Patent Description:
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to garments useful in a medical setting, particularly in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) setting, and methods of making and use thereof.

Garments for use in medical settings have various unique requirements, such as the ability to provide sufficient access to a wearer's body (e.g., by a medical practitioner) and/or compatibility with medical devices, such as intravenous (IV) therapy lines, gastrostomy tubes (G-tubes), and/or respirators. Garments worn by patients in the NICU are especially unique due to the physical capabilities of such patients. For example, NICU garments must provide easy access to a wearer without aid from the wearer and/or with minimal disruption to the wearer. There remains an unmet need in the art for garments that meet these requirements.

<CIT> discloses a garment. <CIT> discloses a garment. <CIT> also discloses a garment.

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a garment wearable by a baby, particularly a baby in a NICU or other medical setting. An example garment according to aspects of the present disclosure may be configured to provide acceptable access to the wearer while requiring minimal disruption to the wearer and minimal aid from the wearer. The garment comprise a front body portion, a back body portion, two sleeve portions, two leg portions, and a neck opening. At least one of the sleeve portions comprises an arm access portion. Additionally, the front body portion comprises a body access portion. Additionally, the back body portion may comprise a body access portion.

Further aspects of the disclosure relate to a method of making a garment wearable by a baby, the method including connecting a front body portion to a back body portion and a first and second sleeve to the front body portion and the back body portion. The method further includes connecting a first leg portion and a second leg portion to the front body portion and the back body portion. The method further includes providing a neck opening at the intersection of the front body portion and the back body portion. At least one of the sleeve portions may comprise an arm access portion. The front body portion comprises a body access portion. Additionally, the back body portion may comprise a body access portion.

Additional advantages and novel features of these aspects will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following disclosure.

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a garment wearable by a baby, particularly a baby in a NICU or other medical setting. An example garment according to aspects of the present disclosure may be configured to provide acceptable access to the wearer while requiring minimal disruption to the wearer and minimal aid from the wearer. According to some aspects, the garment may comprise a front body portion, a back body portion, two sleeve portions, two leg portions, and a neck opening. At least one of the sleeve portions may comprise an arm access portion. Alternatively or additionally, the front and/or back body portion may comprise a body access portion.

As used herein, the term "baby" should be understood as a young child. A baby is not particularly limited to a certain age, although those skilled in the art will understand that a baby generally refers to a human aged from <NUM> months to <NUM> years, optionally from <NUM> months to <NUM> years, optionally from <NUM> months to <NUM> years, and optionally from <NUM> months to <NUM> year. In one example implementation, the wearer of a garment according to aspects of the present disclosure may be a patient in a NICU, such as a baby born prematurely (e.g., before about <NUM> weeks of pregnancy), a baby having a low birth weight (e.g., less than about <NUM> pounds), and/or a baby having a medical condition that requires special medical care. It should be understood, however, that the garments according to aspects of the present disclosure may be worn by patients in a setting other than a NICU, including but not limited to other hospital units, doctor offices, at home, etc. In addition, the inventive aspects of the current disclosure are also applicable to garments for adults and/or older children as well. Such garments may comprise any material suitable for such use, including but not limited to, polyester, nylon, cotton, silk, a moisture wicking material, or any combination thereof.

According to some aspects, the garment may comprise a front body portion, a back body portion, two sleeve portions, two leg portions, and a neck opening. It should be understood that some or all of the garment portions may be comprised by a single, discrete piece of material, such as a single, discrete piece of fabric. Alternatively, one or more of the garment portions may be attached to another portion or other portions of the garment at one or more seams, such as by stitching, gluing, taping, and/or any other suitable attachment means known in the art.

<FIG> shows a front view of an example garment according to aspects of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the "front" of a garment as used herein is the side of the garment that primarily contacts the anterior (e.g., chest and front) side of a wearer. As shown in <FIG>, the garment <NUM> may comprise a front body portion <NUM>, two sleeve portions 13a and 13b, two leg portions 14a and 14b, and a neck opening <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, each of the two sleeve portions 13a and 13b may be attached to the front body portion <NUM> at a shoulder portion 16a and 16b, respectively, of the garment, the shoulder portions 16a and 16b being proximal the neck opening <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, according to some aspects, garment <NUM> may comprise a body access portion <NUM>. According to some aspects, body access portion <NUM> may comprise a body access opening configurable to at least an open positon and a closed position. According to some aspects, body access portion <NUM> may be in a closed position when selectively connectable body connection points <NUM> are in connected positions. As used herein, the term "selectively connectable connection point" refers to a point at which two portions of the garment <NUM> may be connected in a selectively connectable and/or disconnectable manner. For example, the selectively connectable connection point may be a connection provided by a selectably connectable and/or disconnectable fastener. Examples of such fasteners include any fastener known in the art that is configured to reversibly connect two portions of a garment and is suitable for use in a medical setting, particularly a NICU setting. For example, the fastener may be selected from the group consisting of a tie, snap, button, fabric hook and loop fastener, zipper, buckle, hook and eye, cord, toggle, brooch, eyelet, and/or combinations of any of the foregoing. The fastener may comprise any material known in the art suitable for use in a medical setting, examples of which include, but are not limited to, plastics (such as polyamides or nylons, polycarbonates, polyesters, polyethylenes, high-density polyethylenes, low-density polyethylenes, polyethylene terephthalates, polypropylenes, polystyrenes, high impact polystyrenes, polyurethanes, polyvinyl chlorides, polyvinylidene chlorides, acrylonitrile butadiene styrenes, and combinations thereof), metals including magnetic materials (such as iron and/or ores or alloys thereof), fibers including natural fibers and human-made fibers, such as cotton, and combinations thereof. It should be understood that body access portion <NUM> may be in an open position when selectively connectable body connection points <NUM> are disconnected. It should also be understood that body access portion <NUM> may be in a partially open position when a portion of more than one selectively connectable body connection points <NUM> are disconnected and a portion of more than one selectively connectable body connection points <NUM> are connected, allowing variable access to the body of a wearer. In the example shown in <FIG>, body access portion <NUM> is in the closed position.

As further shown in <FIG>, body access portion <NUM> may be provided on the front body portion <NUM> of garment <NUM> in a non-bisecting arrangement. As used herein, the term "non-bisecting" refers to an arrangement that does not bisect, that is, does not divide into two equal or approximately parts. For example, as shown in <FIG>, body access portion <NUM> may have a first end <NUM> that terminates at the neck opening <NUM> and a second end <NUM> that terminates at the edge of leg portion 14b of the garment. In this way, body access portion <NUM> is in a non-bisecting arrangement in relation to front body portion <NUM> of garment <NUM>, since point <NUM> terminates at one leg 14b, rather than between the two legs 14a, 14b. It should be understood that while the second end <NUM> is provided on leg portion 14b in the example garment shown in <FIG>, the second end <NUM> may alternatively be provided on leg portion 14a, essentially providing about a mirror-image of body access portion 17A shown in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, each of, or at least one of, the first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM> may comprise a selectively connectable body connection point as described herein.

As shown in <FIG>, body access portion <NUM> may abut a leg access portion <NUM>, which may span from the second end <NUM> of body access portion <NUM> to an opposite leg access portion end <NUM> that terminates at an edge of leg portion 14a. It should be understood, however, that if the second end <NUM> of body access portion <NUM> is provided at the edge of leg portion 14a, the leg access portion end <NUM> would be provided at the edge of leg portion 14b. According to some aspects, leg access portion <NUM> may allow access to a wearer's body below his or her trunk. According to some aspects, the leg access portion end <NUM> may comprise a selectively connectable leg connection point, as shown in <FIG>. Similar to body access portion <NUM>, leg access portion <NUM> may comprise one or more selectively connectable leg connection points along its length, such that leg access portion <NUM> may be selectively placed in an open, closed, or partially open position, as described herein.

According to some aspects, body access portion <NUM> and/or leg access portion <NUM> may be configured to provide acceptable access to a wearer. According to some aspects, acceptable access may comprise complete or about complete access to the trunk and/or legs of a wearer. Alternatively or additionally, acceptable access may comprise partial access to the trunk and/or legs of a wearer suitable to perform a desired procedure with minimal aid from and disruption to the wearer.

<FIG> shows a view of garment <NUM> of <FIG> wherein body access portion <NUM> is in an open position, and leg access portion <NUM> is in a partially open position. In this position, among other advantages, the chest of a wearer may be accessed with minimal changing and/or disruption to the wearer. For example, at least in part due to the non-bisecting arrangement of body access portion <NUM>, the chest of a wearer may be accessed with little to no disruption to, for example, the navel of the wearer and/or a G-tube if such is inserted into the abdomen of a wearer.

<FIG> shows garment <NUM> of <FIG> wherein body access portion <NUM> is in a partially open position, and leg access portion <NUM> is in a closed position.

According to some aspects, the garment may comprise one or more arm access portions. For example, <FIG> shows another example garment <NUM> according to aspects of the present disclosure having optional arm access portion 22a and 22b on each sleeve portion 23a and 23b, respectively.

According to some aspects, arm access portions 22a and 22b may comprise one or more arm connection points. For example, as shown in <FIG>, arm access portion 22a may comprise a first arm connection point <NUM> at or near the corresponding shoulder portion <NUM> of the garment <NUM>, such as may be proximal to neck opening <NUM>. Alternatively or additionally, arm access portion 22a may comprise a second arm connection point <NUM> located at or near an edge of the corresponding sleeve portion 23a. It should be understood that the first arm connection point <NUM> and the second arm connection point <NUM> may independently comprise a selectively connectable arm connection point as described herein and/or a permanent arm connection point. As used herein, the term "permanent connection point" refers to a point at, or segment along which, two portions of the garment are connected in a manner that is not easily disconnected. For example, the permanent connection point may be a connection provided by a permanent fastener. Examples of permanent fasteners include any fastener known in the art that are configured to non-disconnectably connect two portions of a garment and are suitable for use in a medical setting, such as a NICU setting. For example, such non-disconnectable fasteners may comprise a seam sewn into the garment, glue, or combinations thereof.

As shown in <FIG>, one arm access portion comprises an arm access opening provided in a permanently disconnected configuration. Both arm access portions 22a and 22b may each comprise an arm access opening. For example, arm access portion 22a may comprise an arm access opening <NUM> that may span at least a portion of the distance between the first arm connection point <NUM> and the second arm connection point <NUM>.

According to some aspects, opening <NUM> may comprise at least a portion that is free of fasteners such that opening <NUM> is in a permanently disconnected configuration. Due to its permanently disconnected configuration, at least a portion of opening <NUM> may be provided in an open position, as shown, for example, in <FIG>, or may be provided in a faux-closed position. As used herein, the term "faux-closed" position refers to a position wherein the opening appears closed and functions as a barrier between a wearer and an external environment (including external pathogens and/or undesirable temperatures), without being held closed by a fastener. For example, according to some aspects, in the faux-closed position, a first edge 27a of opening <NUM> may overlap at least a portion of a second edge 27b of opening <NUM>, or vice versa, thereby providing a barrier between a respective arm of a wearer without the use of fasteners. In this way, arm access portions 22a may provide the barrier function while also providing easy access to the arm of a wearer with minimal disruption to the wearer. In addition, arm access portion 22a may provide, for example, undisrupted medical device access (e.g., IV line access) to the arm of a wearer, while maintaining a barrier between the wearer and an external environment.

As also shown in <FIG>, garment <NUM> may comprise one or more foldable portions provided, for example, on one or more sleeve portions 23a and 23b and/or one or more leg portions 28a and 28b. As used herein, the term "foldable portion" may refer to any portion of the garment that is readily foldable, which may, for example, ease access to the user's arm, such as when device access is initiated and/or when access is required for medical procedures such as IV line placement and/or removal, etc. As shown in <FIG>, the one or more foldable portions may further be provided at and/or proximal to the ends of one or more sleeve portions 23a and 23b and/or one or more leg portions 28a and 28b such that, when in a folded position, the ends of one or more sleeve portions 23a and 23b and/or one or more leg portions 28a and 28b are provided with cuffs, for example cuffs 29a, 29b, and 29c provided on sleeve portions 23a and 23b and leg portion 28b, respectively. According to some aspects, cuffs 29a and 29b, and 29c may provide acceptable access to hands and a foot, respectively, of a wearer (e.g., for neonatal monitoring). One or more of the foldable portions may alternatively be provided in an unfolded position (for example, the position of foldable portion <NUM> of leg portion 28a) to provide the feet and/or hands of a wearer with additional protection from the external environment (e.g., for warmth) and/or to prevent a baby or other wearer from scratching or other self-injury, for example. In some variations, such cuffs may also be omitted or modified, depending on the wearer and/or need.

<FIG> shows an example back view of the garment <NUM> of <FIG>. It should be understood that the "back" is the side of a garment that may at least partially contact the posterior side of a wearer. According to some aspects, the back body portion <NUM> of the garment may optionally comprise a body access portion in addition to or instead of the body access portion provided on the front body portion (not shown in <FIG>), having similar features and functions of body access portion <NUM> for front of garment <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

Aspects of the present disclosure are also directed to methods of making the garment as described herein, and methods of using the garment as described herein, for example, in a medical setting.

The exmple aspects, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting.

In the claims reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one" unless specifically so stated, but rather "one or more. " No claim element is to be construed as a means plus function unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase "means for.

Further, the word "example" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration. " Any aspect described herein as "example" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term "some" refers to one or more. Combinations such as "at least one of A, B, or C," "at least one of A, B, and C," and "A, B, C, or any combination thereof" include any combination of A, B, and/or C, and may include multiples of A, multiples of B, or multiples of C. Specifically, combinations such as "at least one of A, B, or C," "at least one of A, B, and C," and "A, B, C, or any combination thereof" may be A only, B only, C only, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C, where any such combinations may contain one or more member or members of A, B, or C.

Claim 1:
A garment (<NUM>) comprising:
a front body portion (<NUM>);
a back body portion (<NUM>) connected to the front body portion;
a first sleeve portion (23a) and a second sleeve portion (23b) connected to the front body portion and the back body portion;
a first leg portion (28a) and a second leg portion (28b) connected to the front body portion and the back body portion; and
a neck opening (<NUM>) at the intersection of the front body portion and the back body portion,
characterized in that the front body portion comprises a body access portion (<NUM>), the body access portion being provided on the front body portion in a non-bisecting arrangement,
and in that the first sleeve portion comprises an arm access portion (22a), the arm access portion comprising an arm access opening (<NUM>) provided in a permanently disconnected configuration.