Examination gown

Abstract

This system allows for the estimation of the breast position of a patient in a prone position, even while they are fully clothed. [Solution] The examination gown comprises a front panel with a front mark and a back panel with a rear mark.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an examination garment.

Background Art

[0002] Breast examinations by MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) are generally performed in the prone position (lying face down). Recently, a method for performing breast MRI examinations without using a contrast agent has been devised. With this examination method, MRI examinations can be performed while wearing the examination garment.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a medical upper garment in which the upper part of the sleeve from either the left or right shoulder and the side from the lower part of the sleeve are continuously configured to be openable. In this medical upper garment, the upper part of the sleeve from the opened shoulder and the side from the lower part of the sleeve are configured to be closable with plastic snap buttons. Patent Document 1 states that since the snap buttons are made of plastic, there is no need to change clothes for examinations that do not allow the introduction of metals such as MRI.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Generally, in breast MRI examinations, a highly sensitive examination can be performed by positioning the breast at a predetermined position of the MRI apparatus. In order to perform a highly sensitive examination, it is important to position the breast as accurately as possible at the predetermined position of the MRI apparatus. In particular, when using MRI examinations for precise examinations of the breast, such as before surgery, it is important to accurately position the breast at the predetermined position of the MRI apparatus in order to perform a highly sensitive examination.

[0006] In typical breast MRI examinations, patients often wear a front-opening examination gown and expose their breasts by opening the gown. However, this method can be embarrassing. To address this, MRI examination techniques that allow patients to remain clothed have been devised. However, with medical gowns like the one described in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to estimate the position of the patient's breasts when they are lying prone. Therefore, it may be difficult to correctly position the breasts in the predetermined position of the MRI machine, potentially making it difficult to perform high-sensitivity examinations.

[0007] One of the challenges addressed by this disclosure is to enable the estimation of the breast position of a patient in a prone position while they are still clothed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The examination gowns in this disclosure are The front of the garment has a mark on the front, It features a rear panel with a rear marking. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to this disclosure, it becomes possible to estimate the position of a patient's breasts while they are clothed and in a prone position. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is an example of a front view of an examination gown according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] This is an example of a rear view of an examination gown according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] This is an example of a front view of a person wearing an examination gown according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 4] This is an example of a rear view of a person wearing the examination gown according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 5] This figure shows a magnified view of the slit portion of the examination gown according to Embodiment 1 when it is being worn and opened. [Figure 6] This figure shows an example of the patient's condition when undergoing an MRI examination using the examination gown according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 7] This is an example of a front view of trousers according to Embodiment 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In all drawings, similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted where appropriate.

[0012] (Embodiment 1) The examination gown 100 according to Embodiment 1 is an upper garment worn by a person being examined, a person being examined, etc., for medical examinations, health checkups, etc.

[0013] Figure 1 is a front view of the examination gown 100 according to this embodiment. Figure 2 is a rear view of the examination gown 100 according to this embodiment. Figure 3 is a front view of a person wearing the examination gown 100 according to this embodiment. Figure 4 is a rear view of a person wearing the examination gown 100 according to this embodiment.

[0014] As shown in Figures 1-4, the examination gown 100 generally covers at least the upper body (excluding the arms) of the wearer when worn. The examination gown 100 may also cover part or all of the lower body of the wearer.

[0015] The examination gown 100 comprises a front panel 110 with a front mark 111 and a back panel 120 with a rear mark 121.

[0016] In this embodiment, lateral marks 124 and 125 are further provided on the back panel 120. The examination garment 100 also includes a slit 150 in the area where the front panel 110 and the back panel 120 connect at the top. The slit 150 is a portion for forming a slit SL that extends from the neck portion 140 in at least one direction, either left or right. The examination garment 100 further includes left and right sleeve portions 160 connected to the front panel 110 and the back panel 120.

[0017] The inspection gown 100 is generally configured symmetrically about the left - right center line CL, for example, except for the slit portion 150.

[0018] (Regarding the front body part 110 and the back body part 120) The front body part 110 is a part that generally covers the front of at least the upper body (excluding the arms) of the wearer when the inspection gown 100 is worn. The back body part 120 is a part that generally covers the back of at least the upper body (excluding the arms) of the wearer when the inspection gown 100 is worn.

