Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
  • A41D13/00—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches
  • A41D13/12—Surgeons' or patients' gowns or dresses
  • A41D13/129—Donning facilities, e.g. characterized by the opening
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
  • A41D13/00—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches
  • A41D13/12—Surgeons' or patients' gowns or dresses
  • A41D13/1236—Patients' garments
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
  • A41D13/00—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches
  • A41D13/12—Surgeons' or patients' gowns or dresses
  • A41D13/1236—Patients' garments
  • A41D13/1245—Patients' garments for the upper part of the body
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
  • A41D13/00—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches
  • A41D13/12—Surgeons' or patients' gowns or dresses
  • A41D13/1236—Patients' garments
  • A41D13/1254—Patients' garments for the lower part of the body
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
  • A41D2300/00—Details of garments
  • A41D2300/30—Closures
  • A41D2300/33—Closures using straps or ties
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
  • A41D2300/00—Details of garments
  • A41D2300/50—Seams

Definitions

• This disclosure relates generally to garments for patient use in the medical, surgical, therapeutic and/or diagnostic environment.
• the patient is often forced to wear two gowns, the second being tied in the front so as to cover their buttocks and back.
• the garment itself aside from leaving the patient semi-nude and uncomfortable, also fails to provide a familiar garment format that promotes maintenance of body temperature in the ambient hospital environment. So, in summary, the current universal 'garb' fails to take into consideration inherent heat loss characteristics of a garment which has an open face across the majority of one of its long axes, thereby exposing the patient's skin to the ambient temperature of the hospital environment whilst in addition, producing a negative psychological impact to the wearer.
• the instant invention therefore seeks to remedy the problems created by existing garb through 1) amending the garment form such that it has the facsimile of normal, everyday, clothing and 2) creating improved garment functionality through the use of materials which have the requisite insulative and heat-retentive characteristics.
• the medical, surgical, therapeutic and/or diagnostic functionality of the garments should favourably compare with existing garb, having equal or improved utility in the hospital environment and allowing medical staff uninhibited access to various sites, as required, and accordingly this is a complementary goal of the invention. Therefore the objective is the creation of garments which are equally beneficial to both medical, surgical, therapeutic and/or diagnostic staff as well as the patient. This is contrary to the current status in which the garment is designed to be maximally beneficial to the caregivers only whilst in reality proving to be a encumbrance to them as well.
• one facet of improving the patient's hospital and medical, surgical, therapeutic and/or diagnostic environment is the provision of comfortable, insulative, disposable, single-use, garb which is conducive to the patient's modesty and which does not conspire to place them in a real or perceived physical or psychologically vulnerable situation.
• the patient's adrenal response which results from psychological stress, may be a significant element in contributing to hypothermia in the ambient hospital environment. Clothing patients in alien, uncomfortable and forbidding garments contributes to psychological stress; therefore one way of diminishing the adrenal response is through provision of insulative garments whose appearance conforms to more standard clothing designs and formats. There is a synergistic relationship between stress and hypothermia , each one aggravating the other.
• adrenalin is a potent vasoconstrictor and that peripheral vasoconstriction and redirection of the circulation to the body core is a standard physiological response to stress.
• the ability of the body to maintain a homeothermic environment is compromised and, especially in the pre-treatment environment, the patient is predisposed to hypothermia.
• vasoconstriction of the peripheral blood vessels may arise under hypothermia in order to prevent further heat loss by limiting blood flow to the extremities and reducing heat transfer away from the thermal core of the body.
• vasoconstriction makes it much more difficult to reverse a hypothermic state since vasoconstriction impedes the transfer of heat from the body surface to the thermal core and makes it difficult to simply apply heat to the surface of the body.
• This physiological impediment to heat transfer is referred to as a vasoconstrictive blockage to heat exchange.
• the instant invention has the prevention of hypothermia as a principal objective.
• Piraka, U.S. 7,181,773 "Hospital Gown” usefully summarizes the practical and psychological drawbacks of existing designs; "73 ⁇ 4e standard hospital gown has several drawbacks.
• One drawback is that the body areas which are generally considered “private areas " are exposed when they are uncovered for injections, suture removals, heart monitoring, telemetry hook-ups and feed line insertions. Exposure of "private areas” embarrasses many patients, particularly female and religious patients, and causes unnecessary stress.
• Ties, buttons and point fasteners leave incomplete seams which discontinuous securing means allow for significant reductions in patient comfort and promote and result in undesirable patient heat loss.
