U.S. patent application number 11/423409 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-03 for hospital patient gown.
This patent application is currently assigned to TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. Invention is credited to Shelly D. Nalbone, Yvette M. Ochoa.
Application Number | 20080000006 11/423409 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38875079 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080000006 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ochoa; Yvette M. ; et
al. |
January 3, 2008 |
HOSPITAL PATIENT GOWN
Abstract
Disclosed are hospital patient and medical gowns designed to
facilitate not only convenient and unobstructed access to the
patients body by medical personnel, but also provide an improved
fit, ease of wearing, and an enhanced level of modesty and privacy
when compared to conventional rear-access hospital gowns.
Inventors: |
Ochoa; Yvette M.; (Santa Fe,
TX) ; Nalbone; Shelly D.; (Houston, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HAYNES AND BOONE, LLP
901 Main Street, Suite 3100
Dallas
TX
75202
US
|
Assignee: |
TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
38875079 |
Appl. No.: |
11/423409 |
Filed: |
June 9, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/114 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 13/1236
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/114 |
International
Class: |
A41D 10/00 20060101
A41D010/00 |
Claims
1. A hospital gown comprising: (a) a rear body portion for
substantially covering the posterior torso of the patient; (b) a
first and a second frontal panel, each of said panels being formed
adjacent and operably linked to said rear body portion on the
patient substantially by a first and second seam extending
substantially vertically along the left and right lateral portions
of said patient; (c) a first fastening means attached to said first
frontal panel for opening and closing said first frontal panel, and
for operably attaching said first frontal panel to a first
fastening means located substantially along said first seam formed
between the opposing frontal panel and said rear body portion; (d)
a second fastening means attached to said second frontal panel for
opening and closing said second frontal panel, and for operably
attaching said second frontal panel to a second fastening means
located substantially along said second seam formed between the
opposing frontal panel and said rear body portion; and (e) a first
and a second operably openable sleeve, each of said sleeves formed
of a first part attached to said rear body portion, and a second
part attached to respective ones of said first and said second
frontal panels, and having top edges.
2. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein said first frontal panel is
operably securable to fastening means located substantially in the
left or right mid-axillary region of said patient.
3. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein one of said fastening means
is located substantially along an interior surface of said first
seam.
4. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein one of said fastening means
is located substantially along an exterior surface of said second
seam.
5. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein said first frontal panel
closure means comprises at least one axillary tie.
6. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein said first and said second
frontal panel closure means comprise a plurality of fabric ties
substantially along said first and said second seams.
7. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein at least one sleeve of said
patient gown comprises at least a first shoulder opening
substantially along the top seam of said sleeve.
8. The patient gown of claim 7, wherein said at least a first
shoulder opening is operably closable by at least one snap, tie,
clip, button, clasp, or a hook-and-loop-type fastener.
9. The patient gown of claim 8, wherein said at least a first
shoulder opening is operably closed by a plurality of snaps, ties,
clips, buttons, clasps, or hook-and-loop-type fasteners.
10. The patient gown of claim 9, wherein said at least a first
shoulder opening is operably closed by a plurality of snaps.
11. The patient gown of claim 9, wherein said plurality of snaps is
manufactured from a material that is suitable for wearing by a
patient while in a medical imaging or radiographic device.
12. The patient gown of claim 11, wherein said medical imaging or
radiographic device is a CT scanner, a PET scanner, an MRI device,
an EBCT scanner, a fluoroscope, or an X-ray device.
13. The patient gown of claim 9, wherein said material is plastic,
nylon, or polyester.
14. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein said front portion has a
crew- or V-neck style collar.
15. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein said sleeves extend
approximately to the middle of the upper arms of the wearer.
16. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein said sleeves extend
approximately to the mid-forearms of the wearer.
17. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein the hemline of said gown
extends approximately to the mid-thighs or the knees of the
wearer.
18. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein the hemline of said gown
extends approximately to the mid-calf of the wearer.
19. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein said gown is manufactured
substantially from a single sheet of material.
20. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein said gown is manufactured
substantially from three separate sheets of material.
21. The patient gown of claim 20, wherein one of said sheets of
material forms substantially the entire back panel of the gown, and
each of the remaining two sheets forms substantially the right and
left front panels of said gown.
22. The patient gown of claim 21, wherein said back panel and said
right and said left front panels are coupled substantially along
left and right side seams.
23. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein said gown is manufactured
substantially from a material that comprises cotton, polyester,
plastic, cotton polyblend, nylon, paper or combinations
thereof.
24. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein said gown is manufactured
substantially from a flame-retardant material, or a material that
has been treated with a flame-retardant substance.
25. The patient gown of claim 1, further comprising at least a
first device storage pocket attached to at least a first surface of
said gown.
26. The patient gown of claim 1, further comprising at least a
first document storage pocket attached to at least a first surface
of said gown.
27. The patient gown of claim 1, further comprising at least a
first radio frequency identification (RFID) device operably
attached to at least a first portion of said gown.
28. The patient gown of claim 1, further comprising at least a
first identification marking on at least a first inner or outer
surface of said gown.
29. The patient gown of claim 1, size-appropriate to an infant.
30. The patient gown of claim 1, size-appropriate to a toddler.
31. The patient gown of claim 1, size-appropriate to an
adolescent.
32. The patient gown of claim 1, size-appropriate to a
teenager.
33. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein the fabric of the front
portion of the garment is composed of at least two layers of fabric
adapted to provide additional patient warmth, comfort, or
modesty.
34. The patient gown of claim 1, personalized with the name of a
patient by whom the gown is worn.
35. The patient gown of claim 1, personalized with the name or logo
of a medical facility in which the gown is sold, issued or
worn.
36. The patient gown of claim 34, wherein said gown is personalized
by monogramming, stitching, ink transfer, screen printing,
embroidery, dye sublimation, inking, stenciling, or contact
printing.
37. A hospital gown formed substantially from three separate sheets
of material, the first of said sheets forming substantially the
entire rear portion of the gown, the second of said sheets forming
substantially a first frontal panel of said gown, and said third of
said sheets forming substantially a second frontal panel of said
gown; wherein said first frontal panel is operably attached to a
first vertical edge of said rear portion substantially by a first
seam extending substantially vertically along the left lateral
portion of said gown, said first seam connecting said first frontal
panel to said first vertical edge of said rear portion, and wherein
said second frontal panel is operably attached to a second vertical
edge of said rear portion substantially by a second seam extending
substantially vertically along the right lateral portion of said
gown; said second seam connecting said second frontal panel to said
second vertical edge of said rear portion; said gown comprising:
(a) a first and a second sleeve, each of said sleeves formed of a
first sleeve part attached to said rear body portion, and a second
sleeve part attached to respective ones of said first and said
second frontal panels, wherein each pair of said sleeve parts is
fixably closed along their lower edges, and operably closable along
their upper edges, wherein said upper edges of said sleeve comprise
at least a first closure means for closing said sleeve parts along
the shoulder region of said sleeve; (b) a first fastening means
attached to the outer edge of said first frontal panel for securing
said first frontal panel to a second fastening means located
substantially at a position along said first seam corresponding to
the mid-axillary region of a patient wearing said gown; and (c) a
third fastening means attached to the outer edge of said second
frontal panel for securing said second frontal panel to a fourth
fastening means located substantially at a position along said
second seam corresponding to the mid-axillary region of a patient
wearing said gown.
38. The hospital gown of claim 37, wherein one or more of said
fastening means is located substantially along an interior surface
of gown.
39. The hospital gown of claim 37, wherein one or more of said
fastening means is located substantially along an exterior surface
of said gown.
40. The hospital gown of claim 37, wherein at least one of said
fastening means comprises a first tie, snap, hook, eyelet, button,
or hook and loop fastener.
41. The hospital gown of claim 37, wherein said gown comprises a
plurality of fastening means.
42. The hospital gown of claim 41, wherein said plurality of
fastening means comprises a plurality of fabric ties, snaps, hooks,
eyelets, buttons, or hook-and-loop fasteners.
43. The hospital gown of claim 37, wherein said at least a first
closure means is operably closable by at least one snap, tie, clip,
button, clasp, or a hook-and-loop-type fastener.
44. The hospital gown of claim 37, wherein at least one of said
sleeves comprise a plurality of closure means for closing said
sleeve parts along the shoulder region of said sleeve.
45. The hospital gown of claim 37, wherein both of said sleeves
comprise a plurality of closure means for closing said sleeve parts
along the respective shoulder regions of said sleeves.
46. The hospital gown of claim 37, further comprising at least a
first pocket attached to at least a first surface of said gown.