[0019] The front body part 110 and the back body part 120 are generally left - right symmetric about the left - right center line CL, and each includes an upper chest 112, 122 and a lower part 113, 123 below the chests 112, 122.

[0020] The chests 112, 122 are a general term for the front chest 112 of the front body part 110 and the back chest 122 of the back body part 120. The lower parts 113, 123 are a general term for the front lower part 113 of the front body part 110 and the back lower part 123 of the back body part 120.

[0021] The front chest 112 generally covers the front around the ribs of the wearer when the inspection gown 100 is worn. The back chest 122 generally covers the back around the ribs of the wearer when the inspection gown 100 is worn. Therefore, the chest (front chest 112 and back chest 122) generally covers the area around the ribs of the wearer when the inspection gown 100 is worn.

[0022] The front lower part 113 is connected under the front chest 112 and generally covers the front around the area below the ribs of the wearer when the inspection gown 100 is worn. The back lower part 123 is connected under the back chest 122 and generally covers the back around the area below the ribs of the wearer when the inspection gown 100 is worn. Therefore, the front lower part 113 and the back lower part 123 generally cover the area around the part below the ribs of the wearer when the inspection gown 100 is worn.

[0023] The front chest portion 112, front lower portion 113, back chest portion 122, and back lower portion 123 may be integrally constructed from, for example, a series of pieces of fabric. The front chest portion 112, front lower portion 113, back chest portion 122, and back lower portion 123 may be constructed separately, at least in part, by sewing together a different piece of fabric from the other parts.

[0024] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1 for example, the front chest portion 112 and the front lower portion 113 are made of separate pieces of fabric and are connected by a connecting portion (boundary line) FL.

[0025] The fabric constituting the front chest portion 112 (i.e., the chest portion of the front body 110) may be thicker than the fabric constituting the front lower portion 113 (i.e., the lower portion of the front body 110). There are various ways to make the fabric constituting the front chest portion 112 thicker than the fabric constituting the front lower portion 113. For example, the chest portion 112 may be made of multiple layers of fabric, such as a double layer, while the front lower portion 113 may be made of a single layer of fabric, or a fabric with fewer layers than the chest portion 112. Alternatively, for example, the chest portion 112 and the front lower portion 113 may be made of fabrics of different thicknesses.

[0026] The examination gown 100 is sometimes worn directly against the skin without underwear or other clothing. In such cases, if the front chest area 112 is thin, the protrusion of the nipple may become clearly visible from the outside, potentially causing embarrassment and discomfort to the wearer. By making the fabric of the front chest area 112 thicker than the fabric of the front lower area 113, the nipple can be recognized to the extent that its approximate position can be estimated, while the possibility of nipple protrusion can be reduced. Therefore, it becomes possible to improve the comfort of the examination gown 100.

[0027] In this embodiment, the back bodice 120 may be made of a single piece of fabric. In this case, the boundary line RL shown in Figure 3 may be a hypothetical line indicating the boundary between the back chest area 122 and the lower back area 123.

[0028] (Regarding front mark 111 and rear mark 121) The front panel 110 is provided with a front mark 111. The front mark 111 is positioned so that the wearer can be seen from the front when wearing the examination gown 100. The examiner can estimate the position of the wearer's nipple relative to the front mark 111 (i.e., the relative positional relationship between the front mark 111 and the wearer's nipple) by looking at the wearer from the front.

[0029] Here, the examiner is a person who performs an examination on a person wearing an examination gown 100, such as a doctor or technician.

[0030] The back panel 120 is provided with a rear mark 121. The rear mark 121 is positioned so that the wearer can be seen from behind when wearing the examination gown 100. The examiner can estimate the position of the wearer's nipples by looking at the wearer from behind, based on the estimated position of the wearer's nipples relative to the front mark 111 and the positional relationship between the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121.

[0031] The shapes of the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121 are, for example, dots. However, the shapes of the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121 are not limited to dots; they may also be short lines, squares, X shapes, or other appropriate shapes.

[0032] The front mark 111 and the rear mark 121 may each be placed in a predetermined position by an appropriate method such as printing, weaving, or embroidery. That is, the positions of the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121 on the front bodice 110 and the back bodice 120 are fixed.

[0033] For example, the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121 are located on the chest 112 and 122. That is, the front mark 111 is located on the front chest 112, and the rear mark 121 is located on the back chest 122. The front mark 111 and the rear mark 121 may also be located on the lower part 113 and 123.

