CA1090612A - Unitary disposable hygenic sheath for temperature and respiration sensing probe - Google Patents
Unitary disposable hygenic sheath for temperature and respiration sensing probeInfo
- Publication number
- CA1090612A CA1090612A CA297,428A CA297428A CA1090612A CA 1090612 A CA1090612 A CA 1090612A CA 297428 A CA297428 A CA 297428A CA 1090612 A CA1090612 A CA 1090612A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- sheath
- probe
- respiration
- patient
- scoop
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
- A61B1/00142—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
- A61B5/08—Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs
- A61B5/087—Measuring breath flow
- A61B5/0878—Measuring breath flow using temperature sensing means
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01K—MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01K13/00—Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
- G01K13/20—Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
- G01K13/25—Protective devices therefor, e.g. sleeves preventing contamination
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A unitary disposable sanitary sheath is intended to cover a combination temperature and respiration sensing probe so as to not adversely affect the sensing properties of the probe. An elongated portion is provided having very thin walls to surround the temperature sensing means yet to not greatly affect its thermal conductivity characteristics. A cup-like scoop is provided to channel the respiration exhalation into the probe inlet and the scoop also having a flattened portion which is located at the place normally clasped by a patient's lips to prevent rotation of the probe and sheath during a measurement operation.
A unitary disposable sanitary sheath is intended to cover a combination temperature and respiration sensing probe so as to not adversely affect the sensing properties of the probe. An elongated portion is provided having very thin walls to surround the temperature sensing means yet to not greatly affect its thermal conductivity characteristics. A cup-like scoop is provided to channel the respiration exhalation into the probe inlet and the scoop also having a flattened portion which is located at the place normally clasped by a patient's lips to prevent rotation of the probe and sheath during a measurement operation.
Description
10~061Z
The present invention relates to a specialized dis-posable sanitary cover or sheath which is intended for use in surrounding a reuseable temperature and respiration sensing probe used in measuring these physiological parameters in a patient.
The cover is formed in unitary construction and has a specially adapted end portion for surrounding the temperature sensing element and a specially constructed scoop portion for guiding and channeling the respiration exhalation from the patient to-wards the respiration sensing means located in the probe.
In keeping with the recent trend in the health care field towards automation of previous manual or mechanical sensing ~-operations, the use of electrical sensors to measure certain patient physiological parameters has been increasing. However, such electrical sensors do not readily lend themselves to previous methods of sanitation when it is desired to use the sensor on a successive number of patients. For example, after measuring a patient's temperature with a glass-bulb thermometer, the thermometer was typically immersed in alcohol, thereby pro-viding the necessary hygiene. However, in the case of an `
electronic thermometer, the physical construction of the sensing means is often adversely affected by its immersion in alcohol.
Similarly, when sensing a patient's respiration rate by the use of an electronic means such apparatus must necessarily be close to the patient's face while exhaled air from the nasal passages is conducted over a suitable sensor. Accordingly, the respira-tion sensing means must also be cleaned in order to be used by a successive number of patients. One solution to the problem of cross-contamination between patients has been to discard the entire sensing apparatus after its initial use by a patient;
however, this is expensive and has not met with much approval in , ~
1(3~(~tilZ
the health care industry. A much better solution to the sanita-tion problem is the use of disposable covers or sheaths which fit over the sensing means and are discarded after each patient's use. However, such covers, whlle solving the problem of cleaning the sensing means, have also introduced their own peculiar problems. For example, because the thermistor which senses the temperature should be in good thermal contact with the area to be measured, the probe cover must be a good thermal conductor.
The probe and cover together must have a small thermal mass to prevent adversely affecting the temperature of the body in im-mediate proximity to the temperature sensor.
To simultaneously measure a patient's respiration as well as temperature, it is necessary to channel the exhalations of the patient into the area where the respiration sensor is located.
