Abstract: An indifferent electrode for use in electrosurgical procedures comprises a sheet of conductive foam conformable to body surfaces and an electrical terminal carried by the sheet of conductive foam. The electrical terminal forms an external terminal part of the electrode with which a detachable electrical connection with an electrosurgical generator can be effected.An elongated strip connected to the sheet of conductive foam is provided for maintaining the sheet of conductive foam in direct contact with body surfaces. The elongated strip, which can be mounted around a body member, has an adhesive surface at one end of its exterior surface for adherence to an interior surface of the strip.

Abstract: A disposable plastic speculum is used on an infrared sensing thermometer used by placing it in the patient's ear for sensing body temperature through the tympanic membrane. The speculum has the general shape of a funnel with relatively shallow and relatively steep tapered frustoconical sections. The speculum is placed on a speculum retainer on the thermometer for use. The exterior of the speculum retainer has the general shape of interior of the speculum and includes a peripheral enlargement near its smaller end. When the speculum is placed on the retainer it is stretched by the enlargement and thereby retained in place. The speculum is made of a plastic having limited resistance to stress cracking so that the stretched portion over the enlargement cracks during retention on the speculum retainer. Since the speculum thus inherently destroys itself, it is assured that the speculum will be discarded and a new one used for each patient.