Protective apparatus for a biomedical probe

Claim 2

A hand-held biomedical apparatus comprising: a probe having a distal end for being directed at a patient and a base portion for use in retaining a probe cover on the probe; and protection means for protecting the probe, the protection means comprising a protective probe cover having a frame member formed of a permanently deformable, nonresilient material, the frame member having an aperture sized such that it is smaller than the base portion but is sized to fit over the base portion of the probe and to be retained in a fixed position on the base portion by a friction interference fit, the probe cover having a stretchable material attached to the probe cover frame member and extending across the aperture such that when the distal end of the probe is inserted through the aperture to fit the probe cover frame member over the base portion, the material will stretch to conform generally to the shape of the probe.

Claim 3

The biomedical apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the probe further comprises a waveguide formed through the probe and opening at the distal end for receiving energy from the patient and conducting the energy through the probe; and the protection means further comprises waveguide protection means for providing material around the waveguide along its entire length and at its distal end opening for protecting the waveguide.

Claim 4

The biomedical apparatus of claim 2 wherein the waveguide protection means comprises an outer boot formed of a shock absorbent material mounted over and surrounding the waveguide along its length on which is formed the base portion for mounting the frame member and which forms the outer surface of the probe to which the stretchable material conforms.

Claim 5

The biomedical apparatus of claim 2 wherein the waveguide protection means further comprises window means for sealing the opening of the waveguide at the distal end against contaminants while being transparent to the energy to be received by the waveguide.

Claim 6

The biomedical apparatus of claim 4 wherein the waveguide protection means comprises a sleeve mounted over the window means and the distal end of the waveguide for protecting the window means and waveguide from physical shocks.

Claim 7

The biomedical apparatus of claim 2 wherein the protection means further comprises: window means for sealing the opening of the waveguide at the distal end against contaminants while being transparent to the energy to be received by the waveguide; a sleeve mounted over the window means and the distal end of the waveguide for protecting the window means and waveguide from physical shocks; and an outer boot formed of a shock absorbent material and mounted over the waveguide along its entire length on which is formed the base for mounting the frame member and which forms the outer surface of the probe to which the stretchable material conforms.

Claim 8

A hand-held biomedical apparatus comprising: a probe having a distal end for being directed at a patient and a base portion; and protection means for protecting the probe, the protection means comprising a protective probe cover having a frame member with an aperture sized to fit over the base portion of the probe and to be retained in a fixed position in relation to the base portion by interference fit, the probe cover having a stretchable material attached to the probe cover frame member and extending across the aperture such that when the distal end of the probe is inserted through the aperture to fit the probe cover frame member over the base portion, the material will stretch to conform generally to the shape of the probe; and the protection means further comprises sensor means for sensing the presence of the protective probe cover at the fixed position on the probe and for providing a signal responsive to the sensing.

Claim 9

A hand-held biomedical apparatus comprising: a probe having a distal end for being directed at a patient and a base portion; and protection means for protecting the probe, the protection means comprising a protective probe cover having a frame member with an aperture sized to fit over the base portion of the probe and to be retained in a fixed position in relation to the base portion by interference fit, the probe cover having a stretchable material attached to the probe cover frame member and extending across the aperture such that when the distal end of the probe is inserted through the aperture to fit the probe cover frame member over the base portion, the material will stretch to conform generally to the shape of the probe; and the protection means further comprises sensor means for sensing the presence of the protective probe cover at the fixed position on the probe and for providing a signal responsive to the sensing.

Claim 10

The biomedical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base portion includes a roughened surface area to receive the probe cover and to positively retain the probe cover in place over the base portion by the friction between the roughened surface area and the probe cover.

Claim 11

The biomedical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the probe cover frame member comprises permanently deformable cardboard and the aperture is sized to be smaller than the size of the base.

Claim 12

A hand-held biomedical apparatus comprising: a probe having a distal end for being directed at a patient and a base portion for use in retaining a probe cover on the probe and having a uniform cross-section along its length and comprising a waveguide formed through the probe and opening at the distal end for receiving energy from the patient and conducting the energy through the probe; protection means for protecting the probe, the protection means comprising a protective probe cover having a frame member formed of a permanently deformable, nonresilient material, the frame having an aperture sized such that it is smaller than the base portion but is sized to fit over the base portion of the probe and to be retained in a fixed position in relation to the base portion by a friction interference fit, the probe cover having a stretchable material attached to the probe cover frame member and extending across the aperture such that when the distal end of the probe is inserted through the aperture to fit the probe cover frame member over the base portion, the material will stretch to conform generally to the shape of the probe; and the protection means further comprising waveguide protection means for providing material around the waveguide along its entire length and at its distal end opening for protecting the waveguide, the waveguide protection means comprising an outer boot formed of a shock absorbent material and mounted over and surrounding the waveguide along its length on which is formed the base portion for mounting the frame member and which forms the outer surface of the probe to which the stretchable material conforms.

Claim 13

A hand-held biomedical apparatus comprising: a probe having a distal end for being directed at a patient and a base portion for use in retaining a probe cover on the probe and having a uniform cross-section along its length and comprising a waveguide formed through the probe and opening at the distal end for receiving energy from the patient and conducting the energy through the probe; protection means for protecting the probe, the protection means comprising a protective probe cover having a frame member formed of a permanently deformable, nonresilient material, the frame having an aperture sized such that it is smaller than the base portion but is sized to fit over the base portion of the probe and to be retained in a fixed position in relation to the base portion by a friction interference fit, the probe cover having a stretchable material attached to the probe cover frame member and extending across the aperture such that when the distal end of the probe is inserted through the aperture to fit the probe cover frame member over the base portion, the material will stretch to conform generally to the shape of the probe; and the protection means further comprising waveguide protection means for providing material around the waveguide along its entire length and at its distal end opening for protecting the waveguide, the waveguide protection means comprising an outer boot formed of a shock absorbent material and mounted over and surrounding the waveguide along its length on which is formed the base portion for mounting the frame member and which forms the outer surface of the probe to which the stretchable material conforms.

Claim 14

The biomedical apparatus of claim 10 wherein the waveguide protection means further comprises window means for sealing the opening of the waveguide at the distal end against contaminants while being transparent to the energy to be received by the waveguide.

Claim 15

The biomedical apparatus of claim 11 wherein the waveguide protection means further comprises a sleeve mounted over the window means and the distal end of the waveguide for protecting the window means and waveguide from physical shocks.

Claim 16

The biomedical apparatus of claim 10 wherein the waveguide protection means further comprises: window means for sealing the opening of the waveguide at the distal end against contaminants while being transparent to the energy received by the waveguide; a sleeve mounted over the window means and the distal end of the waveguide for protecting the window means and waveguide from physical shocks; and the outer boot is mounted over the window means, the sleeve and the waveguide along its length.

Claim 17

A hand-held biomedical apparatus comprising: a probe having a distal end for being directed at a patient and a base portion and comprising a waveguide formed through the probe and opening at the distal end for receiving energy from the patient and conducting the energy through the probe; protection means for protecting the probe, the protection means comprising a protective probe cover having a frame member with an aperture sized to fit over the base portion of the probe and to be retained in a fixed position in relation to the base portion by interference fit, the probe cover having a stretchable material attached to the probe cover frame member and extending across the aperture such that when the distal end of the probe is inserted through the aperture to fit the probe cover frame member over the base portion, the material will stretch to conform generally to the shape of the probe; the protection means further comprising waveguide protection means for providing material around the waveguide along its entire length and at its distal end opening for protecting the waveguide, the waveguide protection means comprising an outer boot mounted over and surrounding the waveguide along its length on which is formed the base portion for mounting the frame member and which forms the outer surface of the probe to which the stretchable material conforms and window means for sealing the opening of the waveguide at the distal end against contaminants while being transparent to the energy received by the waveguide and a sleeve mounted over the window means and the distal end of the waveguide for protecting the window means and waveguide from physical shocks and the outer boot is mounted over the window means, the sleeve and the waveguide along its length; and the protection means further comprises sensor means for sensing the presence of the protective probe cover at the fixed position on the probe and for providing a signal responsive to the sensing.