A drawback of known sensing sheaths has been a tendency to become disoriented when inserted in a patient's mouth. That is, since most probes and their sheaths are rounded, the probe will often tend to rotate about its longitudinal axis after in-sertion in a patient's mouth, losing its desired orientation and its ability to capture the patient' 8 respiratory exhalations and in this manner a faulty reading i8 likely to occur.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved unitary sanitary sheath for cover-ing a combined temperature and respiration sensing probe, which sheath has a tapered end portion at the area intended for con-tact with a temperature sensing portion of the probe so as to improve the heat transfer characteristics between the tempera-ture sensing portion and the patient.
The present invention provides a unitary disposable lZ
sanitary sheath for use with a temperature and respiration probe, comprising an elongated tube having a closed front end, an open and hollow rear end having an interior for insertion of a por-tion of the probe into the sheath, and a tapered portion extend-ing rearwardly from the front end to the open and hollow rear end, the walls of the tapered portion being substantially thinner than the remainder of the sheath; the tube further compri~ing an upper surface disposed rearwardly of the tapered portion, the upper surface forming a cup-like scoop opening upwardly from the surface of the tube; the upper surface being discontinuous so as to form at least one respiration inlet aperture therein, the at least one respiration inlet aperture in fluid communication with the temperature and respiration probe via the interior of the open and hollow rear end of the tube when the probe portion i8 inserted into the sheath; whereby, upon insertion of the probe into the ~heath, and insertion of the probe portion and sheath portion into a patient' 8 mouth, air expired through the patient's nose is collected and directed by the scoop into and through the at least one respiration inlet aperture.
A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a one-piece plastic sheath which may be formed by injection ld-ing, and which has a substantially thin tapered portion at the area which is intended to mate with the temperature sensing means of the temperature and respiration sensing probe, and which has a large scoop-like contoured surface located in the vicinity of the inlet port for the respiration rate determina-- tion means. This scoop-like area is provided to channel the exhalations of the patient, 80 as to direct them into contact with the sensing means which is located in the interior of the probe. The unitary sheath of this embodiment is also provided 10~)61Z
with a flat area corresponding to the location of the patient's lips so that upon grasping the sensor in the patient's mouth, it will have no tendency to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the probe. Finally, since it is very often the case that the plastic chosen to construct the sheath may be a polyethylene type which is rather slippery when wet, the area where the patient's lips will contact the sheath may be slightly roughened thereby permitting the patient to gain a better purchase on the -~
cover.
An embodiment of the invention i8 ~hown in the drawings, 10~(~61Z
in which~
Figure 1 is a plan view of the top of a temperature and respiration sensing probe located within a unitary sheath embodying the present invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a tempera-ture and respiration sensing probe aligned with, but withdrawn from, the unitary, disposable, sheath of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a side view of a temperature and respira-tion sensing probe inserted in the unitary disposable sheath and showing the face of a typical patient in phantom;
Figure 4 is a view from the bottom of a temperature and respiration sensing probe inserted in the sheath;
Figure 5 is a perspective view taken from the rear of a sensing probe and sheath combination;
Figure 6 is an elevation view taken from thq rear of the disposable hygienic sheath;
Figure 7 is a view of a portion of the sensing probe and showing the sheath in phantom;
Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sen-sing probe showing the sheath in phantom; and Figure 9 is a transverse cross-section of the tempera-ture and respiration sensing probe of Figure 8 taken along line IX and showing the unitary sheath surrounding the probe.
Figure 1 shows a suitable temperature and respiration sensing probe at 10 inserted into a sheath 12 embodying the present invention. An elongated temperature sensing portion 15 is inserted in the patient's mouth and a temperature sensing tip portion 40 of the probe is placed under the tongue. The sheath has a tip portion 14 which is intended to be substantially thinner than the rest of the sheath including portion 16. Sheath f .. ;,, i~O61Z
tip portion 14 has a conical taper, and fits in intimate contact with the temperature sensing tip portion 40 as shown in Figure 2 and is essentially the same length as tip portion 40. Also shown in Figure 1 is a curved scoop portion 18 for collecting and directing air expired through the patient's nose. A flat area 20 is provided on the upper surface of the sheath to orient the sheath with scoop 18 toward the nose as the patient's lip rests on a flat area 20. A textured surface may be provided at 22 generally covering the flat area 20.