[0034] For example, the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121 are each located on the left-right centerline CL. However, the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121 may be located elsewhere than on the left-right centerline CL.

[0035] For example, there may be multiple front marks 111 and multiple rear marks 121. For example, the front marks 111 and multiple rear marks 121 may be arranged vertically on the left-right center line CL. The spacing between multiple front marks 111 and the spacing between multiple rear marks 121 may be the same. Here, "same" means substantially the same, including cases where there are differences due to manufacturing errors, for example. The spacing between multiple front marks 111 may also be the spacing between adjacent front marks 111. The spacing between multiple rear marks 121 may also be the spacing between adjacent rear marks 121. Note that at least one of the front marks 111 and the rear marks 121 may be just one.

[0036] For example, the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121 may be positioned differently in the vertical direction on the left-right center line CL. The rear mark 121 may be positioned lower than the front mark 111 when the examination garment 100 is viewed from the front. In other words, the length from the reference position RP to the rear mark 121 may be longer than the length from the reference position RP to the front mark 111.

[0037] Furthermore, the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121 may be in the same vertical position (for example, the distance from the reference position RP to the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121). If there are multiple front marks 111 or rear marks 121, their positions may be predetermined positions with respect to the front mark 111 or rear mark 121, for example, the position of the uppermost mark 111 or 121, or a position midway between the uppermost and lowermost marks 111 or 121.

[0038] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1-4, for example, there are two front marks 111 and two rear marks 121.

[0039] In detail, the upper front mark 111 is provided at a predetermined position from the reference position RP, when the upper end of the front body 110 on the left-right center line CL is taken as the reference position. The lower front mark 111 may be provided along the left-right center line CL, 4.0 cm to 5.0 cm (preferably 4.5 cm) below the upper front mark 111. The dimensions described are preferred examples, and the dimensions of each part of the inspection garment 100 according to this disclosure are not limited to the dimensions described herein. The same applies to the dimensions described below.

[0040] The predetermined position may vary depending on the overall size of the examination gown 100, for example, 20cm to 21cm (preferably 20.5cm) or 24cm to 25cm (preferably 24.2cm) below the reference position along the left-right center line CL.

[0041] The specific position of the front mark 111 is not limited to the example described above. For example, the predetermined position and the spacing between the upper and lower front marks 111 may be changed as appropriate.

[0042] By placing the front marks 111 in this position, when the examination gown 100 is worn, the wearer's nipples are often positioned between the upper and lower front marks 111 in the vertical direction. Therefore, by viewing the wearer from the front when they are wearing the examination gown 100, the position of the wearer's nipples relative to the front marks 111 can be estimated.

[0043] The upper and lower rear marks 121 are, for example, located about 1.0 cm below the upper and lower front marks 111 along the left-right centerline CL from the reference position RP. That is, the upper rear mark 121 is, for example, located 21 cm to 22 cm (preferably 21.5 cm) or 25 cm to 26 cm (preferably 25.2 cm) below the reference position along the left-right centerline CL. The distance between the upper and lower rear marks 121 may be the same as the distance between the upper and lower front marks 111, and the lower rear mark 121 is, for example, located 4.0 cm to 5.0 cm (preferably 4.5 cm) below the upper rear mark 121 along the left-right centerline CL.

[0044] The specific position of the rear mark 121 is not limited to the example described above. For example, the vertical positional relationship of the rear mark 121 to the front mark 111 is not limited to the approximately 1.0 cm downward position described above, but may be changed as appropriate. Also, for example, the spacing between the upper and lower rear marks 121 may differ from the spacing between the upper and lower front marks 111.

[0045] Thus, when the examination gown 100 is worn, a rear mark 121 is provided along with the front mark 111, which is visible when the wearer is viewed from behind. This allows the position of the wearer's nipples to be estimated when viewed from behind (back side) of the wearer, based on the position of the wearer's nipples estimated as described above in relation to the front mark 111, and the relative positional relationship between the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121.

[0046] Furthermore, the rear mark 121 is positioned lower than the front mark 111, as described above. This makes it easier to bring the vertical positions of the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121 closer together when the examination gown 100 is worn, compared to when the rear mark 121 and the front mark 111 are positioned at the same vertical location when the garment is not worn, making it easier to grasp the relative positional relationship between the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121. Consequently, it becomes easier to estimate the position of the wearer's nipples by viewing them from the rear (back) of the wearer.