• the inventors note the inherent practical limitations of fasteners which are manipulated using two hands, and observe that knots frequently present unwanted, time consuming, complications when disrobing a patient. Knots and buttons also leave open large areas of traditional garb resulting in unwanted heat loss to the patient. The most frequently used garments currently in use, have ties which result in knots which pose problems in untying often requiring cutting in emergency situations. Knots also present an added hazard, creating a pressure point with resultant tissue necrosis in the immobile, semi-mobile or uncooperative patient.
• Hook and loop fasteners also have the potential to abrade the skin in a patient who is unconscious or unaware of stimuli due to paralysis or diminished level of consciousness. Furthermore, the closure of a garment with non-continuous hook and loop fastenings promotes undesirable body heat loss which is detrimental to the patient and therefore rejected as inadequate for the inventors' purposes.
• the instant invention ideally removes the requirement to accurately align mating fastener fixtures or surfaces which represents a further significant practical benefit in the hospital environment, particularly when the patient is unable to assist in the process of robing or disrobing.
• Garments in use are traditionally one piece three quarter length with short sleeves and are applied by placing on the patient from the front and by tying once behind the neck and once at the lower back followed by a secondary overlap, if present, at the lower back with a third tie at the side of the body.
• Pants if supplied, are made of transparent paper product with elasticated edges which achieve neither of their intended benefits which is to cover the 'private parts' or to provide a comfortable lower body garment which also promotes heat retention.
• these are complicated to apply and remove, requiring the legs to be placed through them and then be pulled up. This is a simple matter in a standing cooperative patient and a logistical nightmare requiring two care-givers in the supine uncooperative patient. There is also no method to remove the panties other than time tested method of tearing them apart.
• the elasticated edges can abrade open wounds.
• the invention implicitly integrates the concept of a two piece garment always allowing integrity of closure of the upper and lower halves of the body as separate identifiable goals without detracting from the use of the upper body garment as being of variable length depending on the needs and preferences of the care givers and the patient.
• the invention takes the form of a two piece garment of traditional construction: that is to say that, unlike traditional garb or prior art in the field it has no open or partially open seams, except for neck, arm and leg holes.
• the garment for the upper body generally takes the form of a blouse / T-shirt and for the lower body, shorts or trousers. Alternatively, dependent on regional custom, a dress with short or long sleeves may be preferred. The patient's limbs may be partially or fully covered, as required. For the lower limbs, socks may be incorporated into the garment. The dress may be of any length, waist upper thigh, mid-thigh or ankle length. [036] For Islamic countries a head dress may also be incorporated as a separate or integrated attachment, with or without a facial cover.
• the garment is constructed from fabric which may comprise one or more layers, in order to formulate the appropriate structural, insulative or textural properties, as may be required. Any fabric type, whether woven, knitted or non-woven may be used, however, preference, is given to cellulose based, disposable, single-use fabrics which are capable of being recycled. The use of cellulose based fabrics results in reduced handling, laundering, sterilization and storage requirements which has significant economic benefit.
• the surgical and therapeutic utility of the garment is enhanced through the strategic placement of seams which are positioned such that sites of specific surgical interest can be exposed.
• the garment seams are largely positioned along traditional lines, with the seams being stitched, glued, welded or attached by any other conventional or unconventional means, as required.
• the versatility imparted by the seams is further enhanced by collaborative juxtaposition with fasteners which are used to close the garment.
• the closure mechanisms should be of continuous - as opposed to intermittent - construction so as to leave the garment relatively air-tight, thereby beneficially reducing patient heat loss and protecting patient modesty.
• the instant invention improves over prior art through the preferential use of a re-sealable fastener which attaches directly to the fabric, to form a continuous seam.
• the re-sealing elements of the instant invention do not require precise alignment of mating materials and therefore beneficially allow for minor alterations to the post-intervention fitting and accommodation of the garment.
• the garment may also be modified to incorporate active chemical heat inserts to provide active heating during interventions which carry the risk of excessive body loss and resultant hypothermia such as protracted surgical procedures.
• the instant invention improves the cosmetic appearance, quality, structural and insulative character of hospital garments adding significant and quantifiable benefit in increasing patient comfort and reducing recovery time, without increasing garment unit costs or negatively impacting the therapeutic requirements within the hospital environment.
• Figure la is a schematic plan view of the front side of the present invention as configured with short-sleeved and short trouser-legs, illustrating potential configurations for placement of perforations.
• Figure lb is a schematic plan view of the front side of the present invention as configured for long sleeved and long trouser-legs, illustrating alternative potential configurations for placement of perforations.