To permit the exhalation from the patient to be intro-duced into the probe housing, sheath 12 provides openings or slots 26, 30 and 34 which communicate with an inlet aperture 24 of the probe 10, as shown in Figures 2 and 8 and which are separated by slats or bars 28 and 32. A plurality of such small openings or slots are provided so that when the probe 10 is being inserted into the sheath 12, the temperature sensing portion of probe 10 will not exit improperly, as it might through a single large hole. Accordingly, the slats or bars 28 and 32 will direct the conical tip portion 40 of the temperature sensing probe 10 into the tip portion 14 of the sheath 12. This inser-tion is suggested in Figure 2.
Figure 2 shows the temperature and respiration sensing probe 10 in a position for insertion into the unitary sheath 12, the cup-like scoop 18 of the sheath 12, and the textured flat surface 22 intended to be grasped by the patient's upper lip.
The slots cut into the sheath will not allow the conical tip `
portion 40 to exit through the slots.
In Figure 3 the flat portion 20 of the probe sheath 12 is grasped by the patient's lips and the textured surface 22 will be in contact with the lip. Scoop 18 is shown located directly .
Z
below the patient's nasal passages where it will be in the path of most of the patient's exhaled air.
Figure 4 shows the bottom of a sheath having a probe inserted therein. The sheath may be made of polyethylene or polypropylene plastic. The inlet aperture 24 of the probe 10 is shown within the sheath and covered on one side by a bottom 52, also shown in Figure 8, of sheath 12.
Figure S shows the assembled probe and sheath from the rear including the scoop 18, which surrounds the slots 26, 30, 34 provided to permit the flow of exhaled air into the probe respiration sensor.
Figure 6, which is a rear view of the sheath, shows the scoop 18 and also the slots 26, 30 and 34. Looking into the rear of the sheath the thin conical tip portion 14 of the sheath for receiving the probe tip 40 may be seen.
In Figure 7, the thin tip portion 14 of the sheath extends for a distance which is equal to the length of the metallic tip portion 40 of the temperature sensor of probe 10.
It is this thin sheath tip portion 14 which is made to have an inner diameter which is slightly less than the outer diameter of the metal tip portion 40 so that upon insertion of the probe into the sheath the two tip portions 14 and 40 will be brought into intimate contact.
In Figure 8 the unitary cover is shown in combination with the probe for which it is intended to be used and in this view it may be seen that the exhaled air, shown generally by arrows 50, is caused to enter the slots 26, 30, 34 which are in communication with the inlet aperture 24 of the probe.
Figure 9 again shows the sheath surrounding the probe 10 and the manner in which the openings 26, 30 and 34 permit 10~612 exhaled air to flow into the inlet aperture 24 of the probe 10.
Also shown in this view is the manner in which one opening of the transversely arranged inlet aperture 24 of probe 10 is :`
covered by the bottom 52 of sheath 12 so that the exhaled air does not pass through the probe housing but rather is caused to `
be directed into the passage containing the respiration sensing means.
It is, of course, understood that the preceding description was only given by way of example and that various other forms may be taken by the unitary sheath of the present invention.
~ :
' ~:'
The present invention relates to a specialized dis-posable sanitary cover or sheath which is intended for use in surrounding a reuseable temperature and respiration sensing probe used in measuring these physiological parameters in a patient.
The cover is formed in unitary construction and has a specially adapted end portion for surrounding the temperature sensing element and a specially constructed scoop portion for guiding and channeling the respiration exhalation from the patient to-wards the respiration sensing means located in the probe.
In keeping with the recent trend in the health care field towards automation of previous manual or mechanical sensing ~-operations, the use of electrical sensors to measure certain patient physiological parameters has been increasing. However, such electrical sensors do not readily lend themselves to previous methods of sanitation when it is desired to use the sensor on a successive number of patients. For example, after measuring a patient's temperature with a glass-bulb thermometer, the thermometer was typically immersed in alcohol, thereby pro-viding the necessary hygiene. However, in the case of an `
electronic thermometer, the physical construction of the sensing means is often adversely affected by its immersion in alcohol.
Similarly, when sensing a patient's respiration rate by the use of an electronic means such apparatus must necessarily be close to the patient's face while exhaled air from the nasal passages is conducted over a suitable sensor. Accordingly, the respira-tion sensing means must also be cleaned in order to be used by a successive number of patients. One solution to the problem of cross-contamination between patients has been to discard the entire sensing apparatus after its initial use by a patient;
however, this is expensive and has not met with much approval in , ~
1(3~(~tilZ
the health care industry. A much better solution to the sanita-tion problem is the use of disposable covers or sheaths which fit over the sensing means and are discarded after each patient's use. However, such covers, whlle solving the problem of cleaning the sensing means, have also introduced their own peculiar problems. For example, because the thermistor which senses the temperature should be in good thermal contact with the area to be measured, the probe cover must be a good thermal conductor.
The probe and cover together must have a small thermal mass to prevent adversely affecting the temperature of the body in im-mediate proximity to the temperature sensor.
To simultaneously measure a patient's respiration as well as temperature, it is necessary to channel the exhalations of the patient into the area where the respiration sensor is located.
A drawback of known sensing sheaths has been a tendency to become disoriented when inserted in a patient's mouth. That is, since most probes and their sheaths are rounded, the probe will often tend to rotate about its longitudinal axis after in-sertion in a patient's mouth, losing its desired orientation and its ability to capture the patient' 8 respiratory exhalations and in this manner a faulty reading i8 likely to occur.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved unitary sanitary sheath for cover-ing a combined temperature and respiration sensing probe, which sheath has a tapered end portion at the area intended for con-tact with a temperature sensing portion of the probe so as to improve the heat transfer characteristics between the tempera-ture sensing portion and the patient.
The present invention provides a unitary disposable lZ
sanitary sheath for use with a temperature and respiration probe, comprising an elongated tube having a closed front end, an open and hollow rear end having an interior for insertion of a por-tion of the probe into the sheath, and a tapered portion extend-ing rearwardly from the front end to the open and hollow rear end, the walls of the tapered portion being substantially thinner than the remainder of the sheath; the tube further compri~ing an upper surface disposed rearwardly of the tapered portion, the upper surface forming a cup-like scoop opening upwardly from the surface of the tube; the upper surface being discontinuous so as to form at least one respiration inlet aperture therein, the at least one respiration inlet aperture in fluid communication with the temperature and respiration probe via the interior of the open and hollow rear end of the tube when the probe portion i8 inserted into the sheath; whereby, upon insertion of the probe into the ~heath, and insertion of the probe portion and sheath portion into a patient' 8 mouth, air expired through the patient's nose is collected and directed by the scoop into and through the at least one respiration inlet aperture.
A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a one-piece plastic sheath which may be formed by injection ld-ing, and which has a substantially thin tapered portion at the area which is intended to mate with the temperature sensing means of the temperature and respiration sensing probe, and which has a large scoop-like contoured surface located in the vicinity of the inlet port for the respiration rate determina-- tion means. This scoop-like area is provided to channel the exhalations of the patient, 80 as to direct them into contact with the sensing means which is located in the interior of the probe. The unitary sheath of this embodiment is also provided 10~)61Z
with a flat area corresponding to the location of the patient's lips so that upon grasping the sensor in the patient's mouth, it will have no tendency to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the probe. Finally, since it is very often the case that the plastic chosen to construct the sheath may be a polyethylene type which is rather slippery when wet, the area where the patient's lips will contact the sheath may be slightly roughened thereby permitting the patient to gain a better purchase on the -~
cover.
An embodiment of the invention i8 ~hown in the drawings, 10~(~61Z
in which~
Figure 1 is a plan view of the top of a temperature and respiration sensing probe located within a unitary sheath embodying the present invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a tempera-ture and respiration sensing probe aligned with, but withdrawn from, the unitary, disposable, sheath of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a side view of a temperature and respira-tion sensing probe inserted in the unitary disposable sheath and showing the face of a typical patient in phantom;
Figure 4 is a view from the bottom of a temperature and respiration sensing probe inserted in the sheath;
Figure 5 is a perspective view taken from the rear of a sensing probe and sheath combination;
Figure 6 is an elevation view taken from thq rear of the disposable hygienic sheath;
Figure 7 is a view of a portion of the sensing probe and showing the sheath in phantom;
Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sen-sing probe showing the sheath in phantom; and Figure 9 is a transverse cross-section of the tempera-ture and respiration sensing probe of Figure 8 taken along line IX and showing the unitary sheath surrounding the probe.
Figure 1 shows a suitable temperature and respiration sensing probe at 10 inserted into a sheath 12 embodying the present invention. An elongated temperature sensing portion 15 is inserted in the patient's mouth and a temperature sensing tip portion 40 of the probe is placed under the tongue. The sheath has a tip portion 14 which is intended to be substantially thinner than the rest of the sheath including portion 16. Sheath f .. ;,, i~O61Z
tip portion 14 has a conical taper, and fits in intimate contact with the temperature sensing tip portion 40 as shown in Figure 2 and is essentially the same length as tip portion 40. Also shown in Figure 1 is a curved scoop portion 18 for collecting and directing air expired through the patient's nose. A flat area 20 is provided on the upper surface of the sheath to orient the sheath with scoop 18 toward the nose as the patient's lip rests on a flat area 20. A textured surface may be provided at 22 generally covering the flat area 20.
To permit the exhalation from the patient to be intro-duced into the probe housing, sheath 12 provides openings or slots 26, 30 and 34 which communicate with an inlet aperture 24 of the probe 10, as shown in Figures 2 and 8 and which are separated by slats or bars 28 and 32. A plurality of such small openings or slots are provided so that when the probe 10 is being inserted into the sheath 12, the temperature sensing portion of probe 10 will not exit improperly, as it might through a single large hole. Accordingly, the slats or bars 28 and 32 will direct the conical tip portion 40 of the temperature sensing probe 10 into the tip portion 14 of the sheath 12. This inser-tion is suggested in Figure 2.
Figure 2 shows the temperature and respiration sensing probe 10 in a position for insertion into the unitary sheath 12, the cup-like scoop 18 of the sheath 12, and the textured flat surface 22 intended to be grasped by the patient's upper lip.
The slots cut into the sheath will not allow the conical tip `
portion 40 to exit through the slots.
In Figure 3 the flat portion 20 of the probe sheath 12 is grasped by the patient's lips and the textured surface 22 will be in contact with the lip. Scoop 18 is shown located directly .
Z
below the patient's nasal passages where it will be in the path of most of the patient's exhaled air.
Figure 4 shows the bottom of a sheath having a probe inserted therein. The sheath may be made of polyethylene or polypropylene plastic. The inlet aperture 24 of the probe 10 is shown within the sheath and covered on one side by a bottom 52, also shown in Figure 8, of sheath 12.
Figure S shows the assembled probe and sheath from the rear including the scoop 18, which surrounds the slots 26, 30, 34 provided to permit the flow of exhaled air into the probe respiration sensor.
Figure 6, which is a rear view of the sheath, shows the scoop 18 and also the slots 26, 30 and 34. Looking into the rear of the sheath the thin conical tip portion 14 of the sheath for receiving the probe tip 40 may be seen.
In Figure 7, the thin tip portion 14 of the sheath extends for a distance which is equal to the length of the metallic tip portion 40 of the temperature sensor of probe 10.
It is this thin sheath tip portion 14 which is made to have an inner diameter which is slightly less than the outer diameter of the metal tip portion 40 so that upon insertion of the probe into the sheath the two tip portions 14 and 40 will be brought into intimate contact.