Claim 18

A hand-held biomedical apparatus comprising: a probe having a distal end for being directed at a patient and a base portion and comprising a waveguide formed through the probe and opening at the distal end for receiving energy from the patient and conducting the energy through the probe; protection means for protecting the probe, the protection means comprising a protective probe cover having a frame member with an aperture sized to fit over the base portion of the probe and to be retained in a fixed position in relation to the base portion by interference fit, the probe cover having a stretchable material attached to the probe cover frame member and extending across the aperture such that when the distal end of the probe is inserted through the aperture to fit the probe cover frame member over the base portion, the material will stretch to conform generally to the shape of the probe; the protection means further comprising waveguide protection means for providing material around the waveguide along its entire length and at its distal end opening for protecting the waveguide, the waveguide protection means comprising an outer boot mounted over and surrounding the waveguide along its length on which is formed the base portion for mounting the frame member and which forms the outer surface of the probe to which the stretchable material conforms and window means for sealing the opening of the waveguide at the distal end against contaminants while being transparent to the energy received by the waveguide and a sleeve mounted over the window means and the distal end of the waveguide for protecting the window means and waveguide from physical shocks and the outer boot is mounted over the window means, the sleeve and the waveguide along its length; and the protection means further comprises sensor means for sensing the presence of the protective probe cover at the fixed position on the probe and for providing a signal responsive to the sensing.

Claim 19

The biomedical apparatus of claim 13 wherein the base portion includes a roughened surface area to receive the probe cover and to positively retain the probe cover in place over the base portion by the friction between the roughened surface area and the probe cover.

Claim 20

The biomedical apparatus of claim 13 wherein the probe cover frame member comprises permanently deformable cardboard and the aperture is sized to be smaller than the size of the base.

Claim 21

A hand-held biomedical apparatus for receiving infrared energy comprising: a probe having a distal end for being directed at a patient and a base portion for use in retaining a probe cover on the probe, the base portion having a uniform cross-section along its length and a roughened surface area, and comprising a waveguide formed through the probe and opening at the distal end for receiving infrared energy from the patient and conducting the energy through the probe; protection means for protecting the probe comprising a protective probe cover having a generally flat frame member formed of a permanently deformable, nonresilient material, the frame having an aperture sized such that it is smaller than the base portion but is sized to fit over the base portion of the probe and to be retained thereon by a friction interference fit with the roughened surface area of the base portion, the probe cover having a stretchable material attached to the probe cover frame member and extending across the aperture such that when the distal end of the probe is inserted through the aperture to fit the probe cover frame member over the base portion, the material will stretch to conform generally to the shape of the probe, the stretchable material disposed in relation to the frame member such that when the probe cover is in place on the probe, the frame member is disposed between the stretchable material and the distal end of the probe; and the protection means further comprising waveguide protection means for providing material around the waveguide along its entire length and at its distal end opening for protecting the waveguide, the waveguide protection means comprising window means for sealing the opening of the waveguide at the distal end against contaminants while being transparent to infrared energy to be received by the waveguide and a sleeve mounted over the window means and the distal end of the waveguide for protecting the window and waveguide from physical shocks, and further comprising an outer boot formed of shock absorbent material and mounted over and surrounding the waveguide along its length on which is formed the base portion for mounting the frame member and which forms the outer surface of the probe to which the stretchable material conforms.

