Garment For An Echocardiographic Patient

Abstract

In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides an examination garment for covering a patient's torso during a medical examination, wherein the garment comprises a back panel and a front panel connected to the back panel along a common top edge. The front panel includes an access opening for providing access to a patient's chest when the garment is worn by the patient. The garment additionally includes a privacy flap connected to the front panel such that the privacy flap will cover the access opening when the privacy flap is in a Closed position. Furthermore, the garment includes a monitor pocket disposed on the privacy flap.

1 . An examination garment for covering a patient's torso during a medical examination, said garment comprising:
 a back panel and a front panel connected to the back panel along a common top edge, the front panel including an access opening for providing access to a patient's chest when the garment is worn by the patient;   a privacy flap connected to the front panel such that the privacy flap will cover the access opening with the privacy flap is in a Closed position, and   a monitor pocket disposed on the privacy flap.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the privacy flap is connected to the front panel along a top edge of the privacy flap. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 2 , wherein the connection of the privacy flap to the front panel along the top edge of the privacy flap distributes pulling forces caused by the weight of a device disposed within the monitor pocket across an upper portion of the front panel so that the weight of the device is borne across the patient's chest and shoulders. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the monitor pocket is disposed on a back side of the privacy flap such that the monitor pocket faces toward the front panel when the privacy flap is in the Closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the monitor pocket is disposed on a front side of the privacy flap such that the monitor pocket faces toward the front panel when the privacy flap is in the Closed position. 
     
     
         6 . An examination garment for wearing by a patient during a medical examination, said garment comprising:
 a back panel and a front panel connected to the back panel along a common top edge, the front panel including an access opening for providing access to a patient's chest when the garment is worn by the patient;   a privacy flap connected to the front panel such that the privacy flap will cover the access opening with the privacy flap is in a Closed position, the privacy flap connected to the front panel along a top edge of the privacy flap; and   a monitor pocket disposed on the privacy flap such that the connection of the privacy flap to the front panel along the top edge of the privacy flap distributes pulling forces caused by the weight of a device disposed within the monitor pocket across an upper portion of the front panel so that the weight of the device is borne across the patient's chest and shoulders.   
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 6 , wherein the monitor pocket is disposed on a back side of the privacy flap such that the monitor pocket faces toward the front panel when the privacy flap is in the Closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 6 , wherein the monitor pocket is disposed on a front side of the privacy flap such that the monitor pocket faces toward the front panel when the privacy flap is in the Closed position. 
     
     
         9 . An examination garment for wearing by a patient during a medical examination, said garment comprising:
 a back panel and a front panel connected to the back panel along a common top edge, the front panel including an access opening for providing access to an area between a 3 rd  intercostal area and a 5 th  intercostal area of the chest of a patient wearing the garment;   a privacy flap connected to the front panel along a top edge of the privacy flap and along at least a portion of one side edge of the privacy flap such that:
 when the privacy flap is placed in an Open position, the flap will fold diagonally up toward a shoulder of the patient wearing the garment exposing the access opening and the area between a 3 rd  intercostal area and a 5 th  intercostal area of the patient's chest, 
 when the privacy flap is placed in a Closed position and the patient wearing the garment is in an upright position the privacy flap will be disposed over the access opening covering the access opening and providing concealment of the patient's chest, and 
 when the patient wearing the garment is lying on her/his side and the privacy flap is placed in the Closed position, the privacy flap will maintain a disposition over the access opening and will not fall open toward the lower side of the patient, thereby maintaining coverage and concealment of the access opening and the patient's chest as the patient lies on her/his side; and 
   a monitor pocket disposed on the privacy flap such that the connection of the privacy flap to the front panel along the top edge of the privacy flap distributes pulling forces caused by the weight of a device disposed within the monitor pocket across an upper portion of the front panel so that the weight of the device is borne across the patient's chest and shoulders.   
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the monitor pocket is disposed on a back side of the privacy flap such that the monitor pocket faces toward the front panel when the privacy flap is in the Closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the monitor pocket is disposed on a front side of the privacy flap such that the monitor pocket faces toward the front panel when the privacy flap is in the Closed position.