IV-friendly jacket
A modified jacket that can be put on or removed without disconnecting an IV line
When staying in the hospital with an IV line attached to your arm, putting on or taking off a sweater or jacket is nearly impossible because your arm cannot pass through standard sleeves. This low-tech clothing modification hack was born out of that genuine struggle to regulate body temperature amid fluctuating hospital room conditions.
From a Quick Sketch to a Prototype in Half a Day
If the outer seam of the sleeve (running from the wrist up to the neck) could be opened and closed with hook-and-loop fasteners (Velcro), the garment could simply wrap around the arm while keeping the tube connected. With this idea in mind, I drew up a hand-sketched design from my hospital bed.
I sent the sketch to my wife and mother, who altered and sewed an off-the-shelf Uniqlo fleece jacket in just half a day and delivered it to me.
- Wearable With the IV Connected: The sleeve opens up completely along the top edge, allowing for easy one-handed wear and removal without disconnecting the IV line or removing the needle.
- Thoughtful Comfort: The fastener sides were carefully oriented so the scratchy hook tape faces outward, keeping it from irritating bare skin.
While it takes a little getting used to putting it on, it made managing body temperature during my hospital stay infinitely easier. I really hope an apparel brand picks this up and manufactures it commercially.