Comfortable undergarment disposable drain lift

Abstract

Systems and methods provide for holding surgical drain evacuators in inelastic expandable pouches. Particularly, apparatuses and methods include or utilize garments for supporting and protecting surgical drain evacuators and surgical drains include straps or belts for attaching the garment to a patient. The garments include one or more expandable pouches configured to receive a surgical drain evacuator, wherein the expandable pouch is formed of a flexible inelastic material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for securing surgical drains and surgical drain evacuators about a patient, comprising:
 a base panel having a first panel side, a second panel side, an inward face, and an outward face;   a pouch fixedly attached to the outward face of the base panel and configured to receive a surgical drain evacuator through an open edge;   a flexible closure of the pouch; and   an adjustable belt attached to the first panel side using a first belt end and configured to removably attach to the second panel side using a second belt end, wherein the adjustable belt is formed in part of an elastic material and in part of a substantially inelastic material; and   a gather of the adjustable belt, wherein the gather is formed of the elastic material, and wherein the gather is disposed between two sections of the substantially inelastic material.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pouch includes an inverted box pleat formed of flexible material. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the adjustable belt includes a hook portion on an outer surface and disposed toward the second belt end, and   wherein the second panel side includes a loop portion on the inward face, wherein the loop portion is configured to mate with the hook portion.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the surgical drain; and   the surgical drain evacuator.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a belt top edge is aligned to a panel top edge. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a second pouch, wherein a first side edge of the pouch aligns against a second side edge of the second pouch. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one of the base panel and adjustable belt include a non-sensitizing material. 
     
     
         8 . A garment, comprising:
 a pouch configured to receive a surgical drain evacuator, wherein the pouch is formed at least in part by fixed attachment to a portion of a base panel;   a flexible closure of the pouch;   a strap operatively coupled to the pouch, wherein the strap is configured to attach about an anatomy of a wearer to whom the surgical drain is applied, wherein the strap is formed in part of an elastic material and in part of a substantially inelastic material; and   a gather of the strap, wherein the gather is formed of the elastic material, and wherein the gather is disposed between two sections of the substantially inelastic material.   
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 8 , wherein the strap includes a hook portion and a loop portion, and wherein the loop portion overlays an inward face of the strap. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 second strap operatively coupled to the pouch.   
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a detachable fastener coupled with one or more of the strap and the pouch, wherein the detachable fastener secures the strap and the pouch about the anatomy of the wearer when attached.   
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 8 , wherein the pouch includes an inverted box pleat formed of flexible material. 
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 8 , wherein the strap includes a slip-preventing material on a portion of an inner surface, wherein the slip preventing material includes rubber to increase friction between the strap and a wearer. 
     
     
         14 . The garment of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a safety mechanism for the surgical drain, wherein the safety mechanism is one of a hook or a clip configured to provide slack between the safety mechanism and an incision in fluid communication with the surgical drain.   
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 providing a garment, wherein the garment includes:
 a pouch configured to receive a surgical drain evacuator, wherein a back side of the pouch is a portion of a base panel, 
 a flexible closure of the pouch, 
 a strap operatively coupled to the pouch, wherein the strap is formed in part of an elastic material and in part of a substantially inelastic material, and 
 a gather of the strap, wherein the gather is formed of the elastic material, and wherein the gather is disposed between two sections of the substantially inelastic material; and 
   passing the surgical drain evacuator through the flexible closure to arrange the surgical drain evacuator in the pouch, wherein the surgical drain passes through the flexible closure to a drainage site.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 arranging the strap around anatomy of a user, wherein the drainage site is on the user; and   arranging a second strap around anatomy of the user, wherein the garment includes the second strap.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 securing the surgical drain using a safety mechanism, wherein the safety mechanism is one of a hook or clip, and wherein the safety mechanism is configured to provide slack between the safety mechanism and an incision in fluid communication with the surgical drain.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the garment includes a non-sensitizing material. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the garment includes a non-sensitizing material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the garment includes a second pouch.