Garment for patients receiving treatment

A garment for patients receiving medical treatment is disclosed. The garment has a sleeve that has an outer surface and an inner surface each made of a first material, a fastener coupled to the sleeve and configured to open and close the sleeve, an inner lining attached to the inner surface of the sleeve. The inner lining is made of a second material that has a higher elasticity than the first material. The garment has a series of pockets disposed on the inner lining configured to hold a heating element to keep the patient's arms warm while in the treatment position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to upper body garments for an individual. More specifically, the present invention relates to garments worn by patients undergoing certain treatments (e.g., medical or medicinal) to keep the patient warm and comfortable during treatment, and further, providing for access sites for infusions and other treatments that require access to the patient's skin (e.g., blood pressure measurements).

BACKGROUND

Many patients receive intravenous treatments and therapies to administer medications or use intravenous treatment for other medical therapies such as blood transfusions, chemotherapy treatments, and correction of electrolyte imbalances, etc. Additionally, these treatments are used to provide nutrition to patients who cannot consume food and/or water through the mouth. As it is generally considered to be the fastest and safest way to deliver medications and replace fluids throughout the body, a great number of people undergo such intravenous treatments and therapies. In most cases, in order to administer the intravenous treatment or therapies, patients are required to disrobe and take their arms out of their sleeves, which causes the patient to feel uncomfortably cold while they are receiving these treatments.

While undergoing intravenous treatments or therapies, it is necessary that the patient's body temperature be regulated. There have been various developments, including medical gowns, used to warm the patient's body to achieve temperature regulation, which is needed for medical treatments and therapies, however, these developments fail to keep the patient warm during the course of the treatment. With these developments, the patient remains uncomfortably cold throughout the course of the treatment.

Typically, a patient undergoing such treatments must either wear a hospital gown or a shirt with short sleeves to provide access to the arms for connection of tubes and other devices used in the treatment. Further, throughout the entire process of administering such treatment, the patient must keep the access area to his or her arms uncovered so that the attendant monitoring the patient can always check the connections without interruption, to ensure no loss of medication, treatment or blood.

However, the various gowns that are currently available, including different types of blankets, heating pads, and hot packs used to keep the patients warm may cover the entire access area to the patient's arms, thus disturbing the infusions and other connected devices, or may function such that they can only cover certain parts of the body thereby leaving other parts of the patient's body to feel cold. Thus, there are many problems associated with the existing warming garments in assisting such medical conditions and procedures.

For example, hospital garments exist, which assists in connecting catheters to the body. U.S. Pat. No. 8,607,366B2 to Austin describes a garment having a vertical opening and a transverse flap on the front panel thereof for securing an external portion of a central line or catheter having at least two distal lumens or branches. The external portion of the catheter extends through a gap between a pair fasteners of the vertical opening. In order to secure the catheter, the flap includes a stopper that is fastened to front panel such that the stopper is located between the distal branches of the catheter. If one or both of the distal branches are pulled or tugged, a junction or transition area of the catheter is pressed against the stopper and limits further motion of the catheter to prevent dislodgement thereof. The flap further includes a series of fasteners for releasably coupling a free edge thereof onto the front panel to house the external portion of the catheter under the closed flap.

However, even these types of specialty garments do not focus on procedures that require access to a patient's arm(s) and do not sufficiently regulate the patient's temperature by keeping the patient warm or providing adequate/easy access to the skin/limbs.

In light of the above-mentioned drawbacks, there is a need for a body warming garment that takes these treatments into consideration and which keeps the patient warm and comfortable during such treatment while simultaneously providing the patient's medical staff with easy access to the patient's arms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally discloses a medical garment to cover the upper body of an individual. Further, the present invention discloses garments worn by patients undergoing certain medical treatments to keep the patient warm and comfortable during treatment, having access sites for infusions and other treatments that require access to the patient's skin (e.g., blood pressure measurements).

