorbent material;
a proximal segment; and
a distal segment,
wherein at least one of the proximal segment and the distal segment comprises a first superabsorbent material, and wherein the absorbent material of the body segment comprises a second superabsorbent material,
wherein the proximal segment is configured to be positioned on a first side of the interface and the distal segment is configured to be positioned on a second side of the interface,
wherein the protective guard is configured to extend about the interface to create a fluid barrier, and
wherein at least one of the proximal segment and the distal segment comprises an adhesive configured to form a seal, wherein the adhesive is a superabsorbent adhesive configured to polymerize when the superabsorbent adhesive comes into contact with water, and
wherein first superabsorbent material is configured to absorb fluid at a different fluid absorption rate than the second superabsorbent material.
2. The protective guard of claim 1 , wherein the fluid impervious material is hydrophobic.
3. The protective guard of claim 1 , wherein the fluid impervious material has elasticity.
4. The protective guard of claim 1 , wherein the fluid impervious material is nitrile.
5. The protective guard of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the proximal segment and the distal segment comprises an outer surface having a second raised pattern.
6. The protective guard of claim 5 , wherein the raised pattern comprises vertical striations.
7. The protective guard of claim 5 , wherein the raised pattern comprises a honeycomb pattern.
8. The protective guard of claim 5 , wherein the raised pattern comprises cross-hatching.
9. The protective guard of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the proximal segment and the distal segment comprises an inner surface having an inner surface raised pattern.
10. The protective guard of claim 9 , wherein the raised pattern of the inner surface comprises pyramidal shaped nubs.
11. The protective guard of claim 9 , wherein the raised pattern of the inner surface comprises X shaped nubs.
12. The protective guard of claim 1 , wherein the proximal segment is configured to be positioned at a user's hand.
13. The protective guard of claim 1 , wherein the proximal segment comprises an elastic material.
14. The protective guard of claim 1 , wherein the distal segment comprises nitrile.
15. The protective guard of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the proximal segment and the distal segment further comprises a non-superabsorbent material that expands upon contact with a fluid.
16. A protective guard for sealing an interface, the protective guard comprising:
a body comprising a fluid impervious material, the body further comprising a body segment, wherein the fluid impervious material of the body comprises an outer surface having a raised pattern;
a proximal segment comprising an elastic material; and
a distal segment comprising nitrile,
wherein the proximal segment is configured to be positioned on a first side of the interface and the distal segment is configured to be positioned on a second side of the interface,
wherein the protective guard is configured to extend about the interface to create a fluid barrier,
wherein at least one of the proximal segment and the distal segment comprises an adhesive configured to form a seal, wherein the adhesive is a superabsorbent adhesive configured to polymerize when the superabsorbent adhesive comes into contact with water,
wherein at least one of the proximal segment and the distal segment comprises a first superabsorbent material, and wherein the body segment comprises a second superabsorbent material, and
wherein first superabsorbent material is configured to absorb fluid at a different fluid absorption rate than the second superabsorbent material.
17. The protective guard of claim 16 , wherein the fluid impervious material is a fluid impervious film.
18. The protective guard of claim 16 , wherein at least one of an inner surface and an outer surface of the proximal segment has a proximal segment raised pattern.
19. The protective guard of claim 16 , wherein at least one of an inner surface and an outer surface of the distal segment has a distal segment raised pattern.