Alleviating stethoscopically-caused contamination
OwnerJeffrey Robinsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disposable sterile coverings impervious to bacteria and viruses, and related methods, are disclosed, the coverings temporarily insulating the operative base surface of the diaphragm of a traditional high quality, repeat use stethoscope. Each covering is discarded after a single use, thereby preventing cross bacterial and viral infections, including those caused by highly resistant bacteria, between patients on which the same stethoscope is successively used.
Claims19
A combination:
- a repeat use stethoscope comprising a diaphragm having an operative base surface;
- a disposable cover insulating the operative base surface from a patient during stethoscopic use;
- such that the disposable cover becomes contiguous with a medical patient during stethoscope use so that bacterial and/or viral contamination, if any, occurs on and is discarded with the cover prior to later use of the stethoscope on another patient.
A disposable cover for placement at the distal end of a repeat use stethoscope in superimposed relation over an operative base surface of a diaphragm of the stethoscope, the cover comprising a patient engaging surface, a diaphragm engaging surface and an element by which the cover is temporarily but removably secured to the diaphragm.
A method of alleviating cross bacteria and/or viral infections caused by multiple uses of a repeat use stethoscope comprising the acts of:
- (a) superimposing a cover impervious to bacteria and viruses over an operative base surface of a diaphragm of the stethoscope in but retained removable relationship;
- (b) placing the cover contiguous with a medical patient;
- (c) gaining patient data through use of the stethoscope;
- (d) removing the cover from the patient;
- and
- (e) removing the cover from the stethoscope and discarding the cover.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.