In Figure 8 the unitary cover is shown in combination with the probe for which it is intended to be used and in this view it may be seen that the exhaled air, shown generally by arrows 50, is caused to enter the slots 26, 30, 34 which are in communication with the inlet aperture 24 of the probe.
Figure 9 again shows the sheath surrounding the probe 10 and the manner in which the openings 26, 30 and 34 permit 10~612 exhaled air to flow into the inlet aperture 24 of the probe 10.
Also shown in this view is the manner in which one opening of the transversely arranged inlet aperture 24 of probe 10 is :`
covered by the bottom 52 of sheath 12 so that the exhaled air does not pass through the probe housing but rather is caused to `
be directed into the passage containing the respiration sensing means.
It is, of course, understood that the preceding description was only given by way of example and that various other forms may be taken by the unitary sheath of the present invention.
~ :
' ~:'
Claims (11)
1. A unitary disposable sanitary sheath for use with a temperature and respiration probe, comprising an elongated tube having a closed front end, an open and hollow rear end having an interior for insertion of a portion of said probe into said sheath, and a tapered portion extending rearwardly from said front end to said open and hollow rear end, the walls of said tapered portion being substantially thinner than the remainder of the sheath;
said tube further comprising an upper surface disposed rearwardly of said tapered portion, said upper surface forming a cup-like scoop opening upwardly from said surface of said tube;
said upper surface being discontinuous so as to form at least one respiration inlet aperture therein, said at least one respiration inlet aperture in fluid communication with said temperature and respiration probe via the interior of said open and hollow rear end of said tube when said probe portion is inserted into said sheath;
whereby, upon insertion of said probe into said sheath, and insertion of said probe portion and sheath portion into a patient's mouth, air expired through the patient's nose is collected and directed by said scoop into and through said at least one respiration inlet aperture.
said tube further comprising an upper surface disposed rearwardly of said tapered portion, said upper surface forming a cup-like scoop opening upwardly from said surface of said tube;
said upper surface being discontinuous so as to form at least one respiration inlet aperture therein, said at least one respiration inlet aperture in fluid communication with said temperature and respiration probe via the interior of said open and hollow rear end of said tube when said probe portion is inserted into said sheath;
whereby, upon insertion of said probe into said sheath, and insertion of said probe portion and sheath portion into a patient's mouth, air expired through the patient's nose is collected and directed by said scoop into and through said at least one respiration inlet aperture.
2. A sheath as claimed in claim 1, comprising a sub-stantially flat transition area provided with a textured surface at the location of a patient's lips during a temperature and respiration sensing operation so as to be rough relative to the remaining surface of the probe.
3. A sheath as claimed in claim 1, wherein said probe portion and said tapered portion are substantially conical in shape and decreasing in diameter, and wherein the decreasing conical inner diameter of said tapered portion is at all cor-responding points less than the decreasing conical outer diameter of the probe portion.
4. A sheath as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said at least one respiration inlet aperture comprises a plurality of bars and slots, said slots permitting respiration to pass therethrough and said bars prohibiting said probe from entering said respiration inlet aperture during said insertion of said probe portion into said sheath.
5. A sheath as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said cup-like scoop is arranged in such relation to said elongate tube, and said transition area is of such size, that when said probe portion and said sheath are inserted in a patient's mouth said cup-like scoop is disposed substantially beneath said patient's nose, whereby said scoop collects and directs air expired through said patient's nose to said respiration inlet aperture.
6. A disposable sanitary sheath for use with a tem-perature and respiration sensing probe, said sheath comprising:
an elongated tubular portion having a thin-walled tapered portion at a closed end thereof;
a hollow transition portion being substantially rectangular in cross section and being joined to said elongated tubular portion so as to be in communication with the interior thereof, said transition portion being arranged so that the longer sides of the rectangle form the top and bottom surfaces of the sheath;
a hollow rear portion being joined to said hollow transition portion so that the interiors of said hollow rear portion and said hollow transition portion are in communication and having an opening for insertion of said probe into said sheath;
a cup-like scoop portion having curved walls joined to a top surface of said rear portion and having an open top area facing upwardly and an open front area facing toward said hollow transition portion; and a respiration inlet aperture arranged substantially horizontally and disposed at the bottom of said cup-like scoop and extending through the top surface of said hollow rear por-tion;
whereby upon insertion of said probe into said sheath and said probe and sheath into a patient's mouth, air expired through the patient's a nose is collected and directed by said scoop into and through said respiration inlet aperture.