[0047] In particular, by positioning the rear mark 121 approximately 1.0 cm lower than the front mark 111, the vertical positions of the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121 can often be made roughly the same when the examination gown 100 is worn. Consequently, it becomes even easier to estimate the position of the wearer's nipples by viewing them from the rear (back) of the wearer.

[0048] Furthermore, there may be three or more front marks 111 and rear marks 121. In this case, it is preferable that the uppermost front mark 111 and the lowermost front mark 111 are positioned so that the vertical position of the nipple of a person wearing the examination gown 100 is between them. The front marks 111 and rear marks 121 may be in different vertical positions, such as the rear marks 121 being positioned lower than the front marks 111, or they may be in the same vertical position.

[0049] Because there are individual differences in breast thickness (thickness in the front-to-back direction between the nipple and the back), the vertical positional relationship between the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121 and the wearer's nipple may differ depending on the wearer when wearing the examination gown 100. By providing multiple (preferably the same number) front marks 111 and rear marks 121, the examiner can determine the position of the wearer's nipple using the front mark 111 and rear mark 121 that are easiest to estimate (for example, the front mark 111 and rear mark 121 that are closest to the wearer's nipple). Therefore, it becomes easier to estimate the position of the wearer's nipple.

[0050] (Regarding side markings 124 and 125) The back panel 120 is further provided with lateral marks 124 and 125 at positions different from the left-right center line CL. The lateral marks 124 and 125 are positioned so that, for example, when the examination gown 100 is worn, the wearer with their arms raised (bent) can be seen from the side. Based on the estimated position of the wearer's nipple relative to the front mark 111 and the positional relationship between the front mark 111 and the lateral marks 124 and 125, the examiner can estimate the position of the wearer's nipple by looking at the wearer from the side.

[0051] The lateral marks 124 and 125 are provided on the left and right sides, respectively, via the left-right center line CL, and are provided symmetrically on both sides via the left-right center line CL. Each of the lateral marks 124 and 125 is constructed similarly. Below, an example of the configuration of the lateral mark 124 is described, but the configuration of the lateral mark 124 may also be applied to the lateral mark 125. Note that the left and right lateral marks 124 and 125 do not necessarily have to be provided symmetrically.

[0052] The lateral mark 124 is positioned, for example, behind the mid-axillary line of the wearer when the examination gown 100 is worn. More specifically, the lateral mark 124 is positioned approximately 10 cm behind the mid-axillary line of the wearer. For example, the lateral mark 124 may be positioned offset from the left edge of the back panel 120 toward the left-right center line CL, and the amount of this offset may be, for example, approximately 10 cm.

[0053] The position of the lateral mark 124 is not limited to the example described above. The lateral mark 124 may be positioned to the side of the midaxillary line of the wearer when the examination gown 100 is worn.

[0054] The shape of the side mark 124 is, for example, a short line. However, the shape of the side mark 124 is not limited to a short line; it may also be a dot, a square, an X, or any other appropriate shape.

[0055] The side mark 124 may be provided at a predetermined position by an appropriate method such as printing, weaving, or embroidery. In other words, the position of the side mark 124 on the back bodice 120 is fixed.

[0056] For example, there may be multiple side marks 124. For example, the side marks 124 may be arranged vertically. For example, the spacing between side marks 124 may be the same as the spacing between multiple rear marks 121. The spacing between side marks 124 may also be the spacing between adjacent side marks 124. Note that there may be only one side mark 124. If there are multiple side marks 124, they may not be arranged vertically, but may be placed at different positions horizontally. The spacing between multiple side marks 124 may be different from the spacing between multiple rear marks 121.

[0057] For example, the lateral mark 124 is located on the chest (rear chest 122). Alternatively, the lateral mark 124 may be located on the lower part (rear lower part 123).

[0058] For example, the lateral mark 124 is located in a different vertical position than the rear mark 121. As shown in Figure 3, for example, the lateral mark 124 is located lower than the rear mark 121 when the examination garment 100 is viewed from the rear. In other words, the vertical length from the reference position RP to the lateral mark 124 may be longer than the vertical length from the reference position RP to the front mark 111.

[0059] Furthermore, the lateral mark 124 and the rear mark 121 may be in the same vertical position (for example, the vertical distance from the reference position RP to the lateral mark 124 and the rear mark 121, respectively).

[0060] In this embodiment, for example, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, two lateral marks 124 are provided on each side.

[0061] In detail, for example, the upper and lower lateral marks 124 are positioned approximately 10.5 cm below the upper and lower rear marks 121, respectively, when the examination garment 100 is viewed from the rear, as shown in Figure 3. That is, for example, the upper lateral mark 124 is 10.5 cm below the position of the upper rear mark 121, and similarly, the lower lateral mark 124 is 10.5 cm below the position of the lower rear mark 121. The spacing between the upper and lower lateral marks 124 may be the same as the spacing between the upper and lower rear marks 121, and the lower lateral mark 124 is positioned 4.5 cm below the upper lateral mark 124.

[0062] The specific position of the lateral mark 124 is not limited to the example described above. For example, the vertical positional relationship of the lateral mark 124 to the rear mark 121 is not limited to approximately 10.5 cm below as described above, but may be changed as appropriate. Also, for example, the spacing between the upper and lower lateral marks 124 may differ from the spacing between the upper and lower rear marks 121.

[0063] Thus, when the examination gown 100 is worn, a lateral mark 124 is provided along with the lateral mark 111, which is visible when the wearer has their arms raised (flexed). This allows the position of the wearer's nipple to be estimated when viewed from the side of the wearer, based on the position of the wearer's nipple estimated as described above in relation to the lateral mark 111, and the relative positional relationship between the lateral mark 124 and the lateral mark 111.

[0064] Furthermore, if, for example, the lateral mark 124 and the rear mark 121 are in the same vertical position when the person is not wearing clothing, then when the person wearing the examination gown 100 raises their arms (flexes their arms), the vertical positional difference between the lateral mark 124 and the rear mark 121 will increase. In contrast, if the lateral mark 124 is positioned lower than the rear mark 121, as in this embodiment, the vertical positions of the lateral mark 124 and the rear mark 121 can be easily brought closer when the person wearing the examination gown 100 raises their arms (flexes their arms). This makes it easier to grasp the relative positional relationship between the lateral mark 124 and the rear mark 121. Consequently, it becomes easier to estimate the position of the person's nipples by viewing them from the side.

[0065] In particular, by positioning the lateral mark 124 approximately 10.5 cm below the posterior mark 121, when the wearer raises their arm (flexes their arm) while wearing the examination gown 100, the vertical positions of the lateral mark 124 and the posterior mark 121 are often roughly the same. Therefore, it becomes even easier to estimate the position of the wearer's nipples by viewing them from the side.

[0066] Furthermore, when the examination gown 100 is worn, the lateral mark 124 is positioned behind the mid-axillary line of the wearer. This makes it easier to see the lateral mark 124 from the side, even when the wearer is in a prone position for an MRI examination or the like. Therefore, it becomes easy to estimate the position of the nipple of a wearer in a prone position by viewing it from the side of the wearer.

[0067] Furthermore, there may be three or more lateral marks 124. For example, by having multiple (preferably the same number) front marks 111 and lateral marks 124 as described above, the examiner can determine the position of the wearer's nipples using the front marks 111 and lateral marks 124 that are easiest to estimate the position of the wearer's nipples (for example, the front marks 111 and lateral marks 124 that are closest to the wearer's nipples). Thus, it becomes easier to estimate the position of the wearer's nipples.

[0068] (Regarding the slit section 150) The slit portion 150 is provided, for example, in the portion where the front bodice 110 and the back bodice 120 are connected at the upper right.

[0069] Figure 5 is a magnified view of the slit portion 150 in the open state when the examination gown 100 according to this embodiment is worn. When open, the slit portion 150 forms a slit SL extending to the right from, for example, the neck portion 140. The neck portion 140 is the part that surrounds the wearer's neck when the examination gown 100 is worn, and forms a hole through which the wearer's head and neck are inserted.

[0070] The slit portion 150 may be provided in place of, or together with, the portion where the front body 110 and the back body 120 connect at the upper left side.

[0071] The slit portion 150 includes a detachable locking member 153. The locking member 153 is, for example, a snap button, but is not limited to these, and may also be a hook-and-loop fastener, for example.