47. A medical gown comprising: (a) a first body portion for
covering substantially an anterior or posterior surface of the
torso of a human patient; (b) first and second panels, each of said
panels being operably linked to said first body portion
substantially by first and second seams extending substantially
vertically along the left and right lateral edges of said first
body portion; (c) a first fastening means attached to said first
panel for operably securing said first panel to a first fastening
means located substantially along said first seam formed between
the opposing panel and said first body portion; (d) a second
fastening means attached to said second panel for operably securing
said second panel to a second fastening means located substantially
along said second seam formed between the opposing panel and said
first body portion; and (e) first and second operably openable
sleeves, each of said sleeves formed of a first part attached to
said first body portion, and a second part attached to respective
ones of said first and said second panels, wherein at least one of
said sleeves is operably openable along its upper shoulder seam.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to medical examination/patient
gowns and like garments intended especially for use by pediatric,
juvenile, and/or adolescent patients.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0002] The drawings form part of the present specification and are
included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the present
invention. The invention may be better understood by reference to
one or more of these drawings in combination with the detailed
description of specific embodiments presented herein.
[0003] FIG. 1 is a rear view of a conventional rear-tying
commercially-available prior art standard rear-closing hospital
patient gown.
[0004] FIG. 2 is a front view of one embodiment of the present
invention illustrating a front-closing hospital gown, with right
and left front panels opened to reveal the interior surface of the
garment. Optional ties are visible along the interior left and
right side seams of the garment.
[0005] FIG. 3 is a closed frontal view of the embodiment of the
present invention shown in FIG. 2. In this view the right and left
front panels have been wrapped around to illustrate the outer
surface of the front portion of the garment in its usual wearing
configuration. The view illustrates how the optional garment tie(s)
may be fastened either along the inner, and or outer lateral
garment side seams to facilitate securement of one or both frontal
garment flaps. As shown, the garment is fastened along both an
inner seam (shown by the dotted line ties), and an outer seam
(shown by the solid line ties). Alternatively, the front panels of
the gown may be secured by one or more ties along only one side of
the garment, either on the inner or outer seams of the garment.
[0006] This view also illustrates optional shoulder opening/closing
means which may be fabricated along one or both sleeves of the
garment. In this particular view, optional openable and closable
shoulder seams of the garment are fashioned such that they may be
secured with two or more fastening means, such as metallic or
non-metallic snaps. For comparison, these snaps are shown
unfastened in the FIG. 2 view. Other fastening means are described
herein, and some of those are also illustrated in FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B,
FIG. 6C, FIG. 6D and FIG. 6E.
[0007] FIG. 4 is a front view of another embodiment of the present
invention with the right and left front panels opened to reveal the
interior surface of the garment. In this embodiment, optional
mid-axillary ties are shown along the inner (solid lines) and outer
(dotted lines) lateral side seams of the garment.
[0008] FIG. 5 is a rear anatomical (posterior) view of the
embodiment of the present invention illustrating that the gown may
also be worn in a typical rear-closing" configuration. In this
view, the gown is shown with a left sleeve 30, having a sleeve
opening 30a, a right sleeve 35, having a sleeve opening 35a, a
neckline 40. The gown is secured by a tie 61 located along the
inner left lateral side seam of the garment, securing the first
panel (not seen) to the opposing side seam, as well as by a tie 62
located along the outer right lateral side seam of the garment, for
securing the second panel (here identified as 55) to the right
lateral side seam. Both ties are shown in an axillary placement to
facilitate improved modesty for the wearer.
[0009] FIG. 6A-FIG. 6E are front views of various embodiments for
opening and closing the top shoulder seam(s) of one or both sleeves
of the garment. For clarity, only a single sleeve is shown, but the
gowns of the invention may have one or both shoulder seam(s)
fabricated with means for operably opening the gown along its
shoulder seams. Shown in FIG. 6A is a means for operably opening
and operably securing the shoulder seam of the garment using a
plurality of conventional metallic garment snaps along the seam.
FIG. 6B shows a second means for operably opening and securing the
front and rear fabric portions that form the sleeve of the garment
using a plurality of non-metallice (such as nylon or plastic)
garment snaps along the upper seam of the sleeve. FIG. 6C shows yet
another means for operably opening and securing one of the shoulder
seams using a plurality of conventional garment buttons and
corresponding button holes. In FIG. 6D, securement of the shoulder
seam is illustrated using a portion of conventional "hook-and-loop"
type fastening tape. The "hook" portion may be affixed to one edge
of the fabric seam, while the corresponding "loop" portion of the
closure means is affixed to the opposing fabric surface of the
seam. When the portions are brought into close proximity to each
other, the hooks and loops of the material engage thereby securing
the seam. Velcro.TM. is an exemplary type of such hook-and-look
fasteners. FIG. 6E shows yet another shoulder opening/securement
means which comprises a plurality of ties fashioned along the
length of the sleeve that can be tied to secure closure of the top
sleeve seam. Such ties can be fabric, string, or suitable material,
and may be directly fashioned into the sleeve panels
themselves.
[0010] In each of the illustrations, it is understood that a
"plurality" of fastening means is intened to mean two or more such
means. The quantity, spacing, size, and arrangments of such
securement means may depend upon the length of the shoulder, the
size of the sleeve, or the overall size of the gown onto which they
are fashioned. Likewise, in some embodiments, the shoulder seams
may lack securement means altoghether. In such embodiments, the
shoulder is closed as in a traditional shirt--i.e. no shoulder
sleeve opening and securement means are present along the shoulder
seam.
[0011] FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are front anatomical (anterior) views of
one embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 7A the model illustrates
first securement of the right frontal flap of the garment to the
left interior side seam of the garment using an axillary-region and
optional hemline-region securement means, which in this
illustration is a fabric tie. In FIG. 7B, the model illustrates how
the remaining left frontal flap is then folded over and secured by
ties to the right exterior side seam of the garment as
illustrated.
[0012] FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are front anatomical (anterior) views of
another embodiment of the invention which shows the ease with which
the garment may be worn to provide modesty and coverage. In FIG.
8A, the model illustrates first securement of the left frontal flap
to the right interior side seam of the garment using both axillary
region and hemline region ties. In FIG. 8B, the model illustrates
how the remaining right frontal flap can then be folded over and
secured to the left exterior side seam of the garment using, for
example, one or more fabric ties as illustrated.
[0013] FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B are rear anatomical (posterior) views of
a patient wearing an illustrative hospital gown of the present
invention. This illustration depicts the versatility of the
garment, showing that the gown, if desired, may be worn in a
traditional "ear-tying" configuration. FIG. 9A shows that the gown
may be secured to provide full modesty and coverage of the
patient's posterior even when the gown is secured only along a
single sideseam of the garment (in this depiction, shown tied along
the patient's left side). In FIG. 9B an alternative configuration
is demonstrated illustrating that the gown may be secured not only
by securing one panel along an inner sideseam (shown here tied
along the patient's left side), but also by further securing the
remaining fabric flap to the opposing outer garment seam (shown
here as tied along the patient's right side). By securing both
panels of fabric to their respective opposing seams, full modesty
and coverage of the patient's posterior is enhanced by the two
layers of fabric. A similar benefit is seen when the gown is tied
in a "front-tying" mode, wherein the two panels of fabric provide
additional coverage and modesty to the patient's anterior
region.
[0014] FIG. 10 is a front view of another embodiment of the
invention in which the fabric tie members located along the inner
lateral seams of the garment have been omitted in favor of the
addition of small slits in the corresponding regions of the lateral
side seams to facilitate threading of a fabric tie member into the
slit and tying of the tie by matching the fabric tie member pushed
through the slits with the corresponding fabric tie member from the
opposing seam of the front fabric panel. (See FIG. 12 for an open
perspective view of a gown in which the side slits are visible).
The gown may have slits in the side seams only at the mid-axillary
region, or may optionally have slits placed near the bottom hemline
to facilitate securement of additional lower garment edge ties.
(Also exemplified in FIG. 12). This figure illustrates the
placement of optional securing means along the center portion of
the bottom hem of the garment which may be fastened to facilitate
securement of the garment in the patient's crotch region.
[0015] FIG. 11 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the
invention. In this illustration, the securing means shown in FIG.
10 along the lower hemline comprise a plurality of snaps, each of
which snaps is comprised of a snap engaging member and a snap
receiving member. This configuration is particularly desirable for
wearing by toddlers and infants, as it permits mobility of the
lower limbs, without entanglement of the feet and legs in the
hemline of a traditional gown. The plurality of snap receiving
("female") members may be fashioned along one surface of the
garment, and a corresponding plurality of snap engaging ("male")
members may be fashioned along the opposing surface of the garment.
When the engaging and receiving portions of the snaps are then
mated, a crotch region of the garment is fashioned which permits
the formation of leg openings along the lower edge of the gown.
