EP1827147A2

EP1827147A2 - Medical garment

Info

Publication number: EP1827147A2
Application number: EP05786731A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Chudi C. Nwawka
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-13
Filing date: 2005-08-15
Publication date: 2007-09-05
Also published as: CN101123892A; US20060031976A1; WO2006020985A3; WO2006020985A2

Abstract

Medical garments are disclosed, which are configured to minimally expose a patient. One embodiment, among others, includes a medical garment that is improved by providing a front opening, and a flap that substantially covers the front opening. The front opening is located near the chest area. The front opening includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The flap also includes ar upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion of the flap is connected to the upper portion of the front opening in a hinge-like fashion. The flap is configured to open at the lower portion. In another embodiment, among others, the improvement on the medical garment comprises at least two openings: an upper front opening, and a lower front opening. The upper front opening is located near the chest area, while the lower front opening is located near the abdomen area.

Description

MEDICAL GARMENT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to medical equipment and, more particularly, to medical gowns. BACKGROUND

[0002] Medical garments, such as medical gowns that are used for patient examination, are relatively ubiquitous in hospitals and doctor's offices. These garments are normally intended to provide some degree of modesty for the patient, in order to minimize exposure and, hence, the degree of discomfort that a patient may have during the course of, for example, a physical examination.

[0003] In order to minimally expose the patient, various hospital gowns have been proposed. Examples of such gowns include designs by Wheeler-Dickson (US D478,203), Truitt (U.S. Patent Number 5,133,086), Belcher (U.S. Patent Number 4,759,083), Gordon (U.S. Patent Number 4,964,173), and Cohen (U.S. Patent Numbers 4,930,161 and 5,097,536). While these gowns may reduce exposure to a certain extent, these gowns nevertheless have various shortcomings. In view of these shortcomings, a need exists in the industry for an improved medical garment.

SUMMARY

[0004] Several embodiments of the invention include medical garments that are configured to minimally expose a patient. In that regard, one embodiment, among others, includes a medical garment that is improved by providing a front opening, and a flap that substantially covers the front opening. The front opening is located near the chest area. The front opening includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The flap also includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion of the flap is connected to the upper portion of the front opening in a hinge-like fashion. The flap is configured to open at the lower portion.

[0005] In another embodiment, among others, the improvement on the medical garment comprises at least two openings: an upper front opening, and a lower front opening. The upper front opening is located near the chest area, while the lower front opening is located near the abdomen area. In this embodiment, the medical garment further comprises an upper flap that is configured to substantially cover the upper front opening, and a lower flap that is configured to substantially cover the lower front opening.

[0006] In accordance with another embodiment, a method of manufacturing a medical garment is presented. In that embodiment, the method comprises the steps of providing a selectably-openable upper front opening and a selectably-openable lower front opening. The selectably-openable upper front opening is located near the chest area of the medical garment, while the selectably-openable lower front opening is located near the abdomen area of the medical garment. The selectably-openable upper front opening is substantially covered by an upper flap, which is configured to selectably open and close over the upper front opening. The selectably-openable lower front opening is substantially covered by a lower flap, which is configured to selectably open and close over the lower front opening.

[0007] Other systems, devices, methods, features, and advantages will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. [0009] FIG. 1 is a front view (or ventral view) of a patient wearing an embodiment of a medical garment with upper and lower selectably-openable flaps, in which both flaps of the medical garment are closed. [0010] FIG. 2 is a front view of the patient wearing the medical garment of FIG. 1, in which the upper flap of the medical garment is obliquely opened in a substantially upward and rightward direction. [0011] FIG. 3 is a front view of the patient wearing the medical garment of FIG. 1, in which the upper flap of the medical garment is obliquely opened in a substantially upward and leftward direction. [0012] FIG. 4 is a front view of the patient wearing the medical garment of FIG. 1, in which the lower flap of the medical garment is opened in a substantially vertical and

upward direction. [0013] FIG. 5 A is a perspective view of the patient wearing the medical garment of

FIG. 1, in which the upper flap of the medical garment is opened in a substantially

vertical and upward direction. [0014] FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the patient wearing the medical garment of

FIG. 1, showing one embodiment, among others, in which both flaps are configured to open in a substantially vertical and upward direction. [0015] FIG. 6 is a front view (or ventral view) of the patient wearing another embodiment of a medical garment having upper flaps and a lower flap. [0016] FIG. 7 is a front view of the patient wearing the medical garment of FIG. 6, in which the right upper flap is obliquely opened in a substantially downward and leftward direction. [0017] FIG. 8 is a front view (or ventral view) of the medical garment of FIG. 1 without the patient.

