Probe cover for a handheld oximetry probe
A sleeve or sheath includes a body having a top opening. The body covers a handheld oximeter probe or a portion of the probe. The sleeve has a shape that approximately matches the oximeter probe or portion of the probe, which is covered by the sleeve. The sleeve has a top opening that allows a user to slide the oximeter probe into the sleeve. The sleeve is transparent to radiation emitted and collected by the oximeter probe. The sleeve is formed of a material that prevents patient tissue, fluid, viruses, bacteria, and fungus from contacting the covered portions of the oximeter probe. The sleeve leaves the probe relatively sterile after use so that little or no clearing of the probe is required for a subsequent use, such as when the probe is covered with a new, unused sleeve.
1. A probe cover for an oximeter device comprising:
a first portion of the probe cover, wherein the first portion comprises a first open end and a first closed end, opposite to the first open end, and the first closed end comprises a display panel;
a second portion of the probe cover, wherein the second portion comprises a second open end and a second closed end, opposite to the second open end, the second closed end comprises an optical interface panel, and coupling of the first open end to the second open end forms a sealed probe cover enclosure for the oximeter device,
the optical interface panel passes light having a wavelength from about 650 nanometers to about 900 nanometers, and the optical interface panel comprises a thickness of less than about 250 microns,
when in the sealed probe cover enclosure, a display of the oximeter device is visible through the display panel of the probe cover, light emitted by a probe tip of the oximeter device is transmitted through the optical interface panel of the probe cover to a tissue being measured, and light received at the optical interface panel from the tissue being measured is transmitted through the optical interface panel of the probe cover,
the sealed probe cover enclosure prevents contaminants from outside of the enclosure from contacting the oximeter device contained within an interior of the enclosure.
2. The probe cover of claim 1 wherein the second portion of the probe cover comprises a barrier at the second closed end, the barrier is coupled to the optical interface panel, and the barrier prevents contaminants on a tissue being measured from contacting the oximeter device contained within the interior of the enclosure.
3. The probe cover of claim 1 wherein the optical interface panel passes the light having a wavelength from about 650 nanometers to about 900 nanometers without attenuation that would affect an oximeter measurement.
4. The probe cover of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the optical interface panel is less than about 200 microns.
5. The probe cover of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the optical interface panel is less than about 150 microns.
6. The probe cover of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the optical interface panel is less than about 100 microns.
7. The probe cover of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the optical interface panel is less than about 50 microns.
8. The probe cover of claim 1 wherein the optical interface panel comprises a uniform thickness.
9. The probe cover of claim 1 wherein the optical interface panel comprises a cylindrical disk.
10. The probe cover of claim 1 wherein the optical interface panel comprises a rigid disk.
11. The probe cover of claim 1 wherein a first surface of the optical interface panel conforms to a surface of a sensor of the probe tip of the oximeter device, and the first surface is configured to be flush against the sensor of the probe tip without any gaps.
12. The probe cover of claim 1 wherein the probe cover comprises a polycarbonate.
13. The probe cover of claim 1 wherein the probe cover comprises a rigid polymer.
14. The probe cover of claim 1 wherein the second portion of the probe cover comprises rigid polymer and the optical interface panel comprise a flexible polymer, relative to the rigid polymer.
15. The probe cover of claim 1 wherein the second portion of the probe cover comprises flexible polymer and the optical interface panel comprise a rigid polymer, relative to the flexible polymer.
16. The probe cover of claim 1 wherein an index of refraction of the optical interface panel differs by less than 50 percent from an index of refraction of a sensor of the probe tip of the oximeter device.
17. The probe cover of claim 1 wherein the coupling of the first open end to the second open end of the probe cover is by way of a fluid seal.
18. A kit comprising:
an oximeter device comprising a probe tip and a display; and
a probe cover comprising:
a first portion of the probe cover, wherein the first portion comprises a first open end and a first closed end, opposite to the first open end, and the first closed end comprises a display panel;
a second portion of the probe cover, wherein the second portion comprises a second open end and a second closed end, opposite to the second open end, the second closed end comprises an optical interface panel, and coupling of the first open end to the second open end forms a sealed probe cover enclosure for the oximeter device,
the optical interface panel passes light having a wavelength from about 650 nanometers to about 900 nanometers, and the optical interface panel comprises a thickness of less than about 250 microns,
when in the sealed probe cover enclosure, the display of the oximeter device is visible through the display panel of the probe cover, light emitted by the probe tip of the oximeter device is transmitted through the optical interface panel of the probe cover to a tissue being measured, and light received at the optical interface panel from the tissue being measured is transmitted through the optical interface panel of the probe cover,
the sealed probe cover enclosure prevents contaminants from outside of the enclosure from contacting the oximeter device contained within an interior of the enclosure.
19. The kit of claim 18 wherein an index of refraction of the optical interface panel differs by less than 50 percent from an index of refraction of a sensor of the probe tip of the oximeter device.
20. The kit of claim 18 wherein the optical interface portion is between a first surface and a second surface, the first surface configured to be positioned against a sensor of the probe tip of the oximeter device, and the second surface configured to be positioned against the tissue being measured, and the first surface and second surface surfaces are parallel to each other.