Figure for attachment to an apparatus for performing medical examinations on children

Abstract

A figure for attachment to an apparatus for performing examinations on children which includes a toy-like figure attached to and/or at least partially encompassing the examination apparatus for distracting the child prior to or during the examination. The toy-like figure may be any child-attracting figure and may resemble a fictional or real animal, human, or the like. The apparatus with the figure attached will appear less foreign and threatening to children than those which are presently being used. As a result, an examination can be performed more safely and efficiently than was heretofore possible.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A child distracting figure attached to an apparatus for performing an examination on a child comprising: 
 a toy-like figure at least partially encompassing said apparatus, for distracting the child prior to or during the examination, whereby the child will be less apprehensive about the examination while it is being performed.    
     
     
         2 . The child distracting apparatus of    claim 1    wherein the examination apparatus is an otoscope having a handle portion, a viewing head and a speculum attached to said viewing head, said speculum being adapted for insertion into the ear of a child; and the toy-like figure at least partially encompasses the viewing head of said otoscope.  
     
     
         3 . The figure of    claim 2    wherein the speculum of the apparatus extends through the figure's body.  
     
     
         4 . The figure of    claim 3    wherein the speculum of the apparatus extends through the figure's nose.  
     
     
         5 . The figure of    claim 3    wherein the speculum of the apparatus extends through the figure's mouth.  
     
     
         6 . The figure of    claim 1    made of a soft material.  
     
     
         7 . The figure of    claim 1    made of a deformable material.  
     
     
         8 . The figure of    claim 1    made of a non-deformable material.  
     
     
         9 . The figure of    claim 1    at least partly made of a fabric material.  
     
     
         10 . The figure of    claim 1    made of a material selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic materials.  
     
     
         11 . The figure of    claim 1    made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastics, composites, synthetic fibers, clays, metals and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The figure of    claim 2    manufactured in various sizes and shapes so as to fit or accommodate an otoscope of any size and shape.  
     
     
         13 . The figure of    claim 2    permanently attachable to the otoscope.  
     
     
         14 . The figure of    claim 2    releasable attachable to the otoscope.  
     
     
         15 . The figure of    claim 1    formed to resemble a fictional human, creature, or animal.  
     
     
         16 . The figure of    claim 1    formed to resemble a real human, creature, or animal.  
     
     
         17 . The figure of    claim 15    formed to resemble a raccoon, a pig, a dog, a rabbit, a horse a rabbit, a horse, a monkey, a chipmunk, a deer, a goose, a duck, a bear, or a human clown.  
     
     
         18 . The figure of    claim 16    formed to resemble a raccoon, a pig, a dog, a rabbit, a horse, a monkey, a chipmunk, a deer, a goose, a duck, a bear, or a human clown.  
     
     
         19 . A toy-like figure at least partially encompassing an apparatus for performing an examination on a child, which said figure distracts the child prior to or during the examination, whereby the child will be less apprehensive about the examination while it is being performed.  
     
     
         20 . The toy-like figure of    claim 19    wherein the examination apparatus is an otoscope having a handle portion, a viewing head and a speculum attached to said viewing head, said speculum being adapted for insertion into the ear of a child; and the toy-like figure at least partially encompasses the viewing head of said otoscope.  
     
     
         21 . The toy-like figure of    claim 20    wherein the figure substantially encompasses the otoscope except for the speculum which extends through the figure's nose.  
     
     
         22 . The figure of    claim 19    made of a soft material.  
     
     
         23 . The figure of    claim 22    wherein the figure is not attached to the apparatus.  
     
     
         24 . The figure of    claim 22    wherein the figure is attached to the apparatus.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of    claim 23    wherein the figure fits over the apparatus like a sock, mitten or puppet.