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Reserved for a later date, if necessary.
The disclosed subject matter is in the field of neonate wraps and related methods.
Recent statistics indicate that newborn babies are dropped by parents, midwifes, or hospital staff at a rate of twenty-two (22) times for every nineteen-thousand (19,000) births. Increases in newborn baby illnesses or diseases, like methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), and other hospital-acquired infections (i.e., nosocomial infections), have also been reported in recent years. Some have suggested that increased popularity of skin-to-skin newborn care techniques (sometimes called Kangaroo care because of skin-to-skin techniques' resemblance to the marsupials' newborn in-pouch treatment techniques) are to blame for increased baby drops and infections.
Placing the blame of increased use of skin-to-skin techniques on increased newborn disease and increased injury is rational. Skin-to-skin techniques necessarily involve the handoff of newborns between parents and staff, holding of newborns by inexperienced or untrained parents, and contact of the newborn with the sometimes unclean skin of an adult. So, a need exists for improvements to apparatus and related methods for accomplishing skin-to-skin newborn baby care.
The prior patent documents that are known can be described as follows:
The primary impetus for the neonate medical wrap is the problem of baby drops at hospitals that implement skin-to-skin (baby's skin on mother's skin) neonatal care. In addition to baby drops, the wrap is designed to protect against cases of MRSA, VRE and nosocomial infections are also problematic during skin-to-skin infant care. In view of the foregoing, disclosed is a neonate medical wrap. In one embodiment, the neonate medical wrap is a wrap-style baby carrier that is particularly useful during the first 28 days after the baby's birth.
In a preferred embodiment, the neonate medical wrap comprises a torso sleeve and a shoulder strap. The shoulder strap and torso sleeve generally form concentric fabric loops or tubes and are joined along a mutual opening down the side of the tube. In a preferred embodiment, the opening is selectively closable via a zipper and features at least one (e.g., two) secondary clasp for added stability of the closed opening. In use, the torso sleeve and shoulder strap may be outfitted around the torso of a parent and, via the side opening, a baby may be installed against the parent's skin under the sleeve. The shoulder strap may be provided over the shoulder of the parent to assist in supporting the baby's weight while standing and, as a result, enable hands free skin-to-skin carrying of the baby inside the torso sleeve supported by the shoulder strap. Suitably, the torso sleeve can feature patterned compression threading for compressing arms and legs of the baby and for supporting the parents abdomen and back during use. Finally, the wrap suitably includes fibers that are bonded with a layer of 99% pure metallic silver threading knitted throughout to reduce the risk of infectious illnesses, including by inhibiting the growth of bacteria on the wrap.
The neonate medical wrap may suitably reduce any risk of infant injury, reduce risk of infant illness, and facilitate safe skin-to-skin or other hands-free coddling of the baby. Preferably, the wrap goes around the torso of a parent and features an opening on the side for easy baby installation into the wrap. Once installed inside the wrap, the baby (i.e., front of the baby) is suitably compressed against the parent. Compression may be facilitated via use of compression threading. Suitably, the wrap has a secondary strap or sling mechanism for added support and carrying security.
Suitably, the disclosed neonate medical wrap may be used in at least the following four (4) situations: 1. by a parent after vaginal delivery of a newborn baby; 2. by a parent after delivery of a baby via Cesarean Section (“C-section”); 3. by a parent while a baby is treated in a neonatal intensive care unit of a hospital; and 4. by a parent at home and a post-hospital setting. In a first example, immediately prior to vaginal delivery of a baby, a nurse or midwife may assist the mother-to-be in outfitting the neonate medical wrap prior to you start to child-birth so that the newborn baby may be quickly placed inside the wrap against the mothers skin. In a second example, before a C-section, a nurse or midwife may assist a mother-to-be in outfitting the wrap after a spinal anesthesia has been placed on the mother-to-be. Elaborating on the second example, the wrap may be placed on the delivery table so that, after the spinal anesthesia is placed and the mother-to-be laid down on table, the nurse or midwife may place the wrap on the mother. In both examples, early positioning of the wrap on the mother-to-be enables the wrap to acclimate to her body temperature whereby (after the baby is born, its umbilical cord is clamped, and its skin is wiped down) the garment can be partially uninstalled to place the newborn baby against the mother. In a third example, the wrap may be used in the NICU as well for kangaroo care. Continuing the third example, the garment can enable placement of the baby on a parent's upper chest while any medical tubes, lines, or other equipment can be managed while attached to the baby. It should be noted that the 99% pure metallic silver threading may be especially good in the NICU since the chance of contracting MRSA, VRE and nosocomial infections double after being treated in the NICU. In a fourth example, the neonate medical wrap can be used in the home after delivery of the baby, including after delivery for the first twenty-eight (28) days while the baby is in the neonate phase. In a preferred mode the baby may be in the range of weight between four (4) and fourteen (14) pounds (lbs).
Suitably, a baby will suitably be positioned with its body is fully aligned with the parents body on his or her chest (e.g., in a frog legged position where the baby's arms on its sides). In a preferred positioning, the baby is front-to-front (e.g., chest-to-chest) with the parent. In one embodiment, the baby's cheek may be positioned on the parent's chest in a position proximate to the parents chin and lips so that the parent is able to bend his or her neck down and kiss the baby's forehead. The secondary strap or sling may suitably be wrapped around the parent's torso or wrapped over the parent's shoulder for added support while sitting or lying in bed. While the baby is installed, the parent can suitably relax and recover in a substantially hands free manner while maintaining skin-to-skin contact with the baby at substantially all times.
