MEDICAL GARMENTS
A medical outfit having one or more garments is provided. An example garment has a front portion including an opening for a person's neck, and an off-center opening extending in a downward direction from the neck area. The off-center opening may extend less than the full length of the front portion. This example garment may also have one or more slanted and/or upright side pockets. The back portion of the garment may include an off-center opening extending in a downward direction from the neck opening. Another example garment, which may be worn with or without another example garment, is a covering for the lower part of a patient. The garment may have left and/or right side openings configured to be closeable and extending downwardly from a waist section. The waist section may be adjustable at one or both the right and left side openings.
The present invention relates to medical garments. More specifically, the present invention relates to a hospital gown, a hospital shirt, and hospital shorts.
BACKGROUND INFORMATIONHospital gowns are typically knee length garments made of large sheets of cloth material with neck and waist ties on the open sides of the material. Hospital gowns are placed on a patient while the patient is standing, lying down, or sitting, and are retained by joining the neck and waist ties at the backside of the patient. Body areas that are generally considered “private areas” are exposed when they are uncovered for examinations and procedures, such as cardiac monitoring, catheterizations, wound dressings, injections, feed line insertions, etc. The exposure of a patient's “private areas” during such procedures often causes embarrassment and stress. Thus, there is a need for a hospital garment that provides accessibility to a patient's body for medical procedures while at the same time providing some privacy for the patient. There is also a need for a hospital garment that is configured to provide support for different medical equipment. There is also a need for a hospital garment that is comfortable, inexpensive and durable.
According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a medical gown is provided for heart patients requiring cardiac monitoring and for patients requiring cardiac catheterizations. Additionally, the gown may be provided for any patient that has drains or tubes or would simply like more privacy and coverage. The gown may be configured to provide open access at the top such that the chest and/or a sternal incision are easy to access and view. The gown also may include pockets, e.g., two pockets on the outside and one pocket on the inside of the gown to hold medical equipment, e.g., a cardiac monitor and/or tubes. The pockets may be offset toward the sides of the gown and/or may be provided at an angle. These features offer comfort and facilitate movement. For example, some medical devices, e.g., a heart monitor, may be hung from a patient's neck. Such a configuration can be uncomfortable due to the weight of the monitor. Further, such a configuration of a hanging medical device may cause infection(s) and/or injury due to the contact between, e.g., the hanging heart monitor and a patient's chest wound. The aforementioned pockets of the gown, when configured to hold a heart monitor, may therefore serve, for example, to help prevent potential sternal wound infections and/or further wounding by keeping the heart monitor off the sternal incision.
In a further example embodiment, the shoulders of the hospital gown may provide for easy accessibility for intravenous therapy. For example, the shoulders may have hook and loop closures running down the exterior of the sleeves. The back portion of the gown may also have a closure, such as a hook and loop closure, that is substantially vertical. The closure may be offset and/or lateral. The back closure may be provided to prevent exposure of the patient's backside when ambulating or walking.
According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a medical garment is provided in the form of a medical top. The medical top may include any and all of the features discussed above in various combinations with respect to the medical gown. The medical top may have a shorter length than the medical gown.
According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a medical garment is provided in the form of medical boxer shorts. The boxer shorts may include an elastic waist and with a closure at the groin and/or waist. The closure may be a hook and loop closure, snap closure, or other available closure device. The closures are configured to provide access to the groin area for medical procedures, e.g., for cardiac catheterizations, and post procedure examinations, e.g., assessment of a puncture site, swelling, bleeding or hematoma, while maintaining as much coverage of a patient's private areas as possible. Such garments encourage frequent assessments by medical/nursing staff, improve patient comfort and reduce patient stress. The boxer shorts may be configured for use with a hospital gown or medical top, embodiments of which are described herein.
According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the gown, top and/or boxer shorts described herein may be provided in a polyester/cotton blend (e.g., a 65%/35% blend or a 75%/25% blend) that is easily laundered and/or autoclavable. Other suitable materials may be utilized.
