Abstract:
A garment with surgical drainage support includes a sleeveless shirt with an opening that extends from a neck of the shirt to the bottom of the shirt along the front of the shirt to define a closure between a first front side of the shirt and a second front side of the shirt. The garment further includes a plurality of ties along the front of the shirt. Each of the plurality of ties includes a first tape attached to the first front side of the shirt and a second tape attached to the second front side of the shirt. The tapes of each tie are tied together to close the closure and untied to open the closure. The garment also includes at least one tie positioned on the shirt a distance away from the closure. The at least one tie includes a first tape and a second tape that are tied together to secure a drain bulb of a surgical drain to the garment.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/339,800, filed Mar. 9, 2010. The entire contents of the above application are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a garment. More specifically, the present invention relates to a garment with surgical drainage support. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may or may not constitute prior art. 
         [0004]    A typical mastectomy, lumpectomy, or breast reconstruction patient will come home from the hospital with one or more surgical drains on either the side of the upper torso directly below the armpit. A breast reconstruction patient may also come home with one or more drains on either side of the lower torso below the waist. The surgical drain includes a flexible drainage tube with one end inserted into an insertion site and sutured to the patient&#39;s upper torso directly below the armpit(s), and the other end attached to a plastic drain bulb that collects fluids flowing from the insertion site. The drain bulb typically has a collar or plastic loop to facilitate attaching the bulb to a garment the post-surgery patient is wearing. The bulbs are drained periodically, for example, at least two times a day, and the surgical drains remain in place for several days or weeks after surgery. 
         [0005]    In some known surgical drainage support designs, safety pins are employed to fasten the drainage tube and the bulb to the patient&#39;s clothing, such as a shirt, belt, or waistband. The safety pins, however, may open and stick the patient and may be easily misplaced. Further, the drainage tube tends to pull at the insertion site regardless where the drainage tube and bulb are fastened to the patient&#39;s clothing. Also, the patient may have to search under her clothing to access surgical drain. 
         [0006]    In other designs, a cumbersome belt may be employed, which irritates the skin and the incisions and bandages the patient may have at or near the waist. The patient may not be able to wear or tolerate any garment or belt which presses in or near the incision area. In yet another design, a pullover or front-closure camisole pullover shirt (or camisole) with inner or outer pockets hold the drain bulbs. The post-surgical patient, however, is typically in no condition to put her arms over her head to get into a pullover shirt and in fact, may be prevented from doing so because of the new blood vessel connections made in surgery or because of the diminished range of motion resulting from surgery. Stepping into the pullover shirt feet first is even more impractical for such patients, who may not have the flexibility or balance right after surgery. Further, the camisoles with front closures have metal snaps, plastic snaps, hooks, or Velcro to open and close the shirt. Such closures, however, are generally not appropriate for a post-surgical garment, since these closures can be cold, abrasive, rough, sharp, or irritating to incisions and the skin. Moreover, Velcro snags and collects fuzz and hair and other unwanted fibers that can irritate and carry germs. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, there is a need for an improved way to support a surgical drain. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    A garment with surgical drainage support includes a sleeveless shirt with an opening that extends from a neck of the shirt to the bottom of the shirt along the front of the shirt to define a closure between a first front side of the shirt and a second front side of the shirt. The garment further includes a plurality of ties along the front of the shirt. Each of the plurality of ties includes a first tape attached to the first front side of the shirt and a second tape attached to the second front side of the shirt. The tapes of each tie are tied together to close the closure and untied to open the closure. The garment also includes at least one tie positioned on the shirt a distance away from the closure. The at least one tie includes a first tape and a second tape that are tied together to secure a drain bulb of a surgical drain to the garment. 
         [0009]    Some embodiments of the garment may have one or more of the following advantages. 
         [0010]    The garment provides a safe and easy way for fastening or securing the drain bulb and relieving the tension at the insertion site in which a drain tube is inserted, since the garment prevents unnecessary pulling at the insertion site which can cause pain, leaking, and infection. The tie securing the drain bulb prevents slippage of the drain tube and prevents the tube from pulling out altogether. The ties are a safe, easy, and comfortable alternative to the traditional methods of attaching the drain bulb to whatever garment the patient happens to be wearing. 
         [0011]    The ties are reliable and can be used without difficulty. The ties can be made of the same cotton twill tape that is used on your garden variety hospital gown that every patient must wear when admitted to the hospital. As such, the patient would be quite familiar with the ties. The garment provides comfort to the patient and easy access and care of the drain bulb. The ties also allow for adjustment of the location of each bulb individually depending on whether a patient is sitting, standing, lying down or involved in an activity. 
         [0012]    Further features, advantages, and areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Further, throughout the figures, like elements are represented by the same reference numerals. In the drawings: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of a garment with surgical drainage support in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a garment with surgical drainage support in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a garment with surgical drainage support embodying the principles of the present invention is illustrated therein and designated at  10 . As it primary components, the garment  10  includes a sleeveless shirt  12 , such as, for example, an undershirt, a safety tie  14  attached on each side of the shirt  12 , and a set of two or more ties such as ties  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  along the front of the shirt  12 . The shirt  12  can be made of a cotton rib material, antibacterial polyester, or any other suitable natural, synthetic, or a blend of natural and synthetic material. 
         [0018]    The ties  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  are typically a pair of tapes  14   a  and  14   b ,  16   a  and  16   b ,  18   a  and  18   b ,  20   a  and  20   b , and  22   a  and  22   b , respectively, that are attached, for example, by sewing the tapes or by use of any other suitable attachment process, to the shirt  12 . The tapes  14   a ,  14   b ,  16   a ,  16   b ,  18   a ,  18   b ,  20   a ,  20   b , and  22   a , and  22   b  can be made of cotton twill, antibacterial polyester, or any other suitable natural, synthetic, or blend of natural and synthetic material. Each pair of tapes can be individual tapes attached to the shirt  12 . Further, the tapes  14   a  and  14   b  can be a single tape attached near or at its mid-section to the shirt  12 . 
         [0019]    Generally, one of the tapes  14   a  or  14   b  is inserted or fed through a collar  24  of a drain bulb  26 , and then both tapes  14   a  and  14   b  are tied together to form the tie  14 , for example, as a bow, to secure the drain bulb  26  in place. The bulb  26  is connected to one end of a flexible drain tube  28 ; the other end of the drain tube is  28  is inserted into an insertion site  30  of a patient P and is sutured at the insertion site. The drain bulb  26  and the drain tube  28  form a surgical drain  29  that facilitates drainage of fluid from the patient P, for example, after surgery. From the insertion site  30 , the fluid flows through the drain tube  28  and collects in the drain bulb  26 . Accordingly, the tie  14  on each side of the shirt  12  holds the surgical drain bulb(s)  26  to accommodate a mastectomy patient, a lumpectomy patient, a breast reconstruction patient, or any other patient who has a drain(s) on the left and/or right side of their torso. 
         [0020]    As shown, the garment  10  is open in the front from the scoop of the neck  32  to the bottom  34  of the shirt  12  to create a front closure  36  between the two front sides of the shirt  37  and  39 . The tapes  16   a ,  18   a ,  20   a , and  22   a  are sewn on the shirt  12  on one side of the closure  36 , and the tapes  16   b ,  18   b ,  20   b , and  22   b  are sewn to the shirt  12  on the other side of the closure  36  (see, for example,  FIG. 2 ). The tapes  16   a  and  16   b ,  18   a  and  18   b ,  20   a  and  20   b , and  22   a  and  22   b  are tied together to form the ties  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22 , respectively. As such, the closure  36  is closed and opened by tying and untying the four ties  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22 . 
         [0021]    In the arrangement shown in  FIG. 1 , the tie  14  is located a distance, d 1 &gt;0, from the armpit  37  of an armhole  38  of the shirt  12 , as well as a distance d 2  away from the closure  36 . In other arrangements, the tie  14  is attached to the shirt at the armpit  37  (see  FIG. 2 ), that is, d 1 =0. Note that d 2  can be less than or equal to the distance between the closure  36  and the furthest extent of the respective side of the shirt  12 . In the aforementioned arrangements, there is only one tie, namely, the tie  14 , on each side of the shirt  12 . The garment  10  with these arrangements is for a patient whose only surgical drain(s) are on the right side, left side or both sides of the upper torso near the patient&#39;s armpit(s). Accordingly, the surgical drain  29  sutured to the left side insertion site  30  is secured (fastened) with the tie  14  on the left side of the shirt  12 . Similarly, a surgical drain sutured to the right side insertion site of the patient&#39;s upper torso near the armpit is secured (fastened) with the tie  14  on the right side of the shirt. 
         [0022]    In another arrangement as shown as a garment  10 ′ in  FIG. 2 , two pairs of ties  14  and  15  are attached to each side of the shirt  12 . Again, both ties  14  can be located at the armpit  37  (d 1 =0) or a distance d 1 &gt;0 from the armpit  37 , as shown previously in  FIG. 1 , and a distance d 2  away from the closure  36 . Again d 2  can be equal to or less than the distance from the closure  36  to the furthest extent of the respective side of the shirt  12 . The other ties  15  are attached to the shirt near the bottom  34 , but not necessarily at the bottom, of the shirt  12  on a respective side of the closure  36 . The garment  10 ′ is generally for a patient who has surgical drain(s) on the right side, left side, or both sides of the upper torso near the patient&#39;s armpit and also has surgical drain(s) on the right side, left side or both sides of the lower torso below the waist. Note that one tape  14   a  or  14   b  can be tied to a tape  15   a  or  15   b  on the same side of the closure  36  if the patient desires to secure the drain bulb  26  somewhere between the two ties  14  and  15 . 
         [0023]    As with the previously described arrangements, the surgical drain(s) sutured to the patient&#39;s right side insertion site of the upper torso near the armpit is secured (fastened) with the tie  14  nearest the armhole  38  on the right side of the shirt  12 . The surgical drain  29  sutured to the patient&#39;s left side insertion site  30  of the upper torso near the armpit is secured (fastened) with the tie  14  nearest the armhole  38  on the left side of the shirt  12 . The surgical drain(s) sutured to the patient&#39;s right side insertion site of the lower torso below the waist is secured (fastened) with the tie  15  on the right side near the bottom  34  of the shirt  12 . The surgical drain(s) sutured to the patient&#39;s left side insertion site of the lower torso below the waist is secured (fastened) with the tie  15  on the left right side near the bottom  34  of the shirt  12 . 
         [0024]    In a particular arrangement, the distance (indicated by lower case letters) between various points (identified by capital letters) on the shirt  12  are as follows (see  FIG. 2 ): 
         [0025]    Between K and L: a is about 8 inches; 
         [0026]    Between M and N: b is about 1⅝ inches; 
         [0027]    Between I and E: c is about 15 inches; 
         [0028]    Between J and F: d is about 15 inches; 
         [0029]    Between G and H: e is about 12 inches; 
         [0030]    Between E and F: f is about 15 inches; 
         [0031]    Between C and D: g is about 15½ inches; 
         [0032]    Between A and E: h is about 10½ inches; 
         [0033]    Between B and F: i is about 10½ inches; and 
         [0034]    Between A and B: j is about 16 inches. 
         [0000]    In this particular arrangement, the hem along the bottom  34  of the shirt  12  is about 1½ inches and the ties  15  are each located a distance d 3  of about 2 inches from the furthest extents of the respective sides. The distance, t, between the ties  16  and  18 ,  18  and  20 , and  20  and  22  is about 5⅜ inches. Although the ends of the tapes can be knotted, they can also be finished by folding them over, for example, by folding over about ⅛ inch of the ends and then stitching them. In the above and in other arrangements, the edges of the armholes, the neck, and the front closure can be self-binding or finished in any other suitable manner. The bottom edge of the garment  10 ,  10 ′ can be self-binding as well. 
         [0035]    Tying the drain bulb  26  to the shirt  12  with the ties  14  and/or  15  on either side of the shirt  12  holds the drain bulb  26  in place, such that the bulb will not dangle. In contrast, if the drain tube  28  and drain bulb  26  are left to loosely dangle, the weight of the drain bulb pulls the flexible drain tube  28  taut and the tension on the drain tube  28  pulls at the insertion site  30  where the tubing is sutured to the patient&#39;s body, causing discomfort and pain to the patient. Hence, because the shirt  12  holds the drain bulb  26  in place, it prevents pulling and unnecessary tension in the drain tube  28 , thereby relieving the patient from pain and discomfort, preventing the stitches at the insertion site from breaking, and preventing dislodging the drain tube  28  from the insertion site  30 . 
         [0036]    As described above, the garments  10  and  10 ′ have armhole openings  38 . The cut of these armholes  38  are deep and wide to allow the insertion site  30  to be completely visible. This allows the recovering patient or medical staff to make sure the insertion site  30  is clean, not irritated, and not infected. Generally, the surgical drain(s)  29  need to be emptied at least twice daily, so it is important to access the surgical drains  29  with ease. Further, securing the drain bulb  26  to the side of the shirt  12  with the ties  14  and/or  15  provides easy access and visibility to the drain bulb  26  to empty collected fluids with ease. 
         [0037]    After the contents of the drain bulb  26  are emptied, the drain tube  28  is typically “stripped/milked.” The ties  14  and  15  make it simple, easy, and efficient to strip/milk the drain tube  28 , since the insertion site is visible and easily accessible to the patient or medical staff. That is, the patient or medical staff member simply unties the ties  14  and/or  15  that hold the drain bulb(s)  26 , empties the contents of the drain bulb(s)  26 , and strip/milks the drain tube  28 . After the drain bulb  26  is emptied and the drain tube  28  is stripped/milked, the patient simply reties the bow with the tapes  14   a  and  14   b  and/or  15   a  and  15   b  and the drain bulb  26  is secured once more to the shirt  12 . 
