1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to garments, and more particularly to a medical garment adapted to be worn by a patient requiring medical attention, such as a medical examination.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Traditionally, a patient undergoing a medical examination, such as a breast examination, must wear a hospital garment. Such garments, sometimes referred to as “johnnies,” are often fabricated from throw-away material, such as paper, and are designed to fit loosely over the patient. In use, the hospital garment generally covers the front of the patient, but leaves the backside of the patient at least partially exposed.
Traditional hospital garments are generally embarrassing to wear. For a patient requiring frequent medical treatment, such as a cancer patient requiring chemotherapy, the wearing of a hospital garment can be an unwanted reminder of the patient's medical issue. There is presently a need for a medical garment that offers a more dignified appearance but is constructed to enable medical personnel to conduct examinations and minor medical procedures.
One aspect of the invention is directed to a medical garment adapted to be worn by a patient requiring medical attention. The medical garment comprises a blouse portion including fabric material configured to cover at least a portion of an upper torso and arms of the patient when worn. The medical garment further comprises a body part access panel formed in the fabric material adjacent a body part of the patient when worn. The body part access panel is movable between a closed position in which the body part access panel is releasably secured to the fabric material and an open position in which the body part access panel is moved away from the fabric material to allow access to the body part of the patient.
Embodiments to the medical garment further include the provision of a fastener to releasably secure the body part access panel in its closed position. In one embodiment, the fastener comprises hook and loop material provided on the fabric material and the body part access panel. In a certain embodiment, the body part access panel is a breast access panel formed in the fabric material adjacent a breast of the patient when worn. The medical garment may further comprise a slit formed in the fabric material adjacent a back of the patient when worn, and a fastener to releasably secure the slit in a closed position. In one embodiment, fastener comprises hook and loop material provided on the fabric material. A fastener may be provided to secure sleeves of the blouse portion in a rolled-up position. The medical garment may further comprise a pants portion including fabric material configured to cover at least a portion of a lower torso and legs of the patient when worn. The pants portion includes a slit formed in an outer seam of the fabric material, and a fastener to releasably secure the slit in a closed position. In one embodiment, the fastener comprises hook and loop material provided on the fabric material.
Another aspect of the invention is directed to a medical garment adapted to be worn by a patient requiring medical attention. The medical garment comprises a blouse portion including fabric material configured to cover at least a portion of an upper torso and arms of the patient when worn, a slit formed in the fabric material adjacent a body part of the patient when worn, and a fastener to releasably secure the slit in a closed position.
Embodiments of the medical garment may comprise the fastener having hook and loop material provided on the fabric material. The medical garment further comprises a breast access panel formed in the fabric material adjacent a breast of the patient when worn. In one embodiment, the breast access panel is movable between a closed position in which the breast access panel is releasably secured to the fabric material and an open position in which the breast access panel is moved away from the fabric material to allow access to the breast of the patient. The medical garment may further comprise a fastener to releasably secure the breast access panel in its closed position. The fastener comprises hook and loop material provided on the fabric material and the breast access panel. A fastener may be provided to secure sleeves of the blouse portion in a rolled-up position. The medical garment further includes a pants portion including fabric material configured to cover at least a portion of a lower torso and legs of the patient when worn. In a certain embodiment, the pants portion further comprises a slit formed in an outer seam of the fabric material, and a fastener to releasably secure the slit in a closed position. The fastener comprises hook and loop material provided on the fabric material.
Yet another aspect of the invention is directed to a medical garment adapted to be worn by a patient requiring medical attention. In this embodiment, the medical garment comprises a pants portion including fabric material configured to cover at least a portion of a lower torso and legs of the patient when worn, a slit formed in an outer seam of the fabric material, and a fastener to releasably secure the slit in a closed position.
Embodiments of the medical device may include the fastener having hook and loop fastener material provided on the fabric material. A draw string may be provided in a closed loop formed in the fabric material adjacent the lower torso of the patient when worn. The draw string is adapted to cinch the pants portion around the lower torso of the patient.
A further aspect of the invention is directed to a method of performing a medical examination of a patient. The method comprises donning a medical garment on a patient. The medical garment comprises a blouse portion top including fabric material configured to cover at least a portion of an upper torso and arms of the patient when worn, and a body part access panel formed in the fabric material adjacent a body part of the patient. The body part access panel is movable between a closed position in which the body part access panel is releasably secured to the fabric material and an open position in which the body part access panel is moved away from the fabric material to allow access to the body part of the patient. The method further comprises moving the body part access panel to its open position, accessing the body part of the patient through the body part access panel, and performing a body part examination on the patient, which in certain embodiments, may include performing a breast examination.
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the drawing figures which are incorporated herein by reference and in which:
This invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.
Embodiments of the present invention are designed to replicate clothing worn for day-to-day activities. In a certain embodiment, the medical garment may include a blouse that is fabricated from fabric material configured to cover an upper torso and arms of the patient when worn. The blouse may be easily worn and removed by the patient by the provision of one or more hook and loop fasteners provided at the front of the blouse. The blouse may be further configured to enable the quick and easy examination of a designated body part. In a certain example, two breast access panels may be formed in the fabric material adjacent the breasts of the patient when worn. Each breast access panel may be movable between a closed position in which the breast access panel is releasably secured to the fabric material and an open position in which the breast access panel is moved away from the fabric material to allow access to the breast of the patient. Other features may be further designed into the blouse. For example, in one embodiment, a slit may be formed in the fabric material adjacent the patient's back, and a device of hook and loop fastener material may be provided to releasably secure the slit in a closed position. In another embodiment, a device, also incorporating hook and loop fastener material, may be provided to secure sleeves of the blouse portion in a rolled-up position. This configuration enables a patient to easily roll up her sleeves and secure them in a rolled-up position without taking off the blouse.
Other embodiments of the medical garment are directed to pants including fabric material configured to cover a lower torso and legs of the patient when worn. The pants include a slit formed in an outer seam of the fabric material, and a device, such as a hook and loop fastener, to releasably secure the slit in a closed position. This construction enables medical personnel to have quick and easy access to a lower extremity of the patient, such as the patient's knee. The pants are also easy to put on and take off.
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
Turning now to
The front of the torso portion 16 is open so that the blouse 12 may be slipped onto the patient by having the patient insert her arms into the arm portions 18, 20. The front of the torso portion 16 includes several, e.g., three, hook and loop fastener devices, each indicated at 22, that are suitably attached (as by sewing) to the torso portion. Each hook and loop fastener device 22 includes a hook portion that is attached, for example, to the inside of the torso portion 16 and a mating loop portion that is attached to the outside of the torso portion. The devices 22 are releasably secured to one another in the well known manner. This construction enables the blouse 12 to be easily put on and taken off by the patient. In another embodiment, mating strips of hook and loop fastener material may be provided in place of the three separate fastener devices. In further embodiments, other types of fasteners, such as snaps, clips, buttons, etc., may be employed. As shown in
Referring to
To releasably secure the breast access panels 26, 28 in their closed position, each breast access panel is provided with a hook and loop fastener device indicated at 30, to maintain the panel in its closed position. As shown in
Still referring to
With reference to
As shown in
Referring back to
It should be observed that a variety of alternate designs or configurations of the medical garment may be provided and fall within the scope of the instant invention. For example, the preferred devices to releasably secure the breast access panels, the slits in the blouse and pants, as well as the sleeves in their rolled-up positions, are devices incorporating hook and loop fastener material. As known, hook and loop material may be easily manipulated by the patient or medical personnel caring for the patient. However, it should be understood that a person skilled in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure, may replace the devices of hook and loop fastener material with other devices, such as snap fasteners, buttons, buckles, or any other suitable device designed to releasably secure two components to one another. For example, it is envisioned that snap fasteners may be provided to secure the breast access panels in their closed positions.
In addition, the provision of access panels and slits may be provided at any location on the blouse and the pants to access a desired body part. By way of example, an access panel may be provided on the blouse adjacent the upper arm of the patient to access the upper arm for inoculation, for example.
Also, other design choices may be made. For example, the blouses shown in the attached drawings each show cropped collars. The blouse may be configured with a traditional wide collar. Additionally, the blouses and pants may be provided with pockets, which may be utilized by the wearer to store items and provide a design element. Furthermore, as discussed above, various materials may be used to fabricate the medical garments.
Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of this invention, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.
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