Abstract:
A medical record coat for a dog comprises a transparent coat upon which can be marked the location and size of various tumors as they are discovered on the animal&#39;s body. The ability to maintain a visual record of the tumor history of the dog allows the treating professional to track the treatment process of the animal. The medical record coat is then maintained as part of the medical history of the animal.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a coat for covering a dog and, more particularly, to a transparent coat that is fit over a dog and used to mark the locations of lypoma and other tumors as a visible record of tumor location and size.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    There are various breeds of dogs that are particularly sensitive to experiencing repetitive onsets of various types of tumors, most often lypomas. Lypomas are fatty tumors that are most often benign, but may be removed for the overall health and well-being of the animal.  
           [0003]    In most cases, a paper medical record is maintained for the treated animal, and the doctor may simply draw an illustration of the dog and mark locations on the picture where one or lypomas have been removed. The size of the tumor may also be indicated on the chart. Alternatively, the paper medical record may not include a picture of the animal, and merely use a written description to define the area and size of removed lypomas.  
           [0004]    There are problems that exist with this type of record-keeping, the most common being that the record is lost. It may also frequently occur that the information regarding the size and location of a lypoma is generalized and vague (i.e., a treating doctor may simply record “3 mm tumor removed from left shoulder”). Thus, when a lypoma recurs in the left shoulder area of the same animal, it may be difficult to determine if this tumor is in the same location as the previous tumor, or in a different location. Additionally, it is difficult to keep accurate records of the exact size and shape of each tumor, making it difficult to track growth in various tumors over time. Therefore, for the purposes of accurate treatment and maintaining sufficient and reliable medical records, another method of recording this information is desirable.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The need remaining in the prior art is addressed by the present invention, which relates to a coat for covering a dog and, more particularly, to a transparent coat that is fit over a dog and used to mark the locations of lypoma and/or other tumors as a visible record of tumor locations and treatment dates.  
           [0006]    In accordance with the present invention, a transparent medical record coat is placed around a dog being treated. The treatment professional can then use a permanent marker (or any suitable writing device) to mark the size and location of the tumor, as well as trace the complete outline of the tumor on the coat. The date may also be recorded with the tumor size and location information. This particular coat will then be tagged as associated with this particular animal and become a part of the dog&#39;s medical history. By being able to trace the actual outline of the tumor prior to treatment, the doctor is able to exactly define the size and location of the tumor. When the animal returns for follow-up visits, the coat is then put on the animal again, and the previously-drawn tumor outline is compared with the current condition of the dog in that area. Thus, changes in the size and/or shape of the tumor are easy to determine by comparing the previously-drawn outline against the current condition of the tumor. Further, if other tumors have appeared since a prior visit, these new tumor locations (and, for example, the date) may be marked on the coat.  
           [0007]    It is an important aspect of the present invention that these tumor markings on the coat are permanent markings and become part of the animal&#39;s medical record. Thus, if the animal is then treated by any other doctor, the coat may be taken along and reviewed by that person. Additionally, the visual aspect of being able to mark the size and location of each tumor is invaluable to the treating doctor.  
           [0008]    It is an additional feature of the present invention that the medical record coat is made of a size to adequately fit the dog, covering all body areas where tumors are likely to occur. In one embodiment, three different sizes (small, medium, and large) have been found adequate to fit various breeds of dogs. The coat itself preferably comprises a single piece of transparent material, but may also be formed of two pieces which are joined together (e.g., an upper torso piece and a lower torso piece).  
           [0009]    In another embodiment of the present invention, separate leg pieces may be included with the medical record coat, where separate transparent sections are fit around each leg. Each leg piece may be marked to include the identification of the particular animal being treated, in order to keep the leg pieces from becoming lost or misplaced.  
