Protective shield for a patient control unit

Abstract

A disposable shield designed to sheath a patient control unit prevents contaminants from contacting or entering the patient control unit. Bubbles or soft elevations may be formed in the shield over buttons and/or dials on the control unit so that they can be operated through the shield. The shield can therefore be changed each time the control unit is handled by a different person, minimizing the chances of cross-contamination. The shield also extends the life of the control unit by preventing contaminants from entering the control unit and damaging the control unit circuitry.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A shield for a patient control unit, comprising: 
 a sheath portion having a shape that substantially conforms to a shape of the patient control unit; and    an open edge that accommodates insertion of the patient control unit into the sheath portion,    wherein the shield is made of a flexible material.    
     
     
         2 . The shield of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is a resilient material.  
     
     
         3 . The shield of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is a synthetic material.  
     
     
         4 . The shield of  claim 3 , wherein the synthetic material is one selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, vinyl, latex, and nitrile.  
     
     
         5 . The shield of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is one selected from a woven material and a film material.  
     
     
         6 . The shield of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material of a light-passing material.  
     
     
         7 . The shield of  claim 1 , further comprising an elevation, wherein the elevation is disposed over a control on the patient control unit when the patient control unit is inserted into the shield.  
     
     
         8 . The shield of  claim 1 , further comprising a roll disposed on the open edge.  
     
     
         9 . A shield for a patient control unit having at least one control, comprising: 
 a sheath portion having a shape that substantially conforms to a shape of the patient control unit;    an elevation formed in the sheath portion, wherein said at least one elevation is disposed over a control when the patient control unit is inserted into the shield;    an open edge that accommodates insertion of the patient control unit into the sheath portion; and    a roll disposed on the open edge,    wherein the shield is made of a flexible, resilient, light-passing material.    
     
     
         10 . The shield of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible, resilient, light-passing material is one selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, vinyl, latex, and nitrile.  
     
     
         11 . A method of forming a shield for a patient control unit, comprising: 
 evaluating a shape of the patient control unit; and    forming a flexible, light-passing material that substantially conforms to the shape of the patient control unit to form the shield.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the forming act is one selected from the group consisting of casting, blow molding, and dip casting.