Abstract:
A flexible belt-shape garment to be use around the torso of a person requiring a gastrostomy tube to be nourished is disclosed. The garment comprises a totally flexible main elongated body having an upper end, a lower end a first lateral side and a second lateral side, an outer surface and an inner surface intended to be in contact with the patient&#39;s body. It also comprises an aperture or opening in cooperative action with a flap cover that creates an internal pocket when close, wherein the gastrostomy tube is safely stored; a second mechanism for covering the internal pocket by overlapping the closed cover flap with of one of the lateral sides of the main body and optional ties or laces that are wrap around the installed belt and tie up for maximizing the protection of the gastrostomy tube and the stoma area.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to medical dressings or medical garments for use on patients who have had gastrostomy procedure. More particularly, the invention is directed to a flexible belt-shape garment for use around the torso of a person requiring feeding means such as a gastrostomy tube or G-tube, in order to provide storing, protection and safety to the said feeding means and the area surrounding the same. 
   Gastrostomy is a well know surgical procedure performed on patients that temporarily or permanently require to be fed directly through a tube connected to the stomach. Among the reasons requiring a patient to be subjected to a gastrostomy procedure are conditions such as birth defects of the mouth, esophagus or stomach. Similarly, other patients requiring the said procedure are those suffering from conditions such as neuromuscular conditions that cause people to eat very slowly due to the shape of their mouth or a weakness affecting their chewing and swallowing muscles as well as obstructions of the stomach outlet into the small intestine caused by different reasons such as peptic ulcers or tumor. 
   The main objective of the gastrostomy process is the insertion of the feeding means through the abdomen wall and into the stomach via an external opening called stoma. Generally speaking, the feeding means comprises a feeding tube, known as G-tube, through which food or nutrients are introduced to the patient&#39;s stomach and through which fluids may also be vented from the patient&#39;s stomach. 
   Among the risks of the procedure are the infections, bleeding and accidental dislodgment of the tube. Thus, there is a need to maintain the G-tube and the stoma area clean, protected and manageable. It would be helpful and advantageous to provide a cover belt-shape and flexible garment having three security measures to store, hide and protect the G-tube and stoma area of the patient once it is wrapped around the patient&#39;s torso. It would be further advantageous to provide a belt like garment that is made of soft, flexible materials, easy to wear, inexpensive, washable and reusable. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to protect the feeding means such as G-tube and stoma area located on the torso of a gastrostomy&#39;s patient from damage, contamination and accidental extraction by providing a flexible, reusable, comfortable belt-shape garment to be used around the torso of the wearer. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, reusable, washable, comfortable belt that comprises means to safely store and hide the G-tube, in such a way that it cannot be visibly detected when worn conventional garments. 
   Still another object of the invention is to provide a belt, which has at least three different security closing elements to protect the G-tube and stoma of a patient, said elements comprising an easy to open and close flap cover located over an aperture on the said belt, a closing means or fastening means at the extremes or distal edges of the belt and at least two ties, strings or laces that may be wrap around the torso and tied up over the belt. 
   A further object of this invention to provide a flexible belt having a flexible and easy manageable storing area for the g-tube, wherein it may be stored whenever it is not in use and wherein it is totally accessible, in such a way that the said G-tube may be easily retrieved for its intended use and conveniently returned and safely store again when the said tube is not in use without the need of removing the said belt. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a belt that is easily changeable or removable and conveniently adjustable to the user&#39;s torso, accommodating its shape to the user&#39;s contour. 
   Yet another object of the invention is to provide a belt that is friendly usable, washable, durable and easy to clean in order to maintain cleanliness and proper sanitary conditions around the G-tube and stoma region of gastrostomy patients in order to protect the said G-tube and stoma region from external germs and bacteria, and to promote and enhance the user&#39;s health, self esteem and personal confidence. 
   Even another object of the invention is to provide a belt that smoothly fits or adjusts itself to the contour of the patient&#39;s body, without forming a noticeable bulkiness and allows maximum freedom of bodily movements of the patient/wearer in such a way that it may be worn with conventional garments without being noticeable while simultaneously maintaining the stoma region underneath it. 
   These and other objects of the instant invention are accomplished by providing a totally flexible belt-shape garment to be used around the torso of a person that had been subjected to a gastrostomy procedure and requires a G-tube or similar feeding means in order to provide protection, storing and safety to the G-tube of the wearer even from the very beginning of the post operative period or after the stoma wound has healed. The said garment comprises a totally flexible main elongated body having an upper end, a lower end a first lateral side and a second lateral side, an outer surface and an inner surface intended to be in contact with the patient&#39;s body. The said elongated body comprises an elastic band integrated and preferably located substantially at the center of the said upper end; an aperture or opening located on the said main body, wherein the said aperture or opening is intended to be positioned over the patient&#39;s stoma. It also comprises a flap cover made of the same or similar flexible material as the said belt main body; which is located at the said outer surface of the said main body and on top of the said aperture or opening so that the said cover flap may safely close or open the said opening or aperture giving immediately access to the stoma and wherein once the said flap cover is in a closed position, a flexible internal pocket is formed between the flap cover and the surface of the said outer surface that is covered by the said flap cover, wherein the G-tube may be safety stored in the said pocket. 
   The belt-shape garment also comprises means for safely closing the flap cover in cooperation with fastening means on the said outer surface of the belt, thus securing the g-tube when it is not in use and means for adjusting and closing the said belt around the torso of a person. Optionally, the belt also comprises at least two elongated ties, strings or laces located on the said outer surface that are crossed over or wrapped around the said main body of the garment and which extremes or ends are tied up in order to secure the belt to the patient&#39;s torso. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be described in further detail herein after with reference to the illustrative preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying following drawings, which are included for illustrative purposes without limiting the invention in any manner. 
       FIG. 1  shows a graphical representation of top view of a stereotype of the belt-shape garment of the instant invention, illustrating the outer surface of the garment according to the instant invention. 
       FIG. 2  shows a graphical representation of top view of a stereotype of the belt-shape garment of the instant invention, illustrating the inner surface of the garment according to the instant invention. 
       FIG. 3  shows a graphical representation of top view of a stereotype of the belt-shape garment of the instant invention, illustrating in detail the section of the belt-like garment to be positioned directly over stoma. 
       FIG. 4A-4D  shows a graphical representation illustrating the installation of the belt shape garment according to the invention by a person having a g-tube. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Detailed embodiments of the instant invention are disclosed herein, however it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are only examples and that the disclosed invention may be embodied in alternative forms and/or in other possible variations. The particular structural and/or functional details disclosed herein should not be interpreted as limiting, since they are presented as a basis for the claims and with the main objective of teaching those skilled in the art to make and use the instant invention. Particularly, shapes, length and width of the invention may be variable without departing from the spirit of the invention and such modifications are indeed embraced in the scope of the instant invention. 
   Referring now to the accompanying figures, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , wherein the belt-shape garment  20 , from now on referred also as the belt  20 , is shown according to the principles of the present invention. On  FIG. 1 , the outer surface of elongated body of the belt  20  is shown and it has been divided in section  25 , section  26  and section  27  for illustrative purposes only. Similarly, the reverse or inner surface of belt  20  is shown in  FIG. 2 , and the said surface has been imaginarily divided as section  37 , section  38  and section  39  in order to properly identified particular sections of belt  20  for illustrative purposes only. 
   The said main body of belt  20  is made of multiple layers of flexible fabrics sewn together, one on top of the other. The said fabric layers are preferably sewn following the margins or edges of the said elongated body. Fabrics that are breathable, non allergic, adsorbent, flexible yet strong and firm are highly preferred. Even more preferred is the use of cotton fabric or cotton containing fabrics having a stronger but still flexible texture. In the even more preferred embodiment, an interfacing fabric which is firm, yet flexible is placed in the middle of less sturdy and more flexible fabric layers before sewing them to produce the said main body. The use of interfacing, term well known in the art of fabrics, adds firmness, strength and shape to the main body while maintaining its flexibility. As well known in the art of fabrics and clothes, interfacing is a common term for a variety of fabrics used on the unseen or “wrong” side of fabrics in sewing. Interfacings can be used to stiffen or add body to fabric, such as the interfacing used in shirt collars; to strengthen a certain area of the fabric, for instance where buttonholes will be sewn; or to keep fabrics from stretching out of shape. Interfacings come in a variety of weights and stiffnesses to suit different purposes. 
   Fastening means  31  and  32 , located on upper and lower section of section  27  in cooperation with fastening means  41  and  40  placed on section  39  are shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The said fastening means are illustrated as sewn strips of Velcro®, nonetheless any other suitable fastening means may be used in order to allow the wearer of the belt to adjust and secure belt  20  around his or her torso. For instance, fastening means such as hook and loops, button, button and holes, zippers, garments snaps, and similar others may be used alone or in combination. Similarly, the location of the said fastening means over the main body of belt  20  may be different to the one illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
   Additionally, belt  20  comprises at least two strings, ties or laces  29  and  30 . The terms strings, ties and laces are used as equivalents terms to describe fastening means represented in numerals  29  and  30 , which may be optional in functional terms. The said strings, ties or laces may be made from cotton fabrics, cotton containing fabrics or any other suitable material; but more preferably from cotton fabrics or cotton containing fabrics. They are connected to belt  20  by sewing one of their edges or extremes to the outer surface of belt  20  while leaving the other extreme or edge free as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . More preferably, they are connected to belt  20  by sewing one of their extremes or edges on substantially the middle of central section  26 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 4C and 4D , once the belt is wear around the torso of the user, the said strings, laces or ties are wrapped around the wearer&#39;s torso but over the body of the belt  20  and their free edges or extremes are tied up to further secure the said belt. 