• Figure lc is a three-dimensional schematic showing placement of opening seams on a side elevation.
• Figure 2a shows an alternative configuration for garment fabric indicating enlarged perforations which act as place-markers and stop-perforations.
• Figure 2b illustrates the partial internal construction of a webbing strip used for closing garment seams which has comparable features.
• Figure 3a to 3c illustrates cross-sectional and isometric drawings of an alternative configuration of the garment seam structure comprising a press-fit seam.
• Figure 4a, 4b, and 4c present cross sectional views illustrating one configuration of the garment fabric and underlying web.
• Figure 5 a illustrates a cross-sectional view of the garment and closure system prior to deployment.
• Figure 5b illustrates a cross-sectional view of the garment and closure system post deployment during patient treatment
• Figure 5c illustrates the garment re-sealed in the post-treatment environment.
• Figure 6a illustrates an cross-sectional alternative configuration of the garment closure system.
• Figure 7a through 7c shows an alternative garment closure mechanism, particularly illustrating alternative structural configurations of the internal closure mechanism to the opening seam.
• Figure 8a illustrates the position of seams on one particular garment configuration
• Figure 8b and 8c illustrate webbing layouts and relative positions on the garment, emphasising sectional capability
• Figures 8d and 8e are cross-sectional illustrations of potential seam configurations.
• the garment generally 10, is constructed from fabric 11, which has an interior surface, 12 and an exterior surface, 13.
• the interior surface 12, is proximate the patient's skin and the exterior surface 13, is exposed to the air.
• the fabric, 11, may be constructed from any of a class of materials which have the desired attributes of insulation, moisture wicking, elasticity, support and permeability as may be required in order to create a suitable garment for the wearer.
• the insulative properties of the material 11 are selected based on a number of criteria; for example, the anticipated ambient temperature of the hospital environment; the duration of the surgical or diagnostic or therapeutic intervention and the homeostatic characteristics of the patient. For example, in the case of an elderly patient undergoing an operation of some duration and complexity, a higher degree of corporeal heat retention may be sought, resulting in selection of a garment 10 constructed from fabric 11 with significantly higher insulative properties.
• the material, 11, may be woven, knitted, or spun and may be formed from natural or man- made materials as required. Fabric threads may be coated or be natural, according to preference and the dictates of regulatory bodies, as required. Wherever possible, it is the inventors' preference to utilize fabrics made from natural fibers which have the added economic benefit of being both disposable and recyclable.
• a preferred material 11 for the construction of the body of the garb is cellulose which may be manufactured with inherently heat-retentive quilted structures. Beneficially, cellulose materials are low-cost, commercially available, recyclable and have other desirable mechanical properties which are of interest in the construction of the garment, 10.
• fabrics which are constructed from the products of bamboo are of interest. Such plants are fast growing and need little or no chemical intervention in terms of fertilisers or pesticides and are therefore beneficial to the environment.
• fabric constructed from bamboo is known to have both wicking and anti-bacterial properties which increases its attractiveness in the field of hygiene materials.
• the garments 10 are symmetrical about their longitudinal midlines, although this is not intended to present a constraint on the design.
• the garb for the upper body 20 has the appearance of an everyday garment, complete with sleeves 21, neck-hole 22, and body 23.
• the upper body garment 20 may be also sleeveless without departing from the spirit of the invention, but preference is given to the incorporation of sleeves 21 for purposes of retaining the patient's body heat.
• the sleeves 21 may be of any length, as determined by the ambient environment and patient specific requirements and may further be equipped with elasticated cuffs 39 to further enhance retention of body heat.
• the key differentiator from prior art in the field is that, as all of the major garment panels 17 are continuously attached to adjacent panels 17, the patient's body 9 is not exposed to the open air and therefore not subject to high levels of body core heat loss. Furthermore, the semi-fitted nature of the garb 10 does not allow for a significant volume of air-flow between the patient's body 9 and the ambient environment.
• the garment for the lower body 30, takes the form or shorts 31 or, preferably, leggings 32 . If the latter, these may be equipped with socks or bootees.
• the garments 10 provide medical staff with easy and unfettered access to the patient which results in the garb being readily segmented. Therefore, the fabric 11 which is used in the construction of the garment, 10, is equipped with separable seams 15 which are used to segment the garment 10.
• the separable seams 15 may correspond with seam locations used in traditional garment panel placement, or, alternatively, may be specifically configured to suit particular medical, surgical, therapeutic and/or diagnostic requirements.