[0072] In detail, for example, the slit portion 150 includes overlapping surface portions 151 and 152 that can overlap each other. A locking member 153 is provided on each of the overlapping surface portions 151 and 152. When the locking member 153 is locked, the slit portion 150 is closed. By releasing the locking member 153, the slit portions 150 separate from each other and open up, forming a slit SL.

[0073] By providing such a slit 150, the examination gown 100 can be put on and taken off with the slit 150 open. This reduces the possibility that the neck portion 140 may come into contact with the hair or face when putting on or taking off the examination gown 100, potentially causing damage to hairstyle, makeup, etc.

[0074] The material of the locking member 153 is, for example, a non-magnetic material. This reduces the possibility of artifacts (false images), burns, etc. occurring during MRI examinations, etc.

[0075] (Regarding sleeve section 160) Each of the left and right sleeve sections 160 is connected to the front bodice 110 and the back bodice 120. For example, the shoulder width may be longer than the standard size, for example, by about 9 to 11 cm. The shoulder width is the length from either end of the neck section 140 to the shoulder point (upper end of the armhole) of the armhole closest to that end. The standard size is the dimensions of each part as defined by the JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) standard, and the same applies below.

[0076] The body width may be larger than the standard size, for example, by 25cm to 35cm (12.5cm to 17.5cm when measured flat), in order to position the breast without stress on the coil of the MRI scanner. With such dimensions, the position of the armhole base (lower end of the armhole) according to the standard size may make it difficult to raise the arm, potentially making it unsuitable for examination. Therefore, the position of the armhole base may be higher than the position according to the JIS standard, for example, by 22cm to 24cm above the shoulder position of the armhole.

[0077] As will be discussed later, MRI examinations and other procedures sometimes require the wearer to raise their arms (flex their arms) during the examination. By lengthening the shoulder position of the armhole, increasing the width of the garment, and raising the position of the bottom of the armhole, the wearer can comfortably raise their arms without being pulled by the armpits of the examination garment 100, and, for example, the breasts can be placed on the coil of the MRI machine without stress. This makes it easier for the wearer to maintain a raised (flexed) arm position, preventing a decrease in examination accuracy due to the wearer's arm movements.

[0078] (How to use) The examination gown 100 is suitable for MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) examinations to examine breast lesions such as breast cancer. In breast MRI examinations, it is desirable to position the breast as accurately as possible in a predetermined position on the MRI device (MRI scanner) in order to perform a highly sensitive examination. This embodiment describes an example of performing an MRI examination using the examination gown 100.

[0079] Furthermore, the examination gown 100 may be used for examinations other than MRI. The examination gown 100 is also suitable for other examinations performed in a prone position, such as PET-CT (positron emission computed tomography) of the breast.

[0080] The person undergoing an MRI or similar examination (clothed person) wears an examination gown 100. The examiner observes the person wearing the examination gown 100 from the front (see, for example, Figure 3) and estimates the position of the person's nipple relative to the front mark 111.

[0081] The examiner then observes the person wearing the garment from behind (see, for example, Figure 4) to understand the relative positional relationship between the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121. At this time, it is desirable to make the left-right and up-down positions of the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121 approximately the same by pulling on the hem of the examination garment 100, etc. This makes it possible to make the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121 approximately coincide in the front-back direction (or position them close to each other).

[0082] The examiner may have the person wearing the garment raise (flex) their arms to determine the relative positional relationship between the front mark 111 and the side marks 124 and 125. However, if the rear mark 121 and the side marks 124 and 125 are positioned such that their vertical positions are approximately the same when the examination garment 100 is worn, the step of determining the relative positional relationship between the front mark 111 and the side marks 124 and 125 may be omitted.

[0083] Figure 6 shows an example of the patient's position when undergoing an MRI examination using the examination gown 100. Figure 6 shows a person wearing the examination gown 100 lying prone on the MRI examination device P. In this figure, the person undergoing the MRI examination is lying prone with their breasts positioned in the designated area on the MRI examination device P. The person's arms are flexed.

[0084] The rear mark 121 of the examination gown 100 worn by the person wearing it is visible from the back side of the examination gown 100 (the rear when using the direction shown in Figures 1-4).

