Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2025704
MEDICAL GARMENT
' SP~CIFICATION
BACKGROUND OF THE l~ ON
1. Field of the Invention: .
The present invention generally relates to a medical
garment for protecting a patient's shoulders and arms, and more
particularly to such a medical garment which readily permits
access to one of the patient's arms while the patient is
wearing the garment.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
The debilitating effects of prolonged hospitalization
wherein a patient may be bedridden for substantial periods of
time has long been known. Such effects can take many forms,
however, one of the most c' -n symptoms of long-term
hospitalization appears as cardiovascular circulatory problems
in the extremities. These circulatory problems frequently
manifest themselves by the patient feeling cold. While this
symptom can be easily treated by readjusting the patients body
to ensure better circulation or by treatment of the anomaly
which is causing the circulatory problem with medicinal or
chemical treatments either to effect dilation of the blood V~"A
vessels or a chemically induced erosion, or to induce the
breaking up and dissolution of the material obstructing the
blood vessels, it has long been known that such
chemotherapeutic practices have limited utility and are
restricted to use in a rather insubstantial portion of the
pathological environments. Most commonly, the symptom
described above is treated by merely covering the extremity
with a suitable blanket or other similar insulative device.
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While the aforementioned practices have operated with
varying degrees of success they individually possess
shortcomings which have detracted from their usefulness. For
example, the chemical or medicinal treatment of obstructions to
the blood vessels although useful, ~ay not be immediately
possible because of the present medical treatment being
provided for another ~n. ~ly or related disorder. Further, the
medical treatment being provided may include intravenous
therapy with assorted drugs or chemotherapy. Moreover, the
patient may be intubated, as through the chest cavity, and as a
result the bedclothing is partially removed to expose the
intubation site, and as a consequence the arms of the patient
are exposed either because of convenience or because of
necessity such that other intravenous tubes may enter the
patient's arm, or for purposes of positioning a blood pressure
cuff for periodic monitoring of the patient's blood pressure.
Under these circumstances, the practice of using a blanket or
other similar insulative device is not practical and therefore
patients may be uncomfortably cold for prolonged periods of
time.
Therefore, it has long been known that it would be
desirable to have a medical garment which is particularly well
suited to shielding and insulating the arms of a patient and
which would simultaneously permit therapeutic procedures to be
performed without requiring removal of the garment, and which
further can be manufactured in a single size and which can be
readily adjusted such that it can be comfortably worn by
patients having assorted body sizes.
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OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It i5 therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an improved medical garment for protecting the arms and
shoulders of a patient who is undergoing medical treatment.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
medical garment which is readily adjustable such that it can be
worn comfortably by patients having assorted body sizes, and
which further permits access to the inside portion of one of
the patient's arms for purposes of medical treatment or the
like.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
medical garment which is adapted to improve circulation in the
arms of a patient undergoing medical treatment.
Another object of the present invention is ~o provide a
medical garment which can be employed with ini -1 risk of
contamination or interference, during the use thereof, in
assorted medical procedures.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
medical garment wherein means are provided for permitting
continuous and reliable ascertain~t by medical personnel of
intravenous tubes, when such intravenous tubes are inserted
within the body tissue of a patient's arms while simultaneous
shielding and insulating the same arm.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
medical garment having means for retaining said garment in a
predeter ined closed position.
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Another object of the present invention is to provide a
medical garment of such durable construction as virtually to
preclude damage thereto, or deterioration thereof, during its
lifetime.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
medical garment which is constructed of inexpensive materials
thereby permitting the economical disposal of the same medical
garment after the use thereof thereby preventing the possible
transmission of disease from one patient to another.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
medical garment which is characterized by ease of employment,
simplicity of construction, and which can be manufactured and
sold at a nominal expense.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
medical garment which is operable to obtain the benefits
derived from related prior art devices and practices while
avoiding the detriments individually associated therewith.
Further objects and advantages are to provide improved
elements and arrangements thereof in a medical garment for the
purposes intended, which is dependable, durable and fully
effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
These and other objects and advantages are achieved in
a medical garment for protecting a patient's shoulders and arms
and possessing a first sleeve having a flexible main body which
is adapted to cover one of the patient's arms and related
shoulder, a second sleeve having a flexible, discontinuous main
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body which covers the patient's other arm~and related shoulder
and which includes an opening which permits access to the
inside portion of the patient's other arm, means mounted on
said respective sleeves for releasably joining the first and
second sleeves together in predetermined spaced relation, and
m~ans mounted on said second sleeve for closing said opening
thereby inhibiting access to the inside portion of the
patient's other arm.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a perspective side elevational view of the
medical garment embodying the principles of the present
invention shown in a typical operative environment.
FIG. 2 is a second, side elevational view of the
medical g~ -nt embodying the principles of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring more particularly to the drawings, the
medical garment embodying the principles of the present
invention is designated generally by the numeral 10 in FIG. 1.
i\
For illustrative convenience only, the medical garment
10, as shown and described herein, will be discussed as it
would be configured if it were worn by a patient 11, which is
undergoing intravenous medical treatment with intravenous
equipment 12 which includes a support 13, a source of
intravenous fluid 14, and a supply tube 15 which enters a
suitable blood vessel in the patient's arm through an
appropriate needle, not shown. As best seen by reference to
.
2025704
FIG. 1 the patient's left and right arms, 20 and 21
respectively, are enclosed within the medical garment, the
medical garment protectively covering the respective inside and
outside portions 22 and 23 of each arm. Further the medical
garment 10 i8 adapted to cover the patient's left and right
shoulders, 24 and 25 as well as both wrists 26.
