PROBE COVER WITH MATCHING FEATURE FOR A MEDICAL THERMOMETER

• US 20110134962A1
• Filed: 12/24/2009
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
• Original Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
• Inventors: Fraden, Jacob
• Granted Patent: US 8,882,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/209
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0233 Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0271 Thermal or temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/18 Shielding or protection of sensors from environmental influences, e.g. protection from mechanical damage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0086 using infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 Ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0025 Living bodies ear thermometers G01J5/0011; detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/02 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/021 Probe covers for thermometers, e.g. tympanic thermometers; Containers for probe covers; Disposable probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/08 Protective devices, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/252 for tympanic thermometers

Abstract

A probe cover for medical thermometer has a matching feature for preventing its use with an incompatible thermometer. A mechanical matching feature of the probe cover includes at least one of a fold, a step, or a series of holes or indentations that are respectively matched to a ridge, a valley or series of pins formed on the front end of a compatible thermometer. When applied to the compatible thermometer, the mechanical matching feature permits the probe cover to be fully seated on and retained by the probe, thereby placing the thermometer in condition for use. Alternatively, an opto-electronic matching feature of the probe cover includes a reflective layer for use with an opto-electronic detection circuit of a compatible thermometer. When applied to the compatible thermometer, the opto-electronic detection detects the reflective layer and places the compatible thermometer in an operational state for use.

Claims

1. A probe cover for covering a probe of a thermometer, the probe comprising a proximal end in proximity to the housing of the thermometer and distal end, the probe cover comprising:

a tip portion configured for covering the distal end of the probe;

a base portion configured for retaining the probe cover at the proximal end of the probe; and

a body portion disposed between the tip portion and the base portion, wherein;

the tip portion, the body portion and the base portion are sequentially disposed in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the probe cover, and

the base portion includes one or more matching features each configured to engage a corresponding feature of a thermometer housing for seating the probe cover on the probe.

2. The probe cover of claim 1, wherein the one or more matching features are directed in a generally orthogonal direction relative to the base portion, the generally orthogonal direction being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the probe cover.

3. The probe cover of claim 2, wherein:

the base portion includes a brim extending laterally away from the longitudinal axis of the probe cover.

4. The probe cover of claim 2, wherein:

the base portion includes a bottom ring, and

the one or more matching features comprise one or more recesses extending inwardly away from a bottom surface of the bottom ring in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the probe cover.

5. The probe cover of claim 1, wherein:

the base portion further includes at least one protrusion extending laterally away from the longitudinal axis for engaging a locating element of the probe to locate the cover at a seating position on the probe.

6. The probe cover of claim 5, wherein a lateral distance from a lateralmost portion of each matching feature to the longitudinal axis is larger than a lateral distance from a lateralmost portion of the at least one protrusion to the longitudinal axis.

12. The probe cover of claim 1, wherein the one or more matching features comprise relieved portions including one or more openings extending through the brim in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.

13. The probe cover of claim 3, wherein:

a bottom surface of the brim defines an outermost surface of the base portion with reference to a direction along the longitudinal axis,

the base portion further includes at least one protrusion extending laterally away from the longitudinal axis for engaging a locating element of the probe to locate the cover at a seating position along the longitudinal axis,

the one or more matching features are directed in a generally orthogonal direction relative to the longitudinal axis,

the one or more matching features each being configured to mate with a corresponding feature of the thermometer housing for seating the cover on the probe, and

a lateral distance from a lateralmost portion of each matching feature to the longitudinal axis is larger than a lateral distance from a lateralmost portion of the at least one protrusion to the longitudinal axis.

14. The probe cover of claim 13, wherein the one or more matching features include a fold extending along the brim.

15. The probe cover of claim 13, wherein the one or more matching features include one or more openings or indentations extending through the brim in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and configured to respectively receive one or more pins extending from the thermometer housing.

23. The probe cover of claim 1, wherein the matching features include one or more recesses extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.

7. A thermometer, comprising:

a housing;

a probe extending from the housing along a longitudinal axis, the probe being configured for receiving thermal energy indicative of a temperature; and

a probe cover for covering the probe, the probe cover comprising;

a tip portion configured for covering a distal end of the probe;

a base portion configured for retaining the probe cover at a proximal end of the probe; and

a body portion disposed between the tip portion and the base portion, wherein;

the tip portion, the body portion and the base portion are sequentially disposed in a direction along the longitudinal axis,

the base portion includes one or more matching features configured to mate with a corresponding feature of the thermometer housing for seating the probe cover on the probe.

8. The thermometer of claim 7, wherein the one or more matching features are directed in a generally orthogonal direction relative to the base portion, the generally orthogonal direction being parallel to the longitudinal axis.

9. The thermometer of claim 8, wherein:

the base portion includes a brim extending laterally away from the longitudinal axis.

10. The thermometer of claim 8, wherein:

the base portion includes a bottom ring, and

the one or more matching features comprise one or more recesses extending inwardly away from a bottom surface of the bottom ring in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.

11. The thermometer of claim 7, wherein:

the base portion further includes at least one protrusion extending laterally away from the longitudinal axis for engaging a locating element of the probe to locate the cover at a seating position on the probe.

16. The thermometer of claim 8, wherein:

the thermometer further comprises one or more ejectors positioned in the thermometer housing, the ejectors being movably operable to extend from the thermometer housing and engage the bottom surface of the base portion for ejecting the probe cover from the probe.

17. The thermometer of claim 16, wherein each of the one or more ejectors is configured as a corresponding feature of the thermometer housing for mating with a respective one of the one or more matching features of the probe cover.

18. The thermometer of claim 16, wherein:

the at least one protrusion of the body portion extending laterally away from the longitudinal axis is configured to receive a nipple of the probe, and

one of the one or more ejectors is operable to extend to a position adjacent to the nipple of the probe.

24. The thermometer of claim 7, wherein the matching features include one or more recesses extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and wherein the housing includes corresponding projections extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction.

19. A probe cover for covering a probe that extends from a housing of a thermometer, the probe cover comprising:

a tip portion configured for covering a distal end of the probe;

a base portion configured for retaining the cover at a proximal end of the probe; and

a body portion disposed between the tip portion and the base portion, wherein;

the tip portion, the body portion and the base portion are sequentially disposed in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the probe cover, and

the base portion including a reflective layer.

20. The probe cover of claim 19, wherein the reflective layer comprises a metal foil.

21. A thermometer, comprising:

a housing;

a probe extending from the housing along a longitudinal axis, the probe being configured for receiving thermal energy indicative of a temperature; and

a probe cover for covering the probe,

the probe cover comprising;

a tip portion configured for covering a distal end of the probe;

a base portion configured for retaining the probe cover at a proximal end of the probe; and

a body portion disposed between the tip portion and the base portion, wherein;

the tip portion, the body portion and the base portion are sequentially disposed in a direction along the longitudinal axis,

the base portion further includes at least one protrusion extending laterally away from the longitudinal axis for engaging a locating element of the probe to locate the cover at a seating position along the longitudinal direction,

the brim further including a reflective layer, and

wherein;

the thermometer further comprises a light emitter and a light detector, and

the light emitter is operative to emit light energy toward the reflective layer and the light detector is operable to detect light energy reflected by the reflective layer.

22. The thermometer of claim 21, wherein:

the thermometer further comprises a detection circuit for determining whether the detected light energy meets a predetermined criteria.

25. The thermometer of claim 21, wherein the matching features include one or more recesses extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and wherein the housing includes corresponding projections extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.