[0085] This allows the examiner to estimate the position of the wearer's nipples from the wearer's back, based on the previously estimated position of the wearer's nipples relative to the front mark 111 and the previously known relative positional relationship between the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121. Therefore, it becomes possible to estimate the position of the examinee's breasts while they are clothed and in a prone position.

[0086] For example, the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121 are located on the chest area 112 and 122. This allows the positions of the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121 to be close together when viewed from the back (rear when using the directions shown in Figures 1-4). This makes it easier to understand the relative positional relationship between the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121. Consequently, it becomes possible to easily estimate the position of the patient's breasts while they are clothed in a prone position.

[0087] Furthermore, for example, the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121 are positioned on the left-right center line CL. This allows the positions of the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121 to be close together when viewed from the back (rear when using the directions shown in Figures 1-4). This makes it easier to understand the relative positional relationship between the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121. Consequently, it becomes possible to easily estimate the position of the patient's breasts while they are clothed in a prone position.

[0088] Furthermore, for example, there are multiple front marks 111 and multiple rear marks 121, which are arranged vertically on the left-right centerline CL. The spacing between multiple front marks 111 is the same as the spacing between multiple rear marks 121.

[0089] This allows the examiner to determine the position of the clothed person's nipples using the frontal and rearal marks 111 and 121, which make it easier to estimate the nipple position. Consequently, it becomes easier to estimate the position of the breast of a patient in a prone position while they are clothed.

[0090] Furthermore, for example, the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121 are located at different positions in the vertical direction. This allows the positions of the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121 to be closer when viewed from the back (rear when using the directions shown in Figures 1-4) while wearing the examination gown 100. This makes it easier to understand the relative positional relationship between the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121. Consequently, it becomes possible to easily estimate the position of the patient's breasts while they are clothed in a prone position.

[0091] Furthermore, the lateral mark 125 on the examination gown 100 worn by the person wearing it is visible from the side of the examination gown 100 (the right side when using the directions shown in Figures 1-4). Although not shown in Figure 6, the lateral mark 124 is also visible.

[0092] This allows the examiner to estimate the position of the clothed person's nipples from the side of the clothed person, based on the previously estimated position of the clothed person's nipples relative to the front mark 111 and the lateral mark 124 or 125. In this case, if the relative positional relationship between the front mark 111 and the lateral mark 124 or 125 is known in advance, this positional relationship may be used. In this way, it becomes possible to estimate the position of the breast of a patient in a prone position while they are clothed.

[0093] Here, as described above, by roughly aligning the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121 in the front-to-back direction, the positional relationship between the front mark 111 and the wearer's nipple and the positional relationship between the rear mark 121 and the wearer's nipple can be roughly aligned (or positioned close together). In other words, the amount by which the wearer's nipple is shifted in the up, down, left, and right directions relative to the front mark 111 and the rear mark 121 will be roughly the same.

[0094] Therefore, based on the estimated position of the wearer's nipple relative to the anterior mark 111, it becomes easier to estimate the position of the wearer's nipple relative to the posterior mark 121. Consequently, it becomes possible to easily estimate the position of the breast of a patient in a prone position while they are still clothed.

[0095] (Embodiment 2) The examination gown according to Embodiment 2 comprises a jacket and trousers 220 as shown in Figure 7. The jacket may be configured similarly to the examination gown 100 according to Embodiment 1. The jacket includes, for example, a front panel 110 and a back panel 120, as described in Embodiment 1.

[0096] Trousers 220 generally cover the lower half of the wearer's body (excluding the feet) when wearing an examination gown. The length of trousers 220 may be changed as appropriate.

[0097] The trousers 220 include a waist portion 221 positioned around the wearer's abdomen. The waist portion 221 is provided with a waist drawstring 222 for securing its position around the abdomen. A portion of the waist drawstring 222 (excluding both ends 222a, 222b) is inserted into the waist portion 221. The waist portion 221 includes at least one opening that exposes both ends 222a, 222b of the waist drawstring 222 to the outside. This at least one opening is positioned offset to the left or right from the left-right center line CL.

[0098] Figure 7 shows two examples of holes 223a and 223b. In detail, the waist portion 221 includes a hole 223a that exposes one end 222a of the waist string 222 to the outside, and a hole 223b that exposes the other end 222b of the waist string 222 to the outside. As a result, one end 222a and the other end 222b of the waist string 222 are exposed to the outside through holes 223a and 223b, respectively. This allows the one end 222a and the other end 222b to be tied together, and the waist portion 221 can be roughly fixed around the wearer's abdomen.

