US20140082823A1

US20140082823A1 - Patient gown

Info

Publication number: US20140082823A1
Application number: US14/035,449
Authority: US
Inventors: Linsey Gordon; Silvia Guttmann; Steve Sikora; Christa Getchell; Melissa Schoenherr; Ann Sullivan
Original assignee: Park Nicollet Health Services
Priority date: 2012-09-24
Filing date: 2013-09-24
Publication date: 2014-03-27

Abstract

A patient gown may be configured to improve a patient's comfort and modesty while still providing ease of use, including the don/doff process. A gown may be configured to fully cover the back side of a patient, thereby increasing their comfort and modesty, while still permitting a caregiver to quickly and easily gain access to the patient inside the gown when the need arises.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/704,915 filed Sep. 24, 2012 entitled PATIENT GOWN, which application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a patient gown, specifically a gown that can provide comfort, coverage, and ease of use.

BACKGROUND

Hospital gowns have often been made from a unitary piece of material that is fastened in the back with ties and other fastening approaches. Such gowns are opened to allow for various medical procedures, monitoring or observation. Patients are usually asked to wear little or no garments under the gown often leaving the patient's backside exposed at times, which is embarrassing and stressful for many patients.
Some gowns are closed with ties, which can at times be difficult to utilize. This can waste valuable time either when the patient wants to open or take off the gown or when a doctor, nurse or other medical professional wants to open the gown to carry out a procedure, monitor or observe an aspect of the patient's body.
Many gowns are so simple that they are not very helpful to the patient when not undergoing a procedure or being monitored or observed. These gowns have either no pockets or have pockets that are not helpful for the patient to carry typical personal items such that the person can remain organized and at times even productive, which helps the patient have a positive state of mind.
It would be desirable to develop a patient gown that addresses these shortcomings.

SUMMARY

The present invention pertains to a patient gown that addresses these shortcomings. A variety of patient gown design features are described herein. In some embodiments, a patient gown may include one, two, or several of these inventive features. As will be described subsequently with respect to the drawings, one of the inventive features pertains to ease of use.
For example, in some embodiments, a patient gown may be configured to facilitate the don/doff (putting on and taking off) process. In some embodiments, a patient gown may tie along the patient's side, rather than behind them. In some instances, the gown may include a back portion such as a triangle-shaped back portion that extends behind the patient to tie at their side. This design feature provides a significant improvement in modesty while limiting incremental use of materials and still providing physicians and other healthcare professionals to easily access the back body area of the patient.
In some embodiments, another inventive design feature relates to the back portion of the gown. In some instances, the shoulder of the gown may include a quick release pull-tab that utilizes a snap connection. The snap connection helps to hold the gown closed in order to provide patient modesty, but still permits the physician or other healthcare professional to gain access. In some instances, the gown may include a loop that can be pulled to separate the snap connection.
In some embodiments, another inventive feature provides simple restroom access for the patient and their caregivers. In some instances, the gown may include loops that are attached to the front of the gown. The patient can put their thumbs into one or both loops, and lift the gown up such that the gown clears the back body so that the patient can easily use the restroom without requiring removal of the gown. In some embodiments, a caregiver may use the same loops to assist if necessary.
In some embodiments, another inventive feature is a combination of front pockets and vents. A main front kangaroo pocket is for comfort. A secondary pocket on top is for personal items. In some embodiments, there is an internal vent underneath the pocket, which will be used for abdominal body, tubes, and implement access.
In some embodiments, another inventive feature relates to gown sleeves that can be adjusted to provide the patient with improved comfort while also providing quick release should a caregiver want to gain access to the shoulder or chest area of the patient. In some embodiments, the gown sleeves may be relatively longer to provide more warmth and modesty. In some embodiments, the sleeves may include two or more rows of snaps that can be used to adjust the girth of the arm space as desired.
In some embodiments, another inventive feature pertains to a resized and moved telemetry pocket to the left side. This pocket is cut in a way that provides more modesty, and been moved to left side for easy access for heartbeat testing. The pocket still provides access for tubes, wires and the like.
In some embodiments, another inventive feature pertains to providing a gown with a deeper v-neck in order to provide improved comfort. In some embodiments, the base of the v-neck may include snaps that can be used to provide rapid access if necessary.
Accordingly, in some embodiments, a patient gown includes a front portion, a first side portion extending from the front portion and a second side portion extending from the front portion. A first tie extends from the first side portion and a second tie extends from the second side portion. In some embodiments, the first tie and the second tie are located on the gown such that the first tie and the second tie, when tied together to hold the gown closed, are located on a side of the patient.
While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a right perspective view of a patient gown in accordance with embodiments of the invention, the gown shown on a simulated patient.