[0016] FIG. 12 is a front view of an embodiment of the invention in
which the fabric tie members located along the inner lateral seams
of the garment have been omitted in favor of the addition of small
slits in the corresponding regions of the lateral side seams to
facilitate threading of a fabric tie member into the slit and tying
of the tie by matching the fabric tie member pushed through the
slits with the corresponding fabric tie member from the opposing
seam of the front fabric panel (See FIG. 10 for a closed frontal
view of these features). The gown may have slits in the side seams
only at the mid-axillary region, or may, as exemplified here, also
comprise slits and tie members placed near the bottom hemline to
facilitate securement of additional lower garment edges.
[0017] Also shown in this view are the pluralities of crotch
closure means illustrated in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. By placing a
plurality of snap engaging members along the rear fabric panel of
the garment and placing a corresponding plurality of snap receiving
members along either (or both as shown here) of the frontal panels
of the garment, the lower hemline of the garment may be snapped in
place to form a secured crotch region and individual leg openings.
Alternatively, a plurality of snap receiving members may be placed
along the rear fabric planel of the garment, and a plurality of
snap engaging members may be placed along either (or both) of the
left and right front panels of the garment (not shown).
[0018] FIG. 13 is a front view of another embodiment of the
invention in which an optional device pocket is provided on one (or
both) of the front panel fabric panels of the garment. Such device
pocket(s) is/are preferably located at a position in the
approximate upper-half of the garment to facilitate attachment of
telemetry electrodes, sensors, leads, tubes, monitors, and such
like. Optionally, the pocket(s) may be fabricated such that a
corresponding slit is made in the front fabric panel of the garment
approximately along the upper edge of the pocket openings), through
which electrodes, wires, tubes, etc. may be passed from a device in
the pocket directly through the slit in the garment and onto the
patient's body. When desired, fabrication of a pocket and slit on
each frontal panel (as shown here), is also contemplated to
represent one "dual-pocket" embodiment of the gown.
[0019] This front view also shows an embodiment of the invention in
which optional data storage/patient record storage pocket(s) may be
sewn into one (or both as shown here) of the front panel fabric
portions of the garment. Such data/record storage pocket(s) is/are
preferably located at a position in the approximate lower-half of
the garment to facilitate storage of patient records, test data,
identification papers, medical notes, physician instructions, and
such like.
[0020] FIG. 14 is a front anatomical (anterior) view of a patient
wearing an exemplary gown as shown in FIG. 13. Optional telemetry
pockets are shown along the upper left and right chest regions of
the gown, and optional data/record storage pockets are shown along
the lower right and left sides of the garment.
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Patients commonly disrobe from their street clothes and don
loose-fitting, smock-like gowns prior to undergoing medical
examinations or procedures. Such gowns desirably facilitate greater
access to areas of a patient's body by medical personnel when
compared with ordinary street clothes. While such garments are
often generically referred to as "medical gowns," "patient gowns,"
"exam gowns" or "hospital gowns," they may, in fact, be employed in
any situation where it is desirable to provide both coverage of the
body to maintain modesty, while offering enhanced access to one or
more areas of a patient's body for physical examination, medical
procedures, patient confinement, rehabilitation and such like.
[0022] The process of having a patient remove his or her street
clothing and enrobe in such a garment prior to a physical
examination, medical procedure, or hospital confinement has become
a defacto protocol in the medical arts in many countries worldwide.
This process not only prevents damage to, or soiling of, a
patient's personal clothing during examination or hospitalization,
but also provides increased facility of access to all areas of the
patient's body by medical personnel during the procedure.
[0023] Moreover, the use of patient gowns during medical procedures
may also reduce the spread of pathogens or infectious agents that
may otherwise have been transmitted to a patient's clothing or
personal effects, if the examination were conducted while the
patient wore regular clothing. Maintenance of these gowns by the
medical facility itself also ensures proper decontamination and
adequate cleaning of the gowns following their use. Likewise, the
use of hospital gowns during medical procedures also provides a
level of patient modesty, preserves personal decency, and obviates
the need for a patient to completely disrobe prior to a medical
examination or procedure.
[0024] Conventional hospital patient gowns are typically in the
form of an oversized shirt-like garment with one or more ties along
the free edges of the gown. These garments typically have enlarged
neck and arm openings to facilitate access by medical personnel's
hands or instruments, and to accommodate a variety of patients
having differing body shapes and/or sizes. Most often, the gowns
have a single rear opening, and typically have a single tie along
the back edges of the garment either at the patient's neck or waist
to secure the two open edges of garment. Typically gowns are also
designed such that the length of the garment places the bottom
hemline at, or below, an adult wearer's knees. Because children are
proportioned differently than adults, when an adult gown is worn by
a child, this typically means the hem of the garment is mid-calf,
or even lower on the child, which makes it difficult for the child
to ambulate without tripping on the gown.
[0025] Although standard-issue hospital garment may be inexpensive
to manufacture because they are typically secured in the back with
a single tie at the neck, putting on such a garment by oneself is
often awkward at best, and impossible at worst. This is
particularly true for adolescent or juvenile patients who are
either unfamiliar with the garment's atypical rear-tying
configuration, or are unable to reach and fasten a rear neckline
tie. Moreover, even when the gown is properly secured in the back,
the gown provides incomplete coverage of the patient's body when
large gaps are left between each side of the garment. As a result,
the patient's posterior and buttocks are often partially
uncovered.
[0026] An example of a conventional rear-opening, single closure,
commercially-available prior art hospital gown is shown in FIG.1.
The gown 10 is typified by a rear opening 15, and generally
includes sleeves 11 and 12, with arm openings 11a and 12a,
repectively; a neckline 16 and one or more ties 19 generally
provided at one or more locations along the rear opening 15, which
are operable to hold the gown at least partially closed. The gown
10 is typically manufactured in a variety of adult sizes to
accommodate patients of various body dimensions, with the overall
pattern and design for all sizes substantially proportional to
those as shown in FIG. 1.
[0027] While the conventional rear-opening style of medical gowns
is often appropriate for directly accessing one or more posterior
areas of the patient's body (either when the patient is seated,
standing, or lying in a prone (face-down) position), the prior art
designs are wholly inadequate for permitting ready access to a
patients anterior region, and for properly covering the patient's
backside. This problem is particularly evident when the patient is
lying in a supine (face-up) position. In such cases, when it is
necessary to examine portions of the patient's anterior, medical
personnel must often remove rear-closing gowns either partially, or
in their entirety, to adequately expose the desired anterior
region(s) or surfaces of the patient's body for examination. In
situations where the patient is immobilized, sedated, unconscious,
or has limited mobility, this situation is awkward and provides an
unnecessarily time-consuming delay for the medical personnel during
their examination or treatment or the patient.
[0028] Likewise, because traditional gowns must be removed in their
near entirety in such examinations, these procedures subject the
patients body to an intrusive and immodest level of bodily
exposure. Such limitations can compromise not only the patients
sense of modesty and decency, but also their sense of well-being
and level of comfort. In addition to the psychological consequences
of such exposure, the extensive exposure of the patient's body
required for an anterior examination of a patient in a rear-closing
garment may also impart untoward medical effects on the patient, as
well. These problems include, for example, a change in body
temperature, exposure to drafts, and a general increase in the
level of patient anxiety and emotional distress.
[0029] Yet another limitation of commercially-available rear-tying
gowns is the ability of the knotted ties or closures along their
back to cause pressure sores or physical discomfort for patients
who are lying supine for extended periods of time. Such
configurations may also interfere with posterior surgical
sites.
[0030] Health care-associated infections (HAIs), also known as
nosocomial infections, result in more than 90,000 deaths per year
in the U.S. Most hospital-acquired bloodstream infections are
associated with use of an intravascular device, specifically
central venous catheters. The attributable mortality rate for
bloodstream infections in surgical ICUs has been estimated to be
35%. Hospital acquired bloodstream infections account for an
estimated $40,000 increase in costs per survivor and an estimated
$6,000 increase in hospital costs (see e.g, Centers for Disease
Control, Atlanta, Ga., 2006). Repeated entry into central venous
catheters and PICC (peripherally-inserted central venous catheter)
lines increases one's risk of attaining a HAI.
[0031] Once such method of entry is the removal and/or changing of
a hospital gown. In the pediatric population, gowns may be changed
numerous times per day, exponentially increasing a patient's risk
of acquiring a blood stream infection. Repeatedly opening a closed
line system to change or remove a patient's gown also increases the
risk of accidental removal of the line.
[0032] The use of the improved adjustable-sleeve medical gowns of
the present invention may therefore decrease the risk for
contamination and infection via intravenous lines, which must be
uncoupled in order to pass the arms of the patient through the
closed sleeve to facilitate removal of the original gown and
replacement with a new gown, then the IV line re-established.
Because this process greatly increases the risk of infection, the
use of the medical gowns of the present invention is seen as a
significant improvement in reducing such risks. By employing a
sleeve design with an optionally operably openable and closeable
top seam, IV lines may be passed down under the gown and in
proximity to the patient's body, and the gown can be removed
without having to disassemble and reconnect the IV line.
Improved Patient Gown Design
[0033] One of the significant limitations of using patient gowns
that are commercially-available is the fact that most medical
garment manufacturers do not currently offer gowns that are
tailored to sizes that correspond to a child's or adolescent's
stature. In fact, most hospital gowns available in the marketplace
today are fabricated in typical adult garment sizes, [e.g., Extra
Small (XS); Small (S); Medium (M); Large (L), Extra Large (XL); and
Extra Extra Large (XXL)], which are often ill-suited to wearing by
a young child.
[0034] As a result, when an adolescent or juvenile patient is
examined or admitted to a hospital, the limited choices available
in adult-sized gowns often mean the patient will be forced to wear
a gown that is several sizes too large for him her. The situation
of oversized gowns is even worse in the case of younger children,
and children of smaller stature, where the only available gown
might be many sizes too large for them.
[0035] The present invention overcomes these and other limitations
in the prior art by providing hospital gowns and patient garments
that are not only comfortable, but are properly-sized for pediatric
(i.e., .ltoreq.about 18 years of age) patients. The gowns of the
present invention may also decrease the risk of HAI and accidental
line dislodgement by allowing the healthcare worker easy access to
change or remove the gown without interrupting the integrity of the
closed line system.
[0036] Moreover, the gowns of the present invention provide a
secure covering of the patient's body, are easily put on and taken
off by the patient without the need of assistance to "get it on
right" and still provides a convenience of opening to medical
personnel conducting an exam or medical procedure on the patient's
body. The versatility of the present gown design allows for a
safer, modest, and more therapeutic environment by providing a
closure device at the bottom; thereby, allowing full participation
in physical therapy and other activities of daily living.
[0037] The hospital gown of the present invention is highly suited
for use in young patients. Embodiments of the invention provide
healthcare workers access to IV sites without interrupting the line
through shoulder access via an operably openable and closable
shoulder seam on one or both of the sleeves.
[0038] The gown also promotes modesty for the adolescent and
preadolescent patient by ensuring adequate coverage of chest,
buttocks, and genitals. In certain embodiments, the front of the
gown is fashioned of overlapping fabric panels that provide an
extra layer of fabric to more adequately conceal the breast area,
which is particularly important to developing adolescent females.
The gowns of the present invention are provide improved wrap-over
style hospital gowns which places ties or other fastening means on
at least two portions of the front side of the gown which make it
easier for the user to put on and take off, and also provides
greater patient comfort, coverage, and improves concealment of the
body and maintains modesty.
[0039] The patient gownsof the present invention provide a
significant improvement over existing gowns in many aspects
including increased patient compliance, greater ease of wearing,
reduction of patient embarrassment and indecency, maintaining
patient body temperature, and ensuring patient modesty by adequate
coverage of the patient's body, particularly the breast, buttock,
and genital regions.
[0040] The new gown design also provides highly-effective means for
closing and securing the gown so that the patient's body is not
unnecessarily exposed. The improved gowns of the present invention
are also preferably tailored in infant, toddler, juvenile,
adolescent, pre-teen, and young adult sizes.
[0041] The patient gown of the present invention is suitable for
wear not only during examination in a medical practitioner's office
or clinic, during medical testing or while undergoing physicals or
other diagnostic procedures, or for admission and confinement in a
hospital, hospice, or long-term care facility, but also while
undergoing therapy and/or rehabilitation in a suitable facility.
Likewise, the patient gowns of the present invention may also be
used pre- and post-operatively, during patient recovery, admission,
confinement, and/or quarantine, and in any situation in which a
patient is required to wear a medical gown, such as for example,
during convalescence, whether in-home, at a nursing home, or in an
assisted-living or other after-care/long-term care facility.
[0042] Because the hospital gowns of the present invention are
preferably sized for use by pediatric, juvenile, or adolescent
patients, the inventors contemplate their particularly desirable
use in the examination, treatment, and/or medical care of infants
and children, or other patients of limited body size, and/or
reduced stature.
[0043] Turning now to particular embodiments of the present
invention, and with reference to the drawings, and in particular to
FIG. 2 through FIG. 14, novel hospital gowns embodying the
principles and concepts of the present invention are disclosed and
described herein.
[0044] Referring to FIG. 2, shown is a front view of a first
embodiment of the present invention. The patient gown 20 is shown
in an "open" position, and comprises a rear body portion 21, to
which a left front panel 35 is attached via a left side seam 50b,
and a right front panel 45 is attached via a right side seam 50a. A
set of optional inner side-seam mid-axillary ties 61 and 62 are
shown, which can be secured with either or both ties 61a and 62a,
respectively, along one or more lateral side seams of the garment.
Optionally a set of lower inner side-seam ties 63 and 64 may also
be provided, to which optional lower outer side seam ties 63a
and/or 64a, respectively, may be secured. Right and left top
shoulder seams 30b and 35b are also illustrated, and in this
embodiment comprise pluralities of closure means for operably
opening and closing the sleeves along the upper shoulder edges.
[0045] In one embodiment, the gown may be closed by draping the
right frontal panel 45 over and securing the left side inner tie 62
with the corresponding tie on the outer edge of the right panel
portion 62a. Optionally, securing means 64 and 64a near the hemline
of the garment may also be tied along the left inner seam 50a to
further secure the right front panel 45.
[0046] The left frontal panel 35 may then be draped over and
secured via outer side-seam closures 50 and 90, forming sleeve
openings 30a and 35a as illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0047] FIG. 3 illustrates the garment of FIG. 2 shown in its
typical "closed" or wearing position. Draping of the left and right
front panels forms a neck opening 40, and closure of the right and
left shoulder securement means, 30b and 35b, respectively, form
right and left sleeves, 30 and 35, respectively, having armholes
30a and 35a, respectively. Securement of the right front panel to
the left inner side seam via union of mid-axillary ties 62a and 62
shown in FIG. 2 result in inner sideseam tie 70. Securement of the
right front panel to the left inner side seam via union of optional
tie members 64a and 64 near the hemline results in inner sideseam
tie 80. Union of the left front panel to the right outer side seam
via union of an outer seam mid-axillary tie member and tie member
61a (shown in FIG. 2) results in outer sideseam tie 50. Union of
the left front panel to the right outer side seam via an outer side
seam tie member located near the hemline and the corresponding tie
member 63a (shown in FIG. 2) results in outer sideseam tie 90.
[0048] FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention in
which the lower hemline region ties are omitted. Closure and
securement of the garment shown here may first be facilitated by
securing one pair of mid-axillary region tie members to an inner
seam of the garment (e.g., tie members 61 and 61a may be tied by
folding panel 35 over first. Closure of the remaining panel 45 may
also be facilitated by joining tie member 62a on the panel to an
outer tie member (shown as a dotted line) located on the outer side
seam at a position corresponding to that of inner seam tie member
62. The gown may also be worn be folding panel 45 over first and
securing it by tie members 62 and 62a, and then by securing the
second panel 35, folding it over and securing it by tie members 61
and 61a.
[0049] FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which
the lower ties are omitted, and in which the gown may be worn in a
conventional rear-opening. This view Closure of the garment is
first facilitated by securing one pair of mid-axillary region tie
members to an inner seam of the garment (e.g., tie members 61 and
61a are tied by folding the left front panel 35 over first. Closure
of the remaining front panel 45 is then facilitated by joining tie
member 62a on the right front panel to an outer tie member (not
shown) located on the outer side seam at a position corresponding
to that of inner seam tie member 62.
[0050] FIG. 6A through FIG. 6E illustrate various embodiments for
fabricating sleeve openings in which the upper shoulder seam is
operably openable and closable, and which shoulder region may be
secured by a plurality of closure means along the shoulder seam.
For clarity, only one sleeve is shown, however, both sleeves may be
fashioned to be operably closable and openable using suitable
closures, including, for example, those closures shown and
described herein. Likewise, for clarity, the remainder of the
garment is omitted:
[0051] In FIG. 6A, the shoulder seam of the sleeve comprises a
plurality of conventional metal fabric snaps. A plurality of male
snap members is included along one panel of the shoulder seam, and
a corresponding plurality of female snap members is included along
the adjacent panel to for a closable shoulder seam.
[0052] In FIG. 6B, the sleeve shoulder seam comprises a plurality
of nylon or plastic fabric snaps. A plurality of male snap members
is included along one panel of the shoulder seam, and a
corresponding plurality of female snap members is included along
the adjacent panel forming a shoulder seam that can be opened and
closed without need for removal of the gown by the patient.
