Abstract:
A garment for providing warmth and insulation to dialysis patients while maintaining unobstructed visual access to a patient&#39;s needle access site is described. The garment includes a transparent window and is made from a fabric material tailored to provide front and back covering. The garment includes a head opening with peripherally connected means for adjustment; and at least one transparent window providing viewing access to a particular location.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates to garments, and more particularly, to garments and similar fabric suited for use in health care environments. 
       DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    As a result of their treatment, dialysis patents commonly experience cold sensation and desire to be completely covered to minimize this heat-loss. A dialysis patient completely covered by a blanket obstructs the view of the needle access site necessary for the healthcare personnel to perform their duties. 
         [0003]    One of the risks associated with dialysis treatment is serious injury or possible death caused by dislodgement of the fistula needle. Because fistula needles are much larger in size and gauge than a typical needle attached to a syringe, they undergo significant pressure, which may result in dislodgement. Incidents of needle dislodgement are not uncommon. 
         [0004]    The risk of serious injury as a result of needle dislodgement increases with the use of a blanket obstructing the view of a patient&#39;s needle access site. When used, blankets require constant monitoring by healthcare personnel, including lifting the blanket to view the needle access site, which causes discomfort to the patient. Additionally, it is inefficient for a minimal staff attending to multiple patients simultaneously to continuously lift and inspect each patient&#39;s access site. 
         [0005]    In light of the deficiencies of ordinary blankets and the need for warmth of dialysis patients, a new garment, adapted to provide constant viewing access to hospital staff, would have significant utility. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A garment for providing warmth and insulation to dialysis patients while maintaining unobstructed visual access to a patient&#39;s needle access site is described. 
         [0007]    The garment is worn draped over a patient&#39;s body with their head through the opening near the center, or put on sideways through the adjustment strip. The adjustment strip lies on either shoulder, (depending on access site location) and provides both length and temperature adjustment to ensure proper window positioning and patient comfort. The garment may be worn in any position of a dialysis chair or hospital bed, including upright, semi-reclined, fully reclined, and in the Trendelenburg position. The garment can also be worn prior to or after treatment, when walking or otherwise being transported. 
         [0008]    The garment may be constructed with any soft fabric with insulating properties. Polar fleece is well suited for this application due to its lightweight and hydrophobic properties. Further, it retrains its insulating characteristics even when wet, and is machine washable and dries quickly. The fleece material is commonly available in varying thicknesses, providing different degrees of warmth. 
         [0009]    The window (or windows) can be customized for any number of applications, and positioned anywhere on the front panel of the garment, where a surgical or access site is located. The window may be made of any flexible clear material that can be attached to the garment. 
         [0010]    Polyvinyl chloride provides a fully transparent window with reasonable flexibility and is widely produced. 
         [0011]    The garment provides pleasant range of motion without feeling restrictive. The garment, having a back section, provides an additional barrier between the patient and dialysis chair, further minimizing the risk of cross-contamination. The garment optionally includes a hood and/or a foot-pouch, designed to retain heat to a patient&#39;s head and their feet. The garment also optionally includes one or more pockets for convenience of the patient or the staff. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are diagrams of a patient wearing the medical garment with transparent window while standing with arms stretched ( FIG. 1A ), and seated in an upright position ( FIG. 1B ); 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of a patient wearing the medical garment with transparent window while lying in a reclined position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a top-view diagram of a medical garment with transparent window made in accordance with a second variation of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are a close-up view of the adjustment strip; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a close-up view of the transparent window. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 1A , a patient ( 10 ) stands with a medical garment or gown ( 11 ) having a transparent window ( 12 ) thereon. With the arms ( 10   a,    10   b ) stretched, the transparent window ( 12 ) can be readily seen located in a proper position covering most of the left arm of the patient for dialysis treatment. With the provision of the transparent window ( 12 ) the whole situation can be readily monitored without removing the gown from the patient. Now referring to  FIG. 1B , which is a diagram showing the patient ( 10 ) wearing the medical garment or gown ( 11 ) with transparent window ( 12 ) while seated in an upright position. It can be readily seen that the transparent window ( 12 ) of the medical garment ( 11 ) is positioned over the needle access site or area ( 13 ) allowing unobstructed visual access to the bloodlines ( 14 ), needles, and medical devices commonly utilized in a dialysis procedure. It can be readily appreciated that with the transparent window ( 12 ), the ongoing process of dialysis can be readily monitor without rending any uncomfortable handling to the patient ( 10 ). 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of a patient ( 20 ) wearing the medical garment ( 21 ) with transparent window ( 22 ) while lying in a reclined position. The transparent window ( 22 ) of the medical garment ( 21 ) is again properly positioned over the needle access site or area ( 23 ) allowing unobstructed visual access to the bloodlines ( 24 ), needles, and medical devices commonly utilized in a dialysis procedure. 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a top-view diagram of a medical garment ( 31 ) with transparent window ( 32 ) incorporated thereon in accordance with a variation of the present invention. This medical garment ( 32 ) is similar to the medical garment ( 11 ) shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  while with little variation. The medical garment ( 30 ) is constructed primarily with fabric designed to retain an individual&#39;s body heat, such as, but not limited to, polar fleece. The medical garment ( 30 ) is further comprised of a head opening ( 31   h ), typically cut midway between points  31   a  and  31   c,  while illustrated at  31   b.  From the side of head opening ( 31   h ), the medical garment ( 30 ) is cut to its edge, providing adjustment strip ( 33 ) therealong. 
