US 5,669,390 AGranted

Single use protective barrier medical accessory for isolating a sphygmomanometer cuff from a patient

OwnerDavid A. McCormick, Martha S. McCormickinventors

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Abstract

A single use protective barrier medical accessory serves to isolate a sphygmomanometer cuff from a patient whose blood pressure is to be taken in order to prevent contamination of the cuff by the patient's bodily fluids such as blood. The medical accessory constitutes an open ended tubular sleeve fabricated from readily foldable, fluid impervious material. Each open end is provided with an elastic band to snugly close around the patient's arm. In use, the tubular sleeve is introduced over a patient's arm and slid into position. A sphygmomanometer cuff is then fixed in place over the sleeve in the usual position on the patient's arm. Then, an upper portion of the sleeve is folded over to completely cover the sphygmomanometer cuff while permitting admission of a tube coupled to a bulb for pressurizing the cuff. After the patient's blood pressure has been taken, the upper portion is unfolded, the cuff is removed and the sleeve is removed and disposed of, preferably according to established procedures. In one preferred embodiment, the upper portion of the sleeve includes a window through which a gauge attached to the cuff may be read.

A single use protective barrier medical accessory for isolating a sphygmomanometer cuff from a patient whose blood pressure is to be taken, said medical accessory comprising a tubular sleeve including a first portion fabricated from readily foldable, fluid impervious, non-transparent material, said tubular sleeve having a first open end and a second open end, said tubular sleeve being sufficiently long to extend from about the upper terminus of a patient's arm to a point below said patient's elbow, said tubular sleeve further including a second, transparent window portion extending from proximate said first end to a point intermediate said first open end and said second open end, said tubular sleeve having a circumference sufficient to admit of ready introduction of said tubular sleeve over said patient's arm and into a functional position extending from about the upper terminus of said patient's arm to a point below said patient's elbow, said first and second open ends of said tubular sleeve each being provided with cincture means adapted to snugly close said first and second ends around said patient's arm to thereby maintain said tubular sleeve in position during use;

whereby, sequentially, said tubular sleeve may be introduced over an arm of said patient and slid into position for use with said window portion facing generally outwardly, a sphygmomanometer cuff may be emplaced over said tubular sleeve above said patient's elbow, a segment of said tubular sleeve extending between said sphygmomanometer cuff and said first open end of said tubular sleeve may be folded over said sphygmomanometer cuff for complete coverage thereof, for a view of a gauge thereof through said window portion while permitting admission of a tube coupled to a bulb for pressurizing said sphygmomanometer cuff, said patient's blood pressure may be taken, said segment may be unfolded to its original position, said sphygmomanometer cuff may be removed and said tubular sleeve may be removed and disposed.

Abstract

Claims7