Waterproof Shower Shirt with Drain Pockets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing garments fail to effectively protect post-surgical patients with drain tubes, bulbs, and other medical devices from water during showering or bathing, increasing the risk of surgical site infections and limiting their ability to bathe or shower post-surgery.
Innovation Solution
A waterproof shower shirt with internal pockets and drain tube loops or straps to support and keep medical devices in place, preventing water from entering surgical sites while providing structural support for the weight of these devices, made from materials like plastic, nylon, or parachute fabric with elastic edges and additional sealing features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional garments are worn during showering, then the patient can maintain basic hygiene, but the surgical sites and medical devices are exposed to water increasing infection risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a waterproof shower shirt made from flexible waterproof material that creates a barrier between water and the surgical sites. The shirt completely covers the torso and extends over the shoulders to protect all surgical areas including mastectomy sites, drain insertion sites, and incisions while allowing the patient to shower safely.
Solution Approach 2:
The shower shirt incorporates separate protective components including waterproof dressings for surgical sites, drain pouches with barriers for medical devices, and waterproof material sections strategically placed to protect specific vulnerable areas. This segmentation ensures comprehensive protection while maintaining flexibility and comfort.
2Ease of operation
If drain tubes and medical devices are left exposed during showering, then the patient can bathe freely, but the devices are vulnerable to water damage and infection
Solution Approach 1:
The shower shirt integrates nested protective elements including waterproof dressings positioned within the shirt structure, drain pouches attached to the garment, and waterproof barriers layered over surgical sites. These nested components work together to provide comprehensive protection while maintaining the patient's ability to bathe freely.
3Reliability
If the shower shirt includes pockets and loops to support medical devices, then device stability is improved, but the garment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shower shirt incorporates multi-functional elements such as pockets that serve both as storage and as support structures for drain bulbs and medical devices. The elastic bands and loops are designed to accommodate various device sizes and types, providing universal support functionality while maintaining a relatively simple overall garment structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A shower shirt has waterproof seals at its neck opening, arm openings and shirt bottom to prevent water from contacting a person's body that is enclosed by the shirt. The shower shirt also has one or more pockets sized to support post surgical devices associated with the patient such as drain tubes, bulbs, dialysis/external catheters, wound vac and infusion pumps. The shower shirt can also include baffles to provide additional lateral breast support to the patient.