Patent FR600200A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent EP0201790A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0201790A2
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EP
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Disposable Speculum
Assignee: Sherwood Services Ag tyco Group Sarl
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Filing: 1986-04-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-04-26
Abstract
Abstract A sanitary protective cover or sheath for the ear canal probe of a tympanic thermometer has a generally tubular body portion and an infrared transparent membrane attached to and sealing the forward end of the tubular body portion. While the tubular body portion is being injection molded of a plastic material, a film of a similar plastic material is mated to the forward end of the tubular body portion. A portion of the film defining the membrane is thus severed from the film and thermally bonded to the tubular body portion.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary J. O'hara
- 👤 David B. Phillips
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 17:28
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J5/00; G01J5/02; G01J5/021; A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00142
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
34 words
A speculum comprising: a generally tubular body portion having forward and rearward ends; and a membrane extending across the forward end of the tubular body portion, the membrane being substantially transparent to infrared radiation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
34 words
A speculum comprising: a generally tubular body portion having forward and rearward ends; and a membrane extending across the forward end of the tubular body portion, the membrane being substantially transparent to infrared radiation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A speculum according to Claim 1 wherein the membrane is made of a material substantially transparent to infrared radiation in the seven to fifteen micron wavelength range.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A speculum according to Claim 1 wherein the membrane is made of a plastic material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and polyethylene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A speculum according to Claim 1 wherein the tubular body portion is configured to mate with and enclose a probe so that the membrane is stretched over a tip of the probe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A speculum according to Claim 1 wherein the membrane is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and polyethylene and has a maximum thickness of approximately .001 inches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A speculum according to Claim 1 wherein the tubular body portion and the membrane are both made of a pliant plastic material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A speculum according to Claim 6 wherein the tubular body portion is injection molded and the membrane is a film bonded to the forward end of the tubular body portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A speculum according to Claim 1 wherein the tubular body portion has a frusto-conical shape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
A speculum according to Claim 7 wherein the plastic material is polypropylene.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
A speculum according to Claim 7 wherein the plastic material is polyethylene.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A speculum according to Claim 8 wherein the frusto-conical body portion is formed with an exterior, forwardly facing shoulder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A speculum according to Claim 1 wherein the forward end of the tubular body portion has rounded edges.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A speculum according to Claim 7 wherein the film membrane is made of a stretchable plastic material and has a thickness chosen to minimize attenuation of infrared radiation passing therethrough yet being capable of withstanding 1.2 PSI without rupturing or unbonding from the tubular body portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A speculum according to Claim 1 wherein the tubular body portion is formed of an annular wall having a thickness of approximately 0.1 to 0.2 inches and the membrane has a maximum thickness of approximately .001 inches.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A speculum according to Claim 1 wherein the tubular body portion is formed with a plurality of retention barbs.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
89 words
A disposable medical apparatus comprising: a plurality of speculums each including a tubular body portion and a membrane extending across a forward end of the body portion; a tree structure; and means connecting the tubular body portion of each of the speculums to the tree structure and adapted to break to individually release a selected one of the speculums upon a predetermined amount of force being applied to the one speculum in a direction away from the tree structure while the tree structure is held in a stationary position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
89 words
A disposable medical apparatus comprising: a plurality of speculums each including a tubular body portion and a membrane extending across a forward end of the body portion; a tree structure; and means connecting the tubular body portion of each of the speculums to the tree structure and adapted to break to individually release a selected one of the speculums upon a predetermined amount of force being applied to the one speculum in a direction away from the tree structure while the tree structure is held in a stationary position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to Claim 15 wherein the tree structure, the body portions of the speculums and the connecting means are all integrally molded of a deformable plastic material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to Claim 16 wherein the tree structure comprises a lattice, the speculums are each mounted in corresponding openings in the lattice, and the connecting means includes break away legs connecting the tubular body portion of each speculum to the lattice.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
39 words
A method of fabricating a speculum comprising the steps of: injection molding a tubular body portion of a first plastic material; and bonding a membrane of a second plastic material to a forward end of the tubular body portion.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
39 words
A method of fabricating a speculum comprising the steps of: injection molding a tubular body portion of a first plastic material; and bonding a membrane of a second plastic material to a forward end of the tubular body portion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method according to Claim 19 wherein the membrane is formed by mating the forward end of the tubular body portion to a film of the second plastic material while the tubular body portion is being molded so that a portion of the film will be severed to form the membrane and the membrane will be thermally bonded to the tubular body portion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to Claim 19 wherein the first and second plastic materials are the same.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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