an elongated tubular portion having a thin-walled tapered portion at a closed end thereof;
a hollow transition portion being substantially rectangular in cross section and being joined to said elongated tubular portion so as to be in communication with the interior thereof, said transition portion being arranged so that the longer sides of the rectangle form the top and bottom surfaces of the sheath;
a hollow rear portion being joined to said hollow transition portion so that the interiors of said hollow rear portion and said hollow transition portion are in communication and having an opening for insertion of said probe into said sheath;
a cup-like scoop portion having curved walls joined to a top surface of said rear portion and having an open top area facing upwardly and an open front area facing toward said hollow transition portion; and a respiration inlet aperture arranged substantially horizontally and disposed at the bottom of said cup-like scoop and extending through the top surface of said hollow rear por-tion;
whereby upon insertion of said probe into said sheath and said probe and sheath into a patient's mouth, air expired through the patient's a nose is collected and directed by said scoop into and through said respiration inlet aperture.
7. A sheath as claimed in claim 6, wherein said thin tapered portion of said elongated tubular portion is formed as a truncated cone mating with the temperature sensing portion of said temperature and respiration sensing probe, wherein said truncated cone has a decreasing conical diameter which is less than the decreasing conical diameter of said temperature sensing portion at all corresponding points, whereby upon insertion of said temperature and respiration sensing probe into said sheath, said temperature sensing portion and said truncated cone portion of said elongated tubular portion are in tight-fitting contact.
8. A sheath as claimed in claim 6, further comprising bars arranged to span said respiration inlet aperture thereby forming said aperture into a plurality of slots, whereby said slots permit the passage of said air expired through the patient's nose and said bars prevent said probe from entering said aperture during insertion of said probe into said sheath.
9. A sheath as claimed in claim 6, wherein the ex-ternal surface of said hollow transition portion at the location occupied by a patient's lips during use of said sheath is formed having a roughened texture relative to the surface textures of said elongated tubular portion and said hollow rear portion.
10. A sheath as claimed in claim 6, wherein said cup-like scoop portion has a curved rear wall portion which extends upwardly so as to direct the air expired through the patient's nose into said respiration inlet aperture.
11. A sheath as claimed in claim 6, wherein said elongated tubular portion, said hollow transition portion, said hollow rear portion and said curved scoop portion are all formed as a unitary sheath being composed of polyethylene.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US77101177A | 1977-02-22 | 1977-02-22 | |
| US771,011 | 1977-02-22 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1090612A true CA1090612A (en) | 1980-12-02 |
Family
ID=25090416
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA297,428A Expired CA1090612A (en) | 1977-02-22 | 1978-02-21 | Unitary disposable hygenic sheath for temperature and respiration sensing probe |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS53118885A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1090612A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2807357C3 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB1554829A (en) |
Families Citing this family (13)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB8422010D0 (en) * | 1984-08-31 | 1984-10-03 | Lambda Electronics Ltd | Thermometers |
| US5069222A (en) * | 1990-08-31 | 1991-12-03 | Mcdonald Jr Lewis D | Respiration sensor set |
| US9042952B2 (en) | 1997-01-27 | 2015-05-26 | Lawrence A. Lynn | System and method for automatic detection of a plurality of SPO2 time series pattern types |
