Hip surgery undergarment

Abstract

Undergarments that are configured to be worn by a patient during a medical procedure is described. For example, this document provides undergarments that covers the patient's genitalia while leaving the patient's hip area unobstructed to facilitate a medical procedure that requires hip access.

1 . An undergarment for a human patient, the undergarment being configured to be worn by the patient to cover the patient's genitalia while leaving one flank of the patient fully uncovered, the undergarment being configured to not fully surround the patient's waist and hip areas. 
     
     
         2 . The undergarment of  claim 1  including one and only one leg hole whereby the undergarment is configured to be worn by the patient such that one leg of the patient extends through the leg hole while the other leg of the patient is not surrounded by the undergarment. 
     
     
         3 . The undergarment of  claim 2  including a first support strap that is attached to a front side of the undergarment and to a back side of the undergarment, wherein the first support strap is configured to be worn over a first shoulder of the patient. 
     
     
         4 . The undergarment of  claim 3 , wherein the first support strap includes an adjustment that can adjust the length of the first support strap. 
     
     
         5 . The undergarment of  claim 3 , including a second support strap that is attached to a side of the undergarment and to the first support strap, wherein the second support strap is configured to be worn over a second shoulder of the patient that is different than the first shoulder. 
     
     
         6 . The undergarment of  claim 5 , wherein the second support strap includes an adjustment that can adjust the length of the second support strap. 
     
     
         7 . The undergarment of  claim 2 , wherein a partial waistband of the undergarment includes an adjustment that can adjust the length of the partial waistband. 
     
     
         8 . The undergarment of  claim 1 , wherein the undergarment is reversible such that the undergarment can be worn in two ways, wherein a first way of the two ways leaves a right flank of the patient fully uncovered, and wherein a second way of the two ways leaves a left flank of the patient fully uncovered. 
     
     
         9 . The undergarment of  claim 1 , wherein the undergarment is configured with crotch room for male genitalia. 
     
     
         10 . The undergarment of  claim 1 , wherein the undergarment is configured to be a disposable one-time-use item. 
     
     
         11 . The undergarment of  claim 1 , wherein the undergarment is configured to be laundered and reusable. 
     
     
         12 . The undergarment of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the undergarment comprises an antibiotic agent. 
     
     
         13 . The undergarment of  claim 12 , wherein the antibiotic agent is a coating. 
     
     
         14 . The undergarment of  claim 1 , further comprising a lead coating, liner, or insert. 
     
     
         15 . The undergarment of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more elastic portions. 
     
     
         16 . The undergarment of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more semi-rigid support elements. 
     
     
         17 . An undergarment for a human patient comprising:
 a main body panel comprising a front side and a back side, the main body panel bordered at the top by an upper hem comprising a waistband; and   a front-to-back strap contacting the waistband on the front side and the back side, the front-to-back strap passing over the shoulder of the human patient when the undergarment is worn by the human patient,   wherein the waistband does not fully surround the waist of the human patient when the undergarment is worn by the human patient, leaving one leg of the human patient that is not surrounded by the undergarment.   
     
     
         18 . The undergarment of  claim 17 , wherein the main body panel is partially bordered by a lower hem, wherein at least part of the lower hem is elastic allowing a portion of the lower hem to conform to the body of the human patient and cover the genitalia of the human patient. 
     
     
         19 . A method of preparing a human patient for a medical procedure comprising:
 providing an undergarment to the human patient, the undergarment comprising a main body panel comprising a front side and back side, the main body panel defining a single leg hole such that, when the undergarment is worn by the human patient, only one leg of the human patient is surrounded by the undergarment.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , the undergarment further comprising a front-to-back strap contacting the front side and the back side of the main body panel;
 the method further comprising putting the front-to-back strap over a shoulder of the human patient.