[0018] FIG. 9 is a back view (or dorsal view) of the medical garment of FIG. 1.

[0019] FIG. 10 is a front view (or ventral view) of yet another embodiment of a medical garment having two openings, in which both openings comprise flaps that are configured to open in a substantially vertical and downward direction. [0020] FIG. 11 is a front view (or ventral view) of yet another embodiment of a medical garment having two openings, in which both openings comprise flaps that are configured to open in a substantially lateral direction. [0021] FIG. 12 is a front view (or ventral view) of yet another embodiment of a medical garment having an upper opening and a lower opening, in which each of the

openings comprises two flaps. [0022] FIG. 13 is a back view (or dorsal view) of yet another embodiment of a medical garment, which is configured to selectively expose different portions of a

patient's back. [0023] FIG. 14 is shows the medical garment of FIG. 13, in which the upper portion and lower portion are selectably open.

[0024] FIG. 15 is a front view (or ventral view) of one embodiment of the front of the garment of FIGS. 13 and 14. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Reference is now made in detail to the description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure as illustrated in the drawings. While several embodiments are described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit the invention to the exemplary embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents.

[0026] As noted above, while various medical garments exist in the industry, those medical garments provide deficient coverage of a patient, thereby often unnecessarily overexposing a patient. Various exemplary embodiments of medical garments of the present disclosure are shown with reference to FIGS. 1 through 15. These embodiments provide one or more selectably op enable portions on a medical garment, thereby providing greater coverage of the patient. In other embodiments, the opening mechanism is improved, thereby reducing exposure of the patient.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a front view (or a ventral view) of a patient wearing one embodiment, among others, of a medical garment 100. As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the medical garment 100 has two front openings, including an upper front opening 110 and a lower front opening 120, which are covered by an upper flap 115 and a lower flap 125, respectively. The upper opening 110 is located near the chest area of the patient, while the lower opening 120 is located near the abdomen area of the patient. The garment does not need to include both openings. Only one of the two openings can be provided, or both openings can be provided.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a front view of the patient wearing the medical garment 100 of FIG.

1. The upper flap 115 of the medical garment 100 obliquely opens in a substantially upward and rightward direction. As shown in FIG. 2, in a female patient, the upward and rightward opening of the upper flap 115 permits exposure of only the left breast while maintaining substantial coverage of the right breast of the patient. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 3, opening the upper flap 115 in an upward and leftward direction permits exposure of only the right breast while maintaining substantial coverage of the left breast of the patient.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the garment 100 further comprises a flap securing mechanism 130, 135 that permits the upper flap 115 to releasably close over the upper opening 110. The securing mechanism can be a buttoning mechanism, a hook and loop fastening mechanism sold under the trademark Velcro®, a zipper, a hook-and- eye fastening mechanism, snaps, adhesive (e.g., tape or glue), any combination of these, or other known securing mechanisms. Thus, for example, if the securing mechanism is Velcro®, then the upper flap 115 can include one Velcro® 135 strip (or patch) on the lower-inner portion of the upper flap 115, while the upper opening includes the mating Velcro® counterpart 130 on the lower-outer portion of the upper opening 110. In other words, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inside bottom of the upper flap 115 is configured to releasably mate with the outside bottom of the upper opening 110 using, for example, Velcro®.

[0030] m addition to the securing mechanism 130, 135, which closes the upper flap

115 over the upper front opening, the garment 100 can also include a holding mechanism 140 that is configured to hold the upper flap 115 open above the front opening 110. Similar to the flap securing mechanism 130, 135, the flap holding mechanism 140 can be fabricated of Velcro®. In that regard, the flap securing mechanism can be one strip (or patch) of Velcro® that is secured to the exterior bottom of the upper flap 115, with a mating Velcro® counterpart 140 located toward the upper portion of the front opening 110. Thus, when the upper flap 115 opens upward from the bottom, the Velcro® strips (or patches) 140 releasably mate with each other, thereby exposing one or both of the patient's breasts.

