Dress shirt with hidden medical access points

Abstract

A dress shirt having a hidden medical access point, the dress shirt including a collar and a front portion. The front portion includes a first side, a second side, a plurality of buttons, and a first closable aperture. The first side having an open edge configured to overlap with an open edge of the second side when the first side is coupled to the second side. The plurality of buttons positioned along one of the open edge of the first side or the open edge of the second side. The first closable aperture is positioned on an upper chest position of the first side and the first closable aperture includes a fastener configured to permit the respective closable aperture to be in an open configuration or a closed configuration and wherein the first closable aperture, when in the open configuration, permits passage of a medical instrumentality therethrough.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dress shirt having hidden medical access points, the dress shirt comprising:
 a collar;   a back portion;   a front portion comprising:
 a first side coupled to a first sleeve, the first sleeve having an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion being proximate to the first side; 
 a second side coupled to a second sleeve, the second sleeve having an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion being proximate to the second side; 
 a zipper configured to couple the left side and the right side, such that, when coupled, a portion of the left side overlaps a portion of the right side defining an overlapping region of the two sides; and 
 a plurality of decorative buttons positioned along the overlapping region; 
 a first closable aperture positioned on an upper chest portion of the first side; 
 a second closable aperture positioned on an upper chest portion of the second side; 
 a third closable aperture positioned on the inner portion of the first sleeve; and 
 a fourth closable aperture positioned on the inner portion of the second sleeve; 
   wherein each of the closable apertures comprises a fastener configured to permit each of the closable apertures to be in an open configuration or a closed configuration;   wherein each of the closable apertures, when in the open configuration, permit passage of a medical instrumentality therethrough; and   wherein the dress shirt more closely resembles a conventional dress shirt when the closable apertures are in the closed configuration as compared to when the closable apertures are in the open configuration.   
     
     
         2 . A dress shirt having hidden medical access points, the dress shirt comprising:
 a collar;   a front portion comprising:
 a first side and a second side, the first side having an open edge configured to overlap with an open edge of the second side when the first side is coupled to the second side; 
 a plurality of buttons positioned along one of the open edge of the first side or the open edge of the second side; and 
 a first closable aperture positioned on an upper chest portion of the first side; and 
   a first sleeve coupled to the first side, the first sleeve comprising a second closable aperture positioned on an inner portion of the first sleeve;   wherein the first and second closable apertures each comprise a fastener configured to permit the respective closable aperture to be in an open configuration or a closed configuration; and   wherein each of the first and second closable apertures, when in the open configuration, permit passage of a medical instrumentality therethrough.   
     
     
         3 . The dress shirt of  claim 2 , wherein the dress shirt more closely resembles a conventional dress shirt when the closable apertures are in the closed configuration as compared when the closable apertures are in the open configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The dress shirt of  claim 2 , wherein one or more of the first closable aperture or the second closable aperture provides access to a central venous catheter. 
     
     
         5 . The dress shirt of  claim 4 , wherein the central venous catheter is a port line or a peripherally inserted central catheter (“PICC”) line. 
     
     
         6 . The dress shirt of  claim 2 , wherein the first sleeve comprises a portion that, when worn, extends past an elbow of a wearer of the dress shirt. 
     
     
         7 . The dress shirt of  claim 2 , wherein the front portion is designed such that, when worn, the front portion extends past a natural waist of a wearer of the dress shirt. 
     
     
         8 . The dress shirt of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the dress shirt is made from a machine-washable material or a fabric protector-treated material that resists staining. 
     
     
         9 . The dress shirt of  claim 2 , wherein the first closable aperture has one or more visibility reducing features. 
     
     
         10 . The dress shirt of  claim 2 , wherein the front portion of the dress shirt further comprises a third closable aperture positioned on an upper chest portion of the second side. 
     
     
         11 . The dress shirt of  claim 2 , wherein the dress shirt further comprises:
 a second sleeve coupled the second side; and   a fourth closable aperture positioned on an inner portion of the second sleeve.   
     
     
         13 . The dress shirt of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the plurality of buttons comprise at least a top button and a bottom button, the top button being a button nearest the collar and the bottom button being a button furthest from the collar;   the dress shirt further comprises a zipper extending at least from the top button to the bottom button, the zipper configured to couple the first side of the front portion to the second side of the front portion, wherein the zipper is hidden by an overlapping portion of the left side and the right side of the front portion.   
     
     
         14 . A dress shirt having a hidden medical access point, the dress shirt comprising:
 a collar;   a front portion comprising:
 a first side and a second side, the first side having an open edge configured to overlap with an open edge of the second side when the first side is coupled to the second side; 
 a plurality of buttons positioned along one of the open edge of the first side or the open edge of the second side; and 
 a first closable aperture positioned on an upper chest portion of the first side; and 
   wherein the first closable aperture comprises a fastener configured to permit first closable aperture to be in an open configuration or a closed configuration; and   wherein the first closable aperture, when in the open configuration, permits passage of a medical instrumentality therethrough.   
     
     
         15 . The dress shirt of  claim 14 , wherein the dress shirt more closely resembles a conventional dress shirt when the closable apertures are in the closed configuration as compared when the closable apertures are in the open configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The dress shirt of  claim 14 , wherein the front portion further comprises a second closable aperture positioned on an upper chest portion of the second side. 
     
     
         17 . The dress shirt of  claim 14 , further comprising a first sleeve coupled to the first side of the dress shirt and a second sleeve coupled to the second side of the dress shirt. 
     
     
         18 . The dress shirt of  claim 17 , wherein the dress shirt comprises a third closable aperture positioned on an inner portion of the first sleeve. 
     
     
         19 . The dress shirt of  claim 17 , wherein the second sleeve comprising a fourth closable aperture positioned on an inner portion of the second sleeve. 
     
     
         20 . The dress shirt of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the plurality of buttons comprise at least a top button and a bottom button, the top button being a button nearest the collar and the bottom button being a button furthest from the collar; and   the dress shirt further comprises a zipper extending at least from the top button to the bottom button, the zipper configured to couple the first side of the front portion to the second side of the front portion.