| US9468378B2 (en) | 1997-01-27 | 2016-10-18 | Lawrence A. Lynn | Airway instability detection system and method |
| US8932227B2 (en) | 2000-07-28 | 2015-01-13 | Lawrence A. Lynn | System and method for CO2 and oximetry integration |
| US9521971B2 (en) | 1997-07-14 | 2016-12-20 | Lawrence A. Lynn | System and method for automatic detection of a plurality of SPO2 time series pattern types |
| US20070191697A1 (en) | 2006-02-10 | 2007-08-16 | Lynn Lawrence A | System and method for SPO2 instability detection and quantification |
| US9053222B2 (en) | 2002-05-17 | 2015-06-09 | Lawrence A. Lynn | Patient safety processor |
| US20060195041A1 (en) | 2002-05-17 | 2006-08-31 | Lynn Lawrence A | Centralized hospital monitoring system for automatically detecting upper airway instability and for preventing and aborting adverse drug reactions |
| US6850789B2 (en) * | 2002-07-29 | 2005-02-01 | Welch Allyn, Inc. | Combination SPO2/temperature measuring apparatus |
| US7668579B2 (en) | 2006-02-10 | 2010-02-23 | Lynn Lawrence A | System and method for the detection of physiologic response to stimulation |
| WO2009137682A1 (en) | 2008-05-07 | 2009-11-12 | Lynn Lawrence A | Medical failure pattern search engine |
| US20120165623A1 (en) * | 2009-08-28 | 2012-06-28 | Lawrence Allan Lynn | Relational Thermorespirometer Spot Vitals Monitor |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3884219A (en) * | 1973-04-02 | 1975-05-20 | Medical Monitor Systems | System for determining temperature and respiration rate |
| US4036211A (en) * | 1975-04-08 | 1977-07-19 | United States Surgical Corporation | Temperature, pulse and respiration detection apparatus |
-
1978
- 1978-02-21 DE DE2807357A patent/DE2807357C3/en not_active Expired
- 1978-02-21 CA CA297,428A patent/CA1090612A/en not_active Expired
- 1978-02-21 JP JP1898078A patent/JPS53118885A/en active Pending
- 1978-02-22 GB GB7091/78A patent/GB1554829A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE2807357B2 (en) | 1981-05-21 |
| JPS53118885A (en) | 1978-10-17 |
| DE2807357A1 (en) | 1978-08-31 |
| GB1554829A (en) | 1979-10-31 |
| DE2807357C3 (en) | 1982-01-28 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4222391A (en) | Unitary disposable sanitary sheath for temperature and respiration sensing probe | |
| CA1090612A (en) | Unitary disposable hygenic sheath for temperature and respiration sensing probe | |
| US4176660A (en) | Disposable esophageal and tracheal multi-probes | |
| CA1078220A (en) | Temperature, pulse and respiration detection apparatus | |
| US4362166A (en) | Disposable medical probe and connector | |
| US4475555A (en) | Universal measuring attachment for esophageal stethoscopes | |
| JP5591239B2 (en) | Nutrition tube | |
| JP6799765B2 (en) | Electrode arrays for biological monitoring and equipment containing or utilizing the same | |
| US8413502B2 (en) | Device for measuring infant feeding performance | |
| EP0868147A1 (en) | Pulmonary interface system | |
| US5642735A (en) | Temperature sensing device for medical patients with releasable housing | |
| US7036984B2 (en) | Digital thermometer for measuring body temperature | |
| WO2001035817A1 (en) | Method and device for diagnosing an inflammatory process | |
| US4202353A (en) | Temperature and respiration sensing probe | |
| EP0578691A1 (en) | A combined naso-gastric feeding tube and electrode | |
| JPS6244223A (en) | Method and apparatus for analyzing lung function | |
| EP0374248A1 (en) | Apparatus for measuring cardiac output | |
| EP1989522B1 (en) | Improved baby rectal thermometer | |
| US5730147A (en) | Combined thermometer and fecal sampling apparatus | |
| MXPA03010522A (en) | Probe cover with lubrication well. | |
| US20040264545A1 (en) | Fast response probe for a food thermometer | |
| US20020068877A1 (en) | Device for measuring body cavity temperature | |
| US20110137201A1 (en) | Oral thermometer with curved probe | |
| KR100981300B1 (en) | Bad breath measurement apparatus and driving method thereof | |
| JPH1142219A (en) | Spirometer |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |