Protective cover for medical gas cylinders and canisters
A protective cover for medical gas canisters includes a membrane that serves as a physical barrier to cross-contamination of biohazards in healthcare settings. An opening allows for insertion of the canister, and perforated access points that are permeable to gas provide access to valves. Sterilizing material in the access points help disinfect valves. The top of includes slack so that the membrane does not tear when handles and knobs are grasped and manipulated. A visual alignment marker indicates proper rotational alignment of the perforated access point with valves. The membrane is see-through so labels and gauges remain viewable. Elastic bands help provide a tight fit about the canister. A user slips the membrane over a canister, rotationally aligning the visual alignment marker with a valve, and connects a hose to a valve through the access point such that the perforated access point forms a seal over the valve.
1. A protective cover for medical gas canisters,
a. the cover including a membrane having:
1) a primary opening sized to allow the membrane to slip over a canister;
2) a perforated access point that is permeable to gas, the perforated access point being defined by an elongated perforated path configured to be torn along the length of the path to form an open access point; and
3) a terminal elastic band positioned at the primary opening for embracing a canister about which the membrane is slipped, the terminal elastic band providing a tight fit about a canister received in the membrane;
b. wherein the cover serves as a physical containment barrier for canisters to limit cross-contamination of biohazardous materials when:
1) the membrane is slipped over a canister through the primary opening; and
2) a valve of the canister is accessed through the perforated access point for retrieval of gas from the canister.
2. The cover of claim 1 wherein the membrane is at least partly translucent to allow users to view markings, gauges, and labels on a canister received therein.
3. The cover of claim 1 wherein the membrane is configured to inhibit triboelectric charge to reduce generation of static charge.
4. The cover of claim 1 wherein the primary opening is positioned at a bottom end of the membrane.
5. The cover of claim 1 wherein the perforated access point is a perforated slit positioned at a top end of the membrane.
6. The cover of claim 5 wherein the perforated slit is configured to form a seal about a valve being accessed via the perforated slit while allowing gas to pass therethrough.
7. The cover of claim 1 wherein the membrane is substantially gas impermeable.
8. A protective cover for medical gas canisters,
a. the cover including a membrane having:
1) a top section having superfluous membrane material to provide slack such that, when the membrane is fit about a canister, a handle or knob on the canister is manipulatable without tearing the membrane;
2) an elastic band for providing a tight fit with a canister received in the membrane; and
3) a perforated access point:
a) being defined by a perforated elongated path configured to be torn therealong to form an open access point, and
b) that is permeable to gas, and
c) having sterilizing material for decontaminating a valve being accessed through the perforated access point;
b. wherein:
1) the cover serves as a physical containment barrier for canisters to limit cross-contamination of biohazardous materials when a canister is situated within the membrane; and
2) the membrane is see-through such that markings and labels on canisters remain visible to users.
9. The cover of claim 8 wherein:
a. the perforated access point is a perforated slit positioned at an apex of the top section;
b. the membrane further includes a substantially circular perforated aperture formed:
1) in the top section, and
2) below the perforated slit.
10. The cover of claim 9 further including:
a. a primary opening positioned at a bottom end of the membrane, wherein the elastic band is a terminal elastic band positioned at the primary opening to provide a tight fit underneath a canister; and
b. a medial elastic band for embracing a canister about which the membrane is slipped, the medial elastic band delineating the top section of the membrane.
11. A protective cover for medical gas canisters,
a. the cover including a membrane having:
1) a primary opening sized to allow the membrane to slip over a canister;
2) a top section having superfluous membrane material to provide slack such that, when the membrane is fit about a canister to cover a handle or knob on the canister, the handle or knob is manipulatable without tearing the membrane;
3) a perforated access point that is permeable to gas, the perforated access point being defined by an elongated perforated path configured to be torn along the length of the path to form an open access point; and
4) an elastic band for embracing a canister about which the membrane is slipped;
b. wherein the cover serves as a physical containment barrier for canisters to limit cross-contamination of biohazardous materials when:
1) the membrane is slipped over a canister through the primary opening; and
2) a valve of the canister is accessed through the perforated access point for retrieval of gas from the canister.
12. The cover of claim 11 wherein:
a. the perforated access point is positioned in the top section; and
b. the slack allows the perforated access point to be repositioned so as to provide access to valves extending from different parts of a canister about which the membrane is fit.
13. The cover of claim 11 wherein the elastic band is a medial elastic band delineating the top section of the membrane.
14. The cover of claim 11 wherein the elastic band is a terminal elastic band positioned at the primary opening to provide a tight fit about a canister received in the membrane.
15. A protective cover for medical gas canisters,
a. the cover including a membrane having:
1) a primary opening sized to allow the membrane to slip over a canister;
2) a perforated access point that is permeable to gas, the perforated access point being defined by an aperture bounded by an elongated perforated path configured to be torn along the length of the path to form an open access point, the aperture having a pull tab opening; and
3) an elastic band for embracing a canister about which the membrane is slipped;
b. wherein the cover serves as a physical containment barrier for canisters to limit cross-contamination of biohazardous materials when:
1) the membrane is slipped over a canister through the primary opening; and
2) a valve of the canister is accessed through the perforated access point for retrieval of gas from the canister.
16. The cover of claim 15 further including a pull tab situated along the elongated perforated path.
17. The cover of claim 15 further including a top section having superfluous membrane material to provide slack such that, when the membrane is fit about a canister to cover a handle or knob on the canister, the handle or knob is manipulatable without tearing the membrane.
18. A protective cover for medical gas canisters,
a. the cover including a membrane having:
1) a primary opening sized to allow the membrane to slip over a canister;
2) a perforated access point that is permeable to gas, the perforated access point being defined by an elongated perforated path configured to be torn along the length of the path to form an open access point; and
3) a visual alignment marker positioned underneath the perforated access point to indicate proper rotational alignment of the perforated access point and a valve on a canister when the membrane is slipped over the canister; and
4) an elastic band for embracing a canister about which the membrane is slipped;
b. wherein the cover serves as a physical containment barrier for canisters to limit cross-contamination of biohazardous materials when:
1) the membrane is slipped over a canister through the primary opening; and
2) a valve of the canister is accessed through the perforated access point for retrieval of gas from the canister.
19. A protective cover for medical gas canisters,
a. the cover including a membrane having:
1) a primary opening sized to allow the membrane to slip over a canister;
2) a perforated access point that is permeable to gas, the perforated access point:
i. being defined by an elongated perforated path configured to be torn along the length of the path to form an open access point, and
ii. including sterilizing material for decontaminating a valve being accessed through the perforated access point; and
3) an elastic band for embracing a canister about which the membrane is slipped;
b. wherein the cover serves as a physical containment barrier for canisters to limit cross-contamination of biohazardous materials when:
1) the membrane is slipped over a canister through the primary opening; and
2) a valve of the canister is accessed through the perforated access point for retrieval of gas from the canister.