Selectively Openable Gown Sleeve for Controlled Arm Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical gowns with sleeves do not provide adequate access to a patient's arm for medical procedures while maintaining dignity, as they either require full opening or lack flexibility in access.

Innovation Solution

A selectively openable gown sleeve design featuring a terminal edge with a combination of linear and curved portions, equipped with snap fasteners that allow for partial or full access to the arm without completely opening the sleeve, enabling medical professionals to access the arm without compromising patient coverage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the sleeve is fully opened to access the patient's arm, then medical procedures can be performed, but patient dignity and coverage are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to patient's armVSAvoidpatient dignity and coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sleeve is divided into multiple segments or panels that can be independently opened or closed. This segmentation allows medical professionals to access specific areas of the patient's arm without exposing the entire arm or other body parts, thus maintaining patient dignity while enabling necessary medical procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sleeve incorporates dynamic fastening elements (such as snap fasteners, Velcro, or zippers) that allow the sleeve to transition between closed and partially open states. This dynamic capability enables controlled access to the patient's arm, allowing the sleeve to adapt to different procedural needs while maintaining coverage when access is not required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the sleeve is designed with fasteners for selective opening, then controlled access is enabled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveselective access controlVSAvoidsleeve structure with fasteners

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening system is designed to serve multiple functions: it can fully close the sleeve for patient coverage, partially open it for procedural access, and be quickly adjusted during procedures. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for different access levels, thereby limiting the increase in complexity while maximizing adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11547160B2Gown with selectively openable sleeve

Publication Date: 2023.01.10 MEDLINE INDUSTRIES

AI summary

A garment (300) includes a body-covering portion (301). A sleeve (100) is attached to the body-covering portion at a seam (310) and extends to a terminal edge (102) defining a first linear portion (104), a second linear portion (105), and a curved portion (106) spanning the first linear portion and the second linear portion. A first fastener (107) is coupled to the first linear portion on an interior side (201) of the terminal edge, while a second fastener (108) is coupled to the second linear portion on an exterior side (101) of the terminal edge. A third fastener (212) is coupled to the seam on an exterior side of the seam, while a fourth fastener (211) coupled to the seam on an interior side of the seam.