           [0010]    Other and further aspects of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following discussion and by reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    Referring now to the drawings,  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary medical record coat of the present invention, as it is fit around an averaged-sized dog;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 shows the medical record coat of FIG. 1, after it has been removed from the dog, showing the markings of tumor locations;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a medical record coat of the present invention, as it is fit around a small-sized dog; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 contains a view of the medical record coat of FIG. 3. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary medical record coat  10  of the present invention, as it is fit around an average-sized dog. In accordance with the present invention, coat  10  comprises a transparent material, for example, a relatively thick plastic, upon which a marking pen can be used to permanently indicate the location and size of various growths and tumors, such as lypomas. Exemplary coat  10  of FIG. 1 comprises a single piece of transparent material and includes an opening  12  for inserting the coat over the dog&#39;s head. FIG. 2 is a view of the coat in its “open” form, clearly showing the location of opening  12 . A panel  14  of coat  10  is formed to cover the chest area of the animal (including the underside of the torso), wrapping between the forward legs and secured around the dog with a strap  16 . Strap  16  preferable includes a removable adhesive material that mates with an adhesive section  17  on coat  10 . One or more similar removable adhesive sections (not shown) maybe used to insure the secure placement of medical record coat  10  around the dog. An identification label  18 , with the name and other identifying information of the dog is also included on coat  10 , to avoid “mixing up” the coats of various animals. In the embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 1, identification label  18  is illustrated as formed on strap  16 . The location of identification label  18  is not relevant to the purposes of the present invention.  
         [0017]    In accordance with the present invention, once medical record coat  10  is secured on the animal, the treating professional may look through the transparent material of the coat and identify the location of various growths. A marking pen is then used to outline the growth. The date of detection may also be recorded on or next to the marked growth location (the date and information about the growths should also be recorded in the medical history file for this particular animal). FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate exemplary markings for three tumors, denoted  20 ,  22  and  24 , where the size and shape of these markings is exaggerated for the purposes of illustration. A measurement (in centimeters or inches, as preferred), can then easily be made and this information can be included in a paper medical record history of the animal. Thus, each time the animal returns for a check-up or treatment, his coat may be repositioned on his body and the size/location of the growths compared against the markings made in the prior visit. Clearly, this is a significant aid in properly treating the animal. Further, additional growths found on return visits may be similarly marked, allowing the treating professional to maintain a complete medical history of tumor growth.  
         [0018]    As mentioned above, a medical record coat of the present invention may include separate leg pieces, since it is possible for lypomas (or other tumors) to occur on the legs. FIG. 1 illustrates coat  10  as further comprising a set of four transparent leg pieces  21 ,  23 ,  25  and  27 , each piece fit around a different leg of the animal. Each piece should be marked to identify the associated leg (e.g., “left hind leg”), and should also include information identifying the particular dog. A label segment  19  is illustrated on leg piece  21 , where such a segment may be used to record this information. Removable adhesive attachments may be used to secure each leg piece to the animal. As with the torso portion of the medical record coat, the location and size of tumors are marked on the appropriate leg piece. An exemplary marking  29  is illustrated in FIG. 1.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a medical record coat  30  of the present invention, where FIG. 4 shows a top view of this exemplary coat. In this case, coat  30  comprises two pieces  32  and  34 , for fitting around the upper and lower torso sections of the animal, in contrast to pulling a coat over the dog&#39;s head, as is required for coat  10  of FIG. 1. In general, it is to be understood that the particular configuration of the coat, including the number of pieces and the way the coat is fit around the dog is not germane to the teachings of the present invention. Referring back to FIG. 3, coat  30  is illustrated as wrapped around a relatively small-sized dog, where adhesive attachment means  36  and  38  are used to secure piece  32  to piece  34 . As with the coat discussed above, coat  30  comprises a transparent material, such as a relatively heavy-duty, but pliable plastic, upon which permanent markings can be made. In the particular illustration of FIGS. 3 and 4, a pair of tumor locations  40  and  42  are illustrated as being marked, including information regarding the date and, if desired, an accurate recording of the tumor dimensions. An identification label  44  is shown as included on coat  30 .  
         [0020]    It is to be understood that the embodiments of the present invention as discussed above are exemplary only, and that a medical record coat of the present invention may comprise any desired configuration, as long as the coat is formed of a transparent material that a treating professional may see and feel through. Heavy-duty plastic has been found to be a preferred material. Moreover, the actual size of the coat is not defined by the terms of the invention, but is only required to be a proper size to adequately locate and identify the location of tumors on the animal. In general, a set of three sizes (small, medium and large) have been found to fit most breeds. Indeed, the spirit and scope of the present invention is considered to be limited only by the claims appended hereto.