[0053] In FIG. 6C, the shoulder seam of the sleeve is buttoned. A
plurality of buttons is included along one panel of the shoulder
seam, while a corresponding plurality of button holes are
fabricated along the adjacent panel to form a shoulder seam that
can be opened and closed at will.
[0054] In FIG. 6D, the shoulder seam of the sleeve comprises a
portion of conventional hook-and loop type fasteners (e.g.,
Velcro.RTM.). A length of the "hook" portion of the closure is
attached along one edge of the shoulder seam, while a comparable
length of the "loop" portion of the closure is attached along the
corresponding opposite shoulder fabric panel to form means for
opening and closing the shoulder seam.
[0055] In FIG. 6E, the shoulder seam of the sleeve may be
optionally opened and secured by a plurality of conventional fabric
ties. A plurality of tie members is included along one panel of the
shoulder seam, and a corresponding plurality of tie members is
included along the adjacent panel. The corresponding tie pairs may
be tied together to close the shoulder seam, and untied to open the
sleeve along its shoulder seam.
[0056] FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B illustrate a "left-over-right"
front-closing embodiment of the invention in which closure of the
garment is facilitated by folding one of the front panels of the
garment (shown here the right panel) to the patient's opposite side
(in this case, the left side) and securing it via one or more ties
located along the inner seam of the garment (exemplified here as
axillary region tie 70, and hemline region tie 80). As shown, the
left front panel may then be draped over to the patient's right
side with closure facilitated by joining tie member 50a on the left
front panel to an outer tie member (shown secured as tie 50 in FIG.
7B) located on the right outer side seam, and further secured by
joining tie member 90a on the lower left front panel to an outer
tie member (shown secured as tie 90) located on the lower right
outer side seam. In FIG. 7B, the left and right shoulder opening
closing securement means are also shown as pluralities of snap
members 35b and 30b, respectively.
[0057] FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B illustrate a "right-over-left"
front-closing embodiment of the invention, in which the closure of
the garment is first facilitated by folding over the left front
panel of the garment to the patient's right side and securing it
via an axillary region tie on the right inner seam of the garment
51, and by a tie located on the lower right inner seam near the
hemline of the garment 91. The remaining right front panel (shown
in the patient's right hand) may then be draped over to the
patient's left side with closure facilitated by joining tie member
70a on the right front panel to an outer tie member (not shown)
located on the left outer side seam, and further secured by joining
tie member 80a on the lower left front panel to an outer tie member
(not shown) located on the lower right outer side seam. In FIG. 8B,
both front panels have been secured to the opposing side seams in
the form of inner ties 50 and 90, and outer ties 70 and 80.
[0058] Although the aforementioned embodiments have been described
from the perspective of the patient wearing the garment as a
front-opening garment (see e.g., FIG. 7A/FIG. 7B, FIG. 8A/FIG. 8B),
the gown may also be worn in opposite fashion as a "rear-closing"
garment. FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B illustrate this embodiment of the
invention. In this embodiment, a first body portion covers
substantially all of the patient's anterior torso, and the first
and second fabric panels become the left and right rear panels. In
FIG. 9A, securement of the right rear panel to the left
mid-axillary and hemline regions are accomplished by joining tie
members to form inner axillary and hemline ties, 51 and 91,
respectively. For illustration, the remaining pair of untied mid
axillary tie members, 71a and 71b, are shown, as are the remaining
pair of untied hemline region tie members, 81a and 81b. In FIG. 9B,
tie members 71a and 72b have been joined to produce tie 71, and tie
members 81a and 81b have been joined to produce tie 81. The
interior sideseam ties 51 and 91, as shown in FIG. 9A are
illustrated by dotted lines for convenience. The left rear panel of
the garment is then draped over the right rear panel as shown in
FIG. 9B, and the left rear panel is secured to the right
mid-axillary and right hemline regions by the ties shown as 71 and
81, respectively. Left and right openable sleeves are also
illustrated in this view, as 30b and 35b, respectively.
[0059] FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in
which the inner side seam tie members have been omitted, and
replaced by small slits located at a corresponding position in the
side seams. (For a view of the slits and ties, see FIG. 12).
Closure of the garment is first facilitated by folding over one
frontal panel (as shown, the right panel is folded over first), and
passing one tie member through the slit and securing it by pairing
it with a corresponding tie member located on the outer seam of the
garment (shown in FIG. 11 as ties 70 and 80). Closure of the
remaining front panel may then be facilitated by joining the
remaining tie members along the opposite outer side seam of the
garment (shown in both FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 as ties 50 and 90.
[0060] FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 also illustrate a further optional
embodiment of the invention in which the lower hemline of the
garment may be modified to comprise a plurality of fastening means
100a, which when engaged, form the crotch portion 100 and
corresponding left and right leg openings 101 and 102, illustrated
in FIG. 11. Closure of the hemline of the garment to form the
crotch portion is facilitated by a plurality of snap receiving
members 100a operably positioned corresponding to a plurality of
snap engaging members utilized (i.e., 100b, see FIG. 12) for
securing the crotch and forming a pair of leg openings. This
embodiment is particularly useful for gowns placed on toddlers and
infants, to facilitate leg movement, and to prevent the child from
tripping or falling while ambulating.
[0061] FIG. 12 illustrates various embodiments of the invention
including the plurality of snap engaging and receiving members 100a
and 100b positioned along the bottom of the garment near the
hemline as dscribed in FIG. 11 for the purpose of making leg
openings (i.e., 101 and 102, see FIG. 11) and closing the open
hemline into a crotch to fashion a shorts/skort/coulot type
configuration. A plurality of snap engaging members 100b is
included along the central portion of the rear body panel, and
corresponding pluralities of snap receiving members 100a are
included along one or both of the front panels. The engaging and
receiving snap members are then snapped together to form the crotch
snap flap portion 100 as identified in FIG. 11. While the
illustration shows the male snap members along the rear panel and
the female snap members along the front panels, the opposite
configuration is also equally useful in fabrication of the gowns of
the present invention. In such embodiments, a plurality of "female"
(receiving) snap members may be fashioned along the rear body panel
and a corresponding plurality of "male" (engaging) snap members may
be fashioned along one or both of the front body panel portions at
a position when allows engagement of the snap members to form the
closed snap flap as shown 100 in FIG. 11.
[0062] FIG. 12 also illustrates an optional gown configuration in
which there are no inner seam tie members. Shown is the positioning
of the optional slits along the side seams as described in FIG. 10.
When the right panel is folded over, the tie members 62a and 64a
may be threaded through the corresponding slits on the opposite
(left) side seam, and engaged with the corresponding left outer
side seam tie members of the garment. Similarly, when the left
panel is folded over, the tie members 61a and 63a may be threaded
through corresdponding slits on the opposite (right) side seam, and
engaged with the corresponding right outer side seam tie members of
the garment, resulting in the gown configuration shown in FIG.
10.
[0063] FIG. 13 shows the placement of optional pockets on the
hospital gowns described herein. Shown are optional device pockets
200 and 205 with corresponding slits 201a and 201b, for passage of
wires, electrodes, leads, tubes, etc. from within the pocket
directly through the slit to the patient's body, and optional
data/patient record storage/identification pockets 300 and 305
(shown with optional slit 301 in FIG. 14). FIG. 14 also shows the
preferred positioning of one or more device pockets along the upper
chest region of the gown, and one or more data/medical records
pockets along the lower front portion of one or both of the frontal
flaps.
[0064] In one embodiment, the invention provides a hospital gown
that generally comprises (a) a first body portion for substantially
covering the anterior or posterior torso of the patient; (b) a
first and a second side panel, each of the panels being formed
substantially adjacent and substantially operably linked to the
body portion on the patient substantially by first and second side
seams that extend substantially vertically along the left and right
lateral portions of a patient wearing the garment; (c) a first
fastening means attached to at least one of the side panels for
opening and closing the panel, and for operably attaching the side
panel to a first fastening means located substantially along the
first seam formed between the opposing panel and first body
portion; (d) a second fastening means attached to the second panel
for opening and closing the second frontal panel, and for operably
attaching the second panel to a second fastening means located
substantially along the second seam formed between the opposing
panel and the first body portion; and (e) a first and a second
operably openable sleeve, each of the sleeves formed of a first
part attached to the first body portion, and a second part attached
to respective ones of the first and second side panels, wherein the
sleeves have a pair of top fabric edges that are secured with an
optional operably openable and operably closable fastening or
securement means.
[0065] In certain embodiments, the first body portion will comprise
a first rear body portion, and the first and second side panels
will substantially form a pair of frontal panels that are operably
securable to fastening means located substantially in the left or
right mid-axillary region of a patient when wearing the
garment.
[0066] In some embodiments, one or more of the fastening means are
located substantially along a surface of an interior or an exterior
sideseam.
[0067] Preferably, at least one of the first frontal panel closure
means will comprise at least one axillary-region (underarm) tie
means, and in certain embodiments, the first and frontal panel
closure means will comprise a plurality of ties substantially along
each of the first and second lateral sideseams.
[0068] Preferably at least one sleeve of the gown will comprise at
least a first shoulder opening substantially along the top seam of
the sleeve that is operably openable and operably closable by one
or more fastening means, including for example, garment snaps,
ties, clips, buttons, clasps, hooks, or one or more portions of a
hook-and-loop type fastener.
[0069] In some embodiments, the gowns will be fashioned such that
the plurality of snaps is manufactured from a material that is
suitable for wearing by a patient while in a medical imaging or
radiographic device, such as a CT scanner, a PET scanner, an MRI
device, an EBCT scanner, a fluoroscope, or an X-ray device.
Preferably such snap closures comprise receiving and engaging
members that are made of a non-metallic or radiographically-inert
material such as plastic, nylon, polyester, or other such like
materials that do not interfere with medical instrumentation.
[0070] The gown will also typically be fashioned such that the gown
has a crew- or V-neck style collar. The gown will also be fashioned
with sleeves which will typically extend approximately to the
middle of the upper arms, the elbows, or the mid-forearms of the
wearer. Liekwise, the gown will be fabricated of lengths that are
age-appropriate to the wearer, and in such cases, the hemline of
the gown will typically extend approximately to the mid-thighs, the
knee region, or the mid-calf region of the wearer.
[0071] The patient gown of the invention may be manufactured
substantially from a single sheet of material, or alternatively
from three separate sheets of material, in which one of the sheets
of material forms substantially the entire back panel of the gown,
and each of the remaining two sheets forms substantially the right
and left front panels of the gown.
[0072] In such embodiments, the back panel and the right and left
front panels are coupled substantially along left and right side
seams, preferably by sewing or fabricating left and right side
seams that extend substantially vertically from the armpit to the
neckline when worn by a patient.
[0073] The patient gown is preferably manufactured substantially
from a material that comprises cotton, polyester, plastic, cotton
polyblend, nylon, paper or combinations thereof, and in particular,
fabrics that are flame-retardant, or that have been treated with
one or more substances to render them substantially
flame-retardant.
[0074] The gowns of the invention may also further optionally
comprise at least a first device storage pocket that may be
attached to at least a first surface of the gown, typically along
the region of the gown that corresponds to the chest region of the
wearer. Such pocket may be fashioned such that a corresponding slit
is formed in the material comprising the fabric surface onto which
the pocket is fashioned such that telemetry wires, tubes, monitors,
sensors, etc. can be passed directly from the pocket through the
slit and directly to the patient's body without the need for
opening or closing the main portion of the garment.
[0075] The patient gowns of the invention may also further
optionally comprise at least a first document storage pocket that
may be attached to at least a first surface of the gown, typically
along the region of the gown that corresponds to the hemline region
of the wearer. Such pockets may be fashioned such that
identification papers, notes, patient records, and such like may be
kept in proximity to the patient during transport or relocation
from one area to another.
[0076] The gowns of the invention may also optionally further
comprise one or more radio frequency identification (RFID) devices
operably attached to at least a first portion of the gown.
[0077] Likewise, the patient gowns may further compriseg at least a
first identification marking on at least a first inner or outer
surface of the gown.
[0078] Preferably the gowns of the present invention are
size-appropriate to pediatric patients, and in particularly,
fashioned such that they are size-appropriate for infants,
toddlers, pre-teens, teenagers, and young adults.
[0079] The fabric of the front portion of the garment may
optionally be composed of two or more layers of fabric adapted to
provide additional patient warmth, comfort, modesty, and decreased
transparency of the fabric gown.
[0080] Articles of manufacture of the invention may be personalized
with the name of a patient by whom the gown is worn, or with the
name or logo of a medical facility in which the gown is sold,
issued or worn. Suitable marking of the gowns may be made by
monogramming, stitching, ink transfer, screen printing, embroidery,
dye sublimation, inking, stenciling, contact printing, or such
like.
[0081] The invention also provides a hospital gown formed
substantially from three separate sheets of material, the first of
these sheets forming substantially the entire main rear torso
portion of the gown, the second sheet forming substantially a first
frontal panel of the gown, and the third sheet forming
substantially a second frontal panel of the gown; wherein the first
frontal panel is operably attached to a first vertical edge of the
main rear torso portion substantially by a first seam extending
substantially vertically along the left lateral portion of the
gown, first seam connecting the first frontal panel to the first
vertical edge of the main rear torso portion, and wherein the
second frontal panel is operably attached to a second vertical edge
of the rear torso portion substantially by a second seam extending
substantially vertically along the right lateral portion of the
gown; wherein the second seam connects the second frontal panel to
the second vertical edge of the rear torso portion. In such
embodiments, the gown generally comprises:
[0082] (a) a first and a second sleeve, each of which is formed of
a first sleeve part attached to the rear body portion, and a second
sleeve part attached to respective ones of the first and second
frontal panels, wherein each pair of sleeve parts is fixably closed
along their lower edges, and operably closable along their upper
edges, and further wherein the upper edges of the sleeve comprise
at least a first closure means for closing the sleeve parts along
its shoulder region;
[0083] (b) a first fastening means attached to the outer edge of
the first frontal panel for securing it to a second fastening means
located substantially at a position along the first seam
corresponding to the mid-axillary region of a patient wearing the
gown; and
[0084] (c) a third fastening means attached to the outer edge of
the second frontal panel for securing it to a fourth fastening
means located substantially at a position along the second sideseam
corresponding to the mid-axillary region of a patient wearing the
gown.
[0085] In such embodiments, one or more of the fastening means is
located substantially along an interior or exterior side seam
surface of gown, and is comprised of one or more ties, snaps,
hooks, eyelets, buttons, or hook-and-loop type fastening means.
[0086] The invention also provides a medical gown that generally
comprises:
[0087] (a) a first body portion for covering substantially an
anterior or posterior surface of the torso of a human patient;
[0088] (b) first and second panels, each of the panels being
operably linked to the first body portion substantially by first
and second seams extending substantially vertically along the left
and right lateral edges of the first body portion;
[0089] (c) a first fastening means attached to the first panel for
operably securing the first panel to a first fastening means
located substantially along the first seam formed between the
opposing panel and the first body portion;
[0090] (d) a second fastening means attached to the second panel
for operably securing the second panel to a second fastening means
located substantially along the second seam formed between the
opposing panel and the first body portion; and
[0091] (e) first and second operably openable sleeves, each of the
sleeves formed of a first part attached to the first body portion,
and a second part attached to respective ones of the first and the
second panels, wherein at least one of the sleeves is operably
openable along its upper shoulder seam.
General Dimensional Information for Gown Fabrication
[0092] In the practice of the invention, it is contemplated that
virtually any size gown may be fabricated for use by human
patients. The fabrication of human adult-sized gowns is well known
in the art, however, the fabrication of gown sized appropriately
for pediatric patients is less well studied. To aid in the
fabrication of size-appropriate gowns for children, teens, and
young adults, the following table of exemplary gown dimensions are
provided: While the dimensions shown are approximate, and need not
be rigorously adhered to when fabricating individual garments as
described herein, the general size categories described will
provide useful guidelines for fashioning gowns in accordance with
the invention:
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 EXEMPLARY PATIENT GOWN SIZES FOR PEDIATRIC
PATIENTS Gown Size Approximate Dimensions Neonatal Small Seam to
seam 81/2 inches Axilla to bottom hem 81/2 inches Neck opening
(diameter) 13 inches Arm opening (sleeve diameter) 8 inches
Neonatal Large Seam to seam 12 inches Axilla to bottom hem 121/4
inches Neck opening (diameter) 13 inches Arm opening (sleeve
diameter) 8 inches X-Small (Infant) Seam to seam 16 inches Axilla
to bottom hem 111/2 inches Neck opening (diameter) 16 inches Arm
opening (sleeve diameter) 13 inches Small (Toddler) Seam to seam
171/4 inches Axilla to bottom hem 15 inches Neck opening (diameter)
173/4 inches Arm opening (sleeve diameter) 13 inches Medium
(Pre-School) Seam to seam 181/2 inches Axilla to bottom hem 17
inches Neck opening (diameter) 211/2 inches Arm opening (sleeve
diameter) 14 inches Large (School-age) Seam to seam 201/2 inches
Axilla to bottom hem 201/2 inches Neck opening (diameter) 211/2
inches Arm opening (sleeve diameter) 15 inches Pre-teen Seam to
seam 23 inches Axilla to bottom hem 25 inches Neck opening
(diameter) 22 inches Arm opening (sleeve diameter) 18 inches
Teen/Young Adult Seam to seam 271/2 inches Axilla to bottom hem
331/2 inches Neck opening (diameter) 241/4 inches Arm opening
(sleeve diameter) 211/4 inches All dimensions listed are
approximate, and represent typical average gown sizes for the
patient type listed.