In one embodiment, the garment is a medical garment worn by patients undergoing certain medical treatments to keep the patient warm and comfortable during treatment. The garment covers the upper body of the patient wearing the garment. In one embodiment, the garment is made of soft and flexible fabric. In some embodiments, the garment is made from a warm, soft material such as a woven cotton material or jersey. In one embodiment, the garment has embodiments that are directed to males, females, and both.

In an embodiment, the garment comprises a body portion configured to cover the patient's upper body; an openable and closeable sleeve coupled to the body portion, wherein the sleeve has an outer surface and an inner surface each made of a first material, wherein the arm sleeves are configured to cover an arm of the patient; a fastener coupled to the sleeve and configured to open and close the sleeve, wherein an open configuration is a treatment position and an inner lining attached to the inner surface of the sleeve, wherein the inner lining is made of a second material that has a higher elasticity than the first material, and wherein the inner lining is configured to further cover the arm of the patient; and a series of pockets disposed on the inner lining, wherein at least one of the series of pockets are configured to hold a heating element to keep the patient's arms warm while in the treatment position.

In embodiments, a method for accessing an arm of a person receiving treatment is provided. The method comprises providing a garment comprising a body portion configured to cover the patient's upper body, an openable and closeable/resealable sleeve coupled to the body portion, wherein the sleeve has an outer surface and an inner surface each made of a first material, wherein the arm sleeves are configured to cover an arm of the patient, a fastener coupled to the sleeve and configured to open and close the sleeve, wherein an open configuration is a treatment position, an inner lining attached to the inner surface of the sleeve, wherein the inner lining is made of a second material that has a higher elasticity than the first material, and wherein the inner lining is configured to further cover the arm of the patient, and a series of pockets disposed on the inner lining, wherein at least one of the series of pockets are configured to hold a heating element to keep the patient's arms warm while in the treatment position; opening sleeve using the fastener, stretching the inner liner to access an arm of the patient, inserting heating elements into the pockets, performing a procedure on the patient, allowing the inner liner to contract to keep the patient's arm warm.

In one embodiment, the garment comprises a body portion to cover the upper body of the patient. The body portion has an openable and closable/resealable opening disposed in a front portion thereof and may extend along the entire length of the body portion. In one embodiment, the closable opening is fastened using at least one fastener but may also be multiple fasteners. In one embodiment, the fastener is a zipper. In other embodiments, the fastener may be, but is not limited to, snap buttons, magnets and magnet strips, self-adhering fabric, and hook and loop (Velcro®) fasteners, snap Fasteners, hook and eye Fasteners, tie closures, frog closures, toggle fasteners and the like.

In one embodiment, the garment further comprises a pair of arm sleeves including a left arm sleeve and a right arm sleeve. The arm sleeves are sewed to the body portion to cover the arms of the patient or are manufactured as a one piece garment. In one embodiment, the left arm sleeve has a first openable and closable arm opening that extends the entire length of the left arm sleeve from an outer bottom cuff to a left shoulder line but may be shorter in other embodiments. In one embodiment, the right arm sleeve has a second openable and closable arm opening extending the entire length of the right arm sleeve from an outer bottom cuff to a right shoulder line but may be shorter in other embodiments.

The openable and closable arm openings allow the arm to be exposed for a large blood pressure cuff to be put on the arm without the arm sleeves getting in the way during treatment or receive an intravenous fluid drip, but an inner layer is provided to ensure patient warmth during procedures. In one embodiment, the garment further comprises one or more access sites on the inner layer for infusion of any tubes or wires that are part of the treatment. The garment further comprises one or more flaps that protect the skin from the fasteners to ensure comfort.

In one embodiment, the arm sleeve of the garment may fit around the arm of the user. In one embodiment, the sleeve includes an inner lining made of thermal fabric material for keeping the user warm while receiving treatment, the inner lining being dimensioned to allow the sleeve to increase its diameter when the fasteners are undone during the treatment phase.

In one embodiment, the sleeve, inner lining or both has one or more internal pockets or connection sites for thermal elements described more fully below. In embodiments, the lining runs the entire length arm sleeve with pockets sewn into the inner lining, inside of the sleeve, or both.

