Disposable stethoscope head shield

A disposable shield for stethoscope heads, preventing the transfer of disease or other contaminants by repeated use of the stethoscope. The shield or envelope is formed from a single piece of plastic material in which the sides are folded toward each other, thereby defining two top portions overlying a bottom portion. The edges are sealed as by heat sealing, thereby defining an envelope or shield. In a preferred embodiment, the shields are formed and maintained in a ribbon or array, maintained in the form of a roll within a container or the like. Adjoining shields are interconnected at the heat sealed areas which may be perforated for ease of separation.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The invention herein resides in the art of medical equipment and 
accessories, and more particularly to a shield for the head of a 
stethoscope which serves to provide a barrier to the passage of body 
fluids, hair, dirt, skin tissues, and other contaminants from a patient to 
the stethoscope. 
BACKGROUND ART 
Heretofore it has been known that stethoscopes are used extensively in 
medical practice to allow a physician or other care provider to monitor 
sounds in the respiratory, cardiac, plural, arterial, venus, uterine, 
fetal, intestinal, and other body systems. The stethoscope is a highly 
used medical instrument. It is common for physicians or other care 
providers to constantly have a stethoscope either upon their person or 
close at hand while in the treating environment. During use, the head of 
the stethoscope is placed directly on the skin of the patients. 
Consequently, the entire stethoscope head may become contaminated and be 
susceptible to passing such contamination to the next patient exposed to 
the stethoscope head unless the head is sterilized between each use. In 
practice, physicians and other care providers do not sterilize the 
stethoscope since such process is extremely time consuming. There is, in 
fact, no recommended procedure for sterilization of the stethoscope head. 
Today, particularly with high incidents of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency 
Syndrome), it is recommended that the passage of certain body fluids from 
one individual to another be prohibited. Such fluids include blood, urine, 
tears, and the like. Since the stethoscope is often placed at points which 
can transmit such body fluids and contaminants, it is extremely important 
that the stethoscope head either be sterilized between uses, or be 
shielded in use such that contaminants will not reach the head itself. 
In the prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,368 teaches a cover for the diaphragm 
portion of the head of a stethoscope. However, this patent does not 
provide a barrier along the sides or top portions of the stethoscope head 
and requires that specific size diaphragm covers be provided and employed. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,255,841 teaches a form-fitting rubber or plastic cover 
with an open portion which, by its very nature, would allow for the type 
of contamination sought to be prevented by the instant invention. Finally, 
U. S. Pat. No. 3,867,925 teaches a form of disposable head which must, 
however, be used in association with an adhesive glue attaching the same 
to the skin. 
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
In light of the foregoing, it is the first aspect of the invention to 
provide a disposable stethoscope head shield which prevents the passage of 
body fluids and other contaminants from the stethoscope head to the 
patient and care provider. 
Another aspect of the invention is the provision of a disposable 
stethoscope head shield which is universal in that it can fit any of 
different styles and shapes of stethoscope heads. 
Yet a further aspect of the invention is the provision of a disposable 
stethoscope head shield colored for ease of location in the care facility. 
Still another aspect of the invention is the provision of a disposable 
stethoscope head shield which requires no adhesives in implementation. 
Yet an additional aspect of the invention is the provision of a disposable 
stethoscope head shield which is easily applied and removed by the care 
provider. 
An additional aspect of the invention is the provision of a disposable 
stethoscope head shield in which the shield is bidirectional, easily used 
by both right and left-handed people. 
The foregoing and other aspects of the invention which will become apparent 
as the detailed description proceeds are achieved by a shield for a 
stethoscope, comprising: a bottom portion; and first and second top 
portions connected to said bottom portion, said top portions having 
respective first edges in juxtaposition to each other. 
Yet other aspects of the invention which will become apparent are attained 
by an array of envelopes for receiving the head of a stethoscope, 
comprising: a sheet of elongate plastic material; side edges of said 
elongate plastic material folded inwardly toward each other and forming 
two top portions overlaying a bottom portion, said side edges being in 
close spaced apart relation to each other; and a plurality of seals in 
spaced apart relation traversing said sheet and sealing said top portions 
to said bottom portion. 
Yet further aspects of the invention are obtained by an envelope for 
receiving a stethoscope head, comprising: a sheet of plastic material 
having sides and ends; said sides of said plastic sheet being folded 
toward each other, said sides forming top portions overlying a bottom 
portion; and said ends of said sheet of plastic material being sealed to 
bond said top portions to said bottom portions.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
With reference now to the drawings and more particularly FIGS. 1 and 2, it 
can be seen that a stethoscope shield or sheath made according to the 
invention is designated generally by the numeral 10. It will be 
appreciated that the shield 10 is constructed of a unitary piece of 
plastic film such as polyethylene film. The shield 10 comprises two top 
portions 12,14, formed by folding side edges of the plastic film toward 
each other. Appropriate seals 16,18 traverse the sides of the shield 10, 
sealing the top portions 12,14 to the bottom portion 22. While any of 
numerous types of seals might be employed, an appropriate heat seal may 
achieve the desired results, particularly when plastic film constitutes 
the medium for manufacture of the shield. 
It will be noted that the top portions 12,14 are spaced apart from each 
other a slight amount to define an opening or slit 20 which allows for 
access to the interior of the shield 10 which is now in the form of an 
envelope or the like. 
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the shields 10 may be presented in the form of a 
web or ribbon 24. To appreciate how the web 24 is obtained, an 
understanding of the manufacturing process of the invention should be 
obtained. In the preferred embodiment, a roll of opaque colored 
polyethylene film having a thickness of 1-2 mils, and preferably 1.5 mils, 
is mounted on a feeder roll assembly. In the preferred embodiment, the 
film has a width of 5-9 inches and, most preferably, 7 inches. The film is 
drawn over a forming jig which upturns the outer edges simultaneously and 
folds them inwardly in an axial direction until they are placed in 
juxtaposition to each other along the center line of the process line or 
web of film. These edges form the top portions 12,14 of the shield 10. The 
unfolded portion of the film, upon which the top portions are folded, 
forms the bottom portion 22 of the shield 10, such being the patient 
contact portion of the shield. It will, of course, be understood that the 
total width of the folded film is, in the preferred embodiment, 
approximately 3.5 inches. 
Folded film is next drawn into a heat sealing apparatus, specifically a 
drum roller with heat sealing elements spaced approximately 2.5 inches on 
center around the circumference. The range of spacing could be 2-3 inches. 
A drum of similar diameter applies pressure to the film, forcing it 
together. Heat is applied, bonding the top and bottom planes of the film 
together, thus forming the stethoscope shield 10. If bulk packaged items 
are desired, the temperature of the heating elements is adjusted to seal 
and melt off the individual shields as they are formed. A vacuum suction 
device may then transport the shields to a bulk packaging location. If, 
however, a pocket pack is desired such as will be discussed hereinafter 
with respect to FIGS. 7 and 8, the formed and sealed ribbon 24 of shields 
10 proceeds to a cutting drum where perforations are placed in the center 
line of each heat sealed bond as by a die cutting operation or the like. 
The ribbon is then measured and cut to the desired length. The final 
wind-up device prepares a roll of the ribbon 24 for packaging. Final 
packaging accordingly consists of a roll of shields sealed in a blister 
package on a cardboard backing providing an opening through which the 
shields may be dispensed. 
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the ribbon 24 simply comprises a plurality of 
interconnected shields 20 which may be easily separated as by the 
perforations 26 introduced thereinto by a die-cutting operation as 
discussed above. 
FIGS. 5 and 6 present the employment of the invention in association with a 
stethoscope head 28. As shown, the head 28 is inserted through the slit 20 
and into the envelope defined by the top portions 12,14 and bottom portion 
22, sealed along the lateral edges 16,18. The head 28 substantially fills 
the envelope from side to side. The seals 16,18 are such as to keep the 
edges of the top portions 12,14 in close juxtaposition such that, once the 
head 28 is inserted into the envelope, the slot 20 tightens thereover, 
substantially enclosing the stethoscope head. In any event the bottom 
portion of the stethoscope which is placed adjacent the patients body is 
fully covered by the bottom portion 22. 
It will be appreciated that while the stethoscope head shown in FIGS. 5 and 
6 is the standard flat type of head, the shields 10 are adapted for use 
with the bell-shaped stethoscope heads as well. 
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the ribbon 24 of shields 10 may be placed within 
a container 30 in the form of a roll 32. The shields 10 exit the container 
30 through a slot or other appropriate opening 34. The perforations 26 
allow for ease of separation of each shield 10 from the adjoining shield. 
As mentioned above, if the temperature of the sealing mechanism is 
increased sufficiently, the shields 10 may be separated from each other 
during the manufacturing process, in which case they may be individually 
stacked in a bulk container. 
It will be appreciated that by making the shields 10 of a colored opaque 
plastic sheet material, presence of the shield can be most easily detected 
by the care provider and the patient, giving assurance to both that 
disease and contaminants are not being transmitted by the stethoscope 
head. Of course, at the end of each use, the shield 10 is removed and 
discarded and a new shield put in its place. 
In the preferred embodiment of the invention presented above, the shield or 
envelope 10 is configured as a 3.5.times.2.5 inch assembly. It will, 
however, be appreciated that such dimensions may be varied, dependent upon 
the size of stethoscope head being employed. It will also be appreciated 
that a shield 10 could, in fact, be made of transparent plastic material 
if such were desired. 
Thus it can be seen that the objects of the invention have been satisfied 
by the structure presented hereinabove. While in accordance with the 
patent statutes only the best mode and preferred embodiment of the 
invention has been presented and described in detail, it will be 
understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby. 
Accordingly, for an appreciation of the true scope and breadth of the 
invention, reference should be had to the following claims.