Gown for cardiac patients and other specialty uses
A gown for medical patients having a closable fly front extending from the sternal notch to the pubis. Openings are formed in the front of the gown to receive leads for monitoring devices and for tubes for treatment or drainage. A pocket for small instruments is on the front of a selected side of the gown. A second pocket is formed on the opposite side of the front of the gown. The back of the gown is fully openable and may be closed by overlapping portions of the back of the gown. A plurality of tabs is formed on the inside of the front of the gown to secure a catheter drainage bag.
This application is related to provisional patent application No. 60/899,812, filed Feb. 6, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a gown for a medical patient and more particularly to a gown which is more comfortable to the patient and provides for improved access to the patient by healthcare providers.
2. Description of Prior Art
Most existing gowns for medical patients are merely a wrap around fabric which has short sleeves and which the patient wears with a full length opening in the front or the back. Healthcare providers open the gown to gain access to the patient for examination and/or treatment.
The patient is connected to instrumentation and drainage tubing by electrical leads and tubing which extend from the patient to an external support such as a table or an intravenous pole.
There is a need for a gown which provides greater accessibility to the patient with minimal disrobing or opening of the gown. The need exists for instrumentation and wound drainage to be connected to the patient while the patient is wearing a gown, independent of tables or intravenous poles.
SUMMARYIn accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there is disclosed a gown adapted for medical patients having a front portion and a back portion, a right side, a left side and a pair of short sleeves. The top of the front of the gown has a fly-like opening extending downwardly providing access to the interior of the chest from the sternal notch to the pubis. Means are provided to close the fly-like opening. A slit is provided in a selected side of the front of the gown opposite the sleeve wherein leads may be received for monitoring the activity of the patient's heart. A first pocket is formed under the slit. A second pocket is formed in the opposite side of the front of the gown. An opening is formed above the pocket for accessibility of tubes. The back of the gown is open and has means to close the back by overlapping the portions of the back. A plurality of tabs is formed in the inside of the right side of the front wherein a Foley catheter drainage bag may be secured to a selected tab according to the height of the patient.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the enclosed drawings.
As shown in
Referring to
In the opposite upper portion 18 of the front of the gown, there is provided an opening 28 through the gown. A second pocket 29 is formed on the front of the gown directly below the opening. A reservoir 38 may be placed in the second pocket. One end of the drainage tube 31 is connected to the reservoir, the tube passing through the opening and an opposite end of the drainage tube is connected to the patient. Thus, for a patient having open heart surgery or other chest surgery where drainage is required, the drainage tube is directed into the reservoir in the second pocket. Since the opening and pocket are lower than the area of surgery, the drainage is due to gravity.
The back portion 14 of the gown is open from top to bottom and has means 34 to close the overlapped edges of the gown (
The length of the gown is designed to provide modesty for the patient either sitting or standing. The sleeves 20 are short, extending no further than the patient's elbows and are full cut. The design of the sleeves allows for anticubital accessibility space as well as blood pressure monitoring and introduction of tubing and electrical leads.
On the inside of the right side of the gown there is a plurality of tabs 32 arranged vertically. Preferably, there are three tabs (
The gown, with the pockets and the inside tabs provide means for the patient to be ambulatory without the need and encumbrance of an intravenous (IV) pole. Patients are encouraged to be ambulatory very shortly after surgery. However, it is very difficult for a weakened patient to walk, especially with equipment and tubing suspended from an intravenous (IV) pole. The present invention increases the independence and dignity of patients who require connections to monitoring instruments, drainage tubing and catheters.
The gown of the present invention is user friendly to health providers and considers the comfort and dignity of the patient. The gown may be of any selected color and may be of a selected size (small, medium, large). The length of the gown provides for the modesty of the patient either seated or standing. The gown may be used by surgical or non-surgical patients. The gown may be worn by ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients.
Obviously; many modifications may be made without departing from the basic spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than has been specifically described herein.
Claims
1. A gown adapted for medical patients having a front portion and a back portion, a right side, a left side and a pair of short sleeves, the gown comprising:
- the top of the front of the gown having a fly-like opening extending downwardly providing access to the anterior of the chest from the sternal notch to the pubis;
- means to close the fly-like opening;
- a slit provided in a selected side of the front of the gown opposite the sleeve wherein leads may be received for monitoring the activity of the patient's heart;
- a first pocket formed under the slit;
- a second pocket formed in the opposite side of the front of the gown;
- an opening formed above the second pocket for accessibility of tubes;
- the back of the gown being open and having means to close the back by overlapping the portions of the back;
- a plurality of tabs being formed in the inside of the right side of the front wherein a Foley catheter drainage bag may be secured to a selected tab according to the height of the patient.
2. The gown of claim 1, wherein the means to secure the closure of the front and back of the gown are a plurality of hook and loop fasteners.
3. A gown adapted for medical patients having a front portion and a back portion,
- means being provided interiorly on the first portion to receive a Foley catheter drainage bag.
4. The gown of claim 3, wherein the means are a plurality of vertically aligned tabs secured to the gown such that the drainage bag may be secured to a selected tab according to the height of the patient.
5. The gown of claim 4, wherein the tabs are horizontal bands, each having opposite ends, the respective ends being secured to the gown.
6. A gown adapted for medical patients having a front portion, the front portion having a right side and a left side,
- a slit provided in a selected side of the front portion wherein electrical leads may be received to monitor activity of the patient's heart,
- means being provided on the gown to carry monitoring instrumentation to which the electrical leads are connected.
7. The gown of claim 6, wherein the means to carry monitoring instrumentation is a pocket formed below the slit.
8. A gown adapted for medical patients having a front portion, the front portion having a right side and a left side,
- an opening being formed on a selected side of the gown,
- a pocket formed exteriorly on the gown below the opening, wherein drainage tubing may be received in the opening and connected to a drainage reservoir disposed within the pocket.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 6, 2008
Publication Date: Aug 7, 2008
Inventor: Patricia W. Blume (Baltimore, MD)
Application Number: 12/012,903
International Classification: A41B 9/00 (20060101); A41D 27/20 (20060101);