Garments for dialysis patients

Abstract

A garment for covering the upper body of a patient undergoing dialysis to keep the patient warm and comfortable during dialysis comprising a jacket made from a warm and soft material for covering the arms and torso of a patient, the jacket having a torso member for covering the torso of the patient, a right sleeve and a left sleeve covering the arms of the patient, at least one of the sleeves having an elongated opening on the inside thereof extending from the torso member to the distal end of the sleeve for providing access to grafts or fistulas on the arm of the patient that may e connected to a dialysis machine and for providing a site for an injection or infusion by a hypodermic needle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to garments worn by patients undergoing medical treatment to keep the patient warm and comfortable during treatment. In particular, the present invention is related to garments having access sites for dialysis treatments or infusions.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many patients presently receive hemodialysis, referred to herein as dialysis, for the treatment of kidney dysfunction and failure. A great number of the patients undergoing dialysis are elderly and suffer from poor blood circulation. Such elderly patients commonly must be covered with blankets to keep the patients warm and comfortable during dialysis since common coats and jackets must be removed during treatment to enable access to the arms of the user for connection of tubes used in dialysis.

Typically, a person undergoing dialysis must wear a short sleeve shirt to provide access to the arms for connection of tubes used in dialysis. The patient normally sits in a reclining chair which may be cool in air conditioned treatment facilities and can cause the patient to become uncomfortably and distressfully chilled.

Typical rules for patients undergoing dialysis require that the patient keep the access area, which is normally the inside of one arm, uncovered at all times during treatment so that the attendant monitoring the patient can always see that needles are secure, bloodlines are connected, and that no blood is lost. The patient is instructed to stay warm by wearing clothes that can easily expose their access site, to cover with a blanket, wear gloves, and wear a hat.

Exemplary of the Patents of the related art are the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 2,374,643; 4,977,622; 5,084,914; 5,097,535; 6,148,444; and U.S. D457,290; and U.S. Patent Application Publications: U.S. 2003/0126668 and U.S. 2004/0010837.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a garment which may be worn by a patient undergoing dialysis to keep the upper body and arms of the patient warm during treatment. However, garments of the prior art which cover the torso and arms do not permit access to the portion of the arm above the elbow.

The invention provides a garment for covering the upper body of a patient undergoing dialysis to keep the patient warm and comfortable during dialysis comprising a jacket made from a warm and soft material for covering the arms and torso of a patient, the jacket having a torso member for covering the torso of the patient, a right sleeve and a left sleeve covering the arms of the patient, at least one of the sleeves having an elongated opening on the inside thereof extending from the torso member to the distal end of the sleeve for providing access to grafts or fistulas on the arm of the patient that may be connected to a dialysis machine and for providing a site for an injection or infusion by a hypodermic needle from the wrist to the area above the elbow to the shoulder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the garment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a second embodiment of the garment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a third embodiment of the garment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the garment of FIG. 1 of the invention being worn by a patient.

FIG. 5 is a partly cut-away front view of one sleeve of an alternate embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a partly cut-away front view of one sleeve of an alternate embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 4, the garment of the first embodiment of the invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10. Garment 10 is a jacket which covers the upper body of a patient wearing the garment. Garment 10 is constructed from a warm, soft material such as a woven cotton material or jersey.

Garment 10 includes a torso member generally indicated by the numeral 12. Connected at the upper portion or shoulder portion of torso member 12 are a right sleeve generally indicated by the numeral 14 and a left sleeve generally indicated by the numeral 16. A hood generally indicated by the numeral 18 for covering the head of the patient is connected at the top center of torso member 12.

Each of the sleeves 14 and 16 have elongated openings 14a and 16a on the inside or torso side of sleeves 14 and 16 for providing access to the grafts or fistulas on the arm of the patient that may be connected to a dialysis machine, or for providing a site for an injection or infusion by a hypodermic needle. Torso member 12 has a short vertical opening 12a terminating at the upper end at hood 18 on the front portion of torso member 12 for providing access to grafts or fistulas on the chest or neck of the patient that may be connected to a dialysis machine, or for providing a site for an injection or infusion by a hypodermic needle. Opening 12a is preferably opened and closed by a zipper 12b.

It is important that the openings 14a and 16a extend from the torso member 12 completely to the distal end of each sleeve 14 and 16 to enable each sleeve 14 and 16 to rolled upward as shown in FIG. 4 to provide access to the grafts or fistulas on the arm of the patient that may be connected to the dialysis machine, or to the flesh of the arm for injection or infusion from the wrist to the area above the elbow to the shoulder. The invention enables a person undergoing dialysis to receive an injection above the elbow if necessary, such as could happen when a patient suffers a medical emergency during dialysis. Each of the elongated openings 14a and 16a have cooperating closure members made from hook and loop material 20 and 21.

In FIG. 2 is shown a second embodiment of the garment of the invention generally indicated by the numeral 24. Garment 24 is a jacket which covers the upper body of a patient wearing the garment. Garment 24 is constructed from a warm, soft material such as a woven cotton material or jersey.

Garment 24 includes a torso member generally indicated by the numeral 12. Connected at the upper portion or shoulder portion of torso member 12 are a right sleeve generally indicated by the numeral 14 and a left sleeve generally indicated by the numeral 16. A crew neck opening generally indicated by the numeral 26 for receiving the head of the patient and covering the neck of the patient is connected at the top center of torso member 12.

