Stethoscope isolation system
First Claim
1. In association with the use of a medical stethoscope having a first, head end to be positioned during use in juxtaposition to a patient, a medial sound tube portion, a tube separation portion, and a second rear end comprising first and second ear tubes to be positioned during use in juxtaposition to each one of the user'"'"'s ears, respectively, a method of preventing the passing of contamination between the patient and the user during the use of the medical stethoscope, comprising the following steps:
- (a) providing a stethoscope isolation system to be used on the stethoscope during use of the stethoscope on the patient, includinga sleeve having a first, closed end and a second, open end forming a mouth, and wall portions forming a cavity of sufficient size to allow the first, head end of the stethoscope to be placed therein, said sleeve having a sufficient length and scope to envelope the first, head end and the medial sound tube portion of the stethoscope, up to at least about the tube separation portion of the stethoscope, said sleeve being comprised of acoustically transparent, biologically impermeable material, and attachment means associated with said sleeve to at least temporarily attach the sleeve to the stethoscope while the stethoscope is in use on the patient;
(b) placing the first, head end of the stethoscope in said second, open end of said sleeve;
(c) moving the first, head end of the stethoscope into and through said cavity until the first, head end of the stethoscope is in juxtaposition to said first, closed end of said sleeve and at least the medial sound tube portion is substantially within said sleeve and is covered over by said sleeve up to at least about said tube separation portion; and
(d) using said sleeve on the stethoscope to isolate, both directly and in reverse, the patient and the user from passing any contamination between them through mutual contact with the stethoscope while the stethoscope is in use on the patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for preventing nosocomial infection and contamination through usage of a stethoscope, utilizing a stethoscope sleeve and fitting accessory configured to be utilized in conjunction with off-the-shelf stethoscopes and the like. A first embodiment (FIGS. 1 & 2b) includes a one-use, disposable sleeve, wherein the head or diaphragm-retaining ring is covered in its entirety, with the full covering up of the body to the ear tubes, the cover being composed of a bacterial, viral, and fluid impermeable, acoustically transparent medium. The accessory includes a spreader attachment removably affixed to the upper body of the stethoscope and containable within the sleeve when mounted on the stethoscope. In combination with the spreader attachment accessory, the system provides a sterile system for preventing infection which isolates the stethoscope from both the user as well as the patient, greatly reducing any risk of contamination. A second embodiment (FIGS. 3 & 2a), designed for reducing the spread of infection among health care workers sharing a patient dedicated instrument during reverse isolation technique, utilizes substantially the same sleeve but which further includes a handle apparatus affixed to the wishbone portion of the instrument, allowing the ear caps of the instrument to be spread for engaging and disengaging the instrument from the various health care workers, without the necessity of touching the body of the instrument during use, thereby preventing cross infection during the consequential sharing of the dedicated stethoscope by the various health care providers.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. In association with the use of a medical stethoscope having a first, head end to be positioned during use in juxtaposition to a patient, a medial sound tube portion, a tube separation portion, and a second rear end comprising first and second ear tubes to be positioned during use in juxtaposition to each one of the user'"'"'s ears, respectively, a method of preventing the passing of contamination between the patient and the user during the use of the medical stethoscope, comprising the following steps:
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(a) providing a stethoscope isolation system to be used on the stethoscope during use of the stethoscope on the patient, including a sleeve having a first, closed end and a second, open end forming a mouth, and wall portions forming a cavity of sufficient size to allow the first, head end of the stethoscope to be placed therein, said sleeve having a sufficient length and scope to envelope the first, head end and the medial sound tube portion of the stethoscope, up to at least about the tube separation portion of the stethoscope, said sleeve being comprised of acoustically transparent, biologically impermeable material, and attachment means associated with said sleeve to at least temporarily attach the sleeve to the stethoscope while the stethoscope is in use on the patient; (b) placing the first, head end of the stethoscope in said second, open end of said sleeve; (c) moving the first, head end of the stethoscope into and through said cavity until the first, head end of the stethoscope is in juxtaposition to said first, closed end of said sleeve and at least the medial sound tube portion is substantially within said sleeve and is covered over by said sleeve up to at least about said tube separation portion; and (d) using said sleeve on the stethoscope to isolate, both directly and in reverse, the patient and the user from passing any contamination between them through mutual contact with the stethoscope while the stethoscope is in use on the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification