GB2268405A

GB2268405A - A stethoscope accessory

Info

Publication number: GB2268405A
Application number: GB9214397A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Parnell Mandeville
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-07-07
Filing date: 1992-07-07
Publication date: 1994-01-12
Also published as: AU5837994A; GB9214397D0

Abstract

The accessory comprises a ring collar that fits around the body of an examination piece of a stethoscope and is stabilised by resting against the connecting tubes or diaphragm support. It may be made of a closed foam plastic (which may be removable) and facilitates contact by moulding to the skin of the patient being examined thereby improving sound capture and transmission. Its presence supplies thermal insulation for the skin from the coldness of the examination piece while supplying insulation of the apparatus from the ambient noise. Its exposed surfaces allow disposable rings to be applied to prevent cross infection between patients. <IMAGE>

Description

OUCHLESS The invention relates to a stethoscope accessory which is a protective collar around the head (known also as chestpiece or examination piece).

For the effective functioning of the stethoscope bell there needs to be an airtight seal between the source of the sound (the skin) and the air column in the stethoscope leading to the earpieces. Although skin is deformable there are some situations, for example over the bones of the ribs, where an airtight seal becomes impossible due to the hard composition of the stethoscope head. Also there are many situations in medicine in which it is very important not to disturb the patient being examined, this being especially true of small children. One of the commonest causes for upset is the use of the stethoscope and the reaction to the coolness of the bell which can lead to the child wriggling and crying before it is even examined.The companies manufacturing stethoscopes have reacted to this by the use of silicone rubber rings to prevent the metal or plastic coming into contact with the flesh directly. However this material also has a cold clammy feeling to it and in spite of its use there are children (and adults too) who object to having their chests examined because of this.

If a material were to be used instead of the silicone rubber then it must be able to compete with its robustness and ease of cleaning without compromising the function of the stethoscope. Closed foam plastics are in common use for their warmth to touch and ease of fabrication, for example in surgical collars and splints, and in camping mats. However when these were used as rings they proved unsatisfactory as they lacked the robustness of the rubber and very soon loosened or split. A different approach was called for.

According to the present invention a cylinder of a medium density polyethylene foam is fabricated so that its internal diameter is at least 3mm less than the diameter of the bell, i.e. it deforms and grips the body of the stethoscope head when pushed over the bell. The depth ensures that the base can rest on the diaphragm support while the top extends beyond the bell by 2mm. A slot is fashioned for the stethoscope tube against which it also rests and the whole thing is rounded off so that it is comfortable to use.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be desribed by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows the cross section through a stethoscope head with the invention in place.

Figures 2 and 3 show the plan and elevation of the invention acting as a collar around the stethoscope head.

Referring to the drawings these illustrate how the invention is stabilised in relation to the rest of the stethoscope (while sealing with the rim of the bell) by gripping the body of the examination piece and resting on the diaphragm support or the stethoscope tube. The projection beyond the bell thermally insulates the patient being examined from the temperature of the metal. The closed foam plastic allows some degree of deformation in response to the contours of the patients' bodies preventing the escape of sound energy while also supplying sound insulation from the ambient noise.

Claims

1. Ouchless is a collar for a stethoscope head (otherwise known as chest or examination piece) wherein it is stabilised by gripping the body of the head or resting on the diaphragm support or tube connections.

2. Ouchless is collar for a stethoscope head as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a closed foam plastic disposable moulds to and seals the equipment accoustically to the surface to be examined to optimise the transmission of sound.

3. Ouchless is a closed foam plastic collar for a stethoscope head as claimed in Claim 2 wherein it constitutes thermal insulation between the subject being examined and the stethoscope head.

4. CONTAMINATION, CROSS-INFECTION, DECONTAMINATION

4. Ouchless is a closed foam plastic collar for a stethoscope head as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein it constitutes sound insulation from the ambient noise while the subject is being examined.

5. Ouchless is a stethoscope collar as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the thickness and stability allow disposable ("stick-on") rings to be applied for situations of infection or possible contamination or for ease of decontamination.

6. Ouchless is a stethoscope collar as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 or Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the exposed surface is suitable for educational or promotional material for medical or pharmaceutical purposes.

KEYWORDS:1. STETHOSCOPE: HEAD, CHESTPIECE or CHEST PIECE, EXAMINATION PIECE, BELL, DIAPHRAGM.

2. PLASTIC, CLOSED FOAM PLASTIC, POLYETHYLENE FOAM, POLYPROPYLENE FOAM, DISPOSABLE.

3. INSULATION: THERMAL, SOUND.