公开(公告)号：US06537207B1

公开(公告)日：2003-03-25

申请号：US09958280

申请日：2001-10-05

申请人： Mark J. Rice ,  Steve Spanoudis

发明人： Mark J. Rice ,  Steve Spanoudis

IPC分类号： A61B100

CPC分类号： A61B1/00142 ,  A61B1/00055 ,  A61B2560/0276

摘要： A protective cover for medical imaging devices of the type having a probe with an optical system at a distal end includes a sheath of plastic material formed to enclose at least a portion of the probe and a transparent head secured to the sheath at a distal end of the cover. The transparent head provides a transparent window at the distal end of the probe to allow light to enter the probe and be imaged in a normal manner. Indicia are formed on the transparent head and are imaged by the medical imaging device. The image is then analyzed to determine if the indicia as shown in the image correspond to a preselected pattern, which may be one of a group of patterns which provide indications concerning the nature of the cover. If a pattern is recognized, the information corresponding to that pattern can be provided to an operator; if no pattern is recognized or if the pattern corresponds to an improper cover for the particular imaging device, a warning can be provided to the operator or the device disabled. The protective cover can be disposed after use with a patient, and a new cover applied to enclose the portions of the probe that will contact another patient, thereby minimizing potential spread of infection.

摘要翻译： 用于具有在远端具有光学系统的探针的类型的医疗成像装置的保护盖包括塑料材料的护套，所述护套被形成为封闭探针的至少一部分，并且在远端处固定到护套的透明头 封面。 透明头在探针的远端提供透明窗口，以允许光进入探针并以正常方式成像。 标记形成在透明头上，并由医学成像装置成像。 然后分析图像以确定图像中所示的标记是否对应于预选图案，其可以是提供关于盖的性质的指示的一组图案之一。 如果识别出图案，则可以向操作者提供与该图案相对应的信息; 如果没有识别出图案，或者如果图案对应于特定成像装置的不正确的盖子，则可以向操作者或装置提供警告。 保护盖可以在使用后与患者配置，并且应用新的盖子以封闭将接触另一患者的探针部分，从而最小化感染的潜在扩散。