Abstract:
A stethoscope glove provides a simple and effective way to improve the hygienic practice of medicine by promoting universal precaution in disease prevention. The single use glove is designed to shield the stethoscope bell or diaphragm, thereby preventing direct contact of the stethoscope to one patient and then to the next. Practicing universal precaution by everyone in the medical community can help eliminate serious healthcare-associated and community-acquired diseases, such as the staphylococcal infection called MRSA (Methicillin Resistant  Staphylococcus Aureus ). The invention may come in many sizes and may be supplied and marketed in kit form—including a box holder with the two portions, a supply of prestretched glove units, and, of course, instructions. Because the glove units and the box holders may be directed to different sizes/styles of stethoscope use, there may be different kits available. A kit may also contain wall-mounting hardware.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/060,124, entitled “Disposable Stethoscope Glove,” filed on Jun. 10, 2008, with inventor Eller Manlapaz, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention pertains generally to medical accessories and more particularly to a disposable glove for stethoscope bells and diaphragms for use by all medical providers and also an apparatus and method for installing the glove on a stethoscope. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE FIELD 
       [0003]    As a universal precaution to prevent disease transmission, hand sanitizing has been actively promoted in all medical institutions. This practice prevents the human hands from becoming vehicles of diseases or bodily fluid transmission. There are three ways to accomplish this: (1) by hand washing with soap and running water, (2) by applying antimicrobial gel, and (3) by shielding hands with a disposable, single-use device such as a glove. 
         [0004]    In this day and age, dissemination of diseases, particularly infection, has been a paramount concern. Practicing universal precaution by everyone in the medical community can help eliminate serious healthcare-associated and community-acquired diseases, such as the staphylococcal infection called MRSA (Methicillin Resistant  Staphylococcus Aureus ). 
         [0005]    Practitioners in the medical field use the stethoscope as much as hands to evaluate patients and administer treatment. Hand sanitizing after examining and treating a patient is primarily aimed at preventing disease transmission, in addition to being a hygienic and healthy habit. Unlike hand sanitizing, there are no current guidelines to sterilize the stethoscope used in between patients. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by providing a simple and effective way to glove the stethoscope. The disposable stethoscope glove is a new medical device that offers a hygienic way of practicing medicine. The device is designed for single use. It is designed to shield the stethoscope bell or diaphragm, on the anterior surface of the stethoscope, thereby preventing direct contact of the stethoscope to one patient and then to the next. Just like a hand glove, this device serves as a barrier between the stethoscope and the patient, preventing the very stethoscope from becoming a vector of disease and dirt transmission from one patient to another. Due to is cost-effectiveness, it can be utilized by all medial professionals involved in patient care, including but not limited to certified nursing assistants, nurses, physician assistants, and physicians. In this way, it truly and realistically promotes universal precaution in disease prevention and hygienic medical practice. 
         [0007]    The parts of the stethoscope that are used to auscultate the patient may include a wider diaphragm and/or a narrower bell. The pediatric stethoscope diaphragm approximates the size of an adult stethoscope bell. The invention may come in at least two sizes: one size for the adult stethoscope diaphragm, and another one for the adult stethoscope bell and pediatric stethoscope diaphragm. A third size may be smaller to fit a pediatric bell. Additional sizes may be designed to fit alternate stethoscope styles. 
         [0008]    The invention may comprise a flexible, elastic, impermeable material that will stretch thinly and fit tightly on the stethoscope&#39;s bell or diaphragm. Materials that may be used to produce this device include rubber, latex, nitrile, or flexible vinyl. The material of the glove may also include (e.g., by impregnating or coating) an antimicrobial or other appropriate chemical substance. The glove may bear the shape (generally circular) of either the bell or diaphragm but in a smaller dimension and size, and may include an elastic band around its perimeter edge to help maintain shape and fit. Once the device is properly applied to the stethoscope, providing a snug fit thereon, only a thin material separates the stethoscope from the patient being examined. This will ensure minimal interference with auscultation. Once the device is used, it is easily removed by pulling the stretchable glove off the diaphragm or bell of the stethoscope. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from reading the following description in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a medical personnel using an installed stethoscope glove with a patient; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a detail view of a glove unit as it is to be prestretched over a support ring; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a detail view of a wall-mounted box holder having two portions—one for storing the available glove units and one for presenting the mounting tool; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a detail view showing the installation process; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a detail view of a glove installed on a stethoscope bell; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a detail view illustrating the method for removal of the glove. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The following specification describes a stethoscope glove apparatus and method. In the description, specific materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a more complete understanding of the present invention. But it is understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be practiced without those specific details. In some instances, well-known elements are not described precisely so as not to obscure the invention. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates a proper use of the invention  10  of the stethoscope glove. The figure shows a medical personnel  12 —a physician, nurse, or other care provider—using a stethoscope  14  with the stethoscope glove  16  installed on the bell or diaphragm (stethoscope part)  18 . In this case, the medical personnel  12  is using the stethoscope  14  to auscultate the chest of a patient  20 , but of course, the glove  16  is also indicated for other appropriate uses of a stethoscope such as in proximity to a patient&#39;s back. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates how the stethoscope glove  16 —which may be made of any appropriate flexible, elastic, impermeable material such as rubber, latex, nitrile, or flexible vinyl that will stretch thinly and fit tightly on the stethoscope&#39;s bell or diaphragm —is originally formed in a generally flat, generally circular gasket or sheath with a first surface  22  (which when properly installed will be next to the patient&#39;s skin) and a second surface  24  (which will install next to the stethoscope part). An outer rim  25  and a perimeter edge  26  define a lip  27 . The perimeter edge  26  may comprise a strip or strips of elastic to enhance its shape memory and is smaller in diameter than the outer rim. There are opposing tabs  28  and  30  extending outwardly from the perimeter edge. A sturdy, generally circular support ring  32 —typically made of plastic—is placed against the first side  22  of the glove, just inside the perimeter edge  26 , and the glove  16  is then stretched over the ring  32  to form the prestretched glove unit  34 . The diameter of the outer rim  25  should be slightly larger than the diameter of the support ring  32  (which in turn is slightly larger than the diameter of the applicable stethoscope part  18 ) so that the unit  34  will be formed with the perimeter edge  26  and the opposing tabs  28  and  30  extending outwardly from the perimeter edge and away from the second side  24  of the glove  16 . The glove  16  may further define a generally circular ridge or groove on the first surface  22  just inside the perimeter edge (which is preferably slightly smaller in diameter than the support ring) to enhance the fit of the glove  16  around the ring  32 . Prestretching the glove in this way may help to ensure that the glove material is uniform in thickness across the stethoscope part to permit high quality auscultation. 
         [0019]    Because stethoscopes come in various sizes and styles, including adult and pediatric designs, there may be various sizes of glove units. Furthermore, either the bell or the diaphragm of the stethoscope may be used for auscultation in differing circumstances. For each application, the support ring should be made to have a slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the stethoscope part—bell or diaphragm—intended to be gloved. The generally circular glove is then made to fit the support ring and so will also fit snugly around the stethoscope part upon proper installation. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates one example of a box holder  40 , which may be wall mounted, that provides easy access to the glove units, a simple mounting tool for applying the glove to the stethoscope part, and a method of waste collection and removal of the spent support rings. The holder  40  need not be in the shape of a box—e.g., it could be oval, round, rectangular, or of some irregular shape—and it also could sit on a horizontal countertop or shelf instead of being wall-mounted, but the options illustrated here have been chosen for explanatory purposes. However, regardless of the shape, the holder  40  should have at least two portions—a first portion  42  for storing a plurality of prestretched glove units  34  and a second portion  44  for presenting the mounting tool  46 . The box holder  40  may also comprise means for wall mounting  48 , such as screws  50 . Wall mounting means could also include adhesive or another fastener such as nails, hook-and-loop strips, etc. 
         [0021]    The first portion  42  may have a receptacle  43  that is large enough to hold a reasonable supply of loosely packed glove units  34 , and the receptacle  43  should have an opening  43   a  that is large enough to allow easy access to the units. The opening could be simply a large opening  43   a  at the top of the receptacle large enough for a hand to easily reach in and select a glove unit, or a door  43   b  (e.g., hinged or slidable) at the bottom of the receptacle  43  to provide access to the glove units. What is reasonable will, of course, vary depending upon the size and purpose of the facility, the number of box holders and their placement in the building, and the frequency of different patients. The idea is that enough glove units be available for each care provider to use a fresh, clean glove every time he or she auscultates a different patient. 
         [0022]    The second portion  44  is to be located in close proximity to the first portion and will present a mounting tool  46 . The mounting tool  46  shown is simply a generally vertical (i.e., upright) cylinder (which is to be hollow at least at the upper end  52 ) and is typically removably fixed to a horizontal shelf  47  of the box holder  40  such that its upper end  52  is easily accessible and available for mounting the glove units. The tool  46  is removable from the box holder so that the support rings  32  that collect around the mounting tool can be discarded periodically. In the illustration of  FIG. 3 , the mounting tool is fixed to a base  54  that can slide out of the shelf  47  so that the rings can be discarded. The short walls  56  are explained further in the following paragraph and may be used to help contain the spent support rings. The box holder can be designed to accommodate various sizes of glove units to fit various sizes of stethoscope parts. In that case, the first portion may be further partitioned and labeled to store more than one size of unit, and the second portion may present more than one differently sized mounting tool. 
         [0023]    The box holder may also be supplied as part of a stethoscope glove “installation station” kit along with a plurality of prestretched stethoscope glove units. The kit may further contain mounting hardware for wall mounting the box holder if desired. The box holder of the kit—regardless of its shape or size—should comprise a first portion including a receptacle for the glove units (as described in the foregoing paragraph), and a second portion including a mounting tool (also as described in the foregoing paragraph). The kit may be provided with a plurality of stethoscope glove units already loosely packed in the receptacle of the first portion, so that it is ready for use. The kit may be provided in various styles for different applications, and the generally horizontal shelf of the second portion of the box holder may or may not have the mounting tool removably attached thereto. Instructions for use will be included in the kit. 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  shows how a glove  16  is installed on a stethoscope part  18 —bell or diaphragm in order to prevent disease transmission. The user selects an appropriate stethoscope glove unit  34  from the first portion  42  of the box holder and applies it to the mounting tool  46  by placing it on top of the upper end  52  of the mounting tool  46  with the first surface  22  of the glove  16  facing downward toward the tool. The relative diameters of the mounting tool and the support ring of the stethoscope glove may be such that the support ring (and not the glove itself) will come into contact with the mounting tool. In an appropriately sized mounting tool, the diameter of the upper end  52  will be smaller than the perimeter edge  26  of the glove unit. The user then brings the stethoscope part  18  (whose diameter is slightly smaller than that of the cylinder so that the part will fit inside the hollow upper end) into close proximity of the glove unit—preferably as centered as possible—and gently taps it onto the second surface  24  of the glove proximate the ring  32  of the unit. Upon this tapping, the ring will release the glove  16 , which will separate from the ring to wrap around the stethoscope part  18  with the tabs  28  and  30  extending back away from the anterior surface of the stethoscope part (as shown in the next  FIG. 5 ). The second surface  24  of the glove  16  will now be installed adjacent the stethoscope part, with the first side  22  facing out ready to contact a patient&#39;s skin. The support ring (whose diameter is slightly larger than that of the cylinder) will simply fall down around the cylinder of the mounting tool. The rings  32  may be split rings as shown in the illustration, to facilitate their falling down around the cylinder of the mounting tool. When a number of rings have accumulated around the cylinder, the mounting tool can be removed from the box holder so that the spent rings can be discarded into an appropriate refuse receptacle. If the mounting tool  46  is fixed upon a slidable (or otherwise removable) base  54  as in the illustration, the base  54  can be removed to discard the rings and then reinstalled into the shelf  47  ready for use. Alternatively, the material of the split ring  32  could be some type of spring steel (or similar material) which will spring back into a more linear shape after releasing the glove  16 . In that case, the box holder  40  of  FIG. 3  may comprise short walls  56  to contain the more linear “rings” around the base of the mounting tool  46 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  shows in detail the stethoscope glove  16  installed on the bell or diaphragm  18  of a stethoscope. A properly sized glove will result in the perimeter edge  26  being high enough on the stethoscope part to ensure that the patient&#39;s skin is always protected. The first side  22  of the glove is facing outwardly from the stethoscope part (on the anterior surface) and ready to contact the skin of a patient for auscultation, and if desired, an antimicrobial gel or other substance can be applied. The installation method provides a snug fit so that the glove is of uniform thickness across the bell or diaphragm offering a more consistent sound quality for the user. This hands-off installation method also provides that the care provider does not need to use his or her fingers to stretch the glove across the bell or diaphragm—therefore maintaining the integrity of the glove&#39;s hygiene. 
         [0026]    After a single use of the stethoscope glove  16  and in preparation for the next patient, the user may easily remove the glove as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The user simply grasps the opposing tabs  28  and  30  of the glove, which are sized to be grasped between a human thumb and forefinger, and gently pulls the glove away from the stethoscope. The glove can then be discarded into an appropriate waste receptacle or trash can.