Patent Application
20190254365
Embodiments herein relate to medical garments and related methods.
In many cases medical care providers require close access to a patient in order to diagnose and or treat various conditions. Specifically, when a patient is seeking care, the area of the body affected a medical condition or disease state must frequently be examined and exposed directly by the care provider. As such, the patient must, in some cases, remove articles of clothing so that the care provider has adequate access to the areas of the body as required for proper diagnosis and/or treatment. In some cases patient gowns, towels, drapes or blankets, can be placed over portions of a patient's body in a temporary manner so that, in the interest of both patient comfort and modesty, portions of the body are only exposed when they actually need to be exposed.
Embodiments herein include medical garments and related methods. In an embodiment, a medical garment is included. The garment can have a waist band, a front panel comprising a top, the top having a width, a bottom, the bottom having a width; a first lateral side; and a second lateral side. The medical garment can further include a first tunnel, the waist band passing through the first tunnel, the first tunnel comprising a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The medical garment can further include a back panel a top, the top having a width, a bottom, the bottom having a width, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side. The medical garment can further include a second tunnel, the waist band passing through the second tunnel, the second tunnel comprising a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The first and second lateral sides of the front panel can be positioned inward toward a middle of the front panel through movement of a portion of the first tunnel relative to the waist band. The first and second lateral sides of the back panel can be positioned inward toward a middle of the back panel through movement of a portion of the second tunnel relative to the waist band.
In an embodiment, a method of treating a patient is included herein. The method can include placing a medical garment on a patient to be treated. The medical garment can include a waist band, a front panel comprising a top, the top having a width, a bottom, the bottom having a width, a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The medical garment can include a first tunnel, the waist band passing through the first tunnel, the first tunnel comprising a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The medical garment can also include a back panel including a top, the top having a width, a bottom, the bottom having a width, a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The medical garment can also include a second tunnel, the waist band passing through the second tunnel, the second tunnel comprising a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The method can also include sliding a portion of the first tunnel inward over the waist band or sliding a portion of the second tunnel inward over the waist band, exposing an area of the patient's skin.
In an embodiment, a medical garment is included. The medical garment can include a waist band, a front panel including a top, the top having a width, a bottom, the bottom having a width, a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The medical garment can also include a first tunnel, the waist band passing through the first tunnel. The medical garment can also include a back panel including a top, the top having a width, a bottom, the bottom having a width, a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The first and second lateral sides of the front panel can be positioned through movement of a portion of the first tunnel relative to the waist band.
In an embodiment, a method of treating a patient is included. The method can include placing a medical garment on a patient to be treated. The medical garment can include a waist band, a front panel comprising a top, the top having a width, a bottom, the bottom having a width, a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The medical garment can also include a first tunnel, the waist band passing through the first tunnel, a back panel comprising a top, the top having a width, a bottom, the bottom having a width, a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The method can further include sliding a portion of the first tunnel inward over the waist band exposing an area of the patient's skin.
This summary is an overview of some of the teachings of the present application and is not intended to be an exclusive or exhaustive treatment of the present subject matter. Further details are found in the detailed description and appended claims. Other aspects will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description and viewing the drawings that form a part thereof, each of which is not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope herein is defined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
Aspects may be more completely understood in connection with the following drawings, in which:
While embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example and drawings, and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the scope herein is not limited to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope herein.
The embodiments described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, various embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art can appreciate and understand the principles and practices.
All publications and patents mentioned herein are hereby incorporated by reference. The publications and patents disclosed herein are provided solely for their disclosure. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the inventors are not entitled to antedate any publication and/or patent, including any publication and/or patent cited herein.
As referenced above, in some cases, patients must remove articles of clothing so that a care provider has adequate access to the areas of the body as necessary for proper diagnosis and/or treatment. However, this can be a source of anxiety, discomfort, and/or embarrassment for many patients. As such, there is substantial value in only exposing portions of the body that are truly necessary for a given procedure while maintaining coverage of other parts of the body. This is a particular issue when a care provider needs access to the groin region, hip or pelvic region, or the buttocks of a patient.