         [0020]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are close-up view of the adjustment strip ( 33 ). The adjustment strip ( 33 ) is composed of matching rows of connecting arrangements ( 35 ), such as Velcro, snaps, zippers, buttons, or other means generally available to the skilled in the art for connecting the opposing sides ( 32   a,    32   b ) of the adjustment strip ( 33 ) of the medical garment ( 30 ). In this referred embodiment, buttons and holes are used as the connecting arrangement  35  and arranged along the opposing sides ( 32   a,    32   b )of the medical garment ( 30 ). 
         [0021]    Returning to  FIG. 3 , the medical garment ( 31 ) is further composed of a transparent window ( 32 ) positioned below the adjustment strip ( 33 ). Transparent window ( 32 ) may be constructed of any non-permeable material providing unobstructed view, such as, but not limited to, polyvinyl chloride. 
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a close-up view of the transparent window ( 12 ,  22 ,  32 ). The transparent window ( 12 ,  22 ,  32 ) is positioned over a hole or opening ( 11   h,    21   h,    31   h ) cut into the medical garment ( 11 ,  21 ,  31 ). The hole or opening ( 11   h,    21   h,    31   h ) should be cut to a size sufficiently large to provide an unobstructed viewing window to most patient&#39;s needle access site ( 13 ,  23 ), see  FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2 . The transparent window ( 12 ,  22 ,  32 ) may be permanently or temporarily affixed over hole ( 11   h,    21   h,    31   h ) with means that securely maintain the position of the transparent window ( 12 ,  22 ,  32 ) in relation to the hole or opening ( 11   h,    21   h,    31   h ). Permanent attachment means may include, but are not limited to, such as gluing, stitching, melting, compressing, or weaving. Temporary attachment means may include, but are not limited to, Velcro, snaps, zippers, or buttons. This invention provides the transparent window ( 12 ,  22 ,  32 ) designed to offer viewing access to a site typically at risk for dialysis patients. However, the transparent window ( 12 ,  22 ,  32 ) and hole or opening ( 11   h,    21   h,    31   h ) may be repositioned to provide viewing access to any other body area as a result of surgery, such as over and section of the torso, or any other limb. The use of the dialysis patient example in this patent is not to be considered a narrowing of use of the invention described herein, nor any rights associated with this patent. 
         [0023]    Returning to  FIG. 3 , the lower portion of the medical garment ( 31 ) optionally includes a foot-pouch section ( 34 ). The foot-pouch ( 34 ) may be extended or folded under a patient&#39;s feet and secured with two rows of connecting arrangements ( 35 ), such as, but not limited to, Velcro, snaps, zippers, or buttons. The medical garment ( 31 ) optionally includes one or more pockets ( 36 ), and a hood ( 37 ). 
         [0024]    It is contemplated for embodiments of the invention to extend to individual elements and concepts described herein, independently of other concepts, ideas or systems, as well as for the embodiments to include a combinations of elements recited anywhere in this patent. Although illustrative embodiments have been described in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments. Many modifications and variations of the inventions described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents. Furthermore, it is contemplated that a particular feature described either individually or as part of an embodiment can be combined with other individually identified features, or parts of other embodiments, even if the other features or embodiments make no mention of the particular feature. The absence of describing combinations is not intended to preclude the inventor form claiming rights to such combinations.