Abstract: A medical instrument cover dispensing apparatus 10 comprising: a cover storage arrangement 11 configured to house one or more medical instrument covers 12, said one or more medical instrument covers 12 being in a first configuration when housed in the cover storage arrangement 11. A cover engagement and placement assembly 13 is provided and is configured to receive one of the one or more medical instrument covers 12, or portion thereof, and move said received medical instrument cover 12 such that said medical instrument cover 12 is placed in a second configuration. Wherein, in the second configuration, said medical instrument cover 12 is operably engagable by a medical instrument 76 to attach the medical instrument cover 12 to the medical instrument 76.

Abstract: An apparatus (20, 120, 220, 320) for dispensing an item, especially a glove (1, 101, 201, 301), having a body portion and an opening allowing access to the interior of the body portion. The apparatus comprises a chamber (6, 106 206, 306) having a mouth being shaped and dimensioned to receive the opening of the item so as, to provide a substantially fluid-tight seal at the mouth and such that at least part of the, or each, body portion is located inside the chamber. The apparatus further comprises means (7, 107) for causing a pressure differential between the interior surface and exterior surface of said at least one item. The pressure differential causes the item(s) to expand outwardly and this facilitates the insertion of a hand, or other object, therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a cover device, the cover device comprising a frame and a membrane. The cover device is actuatable from a first state, in which an outer portion of the membrane is seated on, or around, an outer surface of the frame, and a second state in which the outer portion of the membrane is located generally inwardly of its seated position. The apparatus comprises a magazine for storing at least one cover device in said first state, the magazine having a mouth through which the at least one cover device may be dispensed; and means for actuating the at least one stored cover device from the first state to the second state. In a preferred embodiment, said actuating means actuates the at least one stored cover device from the first state to the second state upon movement of said at least one stored cover device into the magazine.