According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the use of hook and loop fasteners for the closures on the medical garment(s) described herein provide for touch closure, easy accessibility and comfort.
According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the medical garment may include a front portion having a first neck opening periphery, a first off-center opening extending in a downward direction from the first neck periphery, the first off-center opening extending less than the full length of the front portion, and at least one exterior side pocket. The garment may include a back portion having a second neck opening periphery, where the first neck opening periphery and the second neck opening periphery form a neck opening, and a second off-center opening extending in a downward direction from the second neck opening periphery, where the second off-center opening extends the entire length of the back portion.
According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the first off-center opening extends approximately to the bottom of a wearer's ribcage. In an example embodiment, either or both of the first off-center opening and the second off-center opening are closable with hook and loop fasteners. In an example embodiment, either or both of first off-center opening and the second off-center opening is closable with either or both of snaps and buttons. The second off-center opening may overlap by between 4 and 8 inches when closed. According to an example embodiment, the second off-center opening overlaps by more than 8 inches or less than 4 inches when in a closed position. The garment may include two sleeve portions, where at least one of the two sleeve portions has a sleeve opening that extends from the neck opening to an outer end of the sleeve portion. According to an example embodiment, the sleeve opening is closable with hook and loop fasteners. The garment may have slanted external side pockets. The garment may be autoclavable. The garment may, e.g., be made of a 65%/35% polyester/cotton blend fabric and/or a 75%/25% polyester/cotton blend fabric. In an example embodiment, the garment may have one or more internal pockets.
According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the medical garment may resemble boxer shorts. The medical shorts may include a waist section, a left leg opening, a right leg opening, a left side opening extending downwardly from the waist section to the left leg opening, where the left side opening is closable with hook and loop fasteners, and a right side opening extending downwardly from the waist section to the right leg opening, where the right side opening is closable with hook and loop fasteners. In an example embodiment, the waist section is adjustable between different hook and loop fasteners at the right side opening and/or the left side opening. The front opening may extend downward from the waist section and/or be closable with a hook and loop fastener.
According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the medical garment may include a first garment and second garment to be worn with the first garment. The first garment may include a front portion having a first neck opening periphery, a first off-center opening extending in a downward direction from the first neck periphery, where the first off-center opening extends less than the full length of the front portion, and at least one exterior side pocket. The first garment may include a back portion having a second neck opening periphery, where the first neck opening periphery and the second neck opening periphery form a neck opening, and a second off-center opening extending in a downward direction from the second neck opening periphery, where the second off-center opening extends the entire length of the back portion. The second garment may include a waist section, a left leg opening, a right leg opening, a left side opening extending downwardly from the waist section to the left leg opening, where the left side opening is closable with hook and loop fasteners, and a right side opening extending downwardly from the waist section to the right leg opening, where the right side opening is closable with hook and loop fasteners and the waist section is adjustable between different hook and loop fasteners at either or both of the right side opening and the left side opening.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, a medical garment may have one or more slanted or otherwise (e.g., upright, horizontal, etc.) outside pockets. The medical garment may also have one or more slanted or otherwise interior pockets. The position of the pocket(s) depend upon the intended use. For example, a first interior pocket may be disposed at a higher or side area as discussed herein to assist in holding, e.g., a heart monitoring device. A second or more interior pockets may be disposed at a lower location(s) to hold, e.g., a portable drug-delivering or related device or other medical item(s).
In an embodiment of the present invention, an essentially identical (mirror image to the left side opening described herein) right side opening (not shown in
In an embodiment of the present invention, a medical boxer shorts may include all of the left side, right side, and front openings, or various combinations of same.
