DETROIT — A Detroit hospital has a new patient gown that aims to offer a little more style, comfort, and — perhaps most importantly — rear coverage for patients.

Resembling a wrap-around robe, the gown closes in the back and front and is made of a thicker, cotton and polyester blend than a typical gown to keep patients warmer. It has three snaps, instead of ties, to close it, and it is accessible for IVs and other medical lines.

“A simple change can have a large impact on the patients’ stay at a hospital,” said Michael Forbes, a product designer at the Henry Ford Innovation Institute and graduate of the College for Creative Studies in Detroit.

The new gown is being used on several inpatient floors at Henry Ford Hospital after about two years of work on its design, the hospital said.

The gown was developed by the Henry Ford Innovation Institute in collaboration with the College for Creative Studies. The “No. 1 goal was to close the backside of the gown,” Mr. Forbes said in a statement, and officials hope to license the design to an existing manufacturer.

First Published April 11, 2013, 3:07 a.m.