Tympanic thermometer probe cover with film support mechanism

• US RE43,745 E1
• Filed: 04/09/2010
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2005
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cardinal Health Ireland Unlimited Company (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Walker, Clarence, Meier, Kevin C., Schuessler, Wayne, Swisher, David Rork
• Primary Examiner(s): Verbitsky, Gail
• Application Number:
  US12/757,746
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 374120-121, 374/158, 374/208, 374/209, 374/163, 374/183, 374/185, 600/549, 600/474, 702/131
• US Class Current: 374/158
• 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 for a tympanic thermometer probe comprises a generally tubular body having an opening for receiving the thermometer probe and an infrared transparent window at a distal end thereof. In one embodiment, a film support extends radially inward from the distal end of the body and supports an infrared transparent film spanning the window. The film support has an inner edge that is substantially free from corners turning in the plane of the window. A plurality of end ribs are spaced apart and disposed about an inner circumference of the distal end of the body to engage a distal end of the thermometer probe and form an insulating gap by preventing contact of the film by the thermometer probe. The insulating gap also extends proximally into spaces between the end ribs, reducing thermal contact between the thermometer probe and a circumferential inner surface of the probe cover.

Claims

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

a generally tubular body having a longitudinal axis, an opening at a proximal end of the body for receiving a thermometer probe, and a film window at a distal end of the body generally opposite said proximal end;

a film support extending radially inward from said distal end of the body toward said longitudinal axis and having an inner edge extending circumferentially around said longitudinal axis and defining a perimeter of said window; and

the film window is secured at a film support surface at a distal end of the film support and extends beyond the inner edge of the film support, the film extends over the film support surface and substantially toward an outer edge of the body,

a plurality of end ribs spaced apart and disposed about an inner circumference of the distal end of the body, each of the end ribs being positioned to engage a distal end of the thermometer probe and prevent contact of the film by the thermometer probe, wherein the inner edge of the film support extends substantially the same distance inward as a transverse portion of each of the plurality of end ribs and further wherein at least some of the end ribs converge with the film support,

the probe cover being substantially transparent to infrared radiation through the window, and the perimeter of the window being substantially free from corners in a plane of the window.

2. A probe cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the inner edge of the film support is substantially free from segments having an outward curvature.

3. A probe cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the perimeter of the window is substantially free from segments projecting into the window.

4. A probe cover as recited in claim 3, wherein the perimeter of the window is generally smooth and continuous.

5. A probe cover as recited in claim 4, wherein the perimeter of the window is substantially circular.

6. A probe cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the film support is formed as one piece of material with the body.

7. A probe cover as recited in claim 6, wherein the end ribs are formed as one piece of material with the body.

8. A probe cover as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the end ribs comprises a projection extending radially inward toward said longitudinal axis along a surface of the film support.

9. A probe cover as recited in claim 8, wherein the projections of the end ribs extend toward the longitudinal axis no farther than the inner edge of the film support.

10. A probe cover as recited in claim 8, wherein the inner edge of the film support extends farther toward the longitudinal axis than the projections.

11. A probe cover as recited in claim 1, wherein the body has an arcuate surface adjacent the distal end, the film being secured to the arcuate surface.

12. A probe cover as recited in claim 1 wherein the film support defines a substantially flat distally facing surface at the distal end of the body having a generally annular area that is at least about 20 percent of a total area of the window.

13. A probe cover for a probe of a tympanic thermometer, said probe cover comprising:

a generally tubular body having a longitudinal axis, an opening at a proximal end of the body for receiving a thermometer probe, and a window at a distal end of the body generally opposite said proximal end, the body defining a circumferential inner surface extending generally from the proximal end to the distal end;

a film support extending radially inward from said distal end of the body toward said longitudinal axis and having an inner edge extending circumferentially around said longitudinal axis and defining a perimeter of said window;

a plurality of end ribs at the distal end of the body, the end ribs further comprising a transverse portion;

the inner edge and the transverse portion of the end ribs substantially extend the same distance inward toward the centerline of the longitudinal axis of the tubular body; and

the film is secured at a film support surface at a distal end of the film support and beyond the inner edge of the film support, the film extends over the film support surface and substantially toward an outer edge of the body,

the probe cover being configured to maintain a gap between the film and a distal end of the thermometer probe received in the opening, said gap having extensions into areas between said circumferential inner surface of the body and a side of the thermometer probe, the probe cover being substantially transparent to infrared radiation through the window, the perimeter of the window being substantially free from corners in a plane of the window.

14. A probe cover as recited in claim 13 in combination with a thermometer probe received in the opening.

15. A probe cover as recited in claim 14, wherein said inner edge of the film support is substantially free from segments having an outward curvature.

16. A probe cover as recited in claim 15, wherein the perimeter of the window is substantially free from segments projecting into the window.

17. A probe cover as recited in claim 16, wherein the perimeter of the window is generally smooth and continuous.

18. A probe cover as recited in claim 17, wherein the perimeter of the window is substantially circular.

19. A probe cover as recited in claim 13, wherein the film support is formed as one piece of material with the body.

20. A probe cover as recited in claim 19 wherein the end ribs are formed as one piece of material with the body.

21. A probe cover as recited in claim 13, further comprising a plurality of end ribs, each end rib projecting radially inward toward said longitudinal axis along a surface of the film support.

22. A probe cover as recited in claim 21, wherein the end ribs extend toward the longitudinal axis no farther than the inner edge of the film support.

23. A probe cover as recited in claim 22, wherein the end ribs each have an inner edge that is flush with the inner edge of the film support.

24. A probe cover as recited in claim 13, wherein the body comprises an arcuate surface adjacent the distal end, the film being secured to the arcuate surface.

25. A probe cover as recited in claim 13 wherein the film support defines a substantially flat distally facing surface at the distal end of the body having a generally annular area that is at least about 20 percent of a total area of the window.