Sleeve Designs
[0093] As described herein, each sleeve of the hospital gown has an
arm opening. In one embodiment, one or both sleeves of the garment
may be closed, reminiscent of a traditional short-sleeved shirt.
Alternatively, in another embodiment, one or both sleeves of the
gown may have at least one elongated shoulder slit therethrough
fashioned between the inner and outer sides of the hospital gown.
In such embodiments, the shoulder slit typically has a length
extending between the top neck opening and the arm opening of the
sleeves. The shoulder slit forms a pair of lateral edges along the
shoulder surface of each sleeve. The two lateral edges formed by
the shoulder slit may be slightly overlapped, or may be designed
with a small slit between the two edges. Alternatively, the lateral
edges of the shoulder slit may be securable to each other by
suitable fastening means.
[0094] In practical use, the presence of this optional shoulder
slit on one or both sleeves allows a user with limited mobility to
more easily put on and take off the gown. Likewise, the presence of
an opening or slit in one or both sleeves also facilitates the
passage of ECG/EKG leads, oxygen lines, nasogastric tubes, feeding
tubes, pH probes, intravenous (IV) tubing, instrumentation wires,
sensors, or leads, and such like to be threaded through the outer
opening of the slit down into the garment and in proxmity to the
patients body. Because patients undergoing various medical or
diagnostic procedures often require electrodes, sensors, fluid
supply lines, oxygen systems, and such like to be in proximity to
the body, the ability to partially or fully open one or both
sleeves of the garment provides a great advantage to both the gown
wearer and the attendant medical personnel.
[0095] One or both sleeves of the patient gown may also optionally
be provided with an opening and means for securing such an opening.
As shown in FIG. 6A through 6E, in exemplary embodiments, a row of
conventional metal snap closures (FIG. 6A) may be provided along a
portion of the sleeve for securing the opening in the sleeve
itself. Such "snap" closures typically comprise a respective
projecting member and a receiving member. To secure the opening,
the projecting member is inserted into the receiving member. To
open the sleeve, the projecting and receiving members are simply
pulled apart. Each projecting (male) member may be operably
positioned substantially across from its counterpart receiving
(female) member on the opposite lateral edge of the slit. In this
embodiment, a plurality of receiving and projecting members may
line the opening of the sleeve, and the patient may close the
sleeve either partially or in its entirety by mating each
projecting member with its counterpart receiving member along the
sleeve opening. In an illustrative embodiment, a plurality of snap
closures is provided substantially along the entire length of the
sleeve. Such snap closures may be fashioned on one, or on both
sleeves, and may be made of any suitable material, including for
example, metal, plastic, nylon, polyester, and similar materials.
For patients undergoing certain medical imaging and/or diagnostic
procedures, the inventors contemplate that snap closures fashioned
from nylon or plastic (FIG. 6B) is particularly desirable. Use of
such materials is particularly contemplated when the patient is
undergoing various medical procedures, and diagnostic imaging
studies, including for example, but not limited to, MRI, EBCT, CT,
PET, Radiography, and such like.
[0096] In FIG. 6C, the use of a plurality of buttons and
buttonholes is illustrated. In FIG. 6D, the use of hook-and-loop
closings (e.g., Velcro.RTM.) is illustrated. These "hook-and-loop"
type fastener systems are known in the art, and typically comprise
one or more pairs of strips of complementary portions of the
hook-and-loop fasteners secured to each lateral edge of the slit,
preferably such that "hook" portion(s) are provided on an inner
side of one of the lateral edges of the sleeve opening, and the
corresponding "loop" portion(s) of the fastener means is provided
on the outer side of the opposite lateral edge of the opening in
the hospital gown sleeve, such that when the hook-and-loop fastener
means are pressed together, contact between the two fastener
portions causes the lateral edges of the shoulder slits to be held
in close contact, thereby "sealing" or closing the opening
slit.
[0097] Alternative to the use of one or more of the aforementioned
closure devices, one or both sleeves of the patient gown may
optionally be provided with an opening and a plurality of fabric
ties for securing such an opening. As shown in FIG. 6E, in an
exemplary embodiment, a row of conventional fabric ties may be
provided along a portion of the sleeve for securing the opening in
the sleeve itself. In an illustrative embodiment, a plurality of
fabric ties is provided substantially along the entire length of
the sleeve. Such fabric ties may be fashioned on one, or on both
sleeves. Alternatively, and in addition to the use of conventional
snap closures or fabric ties, other suitable means for securing the
shoulder openings in a sleeve of the patient gown may also be used.
These include, for example, and without limitation, straps,
strings, zippers, brads, catches, toggles, clips, hooks, and the
like.
[0098] In embodiments where closed top seams on the sleeves are
desirable, it is recommended that the neck opening be made slightly
larger than in a standard gown to facilitate access to the torso
via entry at the neck opening. Likewise, in some embodiments, it
may be desirable to have the neck opening slightly smaller than a
standard gown to facilitate more coverage of the neck and chest
region. Additionally, to provide an additional degree of modesty,
the front panels of the gown may be fashioned out of thicker
material, or even an additional layer or layers of fabric be
employed in the construction of the front panels of the gown for
the purpose of making the material less "see-through" and again
providing improved patient modesty.
[0099] In certain embodiments, it may also be desirable to fix one
or more snaps, or closure means to the fabric panels near the neck
opening to provide more secure coverage of the gown, and to further
limit the ability of the front panels of the gown to open, thereby
exposing the patient's chest and neck area. Such closure means may
be fashioned similarly as to the top seams of the sleeves of the
gown, with nylon snaps being a preferable means for holding the
right and left front panels of the garment together near the neck
region of the gown.
[0100] For embodiments in which gowns are fabricated for wearing by
very young patients, it may also be desirable to fashion one or
more garment closure means along or near the lower front hemline of
the garment. This is illustrated in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12. By placing
one or more snaps, buttons, or hook-and-loop closure strips along
the lower hemline of the gown, the gown may essentially be gathered
below the patient's groin area to provide for modified leg
openings, in a fashion analogous to those designs in the garment
industry commonly referred to as a "romper" "skort" or
"coulotte."
[0101] Optional Pocket Designs
[0102] Because in certain circumstances, a patient may wear a
telemetry device, an external pacemaker, a data recorder,
dosimeter, pump, or other external medical device, instrumentation,
or appliance, it is also desirable in certain embodiment to provide
a means for containing such devices in the patient's hospital gown.
In such instances, one or more device pockets may be fashioned into
the design of gown to hold such devices. As shown in the
illustrative example in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the outside of the
body portion of the gown may be equipped with one or more
conventional pockets 200 and 205, such as for example, what is
known in the art as a "telemetry pocket". These pockets may be
sized to accommodate typical patient monitoring devices and, may
also be optionally provided with a horizontal slit in the rear
portion of the pocket (201a and 201b) through which one or more
wires, sensors, electrical leads, or tubes may be passed underneath
the garment and into proximity with the patient's body. Such
pockets are preferably located in the upper torso region of the
patient, similar to the breast pocket on a conventional dress
shirt.
[0103] While the concept of fabricating pockets is well-known in
the garment industry, in an overall and general sense, a pocket may
be formed by sewing a substantially square or substantially
rectangular portion of fabric along three of its edges (for
example, bottom edge X, and opposing edges Y and Y', leaving the
top edge not sewn, such that the fabric is attached to the body
portion of the garment, such that the top wall and the body portion
form a top opening that allows for insertion of patient monitors
into the pocket.
[0104] FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 also illustrate another embodiment of
this invention in which a patient record or patient identification
pocket 300 or 305 is fabricated into the garment to provides means
for storing patient records or data. Because patients often undergo
procedures in various areas or departments of a medical facility,
they are often are moved from one location to another, or from one
facility to another. In such situations, there is a desire in
certain embodiments to provide a means for securing medical
records, identification papers, test results, patient data, or
other paperwork such as doctor's orders to the patient's
garment.
[0105] To minimize the potential for separating a patient and such
paperwork, the gowns of the present invention may also optionally
comprise one or more pockets, which may be fabricated into any
suitable area of the garment (but preferably on the front surface
of the garment, and in the approximate lower half of the garment)
such that the material placed into the data pocket is readily
accessible to both patient and attendant medical personnel. The
fabrication and design of the data pocket is similar to the
telemetry pocket disclosed above, however, the data pocket is
preferably sized larger than a convention shirt pocket in order to
accommodate larger items and paperwork.
