Sherwood Services Ag

Covidien Ag

Loren Lantz

James M Harr

Robert Bradley Gaines

Mark Bradley Davis

Mark A Davis

Michael J Kerwin

James Walls

Glenn G Fournie

A probe cover () is provided including a tubular body extending from a proximal end () to a distal end (). The proximal end defines an opening configured for receipt of a distal end of a thermometer. The distal end of the tubular body is substantially enclosed by a film (). The distal end includes at least one end rib () disposed about an inner circumference thereof. At least one end rib is configured to engage the distal end of the thermometer such that the distal end of the thermometer is spaced apart from the film. The body may extend in a tapered configuration from the proximal end to the distal end. The end rib can include a transverse portion disposed along a surface of the film. The end rib may include a longitudinal portion extending along the body. The longitudinal portion may extend proximally along the body and the transverse portion may project along a surface of the film such that the longitudinal portion and the transverse portion cooperate to receive the distal end of the thermometer. The body may define at least one longitudinal rib projecting from an inner surface thereof. The body may define at least one protuberance projecting from an inner and/or an outer surface thereof. The longitudinal rib and/or the protuberances can be configured to facilitate nesting of a second probe cover.

Tympanic thermometer probe cover

A prediction type electronic thermometer having an actively controlled heater element thermally isolating the probe tip from the probe shaft. Rapid and accurate temperature measurements are made using predictive algorithms. Control circuitry reads input from the temperature sensing element to compute best heater control signals so that the temperature of the probe shaft rapidly follows changes in the temperature of the probe tip. Thermal isolation between probe shaft and tip impedes heat flow from the heater element to the tip providing more accurate measurements. Rapid and accurate management of shaft temperature allows heat from the patient being measured to be most efficiently transmitted to the temperature sensor element resulting in very fast temperature measurements.

Probe tip thermal isolation and fast prediction algorithm

A disposable, molded probe cover for use with an electronic thermometer is disclosed. The probe cover comprises an elongated hollow body made of a plastic material which defines a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end of the body has a convex-shaped surface that defines a lubrication well adapted to hold a lubricant therein, while the proximal end forms an opening. The opening communicates with a chamber that extends the entire length of the body and is sized and shaped to receive a probe of the electronic thermometer. To vent air trapped in the chamber during insertion of the probe into the probe cover, the chamber is provided with an axial ridge defined along a portion of the chamber for allowing air trapped at the distal end of the chamber to escape the probe cover through the electronic thermometer. A plurality of detents are also provided along the chamber proximate the opening for securely engaging the probe and establishing a fluid tight seal between the probe cover and the thermometer. When the probe cover is inserted into a patient body cavity, the lubricant spreads outwardly from the lubrication well and spreads over the exterior surface of the probe cover.

Probe cover with lubrication well

Growing community of inventors

St. Charles, MO, United States of America

Loren Lantz