Skin Marker Exposing Garment

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a garment for exposing skin markers on a patient receiving a medical procedure using a medical device, which requires alignment to those skin markers. The skin markers are exposed through windows in the garment, which are aligned with locations on a human body where skin markers are typically placed. The windows may be open areas on the garments without any material, or comprise a sheer mesh or transparent material, or other see-through material, or the like. The remainder of the garment is attractive and fashionable and conceals private areas on a patient. Some embodiments are underwear, while other embodiments, such as pants or yoga pants, can be worn as regular clothing. Additionally, some versions provide protection from incontinence by using absorbent material, and may be reusable or disposable.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not ApplicableSTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not ApplicableREFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX[0003]Not ApplicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention[0004]The present invention is in the technical field of clothing. More particularly, the preferred embodiments of the present invention relate generally to garments. More particularly, the preferred embodiments of the present invention relate generally to garments for medical procedures. More particularly, the preferred embodiments of the present invention relate generally to garments for medical procedures, which protect the privacy of a patient. More particularly, the preferred embodiments of the present invention relate generally to garments for medical procedures, which may be reusable and / or disposable, protect the privacy of a patient, and provide incontinence aid. More partic...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]The Skin Marker Exposing Garment was developed in part to provide a garment for exposing skin markers on a patient receiving a medical procedure using a medical device, which aligns to the skin markers, while protecting that patient from humiliation and embarrassment during the medical procedure. In broad embodiment, the present invention relates to a garment for exposing skin markers on a patient receiving a medical procedure using a medical device, which requires alignment to those skin markers. The skin markers are exposed through one or more windows in the garment, which are aligned with locations on a human body where skin markers are typically placed, such as the waist and sides near the midsection of the body or the middle and sides of the chest. The windows are large enough to expose an area, which substantially encompasses all or most of the variations of skin marker placement on the human body depending on the type of cancer and body type of the individual, while still maintaining the privacy of the patient by not exposing their private areas, and the manufacturability of the Skin Marker Exposing Garment is facilitated by the fact that this window sizing covers a range of skin marker placements. The windows may be open areas on the garments without any material, or comprise a sheer mesh or transparent material, or other see-through material, or the like. The remainder of the garment is attractive and fashionable and conceals private areas on a patient. The Skin Marker Exposing Garment can be adapted to any existing form-fitting garment or undergarment. Some embodiments are underwear, while other embodiments, such as pants or yoga pants, can be worn as regular clothing. Additionally, some versions provide protection from incontinence by using absorbent material, and may be reusable or disposable. In some embodiments, borders arounds the windows on the garments may further facilitate coarse alignment of a medical device to the skin markers on the patient.

Problems solved by technology

With some of the most prevalent cancers, such as prostate cancer, colon cancer, rectum cancer, and breast cancer, as well as with other diseases, diagnosis and treatment involves quite invasive procedures, which sacrifice personal privacy.

This lack of personal privacy creates more mental stresses, which can impede treatment and recovery.

When patients strip down, they may experience humiliation or suffer embarrassment from being unclothed in front of clothed medical personnel, which can negatively affect the patients' mood and attitude.

Each time they undress, they are left feeling vulnerable and exposed, and with a loss of dignity which cannot be avoided.

Couple this embarrassing exposure with the already immense amount of stress triggered by a cancer diagnosis, and it is a recipe for greater depression and anxiety which can negatively affect the success of treatment.

Moreover, patients who suffer incontinence experience further potential embarrassment and humiliation because they are unable to wear diapers that would cover fiducial tattoos, which provide protection from accidents resulting from their incontinence.

These accidents not only expose a patient to unnecessary, and perhaps preventable shame, they can also contaminate or damage expensive equipment.

Therefore, the challenge presented is to develop a means of protecting a patient with skin markers from humiliation and embarrassment during a medical procedure, while simultaneously exposing the skin markers for measurement by a medical device.

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