The medical garment 10 of the subject invention
includes a first sleeve 30 which has a flexible main body 31
and which is manufactured from a suitable, comfortable cloth
such as cotton, or from a disposable material such as paper or
the like. The first sleeve has opposite first and second ends
32 and 33 respectively, and a unitary, resilient cuff 34 is
integrally formed with the first end 32. The cuff 34 defines a
passageway 35. The first sleeve 30 further includes a shoulder
portion 40 which is positioned on the second end of the main
body 31, and which is defined by an arcuately shaped peripheral
edge 41. The first sleeve 30 includes a longitudinal line of
reference 42, and the main body 31 has inside and outside
surfaces 43 and 44 respectively. The first sleeve defines a
passageway 45 which is disposed in registery with the
i\ passageway 35. An elongated strap 50 having opposite first and
second ends 51 and 52 respectively, is mounted at its first end
on the shoulder portion 40 of the first sleeve. The elongated
strap, which extends longitudinally and outwardly relative to
the peripheral edge, has opposite inwardly and outwardly facing
surfaces 43 and 44, respectively. An adjustable fastener
having opposite mating portions is adapted to be mounted on the
inwardly facing surface of the second end. In the preferred
embodiment the adjustable fastener includes an elongated piece
of Velcro~ tape 55 which is fastened, utilizing stitching or
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~ ~ like, to the flexible strap. However, it will be readily
recognized that other fasteners such as a plurality of buttons
or snaps can be substituted for same.
A second sleeve, which is generally indicated by the
numeral 60, has a flexible, discontinuous main body 61. The
main body 61 has an outside facing portion 62 and an opposite
i~side facing portion 63, the respective inside and outside
facing portions are individually positioned in covering relation
relative to the inside and outside portions 22 and 23 of the
patient's left arm 20. The second sleeve includes a
longitudinal line of reference which is indicated by the line
labeled 64, and further has inside and outside surfaces 65 and
70, respectively. The main body 61 defines a passageway or
channel 71 which is adapted to receive the patient's left arm.
This is best illustrated by reference to FIG. 1. The flexible
main body also includes opposite first and second ends 72 and
73 and further has a pair of longitudinally disposed edges 74
which define an elongated opening or gap 75 which permits
access to the inside por.ion 22 of the patient's arm. A
plurality of fasteners having opposite mating portions and
herein illustrated as Velcro~ tape 76 are individually mounted
in predetermined substantially equally spaced relation on the
inside facing portion of the second sleeve and along the
longitudinally disposed edges. The individual Velcro~
fasteners are operable to close the opening or gap 75 thereby
inhibiting access to the inside portion of the patient's arm.
In this fashion the second sleeve can be opened to allow access
to the patient's arm for purposes of diagnosis or therapy, such
as the insertion of an intravenous needle, not shown, but which
2025704
can later be closed for purposes of making the patient more
comfortable.
A resilient, discontinuous cuff 80 is fixed to or
otherwise made integral with the first end 72, of the main body
61. The cuff includes a pair of longitudinally disposed edges
81, and defines a passageway 82 which is positioned in registry
with the passageway 71 which is defined by the main body 61.
The flexible main body 61 includes a shoulder portion 83 which
is made integral with the second end 73 and which further is
made integral with the outside facing portion 62 thereof. The
shoulder portion 83 is operable to cover the patient's left
shoulder 24 and further is defined by an arcuately shaped
peripheral edge 84. An elongated, flexible strap 85 has a
first end 90 and an opposite, second end 91 which extends
longitudinally and outwardly relative to the peripheral edge.
The first end 90 is fixed to the peripheral edge 84 by
stitching or by some other suitable fastening technique. The
elongated strap 85 has opposite, inwardly and outwardly facing
surfaces 92 and 93, respectively, and a mating piece of Velcro~
tape 94 is fixed on the outwardly facing surface 93 on the
second end. The Velco~ tape is adapted to adjustably mate with
the Velcro~ tape 55 which is fixed on the elongated strap 50.
OPERATION
The operation of the described embodiment of the
present invention is believed to be readily apparent and is
briefly summarized at this point.
The medical garment 10 of the present invention
includes first and second sleeves 30 and 60, respectively,
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which are adapted to individually receive the patient's arms 20
and 21. The individùal sleeves are releasably connected
together by means of a pair of elongated straps 50 and 85,
respectively, which are joined together by mating portions of
Velcro~ tape 55 and 94 which are individually fixed on the
second ends 52 and 91 of each of the straps. When utilized,
the medical garment 10 covers the arms and shoulders of the
patient and i6 held in place by the elongated straps which are
adjusted, as to length, and fastened together so that they fit
snugly and securely across the shoulders of the patient. This
is best seen by reference to FIG. 1. The individual pieces of
Velcro~ tape 55 and 94, which are fixed on the individual
elongated straps, each have an elongated shape which permits
the individual straps to be adjusted as to length. In this
fashion the garment can be worn by individuals having different
body sizes. As earlier discussed, the Velcro~ fasteners 76
individually allow access to the inside portion 22 of one of
the patient's arms thereby allowing therapy to take place
without requiring removal of the medical garment.
~i Thus the medical garment 10 of the subject invention
provides a means by which a patient can be kept comfortable
while undergoing therapy which would have, heretofore, exposed
the arms of the patient for prolonged periods of time, and
which further is easy to wear, does not substantially interfere
with any ongoing therapy, and which can be manufactured and
sold at a relatively nominal price.
Although the invention has been herein shown and
described in what is conceived to be the most practical and
preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be
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made therefrom, within the scope of the invention, which is not
to be limited to the illustrative details disclosed.
