Patent ID: RE43745

Claim:
A probe cover for a probe of a tympanic thermometer, said probe cover comprising: a generally tubular body having a longitudinal axis, an opening at a proximal end of the body for receiving a thermometer probe, and a film window at a distal end of the body generally opposite said proximal end; a film support extending radially inward from said distal end of the body toward said longitudinal axis and having an inner edge extending circumferentially around said longitudinal axis and defining a perimeter of said window; and the film window is secured at a film support surface at a distal end of the film support and extends beyond the inner edge of the film support, the film extends over the film support surface and substantially toward an outer edge of the body, a plurality of end ribs spaced apart and disposed about an inner circumference of the distal end of the body, each of the end ribs being positioned to engage a distal end of the thermometer probe and prevent contact of the film by the thermometer probe, wherein the inner edge of the film support extends substantially the same distance inward as a transverse portion of each of the plurality of end ribs and further wherein at least some of the end ribs converge with the film support, the probe cover being substantially transparent to infrared radiation through the window, and the perimeter of the window being substantially free from corners in a plane of the window.