Patent ID: 8231271

Claim:
Apparatus for protectively covering the insertion probe of a medical instrument that includes: a cover having a flexible tubular body that compliments the shape of said instrument probe, said body having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis, a radially disposed flange located at the proximal end of said body, said flange having an outer face that is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, securing means for releasable connecting said body to said instrument, said securing means comprising a first component on said instrument, and a second component on said body and configured to receive said first component, a inclined camming surface located upon said outer face of said flange that is angularly offset with regard to said longitudinal axis, and an ejector mechanism located upon said instrument for movement along a path of travel parallel to said longitudinal axis, said ejector mechanism containing a cam follower slidably engaging said camming surface to flex said body sufficiently to release said cover from said instrument as said ejector mechanism moves between a first locking position and a second release position.