Practical stethoscope covers and dispensers therefor

Abstract

The practical stethoscope cover of this invention in its most essential elements, comprises any form of material which acts as an effective, inexpensive and acoustically transmissive barrier means for easy application and removal from the head, or heads, of a stethoscope. The barrier means should be non-transmissive for dirt, organisms, oils, fluids and the like, all of which may carry pathogenic components. Significantly, embodiments of the stethoscope cover of this invention are easily applied by a physician, nurse or other medical practitioner to the head of a single-headed stethoscope or a double-headed stethoscope, typically in a quick, simple, easy single-handed operation. The barrier means comprising the stethoscope cover comprises folds, gathers or crimping at the marginal edges or medial portions thereof, providing flexibility, extensibility or elasticity to the cover, thus facilitating easy application and removal of the stethoscope cover from the head of the stethoscope. The folds, crimping or gathers on the marginal edges of the covers also assist in the retention of the stethoscope cover on the stethoscope head during use.

1 . A stethoscope cover comprising a material which is acoustically transmissive and which is a barrier means to prevent or reduce the transmission of microorganisms; wherein said cover can be applied and removed from a single-head stethoscope, a dual-head stethoscope, or both; and wherein said cover comprises at least one fold or crimp.  
     
     
         2 . The stethoscope cover, according to    claim 1   , wherein said barrier means reduces the transmission of dirt, microorganisms, oils, or liquids.  
     
     
         3 . The stethoscope cover, according to    claim 2   , wherein said barrier means is made from a material selected from the group consisting of closely woven fabrics; non-woven fabrics; strong, resilient but flexible plastics; kevlars; paper; paper-thread or paper-fabric composites; rubber; silicone; and laminates thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The stethoscope cover, according to    claim 1   , which is applicable to the head of a stethoscope in a single-handed operation.  
     
     
         5 . The stethoscope cover, according to    claim 2   , wherein said barrier means comprises folds, gathers or crimps providing flexibility, extensibility and/or elasticity to the cover.  
     
     
         6 . The stethoscope cover, according to    claim 5   , wherein the crimps, folds, or gathers assist in the retention of the stethoscope cover on the stethoscope head during use.  
     
     
         7 . The stethoscope cover, according to    claim 5   , wherein elastic or other elastomeric materials are included within the crimps, folds, or gathers, to assist in the flexibility and retention of the cover upon application of the cover to the head of a stethoscope.  
     
     
         8 . The stethoscope cover, according to    claim 1   , wherein said cover comprises a flat bottom portion and an overlapped top portion and sealed edges, thus forming an envelope for enclosing a stethoscope head.  
     
     
         9 . The stethoscope cover, according to    claim 1   , which can be used for a dual-head stethoscope, such that each head of said dual-head stethoscope can be slipped into contiguous pouches formed from a material which prevents or reduces contamination of either head of the stethoscope by microorganisms residing on the skin of a patient.  
     
     
         10 . The stethoscope cover, according to    claim 1   , wherein a crimp feature of the cover is in the form substantially of a crimp or hinge and wherein said cover comprises an external (bottom) surface an internal (upper) surface, a trailing end, a leading end, a left side (viewed from the top), and a right side (viewed from the top), wherein both the leading end and the trailing end comprise small pockets formed by doubly folding over a portion of the bottom, external surface over a portion of the internal, upper surface, and wherein at least crimp or hinge is formed in the cover by folding a portion of the body of the cover over itself.  
     
     
         11 . The stethoscope cover, according to    claim 1   , which comprises a puffed mouth to facilitate insertion of a stethoscope head.  
     
     
         12 . The cover, according to    claim 11   , wherein said puffed mouth is formed by folding external surfaces in on themselves.  
     
     
         13 . The cover, according to    claim 11   , further comprising guidelines for insertion of a stethoscope head into said cover.  
     
     
         14 . The stethoscope cover, according to    claim 1   , wherein in order to assist in the retention of the cover on a dual-head stethoscope head or in a dispensing means therefore, the cover comprises adhesive which may be folded over the external surface of the leading end, once the cover has been drawn over the stethoscope heads.  
     
     
         15 . The stethoscope cover, according to    claim 1   , wherein the length of the cover is extended such that at least a portion of the tubing of the stethoscope is covered.  
     
     
         16 . The stethoscope cover, according to    claim 6   , wherein an adapter is affixed to the head of a stethoscope to maximize the retention in the folds of the stethoscope cover, said adapter being an engaging means in the form of one or more rearwardly or outwardly projecting “ears”, wings, or other protrusion(s) which engage the internal surface of the cover.  
     
     
         17 . The stethoscope cover, according to    claim 1   , comprising an anti-microbial treatment.  
     
     
         18 . A method for preventing transmission of microorganisms from one patient to another, or from a stethoscope head to a patient, or from a patient to a stethoscope head, which comprises enclosing said stethoscope head in a cover which encloses said stethoscope head, wherein said cover comprises a material which is acoustically transmissive and which reduces or eliminates the transmission of microorganisms, and wherein said cover comprises at least one fold or crimp.  
     
     
         19 . The method, according to    claim 18   , wherein said stethoscope cover is maintained in a clean state by being contained within a package from which one or a plurality of said covers are dispensed.  
     
     
         20 . A stethoscope cover system for a single or dual-head stethoscope, wherein said cover can be applied to a stethoscope by a single-handed operation.  21 . A dispensing means which facilitates storage and dispensing of a stethoscope cover, wherein said dispensing means is dimensioned such that a plurality of said stethoscope covers are stacked adjacent to each other, wherein said dispensing means, when opened, comprises an aperture dimensioned to permit access to a stethoscope cover releasably affixed in the container permitting for close stacking of a plurality of covers while maintaining the covers in a clean state.