Communicable disease barrier method of use

• US 20010002431A1
• Filed: 01/04/2001
• Published: 05/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mariruth D. Gurley
• Original Assignee: Mariruth D. Gurley
• Inventors: Gurley, Mariruth D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,553,243 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 42/20 Finger-stalls specially adapted for surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 42/40 Packages or dispensers

Abstract

A disposable digit cover structured to be applied to envelop a portion of a human finger or toe, i.e., digit, for aiding in prevention of the spread of communicable diseases and cross-patient contamination from pulse oximeter probes. The cover is a flexible, tubular structure of material impervious to the passage of infectious agents, and having an open end, a closed end and being sufficiently transparent to light to serve as a barrier between a human digit and a pulse oximeter probe. The barrier is first placed over the digit, the medical probe is then clamped on the barrier to pass light into the digit. The readings are taken, the probe is removed, then the barrier is removed and discarded.

Claims

1. A method of reducing infectious agent cross-patient contamination from use of a pulse oximeter probe, comprising the steps of:

(a) removing, from a dispensing package, a single digit cover, the digit cover made of flexible material which is impervious to passage of infectious agents and which is transparent to light passage of light emitted by a pulse oximeter probe;

(b) locating said digit cover over a human digit of a patient to be monitored;

(c) applying jaws of a pulse oximeter probe to said digit cover located over the human digit so that the jaws of the probe only contact said digit cover and do not contact the patient;

(d) monitoring the patient'"'"'s condition using the pulse oximeter probe until monitoring with the probe is complete;

(e) removing the pulse oximeter probe from the patient absent touching the jaws of the probe against the patient;

(f) removing said digit cover from the digit of the patient;

(g) disposing of said digit cover removed from the patient.

2. A method of reducing infectious agent cross-patient contamination from use of a pulse oximeter probe, comprising the steps of:

(a) locating a digit cover over a human digit of a patient to be monitored;

said digit cover made of flexible material which is impervious to passage of infectious agents and which is transparent to light passage of light emitted by a pulse oximeter probe;

(b) applying jaws of a pulse oximeter probe to said digit cover located over the human digit so that the jaws of the probe only contact said digit cover and do not contact the patient;

(c) monitoring the patient'"'"'s condition using the pulse oximeter probe until monitoring with the probe is complete.

3. A method according to

claim 2

further including the steps, following the monitoring step, of:

removing the pulse oximeter probe from the patient; and

removing said digit cover from the digit of the patient; and

then

disposing of said digit cover removed from the patient.

4. A method of reducing infectious agent contamination from use of a medical probe, comprising the steps of:

(a) locating a digit cover over a human digit of a patient to be monitored with a probe;

said digit cover made of material which is impervious to passage of infectious agents and which is transparent to light passage of light used by a probe, and then

(b) applying the medical probe to said digit cover located over the human digit, and then

(c) monitoring the patient'"'"'s condition using the probe, followed by

(d) removing the probe from the patient and then removing said digit cover from the digit of the patient and disposing of said digit cover.