In one embodiment, the pockets are dimensioned to hold internal heating elements to keep the patient's arms warm while receiving treatment. The heating elements may comprise, for example, plug-in or battery-operated heating elements along with self-heating or manually heating elements. Self-heating elements or manual heating elements may comprise disposable warmers that use exothermic reactions containing iron powder, salt, water, an absorbent material, and activated carbon generally.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the system are discussed below with reference to the examples. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these examples is for explanatory purposes as the system extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present system, recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, there are numerous modifications and variations of the system that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the system. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this system belongs. Preferred methods, techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods, techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the present system.

As used herein, a “patient” is a user or wearer of the garment, and while the garment is directed toward a patient receiving intravenous fluids, it is useful for other types procedures or occasions in which the user desires to be kept warm and access to the user's arm is needed.

Referring toFIG.1, a front view of a garment100for patients receiving medical or medicinal treatment according to one embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, the garment100is a medical garment worn by patients undergoing certain treatments to keep the patient warm and comfortable during treatment. The garment100covers the upper body of the patient wearing the garment. In one embodiment, the garment100is manufactured or made of soft and flexible fabric and from a warm, soft material such as a woven cotton material or jersey.

The garment100comprises a body portion102configured to cover the upper body of the patient and comprises an openable and closable/resealable opening104in a front portion of the arms but may be on other portions as well (e.g., side, back). The openable and closable/resealable opening104extends along the entire length of the body portion102and is openable and closable/resealable via a fastener106such as a zipper. The sleeve has an outer surface and an inner surface each made of a first material that is different than the material of the internal layer (second material to be discussed with reference toFIG.2).

However, the garment may also be a long sleeve shirt or a sweatshirt with non-zip up front. In one embodiment, the fastener106is a zipper. In other embodiments, the fastener106may be, snap buttons, magnets, self-adhering fabric, hook, and loop (Velcro®) fasteners, wrap-around fastener, and the like. In other embodiments, the garment may not have a front zipper, may be a pull-over or a button shirt or flannel-type shirt. In this embodiment, the garment may comprise a plurality of ports or opening that may be disposed on a chest portion or on another portion thereof.

The garment100further comprises a pair of arm sleeves including a left arm sleeve108and a right arm sleeve110. The arm sleeves108and110are coupled to the body portion102to cover the arms of the patient. The left arm sleeve108has a first openable and closeable/resealable arm opening112extending the entire length of the left arm sleeve108from an outer bottom cuff116to a left shoulder line120. Because the closures run both up and down the sleeve via two zippers, the IV tube does not have to run down the arm, but may port out of a hole between two zippers or two closures that surround the tube so that the heat stays in the patient's body while the internal fabric layer is provided to warm the patient as well. Similarly, the right arm sleeve110has a second openable and closeable arm opening114extending the entire length of the right arm sleeve110from an outer bottom cuff118to a right shoulder line122. Each of the sleeve and the openable and closeable/resealable openings112and114are fastened together using a fastener128or a series of fasteners (shown inFIG.2). Again, because the closures run both up and down the sleeve via two zippers or closures, a tube does not have to run down the arm, but may port out a hole between two zippers or closures that surround the tube so that the heat stays in the patient's body and the internal layers keep the patient warm. Further, in embodiments, no port may be required at all due to the elastic nature of the inner layer to be discussed with relation toFIG.2.

In one embodiment, the arm sleeves108and110may be raglan sleeves and may extend over the shoulder without being stopped by the shoulder lines120and122. The openable and closeable arm openings112and114allow internal layer (shown inFIG.2) to be fully exposed so that a physician or treatment provider can access the upper portion of arm for a blood pressure cuff to be put on the arm without the arm sleeves (108and110) getting in the way during treatment or have access to the veins required for an IV treatment. In one embodiment, the garment100further comprises one or more access sites on the inner layer for infusion of any tubes or wires that are part of the treatment. In this way, the garment has three positions: a closed position as shown inFIG.1and, open or treatment position to access the arm, and a partially close position in which the dual zippers are shut during treatment but for a port as shown inFIG.2.

