BioProbe Sheath and Method of Use

• US 20130096390A1
• Filed: 10/02/2012
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Laura Weller-Brophy, Ricks, Theodore K.
• Original Assignee: Laura Weller-Brophy, Ricks, Theodore K.
• Inventors: Weller-Brophy, Laura, Ricks, Theodore K.
• Application Number:
  US13/633,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20130096390A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00103 designed for single use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/10 specially adapted for instruments, e.g. microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/17 closed at the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/36 for collecting or disposing of used articles

Abstract

This invention relates to a medical device comprising at least one bioprobe for collecting data, a single-use protective cover mechanically attached to said at least one bioprobe, a control module, and a sheath removal system comprising a receiving port for said at least one bioprobe with said attached single-use protective cover, a single-use protective cover locking mechanism for retaining said single-use protective cover, and a single-use protective cover removal feedback mechanism in communication with said control module.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising:

at least one bioprobe for collecting data;

a single-use protective cover mechanically attached to said at least one bioprobe;

a control module; and

a sheath removal system comprising;

a receiving port for said at least one bioprobe with said attached single-use protective cover;

a single-use protective cover locking mechanism for retaining said single-use protective cover; and

a single-use protective cover removal feedback mechanism in communication with said control module.

2. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said sheath removal system causes the collected data from said at least one bioprobe to be locked so that the user cannot access these data until the single-use protective cover has been captured and retained by the single-use protective cover locking mechanism of the sheath removal system.

3. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the sheath removal system causes the collected data from at least one bioprobe to be locked by the control module so that the user cannot use the bioprobe with a new patient until the single-use protective cover has been captured and retained by the single-use protective cover locking mechanism of the sheath removal system.

4. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said at least one bioprobe comprises at least one detector.

5. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said at least one bioprobe comprises an illuminator.

6. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said single-use protective cover is mechanically attached to said at least one bioprobe by a bayonet attachment.

7. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said the mechanical attachment of said single-use protective cover to said at least one bioprobe is adjustably positionable.

8. The medical device of claim 1 further comprising a disposal unit for said single-use protective cover after capture and retention by the sheath removal system.

9. A medical device comprising:

at least one bioprobe for collecting data;

a single-use protective cover mechanically attached to said at least one bioprobe;

a control module; and

a destructive sheath removal system comprising;

a receiving port for said at least one bioprobe with said attached single-use protective cover;

a single-use protective cover locking mechanism for retaining said single-use protective cover;

a single-use protective cover removal feedback mechanism in communication with said control module; and

a single-use protective cover destruction mechanism.

10. The medical device of claim 9 wherein said destructive sheath removal system causes the collected data from said at least one bioprobe to be locked so that the user cannot save these data until the single-use protective cover has been captured and retained by the single-use protective cover locking mechanism of the destructive sheath removal system.

11. The medical device of claim 9 wherein said at least one bioprobe comprises at least one detector.

12. The medical device of claim 9 wherein said at least one bioprobe comprises an illuminator.

13. The medical device of claim 9 wherein said single-use protective cover is mechanically attached to said at least one bioprobe by a bayonet attachment.

14. The medical device of claim 9 wherein said the mechanical attachment of said single-use protective cover to said at least one bioprobe is adjustably positionable.

15. The medical device of claim 9 wherein said destruction is a mechanical destruction selected from the group consisting of crushing, bending, cutting, breaking, or otherwise physically deforming said single-use protective cover.

16. The medical device of claim 9 wherein said destruction comprises rendering the sheath incapable of transmitting some or all of the illumination light.

17. The medical device of claim 9 further comprising a disposal unit for said single-use protective cover after destruction by said destructive sheath removal system.

18. A method comprising:

a). supplying at least one bioprobe for collecting data;

b). mechanically attaching a single-use protective cover said at least one bioprobe;

c). placing said at least one bioprobe with said mechanically attached single-use protective cover proximal a biological tissue to be interrogated;

d). removing said at least one bioprobe with said mechanically attached single-use protective cover from said biological tissue after collecting data;

e). placing said at least one bioprobe with said mechanically attached single-use protective cover into a sheath removal system comprising a receiving port for said at least one bioprobe with said attached single-use protective cover, a single-use protective cover locking mechanism for retaining said single-use protective cover, a single-use protective cover removal feedback mechanism in communication with said control module, and a medical waste container for retaining said single-use protective cover upon its removal from said bioprobe;

f). locking said at least one bioprobe with said mechanically attached single-use protective cover into said locking mechanism to trigger said single-use protective cover removal feedback mechanism in communication with a control module to release the collected data to the control module;

g). removing said at least one bioprobe for collecting data from the sheath removal system; and

h). retaining said single-use protective cover in said medical waste container.

19. A method comprising:

a). supplying at least one bioprobe for collecting data;

b). mechanically attaching a single-use protective cover said at least one bioprobe;

c). placing said at least one bioprobe with said mechanically attached single-use protective cover proximal a biological tissue to be interrogated;

d). removing said at least one bioprobe with said mechanically attached single-use protective cover from said biological tissue after collecting data;

e). placing said at least one bioprobe with said mechanically attached single-use protective cover into a sheath removal system comprising a receiving port for said at least one bioprobe with said attached single-use protective cover, a single-use protective cover locking mechanism for retaining said single-use protective cover, a single-use protective cover removal feedback mechanism in communication with said control module, a single-use protective cover destruction mechanism, and a medical waste container for retaining said single-use protective cover upon its removal from said bioprobe;

f). locking said at least one bioprobe with said mechanically attached single-use protective cover into said locking mechanism to trigger said single-use protective cover removal feedback mechanism in communication with a control module to release the collected data to the control module;

g). removing said at least one bioprobe for collecting data from the sheath removal system;

h). destroying the single-use protective cover retained in the locking mechanism with the destruction mechanism; and

,

i). retaining said single-use protective cover in said medical waste container.