IR thermometry probe cover

A method of removing a probe cover from a medical instrument, comprising:

• slidably engaging a cam follower surface of the medical instrument with a camming surface of the cover, the camming surface extending at least partially around a proximal end of the cover;
• flexing the cover about a section of the proximal end in response to the engagement between the cam follower surface and the camming surface;
• and
• disengaging a cove defined by an inner surface of the cover from a detent bead of a distal end of the instrument in response to the flexing, wherein disengaging the cove comprises moving a proximal portion of the cove beyond a peak of the detent bead.

A system for probe cover storage, comprising:

• a first probe cover, the first probe cover having
• a distal end,
• a proximal end,
• a body extending from the distal end and terminating at the proximal end,
• an annular flange disposed at the proximal end,
• a camming surface defined by the flange and configured to mate with an ejector mechanism of the instrument at the proximal end, a section of the flange being configured to flex in response to application of a force to the camming surface by the ejector mechanism, and
• a shelf extending along at least a portion of an outer surface of the flange and substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cover;
• and
• a second probe cover stacked on top of the first probe cover such that the distal end of the first probe cover is disposed substantially adjacent to a distal end of the second probe cover,
• the second probe cover having a base disposed on the shelf of the first probe cover such that a gap is formed between the first probe cover and the second probe cover, the gap extending from the shelf to the distal end of the first probe cover.

A probe cover for a medical instrument, comprising:

• a substantially conical body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a flange disposed at the proximal end and annularly surrounding the proximal end, the body defining a longitudinal axis and tapering away from the longitudinal axis from the distal end toward the proximal end, the body terminating at the proximal end;
• an IR transparent portion disposed at the distal end of the body;
• a cove formed by an inner surface of the body, the cove extending annularly around the body and being configured to receive a plurality of detent beads of the instrument for releasably connecting the probe cover to the instrument;
• a camming surface defined by the flange and configured to receive an ejector finger of the instrument slidably engaging the camming surface;
• and
• a weakened section formed proximate the cove, the weakened section configured to bend in response to an upward force applied to the camming surface by the ejector finger, wherein bending of the weakened section removes the cove from the plurality of detent beads and releases the probe cover from the instrument.