• the utility of the garment 10 may be enhanced by placing the separable seams 15 so as to accommodate not only the site of intervention, but also to create minor panel openings (not illustrated) which accommodate the access requirements for ancillary equipment such as catheters, cannulae, biometric and telemetry units, which access points may be located outside the immediate therapeutic site and which may require both upper and lower body garments 20, 30, to be opened in order to obtain more complete access to the patient 9.
• ancillary equipment such as catheters, cannulae, biometric and telemetry units
• the seam boundaries 15 may be of any length or positioned in any position on the garment 10 which, by design, may be site-specific for the treatment or diagnostic modality which is to be conducted.
• the seam boundaries 15 may preferentially be opened through the use of lines of weakness which are formed within the fabric 11 of the garment.
• perforations 15 which may be incorporated into the garments 10, in such a manner as to run longitudinally, circumferentially, or diagonally with respect to the patient's body, or in any orientation or combinations of orientations as desired.
• a preferred configuration of the garment incorporates seams separable 15 along the patient's mid-lateral access 16, along the superior or caudal aspect of the shoulders 8, the axillary and medial arm area, 24 and also along a longitudinal midline 14 on anterior 18 and posterior 19 aspects of both upper 20 and lower garments 30.
• This configuration allows access to the torso for medical, surgical, therapeutic and diagnostic manoeuvres.
• the garment has anterior 18 and posterior elevations 19 which are circumferentially divided into panels by separable seams 15 in the garment fabric 11 for example, at mid-thorax level, 5 and at upper thigh 7 and knee levels 6 for the purposes of allowing patient access to the torso for medical, surgical, therapeutic and/or diagnostic manoeuvres.
• the position of the separable seams 15 is such that they operate either independently or in collaboration, thereby creating greater garment versatility.
• the creation of an opening 17 within the garb does not, of necessity, require the detachment of a garment panel 17 as the primary intention is to fold the panels, exposing the site of intervention such that the panel opening 17 in the garb 10 may be closed after completion of the medical, surgical, therapeutic and/or diagnostic procedure.
• the method of construction of the separable seams 15 is such that the shear strength of the materials 11 which are used to bridge the interstices 37 between garment panels 17 is intentionally compromised, resulting in the ability to manually dissect the seam 15, thereby allowing segmentation of the garment 10.
• the seam 15 should, however, be of sufficient strength that garment integrity is maintained when the patient is putting on the garment 10.
• the required reduction in tensile strength may be accomplished by any practicable means, as required, for example, as partially illustrated in Figure 1, and Figure 2, through the use of perforations 25 formed within the garment fabric 11, which effectively decrease the intra-fabric structural strength, or as illustrated in Figure 3b, by constructing a garment seam 15 which is constructed by overlapping two panel sections 17a, 17b and separable weakened junction 15 at the seam.
• Figure 3 illustrates one potential configuration which comprises adjacent cellulose garment segments 17a, 17b, which are overlapping and feature pressed or embossed 36 sections which are bonded so as to form a separable seam 15.
• a reduced shear strength joint 15 may be formed, for example, by creating an interval of weakness within the fabric structure 11 along the principal seam axis 15 such that once the separable seam opening 15 has been created, the separation of the seam 15 results in the creation of two adjacent fabric section margins 37 each located on two adjoining, but separated, garment panelsl7 .
• perforations 25 form intra-garment boundaries 15 which sectionalise the garment into convenient panels, 17 allowing access for both medical, surgical, therapeutic and/or diagnostic equipment.
• Perforations 25 may be of any diameter and spacing necessary to accomplish the goal of reducing the strength of the fabric joint 15 without compromising garment structural integrity in the pre-treatment environment. This method is particularly suited to garb constructed from cellulose pulp products such as paper. It will be understood by those practised in the art that the perforations described and illustrated herein are indicative of one particular embodiment of the invention and that any shape, form, configuration or arrangement of perforations is considered to be within the scope of the invention.
• FIG. 2a illustrates the principle of perforations 25 as applied directly to the fabric 11 itself, illustrating the resulting individual panels 17, and the separable seams 15 - in this configuration they are perforated, but any reduced strength joint may be used to achieve garment panel 17 separation.
• Figure 2a further illustrates the use of enlarged perorations 27 as garment panel intersection 17 markers and - because the fabric pictured is still intact - the potential resulting panel 17 margins 37.
• FIG. 1b illustrates the principle of providing indirect garment panel 17 perforation means, 25, via a fabric strip 47 which is mounted on the internal surface 13 of the fabric 11.
