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WO2002081348A1 - Distributeur de protection pour stethoscope - Google Patents

Distributeur de protection pour stethoscope Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2002081348A1
WO2002081348A1 PCT/US2001/010920 US0110920W WO02081348A1 WO 2002081348 A1 WO2002081348 A1 WO 2002081348A1 US 0110920 W US0110920 W US 0110920W WO 02081348 A1 WO02081348 A1 WO 02081348A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
dispenser
accordance
discharge area
exit aperture
backing
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.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2001/010920
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Shlomo Nevo
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
MEDSEARCH TECHNOLOGIES Inc
Original Assignee
MEDSEARCH TECHNOLOGIES Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by MEDSEARCH TECHNOLOGIES Inc filed Critical MEDSEARCH TECHNOLOGIES Inc
Priority to PCT/US2001/010920 priority Critical patent/WO2002081348A1/fr
Publication of WO2002081348A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002081348A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H37/00—Article or web delivery apparatus incorporating devices for performing specified auxiliary operations
    • B65H37/002—Web delivery apparatus, the web serving as support for articles, material or another web
    • B65H37/005—Hand-held apparatus
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B7/00—Instruments for auscultation
    • A61B7/02—Stethoscopes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
    • B65H2701/19—Specific article or web
    • B65H2701/194—Web supporting regularly spaced adhesive articles, e.g. labels, rubber articles, labels or stamps

Definitions

  • This invention relates to dispensers in general, and more specifically, to a stethoscope cover dispenser that dispenses an individual cover from a stored plurality of covers such that the dispensed cover is positioned with its adhesive side exposed and facing upward.
  • Hygiene and sanitary conditions are a major concern in the medical field, and in particular in doctor's offices, hospitals and in any area exposed to a variety of germ-infested sick people. In such highly contaminated areas, it is critically important to prevent the transmission of germs, disease and the like. Sometimes, a sanitary environment can mean the difference between life and death, particularly if such environment prevents Hie spread of fatal diseases. Furthermore, it is commonly understood that the increased use of sanitary and hygienic conditions in highly civilized countries is directly responsible for an increase in the life span of its inhabitants, as compared with many third-world countries where the life span is depressingly low.
  • a stethoscope which is normally worn around the neck at all times, is a perfect example.
  • a medical professional in a hospital may use a stethoscope on up to one hundred patients, if not more.
  • a doctor in private practice may see half as many patients in the same time period.
  • it is rare to see a doctor or the like sterilize the head of a stethoscope between uses.
  • the prior art is replete with disposable shields or covers designed to impart sterility to the head and/or diaphragm of a stethoscope. For example, U.S.
  • Patent 4,871,046 to Turner discloses a disposable, plastic envelope that encompasses the entire head portion of a stethoscope.
  • U.S. Patent 5,448,025 to Stark et al. discloses a disposable, adhesive cover that completely covers the diaphragm and adheres to the surrounding rim of a stethoscope head, while U.S. Patents 5,424,495 and 5,528,004 and 5,686,706, all to Wurzburger, disclose another disposable, adhesive cover that adheres to the entirety of a stethoscope diaphragm.
  • an apparatus for dispensing individual shields or covers, usually from a roll or stack.
  • the medical professional must handle the shield during affixation onto the head of a stethoscope. This is particularly true with rolls of covers that are adhesively applied to a continuous backing as shown and described in the Stark et al. '025 reference, which covers must be peeled off the backing and hand-applied to the stethoscope.
  • covers While medical professionals try to limit the transmission of germs or bodily matter from patient to patient through hand-washing and the use of rubber gloves, no system is perfect and germs are likely to persist at any contact location. Even a medical professional wearing gloves is likely to contact a germ-bearing surface, such as a writing instrument or a patient's chart that might have been previously handled by someone not wearing gloves or concerned with sterility.
  • stethoscope shields or covers are no different, and it is highly desirable if such covers could be applied to the stethoscope head without any contact or bodily intervention from a medical professional and in a quick and efficient manner. Again, this is particularly true in the case of adhesively backed covers, which must be peeled off a non-adhesive backing using one's fingers.
  • a stethoscope shield dispenser that encourages sterility and hygiene with respect to contact between the stethoscope and a dispensed shield.
  • a stethoscope shield dispenser that is easy to use and that enables quick application of a shield to a stethoscope head.
  • a dispenser that is preferably suited to dispense adhesively-backed stethoscope shields with the adhesive portion of the dispensed shield being exposed in preparation for direct contact with the head of a stethoscope.
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a dispenser in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates application of a stethoscope to a shield that has been ejected onto a discharge area of the dispenser of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3A is an exploded side view of the dispenser with the lower housing partially cutaway illustrating a shield roll advancing through the dispenser in preparation for the dispensing of an individual shield from such roll.
  • FIG. 3B is the dispenser of FIG. 3A illustrating a shield being automatically separated from the roll.
  • FIG. 3C is the dispenser of FIG. 3A illustrating a shield fully dispensed from the continuous backing.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a mounting plate for mounting the dispenser of the invention to a surface.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates the mounting of a dispenser of the invention to a vertical wall surface.
  • FIG. 6 is a top view of the dispenser of the invention showing a ringer cutout on the upper housing that exposes a cutting edge.
  • FIGS. 7-8 illustrate alternative embodiments of a body contact surface, i.e., transparent or opaque or the like, of shields usable with the dispenser of the present invention.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates the opposite, adhesive surface of a shield usable with the dispenser of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 10 A- IOC are three-dimensional illustrations of a shield of the invention as also shown in FIGS. 3A-3C being dispensed from a continuous backing.
  • FIG. 10D illustrates a dispensed shield of the invention retained in the discharge area between the upper and lower housings of the dispenser of the invention.
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a dispenser 10 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
  • Dispenser 10 comprises an upper housing 30 and a lower housing 50 capable of being snapped or otherwise joined together.
  • a chamber or storage area 52 provided in the lower housing 50 is adapted to receive a plurality of stethoscope shields 90.
  • a plurality of stethoscope shields 90 For purposes of explanation, such plurality will be illustrated in roll form 70 with the individual shields 90 being adhesively attached to a preferably continuous backing 72. It will, however, be understood by one skilled in the art that a plurality of shields may be dispensed from other than a roll, such as a stack or the like.
  • Each shield 90 preferably has a transparent front surface 93 (FIG. 7) or an opaque front surface 95 (FIG.
  • each shield 90 may be further provided with a central portion 92 and opposing edge portions 94 and 96, which edge portions will be described in detail later.
  • upper housing 30 is provided with a cutout or window 32 through which is exposed a discharge area 54 provided on said lower housing 50 when said upper and lower housings are joined together.
  • the discharge area 54 is adapted to receive an individually dispensed shield 90 (see FIGS. 2 and 10D) from the roll of shields 70 in preparation for direct contact by, and attachment to, a stethoscope 100 (see FIG. 2).
  • the shield 90 is preferably dispensed with its adhesive side 97 exposed (see FIGS. 2 and 10A-D).
  • Discharge area 54 is provided with a discharge area surface 55 and a raised attachment projection 56 that assists with the adhesive attachment of the dispensed shield 90 to the diaphragm 102 and rim 104 of a stethoscope 100.
  • Lower housing 50 further comprises a separating member 60, around which the continuous backing 72 of the roll 70 of labels is wrapped, and an exit aperture 62 through which the continuous backing 72 extends.
  • a pathway for the backing 72 is defmed between the chamber 52 and exit aperture 62 preferably around the separating member 60.