It should be appreciated that the fastener(s) used with the example hospital gown, medical top, and/or medical shorts, may be any available fastener(s), including, e.g., a touch closure (such as hook and loop, adhesive, etc.), snaps, button, zipper, string, metal hook, and/or other enclosure device(s). More than one type of fastener may be employed at a time and/or in a single closure location on a garment.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular examples and embodiments, it is understood that the present invention is not limited to those examples and embodiments. Moreover, the individual features of the example embodiments may be combined or separated in any manner. The present invention as claimed therefore includes variations from the specific examples and embodiments described herein, as will be apparent to one of skill in the art.
Claims
1. A medical garment, comprising:
- a front portion having a first neck opening periphery, a first off-center opening extending in a downward direction from the first neck periphery, the first off-center opening extending less than the full length of the front portion, and at least one exterior side pocket; and a back portion having a second neck opening periphery, the first neck opening periphery and the second neck opening periphery forming a neck opening, and a second off-center opening extending in a downward direction from the second neck opening periphery, the second off-center opening extending the entire length of the back portion.
2. The medical garment of claim 1, wherein the first off-center opening is configured to extend approximately to the bottom of a wearer's ribcage.
3. The medical garment of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first off-center opening and the second off-center opening is configured to be closed with hook-and-loop fasteners.
4. The medical garment of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first off-center opening and the second off-center opening is configured to be closed with at least one of snaps and buttons.
5. The medical garment of claim 1, wherein the second off-center opening overlaps by between 4 and 8 inches when in a closed position.
6. The medical garment of claim 1, wherein the second off-center opening overlaps by approximately 6 inches when in a closed position.
7. The medical garment of claim 1, further comprising two sleeve portions, at least one of the two sleeve portions having a sleeve opening that extends from the neck opening to an outer end of the sleeve portion.
8. The medical garment of claim 7, wherein the sleeve opening is selectively closed with hook-and-loop fasteners.
9. The medical garment of claim 1, wherein the at least one external side pocket is slanted.
10. The medical garment of claim 1, wherein the medical garment is autoclavable.
11. The medical garment of claim 1, wherein the medical garment is comprised of a fabric having a 65%/35% polyester/cotton blend.
12. The medical garment of claim 1, wherein the medical garment is comprised of a fabric having a 75%/25% polyester/cotton blend.
13. The medical garment of claim 1, further comprising at least one internal pocket.
14. A medical garment, comprising:
- a waist section;
- a left leg opening;
- a right leg opening;
- a left side opening extending downwardly from the waist section to the left leg opening, the left side opening selectively closed with hook and loop fasteners; and
- a right side opening extending downwardly from the waist section to the right leg opening, the right side opening selectively closed with hook and loop fasteners,
- wherein the waist section is adjustable between different hook and loop fasteners at at least one of the right side opening and the left side opening.
15. The medical garment of claim 14, further comprising a front opening extending downward from the waist section, the front opening selectively closed with a hook and loop fastener.
16. A medical outfit, comprising:
- a first garment having a front portion including a first neck opening periphery, and a first off-center opening extending in a downward direction from the first neck periphery, the first off-center opening extending less than the full length of the front portion, at least one side pocket, and a back portion including a second neck opening periphery, the first neck opening periphery and the second neck opening periphery forming a neck opening, and a second off-center opening extending in a downward direction from the second neck opening periphery, the second off-center opening extending the entire length of the back portion; and
- a second garment configured to be worn with the first garment, the second garment including a waist section, a left leg opening, a right leg opening, a left side opening extending downwardly from the waist section to the left leg opening, the left side opening configured to be closed with hook and loop fasteners, and a right side opening extending downwardly from the waist section to the right leg opening, the right side opening selectively closed with hook and loop fasteners, wherein the waist section is adjustable between different hook and loop fasteners at at least one of the right side opening and the left side opening.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 20, 2007
Publication Date: Apr 23, 2009
Inventor: Cynthia Butler (Baldwin, NY)
Application Number: 11/875,895
International Classification: A41D 10/00 (20060101); A41D 1/00 (20060101); A41D 27/20 (20060101);