Sheath for ultrasound probe
OwnerRick L. Pruterinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved sheath for use to cover an ultrasound transducer probe. An elongate polymeric tube is telescopingly collapsed upon itself toward its open end. An open-ended polygonal body is mounted within the tube adjacent its open end. The body is flattened until ready for use, whereupon it may be formed into a three-dimensional body and used to form a passage for the probe into the tube. Conductive gel is deposited into the tube at its lower end and a transducer probe passed through the body in the tube. The user may then grasp the open end of the sheath in one hand and the probe within the tube in the other hand and draw the tube into its fully extended form for use.
Claims10
An elongate sheath for receiving an ultrasound transducer probe comprising
- a tube of flexible polymeric material having an open end and an opposing closed end;
- a polygonal body having open opposing ends;
- one of said open ends of said polygonal body disposed at said open end of said tube;
- said polygonal body disposed within said tube near the open end thereof;
- said polygonal body constructed of relatively stiff material;
- said polygonal body collapsible into a substantially planar object;
- said polygonal body retained to said tube;
- said tube telescopingly collapsed about said polygonal body.
A protective enclosure for receiving an ultrasound transducer probe comprising
- a tube of flexible polymeric material having an open end;
- a sheet of relatively stiff material disposed within said tube near the open end thereof;
- said sheet folded into opposing sides having a hinged edge and opposing free edges;
- said sheet formable into an open ended polygon when said hinged edge is drawn toward said free edges;
- said sheet retained to said tube;
- said tube telescopingly collapsed about said polygonal body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.