[0106] Identification Methods
[0107] The use of bar coding, and more recently, radio frequency
identification (RFID) technology, has become widespread in recent
years in a number of disciplines from tracking inventory to
monitoring military troop movements. In the medical arts,
biocompatible implantable RFID devices have long been used for the
identification and monitoring of laboratory animals. Recently,
commercialization of RFID technology has been extended to the use
of RFID chip devices implanted into corpses to facilitate
processing of large numbers of deceased following natural
disasters.
[0108] Likewise, RFID devices have also been employed by the United
States military for identification of medical patients in field
hospitals and the like. More recently, hospitals have begun
replacing the traditional patient I.D. bracelet with RFID-enabled
wristband technology. Such identification devices represent an
improved means for patient identification and data compared to
conventional patient ID methodology. As such, the inventors
contemplate that the patient gowns of the present invention may be
readily configured to employ one or more RFID devices for patient
identification. To that end, the patient gowns of the present
invention may be adapated or fabricated to provide a means for
securing one or more RFID devices to the garment. Such devices
could be used to transmit pertinent information and/or data to
attendant medical personnel. Because of the miniaturized
configuration of contemporary RFID devices, such an identification
means could be placed in one or more data pockets, coupled to the
garment by suitable anchoring means (clips, hooks, adhesives,
etc.), or the device could be fabricated directly into the garment
either during manufacture, or secured to the gown prior to patient
use.
[0109] Fabrication Materials
[0110] The hospital/patient gowns of the present invention may be
fabricated from any suitable drapable cloth-like material,
including without limitation, textiles or fabrics made from any one
or more materials including, but not limited to, plastics, paper,
natural and synthetic fibers, and the like. Gowns may preferably be
fashioned from flame-retardant materials, such as 100% polyester
fabrics, and may also be fashioned from a durable material which
may be laundered one or more times for subsequent re-use. Such
gowns may be individually or bulk-packaged and may optionally be
contained in suitable packaging means that permit the gown to be
sterilized subsequent to manufacture, and/or prior to patient use.
The fabrics utilized for construction of the gown may also
optionally comprise one or more stain-resistant chemicals, or one
or more antimicrobial treatments (e.g., MicroBanTm), or one or more
flame-retardants, or such like.
[0111] Depending upon the thickness or "ply" of the fabric used for
fabricating the garments, the gown may be manufactured of a single
ply of fabric, or may optionally be formed for two or more sheets
of fabrics. In all such cases, the more desirable fabric thickness
will be one that provides appropriate coverage and patient modesty,
as well as durability of the gown itself. Alternatively, the gown
may be fashioned out of a material that may be employed for
one-time use prior to disposal, incineration, or decontamination.
These "one-time use" gowns may be fabricated from a lightweight or
inexpensive fabric, from one or more plies of a paper or suitable
paper/fabric composite. They may be individually or bulk-packaged
and may optionally be contained in suitable packaging means that
permit the gown to be sterilized subsequent to manufacture, and/or
prior to patient use.
[0112] The gowns of the present invention may be fashioned from one
or more fabrics having substantially one color and/or substantially
one pattern or design, or alternatively, may be constructed from
textiles having a plurality of colors and/or patterns. The hospital
gowns described herein may also be designed using fabric colors,
textile patterns and/or prints that are aesthetically-pleasing or
that provide both physical and emotional comfort during wearing.
Particularly desirable are fabrics that are pleasing and/or calming
to a juvenile or adolescent patient.
[0113] In certain embodiments, the fabric may be permanently or
semi-permanently identified with one or more distinguishing mark(s)
or logo(s) of the laundry/linen service or hospital that owns the
garments, or may be alternatively identified with one or more
distinguishing mark(s) or logo(s) of the medical facility in which
the gown is issued or used.
[0114] Because it is widely accepted in the medical community that
one of the main sources of stress, discomfort, and emotional unrest
in a juvenile patient is the mere fact that they are confined the
an unfamiliar and unsettling environment of a clinical facility,
the present invention provides means for improving patient morale
and well-being. Studies have shown that many young patients are
inherently anxious in a medical facility, and can easily be
emotionally overwhelmed when they are confined to such a facility
for significant periods of time. The unfamiliar surroundings, the
sights and sounds of medical devices and instrumentation, and the
sterile and stark environment of the hospital itself, can all
contribute to making a juvenile patient more afraid, more anxious,
and more uncomfortable. It is for these and other reasons that
facilities such as children's' hospitals devote significant effort
and resources to making the unfamiliar environment of a hospital
less "clinical" and more "kid-friendly."
[0115] One method by which the present invention achieves a more
"kid-friendly" experience for young patients is by designing and
manufacturing the gowns disclosed herein from textiles and fabrics
with patterns, colors, logos, and/or ornamentations that are
particularly appealing or soothing to juveniles or adolescents. For
example, the gowns may be manufactured from textiles that
incorporate, illustrate, or otherwise depict recognizable
commercial symbology (e.g., professional sports team logos, comic
strip characters, cartoon characters, action figures, animae, or
such like.
[0116] Particularly in the context of hospitals or facilities that
primarily care for adolescents and/or juveniles, the inventors also
contemplate the customization and/or personalization of one or more
of the disclosed patient garments to provide additional patient
comfort or calming, and/or to promote patient well-being or enhance
patient morale, all of which are particularly desirable when a
young patient is confined to a hospital for a long period of time,
or for patients who require frequent hospitalization.
[0117] Thus the inventors also contemplate that in addition to
facilitating improved patient modesty and increased medical
personnel access to the body, customization and/or personalization
of the patient gowns disclosed herein also represent a significant
improvement to the bland unappealing character of typical hospital
garments.
[0118] The method is analogous to a process already widely-adopted
in the medical arts whereby a given medical facility produces
annual holiday greeting cards, calendars, postcards, T-shirts, or
the like, that feature the artwork of current or former patients of
the facility. Examples include children's drawings, crayon art,
handprints, and such like.
[0119] Such embodiments may also involve the commercial sale or
free distribution of individual patient garments so personalized
for the purpose of fund-raising or educational awareness of
particular medical conditions, and such like.
[0120] Such customization of the garments can incorporate one or
more methods known in the art of textile manufacture and
personalization, including for example, screen printing,
embroidery, stitching, monogramming, lithography, dry transfer, dye
sublimation, and/or ink transfer of one or more selected designs to
the fabric of a patient gown.
[0121] Personalization and/or customization of the patient gowns
may also be desirable to provide advertising and/or name
recognition for a particular medical facility or even, for example,
a selected service within a given facility.
[0122] Exemplary Packaging
[0123] Although medical gowns are typically owned by a linen
uniform company or the medical facility in which the patient is
undergoing a procedure or confinement, and "loaned" to the patient
for use during his or her hospital stay, the present invention also
contemplates the wholesale/retail packaging and distribution of the
medical garments disclosed herein to companies, stores, and even
directly to individuals. Such retail sales are particularly
contemplated when a patient requires long-term medical care, or a
lengthy in-home confinement or rehabilitation. Examples of such
situations include care of terminally-ill patients, patients with
lengthy chronic illnesses, and those ungoing significant long-term
rehabilitation or therapy. The inventors even contemplate the use
of such gowns in non-medical environments, including, for example,
children's art classes (where the gown may be used to protect the
wearer's street clothing from stains or spills), in theatrical
productions, reality programs, educational settings, or even as a
Halloween costume or casual wear for temporarily-ill children.
[0124] It is understood that variations may be made in the
foregoing without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
[0125] Any foregoing spatial references such as, for example,
"upper," "lower," "above," "below," "anterior," "posterior,"
"front," "back," "rear" "between," etc., are for the purpose of
illustration only and do not limit the specific orientation or
location of the structure described above.
[0126] In several exemplary embodiments, it is understood that one
or more of features in a given embodiment may be omitted. Moreover,
in some instances, some features of the present disclosure may be
employed without a corresponding use of the other features.
Likewise, it is also understood that one or more of the embodiments
and/or variations described herein may be combined in whole or in
part with any one or more of the other embodiments and/or
variations described herein.
[0127] Although exemplary embodiments of this disclosure have been
described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily
appreciate that many other modifications, changes and/or
substitutions are possible in the exemplary embodiments without
materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of
this disclosure. Accordingly, all such modifications, changes
and/or substitutions are intended to be included within the scope
of this disclosure as defined in the following claims. In the
claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the
structures described herein as performing the recited function and
not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent
structures.
[0128] Likewise, with respect to the embodimenets disclosed and
described herein, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional
relationships for the parts of the invention (including for
example, variations in size, length, shape, form, function,
material, and/or manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed
readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art having
benefit of the teachings provided herein, and all equivalent
relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in
the specification are considered to fall within the scope of the
present invention.
[0129] Moreover, having described the invention with regard to
several illustrative embodiments, it is also to be understood that
the description is not meant as a limitation since further
modifications and variations of the disclosed devices may be
apparent or may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. It
is intended that the present application cover all such
modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the
appended claims:
* * * * *