Protective cover for medical gas cylinders and canisters

A protective cover for medical gas canisters,

• a. the cover including a membrane having:
• 1) a top section having superfluous membrane material to provide slack such that, when the membrane is fit about a canister, a handle or knob on the canister is manipulatable without tearing the membrane;
• 2) an elastic band for providing a tight fit with a canister received in the membrane;
• and
• 3) a perforated access point:
• a) being defined by a perforated elongated path configured to be torn therealong to form an open access point, and
• b) that is permeable to gas, and
• c) having sterilizing material for decontaminating a valve being accessed through the perforated access point;
• b. wherein:
• 1) the cover serves as a physical containment barrier for canisters to limit cross-contamination of biohazardous materials when a canister is situated within the membrane;
• and
• 2) the membrane is see-through such that markings and labels on canisters remain visible to users.

A protective cover for medical gas canisters,

• a. the cover including a membrane having:
• 1) a primary opening sized to allow the membrane to slip over a canister;
• 2) a top section having superfluous membrane material to provide slack such that, when the membrane is fit about a canister to cover a handle or knob on the canister, the handle or knob is manipulatable without tearing the membrane;
• 3) a perforated access point that is permeable to gas, the perforated access point being defined by an elongated perforated path configured to be torn along the length of the path to form an open access point;
• and
• 4) an elastic band for embracing a canister about which the membrane is slipped;
• b. wherein the cover serves as a physical containment barrier for canisters to limit cross-contamination of biohazardous materials when:
• 1) the membrane is slipped over a canister through the primary opening;
• and
• 2) a valve of the canister is accessed through the perforated access point for retrieval of gas from the canister.

A protective cover for medical gas canisters,

• a. the cover including a membrane having:
• 1) a primary opening sized to allow the membrane to slip over a canister;
• 2) a perforated access point that is permeable to gas, the perforated access point being defined by an aperture bounded by an elongated perforated path configured to be torn along the length of the path to form an open access point, the aperture having a pull tab opening;
• and
• 3) an elastic band for embracing a canister about which the membrane is slipped;
• b. wherein the cover serves as a physical containment barrier for canisters to limit cross-contamination of biohazardous materials when:
• 1) the membrane is slipped over a canister through the primary opening;
• and
• 2) a valve of the canister is accessed through the perforated access point for retrieval of gas from the canister.

A protective cover for medical gas canisters,

• a. the cover including a membrane having:
• 1) a primary opening sized to allow the membrane to slip over a canister;
• 2) a perforated access point that is permeable to gas, the perforated access point being defined by an elongated perforated path configured to be torn along the length of the path to form an open access point;
• and
• 3) a visual alignment marker positioned underneath the perforated access point to indicate proper rotational alignment of the perforated access point and a valve on a canister when the membrane is slipped over the canister;
• and
• 4) an elastic band for embracing a canister about which the membrane is slipped;
• b. wherein the cover serves as a physical containment barrier for canisters to limit cross-contamination of biohazardous materials when:
• 1) the membrane is slipped over a canister through the primary opening;
• and
• 2) a valve of the canister is accessed through the perforated access point for retrieval of gas from the canister.

A protective cover for medical gas canisters,

• a. the cover including a membrane having:
• 1) a primary opening sized to allow the membrane to slip over a canister;
• 2) a perforated access point that is permeable to gas, the perforated access point:
• i. being defined by an elongated perforated path configured to be torn along the length of the path to form an open access point, and
• ii. including sterilizing material for decontaminating a valve being accessed through the perforated access point;
• and
• 3) an elastic band for embracing a canister about which the membrane is slipped;
• b. wherein the cover serves as a physical containment barrier for canisters to limit cross-contamination of biohazardous materials when:
• 1) the membrane is slipped over a canister through the primary opening;
• and
• 2) a valve of the canister is accessed through the perforated access point for retrieval of gas from the canister.