PATIENT GARMENT FOR ACCOMMODATING MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

Abstract

A patient garment configured to accommodate various medical equipment that may be connected to or otherwise engaged with the patient is disclosed. More specifically, the patient garment is a shirt, sweatshirt, sweater, or the like that includes various separable seams such that a patient can put on or take off the garment without needing to disconnect from various medical equipment the patient may be connected to or otherwise engaged with.

Claims

1. A patient garment, comprising: a torso portion comprising: a neck opening; a first sleeve having a first cuff and a first armpit region; a second sleeve having a second cuff a second armpit region; and a lower hem; a first access seam extending from the neck opening to the first armpit region of the first sleeve, opposing sides of the first access seam including an attachment mechanism configured for releasably coupling together the opposing sides of the first access seam; a second access seam continuously extending from the lower hem of the body, through the first armpit region of the first sleeve, to the first cuff of the first sleeve, opposing sides of the second access seam including an attachment mechanism configured for releasably coupling together the opposing sides of the second access seam; and a third access seam continuously extending from the lower hem of the body, through the second armpit region of the second sleeve, to the second cuff of the second sleeve, opposing sides of the third access seam including an attachment mechanism configured for releasably coupling together the opposing sides of the third access seam.

2. The patient garment of claim 1, wherein the first access seam extends from a side of the neck opening closest to the first sleeve.

3. The patient garment of claim 1, wherein the first access seam extends from a side of the neck opening closest to the first sleeve and from a front side of the neck opening.

4. The patient garment of claim 1, wherein the first access seam intersects the second access seam at the first armpit region of the first sleeve.

5. The patient garment of claim 1, wherein the second access seam extends from a side of the hem closest to the first sleeve.

6. The patient garment of claim 1, wherein the third access seam extends from a side of the hem closest to the second sleeve.

7. The patient garment of claim 1, wherein the patient garment is a unitary piece of material.

8. The patient garment of claim 1, wherein the patient garment is free of access seams along the top portion of the first sleeve and the second sleeve in a location extending from the neck portion to the first cuff and second cuff, respectively.

9. The patient garment of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism for the first access seam, the second access seam, and the third access seam is selected from the group consisting of: hook and loop, zippers, ties, snaps, buttons, clasps and buckles.

10. The patient garment of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism of the first access seam, the second access seam, and the third access seam is hook and loop, and the hook and loop extends substantially the entire length of the first access seam, the second access seam, and the third access seam.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the disclosed patient garment, including the preferred embodiment, are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a front view of the patient garment according to various embodiments described herein, wherein opposing sides of the various seams are aligned and partially connected.

[0012] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the patient garment according to various embodiments described herein, wherein opposing sides of the various seams are detached and the garment is laid flat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying Figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0014] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the patient garment 100 generally includes an upper torso body portion 101 having a neck opening 102, and first sleeve 103 and a second sleeve 104 extending from the main body portion 101. The upper torso body portion 101 also includes a lower hem 105 serving as the lower boundary of the garment 100, which will typically reside proximate the patient's waist when being worn by the patient. The first sleeve 103 includes a first cuff 110 at the terminal end of the first sleeve 103 and the second sleeve 104 includes a second cuff 111 at the terminal end of the second sleeve 104. The first sleeve 103 further includes a first armpit region 106 located on the underside of the first sleeve 103 at the point where the first sleeve 103 connects with the main body portion 101 of the garment 100. Similarly, the second sleeve 104 includes a second armpit region 107 located on the underside of the second sleeve 104 at the point where the second sleeve 104 connects with the main body portion 101 of the garment 100. With this configuration, the patient garment 100 has the general structure of a traditional shirt, sweatshirt, sweater, etc., and the patient garment 100 is generally worn by a patient in the same manner as a traditional shirt, with a patient arm extending through each of the first and second sleeves 103, 104 and the patient's head extending through the neck opening 102. The main portion 101 of the patient garment 100 drapes over the patient's torso to thereby cover their stomach and back.

[0015] The patient garment 100 further includes a first seam 120, a second seam 130 and a third seam 140. Each of first seam 120, second seam 130, and third seam 140 are separable seams formed at various portions of the patient garment, and are configured to allow for separation of various sections of the garment 100. Each seam 120, 130, 140 includes opposing sides that can be separated or brought together.

[0016] With respect to first seam 120, first seam 120 extends from neck opening 102 to the first armpit region 106 of the first sleeve 103. In this manner, the portion of the garment 100 making up the front chest area of the garment 100 can be separated from the portion of the garment 100 making up the upper portion of the first sleeve 103 of the garment 100 along seam 120. As shown in FIG. 1, the first end of seam 120 can be located at the side of the neck opening 102 closest to the first sleeve 103. The first end of seam 120 can also be located near the front side of the neck opening 102. However, it should be appreciated that the specific location of first end of seam 102 can be located at different locations along the neck opening 102. For example, the first end of first seam 120 could be located at the side of the neck opening 102 closest to the second sleeve 104 such that the first seam 120 crosses over/in front of the patient's neck. The second, opposite end of seam 120 generally terminates at a location proximate the first armpit region 106 of the first sleeve 103. As described in greater detail below, the second end of seam 120 generally intersects with the second seam 130 in the first armpit region 106.

[0017] With respect to second seam 130, second seam 130 generally extends from the lower hem 105 of the main body 101 all the way to the first cuff 110 of the first sleeve 103. In some embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, one terminal end of second seam 130 is located on the side of the lower hem 105 closest to the first sleeve 103. However, it should be appreciated that the terminal end of second seam 130 at the lower hem 105 can be located anywhere along lower hem 105. The second seam 130 is a continuous seam and passes through the first armpit region 106. Generally speaking, the second seam 130 runs along the underside of the first sleeve 103 between the first armpit region 106 and the first cuff 110, although it is possible for this portion of second seam 130 to be in other locations, such as on the front side or back side of first sleeve 103. As noted previously, the first seam 120 and the second seam 130 generally intersect at the first armpit region 106. That is to say, a terminal end of first seam 120 meets second seam 130 as second seam 130 passes through the first armpit region 106. As shown in FIG. 2, the second seam 130 is bounded by the sides of main body portion 101 and the first sleeve 103 labeled A and A when these sides are aligned to form a general shirt structure (as shown in FIG. 1).

[0018] With respect to third seam 140, third seam 140 generally extends from the lower hem 105 of the main body 101 all the way to the second cuff 111 of the second sleeve 104. In some embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, one terminal end of third seam 140 is located on the side of the lower hem 105 closest to the second sleeve 104. However, it should be appreciated that the terminal end of third seam 140 at the lower hem 105 can be located anywhere along lower hem 105. The third seam 140 is a continuous seam and passes through the second armpit region 107. Generally speaking, the third seam 140 runs along the underside of the second sleeve 104 between the second armpit region 107 and the second cuff 111, although it is possible for this portion of third seam 140 to be in other locations, such as on the front side or back side of second sleeve 104. As shown in FIG. 2, the third seam 140 is bounded by the sides of main body portion 101 and the second sleeve 104 labeled B and B when these sides are aligned to form a general shirt structure (as shown in FIG. 1).

[0019] Each of seams 120, 130 and 140 may include an attachment mechanism generally located along the entire length of each seam 120, 130, 140. The attachment mechanism used with seams 120, 130, 140 is configured for releasably coupling together the opposing sides of each seam 120, 130, 140. Any suitable type of releasable attachment mechanism can be used, with exemplary, though non-limiting examples, including hook and loop, zippers, ties, snaps, buttons, clasps and buckles. The attachment mechanism can be the same for each of seam 120, 130, 140, or each seam can have a different attachment mechanism. While the attachment mechanism is generally located along the entire length of each seam 120, 130, 140, it is also possible for there to be discontinuous segments of the attachment mechanism located along the length of any of seam 120, 130 and 140.

[0020] The material of the garment 100 is generally not limited. Any suitable type of material typically used for garments can be used, such as cotton or synthetic fabrics. Similarly, the dimensions of the garment are generally not limited, and may be adjusted to accommodate various sizes and shapes of, e.g., an infant, child or adult patient.

[0021] Various pockets or flaps can also be included on the garment in any location deemed suitable and/or useful to the patient and/or the medical professional treating the patient. Pockets can be located on the garment in locations convenient for storing, e.g., components of medical equipment being used to treat the patient. Similarly, flaps can be located at locations where a medical professional may want easy and quick access to the patient's body.

[0022] As shown most clearly in FIG. 2, the garment 100 described herein is of a unitary construction. That is to say, the main portion of the garment is made of a single piece of material, as opposed to two or more separate main pieces of material that are secured together using attachment mechanisms. In some embodiments, the unitary construction of the garment described herein means that the patient garment is free of access seams along the top portion (i.e., along the shoulder down to the cuff on the top portion of the sleeve) of the first sleeve and the second sleeve such that the front side of the garment is not separable from the back side of the garment. This unitary construction can make the garment more comfortable for the patient, such as by including fewer attachment mechanisms that may irate a patient's skin and by providing fewer draft entry locations. The unitary construction may also make maintenance of the garment easier for a hospital facility or the like. For example, because the front side of the garment cannot be separated from the back side, one portion of the garment cannot be lost from the other. Similarly, where a facility uses multiple sizes of garments, medical professionals do not have to worry about matching a front and back side that are the same size.

[0023] With reference to FIG. 1, the patient garment described herein is configured such that, using seams 120, 130, 140, the garment can be taken off and put on by a patient without the patient needing to be disconnected from medical equipment. For example, if a patient has an IV inserted into his or her arm, the garment can be removed by opening all seams 120, 130, 140 and generally pulling the shirt from the back away from the patient's back. The portion of the garment that is draped over the front of the patient goes up and over the patient's shoulder and the sleeves are also removed from the arms by pulling the shirt from the back such that the top portion of each sleeve goes over the patient's arms. Similar removal of the garment makes it possible for any portion of the patient's head to remain connected to medical equipment, since removing the garment does not require the garment to be pulled up and over the patient's head.

[0024] In addition to allowing a patient to put on or remove the garment without having to disconnect from medical equipment, the garment described herein also makes it easier for a medical professional to connect the patient to medical equipment without the patient having to fully remove the garment. Again using the example of an IV, an IV can be connected to the patient's arm simply by opening seam 130 or 140, but without requiring any other portion of the garment to be removed or otherwise manipulated.

[0025] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.