  • the exit aperture 60 is preferably
  • a roll 70 of shields 90 is placed in the chamber 52 of the lower housing 50.
  • the chamber 52 illustrated in the figures is configured and dimensioned to accommodate a plurality of shields 90 in roll form. However, it will be understood that such chamber 52 may be dimensioned to accommodate shield pluralities of other
  • an initial or leading portion of a backing sheet 72 is threaded through the dispenser 10 such that the sheet 72 extends around the separator member 60 and through the exit aperture 62.
  • the upper housing 30 is preferably attached to the lower housing 50 as shown in FIG. 2.
  • the operation of the dispenser 10 as depicted in FIGS. 3A-3C and FIGS. 10A-10D is shown with the upper housing 30 separated from the lower housing 50, although during operation the housings will preferably be attached together.
  • covers 90 are dispensed from the dispenser 10 by pulling on the free end 74 of the backing sheet 72, Pulling on the backing sheet 72 is usually accompanied by firmly gripping or otherwise holding the upper housing 30 of the dispenser 10 while the dispenser is situated on a planar surface or the like, such that a pull on the backing sheet does not translate into a rearward movement of the dispenser. If the dispenser 10 were mounted to a substantially horizontal surface, then it would not be necessary to grip either upper or lower housing 30,50 during operation of the dispenser. Of course, the dispenser 10 could also be held completely by a medical professional, either by gripping the upper housing 30, lower housing 50, or both.
  • passage of the continuous backing 72 around the separator 60 causes a single shield 90 to peel off and detach from the continuous backing 72 and enter the discharge area 54, such that the shield 90 extends into the area 54 with its adhesive side 97 (FIG. 9) facing upward and its non-adhesive side 93,95 (FIGS. 7 and 8) facing the surface 55 of the discharge area 54.
  • the shield 90 detaches from the backing 72 in a direction that is tangential to the initial movement of the backing 72 up and around the separator member 60.
  • the adjacent positioning of the separator member 60 with respect to the discharge area 54 and the manner in which the continuous backing 72 is withdrawn from the dispenser 10 through the exit aperture 62 results in the movement of the shield 90 toward the discharge area 54 and away from the exit aperture 62.
  • pulling of the continuous backing 72 in one direction causes a shield 90 to be dispensed in the opposite direction.
  • the pathway of the continuous backing may be defined such that the shield 90 is discharged in a direction that is perpendicular or at an angle to the withdrawal of the backing 72 through the exit aperture 62.
  • a continued pull on the free end 74 of the continuous backing 72 causes the shield to progress farther into the discharge area 54.
  • the dispensed shield 90 is guided into the discharge area 54 by grooves 66, 68 defined between the engagement of the upper 30 and lower housing 50 on either side of the discharge area 54.
  • Such grooves 66, 68 preferably narrow, i.e., the engagement between the upper and lower housings 30, 50 tightens or becomes closer, toward the end 57 of the discharge area surface 55 in order to better retain the edges 94,96 (see also FIGS. 7-9) of the shield 90.
  • each shield 90 is dispensed in a substantially flat orientation with the adhesive side 97 of the shield 90 exposed or facing upward as shown.
  • a medical professional as shown in FIG. 2 merely has to press the head 100 of a stethoscope against the exposed adhesive side 97 of the dispensed shield 90 to apply the shield 90 to the stethoscope.
  • the discharge area 56, and in particular the opening 32 in the upper housmg 30 that helps to define the discharge area 56 when the upper and lower housings 30,50 are joined together, should be appropriately dimensioned to accommodate the head of a stethoscope.
  • a firm pressure against the shield 90 and discharge area surface 55 causes the adhesive side 97 of the shield 90 to adhere to the rim 104 and preferably the diaphragm 102 of the stethoscope head 100, after which the stethoscope can be withdrawn from the dispenser 10 with the shield or cover 90 adhered thereto.
  • the raised portion 56 on the discharge area surface 55 facilitates adherence of the central portion of the shield 90 to a recessed stethoscope diaphragm 102 (see FIG. 2). It is therefore important that the shield 90 is dispensed with its adhesive side 97 facing upward and its non-adhesive side 93 facing the discharge area surface 55 so that the shield 90 can be easily removed from the discharge area 54. If the adhesive side 97 were facing toward the discharge area surface 55, the shield 90 would either stick to such surface 55 or it would become necessary to manually remove and adhere the shield 90 to the stethoscope, which would undoubtedly contaminate the shield 90.
  • a shield 90 may be completely applied to a stethoscope head 100 without contact of the shield 90 by the hands of a medical professional.
  • the medical professional can merely remove the shield 90 from the stethoscope and dispose of the shield 90 in accordance with proper sanitary procedures.
  • the medical professional merely has to pull on the continuous backing 72 to dispenser another individual shield 90 located on the roll 70. With the shields 90 disposed on the backing sheet 72 in a spaced apart relationship as shown, individual shields 90 may be dispensed one at a time until the roll 70 is exhausted.
  • the grooves 66,68 alongside the discharge area 54 are preferred in the dispenser embodiment as illustrated for several reasons.
  • the shields 90 are dispensed from a roll 70, the shields 90 have a tendency to curl upon detachment from the continuous backing 72. Such curling is heightened toward the end of the roll. Curling of a dispensed shield 90 is diminished or restrained by the guided shield edge portions 94,96 extending through the grooves 66,68.
  • the grooves 66,68 also tend to keep the shield 90 centered in the discharge area 54, thereby facilitating application of a stethoscope head 100 by a medical professional. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS.
  • the grooves 66,68 would help retain a dispensed shield 90 within the discharge area 54 and prevent such shield 90 from falling away from the discharge area 54.
  • a roll of shields 90 is illustrated for purposes of explanation, other means of retaining the shields on a continuous backing may be used.
  • a plurality of shields may be adhered to a stack (not shown) comprised of individual backing sheets separated by bends or perforations, in which case the chamber might have a square or rectangular configuration (not shown).
  • the dispenser is only going to be used on a substantially horizontal surface, such as a table or the like, then it might not even be necessary to equip such stacked shields with edge portions 94,96.
  • edge portions would be preferable with any shield configuration, not only for being guided within the discharge area, but also to facilitate removal of the shield from a stethoscope by a medical professional.
  • shields 90 are disposed on a continuous backing 72
  • the presence of such backing exiting through the aperture 62 of the dispenser 10 upon dispensing several shields 90 may be significant.
  • the dispenser 10 may be provided with a cutting edge 65 on the lower housing 50 to facilitate the downward tearing of the used backing sheet 72 from the dispenser 10.