         [0038]    The shirt  12  is not a pullover but, rather, closes in front with the ties  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22 . Hence, because of the front closure  36  of the shirt  12 , the shirt  12  is easy to put on and take off, which is important to a patient recovering from surgery. The tapes  16   a ,  16   b ,  18   a ,  18   b ,  20   a ,  20   b ,  22   a , and  22   b  can be made of the same material and have the same length as the tapes  14   a ,  14   b ,  15   a ,  15   b , such that familiarity with one tape results in familiarity with all the tapes. The ties  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  can be adjusted to allow for tightening or loosening the front closure  36 . Note also that the front ties  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  can be used to secure the drain bulb  26  if the patient desires to place the drain bulb somewhere along the middle of the torso or chest. 
         [0039]    The ties  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  are easy to tie in a bow and easy to untie and thus allows for a gentle, safe, easy closure. Hence, the ties  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  can be considered safety ties. The ties can be white, pink, or any other suitable color. 
         [0040]    The shirt  12  is easy to use and care for. In particular, the shirt is lightweight and not bulky, easy to launder, machine washable and can be put in a dryer, and suitable to wear under every day clothes. Although a particular arrangement of a particular size was described above, the garment  10 ,  10 ′ can be manufactured in a variety of sizes to accommodate patients of different sizes. For example, various sizes of the garment  10 ,  10 ′ can be made based on ratios of the various dimensions of the aforementioned particular arrangement. Also, the fabric for the shirt  12  is stretchy to adjust for the size of patient and to adjust for different body types. Further, the stretchiness of the shirt  12  can help relieve tension in the surgical drain  29 . If the shirt  12  is made of cotton, such as the cotton rib material mentioned above, or any other absorbent material, the shirt  12  allows for absorption of fluid that may leak from the drain bulb  26 . 
         [0041]    Typically, bandages are employed to protect incisions resulting from surgery. The shirt  12  is not confining but is still snug enough to help secure these bandages, so that the bandages stay in place. The shirt  12  also hides the bandages and helps keep the bandaged area clean. Because of the softness of the shirt  12 , the comfort provided by the arrangement of garment  10 ,  10 ′, and the front closure  36 , the shirt  12  does not force unnecessary arm movement, nor prevent those who exercise to increase their arm movement. Note that the seams and labels may be located on the outside of the shirt  12  such that the skin is less stressed by irritants associated with some labels and threads. 
         [0042]    The shirt  12  can be easily adapted. For example, if a patient who does not want ties under the arm pit or at the hip, the patient can simply cut the ties off. Moreover, if the patient wants a slit at the hip to accommodate a drain bulb, the patient can just slit the side of the shirt  12  with scissors. The use of the garment  10 ,  10 ′ allows the patient to wear regular clothing over it to provide some privacy and modesty when desired. Also, the garment  10 ,  10 ′does not have to be unhooked and changed repeatedly. Wearing the garment  10 ,  10 ′ day and night further results in less manipulation of the surgical drains  29 . Note that the garment  10 ,  10 ′ need not be an undershirt. That is, the garment  10 ,  10 ′ can be worn as an outer garment as well. 
         [0043]    Although the garment  10 ,  10 ′ is quite suitable for use by mastectomy, lumpectomy, or breast reconstruction surgery patients, the garment  10 ,  10 ′ can be used by other patients as well. For example, patients who have had thoracic surgery may also require the use of surgical drain bulbs. The garment  10 ,  10 ′ would be quite suitable for use by such patients. Moreover, the garment  10 ,  10 ′ is not limited to post surgery patients. For instance, patients who have infusions or intravenous therapy can also use the garment  10 ,  10 ′ to secure a bulb type device. Additionally, drains are used in numerous medical procedures where fluid, blood or pus is evacuated from spaces in the body and the garment could be appropriate for those procedures depending on the location of the drain tubing insertion site and length of drain tubing. For example, the garment  10 ,  10 ′ can be used, but is not limited to, with surgical drains associated with the following: laparoscopic appendectomy for perforated/gangrenous appendicitis; gallbladders with spillage of foul bile during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy; duct stones seen on a cholangiogram but can&#39;t cannot be cleared laparoscopically, since there is a higher risk of clips coming off from elevated ductal pressure; emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy on a patient on plavix/aspirin, or even if the liver bed looks “oozy”; next to low colorectal anastomosis; most pancreatic surgery; patients who present with peritonitis and massive fecal contamination; post mastectomies/axillary dissections; post excision of large lipomas (since dead space can fill with serous fluid); under the flaps after a large open ventral hernia repair; groin dissections; abdominal surgery; exploratory laparotomy; and tummy tuck surgery. 
         [0044]    The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.