U.S. patent application number 12/614573 was filed with the patent office on 2010-05-13 for probe cover dispenser.
Invention is credited to Chu-Yih Yu.
Application Number | 20100116840 12/614573 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42096827 |
Filed Date | 2010-05-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100116840 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yu; Chu-Yih |
May 13, 2010 |
Probe Cover Dispenser
Abstract
An exemplary embodiment of a probe cover dispenser includes a
bottom base. A slidable access member with a first opening for
accessing probe covers is disposed on a first position of the
bottom base. A storage member with a second opening thereunder for
accommodating stacked probe covers is disposed on a second position
of the bottom base. A retaining member holds one of the stacked
probe covers. And a linking member connects the slidable access
member to the retaining member. The linking member is induced for
driving the retaining member to release the one of the stacked
probe covers and cause it to fall into the first opening from the
second opening and/or hold a further one of the stacked probe
covers in the storage member, while the slidable access member is
moved upwardly or downwardly.
Inventors: |
Yu; Chu-Yih; (Taipei Hsien,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THOMAS, KAYDEN, HORSTEMEYER & RISLEY, LLP
600 GALLERIA PARKWAY, S.E., STE 1500
ATLANTA
GA
30339-5994
US
|
Family ID: |
42096827 |
Appl. No.: |
12/614573 |
Filed: |
November 9, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/97 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01J 5/02 20130101; A61B
46/10 20160201; A61B 50/20 20160201; G01J 5/0011 20130101; A61B
50/30 20160201; G01J 5/021 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/97 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/00 20060101
B65D083/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 9, 2008 |
TW |
0972201174 |
Claims
1. A probe cover dispenser, comprising: a bottom base; a slidable
access member with a first opening for accessing probe covers,
disposed on a first position of the bottom base; a storage member
with a second opening thereunder for accommodating stacked probe
covers, disposed on a second position of the bottom base; a
retaining member, holding one of the stacked probe covers; and a
linking member, connecting the slidable access member to the
retaining member; wherein the linking member is induced for driving
the retaining member to release the one of the stacked probe covers
and cause it to fall into the first opening from the second opening
and/or hold a further one of the stacked probe covers in the
storage member, while the slidable access member is moved upwardly
or downwardly.
2. The probe cover dispenser as recited in claim 1 further
comprising a slide channel between the first the stacked probe
covers fall into the first opening from the second opening through
the slide channel.
3. The probe cover dispenser as recited in claim 1 further
comprising a first buffer member located under the slidable access
member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to the field of probe cover
dispensers. More particularly, the invention relates to the field
of probe cover dispensers for not exposing the probe cover to touch
the body of the user.
[0002] The use of ear thermometers is known in the prior art. By
way of example, most commercially available ear thermometers are
designed to work with disposable probe covers. Most of the
disposable probe covers cover the end of the probe and a different
probe cover is used for each patient to minimize the risk of
spreading disease and also promote cleanliness.
[0003] FIG. 1 shows an example probe cover dispenser including a
tray 10 designed a block 30 to accept and dispense a probe cover
50. In this example, the probe cover 50 is inserted into a
rectangular tray opening 20 defined by tray 10, with the probe
cover 50 facing downward into the tray.
[0004] To attach an individual probe cover 50 to probe 70 for
insertion of probe cover 50 into the ear canal of a user, the user
may insert probe 70 into opening 20. The user then pushes probe 70
downwardly into probe cover 50 deforming and stretching the probe
cover 50 to provide a tight frictional, high surface tension fit
between the probe cover and the probe. The advantage of using the
dispensing tray 10 shown in FIG. 1 is that it allows a nurse to
very rapidly cover probe 70 with a probe cover 50 without having to
ever touch or otherwise contact the outer probe cover surface that
is to come into contact with the patient.
[0005] However, the aforementioned tray 10 may expose probe covers
50 for a long time such that the covers itself become contaminated
before use.
[0006] Referring now to FIG. 2, a cutaway, perspective view of the
dispenser 100 with a body 120 is presented. The dispenser has a
probe cover chamber 140 within which the stack of probe covers is
stored. At the top of the chamber 140 is a chamber spring 200. The
spring 200 is used to bias the stack of probe covers towards a
slide 160 located at the bottom of the chamber 140. The spring 200
is coupled to a pressure plate 180 which rests against the top
probe cover in the stack. Also shown in FIG. 5 is the slide 220 in
its relaxed position. Mounted to or formed as part of the slide is
a spring block for engaging a slide spring mounted to the body 120
of the dispenser. The spring biases the slide 220 into the relaxed
position where the aperture 240 of the slide 220 lies outside the
chamber 140. The aperture 240 is formed into the slide 220 and its
opening and depth are of sizes to accept the probe which the
dispenser services.
