Medical Undergarment With Anterior Closure

Abstract

A medical undergarment, including: a one-piece body comprising: a side panel having an attachment end; a front panel having an attachment area; a gusset, the gusset being configured to be positioned between the legs of a patient during use; and a loop located on an exterior surface of the one-piece body, wherein the attachment end of the side panel is configured to be attached to the attachment area of the front panel forming a closure on an anterior portion of the one-piece body. The attachment elements of the attachment end, or the attachment area, or both, are preferably gapped to provide a passage for a medical tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical undergarment adapted for fitment to a patient without requiring at least one of the patient's legs to be passed through closed leg holes, for medical access to the patient's groin area after fitment without pulling the medical undergarment down along the patient's legs during use, and for guiding a medical tube from the patient's groin area during use, comprising:
 A one-piece body having a back panel, a first side panel having a first attachment end, a second side panel having a second attachment end, a front panel having first and second attachment areas that each has an overlapping arrangement with the first and second attachment ends, respectively, and a gusset between the back panel and the front panel configured to be positioned between the legs of the patient during use;   a hook and loop element located on the attachment end of the first and second side panels;   a hook and loop element located on the first and second attachment areas of the front panel; and   at least one additional hook and loop element located on the first and second attachment ends of the side panels or on the first and second attachment areas of the front panel, the at least one additional hook and loop element gapped from the hook and loop element located on the first and second attachment ends of the side panels or on the first and second attachment areas of the front panel to define a passage therebetween for receipt and securement of the medical tube that is guided from the patient's groin area to a position external to the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The medical undergarment of  claim 1  further comprising an attachment loop attached to the side panel, the attachment loop adapted to support a suction bulb attached thereto. 
     
     
         3 . The medical undergarment of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first pair of side panel hook and loop elements located on the first attachment end of the first side panel, the first pair of side panel hook and loop elements gapped from one another to define a passage that is adapted for receipt and securement of a medical tube that is guided to patient's groin area from a position external to the patient; 
 a second pair of side panel hook and loop elements located on the second attachment end of the second side panel, the second pair of side panel hook and loop elements gapped from one another to define a passage that is adapted for receipt and securement of a medical tube that is guided to patient's groin area from a position external to the patient; 
 a first pair of front panel hook and loop elements located on the first attachment area of the front panel, the first pair of front panel hook and loop elements gapped from one another to define a passage that is adapted for receipt and securement of a medical tube that is guided to patient's groin area from a position external to the patient; and 
 a second pair of front panel hook and loop elements located on the second attachment area of the front panel, the second pair of front panel hook and loop elements gapped from one another to define a passage that is adapted for receipt and securement of a medical tube that is guided to patient's groin area from a position external to the patient. 
 
     
     
         4 . The medical undergarment of  claim 1  wherein the first and second pair of side panel hook and loop elements are wider than the first and second pair of front panel hook and loop elements, the first and second pair of front panel hook and loop elements being variably positioned along a width of the first and second pair of side panel hook and loop elements, respectively, for adjustable fitment to a patient while maintaining the passage that is adapted for receipt and securement of a medical tube that is guided to patient's groin area from a position external to the patient. 
     
     
         5 . A medical undergarment, comprising:
 a one-piece body comprising:   a side panel having an attachment end;   a front panel having an attachment area;   a gusset, the gusset being configured to be positioned between the legs of a patent during use; and   a loop located on an exterior surface of the one-piece body,   wherein the attachment end of the side panel is configured to be attached to the attachment area of the front panel forming a closure on an anterior portion of the one-piece body.   
     
     
         6 . The medical undergarment of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the attachment end of the side panel comprises a hook and loop pad.   
     
     
         7 . The medical undergarment of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the attachment area of the front panel comprises a hook and loop strip elongated in a substantially horizontal direction across the front panel.   
     
     
         8 . The medical undergarment of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the attachment area of the front panel comprises a plurality of hook and loop strips elongated in a substantially horizontal direction across the front panel having a gap between the plurality of hook and loop strips.   
     
     
         9 . The medical undergarment of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the gap between the plurality of hook and loop strips is configured to allow for the passage of a drainage tube and/or catheter.   
     
     
         10 . The medical undergarment of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the one-piece body further comprises an elastic waistband.   
     
     
         11 . The medical undergarment of  claim 10 , wherein the one-piece body comprises:
 a pair of side panels located bilaterally on a portion of the one-piece body including the elastic waistband.   
     
     
         12 . The medical undergarment of  claim 10 , wherein:
 there is a least one of the loops located bilaterally on an exterior surface of the one-piece body on the portion of the one-piece body including the elastic waistband.