FIG. 2 is a left side view of the patient gown of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a back view of the patient gown of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partial back view of the patient gown of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a sleeve of the patient gown of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an outer surface of the patient gown of FIG. 1, shown in a flat configuration.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of an inner surface of the patient gown of FIG. 1, shown in a flat configuration.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a patient gown in accordance with embodiments of the invention, the gown shown on a simulated patient.

FIG. 9 is another front view of the patient gown of FIG. 8, with the model initially engaging the gown lifting loops.

FIG. 10 is another front view of the patient gown of FIG. 8, showing the model lifting the gown with the gown lifting loops.

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the patient gown of FIG. 8, showing the gown in a lifted position as achieved in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of an inner surface of the patient gown of FIG. 8, shown in a flat configuration.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of an outer surface of the patient gown of FIG. 8, shown in a flat configuration.

FIG. 14 is a front view of a patient gown in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 15 is a rear view of the patient gown of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a front view of a patient gown in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 17 is a rear view of the patient gown of FIG. 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
FIGS. 1 through 5 provide various views of a patient gown 10 shown on a simulated patient, while FIGS. 6 and 7 provide flat, laid out views of the outside and the inside, respectively, of the patient gown 10. As illustrated, the patient gown 10 includes a front portion 12, a first side portion 14 and a second side portion 16. The patient gown 10 includes a first sleeve 18 and a second sleeve 20. It will be appreciated that the front portion 12 of the patient gown 10 may be configured to fit over the front of a patient's torso, with the patient inserting their arms into the first sleeve 18 and the second sleeve 20. In some embodiments, the first side portion 14 may be wrapped behind the patient and secured to the front portion 12 as will be discussed. In some embodiments, the second side portion 16 may then be wrapped behind the patient and secured to the first side portion 14 via a first tie 22 secured to the first portion 14 and a second tie 24 secured to the second portion 16.
In some embodiments, as illustrated, the patient gown 10 is configured to permit tying the first tie 22 to the second tie 24 on the patient's side. Several advantages result from this configuration. In some embodiments, having a first side portion 14 that wraps around the back of the patient in a first direction and a second side portion 16 that wraps around the back of the patient in a second, opposing, direction means that the patient's back side is covered. This is a distinct advantage over previous gowns that tie in the back. Having the patient gown 10 tie on the side also means that it is easier for the patient to secure the gown without assistance, as they do not have to reach behind themselves and blindly tie the gown.
In some embodiments, the first portion 14 includes a connector such as a snap connector 26 that can be releasably secured to a complementary snap connector 28 that is located on the front portion 12 near the top thereof. As illustrated, the patient gown 10 may be considered as including a first shoulder portion 32 and a second shoulder portion 34, and the complementary snap connector 28 may be secured near the second shoulder portion 34. Accordingly, a patient or caregiver can wrap the first portion 14 around the patient's back, and then secure the snap connector 26 to the complementary snap connector 28. In some embodiments, one of the snap connector 26 and the complementary snap connector 28 may include one, two or more male connectors and the other of the snap connector 26 and the complementary snap connector 28 may include one, two or more female connectors that releasably accommodate the one, two or more male connectors. While snap connectors are illustrated, in some embodiments other releasable fasteners such as hook-and-loop fasteners may be used.
In some embodiments, as illustrated, the front portion 12 of the patient gown 10 may include a release loop 30. The release loop 30 can be sewn or otherwise secured to the front portion 12 of the patient gown 10 near a shoulder portion thereof. If a physician or other healthcare professional wants immediate access to the back of the patient, they can pull the release loop 30 to disengage the snap connector 26 from the complementary snap connector 28.
In some embodiments, the patient gown 10 includes a V-neck opening 36 that is centered between the first shoulder portion 32 and the second shoulder portion 34. In some instances, having a relatively deeper V-shaped neck opening improves comfort for the patient, as the gown is less likely to rub on their neck as they move. In some embodiments, the V-neck opening 36 may include snap connectors or similar releasable connectors for permitting a physician or other healthcare professional to enlarge the V-neck opening 36 if desired for medical treatment.
In some embodiments, the first sleeve 18 and the second sleeve 20 may be sized to extend down to a patient's elbows, rather than a shorter sleeve that stops more in the middle of the bicep. Longer sleeves may provide the patient with greater warmth and comfort. In some instances, particularly if the patient lifts their arms, the longer sleeve length may also improve modesty. In the Figures, it can be seen that the first and second sleeves 18, 20 reach to about the simulated patient's elbows.
