Probe cover of a tympanic thermometer and tympanic thermometer assembly

• US 6,647,284 B1
• Filed: 05/02/2003
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oriental System Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Oriental System Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Lee, Herman
• Primary Examiner(s): Manuel, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jain, Ruby
• Application Number:
  US10/428,371
• Time in Patent Office: 193 Days
• Field of Search: 600/474, 600/200, 600/437, 600/559, 600/301, 600/121, 374/158, 374/131, 374/130, 374/121
• US Class Current: 600/474
• 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 probe cover of a tympanic thermometer and tympanic thermometer assembly includes a base and a sheath attached on the base. The base is a ring-shaped thin film object with a central opening permitting pass of the probe of a tympanic thermometer, and is engaged with flanges at the bottom of the probe. The sheath includes a circumferential wall that strains and circles around the sidewall of the probe, and an infrared window fitted on an opening at the front end of the probe. Since the thickness of the infrared window is thicker than that of the circumferential wall and the infrared window is free of pleats to keep a very uniform thickness, infrared can accurately penetrate through the infrared window to the probe of a tympanic thermometer for measuring a precise body temperature.

Claims

1. A probe cover of a tympanic thermometer, comprising:

(1) a base having a central opening; and

(2) a sheath formed by a thin film, including;

(a) an infrared window with uniform thickness for sensing infrared radiation;

(b) an open end attached to the base; and

(c) a circumferential wall extended from the open end to the infrared window, wherein the thickness of the circumferential wall is smaller than that of the infrared window.

2. The probe cover of a tympanic thermometer of claim 1, wherein an engaging mechanism is located inside the central opening of the base.

3. The probe cover of a tympanic thermometer of claim 2, wherein the engaging mechanism includes a plurality of flanges.

4. The probe cover of a tympanic thermometer of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the circumferential wall is tapered to become thinner from an attaching region with the base toward the infrared window.

5. The probe cover of a tympanic thermometer of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the infrared window is substantially equal to 0.001 inch.

6. A tympanic thermometer assembly, comprising:

a tympanic thermometer including a probe for sensing infrared radiation and a handle; and

a probe cover of claim 1, wherein the base is engaged with a bottom of the probe, and the infrared window contacts a top of the probe by fitting the open end on the probe.

7. The tympanic thermometer assembly of claim 6, wherein the circumferential wall strains naturally and is free of pleats.

8. The tympanic thermometer assembly of claim 6, wherein a gap is formed between the probe of a tympanic thermometer and the circumferential wall of the probe cover.