Article of clothing for surgical patients

Abstract

Article of clothing for post mastectomy surgery that has, one or two breast prosthesis pockets with breast prosthesis, and one or more removable drain pocket portions, and adapted to be easily removable from a patient's body and reduce or otherwise prevent irritation.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is related to and claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 980,216 filed Apr. 16, 2014, entitled ARTICLE OF CLOTHING FOR MASTECTOMY PATIENTS, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to an article of clothing, and more in particularly to an article of clothing for post mastectomy surgery.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Immediately following a mastectomy surgery being either unilateral or bilateral, patients are placed into bras that purport to be formed of compression material for reducing swelling. It has been found, however, that the current postoperative bras provided to patients post operation are not formed of true compression material. Because the current postoperative bras are not true compression material, the bras have been found to cause damage to the patients' skin integrity. In addition, the current postoperativ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]According to an embodiment of the present invention, a principal object is to provide a post mastectomy garment with soft edges and surfaces to prevent irritation to the chest wall post mastectomy surgery, heart surgery, as well as other types of surgeries.

[0028]According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, use of one or two breast prosthesis at varying vertical heights / positions allows the user and / or operator to adjust the symmetry of the wearer. The symmetry is particularly important following a unilateral mastectomy.

Problems solved by technology

It has been found, however, that the current postoperative bras provided to patients post operation are not formed of true compression material.

Because the current postoperative bras are not true compression material, the bras have been found to cause damage to the patients' skin integrity.

In addition, the current postoperative bras are restrictive causing patients immense discomfort and pain, without the intended benefit of decreased swelling.

In many cases, mastectomy patients have limited function to their upper extremities making it difficult for the patient to enter and exit the current postoperative mastectomy bras because the current bras require patients to lift their arms upwards for entry and exit thereof.

Furthermore, patients are not supposed to lift their arms for a period of time following a mastectomy surgery.

It has been observed that the removal of the lymph nodes during the mastectomy surgery increases patients' sensitivity to raising and lowering their arms, and makes entry and exit to the postoperative bra particularly more difficult and painful.

However, the current postoperative bras are not properly fitted and too constricting, in addition to the fact that they are not truly a compression material.

These shortcomings, notably present in the current postoperative mastectomy bras, are characterized by the difficulty they present to patients due to the lack of comfort and the medical complications caused by the aforementioned compression and compromised skin.

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