In some instances, as illustrated, the first sleeve 18 and/or the second sleeve 20 may be configured to permit a healthcare provider to adjust the diameter or girth of the sleeves in order to accommodate various size patients. For example, a patient with relatively smaller arms may prefer a smaller diameter sleeve for warmth and modesty while a patient with relatively larger arms may prefer a larger diameter sleeve for comfort.
In some embodiments, as illustrated, the first sleeve 18 and the second sleeve 20 may each include a row of snap connectors 40 and two, three or more rows (two rows are illustrated) of complementary snap connectors 42. Accordingly, the diameter or girth of the first sleeve 18 and the second sleeve 20 may be adjusted by snapping the row of snap connectors 40 into an appropriate row of complementary snap connectors 42. While snap connectors are illustrated, in some embodiments other releasable fasteners such as hook-and-loop fasteners may be used.
In some embodiments, the patient gown 10 may include several pockets and vents. In the illustrated embodiment, the patient gown 10 includes a telemetry pocket 50 that is sized to accommodate a heart monitor or other device. The telemetry pocket 50 may be open across the top to accept the heart monitor or other device. In some embodiments, the telemetry pocket 50 may include a vent 52 that permits electrical leads extending from electrical contacts on the patient's skin to be plugged into the aforementioned heart monitor, for example. In some instances, positioning the telemetry pocket 50 off to the side, rather than centered on the patient's chest, provides additional comfort for the patient while still accommodating the patient's monitoring needs.
In some embodiments, the patient gown 10 may include a kangaroo pocket 54 and a secondary pocket 56. The kangaroo pocket 54 may be open on either side, and may permit the patient to insert their hands for warmth. In some embodiments, the secondary pocket 56 may be open across its top, and may be used by the patient for personal items such as a cell phone. The patient gown 10 may include a second vent 58 that permits access to an interior of the patient gown 10 for wires, tubes, and the like.
With particular reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, it can be seen that the first tie 22 is secured to the first portion 14 of the patient gown 10 at a location 60. The second tie 24 is secured to the second portion 16 of the patient gown 10 at a location 62. In some instances, as illustrated, the second tie 24 continues along the second portion 16 as a border or trim piece 24 a.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, the patient gown 10 may include stitching lines 64 and 66. In some embodiments, the stitching lines 64 and 66 may be considered as dividing the patient gown 10 into the front portion 12, the first side portion 14 and the second side portion 16. The front portion 12 and the first and second side portions 14, 16 may be formed from a unitary piece of fabric. In some embodiments, the first and second side portions 14, 16 may be formed of separate pieces of fabric, and then joined to the front portion 12 along the stitching lines 64 and 66.
FIGS. 8 through 11 provide various views of a patient gown 110 shown on a simulated patient, while FIGS. 12 and 13 provide flat, laid out views of the outside and the inside, respectively, of the patient gown 110. Many of the features of the patient gown 110 are the same as those described with respect to the patient gown 10, and thus are identified with the same reference numbers and are not separately described above. The patient gown 110 includes a front portion 112, a first side portion 114 and a second side portion 116 that, other than as described below, are identical to the corresponding portions of the patient gown 10 described above.
In some embodiments, the patient gown 10 and/or the patient gown 110 may include one or more lifting loops 70. In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of lifting loops 70 is secured to the front portion 12 of the patient gown 110. As will be described and shown with respect to FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, a patient (or a caregiver) may utilize the lifting loops 70 to easily lift the back portion of the patient gown 110 out of the way so that they can, for example, use the restroom without having to remove the patient gown 110.
As seen in FIG. 9, the simulated patient wearing the patient gown 110 has initially inserted their thumbs into the lifting loops 70 but has not yet lifted the lifting loops 70. In FIG. 10, the simulated patient wearing the patient gown 110 has lifted the patient gown 110 using the lifting loops 70. As shown in FIG. 11, which is a back view corresponding to the lifting position shown in FIG. 10, the patient's backside 72 has been exposed. Accordingly, the patient or a caregiver can easily move the patient gown 110 out of the way so that the patient can use the restroom without having to remove the patient gown 110.
With particular respect to FIGS. 12 and 13, it can be seen that the lifting loops 70 are secured to the patient gown 110 via stitching 74. In the illustrated embodiment, the second portion 116 includes a triangular shaped portion 16 a. The second tie 24 is attached to and extends from the triangular shaped portion 16 a. It will be appreciated, particularly in comparison to FIG. 7, that the patient gown 110 including the triangular shaped portion 116 a has a second side portion 116 that is narrower than the second side portion 16 of the patient gown 10. In some embodiments, this feature correctly positions the first and second ties 22, 24 so that the patient gown 110 can be tied along the patient's side while reducing the amount of fabric that has to be lifted out of the way so that the patient can use the restroom without removing the patient gown 110.
