Episode 18 Show Notes
Lisa Crites shares her Shower Shirt Invention Story on Episode 18 of the Invention Stories Podcast Episode 18 is the second in a two-part series. Lisa Crites shares how she turned her idea into the Shower Shirt. Dignity…after having undergone a double mastectomy as a result of being diagnosed with breast cancer Lisa wanted to take a shower. They told her to use a plastic garbage bag …how humiliating! Imagine recovering from surgery at home and being told this. Lisa resolved to invent a better solution…and the Shower Shirt was born.
Interview Continues
As we continue our interview with Lisa Crites, she shares why chose the name rather than the shower jacket. Lisa also shares the challenges of creating a prototype, how would it work, what material to use, how do you protect the chest. and it needed to include a water resistant zipper. Bottom line…she needed it to work with a variety of bathing options.
She shared prototypes with surgeons and their patients and received their feedback.
Lisa has a design and method of use patent on the Shower Shirt. She initially recieve a patent denial and then shares the story of how she ovecame it to obtained hers in about 1 year. Great patenting tips are shared.
A Great Listen
Mastectomy Boutiques, CureDiva, 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer, Social Media, Social Entrepreneurship, Getting her Shower Shirts in Walmart.com…so much here that I was unaware of. We end the interview with my asking Lisa to share her obstacles and how to overcome them, what was a good use of time and money and what advice she would give an inventor. I believe this interview is a great listen for men and women who invent or has an idea for an invention.
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Breast Cancer Survivor
Breast Cancer Survivor, Lisa Crites has designed the Shower Shirt. After being forced to resort to a plastic trash bag while showering, she designed the Shower Shirt so that future surgery patients could shower or bathe more safely. The Shower Shirt is a post-surgical, water resistant garment designed to protect chest surgery patients, including mastectomy, hemodialysis, cardiac, lung, hernia, rotator cuff, neuro-stimulation, and external defibrillator patients from water while showering.
Audiobook Now Available
We first shared Breast Cancer Survivor Lisa Crites and the Shower Shirt on InventionStories.com back in Feb 15, 2014.
The clinical purpose is to reduce post-surgical infections, more commonly known as Surgical Site Infections. Many surgical procedures involve the placement of surgical drains, tubes, ports and catheters which penetrate the skin. This medical paraphernalia can act as a portal for bacteria to enter the wound site. Tap water contains bacteria. Thus exposure to water significantly increases the risk of post-surgical infections. The physicians instruct their patients to not shower until drains are removed. This spans up to three weeks for mastectomy patients, and many months for dialysis and other surgery patients. I contacted Lisa and asked her to answer the following questions:
How did the idea come to you?
Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, I had undergone a bi-lateral mastectomy. My physicians were adamant that I not shower until my post-surgical drains (4 – which were sutured into my armpits and hung below my knees) were removed, normally a two-to three week timeframe. I began looking for a water-resistant product to protect myself while showering, nothing existed. Essentially, I showered with a kitchen trash bag and wrapped it around my body for protection. It was a difficult and awkward process, more importantly – it was insulting to have to shower in a trash bag after amputation of the breasts.
What made you act?
I kept thinking, women have been going through mastectomies in this country for nearly 70 years. Why was there not a product to protect a breast cancer patient like me? I began doing research with physicians, as well as other patients who had gone through breast cancer diagnosis and mastectomy surgery. The story was always the same. The breast cancer patient tried plastic wrap and/or trash bags for protection and their drains become wet.
Click here to read more.
Episode 17 Recap
In episode 17, Lisa Crites and the Shower Shirt Part 1, Breast Cancer Survivor Lisa shares how she grew up, her early work history, and being diagnosed with breast cancer. If you have found yourself her and have not listened to Episode 17…Lisa Crites and the Shower Shirt Part 1 click here.
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For more information please visit www.theshowershirt.com
