Post-surgical garment with drain-retaining pockets

Abstract

A post-surgical garment to be worn on the body of a human or animal patient. The garment includes at least one front panel and at least one back panel, at least one opening formed along the intersection of the front panel and the back panel, and at least one pocket adjacent the at least one opening. A first portion of a medical device is secured in or on the patient's body, and a second portion of the medical device is stored in a pocket of the garment with an intermediate portion of the device extending through the opening through the garment.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A post-surgical garment comprising: 
 a loose-fitting garment to be worn on the body of a human or animal patient, the garment having at least one front panel and at least one back panel;    at least one opening formed along the intersection of said front panel and said back panel for permitting passage of a medical device; and    at least one pocket adjacent the at least one opening.    
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , comprising a vest having a front closure, and wherein the at least one opening formed along the intersection of said front panel and said back panel is along a side seam of said vest, and wherein the at least one pocket is located between the side seam and the front closure of the vest.  
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 1 , comprising pants with legs having releasable fasteners along side portions thereof to form said at least one opening formed along the intersection of said front panel and said back panel.  
     
     
         4 . The pants of  claim 3 , further comprising a breakaway section proximal the knee for conversion of said pants to shorts.  
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one pocket further comprises a bellowed pocket.  
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one pocket is located on an inside face of at least one front panel.  
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one pocket is located on an exterior face of the at least one front panel.  
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pocket can be secured in a closed position.  
     
     
         9 . A post-surgical system comprising: 
 a garment having at least one front panel, at least one back panel, at least one opening formed along the intersection of said front panel and said back panel, and at least one pocket adjacent the at least one opening; and    a medical device having a first portion for mounting in or on a body portion of a patient, a second portion for placement in the at least one pocket of the garment, and an intermediate portion for extension through the at least one opening in the garment to connect said first and second portions.    
     
     
         10 . The post-surgical system of  claim 9 , wherein the pocket adjacent the at least one opening lies flat when empty and can expand to accommodate the medical device.  
     
     
         11 . The post-surgical system of Clam  9 , wherein the garment further comprises a vest.  
     
     
         12 . The post-surgical system of  claim 9 , wherein the garment further comprises pants.  
     
     
         13 . A vest for post-surgical use, comprising 
 a back panel having an inside face and an outside face;    first and second front panels, each having an inside face and an outside face, said first and second front panels attached to said back panel along lateral edges thereof, and defining arm-holes between the back panel and the first and second front panels for allowing a wearer's arms to pass therethrough; and    closures along ventral edges of the first and second front panels for securing the vest about a wearer;    wherein an access opening is provided between the back panel and at least one of the front panels for passage of a medical device.    
     
     
         14 . The vest of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the front panels comprises a pocket on its inside face.  
     
     
         15 . The vest of  claim 14 , further comprising a closure for preventing inadvertent removal of items from the pocket.