Privacy medical garment for access to patient's torso

Abstract

During various medical procedures and clinical examinations, it is necessary to access a patient's chest and abdominal areas. A medical garment top provides limited but easy access to a patient's upper body along with protection from bodily fluids and vomitus. The medical garment top includes a garment top with at least one selectively closable, elongated passageway in the garment top that spans a lateral distance across an anterior portion of the garment top, and a closure mechanism for removably joining two sides of the elongated passageway.

1 . A medical garment top for providing limited but easy access to a patient's upper body and for providing protection from bodily fluids, comprising:
 a garment top;   at least one selectively closable, elongated passageway in the garment top that spans a generally horizontal lateral distance across an anterior portion of the garment top; and   a closure mechanism that removably joins two sides of the elongated passageway.   
     
     
         2 . The medical garment top in  claim 1 , wherein the elongated passageway is a slit formed in a material of the garment top, the slit defining the two sides that are removably joined by the closure mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The medical garment top in  claim 1 , wherein the elongated passageway is configured horizontally along the garment top such that the elongated passageway extends between armpits or in parallel to a horizontal axis between armpits. 
     
     
         4 . The medical garment top in  claim 1 , wherein the elongated passageway is configured so as not to extend beyond armpits and anterior axillary lines extending downward from armpits and along sides. 
     
     
         5 . The medical garment top in  claim 1 , wherein the elongated passageway is configured so as to be in an upper body region that is inferior to tops of shoulders and clavicle and superior to a navel. 
     
     
         6 . The medical garment top in  claim 1 , wherein the elongated passageway is configured so as to be in a central upper body region that is inferior to a sternum and superior to hips or pelvic region. 
     
     
         7 . The medical garment top in  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism terminates at a location that is generally aligned with and medial to a right armpit on the garment top and the elongated passageway may be closed with a minimal gap left open to accommodate EKG wires exiting from beneath the garment. 
     
     
         8 . The medical garment top in  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism originates at a location that is generally aligned with and medial to a left armpit on the garment top. 
     
     
         9 . The medical garment top in  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism includes one or more of zippers or Velcro. 
     
     
         10 . The medical garment top in  claim 1 , wherein the elongated passageway spans a distance between 5 and 15 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The medical garment top in  claim 1 , further comprising an interior protective flap that is attached to a location above the elongated passageway on an interior surface of the garment top and that extends below the elongated passageway, the flap spanning a lateral distance that is at least a lateral distance of the elongated passageway such that the flap prevents patient skin, hair, and tissue from being caught in the closure mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . The medical garment top in  claim 1 , further comprising an exterior flap that is attached to an exterior surface of the garment top above the elongated passageway. 
     
     
         13 . The medical garment top in  claim 12 , wherein the exterior flap is removable. 
     
     
         14 . The medical garment top in  claim 1 , further comprising a removable patch that is attached to an exterior surface of the garment top, the removable patch covering the elongated passageway. 
     
     
         15 . The medical garment top in  claim 1 , wherein the garment top is made of one or more of plastic or fabric. 
     
     
         16 . The medical garment top in  claim 1 , wherein the elongated passageway has a shape that is curved or diagonal. 
     
     
         17 . The medical garment top in  claim 1 , wherein the garment top has an open back. 
     
     
         18 . A method of providing limited access and protection during medical procedures, comprising:
 providing a medical garment top comprising;
 a garment top; 
 at least one selectively closable, elongated passageway in the garment top that spans a generally horizontal lateral distance across an anterior portion of the garment top; and 
 a closure mechanism that removably joins two sides of the elongated passageway; 
   opening the elongated passageway by moving the closure mechanism in a first direction along the elongated passageway such that the sides of the elongated passageway are separated and a body region of a patient's upper body is accessible;   introducing medical examination or surgical equipment through the open passageway;   performing a surgery or examination on the patient;   withdrawing the medical examination or surgical equipment;   closing the elongated passageway by moving the closure mechanism in an opposite direction from the first direction along the elongated passageway such that the sides of the elongated passageway are joined together and a body region of the patient's upper body is concealed.   
     
     
         19 . The method in  claim 18 , wherein introducing medical examination or surgical equipment through the open passageway comprises applying EKG wires on to the patient's torso. 
     
     
         20 . The method in  claim 19 , wherein withdrawing the medical examination or surgical equipment comprises withdrawing the EKG wires through the passageway.