Embodiments herein include medical garments that can uniquely maximize access for care providers while still providing coverage to enhance a patient's comfort and modesty. In particular, various embodiments of medical garments herein include a feature allowing portions of a garment to slide as desired by a care provider while still maintaining as much coverage of a patient's groin region, and other areas, as possible.
As used herein, the term “medical garment” shall refer to a garment designed to be worn by a patient in conjunction with a medical or surgical procedure to be performed on the patient, or designed to be worn in conjunction with pre- or post-procedural care. Medical garments herein are quite distinct from garments worn normally with other clothing in various respects and therefore present completely different design considerations. For example, medical garments herein allow for easy access to areas of a patient by a care provider and include design features to facilitate that functionality. However, those same features can be undesirable or even detrimental in the context of garments designed for normal everyday wear. For example, the ability of a portion of a garment to slide in along a waistband could lead to uncomfortable bunching in the context of a garment worn under pants or other articles of clothing in the course of a normal day.
Referring now to
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In some embodiments, medical garment 100 can include a connection point 126 at a middle position of the top 108 of the front panel 104 where waist band 102 can be secured within the first tunnel 124. Connection point 126 can serve to prevent movement of the first tunnel 124 relative to the waist band 102 at a middle position of the first tunnel 124, while also allowing the lateral sides (130, 132) of the first tunnel 124 to slide over the waist band 102. In this manner, connection point 126 can prevent the panel (front or back) from becoming totally dislocated with regard to the waist band 102, regardless of how the lateral sides (130, 132) are moved with respect to the waist band 102.
In some embodiments, the first tunnel 124 is integral with the front panel 104. In some embodiments, the bottom 110 of the front panel 104 is connected to the bottom 118 of the back panel 106. In some embodiments, the bottom 110 of the front panel 104 is integral with the bottom 118 of the back panel 106. However, in other embodiments, the bottom 110 of the front panel 104 is not integral with the bottom 118 of the back panel 106. In some embodiments, an elastic material can be disposed along the first lateral side 112 and the second lateral side 114 of the front panel 104. In some embodiments, the front panel 104 defines a pouch.
Referring now to
The openings created by the first and second lateral sides (112, 114) of the front panel 104, and the first and second lateral sides (120, 122) of the back panel 106 can create leg openings 154 on a first and second lateral side of the medical garment 100, the top border of the leg openings 154 being defined by waist band 102 as shown in
In some embodiments, the second tunnel 128 is integral with the back panel 106. In some embodiments, medical garment 100 can include a connection point at the top of the back panel 106 where waist band 102 can be secured as it passes through the second tunnel 128. A connection point at the top of the back panel 106 can serve to prevent movement of the second tunnel 128 relative to the waist band 102 at a middle position of the second tunnel 128, while also allowing the lateral sides (134, 136) of the second tunnel 128 to slide over the waist band 102.
In some embodiments, an elastic material is disposed along the first lateral side 120 and the second lateral side 122 of the back panel 106. In some embodiments, the top width 142 of the back panel 106 is larger than the top width 138 of the front panel 104 when the lateral sides 120 and 122 of the back panel 106 and the lateral sides 112 and 114 of the front panel 104 are positioned in an outward-most configuration.
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The top 116 of back panel 106 can be connected to the waist band at seam 150. In some embodiments, the top 116 of back panel 106 can be irremovably connected such as by a sewn seam. In some embodiments, the top 116 of back panel 106 can be removably connected such as through a snap, button, zipper, hook-and-loop, or touch fastener connection point.