[0099] The holes 223a and 223b are positioned offset from the left-right center line CL in either the left or right direction. That is, both holes 223a and 223b may be positioned offset to the left of the left-right center line CL, or they may be positioned offset to the right of the left-right center line CL.

[0100] Furthermore, one end 222a and the other end 222b of the waist tie 222 may be exposed to the outside through a single hole. In this case, the one end 222a and the other end 222b can be tied together to generally secure the waist portion 221 around the wearer's abdomen. In this case, the single hole may be located offset to the left or right from the left-right center line CL.

[0101] When an examination of a person wearing an examination gown 100 is performed in a prone position, for example as shown in Figure 6, the knots at one end 222a and the other end 222b are positioned between the person's abdomen and the MRI examination device P, etc.

[0102] If at least one hole is located roughly on the left-right centerline CL, the knot may press strongly against the abdomen of the wearer when they are lying prone on an MRI scanner P, potentially causing pain, pressure, and discomfort. Furthermore, if the wearer moves during the examination due to pain or pressure, this movement may reduce the accuracy of the examination.

[0103] In this embodiment, at least one hole is provided at a position offset from the left-right center line CL in either the left or right direction. If there are multiple holes, as described above, all holes are provided at positions offset from the left-right center line CL in either the left or right direction.

[0104] This reduces the pressure the knot exerts on the wearer's abdomen when they are lying prone on an MRI scanner P, thereby reducing the pain and pressure mentioned above and improving comfort. Furthermore, it reduces the likelihood of the wearer moving during the examination, potentially improving the accuracy of the examination.

[0105] Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. Various modifications to the structure and details of the present disclosure can be made as can be understood by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, each embodiment can be combined with other embodiments as appropriate. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0106] 100,200 examination gowns CL Left and right center line RP reference position 110 Front 111 Front Mark FL connection point (boundary line) 112 Pronotum 113 Front Lower 120 Back view 121 Rear Mark RL border 122 Posterior chest 123 Rear lower part 124,125 Side markings 140 Neck section 150 Slit section SL Slit 151,152 Superimposed surface part 153 Locking member 160 sleeve part 220 trousers 221 Waist area 222 Waist drawstring 222a, 222b end Acupoints 223a, 223b

Claims

1. The front of the garment has a mark on the front, It features a rear panel with a rear mark. Examination gown.

2. The aforementioned front mark and rear mark are located on the chest. The examination gown according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned front mark and rear mark are each located on the left-right centerline. The examination garment according to claim 1 or 2.

4. Each of the aforementioned front marks and rear marks consists of multiple marks, which are arranged vertically along the left-right center line. The spacing between the multiple forward marks and the spacing between the multiple rear marks are the same. The examination gown according to claim 3.

5. The front mark and the rear mark are located in different positions in the vertical direction. The examination gown according to claim 3.

6. The aforementioned back panel also has side marks positioned at locations different from the aforementioned left-right center line. The aforementioned side mark and the aforementioned rear mark are positioned differently in the vertical direction. The examination gown according to claim 3.

7. The system further comprises left and right sleeves connected to the front and back panels, The shoulder width is longer than the dimensions specified in the JIS standard. The width of the garment is larger than the dimensions specified by the JIS standard. The position of the bottom of the pot is higher than the position specified in the JIS standard. The examination gown according to claim 6.

8. The aforementioned front body includes the chest area and the lower part below the chest area. The fabric that makes up the chest area of ​​the front bodice is thicker than the fabric that makes up the lower part. The examination gown according to claim 2.

9. The portion where the front and back panels connect at the top includes a slit portion for forming a slit extending from the neck in at least one direction, either left or right. The slit portion includes a detachable locking member. The examination garment according to claim 1 or 2.

10. The material of the locking member is a nonmagnetic material. The examination gown according to claim 9.

11. A garment including the aforementioned front panel and the aforementioned back panel, The garment comprises trousers including a waistband with a drawstring for securing the position around the abdomen, The waist portion includes at least one hole that exposes both ends of the waist string inserted inside to the outside. The aforementioned at least one hole is located at a position offset from the left-right center line in either the left or right direction. The examination garment according to claim 1 or 2.

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