Landscapes

  • Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un distributeur d'enveloppes (90) de stéthoscopes stockées dans une chambre de retenue (52). Les enveloppes sont disposées de manière adhésive sur un support (72) continu et séparées de manière automatique et individuelle dudit support (72), puis distribuées dans une zone d'évacuation (54) du fait du retrait du support (72) continu du distributeur (10). Chaque enveloppe (90) est distribuée, sa partie adhésive (97) regardant vers le haut en vue de sa fixation au diaphragme (102) d'un stéthoscope.
PCT/US2001/010920 2001-04-04 2001-04-04 Distributeur de protection pour stethoscope Ceased WO2002081348A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2001/010920 WO2002081348A1 (fr) 2001-04-04 2001-04-04 Distributeur de protection pour stethoscope

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2001/010920 WO2002081348A1 (fr) 2001-04-04 2001-04-04 Distributeur de protection pour stethoscope

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2002081348A1 true WO2002081348A1 (fr) 2002-10-17

Family

ID=21742469

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2001/010920 Ceased WO2002081348A1 (fr) 2001-04-04 2001-04-04 Distributeur de protection pour stethoscope

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2002081348A1 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2418414A (en) * 2004-09-22 2006-03-29 Medway Science Technologies Lt Dispensing container for thin polymeric films
WO2014186362A1 (fr) * 2013-05-13 2014-11-20 Jonathan Singer Applications de films barrières et distributeurs de films barrières pour stéthoscope et procédés associés
EP3558846A4 (fr) * 2016-12-22 2020-08-05 Aseptiscope, Inc. Cartouches, distributeurs et kits permettant de distribuer des couvercles de stéthoscope
WO2020232248A1 (fr) * 2019-05-15 2020-11-19 Fishberger Kenneth Système de distribution de couvercles de stéthoscope
US20220048695A1 (en) * 2016-12-22 2022-02-17 Aseptiscope, Inc. Cartridges, dispensers, and kits for dispensing instrument covers
US20230034321A1 (en) * 2016-12-22 2023-02-02 Aseptiscope, Inc. Cartridges, dispensers, and kits for dispensing instrument covers

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5564431A (en) * 1994-11-16 1996-10-15 Seward; Regina Flexible stethoscope cover, cover package and dispensing system

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5564431A (en) * 1994-11-16 1996-10-15 Seward; Regina Flexible stethoscope cover, cover package and dispensing system

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2418414A (en) * 2004-09-22 2006-03-29 Medway Science Technologies Lt Dispensing container for thin polymeric films
WO2014186362A1 (fr) * 2013-05-13 2014-11-20 Jonathan Singer Applications de films barrières et distributeurs de films barrières pour stéthoscope et procédés associés
EP3558846A4 (fr) * 2016-12-22 2020-08-05 Aseptiscope, Inc. Cartouches, distributeurs et kits permettant de distribuer des couvercles de stéthoscope
US20220048695A1 (en) * 2016-12-22 2022-02-17 Aseptiscope, Inc. Cartridges, dispensers, and kits for dispensing instrument covers
US11358782B2 (en) 2016-12-22 2022-06-14 Aseptiscope, Inc. Cartridges, dispensers, and kits for dispensing instrument covers
IL267590B (en) * 2016-12-22 2022-09-01 Aseptiscope Inc Cartridges, dispensers and kits for issuing stethoscope covers
US20230034321A1 (en) * 2016-12-22 2023-02-02 Aseptiscope, Inc. Cartridges, dispensers, and kits for dispensing instrument covers
US20230286728A1 (en) * 2016-12-22 2023-09-14 Christopher James Dutton Cartridges, dispensers, and kits for dispensing instrument covers
WO2020232248A1 (fr) * 2019-05-15 2020-11-19 Fishberger Kenneth Système de distribution de couvercles de stéthoscope

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