With reference still toFIG.1, in one embodiment, the garment100further comprises a hood130coupled to the upper end of the body portion102to cover the patient's head. In one embodiment, the hood130has a drawstring136. The drawstring136is inserted into a through-hole in the front edge of the hood130. The drawstring136is adjustably positioned to provide comfort to the patient while wearing the garment100during treatment. The hood130may also comprise heating element pockets or heating elements may be sewn in.

Referring now toFIG.2, a perspective view of an arm sleeve110in an open or treatment position according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. In one embodiment, the arm sleeve110has an outer surface124and an inner lining126coupled to an inner surface202of the sleeve (via sewing or other attachment) at least two points allowing for a port hole, or in the embodiment in which the inner layer opens up entirely with the zipper along with the outer arm to port out the zipper. The inner lining126may be manufactured using a thermal fabric material but may also be any useful material such as an elastic material. In embodiments, an elastic thermal fabric may be used so that the treating clinician has easy access to the patient's (or user's) arm. In this embodiment, the arm zippers128may be a garment zipper106comprising two-way zippers150positioned close to the cuff and are configured to close into each. In one embodiment, the arm sleeves (108and110) are completely open to expose the arm and give access to the arm for an IV treatment, then the two-way zippers are closed after insertion of the IV and the IV ports our the hole created by the zippers. In another embodiment, inner layer126is does not open up with the zipper and access to the arm is achieved by the user or clinician pulling up the elastic portion to access the arm, or via a port on the inner layer126to allow the IV tube or other treatment faculties (e.g., tubes) to rest against the user's arm or inner layer with the terminal end leaving the user at the cuff if there is no port, or via the port if the garment has a port in the inner layer126. As described above, in operation, the opening arm sleeves allow the medical personnel to perform blood pressure and other tests without removing the garment or to insert a needle/IV into any part of the exposed arm, while also utilizing the inner thermal layer to keep that part of the patient's body warm during treatments.

Referring now toFIG.3, an inner view of an arm sleeve110of the garment100is shown in one embodiment of the present invention. The arm sleeve110of the garment100may fit around the arm of the user and like as shown inFIG.2, comprises the inner lining126made of thermal elastic fabric material for keeping the user warm while receiving treatments. In one embodiment, the thermal elastic fabric is dimensioned so that the sleeve can diametrically expand when in the open or treatment position due to a predetermined additional amount of fabric and/or the elasticity of the fabric. In another embodiment, the inner layer opens via the two-way zipper together with the outer layer.

In one embodiment, the sleeve110has an attached inner lining126such that it forms a series of pockets304a,304band304c(n+1) that rest between the inner portion of the sleeve110and the inner lining126. For perspective, a left-hand inner portion314of the sleeve shown. The pockets as shown comprise a plurality of pockets134. A user's hand302is shown for perspective and to further show how the pockets open on a side portion to reveal the plurality of pockets134. In embodiments, the pockets may be sealed on every other seam so that pockets are available for use in every other seem closure in a close, open, closed arrangement. In operation, the pockets134are dimensioned to fit heating elements that may be mechanical or electrical in nature. These small heaters may be placed in the pockets by the user depending on where the IV is inserted in the arm. Also, in other embodiments, the garment100may comprise hand portions that roll out from the sleeve and may also comprise internal pockets to warm the user's hand.

In one embodiment, the pockets134(comprising306,308,310) are disposed in the lining126of the arm sleeves (108and110) and are configured to hold heating elements and keep the patient's arms warm while receiving treatments. In other embodiments, as shown inFIG.7, the heating elements may be powered by battery (e.g., lithium-ion rechargeable batteries) or in other embodiments, be disposable self-heating elements that create an exothermic reaction upon the appliance of motion or pressure, or may be liquid heating elements such as self-heating or manual heating elements. The heating elements warm the patient's body during treatment.

In embodiments, each pocket or pouch306,308,310comprise an additional thermal fabric material to act as a flap316a,316band316cto hold the heating elements inside the pockets during treatment while also being configured to allow the user or clinician to easily input and remove the heating elements. While in some embodiments a flap may be used, each pocket306,308,310comprise its own opening and closing mechanism internally such as hook and loop, flat magnets and the like. Again, in this way, the heating elements can easily be changed out by the user or the clinician before, during and/or after treatment.

