Cover for prism of an applanation tonometer and method of application thereof

• US 5,002,057 A
• Filed: 12/28/1987
• Issued: 03/26/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eye Disease Foundation Wills Eye Hospital, George L. Spaeth, Steven E. Brady
• Original Assignee: Eye Disease Foundation, G. L. Spaeth
• Inventors: Brady, Steven E.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Longo, Robin R.
• Application Number:
  US07/138,200
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: 128/645-652, 128/736, 604/263, 206/69
• US Class Current: 600/406
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/16 for measuring intraocular pressure, e.g. tonometers

Abstract

A sterile and disposable cover for the prism of an applanation tonometer or similar device functions to preclude the transfer of microorganisms from the eye of a patient to the prism during an examination. The prism is a rearwardly diverging frustoconical configured member with a flat forwardly disposed face, and the cover includes a conformable barrier and a removable holder. The cover has a body of substantially optically transparent material for deposition upon the flat forwardly disposed face; and a side portion contiguous with the body portion. The side portion clings resiliently to the prism wall forming a seal therewith. Optionally, there are provided tab portions attached to the outer edges of the side portion, which tabs faciltate the removal of the disposable cover. The removable holder is used for depositing the barrier upon the holder includes a carrier strip releasably adhered to the barrier, with an aperture in the carrier strip for exposing the body portion and for receiving the face of the prism. This enables insertion of the prism through the aperture so that the face is emplaced on the body portion of the cover. To maintain sterility, an aperture cover is removably secured to the carrier strip on the side opposite the barrier. The aperture cover is demountable from the barrier and may be demounted without disturbing the mechanical barrier. Further, a sterile seal attached to the carrier strip completes the safeguarding of the barrier.

Claims

1. A disposable cover for the prism of an applanation tonometer, said prism being a rearwardly diverging frustoconical configured member with a flat forwardly disposed face, said cover comprising:

a conformable barrier, in turn, comprising

a body portion of a substantially optically transparent material for deposition upon said flat forwardly disposed face; and

a side portion contiguous with said body portion, said side portion circumsiliently sealable to said rearwardly diverging member;

whereby said conformable barrier when mounted on said prism precludes the transfer of microorganisms from the eye of a patient to said prism during a tonometric examination without disturbing the viewing through the prism of the applanation tonometer.

2. A disposable cover as described in claim 1 wherein said cover further comprises:

said side portion having outer edges and, upon installation of said disposable cover, the outer edges being adjacent to the rearwardly diverging member;

tab portions attached to the outer edges of said side portion for facilitating the removal of the disposable cover without contact with the used said body and said side portions.

3. A disposable cover as described in claim 1 wherein said cover further comprises:

removable holder means for depositing said barrier upon said prism while substantially excluding air from between the barrier and the face of the prism.

4. A disposable cover as described in claim 3 wherein said removable holder means is a carrier strip releasably adhered on one side thereof to said barrier.

5. A disposable cover as described in claim 4 wherein said carrier strip further comprises:

aperture means for exposing said body portion and for receiving said face of said prism thereby enabling the deposition of therethrough said body portion upon said face.

6. A disposable cover as described in claim 5 wherein said carrier strip is frangible enabling deposition of the barrier onto the mounted prism and subsequent removal of the carrier strip without contact between the barrier and the installer thereof.

7. A disposable cover as described in claim 5 wherein said removable holder means further comprises:

an aperture cover removably secured to the carrier strip on the side opposite said barrier, said aperture cover being demountable without disturbing the barrier.

8. A disposable cover as described in claim 7 wherein said removable holder means further comprises:

a sterile seal attached to said carrier strip; and

wherein said sterile seal, said carrier strip and said aperture cover form a sealed envelope about said barrier precluding contact thereby with microorganisms.

9. A disposable cover as described in claim 8 wherein said sealed envelope with said barrier therein are sterilizable without affecting the adhesion of the barrier to the carrier strip, the securement of the aperture cover to the carrier strip, and the attachment of the sterile seal to the carrier strip.

