IR thermometry probe cover

A removable protective cover for an insertion probe of a medical instrument. The cover contains a flexible tubular body that compliments the probe geometry and a radially disposed flange that surrounds the proximal end of the body. A series of snap-on fasteners removably connect the cover to the instrument. A camming surface is located on the outer face of the flange which coacts with a cam follower that is movably mounted upon the instrument to flex the cover sufficiently to open the fastener and release the cover from the instrument and move the cover axially toward the distal end of the tip.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a protective cover for the probe of a medical instrument that is insertable into a body cavity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many types of medical instruments, such as an infrared (IR) thermometer, contain a probe for insertion into a body cavity so that various body related measurement can be taken. In order to prevent cross contamination between patients or health care workers and patients, the probe is generally enclosed within a protective cover which can be disposed of in a sanitary manner after it has been used. Typically the covers are manufacted of plastic using different types of molding techniques many of which produce products that have surface imperfections or which can not be held to tight tolerances. Most protective covers are packaged and shipped with the covers being stacked one inside the other. Unstacking irregular formed covers and placing them upon the tip of an instrument can be extremely difficult. Defective covers tend to bind in the stack and as a consequence can be damaged and dropped during removal from the stack. Displacement or a misshapened cover from the instrument tip during an examination can also be unnerving to both the attending health care individuals and the patient. Lastly, an irregular formed covers can hang up on the instrument during removal thus requiring unwanted manual handling of a potentially contaminated product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to improve disposable probe covers that are suitable for use in the protection of insertion tips of medical instruments.

Another object of the invention is to provide for easy removal of a protective probe cover from a supply stack of covers.

A further object of the invention is to more positively secure a protective probe cover to a medical instrument to insure that the cover does not become dislodged during a patient examination.

A still further object of the present invention is to allow for the free release of a used probe cover from a medical instrument.

Yet another object of the present invention is to minimize the amount of manual handling that is required when loading and unloading a protective probe cover from a medical instrument.

Still another object of the present invention is to minimize the risk of damaging a protective probe cover as the cover is being loaded upon a medical instrument.

These and other objects of the invention are attained by a removable protective cover for a medical instrument that contains a probe that is suitable for insertion into a body cavity. The cover contains a flexible tubular body that compliments the tip geometry and a radially disposed flange that surround the proximal end of the body. A series of snap on fasteners removably connect the cover to the instrument. A camming surface is located on the outer face of the flange which coacts with a cam follower that is movably mounted upon the instrument to flex the cover sufficiently to open the fastener and release the cover from the instrument. Alignment tabs are further provided on the flange that mate with openings in the instrument to properly register the cover with regard to the instrument.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring initially toFIGS. 1-3, the present invention involving a protective probe cover generally referenced10that will be described herein with regard to an infrared thermometer11. It should be clear to one skilled in the art, however, that the present invention can be used in conjunction with various other medical instruments having an extended probe for insertion into a body cavity. As pointed out above, disposable protective covers are placed over the probes to mitigate the danger of cross contamination occurring during and after an examination. The covers found in the prior art are typically made of plastic and are fabricated using various molding processes. Many of these molding methods, however, create imperfections in the final product and are unable to hold the product to close tolerances. Resulting in unwanted and potentially dangerous problems arising particularly during a medical procedure.

Testing has shown that probe covers that are fabricated by the injection molding process can be held to tight tolerances while still having a desired amount of flexibility that help overcome many fabrication problems. Accordingly, any references made herein involving a protective probe cover embodying the present invention will be specifically directed to a plastic cover that has been injection molded.

FIGS. 1-3illustrate the top section of a hand held IR thermometer. The instrument includes a lower body section12and an upper head section13that contains an insertion probe10. That protrudes outwardly some distance from the head of the instrument. As best illustrated inFIG. 3, the proximal end section15of the probe is cylindrical in form and is secured by any suitable means to the head. The distal end16of the probe projects outwardly from the head and is conical shaped so as to taper downwardly from the cylindrical body of the probe towards the distal end tip17. An IR sensor18is mounted in the tip of the probe. Although not shown, the sensor is connected by electrical leads to a processor that is located within the body of the instrument which provides an accurate temperature read out to the user.

The probe cover10is shown inFIGS. 1 and 3mounted upon the extended end of the probe10in a locked position wherein the cover is securely fastened to the probe. The inner wall surface32of the cover complement the conical wall surface of probe. As will be explained in further detail below, the cover is releasably secured to the probe by a series of snap-on fasteners50. A best illustrated inFIG. 3, an ejector mechanism, generally referenced25is slidably mounted inside the instrument head upon the cylindrical section of the probe. The ejector mechanism is equipped with a circular ring24that surrounds the cylindrical section of the probe to provide a close running fit there between so that the ejector can be moved axially along the centerline29of the probe between a first cover locking position and a second cover releasing position.

The ring of the ejector contains a raised finger engagable control button26that passes upwardly through an opening27contained in the head of the instrument. When the control button is situated at the back of the opening as shown inFIG. 1, the ejector mechanism is in the first probe locking position. Manual movement of the control button to the front of the opening as illustrated inFIG. 2places the ejector mechanism a second probe releasing position.

Turning now toFIGS. 4-6there is illustrated the front circular shoulder mount30of the probe assembly which is retained within the front wall31of the instrument head to support the distal end16of the probe in assembly.FIG. 4shows probe without a cover. Two opposed arcute shaped slots33-33are located in the probe mount30that are centered upon the longitudinal axis29of the probe. A pair of arcute shaped fingers35-35that are intragally joined to the ejector ring24and are slidably contained within the slots33-33. The fingers are arranged to be extended and retracted as the ejector moves between the first and second positions. A series of circumferentially spaced segmented detent beads38-38are mounted upon the probe and, as will be explained in greater detail below, each bead section is the male part of a two part snap on fitting for releasably securing the probe cover10to the instrument. Preferably three equally spaced fittings are employed to secure the cover to the instruments, however, more or less fittings may be employed depending upon the particular application.

FIG. 5illustrates a protective cover10mounted in a locked position upon the probe. At this time, the flange40of the cover has engaged the fingers35-35of the ejector mechanism and has moved the ejector back to the cover locking position due to the rearward movement of the cover over the probe. Full reward movement is attained when the snap-on fasteners engage the bead segments on the probe.

FIG. 6illustrates a probe cover located upon the probe with the ejector mechanism in the cover releasing position. At this time the control button25(FIG. 3) has been moved forward causing the ejector mechanism to unlock the fasteners thus releasing the cover. In addition the continued movement of the ejector toward the distal end of the probe frees the cover from the probe.

FIGS. 7A,7B and8illustrate a first embodiment of the invention detailing apparatus for securing and releasing a probe cover from the instrument.FIG. 7Ashows the above described ejector mechanism25moved back into the first cover locking position and a snap-on fasteners generally reference50in a cover securing condition. At this time the cover is snuggly contained upon the probe. The cover contains an IR transparent lens or window19mounted in the distal tip thereof which is now located in close proximity with the IR sensor18(seeFIG. 3).

With further reference toFIG. 7Bthe securing and releasing apparatus is shown in further detail in the locked position. Each snap-on fastener50includes two mating parts or sections. These include the previously noted bead segment38located upon the probe surface that mates with an arcuate shaped cove42that is contained in the inner wall53of the cover adjacent to the proximal end flange40. The cove preferable extends circularly about the axis of the cover and services each of the detent beads. The cover wall section that encircles the cove provides a weaker section in the cover about which the cover can flex when an upward force is applied to the outer face56of the flange. A circular camming surface58is contained in the outer face of the flange that rung along the rim of the flange. The camming surface is angularly offset with regard to the axis of the cover. The distal end of the two fingers35of the ejector mechanism is provided with a arcute surface60that is arranged to ride in contact with camming surface58as the ejector mechanism moves between the first and second positions. Surface60thus serves as a cam follower in system. Although surface60is shown arcute in form, it can, in practice, be a flat surface that rides in sliding contact with camming surface58without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 7Bshows the probe cover10in a locked position with the snap fitting closed thereby securing the cover to the probe. At this time the ejector mechanism is in the cover locking position. Moving the ejector button forward moves the cam follower against the camming surface of flange causing the lower portion of the cover to flex about the weakened wall section which surrounds the cove42. Sufficient flexure is provided to free the detent beads38from the cove42. Thus releasing the cover from the probe. As shown inFIG. 8further forward movement of the ejector moves the cover well clear of the probe surface so that it can fall easily from probe under the influences of gravity.

A series of semi circular tabs65are circumferentially space upon the outer face of the flange that arranged to mate with openings66in the raised shoulder30of the probe so that the snap-on fittings will mate properly at the time of closure.

Turning now toFIGS. 9A and 9B, there is illustrated a second embodiment of the invention in which the probe cover is generally referenced70. In this embodiment, the probe cover is also equipped with a series of snap-on fittings50as described above. The cove that is formed in the inner wall of the cover body adjacent to the flange is also provided with a weakened section about which the flange can flex. A circular groove63is provided in the outer face of the flange which contain a camming surface65that is angularly offset with regard to the longitudinal axis of the probe. The end67of each ejector mechanism finger35is arcuate shaped and acts as a cam followers that ride in sliding contact with the camming surface65. Again, as the ejector is moved from the first cover locking position to the second release position, each snap on fitting50is opened and the cover is released from the probe.

As noted, it is the general practice to package and ship the covers in stacks. A number of probe covers10-10are illustrated inFIG. 10in a stacked configuration. When stacked one on top of the other the semi circular tabs on the upper cover are arrange to seat upon the flange of the underlying cover to prevent the outer wall surface of the lower cover from moving into binding contact with the inner surface of the upper cover. In addition, the inclined edge surfaces58on the outer face of cover flange40provide an easily accessible space between each of the cover which can be utilized to further facilitate removal of individual covers from the stack.

While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof to adapt to particular situations without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.