Referring now toFIG.4, a perspective view of the arm sleeve (108,110), inner sleeve126, and pockets306,308and310shown in the open position is shown. For perspective pockets306,308,310are shown. As shown, pocket310is shown in the open position so that the user or the clinician can either insert or remove heating elements. Additional thermal fabric material act as a flap316a,316band316cto hold the heating elements402inside the pockets during treatment while also being configured to allow the user or clinician to easily insert and remove the heating elements402. An internal area402of the pocket310is shown as is flap316bwhich envelops an edge406of the pocket310when in the closed position when the garment is in use.

Referring now toFIG.5, an optional embodiment in which each of the sleeves comprise magnets as the opening and closing mechanisms. For perspective the arm sleeve110is shown with the outer surface124and an inner lining126coupled to an inner surface202of the sleeve (via sewing or other attachment). Like with relation toFIG.1andFIG.2, the inner lining126may be manufactured using a thermal fabric material but may also be any useful material. In embodiments, an elastic thermal fabric may be used so that the treating clinician has easy access to the patient's (or user's) arm. In this embodiment, the arm is openable and closable using a plurality of magnets502a-fand504a-f. The magnet (or magnet strips) comprises elements that produce a magnetic field, such as permanent magnets having a opposite polarities and may comprise a “north pole” magnet502a-f, and “south pole” magnets504a-f, or vice versa. The magnets produce their own magnetic field, and further respond to magnetic fields. In operation, the magnets502a-fand504a-fare configured having a magnetic field that is strong enough to keep the arm sleeve124together but also weak enough to allow the user or clinician to pull the sleeve open while using low to moderate force.

In this way, the magnets are used to expose inner layer126and give access to the arm for treatment via the user or clinician pulling up the elastic portion to access the arm, or via a port on the inner layer126to allow the IV tube or other treatment faculties (e.g., tubes) to rest against the patient or user's arm or inner layer with the terminal end leaving the garment at the cuff if there is no port, or via the port if the garment has a port in the inner layer126. As described above, in operation, the opening arm sleeves allow the medical personnel to perform blood pressure and other tests without removing the garment or to insert a needle/IV into any part of the exposed arm, while also utilizing the inner thermal layer to keep that part of the patient's body warm during treatments.

Referring now toFIG.6, an optional embodiment in which each of the sleeves comprise miniature magnets604a-cand606a-cthat are positioned facing each other sewn into the side portion602of each sleeve (but not on inner portion608) at the opening and closure sections. Like withFIG.6, the arm is openable and closable/resealable using a plurality of magnets604a-cand606a-cand has elements that produce a magnetic field, such as permanent magnets having opposite polarities and may comprise a “north pole” magnet604a-c, and “south pole” magnet606a-c, or vice versa.

In this way, the magnets are used to expose inner layer126and give access to the arm for treatment via the user or clinician pulling up the elastic portion to access the arm, or via a port on the inner layer126to allow the IV tube or other treatment faculties (e.g., tubes) to rest against the user's arm or inner layer with the terminal end leaving the garment at the cuff if there is no port, or via the port if the garment has a port in the inner layer126. As described above, in operation, the opening arm sleeves allow the medical personnel to perform blood pressure and other tests without removing the garment or to insert a needle/IV into any part of the exposed arm, while also utilizing the inner thermal layer to keep that part of the patient's body warm during treatments.

Referring now toFIG.7, a front view of an optional embodiment in which the heating elements are connected to internal electronics is shown. For perspective with relation toFIG.1, the body portion102is shown with the openable and closable/resealable opening104a pair of arm sleeves including a left arm sleeve108and a right arm sleeve110with openable and closeable/resealable arm opening112extending the entire length of the left arm sleeve108from an outer bottom cuff116to a left shoulder line120.

