Patent Application
20230124250
The present invention relates generally to covers for a user's finger and configured for use with a finger probe.
In the medical field, hygiene is important for minimizing the spread of disease. Common medical hygiene practices include sterilization of instruments and surfaces (including biological surfaces and the surfaces with which they contact), the use of protective barriers (e.g., masks, gowns, caps, eyewear and gloves), safe disposal of medical waste, disinfection of reusables, and handwashing.
Many patients require a finger probe, which is often used for pulse oximetry testing and monitoring blood oxygen saturation. Current procedures involve the finger probe being placed over the patient's finger, whereon the finger probe remains throughout the monitoring process. The finger probe is then removed from the finger and may be reused on other patients. In the medical settings, the finger probe is not cleaned by healthcare professionals resulting in the potential for contamination of the finger probe and the spread of infection between patients
Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.
The invention provides a sanitary finger cover for use with a finger probe that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and that enables user's, e.g., patients, to protect themselves from contamination.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a sanitary finger cover that includes a cover body of an elastic material, with an outer surface, with a first end defining an enclosed cover opening sized to receive a finger of a patient, with an inner surface defining an enclosed cover channel sized to receive the finger of the patient, with a second end opposing the first end of the cover body, and with a cover length of at least 1″ and separating the first and second ends of the cover body, wherein the cover body has an enclosed sidewall spanning the cover length and is configured to at least partially enclose the finger of the patient and cover the tip of the finger of the patient and the second end adapted to cover the tip of the finger. A finger probe is utilized that is operably configured to measure user biometrics through, and at least partially superimposed over and directly coupled to, the outer surface of the cover body, thereby enabling the cover body to provide a barrier between the finger of the patient and the finger probe.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes an elastic band defining the first end and enclosing the cover opening.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the enclosed sidewall of the cover body of a thin-walled material and of a thickness less than or equal to 1/32″. Additionally, the enclosed cover opening is approximately 0.5-1″. Further, the thickness of the enclosed sidewall may uniformly and continuously spans at least 90% of the cover length.
In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, the finger probe is permanently affixed to the outer surface cover body.
In accordance with an exemplary feature of the present invention, the finger probe is operably configured to measure blood oxygen saturation of the patient.
Also in accordance with the present invention and in combination with a finger probe operably configured to measure user biometrics through a finger of a patient, an improvement is disclosed that includes a sanitary finger cover having a cover body of an elastic material, with an outer surface, with a first end defining an enclosed cover opening sized to receive a finger of a patient, with an inner surface defining an enclosed cover channel sized to receive the finger of the patient, with a second end opposing the first end of the cover body, and with a cover length of at least 1″ and separating the first and second ends of the cover body, wherein the cover body has an enclosed sidewall spanning the cover length and configured to at least partially enclose the finger of the patient and cover the tip of the finger of the patient enclosed and with second end adapted to cover the tip of the finger and the finger probe is at least partially superimposed over and directly coupled to, the outer surface of the cover body, thereby enabling the cover body to provide a barrier between the finger of the patient and the finger probe.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a sanitary finger cover for use with a finger probe, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.
Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. The figures of the drawings are not drawn to scale.
Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “providing” is defined herein in its broadest sense, e.g., bringing/coming into physical existence, making available, and/or supplying to someone or something, in whole or in multiple parts at once or over a period of time. Also, for purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof relate to the invention as oriented in the figures and is not to be construed as limiting any feature to be a particular orientation, as said orientation may be changed based on the user's perspective of the device. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description.
As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately” apply to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. In this document, the term “longitudinal” should be understood to mean in a direction corresponding to an elongated direction of the finger cover, spanning from the first end of the finger cover to the second end of the finger cover.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.
The present invention provides a novel and efficient sanitary finger cover for use with a finger probe. Referring now to
The second end 103 of the cover body 102 is operably configured to cover the tip of the patient's finger. In some embodiments, the first end 101 may include an elastic material 107 positioned around the perimeter of the opening 105. The elastic material 107 is operably configured to retain the finger cover 100 in a suitable position on the finger of the patient to prevent contact between the patient's skin and the finger probe.
Specifically,
In some embodiments, the finger cover 100 extends along the length of the finger 200 and has a length longer than the length of the finger probe 400 to ensure the finger 200 does not contact the finger probe 400. For example, some exemplary dimensions of the cover body 102 include a length of approximately 2 inches, a diameter of approximately 0.5 inches, and a circumference of the first end 101 that is approximately 1.5 inches. Further, the finger probe 400 may be permanently affixed to the outer surface 108 cover body 102 using, for example, adhesive, welding, etc.
The cover body 102 can also be seen having an outer surface 108, a first end 101 defining an enclosed cover opening 105 sized to receive a finger of a patient, an inner surface 502 defining an enclosed cover channel 504 sized to receive the finger of the patient, and a second end 103 opposing the first end 101 of the cover body 102. The cover length may beneficially be at least 1″ and separates the first and second ends 101, 103 of the cover body 102. In one embodiment, the cover channel 504 may extend approximately the entire cover length and may be of a shape similar to the user's finger. The outer surface shape may be of a similar shape or may be of an oblong or other shape. The cover body 102 can also be seen having an enclosed sidewall 500 spanning the cover length and is configured to at least partially enclose the finger of the patient and cover the tip of the finger of the patient enclosed and second end adapted to cover the tip of the finger.
The finger probe 400 is operably configured to measure user biometrics through, and at least partially superimposed over and directly coupled to, the outer surface 108 of the cover body 102, thereby enabling the cover body 102 to provide a barrier between the finger of the patient and the finger probe 400. The elastic band 107, which may be formed by overlaying layers of material or having a separate band of material, defines the first end 101 and encloses the cover opening 105. In one preferred embodiment, the finger probe 400 is operably configured to measure blood oxygen saturation of the patient. The finger probe 400 may be manipulated to expand and contract over all or a portion of the user's finger where the cover body 102 is directly coupled.
As used herein, the term “wall” is intended broadly to encompass continuous structures, as well as, separate structures that are coupled together so as to form a substantially continuous external surface. As seen in
In one exemplary method of using the cover 100, as depicted in
As such, the process flow chart in
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, while the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this disclosure also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the above described features.
