Patient garment with improved access

Abstract

A patient garment to improve medical access includes a back and a front, wherein a top portion of the front is removably secured to a top portion of the back via a plurality of shoulder fasteners. The front may comprise one or more openings that may be covered with plackets. Epaulets or other bands of material may secure the plackets to the garment. The front may also comprise a left side and a right side, wherein the left side is removably attached to the right side via one or more front fasteners.

1 . An upper-body garment providing improved medical access to a wearer of the garment, comprising:
 (a) a first body portion formed from a first expanse of material and having a first edge;   (b) a second body portion formed from a second expanse of material and having a second edge, wherein the second body portion may be manipulated by a user to removably couple the second edge to the first edge, thereby at least partially enabling the garment to be donned by the wearer; and   (c) an opening, arranged in the second body portion, that extends from the second edge of the second body portion into the second expanse of material;   (d) whereby the garment may be donned by the wearer by placing it on the wearer such that the opening is disposed around wires or tubes worn by or connected to the wearer and subsequently coupling the first and second body portions together by coupling the first edge to the second edge.   
     
     
         2 . The upper-body garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first body portion is the rear of a shirt and the second body portion is the front of the shirt. 
     
     
         3 . The upper-body garment of  claim 2 , wherein the shirt includes two sleeve openings and a neck opening, and wherein the first edge and the second edge each extend from one of the sleeve openings to the neck opening. 
     
     
         4 . The upper-body garment of  claim 3 , wherein the opening in the second body portion extends downward into the second expanse of material of the second body portion. 
     
     
         5 . The upper-body garment of  claim 4 , wherein the opening is defined and/or covered by a placket. 
     
     
         6 . The upper-body garment of  claim 5 , wherein the opening is a first opening and is located on the left side of the front of the shirt, and wherein a second opening, similar to the first opening and likewise defined and/or covered by a placket, is further arranged on the right side of the front of the shirt. 
     
     
         7 . The upper-body garment of  claim 3 , further comprising fasteners along the respective first and second edges. 
     
     
         8 . The upper-body garment of  claim 3 , wherein the front includes a left side and a right side, and wherein the left side is removably attached to the right side via one or more front fasteners. 
     
     
         9 . The upper-body garment of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is defined and/or covered by a placket. 
     
     
         10 . The upper-body garment of  claim 9 , wherein the opening has opposed side edges and wherein the garment further comprises a band of material that removably couples the opposed side edges together. 
     
     
         11 . The upper-body garment of  claim 10 , wherein the band of material is an epaulet. 
     
     
         12 . The upper-body garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first body portion is the left side of a shirt and the second body portion is the right side of a shirt. 
     
     
         13 . The upper-body garment of  claim 1 , wherein a wire or tube worn by or connected to the wearer extends through the opening. 
     
     
         14 . The upper-body garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment resembles a v-neck, button-down shirt. 
     
     
         15 . The upper-body garment of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more pockets. 
     
     
         16 . The upper-body garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment extends approximately to the patient's waist. 
     
     
         17 . The upper-body garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment extends approximately to the patient's knees. 
     
     
         18 . A method of dressing a person with an upper-body garment that provides improved medical access to the person, comprising:
 (a) providing an upper-body garment, having:
 (i) a first body portion formed from a first expanse of material and having a first edge, 
 (ii) a second body portion formed from a second expanse of material and having a second edge, and 
 (iii) an opening, arranged in the second body portion, that extends from the second edge of the second body portion into the second expanse of material; 
   (b) installing at least one medical wire or tube on a person;   (c) placing the garment on the wearer such that the opening is disposed around the at least one medical wire or tube; and   (d) subsequently, coupling the first and second body portions together by removably coupling the second edge to the first edge.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising a step of coupling one side of the opening to the other to retain the at least one medical wire or tube within the opening.