Claim 22

A hand-held biomedical apparatus for receiving infrared energy comprising: a probe having a distal end for being directed at a patient and a base portion for use in retaining a probe cover on the probe, the base portion having a uniform cross-section along its length and a roughened surface area, and comprising a waveguide formed through the probe and opening at the distal end for receiving infrared energy from the patient and conducting the energy through the probe; protection means for protecting the probe comprising a protective probe cover having a generally flat frame member formed of a permanently deformable, nonresilient material, the frame having an aperture sized such that it is smaller than the base portion but is sized to fit over the base portion of the probe and to be retained thereon by a friction interference fit with the roughened surface area of the base portion, the probe cover having a stretchable material attached to the probe cover frame member and extending across the aperture such that when the distal end of the probe is inserted through the aperture to fit the probe cover frame member over the base portion, the material will stretch to conform generally to the shape of the probe, the stretchable material disposed in relation to the frame member such that when the probe cover is in place on the probe, the frame member is disposed between the stretchable material and the distal end of the probe; and the protection means further comprising waveguide protection means for providing material around the waveguide along its entire length and at its distal end opening for protecting the waveguide, the waveguide protection means comprising window means for sealing the opening of the waveguide at the distal end against contaminants while being transparent to infrared energy to be received by the waveguide and a sleeve mounted over the window means and the distal end of the waveguide for protecting the window and waveguide from physical shocks, and further comprising an outer boot formed of shock absorbent material and mounted over and surrounding the waveguide along its length on which is formed the base portion for mounting the frame member and which forms the outer surface of the probe to which the stretchable material conforms.

Claim 23

A hand-held biomedical apparatus for receiving infrared energy comprising: a probe having a distal end for being directed at a patient and a base portion and comprising a waveguide formed through the probe and opening at the distal end for receiving infrared energy from the patient and conducting the energy through the probe; protection means for protecting the probe comprising a protective probe cover having a generally flat frame member with an aperture sized to fit over the base portion of the probe and to be retained thereon by interference fit with the base portion, the probe cover having a stretchable material attached to the probe cover frame member and extending across the aperture such that when the distal end of the probe is inserted through the aperture to fit the probe cover frame member over the base portion, the material will stretch to conform generally to the shape of the probe; the protection means further comprising waveguide protection means for providing material around the waveguide along its entire length and at its distal end opening for protecting the waveguide, the waveguide protection means comprising window means for sealing the opening of the waveguide at the distal end against contaminants while being transparent to infrared energy to be received by the waveguide and a sleeve mounted over the window means and the distal end of the waveguide for protecting the window and waveguide from physical shocks, and further comprising an outer boot mounted over and surrounding the waveguide along its length on which is formed the base portion for mounting the frame member and which forms the outer surface of the probe to which the stretchable material conforms; and the protection means further comprises sensor means for sensing the presence of the protective probe cover on the base portion of the probe and for providing a signal responsive to the sensing.

Claim 24

A hand-held biomedical apparatus for receiving infrared energy comprising: a probe having a distal end for being directed at a patient and a base portion and comprising a waveguide formed through the probe and opening at the distal end for receiving infrared energy from the patient and conducting the energy through the probe; protection means for protecting the probe comprising a protective probe cover having a generally flat frame member with an aperture sized to fit over the base portion of the probe and to be retained thereon by interference fit with the base portion, the probe cover having a stretchable material attached to the probe cover frame member and extending across the aperture such that when the distal end of the probe is inserted through the aperture to fit the probe cover frame member over the base portion, the material will stretch to conform generally to the shape of the probe; the protection means further comprising waveguide protection means for providing material around the waveguide along its entire length and at its distal end opening for protecting the waveguide, the waveguide protection means comprising window means for sealing the opening of the waveguide at the distal end against contaminants while being transparent to infrared energy to be received by the waveguide and a sleeve mounted over the window means and the distal end of the waveguide for protecting the window and waveguide from physical shocks, and further comprising an outer boot mounted over and surrounding the waveguide along its length on which is formed the base portion for mounting the frame member and which forms the outer surface of the probe to which the stretchable material conforms; and the protection means further comprises sensor means for sensing the presence of the protective probe cover on the base portion of the probe and for providing a signal responsive to the sensing.

Claim 25

The biomedical apparatus of claim 17 wherein the roughened surface area of the base portion includes a rough material applied to the base portion.

Claim 26

The biomedical apparatus of claim 17 wherein the roughened surface area of the base portion is formed into the base portion.

Claim 27

The biomedical apparatus of claim 8 wherein the roughened surface area of the base portion comprises a rough material applied to the base portion.

Claim 28

The biomedical apparatus of claim 8 wherein the roughened surface area of the base portion is formed into the base portion.