[0031] Unlike other medical garments, such as the Wheeler-Dickson gown or the

Belcher garment, in which a flap opens from the top and falls downward, the upper flap 115 of the medical garment 100 in FIGS. 1 through 3 opens upward from the bottom. One advantage of such a configuration, which is not realizable by either the Wheeler-Dickson gown or the Belcher garment, is that the garment 100 of FIG. 1 naturally defaults to a "closed" position, due to gravity, when the patient is sitting or standing upright. To the contrary, the Wheeler-Dickson gown and the Belcher garment default to an "open" position, due to their downward-opening configuration. Thus, the downward-opening garments exhibit a greater tendency to expose the patient than the upward-opening garment of FIGS. 1 through 3.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a front view of the patient wearing the medical garment 100 of FIG.

1. The lower flap 125 of the medical garment 100 opens in a substantially vertical and upward direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the lower front opening 120 opens independently of the upper front opening 110. Thus, when a physician wishes to examine, for example, a pelvic region or an abdominal region of a patient, the physician can selectively open the lower front opening 120 without exposing the upper torso of the patient. Compared to conventional hospital gowns, which overexpose the patient, the selective opening of the lower front opening 120 provides reduced exposure of the patient.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 4, the lower front flap 125 opens in a substantially vertical and upward direction. In that regard, the lower front flap 125 again "defaults" to a closed position, rather than an open position. Similar to the upper front flap 115, the lower front flap 125 can also be releasably secured to the lower front opening 120 by a securing mechanism, such as, for example, Velcro®, a buttoning mechanism, a zipper, a hook-and-eye fastening mechanism, snaps, adhesive, a combination thereof, or other known mechanisms. Also, similar to the upper front flap 115, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower front flap 125 can also be opened in a substantially oblique manner, rather than substantially vertically. In that regard, an examining physician can selectively expose either the right side, the left side, or both sides of the patient without unnecessarily exposing the entire lower body of the patient.

[0034] FIG. 5 A is a perspective view of the patient wearing the medical garment 100 of FIG. 1. The upper flap 115 of the medical garment opens in a substantially vertical and upward direction. As shown in FIG. 5A, the selectively openable upper front flap 115 permits limited exposure of the patient, thereby providing a greater degree of modesty for the patient.

[0035] FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the patient wearing the medical garment 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 5B shows one embodiment, among others, in which both flaps 110, 120 are configured to open in a substantially vertical and upward direction. As noted in FIG. 5B, by providing more than one selectively-openable flap 115, 125, a physician can examine a patient without exposing the patient in areas that are not the subject of examination.

[0036] FIG. 6 is a front view (or ventral view) of the patient wearing another embodiment of a medical garment 600 having upper flaps 615, 635 and a lower flap 625. As shown in FIG. 6, in one embodiment, among others, the medical garment 600 includes an upper front opening 610 and a lower front opening 620. The upper front opening 610 is covered by two flaps 615, 635, which are releasably secured to cover the upper front opening 610. The lower front opening 620 is covered by a lower front flap 625, which is releasably secured to cover the lower front opening 620.

[0037] In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the upper front opening 610 is carved into an

"M" pattern to further reduce patient exposure. This is shown in greater detail with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a front view of the patient wearing the medical garment of FIG. 6, in which the upper flaps 615, 635 are obliquely openable in a substantially downward direction. As shown in FIG. 7, the "M" shaped opening permits the right upper flap 615 to open in a substantially downward and leftward direction, while permitting the left upper flap 635 to open in a substantially downward and rightward direction. Thus, unlike the embodiment of FIG. 1, for female patients, each breast is independently viewable without unnecessarily exposing the other breast. Also, the "M" shaped design results in less fabric for the flaps 615, 635. The reduction in fabric results in a corresponding reduction in weight for the flap, thereby reducing the likelihood that the flap will accidentally fall due to gravity.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 7, the right flap 615 and the left flap 635 can further include flap securing mechanisms 640, 645, which are configured to releasably secure the flaps 615, 635 over the upper front opening 610. Similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the flap securing mechanisms in the garment 610 of FIGS. 6 and 7 can be Velcro®, snaps, buttoning mechanisms, hooks-and-eyes, adhesive, etc. Unlike the embodiment of FIG. 1, the downward opening flaps default to an "open" position due to gravity. For this reason, the garment 610 of FIGS. 6 and 7 need not include a flap opening mechanism to keep the flaps 615, 635 open.

[0039] FIG. 8 is a front view (or ventral view) of the medical garment 100 of FIG. 1 without the patient. As shown in FIG. 8, in one embodiment, among others, the medical garment 100 has an upper front opening 110 covered by an upper flap 115, and a lower front opening 120 covered by a lower flap 125. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 8, the medical garment 100 can include various Velcro® patches 140, which can be used to secure the flaps 115, 125 in an open position.

[0040] FIG. 9 is a back view (or dorsal view) of the medical garment 100 of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 9, the back of the medical garment 100 includes a back opening 920, which is preferably a slit that vertically traverses the entire length of the back. This back opening 920 permits a patient to put on the medical garment 100 from the front. Once the patient has draped on the medical garment 100, the back opening can be 920 can be closed with one or more ties 900, 915, such as those shown in FIG. 9. In other words, once the patient has donned the medical garment 100, the medical garment 100 can be closed in the back by the ties 900, 915. While only two ties 900, 915 are shown in FIG. 9, it should be appreciated that additional ties can be added to further secure the back opening 920. Also, while ties 900, 915 are shown in FIG. 9, it should be appreciated that other securing mechanisms, such as Velcro®, buttons, hooks-and-eyes, zippers, adhesive, snaps, or other known mechanisms can be used to close the back.

[0041] FIG. 10 is a front view (or ventral view) of yet another embodiment of a medical garment 1000 having two openings 110, 120. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, both openings 110, 120 comprise flaps 1015, 1025 that are configured to open in a substantially vertical and downward direction. Again, as noted with reference to FIG. 1, by having multiple openings at various locations on the medical garment 1000, a physician can selectively expose the patient in only those areas that the physician wishes to examine, rather than overexposing the entire patient.

[0042] FIG. 11 is a front view (or ventral view) of yet another embodiment of a medical garment 1100 having two openings. As shown in FIG. 11, both openings 110, 120 comprise flaps 1115, 1125 that are configured to open in a substantially lateral direction. While the two openings 110, 120 permit a physician to selectively expose either the upper torso or the lower body, one disadvantage of this lateral- opening configuration is that one side of the patient can be susceptible to overexposure, depending on the area of interest. For example, if the upper flap 1115 opens from left to right, and the right breast of the patient is the area of interest, then the lateral-opening garment 1100 of FIG. 11 results in the exposure of both breasts, even though the physician may only wish to examine the right breast.

[0043] FIG. 12 is a front view (or ventral view) of yet another embodiment of a medical garment 1200, which remedies the deficiency in the garment 1100 of FIG. 11. The embodiment of FIG 12 includes an upper front opening 110 and a lower front opening 120, each of which are covered by two laterally-opening flaps. For example, the upper front opening 110 has an upper right flap 1215 and an upper left flap 1235, which cover the right breast and left breast, respectively. Thus, when a physician wishes to examine only the left breast of a patient, the physician can selectively open the upper left flap 1235, thereby leaving the right breast undisturbed. Likewise, should a physician wish to examine only the right side of the patient's abdomen, the physician can selectively open the lower right flap 1225, thereby only exposing the lower right side of the patient's abdomen.

[0044] FIGS. 13 and 14 show a back view (or dorsal view) of yet another embodiment of a medical garment 1300. The medical garment 1300 of FIG. 13 is configured to selectively expose different portions of a patient's back. As such, the medical garment 1300 comprises an upper vertical slit 1310 and a lower vertical slit 1320, which are located in areas corresponding to a patient's upper torso and lower body, respectively. In addition to the upper and lower vertical slits 1310, 1320, the medical garment 1300 also includes a horizontal slit 1330 that forms an inverted. "T" intersection with the upper vertical slit 1310. These various slits 1310, 1320, 1330 are held together by ties 1340, 1350, 1360, 1370 or other known securing mechanisms, as outlined above.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 14, the upper vertical slit 1310 can be opened by untying the upper ties 1340, 1350 that hold the upper vertical slit 1310 together. Due to the inverted "T" intersection formed by the horizontal slit 1330 and the upper vertical slit 1310, the untying of the upper ties 1340, 1350 permits the upper portion of the back to be exposed without undue exposure of the lower half of a patient's body. Similarly, the untying of the lower ties 1360, 1370 permits exposure of the lower half of the back of a patient without unnecessarily exposing the upper back of the patient. [0046] FIG. 15 is a front view (or ventral view) of one embodiment of the garment

1300 of FIGS. 13 and 14. As shown in FIG. 15, the medical garment 1300 need not have openings on the front. Rather, as illustrated in FIG. 15, the medical garment 1300 can be configured for selective opening and closing of only predefined dorsal areas.