• the separate panels of the garment 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d have been shaded to illustrate the relative positions of fabric strip 47 with respect to individual garment panels and also to illustrate the utility in defining individual garment panels 17 by co-location of the internal strip 38 across the margins 37 of the separable panels 17.
• the implication here is that the practical garment construction remains concealed from the patient, as the panel construction means are within the garment structure.
• the garment panel margins 37 are defined internally by the location of internally positioned fabric strips 38, which panel sizes 17 may be of any dimension and located according to specific medical, surgical, therapeutic and/or diagnostic purposes, and that garb 10 can therefore be customized to suit specific procedures.
• This feature is of benefit because the patient can be clothed in the gown and then the appropriate panels 17 can be selected in order to expose the appropriate medical, surgical, therapeutic and/or diagnostic site, without unnecessarily inducing unwanted patient heat loss.
• the internal fabric strips 38 are attached to the panels 17 by means of stitching, 48, however, clearly any other attachment means can be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.
• Alternative cross-sectional configurations of Figure 2b are illustrated in more detail in Figure 7.
• fabric strips 47 could be located on the outer surface 13 of the garment fabric 11.
• the panels 17 are co-located in such a manner as to have adjacent edges 37, however, it may be desirable to have the margins 37 of the panels 17, overlap so as to provide both greater structural integrity and enhanced euthermic properties and clearly this is depicted in Figures 8d and 8e and also lies within the scope of the instant invention.
• Figure 3a through 3c therefore, illustrate both a sectional and isometric view of a garment seam 15 configuration.
• This may require the margins 37 of the fabric sections, 17 to be chemically treated so as to give the necessary adhesive and form retentive properties to both sections 17. Therefore the margin of the garment 37 may be treated with adhesives, or starch or some form of stiffening in such a manner that, post manufacture, when the garment fabric 11 treatment is complete the shape of the embossed sections 36 is retained.
• a tensile bond between fabric sections 17 may be made which is sufficient to withstand everyday handling, such as that which is encountered during dressing, but is not so strong as to create an impediment to hospital staff when disrobing the patient.
• any garment which is configured with panels 17 has the potential to create undesirable heat loss in a patient 9.
• the use of perforations 25 as a means of sectioning the garment 10 results in unwanted exposure of the patient's skin 9 and presents the potential for heat loss. Therefore, as illustrated in Figure 4, the garment 10 may on the interior surface 12, of the fabric, 11 immediately beneath the perforations 25, preferentially be equipped with an internal fabric strip, or web of material, 38.
• the internal webbing strip 38 serves multiple purposes. Prior to the treatment or intervention, it prevents patient skin 9 heat loss via the perforations 25. It may also replace the perforated boundary 15 fabric and be used to maintain garment seam 15 integrity prior to the operation. It serves, therefore, as a logical boundary defining the location of the medical, surgical, therapeutic and/or diagnostic intervention and, finally it acts as a mechanism for post-treatment re-connection of garment sections 17, being used to re-seal the open margins 37 of the separable seams 15 in order to effect closure of the garment panels 17 and re-form the garment postoperatively.
• the fabric web 38 as depicted in Figure 4, Figure 7 and Figure 8d, has an interior surface, 41 and an exterior surface 42.
• the interior surface 41, of the fabric web 38 is the surface which is in closest proximity to the patient's skin 9 when the fabric strip is being used as a garment 10 closure means.
• the fabric web 38 is assembled within the garment 10 such that it runs coaxially with the separable seam 15 boundaries 37, bridging the axis of separable seam 15, in such a fashion that a continuous, draught-proof, seam construction 15 is created, thereby reducing convective and radiative patient heat loss.
• the web 38 is therefore connected so as to run coaxially, parallel to the separable seams 15.
• the internal fabric strip 38 as illustrated in Figures 2b, 4, 7 and 8d and 8e, is preferentially permanently attached 43 parallel and adjacent to one margin 37 of a garment panel 17, in a continuous fashion.
• the permanent connection 43 means may be selected from a group of conventional or non-conventional fabric fixing methods, i.e. as illustrated, by stitching. However, gluing, laser bonding or any other method or combination of methods which are determined by the choice of garment fabric 11 and the required bond strength between internal fabric strip 38 and garment fabric 11, may be selected, as required.
• the central portion of the strip, 29 remains detached from the inner surface 12 of the fabric, 11.
• a second, optional attachment 44 of the internal fabric strip 38, using temporary bonding means 44 to affix the un-attached margin of the fabric web 38 to the inner surface 12 of the fabric 11 of the adjacent panel 17 may be made.
