Apparel – Body garments – Shirts
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-10
2003-06-10
Hale, Gloria M. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
Body garments
Shirts
C002S069000, C604S174000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06574800
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to techniques for accommodating fluidic tube apparatus, such as drainage apparatus, often required for patients following a thoracic medical procedure such as surgery, e.g., a mastectomy, axillary node dissection, plastic surgery, or a procedure such as chemotherapy, or other thoracic procedure. Many medical thoracic procedures, and in particular surgical procedures that require the removal of tissue, e.g., in a mastectomy or axillary node dissection, are traumatic to the human body. The removal of a large amount of tissue in such a procedure tends to create in the body a cavity in which fluid collects. To prevent swelling and infection that could result from fluid remaining in the body, it is common practice to insert a drainage tube into the cavity at a point along the incision. This drainage tube, which is typically perforated at both ends and is often several inches long, extends to a collection receptacle, e.g., a plastic bulb, for collection of fluid drained by the tube. The suction created by the drainage tube is understood to aid in binding the skin of the cavity to the muscle until the incision heals.
The number of drainage tubes and collection receptacles required can vary from as few as one to as many as six, depending on the type of medical procedure and the amount of fluid expected to be produced by the body. The time required for drainage of the produced fluid can be as short as one week or as long as several weeks after the medical procedure. Historically, individuals undergoing such a medical procedure remained hospitalized until the drainage tubes were no longer required. But with the advent of managed medical care, hospitals frequently discharge patients on the same day or one to two days following a procedure such as surgery. Once a patient has received instruction on how to attend to the drainage apparatus; i.e., how to empty the collection receptacles, measure collected fluid, and keep a written record for the physician, the patient is discharged to self-care.
Outside the hospital setting, the patient is left to figure out how to adapt to life with the often painful, annoying, and cumbersome appendages of the drainage apparatus. However many drainage tubes and collection receptacles are employed, and for however long they are required, the management of the tubes and collection receptacles pose numerous and varied problems for the patient. Specifically, the tubes and receptacles can be a constant source of aggravation to the patient in that they restrict mobility, are cumbersome to wear, and must be monitored and emptied frequently, thus requiring ready and easy access. Furthermore, because of the bulk of the drainage apparatus, and the discomfort at the incision site, conventional clothing often cannot be worn.
To enable support of drainage apparatus at a location adjacent to the patient's body, various methods and devices have been historically employed and proposed. In one common technique, the collection receptacle is pinned to the gown worn by the patient or to the bandage covering the incision. This method, while not very comfortable, is effective in the hospital when an open gown is often worn. However, this approach causes the patient to be more dependent on assistance in manipulating the pin while holding the drainage receptacle in place during the pinning. This approach has the further disadvantage of the sharp end of the pin possibly becoming unhooked and pricking the patient, causing additional pain and discomfort. Moreover, outside the hospital, where conventional, yet constricting, clothing is worn, use of such means to support collection receptacles and drains is awkward and impractical due to their bulk and inaccessibility for maintenance.
In another common technique, the drainage tubes and collection receptacles are taped directly to the torso of the individual. But because the drainage tubes must be repeatedly untaped and retaped to empty the collection receptacle, the tape often loses its adhesiveness. Consequently, when the drainage tubes are in use, the tape can come undone at an inopportune time, causing the weight of the fluid in the collection receptacles to pull on the tubes, inflicting pain. Also, because the drainage tubes are taped to the body, which is usually covered by some form of clothing, they are not easily and readily accessible for maintenance purposes. The awkwardness, discomfort, and impracticality of these common approaches are only compounded when multiple sets of tubes and receptacles are required to be worn by the patient.
Other proposed approaches for supporting medical drainage apparatus have required various features that frequently are impractical. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,344 there is proposed the use of a belt secured around the torso for supporting a drainage receptacle. The receptacle is supplied with a plastic loop through which the belt can be inserted for supplying support. Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,456, there is proposed the use of a band encircling a leg for supporting a drainage receptacle. Fasteners on the band connect to and hold the receptacle on the band. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,233, a pouch, for carrying a drainage receptacle, is provided attached to a belt worn around the torso. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,499, a plurality of pockets are provided attached to a belt for carrying multiple drainage receptacles.
While these various devices do serve to support a drainage apparatus adjacent to the body, they do not assist in or enhance the patient's adjustment to post-hospital life and self-care with drainage apparatus in-place. All of these proposed devices are required to be worn under clothing. But the bulkiness of the apparatus, the discomfort and swelling at the surgical site, and restriction of mobility are all accentuated when the drainage apparatus is worn under conventional clothing. The necessity of disrobing to access and maintain the drains increases the recovering patient's discomfort and decreases the patient's ability to function independently.
There have also been proposed various configurations of compression and other undergarments that accommodate drainage apparatus. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,593, there is proposed a compression dressing having a cut out portion, at the lower edge of the dressing, through which drainage tubes can be supplied. A loop on the dressing above the aperture, high on the torso, is supplied for holding the drainage receptacle against the dressing. Although this configuration maintains the receptacle adjacent the body, its elevated placement of the receptacle can inhibit fluid flow from the incision site to the receptacle, increasing the risk of infection. Finally, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,956, there is proposed a compression vest having an aperture, under an arm location, through which drainage tubes can be supplied. No support of the drainage receptacle is supplied in this design. In addition, like the belt and band configurations described above, these configurations also suffer in that they both are undergarments.
It is thus found that the various techniques and configurations commonly employed for support of drainage and other fluidic apparatus fail to meet the needs of a patient convalescing out of the hospital. The drainage apparatus must be supported while at the same time permitting easy access for frequent maintenance of the collection receptacles. Heretofore, this has not been achievable in a configuration enabling conventional-style clothing that can be worn home from the hospital, while convalescing, and outside the home when attending medical appointments and doing errands.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides garments that can be worn as top clothes and that provide support and access to fluidic apparatus on the outside of the garments, while allowing for fashion, modesty, and discretion during a recovery process. The garments include a torso portion of an extent sufficient to encircle a garment wearer's torso and arm openings provided
Jenner Lois P.
Léger Jayle G.
Hale Gloria M.
Lober Theresa A.
LandOfFree
Garments for support, concealment, and accessibility of... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Garments for support, concealment, and accessibility of..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Garments for support, concealment, and accessibility of... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3126411