Patent ID: 7921959

Claim:
An apparatus for use by a user having one hand and for use with a stethoscope having a stethoscope head and a connector tube extending from the stethoscope head, the apparatus comprising: an elongated sleeve constructed of a material that is acoustically transmissive and generally impermeable to microorganisms and fluids, wherein the elongated sleeve defines an interior volume and has a closed sleeve first end and an opened sleeve second end defining a mouth; and a clasp fixedly attached to the mouth of the elongated sleeve, wherein the clasp is configured to move from a closed position to an open position by an external compressive force applied to the clasp by the one hand of the user, wherein the clasp is further configured to close the mouth of the elongated sleeve when no external compressive force is applied to the clasp and to open the mouth of the elongated sleeve when the external compressive force is applied to the clasp, and wherein the clasp is further configured to grip the connector tube when the stethoscope head and at least a portion of the connector tube are disposed within the elongated sleeve and when no external compressive force is applied to the clasp.