Thermal measuring and testing – Temperature measurement – With removable cover for sensor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-29
2001-07-03
Bennett, G. Bradley (Department: 2859)
Thermal measuring and testing
Temperature measurement
With removable cover for sensor
C128S098100, C600S186000, C600S200000, C600S203000, C600S184000, C600S549000, C600S474000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254271
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a tympanic thermometer, and more particularly, to a probe cover of a tympanic thermometer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Clinical thermometers are very helpful in the diagnosis of diseases. The tympanic membrane is generally considered by the medical community to be superior to oral, rectal, or underarm sites for representing the body's core temperature. The temperature of the tympanic membrane can be measured by detecting the infrared radiation from the tympanic membrane in the ear canal. In addition, the time needed for the body temperature measuring by using an infrared thermometer is short. The use of infrared thermometers therefore has become more and more prevalent.
To measure the infrared emission in the external car canal, the probe of a tympanic thermometer has to be inserted into the external ear canal for sensing the infrared emission from the tympanic membrane to determine the temperature of the tympanic membrane. However, a tympanic thermometer that is used to determine the body temperature of different patients can cause contamination and infections. To prevent this disadvantage, the probe of a tympanic thermometer can be provided with a probe cover that is disposable after use.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a probe cover of a tympanic thermometer disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,418 to Fraden et al. comprises a sheath
31
and ring-shaped base
32
. The sheath
31
is formed from a infrared transparent film having a thickness of 0.001 inch. The closed end of the sheath
31
is flat and acts as a window
311
for infrared emission. The circumferential wall
312
includes a plurality of pleats. The circumferential peripheral flange is attached to the ring-typed base
32
. The base
32
is designed to fit tightly on the probe of the thermometer. When the base
32
is fitted on the probe of the thermometer, the window
311
contacts with the front inlet of the probe. The drawback of the probe cover lies in that when it is inserted in the ear canal, the pleats on the wall
312
of the sheath
31
scrape the skin of the canal and cause a patient feel uncomfortable. In addition, the sheath generates noises when it is pressed. Moreover, wrinkles appear on the window
31
when the probe cover is fitted on the probe and cause stray radiation that adversely affects the accuracy of the measured temperature.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, a probe cover of a tympanic thermometer disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,834 to Howe et al. comprises a frustum-shaped sheath
41
and a base
42
formed from a single piece of infrared transparent material. The dimensions of the sheath
41
are chosen to let it fit on the probe closely. The thickness of the sheath
41
is gradually reduced from the proximal portion to the distal portion such that the window
411
has the minimal thickness of between approximately one thousandth and five then thousandths of an inch. The base
42
circumferentially engages with the open end (proximal end) of the sheath
41
for securing the sheath
41
on the probe of the thermometer. This type of sheath has no pleats and is comfortable for use. However, its disadvantage lies in that the sheath is formed by plastically deforming the material from its proximal open end to its distal closed end. The material is plastically deformed in a significant length so that the maximum thickness change of the material is from 0.03 in. to 0.0005 in. and this causes difficulty in quality control during the manufacturing process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the invention is to provide a probe cover of a tympanic thermometer, which achieves an easy manufacturing process and provides comfortable feeling in use.
To achieve the above object, a probe cover of a tympanic thermometer in accordance with the invention comprises a base in the form of a ring-type plastic sheet formed with a central opening; and a film sheath that is infrared transparent and has an open end and a closed end, wherein the open end is attached to the base, the sheath portion extended from the central opening can be fitted on the probe of the tympanic thermometer, the film sheath comprises a first wall section, a second wall section, and a window between the open end and the closed end, wherein the entire first wall section is formed of a plurality of pleat surfaces and the width of each pleat surface is gradually reduced in the direction from the open end to the closed end, the second wall section is formed by plastic deformation and thus has a smooth wall surface, and the window is in the form of a flat closed surface for fitting on the front end of the probe.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 34599 (1994-05-01), Suszynski et al.
patent: 4662360 (1987-05-01), O'Hara et al.
patent: 4911559 (1990-03-01), Meyst et al.
patent: 5088834 (1992-02-01), Howe et al.
patent: 5163418 (1992-11-01), Fraden et al.
patent: 5795067 (1998-08-01), Fraden et al.
patent: 5833367 (1998-11-01), Cheslock et al.
patent: 5906437 (1999-05-01), Lin
patent: 6123454 (2000-09-01), Canfield et al.
patent: 6139182 (2000-10-01), Levatter et al.
patent: 6152596 (2000-09-01), Fraden
Bennett G. Bradley
Oriental System Technology Inc.
Verbitsky Gail
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