[0007] The described dispenser may not easily to store a probe
cover and keep it there to use later by a single hand of the
user.
[0008] Based on the above, there is a need for medical
instrumentation which is uncomplicated in its design and method of
operation and which is specifically capable of being used by a
single hand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention overcomes
the above-described problems by providing a probe cover dispenser,
which comprises a bottom base. A slidable access member with a
first opening for accessing probe covers is disposed on a first
position of the bottom base. A storage member with a second opening
thereunder for accommodating stacked probe covers is disposed on a
second position of the bottom base. A retaining member holds one of
the stacked probe covers. And a linking member connects the
slidable access member to the retaining member. The linking member
is induced for driving the retaining member to release the one of
the stacked probe covers and cause it to fall into the first
opening from the second opening and/or hold a further one of the
stacked probe covers in the storage member, while the slidable
access member is moved upwardly or downwardly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The present invention will be described by way of exemplary
embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying
drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in
which:
[0011] FIGS. 1-2 show some examples of prior art of probe cover
dispenser designs;
[0012] FIGS. 3-5 are schematic illustrations of a probe cover
dispenser according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 6A-6B shows examples of preferred embodiment of a
retaining member;
[0014] FIG. 7A-7B shows examples of alternate preferred embodiment
of a retaining member;
[0015] FIG. 8 shows examples of alternate preferred embodiment of a
retaining member;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Various aspects of the system and method of the present
invention will be described, and for purposes of explanation,
specific configurations and details are set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However,
it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present
invention may be practiced without these specific details.
Furthermore, well known features have been omitted or simplified in
order to prevent obscuring the present invention.
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 3-5, an exemplary embodiment of a probe
cover dispenser 300 includes a bottom base 370 with a work
platform. A container 700 on the work platform can be employed to
accommodate an ear thermometer 500. Further, the bottom base 370
generally designs a space to accommodate a buffer member 314 and/or
a portion of a linking member 400 as shown in FIG. 5.
[0018] A slidable access member 310 with a first opening 312 to
accommodate a probe cover is disposed on a first position of the
bottom base 370. A storage member 330 with a second opening 332
thereunder disposed on a second position of the bottom base 370
accommodates stacked probe covers 334.
[0019] A retaining member 490 holds one of the stacked probe covers
such as probe cover 334a. A linking member 400 having a first
linking end 400a to connect the slidable access member 310 and a
second linking end 400b to connect the retaining member 490.
Specifically, vertically movement of the slidable access member 310
can induce linking member 400 for driving retaining member 490 to
release the one of the stacked probe covers 334a and cause it to
fall into the first opening 312 from the second opening 332 and/or
hold a further one of the stacked probe covers 334b in the storage
member 330.
[0020] The first opening 312 may be disposed under the second
opening 332 or have a distance from the second opening 332. In this
case, a slide channel 350 is disposed between the first opening 312
and the second opening 332 and thus the one of the stacked probe
cover 334a can fall into the first opening 31 by way of the slide
channel 350.
[0021] In one example, a buffer member 314 can be disposed between
the slidable access member 310 and the bottom base 370 to allow the
slidable access member 310 to move upwardly and downwardly. In
general, the buffer member 314 may be a spring for connecting the
slidable access member 310 and the bottom base 370 to form a buffer
space.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 5, retaining member 490 may include an
upper retaining unit 492 and a lower retaining unit 494 and Stacked
probe covers includes a first probe cover 334a and a second probe
cover 334b. Specifically, downward movement of the slidable access
member 310 can induce linking member 400 for driving upper
retaining unit 492 to release the first probe cover 334a and
driving the lower retaining unit 494 to hold the falling first
probe cover 334a. And upward movement of the slidable access member
310 can induce linking member 400 for continuously driving lower
retaining unit 494 to release the first probe cover 334a and
driving the upper retaining unit 492 to hold a further second probe
cover 334b while the slidable access member 310 go back to the
original position. The first probe cover 334a then falls into the
first opening 312.