Referring now to
In some embodiments, the medical garments can be designed to be relatively high-waisted. A high-waisted medical garment as described herein can allow for relatively unfettered access to the hip, groin, pelvic or other area, and/or facilitate patient preparation, during or prior to a medical procedure. Referring now to
Medical garments having a front panel and a back panel in accordance with various embodiments herein can be formed of various types of materials. The medical garments can be formed from soft, moisture wicking fabrics such as synthetic fibers like polyester, polypropylene, and the like. The fabrics used to create the medical garment can be made from woven or non-woven fibers and/or other materials. In some embodiments the fabric can be knitted, but in other embodiments non-knitted. In some embodiments, the medical garments can be made with an additional piece of liner material sewn into the crotch region. In some embodiments, the medical garment can be made of non-latex materials. In some embodiments, the medical garment can be made of non-metallic materials. In some embodiments, the medical garment can be made of any color material. In some embodiments, lead can be added to the medical garment for radiation protection, such as a sheet of lead that can be used in conjunction with other materials described herein.
In some embodiments, the medical garments can be made as a single use, disposable item. However, in other embodiments, it can be a reusable item. In some embodiments, the medical garment can be packaged in an individually wrapped and sealed package. In some embodiments, the medical garment can be individually packaged and sterilized before use. However, in some embodiments, the medical garment(s) can be packaged in groups (e.g., multi-unit packs) instead of individually wrapped.
It will be appreciated that in some embodiments the medical garments described herein may be covered with various types of coatings. In some embodiments the coating may be an antimicrobial coating such as MICROBAN® antimicrobial coatings. In some embodiments, the medical garments embodied herein can be coated with any number of flame retardant materials. In some embodiments, the medical garments embodied herein can be coated with a liquid-repellant material. In some embodiments, the medical garments embodied herein can be coated with a material to reduce possible skin irritation.
It will be appreciated that the waist bands in accordance with various embodiments herein can encircle the entire circumference of the medical garment. In some embodiments, the waist band can form a continuous loop about the top of the medical garment. In some embodiments, the waist band can be associated with but not physically connected to the front or back panels of the medical garment, such that it passes freely through the first and second channels of the front and back panels of the medical garment forming a non-anchored loop. In some embodiments, the waist bands can be connected to the first or second panel of the medical garment with a sewn connection point. In some embodiments, the waist bands can be removably connected to the first and second panel through a snap, button, zipper, hook-and-loop, or touch fastener connection point.
Waist bands in accordance with the medical garments embodied herein can be made of various elastomeric materials. In some embodiments, the waist bands can be made of nylon elastomer, polyester elastomer, spandex, elastomer blends, and the like. In some embodiments, the waist band can include polymeric soft loops on the inside and/or outside surfaces of the waist band. Such polymer soft loops can be, for example, those found in hook-and-loop fasteners. One example of a hook-and-loop fasteners that can be used in various embodiments are commercially available under the VELCRO® brand. However, it should be clarified that VELCRO® products typically include one side which contains the loops and another side that contains the hooks. For purposes herein, it is the portion containing the loops that is usefully applied
While not intending to be bound by theory, it has been found that when elastomeric soft loops are disposed on the outside surface of the waist band, they can provide a moderate resistance against the medical garment material to keep the first and second lateral sides of the first tunnel or second tunnel from freely sliding along the waist band during a procedure. As such, the loops can provide a degree of resistance to portions of the lateral sides sliding along the waist band while still allowing for sliding to occur. In some embodiments, the loops have a length of about 0.1 mm to about 5 mm or longer. In some embodiments, the loops stick directly outward from the outside surface of the waistband. The elastomeric soft loop waist band can be single faced, having loops only on one side of the waist band, or it can be double faced, having loops on both sides of the waist band.
In some embodiments, the waistband can form a continuous, unbroken loop of material. However, in other embodiments, the waistband can include one or more points where the waistband can be selectively separated to introduce a gap or otherwise open the waistband. Those points can include a fastener to keep the waistband together as desired. Such fasteners can include, but are not limited to, VELCO®, hooks, snaps, and the like.
Referring now to
In some embodiments, where loops are on both sides of the waistband, the outer and inner loops can be of the same size or can be of different sizes. In particular, in some embodiments, loops on the inner surface of the waistband can be smaller than loops on the outer surface of the waistband. In some embodiments, loops can be at least about 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, or 5 millimeters in height (e.g., in the direction perpendicular from the inner or outer surface of the waistband). In some embodiments, the loop height can be in a range wherein any of the foregoing can serve as the upper or lower bound of the range, provide that the upper bound is larger than the lower bound.
It will be appreciated that the elastomeric waist bands embodied herein can be designed to have substantial dimensional elasticity. The term dimensional elasticity refers to the degree to which a material can stretch in a particular dimension. Dimensional elasticity herein can be measured by comparing the size of a waist band when no force is applied to the maximum size (fully expanded configuration) the waistband can assume with force applied, but without causing permanent damage As such, a waistband that is nominally 30 inches with no force applied, but that can reach a maximum size of 60 inches without sustaining permanent damage when force is applied has 100% dimensional elasticity. In some embodiments, the elastomeric waist bands can be designed to have about 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 125%, 150%, 175%, 200%, 225%, 250%, 275%, or 300% dimensional elasticity. In some embodiments, the elastomeric waist bands herein can have a dimensional elasticity in a range wherein any of the forgoing numbers can serve as the upper or lower bound of the range, provided that the upper bound is larger than the lower bound. While not intending to be bound by theory, it is believed that the relatively high dimensional elasticity of waist bands facilitates the use of such garments in surgical contexts where movement of the garment by a care provider is highly desirable. The relatively high dimensional elasticity of waist bands herein make the medical garments herein substantially different than normal garments. In some embodiments, the dimensional elasticity is from about 75% to about 200%.
It will be appreciated that the waist bands embodied herein can be made of woven or non-woven materials. In some embodiments, the waist band can be made of non-latex materials. In some embodiments, the waist band can be made of non-metallic materials. In some embodiments, the waist band can be made of any color material.
It will be appreciated that in some embodiments the waist bands described herein may be covered with various types of coatings. In some embodiments the coating may be an antimicrobial coating such as MICROBAN® antimicrobial coatings. In some embodiments, the waist bands embodied herein can be coated with any number of flame retardant materials.
It will be appreciated that the medical garments described herein can be made to fit a wide range of body types and sizes. For example, the medical garments described herein can be made to accommodate almost any waist size. In some embodiments, the medical garments can be sized to fit individuals having a waist of less than 24 inches. In some embodiments, the medical garments can be sized to fit individuals having a waist of between 24 inches to 30 inches. In some embodiments, the medical garments can be sized to fit individuals having a waist of between 31 inches to 37 inches. In some embodiments, the medical garments can be sized to fit individuals having a waist of between 38 inches to 44 inches. In some embodiments, the medical garments can be sized to fit individuals having a waist of greater than 44 inches.
It will be appreciated that the medical garments embodied herein can be unisex in nature and designed to fit patients of all ages. The medical garments embodied herein can be designed to provide full coverage to the groin or bikini area of a patient undergoing a procedure, while also providing unrestricted access to a physician performing a procedure on that patient.
It should be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a composition containing “a compound” includes a mixture of two or more compounds. It should also be noted that the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.
It should also be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the phrase “configured” describes a system, apparatus, or other structure that is constructed or configured to perform a particular task or adopt a particular configuration to. The phrase “configured” can be used interchangeably with other similar phrases such as arranged and configured, constructed and arranged, constructed, manufactured and arranged, and the like.
All publications and patent applications in this specification are indicative of the level of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated by reference.
Aspects have been described with reference to various specific and preferred embodiments and techniques. However, it should be understood that many variations and modifications may be made while remaining within the spirit and scope herein.
This application is being filed as a PCT International Patent application on Oct. 20, 2017 in the name of COVR Medical, LLC, a U.S. national corporation, applicant for the designation of all countries and Heather Loree Levy, a U.S. Citizen, and Romeo Catracchia, a U.S. Citizen, and Donald Osborn Cilley, a U.S. Citizen, inventors for the designation of all countries, and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/410,631, filed Oct. 20, 2016, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US17/57568 | 10/20/2017 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62410631 | Oct 2016 | US |
