Patent ID: 6553243
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method of reducing infectious agent cross-patient contamination from use of a pulse oximeter probe, comprising the steps of:(a) firstly removing, from a dispensing package sized to fit in a garment pocket, a single clean digit cover, the digit cover made of flexible material which is impervious to passage of infectious agents and which is transparent to light passage of light emitted by a pulse oximeter probe; (b) secondly locating said digit cover over a human digit of a patient to be monitored, and followed by (c) thirdly applying jaws of a pulse oximeter probe to said digit cover located over the human digit so that the jaws of the probe only contact said digit cover and do not contact the patient; (d) fourthly monitoring the patient's condition using the pulse oximeter probe until monitoring with the probe is complete; (e) fifthly removing the pulse oximeter probe from the patient absent touching the jaws of the probe against the patient; (f) sixthly removing said digit cover from the digit of the patient; and then (g) disposing of said digit cover removed from the patient.