Each of the sleeves 14 and 16 of garment 24 have elongated openings 14a and 16a on the inside or torso side of sleeves 14 and 16 for providing access to the grafts or fistulas on the arm of the patient that may be connected to a dialysis machine, or for providing a site for an injection or infusion by a hypodermic needle.

It is important that the openings 14a and 16a extend from the torso member 12 completely to the distal end of each sleeve 14 and 16 to enable each sleeve 14 and 16 to rolled upward as shown in FIG. 4 to provide access to the grafts or fistulas on the arm of the patient that may be connected to the dialysis machine, or to the flesh of the arm from the wrist to the area above the elbow to the shoulder for injection or infusion. The invention enables a person undergoing dialysis to receive an injection above the elbow if necessary, such as could happen when a patient suffers a medical emergency during dialysis. Each of the elongated openings 14a and 16a have cooperating closure members made from hook and loop material 20 and 21.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the third embodiment of the invention is generally indicated by the numeral 28. Garment 28 is a jacket which covers the upper body of a patient wearing the garment. Garment 28 is constructed from a warm, soft material such as a woven cotton material or jersey.

Garment 28 includes a torso member generally indicated by the numeral 12. Connected at the upper portion or shoulder portion of torso member 12 are a right sleeve generally indicated by the numeral 14 and a left sleeve generally indicated by the numeral 16. A neck opening generally indicated by the numeral 30 for receiving the head of the patient is formed at the top center of torso member 12.

Each of the sleeves 14 and 16 have elongated openings 14a and 16a on the inside or torso side of sleeves 14 and 16 for providing access to the grafts or fistulas on the arm of the patient that may be connected to a dialysis machine, or for providing a site for an injection or infusion by a hypodermic needle. Torso member 12 has a short vertical opening 12a terminating at the upper end at neck opening 30 on the front portion of torso member 12 for providing access to the grafts or fistulas of the patient that may be connected to a dialysis machine, or for providing a site for an injection or infusion by a hypodermic needle. Opening 12a is preferably opened and closed by a zipper 38.

It is important that the openings 14a and 16a extend from the torso member 12 completely to the distal end of each sleeve 14 and 16 to enable each sleeve 14 and 16 to rolled upward as shown in FIG. 4 to provide access to the grafts or fistulas on the arm of the patient that may be connected to the dialysis machine, or to the flesh of the arm from the wrist to the area above the elbow to the shoulder for injection or infusion. The invention enables a person undergoing dialysis to receive an injection above the elbow if necessary, such as could happen when a patient suffers a medical emergency during dialysis. Each of the elongated openings 14a and 16a have cooperating closure members made from hook and loop material 20 and 21.

In FIG. 5 of the invention is shown an alternate embodiment of a sleeve of the invention generally indicated by the numeral 32 connected to torso member 12. Sleeve 32 has an elongated opening 32a on the inside or torso side thereof for providing access to the grafts or fistulas on the arm of the patient that may be connected to a dialysis machine, or for providing a site for an injection or infusion by a hypodermic needle.

It is important that the opening 32a extends from the torso member 12 completely to the distal end of sleeve 32 to enable sleeve 32 to be rolled upward as shown in FIG. 4 to provide access to the grafts or fistulas on the arm of the patient that may be connected to the dialysis machine, or to the flesh of the arm from the wrist to the area above the elbow to the shoulder for injection or infusion. The invention enables a person undergoing dialysis to receive an injection above the elbow if necessary, such as could happen when a patient suffers a medical emergency during dialysis. Elongated opening 32a has cooperating closure members comprising conventional male and female snaps 34 and 35, respectively.

In FIG. 6 of the invention is shown an alternate embodiment of a sleeve of the invention generally indicated by the numeral 36 connected to torso member 12. Sleeve 36 has an elongated opening 36a on the inside or torso side thereof for providing access to the grafts or fistulas on the arm of the patient that may be connected to a dialysis machine, or for providing a site for an injection or infusion by a hypodermic needle.

It is important that the opening 36a extends from the torso member 12 completely to the distal end of sleeve 36 to enable sleeve 36 to be rolled upward as shown in FIG. 4 to provide access to the grafts or fistulas on the arm of the patient that may be connected to the dialysis machine, or to the flesh of the arm for injection or infusion. The invention enables a person undergoing dialysis to receive an injection above the elbow if necessary, such as could happen when a patient suffers a medical emergency during dialysis. Elongated opening 36a has closure member comprising the conventional zipper generally indicated by the numeral 38.

Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above, it should be understood that the invention is in no sense limited thereby, and its scope is to be determined by that of the following claims:

Claims

1. A garment for covering the upper body of a patient undergoing dialysis to keep the patient warm and comfortable during dialysis comprising a jacket made from a warm and soft material for covering the arms and torso of a patient, the jacket having a torso member for covering the torso of the patient, a right sleeve and at left sleeve connected to said torso member for covering the arms of the patient, at least one of said sleeves having an elongated opening on the inside thereof extending from said torso member to the distal end of said sleeve for providing access to grafts or fistulas on the arm of the patient that may be connected to a dialysis machine and to a site for an injection or infusion by a hypodermic needle from the wrist to the area above the elbow to the shoulder.

2. The garment of claim 1 wherein a hood for covering the head of said patient is connected thereto.

3. The garment of claim 1 wherein said torso member has a vertical opening terminating at the upper end of said torso member on the front portion of said torso member for providing access to grafts or fistulas on the chest or neck of said patient that may be connected to a dialysis machine and for providing a site for an injection or infusion of said patient by a hypodermic needle.