Suitably, the wrap may also be worn in a standing position. Initially, after the wrap is outfitted as described above, a parent may tuck their arm into the shoulder strap to allow the shoulder strap to slide up the arm and over half of the shoulder. Preferably, the bottom part of the shoulder strap will support the underneath of the baby's buttocks and back. In one embodiment, the baby's weight can be well distributed across parent's back to maintain excellent posture and support without causing strain. Such positioning of the wrap can suitably enable a parent to walk freely with both hands substantially free, as well as (in the case of a mother) maintain proper post-pregnancy posture until her body has time to recover. Such positioning of the wrap can also allow a parent to have both hands substantially free to catch the baby in case of falls or to block projectile objects from contact with the baby. Suitably, a parent and baby can co-sleep (i.e., sleep together) in a bed where the wrap can prevent baby falls or baby suffocation from the bedding. A lactating parent can also breastfeed while wearing the garment.
Other objectives of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the invention has been shown and described. The manner in which these objectives and other desirable characteristics can be obtained is explained in the following description and attached figures in which:
In the figures, the following components are represented by the corresponding reference numerals:
It is to be noted, however, that the appended figures illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments that will be appreciated by those reasonably skilled in the relevant arts. Also, figures are not necessarily made to scale but are representative.
Disclosed is a neonate medical wrap. In one embodiment, the neonate medical wrap is a wrap-style baby carrier that is particularly useful during the first 28 days after the baby's birth. Generally, the disclosed neonate medical wrap comprises a torso wrap and a shoulder strap. In use, the torso wrap and shoulder strap may be outfitted around the torso of a parent and, via a side opening, a baby may be installed against the parent's skin under the torso wrap. The shoulder strap may be provided over the shoulder of the parent to assist in supporting the baby's weight while standing. The more specific aspects of the disclosed neonate wrap are disclosed in connection with the figures.
Referring to
The disclosed neonate medical wrap 1000 may suitably reduce the risk of infant 3000 injury, reduce the risk of infant 3000 illness, and facilitate safe skin-to-skin or other hands-free coddling of the baby 3000. To this end, the wrap 1000 may have bonded fibers (including permanently bonded fibers) with a layer of 99% pure metallic silver threading 1900 knitted throughout to reduce the risk of infectious illnesses.
Suitably, the disclosed neonate medical wrap may be used in at least the following four (4) situations: 1. by a parent after (including immediately after) vaginal delivery of a newborn baby; 2. by a parent after (including immediately after) delivery of a baby via Cesarean Section (“C-section”); 3. by a parent while a baby is treated in a neonatal intensive care unit of a hospital; and 4. by a parent at home and a post-hospital setting, including for the first twenty-eight (28) days after the baby's birth.
Suitably, a baby 3000 may be positioned so that its body is fully aligned with the parent's 2000 body on his or her chest (e.g., in a frog legged position where the baby's arms on its sides (see
As shown in
Suitably, the wrap 1000 may also be worn in a standing position. Initially, after the wrap 1000 is outfitted as described above, a parent 2000 may tuck their arm into the shoulder strap 1500 to allow the shoulder strap 1500 to slide up the arm and over half of the shoulder (
In a first example, immediately prior to vaginal delivery of a baby 2000, a nurse or midwife (not shown) may assist the mother-to-be 3000 in outfitting the neonate medical wrap 1000 prior to the start of child-birth so that the newborn baby 3000 may be quickly placed inside the wrap 1000 against the mothers skin 1000, as shown.
In a second example, before a C-section, a nurse or midwife (not shown) may assist a mother-to-be 2000 in outfitting the wrap 1000 after a spinal anesthesia (not shown) has been placed on the mother-to-be 2000. Elaborating on the second example, the wrap 1000 may be placed on the delivery table (not shown) so that, after the spinal anesthesia (not shown) is placed and the mother-to-be 2000 laid down on table (not shown), the nurse or midwife (not shown) may place the wrap 1000 on the mother 2000.
In both examples 1 and 2, early positioning of the wrap 1000 on the mother-to-be 2000 enables the wrap 1000 to acclimate to her 2000 body temperature whereby (after the baby 3000 is born, its umbilical cord (not shown) is clamped, and its skin is wiped down) the garment 1000 can be partially uninstalled (see
In a third example, the wrap 1000 may be used in the NICU as well for kangaroo care. Continuing the third example, the garment 1000 can enable placement of the baby 3000 on a parent's 2000 upper chest while any medical tubes (not shown), lines (not shown), or other equipment (not shown) can be managed while attached to the baby 3000. It should be noted that the 99% pure metallic silver threading 1900 may be especially good in the NICU since the chance of contracting MRSA, VRE and nosocomial infections double after being treated in the NICU.
In a fourth example, the neonate medical wrap can be used in the home after NICU use, including for use on a baby during the first twenty-eight (28) days after birth.
Although the method and apparatus is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead might be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosed method and apparatus, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus the breadth and scope of the claimed invention should not be limited by any of the above-described embodiments.
Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open-ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like, the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof, the terms “a” or “an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more,” or the like, and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that might be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future.
The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases might be absent. The use of the term “assembly” does not imply that the components or functionality described or claimed as part of the module are all configured in a common package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of a module, whether control logic or other components, might be combined in a single package or separately maintained and might further be distributed across multiple locations.
Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described in terms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations. As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their various alternatives might be implemented without confinement to the illustrated examples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying description should not be construed as mandating a particular architecture or configuration.
All original claims submitted with this specification are incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein.
Not applicable.