[0023] In one example arrangement, a control button 420 is located
on the sidewall of the slidable access member 310. Pressing the
control button 420 can move the slidable access member 310
downwardly and the slidable access member 310 can be back the
original position by the buffer member 314 while the control button
420 is released.
[0024] In one embodiment, the user may directly insert the probe of
an ear thermometer 500 into opening 312 of the slidable access
member 310. The user then pushes the probe downwardly into probe
cover 334a to allow the user to very rapidly cover probe with the
probe cover 334a by a single hand without having to ever touch or
otherwise contact the outer probe cover surface. The slidable
access member 310 can be back the original position by the buffer
member 314 while the probe is lifted out. Further, the second probe
cover 334b will fall into the opening 312.
[0025] FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of a linking member 400
provided in accordance with the present invention. The linking
member 400 may be a pulley system including wheels 430 each that
has a groove between two flanges around its circumference. A cable
410 usually runs over the wheel 430 and inside the groove. Pulleys
are used to change the direction of an applied force. For example,
a linking rod 470 with a buffer member 450 such as a spring
structure, is designed to connect the cable 430. The downward
movement of the slidable access member 310 can pull the cable 430
and cause the linking rod 470 to be moved downwardly. Thereafter,
the linking rod 470 will go back to its original position through
the buffer member 450 while the slidable access member 310 is
released.
[0026] In one example, the linking rod 470 includes a protrusion
portion 472 and a recess portion 474. The downward movement of the
linking rod 470 can move the recess portion 474 to a position
corresponding to the upper retaining unit 492 causing the upper
retaining unit 492 being pulled back and then releasing the first
probe cover 334a. At the same time, the downward movement of the
linking rod 470 can move the protrusion portion 472 to a position
corresponding to the lower retaining unit 494 causing the lower
retaining unit 494 being pushed out and then holding the first
probe cover 334a. On the contrary, The upward movement of the
linking rod 470 can move the recess portion 474 to a position
corresponding to the lower retaining unit 494 causing the lower
retaining unit 494 being pulled back and then releasing the first
probe cover 334a. At the same time, the upward movement of the
linking rod 470 can move the protrusion portion 472 to a position
corresponding to the upper retaining unit 492 causing the upper
retaining unit 492 being pushed out and then holding the second
probe cover 334b.
[0027] FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of linking rod 470
provided in accordance with the present invention. The linking rod
470 may be a camshaft 470a including a protrusion portion 472a and
a recess portion 474a. The protrusion portion 472a and the recess
portion 474a can be moved to the positions corresponding to the
upper retaining unit 492 and the lower retaining unit 494 while
rotational movement of the camshaft 470a is induced by pulling
cable 410.
[0028] FIG. 6A-6B show further embodiments of retaining member 490
provided in accordance with the present invention. The upper
retaining unit 492 and the lower retaining unit 494 each may
include a slide body with a first end having a recess portion 492a
for holding a falling probe cover and a second end having a smooth
portion 492b for contacting the movable linking rod 470. In one
example, the second end of the retaining unit has a rotatable shaft
492c to reduce the friction force while contacting the movable
linking rod 470.
[0029] FIG. 7A-7B show further embodiments of linking rod 800
provided in accordance with the present invention. In one example,
the linking rod 800 includes an upper lateral rod 810 for
connecting the upper retaining unit 492 and a lower lateral rod 830
for connecting the lower retaining unit 494. A shaft 850 linking
the upper lateral rod 810 and the lower lateral rod 830 can be
rotated by pulling the cable and cause the upper lateral rod 810
and the lower lateral rod 830 to be alternatively pulled back or
pushed out. The shaft 850 can go back to its original position by
way of circular spring 870 while the pulling force of the cable is
disappeared. In one example, the upper retaining unit 492 and the
lower retaining unit 494 can be a rod structure 496 with a recess
portion for holding the probe cover. Specifically, a buffer member
can be designed to surround the rod structure 496.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 5 again, the storage member 330 may
further include a pluggable tube 342 with a lower opening for
accommodating stacked probe covers 334 which are not exposed. The
pluggable tube 342 can be easily removed while the tube is empty.
In general, the storage member 330 includes a first space 600a for
insertion of the pluggable tube 342 and a second space 600b
adjacent the first space 600a for accommodating the retaining
member 490 and linking member 400.
[0031] While the invention has been described by way of example and
in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that
the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the
contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar
arrangements as would be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the
broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications
and similar arrangements.
* * * * *