FIGS. 14 and 15 provide front and rear views, respectively, of a patient gown 210. As illustrated, the patient gown 210 includes a front portion 212, a first side portion 214 and a second side portion 216. The patient gown 210 includes a first sleeve 218 and a second sleeve 220. It will be appreciated that the front portion 212 of the patient gown 210 may be configured to fit over the front of a patient's torso, with the patient inserting their arms into the first sleeve 218 and the second sleeve 220. In some embodiments, the first side portion 214 may be wrapped behind the patient and secured to the front portion 212 as will be discussed. In some embodiments, the second side portion 216 may then be wrapped behind the patient and secured to the first side portion 214 via a first tie 222 secured to the first portion 214 and a second tie 224 secured to the second portion 216.
In some embodiments, as illustrated, the patient gown 210 is configured to permit tying the first tie 222 to the second tie 224 on the patient's side. Several advantages result from this configuration. In some embodiments, having a first side portion 214 that wraps around the back of the patient in a first direction and a second side portion 216 that wraps around the back of the patient in a second, opposing, direction means that the patient's back side is covered. This is a distinct advantage over previous gowns that tie in the back. Having the patient gown 210 tie on the side also means that it is easier for the patient to secure the gown without assistance, as they do not have to reach behind themselves and blindly tie the gown.
In some embodiments, the first portion 214 includes a connector such as a snap connector (not illustrated) that can be releasably secured to a complementary snap connector (not illustrated) that is located on the front portion 212 near the top thereof. As illustrated, the patient gown 210 may be considered as including a first shoulder portion 232 and a second shoulder portion 234, and the complementary snap connector may be secured near the second shoulder portion 34.
Accordingly, a patient or caregiver can wrap the first portion 214 around the patient's back, and then secure the snap connector to the complementary snap connector. In some embodiments, one of the snap connector and the complementary snap connector may include one, two or more male connectors and the other of the snap connector and the complementary snap connector may include one, two or more female connectors that releasably accommodate the one, two or more male connectors. While snap connectors are described, in some embodiments other releasable fasteners such as hook-and-loop fasteners may be used.
In some embodiments, as illustrated, the front portion 212 of the patient gown 210 may include a release loop 230. The release loop 230 can be sewn or otherwise secured to the front portion 212 of the patient gown 210 near a shoulder portion thereof. If a physician or other healthcare professional wants immediate access to the back of the patient, they can pull the release loop 230 to disengage the snap connector from the complementary snap connector.
In some embodiments, the patient gown 210 includes a V-neck opening 236 that is centered between the first shoulder portion 232 and the second shoulder portion 234. In some instances, having a relatively deeper V-shaped neck opening improves comfort for the patient, as the gown is less likely to rub on their neck as they move. In some embodiments, the V-neck opening 236 may include snap connectors or similar releasable connectors for permitting a physician or other healthcare professional to enlarge the V-neck opening 236 if desired for medical treatment.
In some embodiments, the first sleeve 218 and the second sleeve 220 may be sized to extend down to a patient's elbows, rather than a shorter sleeve that stops more in the middle of the bicep. Longer sleeves may provide the patient with greater warmth and comfort. In some instances, particularly if the patient lifts their arms, the longer sleeve length may also improve modesty.
In some instances, as illustrated, the first sleeve 218 and/or the second sleeve 220 may be configured to permit a healthcare provider to adjust the diameter or girth of the sleeves in order to accommodate various size patients. For example, a patient with relatively smaller arms may prefer a smaller diameter sleeve for warmth and modesty while a patient with relatively larger arms may prefer a larger diameter sleeve for comfort.
In some embodiments, for example, the first sleeve 218 and the second sleeve 220 may each include a row of snap connectors (not illustrated) and two, three or more rows (not illustrated) of complementary snap connectors. Accordingly, the diameter or girth of the first sleeve 218 and the second sleeve 220 may be adjusted by snapping the row of snap connectors into an appropriate row of complementary snap connectors. While snap connectors are described, in some embodiments other releasable fasteners such as hook-and-loop fasteners may be used. In some embodiments, the first sleeve 218 and the second sleeve 220 are not adjustable in girth.
In some embodiments, the patient gown 210 may include several pockets and vents. In some embodiments, the patient gown 210 may include one or more telemetry pockets. A telemetry pocket may be open across the top to accept a heart monitor or other device. In some embodiments, a telemetry pocket may include a vent that permits electrical leads extending from electrical contacts on the patient's skin to be plugged into the aforementioned heart monitor, for example. In some instances, positioning a telemetry pocket off to the side, rather than centered on the patient's chest, provides additional comfort for the patient while still accommodating the patient's monitoring needs. In some embodiments, as illustrated, the patient gown 210 may include a kangaroo pocket 254. The kangaroo pocket 254 may be open on either side, and may permit the patient to insert their hands for warmth.
In some embodiments, the patient gown 210 includes one or more lifting loops 270. In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of lifting loops 270 is secured to the front portion 212 of the patient gown 210. A patient (or a caregiver) may utilize the lifting loops 270 to easily lift the back portion of the patient gown 210 out of the way so that they can, for example, use the restroom without having to remove the patient gown 210.
FIGS. 16 and 17 provide front and rear views, respectively, of a patient gown 310. As illustrated, the patient gown 310 includes a front portion 312, a first side portion 314 and a second side portion 316. The patient gown 310 includes a first sleeve 318 and a second sleeve 320. It will be appreciated that the front portion 312 of the patient gown 310 may be configured to fit over the front of a patient's torso, with the patient inserting their arms into the first sleeve 318 and the second sleeve 320. In some embodiments, the first side portion 314 may be wrapped behind the patient and secured to the front portion 312. In some embodiments, the second side portion 316 may then be wrapped behind the patient and secured to the first side portion 314 via a first tie 322 secured to the first portion 314 and a second tie 324 secured to the second portion 316.
In some embodiments, as illustrated, the patient gown 310 is configured to permit tying the first tie 322 to the second tie 324 on the patient's side. Several advantages result from this configuration. In some embodiments, having a first side portion 314 that wraps around the back of the patient in a first direction and a second side portion 316 that wraps around the back of the patient in a second, opposing, direction means that the patient's back side is covered. This is a distinct advantage over previous gowns that tie in the back. Having the patient gown 310 tie on the side also means that it is easier for the patient to secure the gown without assistance, as they do not have to reach behind themselves and blindly tie the gown.
In some embodiments, the gown 310 includes a first tie 380 that can be releasably secured to a corresponding second tie 382. As illustrated, the patient gown 310 may be considered as including a first shoulder portion 332 and a second shoulder portion 334, and the ties 380 and 382 may be secured near the second shoulder portion 334. Accordingly, a patient or caregiver can wrap the first portion 314 around the patient's back, and then secure the first tie 380 to the second tie 382.
In some embodiments, the patient gown 310 includes a V-neck opening 336 that is centered between the first shoulder portion 332 and the second shoulder portion 334. In some instances, having a relatively deeper V-shaped neck opening improves comfort for the patient, as the gown is less likely to rub on their neck as they move. In some embodiments, the V-neck opening 336 may include snap connectors or similar releasable connectors for permitting a physician or other healthcare professional to enlarge the V-neck opening 336 if desired for medical treatment.
In some embodiments, the first sleeve 318 and the second sleeve 320 may be sized to extend down to a patient's elbows, rather than a shorter sleeve that stops more in the middle of the bicep. Longer sleeves may provide the patient with greater warmth and comfort. In some instances, particularly if the patient lifts their arms, the longer sleeve length may also improve modesty.
In some instances, as illustrated, the first sleeve 318 and/or the second sleeve 320 may be configured to permit a healthcare provider to adjust the diameter or girth of the sleeves in order to accommodate various size patients. For example, a patient with relatively smaller arms may prefer a smaller diameter sleeve for warmth and modesty while a patient with relatively larger arms may prefer a larger diameter sleeve for comfort.
In some embodiments, for example, the first sleeve 318 and the second sleeve 320 may each include a row of snap connectors (not illustrated) and two, three or more rows (not illustrated) of complementary snap connectors. Accordingly, the diameter or girth of the first sleeve 318 and the second sleeve 320 may be adjusted by snapping the row of snap connectors into an appropriate row of complementary snap connectors. While snap connectors are described, in some embodiments other releasable fasteners such as hook-and-loop fasteners may be used. In some embodiments, the first sleeve 318 and the second sleeve 320 are not adjustable in girth.
In some embodiments, the patient gown 310 may include several pockets and vents. In some embodiments, as illustrated the patient gown 310 includes a telemetry pocket 350. The telemetry pocket 350 may be open across the top to accept a heart monitor or other device. In some embodiments, the telemetry pocket 350 includes a vent 352 that permits electrical leads extending from electrical contacts on the patient's skin to be plugged into the aforementioned heart monitor, for example. In some instances, positioning the telemetry pocket 350 off to the side, rather than centered on the patient's chest, provides additional comfort for the patient while still accommodating the patient's monitoring needs. In some embodiments, as illustrated, the patient gown 310 may include a kangaroo pocket 354. The kangaroo pocket 354 may be open on either side, and may permit the patient to insert their hands for warmth.
In some embodiments, the patient gown 310 includes one or more lifting loops 370. In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of lifting loops 370 is secured to the front portion 312 of the patient gown 310. A patient (or a caregiver) may utilize the lifting loops 370 to easily lift the back portion of the patient gown 310 out of the way so that they can, for example, use the restroom without having to remove the patient gown 310.
The patient gowns 10, 110, 210 and 310 may be formed of any suitable fabric. In some embodiments, the patient gowns 10, 110, 210 and 310 are made of a fabric that can withstand repeated laundering at the elevated temperatures required to clean hospital linens. The patient gowns 10, 110, 210 and 310 may, for example, be made from a cotton fabric. The patient gowns 10, 110, 210 and 310 may be made in a variety of different sizes, in order to accommodate a wide range of patients ranging from small children to large adults.
While multiple embodiments with multiple elements are disclosed, still other embodiments and elements of the present invention including different combinations of two or more of such elements will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

Claims

We claim:

1. A patient gown comprising:

a front portion;

a first side portion extending from the front portion;

a second side portion extending from the front portion;

a first tie extending from the first side portion; and

a second tie extending from the second side portion;

wherein the first tie and the second tie are located on the gown such that the first tie and the second tie, when tied together to hold the gown closed, are located on a side of the patient.

2. The patient gown of claim 1, further comprising a snap connection on the first side portion and a complementary snap connection near a shoulder portion of the front portion such that the first side portion can be wrapped behind the patient and the snap connection on the first side portion can be snapped into the complementary snap connection near the shoulder portion to hold the first side portion in place extending behind the patient.

3. The patient gown of claim 2, further comprising a loop that is secured to the first side portion such that the loop can be pulled to separate the snap connection.

4. The patient gown of claim 2, wherein the second side portion is configured to be wrapped behind the patient over the first side portion prior to tying the first tie and the second tie together to secure the second side portion in place.

5. The patient gown of claim 1, further comprising a first sleeve secured to the front portion and the first side portion and a second sleeve secured to the front portion and the second side portion.

6. The patient gown of claim 5, wherein the first sleeve and the second sleeve are adjustable in sleeve diameter.

7. The patient gown of claim 6, wherein the first sleeve and the second sleeve comprise snap connections that can be snapped together to adjust the sleeve diameter.

8. The patient gown of claim 5, wherein the first sleeve and the second sleeve have a length that is selected to permit the first sleeve and the second sleeve to reach to about an elbow of the patient.

9. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein the second side portion has a substantially rectangular shape.

10. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein the second side portion includes a triangular shaped portion and the second tie extends from the triangular shaped portion.

11. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein the front portion includes first and second lifting loops that can be used by the patient to pull the first and second side portions up and away from a back portion of the patient.

12. The patient gown of claim 1, wherein the front portion includes a V-shaped neck cutout.