In this embodiment, a microcontroller700having a battery is provided and is electrically connected to a charging port722. The microcontroller is electrically connected via line702and branches at branch702to each of the sleeves108and110. The electrical connection is configured to input signals to internal heating elements708and710via line706in the left-hand sleeve and716and718via line714in the right-hand sleeve. Additional heat elements712and720may be provided as well. The microcontroller may be configured to automatically turn the heating elements on when either of the sleeves are in the open position based on a signal from a sleeve sensor. In this way, in operation, the garment recognizes when a procedure is about to be performed and heats the internal heating elements to an optimized temperature so the user remains warm. In embodiments, the microcontroller is wireless and is configured to communicate with the heating elements in a wireless manner. The heating elements have their own processors and communication protocol in this embodiment so that they can be controlled wirelessly by the controller.

Referring now toFIG.8, the inner view of the arm sleeve110of the garment100is shown with the attached inner lining126such that it forms a series of pockets134that rest between the inner portion of the sleeve110and the inner lining126. For perspective, a left-hand inner portion314of the sleeve shown. The pockets as shown comprise a plurality of pockets134dimensioned to fit heating elements that may be mechanical or electrical in nature as described withFIG.3.

In this embodiment, each pocket or pouch306,308,310comprise an additional magnets804a,804b,804c804d(south pole) that open and close each pouch316a,316band316cto hold the heating elements inside the pockets during treatment while also being configured to allow the user or clinician to easily input and remove the heating elements.

Referring now toFIG.9, a perspective view of the arm sleeve (108,110), inner sleeve126, and pockets306,308and310shown in the open position is shown. As shown, pocket310is shown in the open position so that the user or the clinician can either put in or remove heating elements which may comprise magnets904a,904b,904c(north pole), hold the heating elements902inside the pockets during treatment while also being configured to allow the user or clinician to easily input and remove the heating elements902.

Referring now toFIG.10, an embodiment is shown in which the arm sleeve110has an outer surface124and an inner lining126coupled to an inner surface202of the sleeve (via sewing or other attachment) in its entirety so that there are no ports and no heat escapes through any port. In this way, an IV tube comes out of the cuff of the garment rather than the port.

Referring now toFIG.11, In embodiments, a method for accessing an arm of a person receiving treatment is provided. The method comprises providing a garment comprising a body portion configured to cover the patient's upper body, an openable and closeable/resealable sleeve coupled to the body portion, wherein the sleeve has an outer surface and an inner surface each made of a first material, wherein the arm sleeves are configured to cover an arm of the patient, a fastener coupled to the sleeve and configured to open and close the sleeve, wherein an open configuration is a treatment position, an inner lining attached to the inner surface of the sleeve, wherein the inner lining is made of a second material that has a higher elasticity than the first material, and wherein the inner lining is configured to further cover the arm of the patient, and a series of pockets disposed on the inner lining, wherein at least one of the series of pockets are configured to hold a heating element to keep the patient's arms warm while in the treatment position step1102, opening sleeve using the fastener step1104, stretching the inner liner to access an arm of the patient step1106, inserting heating elements into the pockets step1108, performing a procedure on the patient step1108, allowing the inner liner to contract to keep the patient's arm warm step1110.

In operation, the arm sleeves (108and110) may completely open up to expose the patient or user's arm and then close up again after the treatment is complete or when desired. The tubes or wires that are a part of the treatment can either go out of the zipper or double closure or down the sleeve (108and110) and exit near the hand. In one embodiment, the double closure allows the tubes or wires to exit the garment at the most optimal point based on their placement.

Advantageously, the garment of the present invention helps keep patients warm and keeps their arms covered while receiving intravenous treatments and therapies. While receiving treatment or therapies, the patient may keep their garment on, as the arm sleeves open to expose the arm for the medical professional to insert the IV or attach the medical device (e.g. tube). In addition, an optional warming component may be used in the garment that will help to warm up the fluid as it is put into the patient or user's body. The garment is used to warm the arms more than the rest of the patient or user's body, and it may also be worn for daily use without utilizing the special purpose-built components.

The foregoing description comprise illustrative embodiments of the present invention. Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. Merely listing or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings in the foregoing descriptions. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used only in generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein.