Disposable speculum for tympanic thermometer

• US 3,878,836 A
• Filed: 08/23/1973
• Issued: 04/22/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Max E. Twentier
• Original Assignee: Max E. Twentier
• Inventors: Twentier, Max E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Layton, Henry S.
• Application Number:
  US05/390,687
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 128/3,4,6,9
• US Class Current: 600/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00142 with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/227 for ears, i.e. otoscopes
• 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

Abstract

A disposable plastic speculum is used on an infrared sensing thermometer used by placing it in the patient'"'"''"'"'s ear for sensing body temperature through the tympanic membrane. The speculum has the general shape of a funnel with relatively shallow and relatively steep tapered frustoconical sections. The speculum is placed on a speculum retainer on the thermometer for use. The exterior of the speculum retainer has the general shape of interior of the speculum and includes a peripheral enlargement near its smaller end. When the speculum is placed on the retainer it is stretched by the enlargement and thereby retained in place. The speculum is made of a plastic having limited resistance to stress cracking so that the stretched portion over the enlargement cracks during retention on the speculum retainer. Since the speculum thus inherently destroys itself, it is assured that the speculum will be discarded and a new one used for each patient.

Claims

1. A disposable speculum for use with a speculum retainer having a generally conical tip with a peripheral enlargement thereon comprising:

a generally conical sheath of elastically stretchable plastic having a relatively larger open end and a relatively smaller open end;

an elastically stretchable portion adjacent the relatively smaller open end having sufficient strength and elasticity to be installed on a speculum retainer at least once and sufficiently susceptible to stress cracking to spontaneously rupture during no more than a few minuTes retention on the speculum retainer with the stretchable portion on the enlargement.

2. A disposable speculum for use with a speculum retainer having a generally conical tip with a peripheral enlargement thereon comprising:

a generally conical sheath of elastically stretchable plastic having a relatively larger open end and a relatively smaller open end, and an elastically stretchable portion adjacent the relatively smaller open end having sufficient strength and elasticity to be installed on a speculum retainer at least once, the plastic having a resistance to stress cracking not greater than polyethylene having a melt index of less than about 30 for being sufficiently susceptible to stress cracking to spontaneously rupture during retention on the speculum retainer with the stretchable portion on the enlargement.

3. A disposable speculum as defined in claim 2 wherein the elastically stretchable portion has a peripheral elongation of about 20 percent without exceeding the fast tensile strength of the plastic.

4. A disposable speculum as defined in claim 1 including a portion between the elastically stretchable portion and the smaller open end for extending beyond the tip of a speculum retainer and shielding it from ear wax.

5. A disposable speculum as defined in claim 4 wherein the portion extending beyond the tip comprises an inwardly directed lip for covering the end of the retainer.

6. A disposable speculum comprising:

a first hollow, generally frustoconical base section having a relatively shallow taper;

a second hollow generally frustoconical nose section having a relatively steep taper, the base of the nose section being essentially a continuation of the smaller end of the base section;

said nose section being formed of a plastic having a resistance to stress cracking not greater than polyethylene having a melt index of less than about 30 and sufficiently thin relatively nearer its small end to have a peripheral elongation of about 20 percent without exceeding the fast tensile strength of the plastic for temporary retention on a speculum retainer without cracking and for spontaneous cracking when retained on a speculum retainer for a period of time.

7. A disposable speculum as defined in claim 6 further comprising an inwardly directed lip adjacent the smaller open end of the second section.