US Patent No: 6,042,266
Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000
Tympanic thermometer probe cover
Stats
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Mar 28, 2000
Issued date -
Mar 30, 1998
filing date -
09/049,926
serial no -
Expired
status
Importance
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Abstract
A disposable probe cover for an electronic tympanic ("ear") thermometer is made of closed-cell foam that is laminated with a sheet of high density polyethylene plastic film substantially transparent to infrared radiant energy. The probe cover is hollow, defining a central passageway that accepts an oversized probe and can potentially accommodate a variety of different probe configurations. The foam construction allows the probe cover to stretch over the oversized probe--retaining the probe cover on the probe during use. The foam construction also allows the probe cover to deform when inserted into a patient's ear--sealing the patient's ear canal to prevent external heat and light from affecting the measurement, and providing a high degree of cushioning and comfort not available in any prior disposable probe cover design. The film laminate and foam provide a barrier that is impervious to germs, fluids and other secretions--further reducing the already low risk of cross-contamination. The probe cover design facilitates accurate, repeatable measurements using a temperature measuring instrument based on receiving and analyzing the radiant infrared heat energy emitted by the tympanic membrane (eardrum).
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First Claim
Related Publications
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International Classification(s)
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Cited Art
| Patent Info | (Count) | # Cites | Year |
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| 4,414,980 Blood flow monitor apparatus | 20 | 1981 | |
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| 5,017,018 Clinical thermometer | 52 | 1989 | |
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| 4,784,149 Infrared thermometer with automatic calibration | 95 | 1986 | |
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| 5,515,847 Self-emission noninvasive infrared spectrophotometer | 143 | 1994 | |
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| 5,352,039 Remote temperature and/or temperature difference measuring device | 22 | 1993 | |
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| 5,167,235 Fiber optic ear thermometer | 78 | 1991 | |
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| 4,341,992 Conductive probe cover | 23 | 1980 | |
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| 4,425,921 Apparatus for checking pulse and heart rates | 77 | 1981 | |
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| 4,312,357 Transillumination diagnostic method and apparatus | 34 | 1979 | |
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| 4,379,971 Pyroelectric sensor | 43 | 1980 | |
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| 4,183,248 Fast response electronic thermometer probe | 79 | 1978 | |
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| 5,188,459 Protective shield accessory for measurement instrument | 22 | 1991 | |
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| 4,895,164 Infrared clinical thermometer | 81 | 1988 | |
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| 4,481,417 Infrared energy detection device | 19 | 1982 | |
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| 4,509,522 Infrared optical measurement of blood gas concentrations and fiber optic catheter | 50 | 1981 | |
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| 5,081,998 Optically stabilized infrared energy detector | 50 | 1990 | |
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| 5,179,936 Disposable speculum with membrane bonding ring | 91 | 1987 | |
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| 4,191,197 Touch free tympanic thermometer | 28 | 1978 | |
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| 4,854,730 Radiation thermometer and method for measuring temperature | 61 | 1987 | |
| D337534 Tympanic thermometer | 10 | 1991 | |
| 5,313,951 Device and a method to measure the infrared radiation of the human body | 12 | 1991 | |
| 5,645,350 Hygienic protecting device for an electronic thermometer | 36 | 1996 | |