[0047] As shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 15, by strategically placing various openings and flaps on a medical garment, a physician can examine various areas of interest on a patient without exposing areas of the patient that will not be examined. Additionally, for some embodiments, by having flaps that open upwardly, against the force of gravity, there is less likelihood of exposing the patient, since the default position for such flaps is "closed," rather than "open." In other words, by having the flaps be hingedly connected at the top of the opening for some embodiments, there is less likelihood of exposure, insofar as the flap tends to remain closed over the opening due to gravity. Also, as shown with reference to FIGS. 1 through 15, the openings can be placed on the front, the back, the upper portion, the lower portion, or any combination thereof, in order to minimally expose the patient during examination. The number of openings and associated flaps can vary. Further, the size of the openings and the flaps can vary.

[0048] Additionally, the medical garment of the present disclosure is illustrated without sleeves. Alternatively, sleeves can be included. When provided, the sleeves can include conventional slits for receiving an IV line. The distal, open end of the slits can be closed around an IV line by providing fasteners such as Velcro® or ties near the ends of the sleeves along the slits. [0049] While various portions of medical garments have been described as upper, lower, front, and back portions, it should be appreciated by those having skill in the art that these terms, in medical parlance, can also be referred to as superior, inferior, ventral, and dorsal, respectively.

[0050] Although exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications, or alterations to the invention as described can be made. For example, while the left side and right side are referenced from the perspective of the patient, it should be appreciated that the drawings can just as easily be referenced from the perspective of the physician without detrimentally affecting the scope of the disclosed embodiments. Also, while the garments have been shown in a preferred embodiment, where the ties are in the back, it should be appreciated that the garments can just as easily be donned from back-to-front, thereby securing the ties at the front of the patient, rather than the back. For those embodiments, it should be appreciated that "front" and "back" can be interchanged, and "dorsal" and "ventral" can be interchanged. All such changes, modifications, and alterations should therefore be seen as within the scope of the

disclosure.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A medical garment having an improvement, the improvement comprising: a front opening located near the chest area, the front opening having an upper portion, the front opening further having a lower portion; and a flap configured to substantially cover the front opening, the flap having an upper portion, the flap further having a lower portion, the upper portion of the flap being hingedly connected to the upper portion of the front opening, the flap being configured to open from the lower portion of the front opening.

2. The garment of claim 1, further comprising: means for releasably securing the flap in a closed position when the flap is substantially covering the front opening.

3. The garment of claim 1, further comprising: a flap securing mechanism configured to releasably secure the flap in a closed position when the flap is substantially covering the front opening.

4. The garment of claim 3, the flap securing mechanism being one selected from the group consisting of: velcro; a buttoning mechanism; a zipper; a hook-and-eye fastener; snaps; adhesive; and a combination thereof.

5. The garment of claim 3, the flap comprising: an exterior side; and an interior side having a first portion of the flap securing mechanism, the first portion of the flap securing mechanism being located toward the lower portion of the flap.

6. The garment of claim 5, the garment further comprising: a second portion of the flap securing mechanism, the second portion of the flap securing mechanism being configured to releasably mate with the first portion of the flap securing mechanism, the second portion of the flap securing mechanism being located toward the lower portion of the front opening.

7. The garment of claim 1, further comprising: a flap holding mechanism configured to hold the flap open above the front opening when the flap is in an open position.

8. The garment of claim 7, the flap holding mechanism being one selected from the group consisting of: velcro; a buttoning mechanism; a zipper; a hook-and-eye fastener; snaps; adhesive; and a combination thereof.

9. The garment of claim 7, the flap comprising: an interior side; and an exterior side having a first portion of the flap holding mechanism, the first portion of the flap holding mechanism being located toward the lower portion of the flap.

10. The garment of claim 9, the garment further comprising: a second portion of the flap holding mechanism, the second portion of the flap holding mechanism being configured to releasably mate with the first portion of the flap holding mechanism, the second portion of the flap holding mechanism being located toward the upper portion of the front opening.