10. A sterile cover for the prism of an applanation tonometer for precluding the transfer of microorganisms from the eye of a patient to said prism during an examination and the transfer of microorganisms to the eye of the patient from said prism during an examination, said prism being a rearwardly diverging frustoconical configured member with a flat forwardly disposed face, said cover comprising:

a conformable barrier, in turn, comprising

a sterile body portion of a substantially optically transparent material for deposition upon said flat forwardly disposed face and

a sterile side portion contiguous with said body portion, said side portion circumsiliently sealable to said rearwardly diverging member;

tab portions attached to outer edges of said side portion for facilitating the removal of the disposable cover; and

,

removable holder means for depositing said barrier upon said prism while substantially excluding air from between the barrier and the face of the prism;

whereby, prior to a tonometric examination, the sterile cover is deposited onto the prism without operator contact with the sterile body and side portions of the barrier, and, after a tonometric examination, the nonsterile cover is removed from the prism without the microorganisms thereon being transferred to the operator.

11. A disposable cover as described in claim 10 wherein said removable holder means is a carrier strip releasably adhered on one side thereof to said barrier.

12. A disposable cover as described in claim 11 wherein said carrier strip further comprises:

aperture means for exposing said body portion and for receiving therethrough said face of said prism thereby enabling the deposition of said body portion upon said face.

13. A disposable cover as described in claim 12 wherein said carrier strip is frangible enabling deposition of the barrier onto the mounted prism and subsequent removal of the carrier strip without contact between the barrier and the installer thereof.

14. A disposable cover as described in claim 12 wherein said removable holder means further comprises:

an aperture cover removably secured to the carrier strip on the side opposite said barrier, said aperture cover being demountable without disturbing the barrier.

15. A disposable cover as described in claim 14 wherein said removable holder means further comprises:

a sterile seal attached to said carrier strip; and

wherein said sterile seal, said carrier strip and said aperture cover form a sealed envelope about said barrier precluding contact thereby with microorganisms.

16. A disposable cover as described in claim 15 wherein said sealed envelope with said barrier therein are sterilizable without affecting the adhesion of the barrier to the carrier strip, the securement of the aperture cover to the carrier strip, and the attachment of the sterile seal to the carrier strip.

17. A disposable cover assembly for the prism on an applanation tonometer, said prism being a rearwardly diverging frustoconical configured member with a flat forwardly disposed face, said cover assembly comprising:

a conformable barrier, in turn, comprising

a body portion of a substantially optically transparent material for deposition upon said flat forwardly disposed face; and

a side portion contiguous with said body portion, said side portion circumsiliently sealable to said rearwardly diverging member;

removable holder means for depositing said barrier upon said prism while substantially excluding air from between the barrier and the face of the prism, said removable holder means, in turn, comprising;

a carrier strip releasably adhered on one side thereof to said barrier,

aperture means for exposing said body portion and for receiving therethrough said face of said prism thereby enabling the deposition of said body portion upon said face,

an aperture cover removably secured to the carrier strip on the side opposite said barrier, said aperture cover being demountable without disturbing the barrier; and

,

a sterile seal attached to said carrier strip; and

wherein said sterile seal, said carrier strip and said aperture cover form a sealed envelope about said barrier precluding contact thereby with microorganisms.

18. A disposable cover as described in claim 17 wherein said cover further comprises:

tab portions attached to outer edges of said side portion for facilitating the removal of the disposable cover without contact with the used said body and said side portions.

19. A disposable cover as described in claim 17 wherein said carrier strip is frangible enabling deposition of the barrier onto the mounted prism and subsequent removal of the carrier strip without contact between the barrier and the installer thereof.

20. A disposable cover as described in claim 17 wherein said sealed envelope with said barrier therein are sterilizable without affecting the adhesion of the barrier to the carrier strip, the securement of the aperture cover to the carrier strip, and the attachment of the sterile seal to the carrier strip.