   As illustrated on  FIG. 1 , section  26  and on  FIG. 2 , section  38 , on the center section of the main body, an elastic band  28  is sewn on the upper end of belt  20 . The said elastic band  28  allows more flexibility to the main body of belt  20 , and further allowing that the belt  20  fits to the contour of the user&#39;s body, facilitating the wearer&#39;s body to move freely. 
   Section  27  of belt  20  shown in  FIG. 1 , is further illustrate in more detail on  FIG. 3 , wherein it is shown that belt  20  also comprises an aperture or opening  36  through its surface. The edges around the aperture or opening  36  are sewn to close the interior of the fabric layers forming the main body of the belt  20 , as shown by the lines around the edges of said opening  36  on  FIG. 3 . The said aperture or opening  36  is intended to allow convenient access to the region of the wearer&#39;s stoma. On top of the aperture or opening  36 , there is a flap cover  33 , made of the same or similar flexible fabrics used in the preparation of main body of the belt  20 . More particularly, the said flexible flap cover is made of multiple flexible fabrics layers sewn around the edges, as illustrated on  FIG. 3 . The said flap cover  33  is sewn on the upper part of section  27 . Around the edges of the said cover flap  33 , there are fastening means  34  in cooperation with fastening means  35 , located over outer surface of section  27 , in such a way that once the flap cover  33  is lowered toward the opening  36  in order to securely close the said opening  36 , the said fastening means  34  and  35  cooperatively maintain the flap cover  33  on the surface of  27 , covering opening  36  completely and firmly. 
   Once the flap cover  33  is in the closing position, the area of the outer surface of section  27  which is between the aperture or opening  36  and the fastening means  35 , illustrated with numeral  24  and the flap cover  33  creates or forms an internal pocket, wherein the wearer of the belt  20  may safely store the g-tube in different manners, for instance it may be curled the said g-tube in the said pocket. Thus, if the G-tube is not in use, it may remain safely stored in the said pocket. Furthermore, it may be conveniently retrieved for its intended use by opening the said flap cover  33  without the need to remove the belt  20  from the user&#39;s torso or waist. Size and shape of the opening or aperture  36  as well as the flap cover  33  may be variable as long as the intended purpose of providing easy access to the stoma area and creating a storing G-tube storing internal pocket are accomplished. 
   Regarding cooperative fastening means  34  and  35  on outer surface and on flap cover  33  respectively, they are illustrated as strips of Velcro® sewn to the corresponding area. However, strips of any other fastening material, as well as any other suitable fastening means such as buttons, buttons and holes, hooks and loops, garments snaps, zippers and others may be used. 
   Length and width of belt  20  may be manufactured in different sizes so that it may fit to any prospective user. Belt  20  widths may be proportional to the length in the approximate ratio as shown in the drawings or it may be larger. Optionally, conventional pockets may be added to the main body of belt  20 , providing place to safe gauzes, medicaments or the like. 
     FIG. 4  illustrates the use of the belt  20  according to the invention.  FIG. 4  shows the installation of belt  20  on a wearer&#39;s torso following steps  4 A through  4 D. Initially, the belt  20  is openly extended over the wearer&#39;s back, and opening  36  is positioned over the wearer&#39;s stoma, identified as numeral  42 , wherein the G-tube (not illustrated) is located. Once the G-tube is secured on the pocket formed by closing the flap cover  33 , the belt  20  is adjusted and secured to the wearer&#39;s torso by fastening the fastening means  31 ,  32   40  and  41  as illustrated in  FIGS. 4B and 4C . Thus, the internal pocket formed by the closed flap cover  33  creates the first mechanism of protecting and storing the g-tube and the stoma area while overlapping section  27  with section  39  results a second covering of the stoma region as illustrated in  FIGS. 4B and 4C . Once fastened, the strings, ties or laces  29  and  30  are tied up around the torso or waist of the wearer, which is a third protecting means of the g-tube and stoma area, as illustrated on  FIG. 4D . 
   While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications, particularly in shape or size may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best modes contemplated for carrying out the invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.