• This temporary attachment 44 may be dispensed with entirely, as in Figure 4b, if the material characteristics of fabric 11 and web 38 allow for the web 38 to structurally self-support across the junction 15 between two adjacent garment panels 17 .
• Figure 4a therefore illustrates a cross section of the internal fabric web strip 38 and the garment fabric 11.
• the web 38 has two, continuous axes of attachment, 43, 44, running parallel to the garment panel margins 37, which panel margins are created by separable seam 15 or perforated boundary 25 within the garment fabric 11.
• the construction of each of these internal web strip attachments is different.
• One of the attachments 43 is designed to be permanently attached to the inner surface 12 of the garment fabric 11.
• the opposite margin of the internal fabric strip 38 is affixed using detachable means 44 to the inner surface 12 of the garment fabric 11: that is to say the shear strength of the temporary attachment method 44 which is used to attach the webbing 38 to the interior surface 12 of the garment fabric 11 is inferior to the tensile strength of the fabric 11 which is used to create the garment 10.
• This results in a webbing strip 38 which is capable of selective detachment from the garment 10.
• the webbing 38 is affixed to the interior surface 12 of the fabric 11 such that it detaches from the inner surface 12 of the garment 10 simultaneously when the separable seams 15 are detached.
• the garment 10 could be constructed which had the option of both internal fabric strip 38 margins being detachable, and this is considered to be within the scope of the invention, however, the inventors observe that, potentially, this would create additional work for the hospital staff in terms of determining which web margin 38 to leave connected to the garment 10 and result in unnecessary complexity concerning the selection of panel closure means to be used in the post-treatment environment. Therefore, by having one margin of the web 38 permanently attached, garment mis-application issues and complications are thus avoided.
• FIG. 4b an alternative configuration is shown whereby the fabric web 38, although overlapping the separable seam boundary so as to create a draught proof seam, remains substantially and permanently attached only along a single margin 43.
• Figure 4a on detaching the perforations 25, the bond between web 38 and adhesive section 44 becomes the weak element in retaining connectivity between the two margins 37 of the now separable garment
• the garment 10 is closed, covering the patient's skin 9, thereby preventing additional, unwanted heat loss.
• the temporary adhesive strip 44 is configured either by means of using reduced strength glue or by altering the adhesive properties of either or both of the exterior surfaces of the fabric 12 or the interior surface 41 of the fabric web 38, or by altering the strength of the adhesive, or by some combination of these factors. It is important, from a practical perspective, that the re-attachment mechanism 45 remains inactive until the procedure is completed and there is a requirement to close the garment 10.
• FIG. 5a illustrates the separable seam 15 in the pre-operative environment. It depicts an over-folded pleat 35, which serves to conceal perforated seam margins 25.
• the form of the pleat in Figure 5a is retained by use of a temporary adhesive joint, 26a which may be either continuous or intermittent in nature.
• the adhesive joint 26a also serves to conceal the perforated seam margins 25 providing additional insulation, thereby preventing body heat loss via the perforations 25.
• an additional optional adhesive strip 26b is illustrated.
• Figure 5b illustrates the separable seam as deployed, having separated the adhesive joint 26a the perforations 25 are revealed, allowing the garment 10 to be sectioned and the patient 9 to be exposed as previously described. At this point, adhesive strip 26b is still concealed within the remaining garment pleat.
• Figure 5c illustrates the garment 10 in the post-operative environment with the garment closed around the patient. This configuration utilizes both of the adhesive strips 26a, 26b deployed as a means of closing the garment.
• the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5 is beneficial in its simplicity, requiring only the insertion of a reduced strength fabric section 11 thereby creating a seam and the addition of temporary adhesive means 26 with which to conceal the separable margins 37 .
• the preferred means for constructing the weakened element 15 of the fabric 11 is by linearly arranged perforations 25, although other means may be used as practicable.
• the temporary adhesive strip 26a may be located by markings on the exterior surface 13 of the fabric 11, or by means of piping (not shown), affixed to the outer surface 13 of the fabric 11, or by other means as applicable. This reduces the complexity of garment construction such that the only elements which are required are fabric 11 and adhesive elements 26. It also paves the way for the use of more sophisticated adhesive means which are responsive only to specifically treated fabric types yet which do not have active viscid properties and which would therefore be ideally suited to the hospital environment.
• the outer surface of the garment, 13 contains a reduced strength element in the construction of the fabric 11 which, when dislocated, allows the perforations 25 to be exposed, and, as illustrated in Figure 5b, creates two separate panels 17 with adjacent margins 37 thus enabling the garb 10 to be opened as has hitherto been described.
• the weak point 15 is preferentially constructed using reduced strength adhesives 44, but any manner of fabric fusion, stitching or adhesive methods which create an impermanent bond, or reduced-strength seam, may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.
• the garment opening is then closed by opening the over fold pleat 35 and revealing the adhesive strip 26b which is used to re-attach the adjacent fabric panels 17, restoring garment functionality and preventing further patient heat loss.
• Further garment closure strength may be achieved by utilizing more than one adhesive bonding margin, for example as illustrated in Figure 5c where adhesive strips 26a and 26b, act mutually to provide additional bond strength to the garment closure thereby creating a more secure bond.
• the adhesive 44 may be re-usable and may be set directly onto the inner surface 12 of the fabric 11, or may be particularly inserted into a groove 33 embossed into either the cellulose garment fabric 11 or, alternatively, as illustrated in Figure 6, into an internal fabric strip 38, as desired.
• the inventors perceive that inserting the adhesive in a bead format into a pre-formed channel 33 which is embossed in the web 16 substrate is advantageous both in manufacturing and deployment as it constrains the adhesive 44 to predetermined positions and orientations. This makes placement of the adhesive during manufacture more precise as it prevents the adhesive 44 from encroaching on the surrounding substratesl2, 13.
• a protective strip not illustrated
• Such adhesive protective strips are frequently used in stationery products for similar purposes.
• FIG. 7a through 7c An alternative configuration is illustrated in Figure 7a through 7c.
• the location of the seam 15, may be indicated through positioning by means of a line drawn on the material, or piping 34, or more appropriately, twin parallel piping 34, which indicates the margins 37 (illustrated in Figure 7b) of adjacent fabric panel sections 17, or by any other means which provides clear indication of the position of the garment opening seams 15.
• a self-contained re-sealing strip 38 Located on the inner surface 12 of the fabric 11 and to one side of the opening seam 15 is a self-contained re-sealing strip 38.
• Figure 8a illustrates one configuration a preferred embodiment of the garment 10 as worn by a patient.
• This figure illustrates an embodiment of the garment 10, utilizing a segmented approach to configuring the separable fabric strips 38, 47.
• Figure 8a illustrates external fabric strips 47, however, it will be understood that internal fabric strips 38, may be equally as effective.
• Cross sectional depictions of internal fabric strips 38 are contained in Figures 4, 7 and 8d.
• the garb 10 as illustrated, is long sleeved with elasticated cuffs 39 at the wrist and, preferentially, some form of heat-retentive elasticated band at the waist 39.
• the garment separable seams 15 are located beneath the external fabric strips 47 and collaborate to define garment panels 17 which are of utility in the medical, surgical, therapeutic and/or diagnostic environment.
• the illustrations are not intended to provide constraint or limitation on the placement of panel seams 15 which may be of any dimension and in any location, as may be required.
• the garment, 10 as illustrated in Figure 8a is divisible into segments 17 as originally illustrated in Figure lb, although clearly it could be segmented in other ways, as desired.
• the garment segments' 17 outer surface 13 fabric margins 37 are each overlain by a narrow textile layer 47, which is affixed to the outer surface 13 of the garment material 11.
• the garment fabric layers 11 may be configured so as to overlap as in Figure 8d.
• Figure 8a shows the outer textile layer 47 being affixed to the garment exterior surface 13 by means of stitching 48, however, any appropriate fabric fastening method, including, but not limited to stitching, gluing, laser bonding etc., may be used as desired.
• the narrow textile webbing layer 47 is equipped with perforations 25 which run along the longitudinal axis of the webbing 47 for the purposes of providing separation means between garment panels 17 and thus providing openings in the garment 10. Larger diameter perforations, 27, as illustrated in expanded drawings
• the stitching passes through textile layer 47, garment fabric 11 and internal fabric strip 38, thus binding all three elements as illustrated in sectional Figure 8d.
• the outer textile layer 47 and garment fabric 11 are bound by stitching, however, the internal web 38 remains free from attachment. In this manner, once the adjacent garment panels 17 are separated, the internal web has a degree of freedom which allows the garment 10 to be opened and the patient's skin 9 exposed.
• Figure 8b and inset Figure 8c illustrate isometric representations of the intersection of several panels 17 showing the detail of the webbing 47, the outer textile layer 13 and its application to the fabric panels 17.
• Adjacent panels 17, intersect at margins 37 which margins are contiguously overlain by an external fabric strip 47, which is permanently affixed to the external surface 13 of the fabric 11 along both margins of the strip.
• the external fabric strip 47 is equipped with means of separation 15, which are illustrated as perforations 25 and for preference equipped with extra- large perforations 27 which act to define and delineate panels 17 such that panel boundaries 37 can be easily identified.
• Figure 8d shows a cross sectional view across A-Al from Figure 8c.
• the external fabric strip 47 and internal web 38 are ideally attached through the garment fabric 11 along a single margin. Along the opposing margin, the external fabric strip 47 is only attached to the fabric 11 and not to the internal web 38, thereby allowing the garment panels 17 to be separated.
• the internal web 38 is preferentially equipped with adhesive 45 means enabling the garment panels 17 to be closed following treatment. Such adhesive reattachments may be protected, as illustrated, by a protective cover 46.
• Figure 8e shows an alternative embodiment of the seam element 15 of the garment 10 showing overlapping adjacent garment panels 17 which configuration is advantageous as it minimizes patient heat loss through the perforated 25 section margins 37.
• CLAUSE 1 A versatile garment which is a facsimile of normal clothing and which promotes personal well-being, privacy, modesty and euthermia, for use in the hospital environment or as required in the patient-care-giver interaction, which garment beneficially incorporates means for versatile garment deconstruction prior to treatment or monitoring allowing patient access and incorporates means for post-treatment reconstruction of the garment in the post-treatment, diagnostic exam or monitoring environment.
• CLAUSE 2 The garment according to Clause 1 which is equipped with means for the provision of easily removable, segmentable or detachable and re-attachable panels which re-attachable means are non-site specific, thereby conferring superior re-dimensioning and re-configurable properties to the garment.
• the separable margins of the panels beneficially allow for selective disassembly of the garment, as required
• CLAUSE 3 The garment according to Clause 1 or for use in pre-diagnostic, medical, surgical, therapeutic and/or diagnostic or any other type or modality of intervention as required in the patient-care-giver interaction, whether in the home, during patient transport, outdoors, in the healthcare facility or chronic-health care facility. Use may made in any location for any purpose deemed appropriate and these definitions are not intended to limit the scope or further adaptability of the invention as it becomes utilized.
• CLAUSE 4 The garment according to Clause 1, which promotes a single use clean or sterile application, for use in the hospital environment or in any setting, in or out of a medical facility, as required in the patient-care-giver interaction
• CLAUSE 5 A garment, according to Clause 1, allowing for secure, appropriate and independent coverage of the upper and lower body.
• the garment may either be wholly removed or, preferentially, partially disassembled, in order to fulfil modality specific requirements.
• CLAUSE 6 A garment, according to Clause 1 , which is compatible with other health-care devices and systems, according to Clause 1 which promotes patient euthermia, which euthermic properties can be augmented through the use of external heat sources.
• CLAUSE 7 A versatile garment, according to Clause 1, which allows access in the abdominal area for colostomy bags or open abdominal wounds; in the perineal area for catheterisation of the urinary system, in the back shoulder, anterior and lateral chest for telemetry and central lines, in the extremities (ventral aspect of wrist, dorsum of hand or foot, ankle, groin or ante-cubital fossa for intravenous, intra-arterial and central line access, or which may be specifically configured to accommodate any other intervention as may be required.
• the garment configuration is unconstrained, such that diagnostic specific configurations may be fabricated, allowing site or equipment specific treatment, therapeutic or diagnostic procedures to be performed on any part of the body e.g. ultrasound examination of an abscess, Wound- Vac (TM) management of an open wound, mammography, etc,.
• CLAUSE 8 The garment of Clause 1 which is further formed from materials and incorporating fixtures, processes and structures, such that it is not rendered radio-opaque nor provides interference with Magnetic Resonance Imaging or Computer Assisted Tomography or radiography or other diagnostic modalities, or, alternatively, may contain radio opaque panels to protect the reproductive organs.
• CLAUSE 9 The garment of Clause 1 which may be modified through the use of color, pattern or markings enabling rapid patient status identification, enhancing the patient-care- giver process.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=50884862

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (9)

Family Cites Families (14)

• 2014
  • 2014-05-09 WO PCT/EP2014/059534 patent/WO2014180977A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2014-05-09 US US14/890,280 patent/US20160088886A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2014-05-09 EP EP14728099.4A patent/EP2994003A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (2)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events