Ir thermometry probe cover
AssigneeWelch Allyn, Inc.
InventorsJohn A. Lane, David E. Quinn, Ray D. Stone, Scott A. Martin, John R. Strom
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A protective cover for an insertion probe of a medical instrument. The cover contains a flexible tubular body that compliments the probe geometry and a radially disposed flange that surrounds the proximal end of the body. A series of snap-on fasteners removably connect the cover to the instrument. A camming surface is located on the outer face of the flange which coacts with a cam follower that is movably mounted upon the instrument to flex the cover sufficiently to open the fastener and release the cover from the instrument and move the cover axially toward the distal end of the tip.
Claims21
1-20. (Canceled)
A probe cover, comprising:
- a body having
- a distal end;
- a proximal end;
- a longitudinal axis extending substantially centrally through the body;
- a flange disposed at the proximal end and including a camming surface, the camming surface being angularly offset relative to the longitudinal axis, and extending radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis;
- and
- a weakened section formed by a wall of the body distal to and radially inward of the camming surface, the weakened section including a first thickness, and at least part of the body adjacent the weakened section including a second thickness greater than the first thickness.
A method, comprising:
- providing a first probe cover;
- disposing a body of a second probe cover at least partly within a body of the first probe cover;
- and
- packaging the first and second probe covers such that the body of the second probe cover remains disposed at least partly within the body of the first probe cover while the first and second probe covers are packaged, wherein the first probe cover is substantially identical to the second probe cover, and the body of the first probe cover comprises:
- a distal end;
- a proximal end;
- a longitudinal axis extending substantially centrally through the body;
- a flange disposed at the proximal end and including a camming surface, the camming surface being angularly offset relative to the longitudinal axis, and extending radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis;
- and
- a weakened section formed by a wall of the body distal to and radially inward of the camming surface.
A method of manufacturing a probe cover, comprising:
- forming a body of the probe cover from a polymer, the body having
- a distal end;
- a proximal end;
- a longitudinal axis extending substantially centrally through the body;
- a flange disposed at the proximal end and including a camming surface, the camming surface being substantially convex or including a substantially planar distalmost peak;
- a cove extending radially away from the longitudinal axis;
- and
- a weakened section encircling the cove, the weakened section including a first thickness, and at least part of the body adjacent the weakened section including a second thickness greater than the first thickness.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.