11. The garment of claim 1 , the flap being configured to open in a substantially vertical and upward direction.

12. The garment of claim 1, the flap being configured to substantially expose the entire front opening when opened in the substantially vertical and upward direction.

13. The garment of claim 1, the flap being configured to open in a substantially oblique and upward direction.

14. The garment of claim 1, the flap being configured to expose a lateral portion of the front opening when opened in the substantially oblique and upward direction.

15. A medical garment having an improvement, the improvement comprising: an upper front opening located near the chest area; an upper flap configured to substantially cover the upper front opening; a lower front opening located near the abdomen area; and a lower flap configured to substantially cover the lower front opening.

16. The garment of claim 15, further comprising: an upper flap securing mechanism configured to releasably secure the upper flap in a closed position when the upper flap is substantially covering the upper front opening.

17. The garment of claim 16, the upper flap securing mechanism being one selected from the group consisting of: velcro; a buttoning mechanism; a zipper; a hook-and-eye fastener; snaps; adhesive; and a combination thereof.

18. The garment of claim 15, the upper flap being configured to open in a substantially vertical and upward direction.

19. The garment of claim 15, the upper flap being configured to substantially expose the entire upper front opening when opened in the substantially vertical and upward direction.

20. The garment of claim 15, the upper flap being configured to open in a substantially oblique and upward direction.

21. The garment of claim 15, the upper flap being configured to expose a lateral portion of the upper front opening when opened in the substantially oblique

and upward direction.

22. The garment of claim 15, further comprising: a lower flap securing mechanism configured to releasably secure the lower upper flap in a closed position when the lower flap is substantially covering the lower front opening.

23. The garment of claim 22, the lower flap securing mechanism being one selected from the group consisting of: velcro; a buttoning mechanism; a zipper; a hook-and-eye fastener; snaps; adhesive; and a combination thereof.

24. The garment of claim 15, the lower flap being configured to open in a substantially vertical and upward direction.

25. The garment of claim 15, the lower flap being configured to substantially expose the entire lower front opening when opened in the substantially vertical and upward direction.

26. The garment of claim 15, the lower flap being configured to open in a substantially oblique and upward direction.

27. The garment of claim 15, the lower flap being configured to expose a lateral portion of the lower front opening when opened in the substantially oblique and upward direction.

28. The garment of claim 15, the upper flap being configured to open in a substantially vertical and downward direction.

29. The garment of claim 15, the lower flap being configured to open in a substantially vertical and downward direction.

30. The garment of claim 15, the upper flap being configured to open in a substantially lateral direction.

31. The garment of claim 15, the lower flap being configured to open in a substantially lateral direction.

32. The garment of claim 15, the upper flap comprising: a left flap; and a right flap.

33. The garment of claim 32, the left flap being configured to open in a substantially vertical and upward direction, the right flap being configured to open in a substantially vertical and upward direction.

34. The garment of claim 32, the left flap being configured to open in a substantially-oblique upward and rightward direction, the right flap being configured to open in a substantially-oblique upward and leftward direction.

35. The garment of claim 32, the left flap being configured to open in a substantially vertical and downward direction, the right flap being configured to open in a substantially vertical and downward direction.

36. The garment of claim 32, the left flap being configured to open in a substantially lateral direction, the right flap being configured to open in a substantially lateral direction.

37. The garment of claim 32, the left flap partially overlapping the right flap.

38. The garment of claim 15, further comprising: an upper back opening; and a lower back opening.

39. A method of manufacturing a medical garment, the method comprising the steps of: providing a selectably-openable upper front opening located near the chest area of the medical garment, the selectably-openable upper front opening being substantially covered by an upper flap, the upper flap being configured to selectably open and close over the upper front opening; providing a selectably-openable lower front opening located near the abdomen area of the medical garment, the selectably-openable lower front opening being substantially covered by a lower flap, the lower flap being configured to selectably open and close over the lower front opening.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising the steps of: providing an upper securing mechanism configured to releasably secure the upper flap to cover the upper front opening when the upper flap is closed; and providing a lower securing mechanism configured to releasably secure the lower flap to cover the lower front opening when the lower flap is closed.

41. The method of claim 39, further comprising the steps of: providing an upper holding mechanism configured to releasably secure the upper flap to cover the upper front opening when the upper flap is closed; and providing a lower holding mechanism configured to releasably secure the lower flap to cover the lower front opening when the lower flap is closed.