Importance

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Abstract

A cover for a medical probe comprises a generally tubular membrane having a closed end and an open end. A mounting ring is provided, having a bond to the tubular membrane adjacent to the open membrane end. The mounting ring preferably has a first ring portion shaped to lock into engagement with the medical probe while the probe has a forward portion extending into the tubular membrane. The mounting ring also has a second ring portion which carries the bond to the tubular membrane, and which is attached to the first ring portion in a resilient manner, to permit the membrane and mounting ring to be longitudinally stretched by the medical probe when mounted therein, with the first ring portion being locked on the probe in said engagement. Typically, the tubular membrane comprises an inner tubular membrane portion and an outer tubular membrane portion. The outer tubular portion comprises the closed end, and is made of typically an infrared-transparent plastic material. The inner tubular membrane is open at both ends and comprises a plastic material of reduced coefficient of friction compared with the outer tubular membrane, to facilitate the insertion of a medical probe in relatively tight fitting relationship, so that the probe may stretch the tubular membrane, providing a flat, stretched, infrared-permeable, closed end for the transmission of infrared radiation into the medical probe for medical measurements.

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First Claim