Apparatuses for non-invasively sensing internal temperature

• US 10,126,180 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2014
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brain Temp, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Brain Temp, Inc.
• Inventors: Allison, Robert C., Geist, Leroy D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Larkin, Daniel S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Megna Fuentes, Anthony W
• Application Number:
  US14/497,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20150092817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: 374120, 600474, 600549
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/182 Electrical shielding, e.g. using a Faraday cage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0507 using microwaves or terahertz waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4064 Evaluating the brain A61B5/031, A61B5/369, A61B5/14553 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/006 using measurement of the effect of a material on microwaves or longer electromagnetic waves, e.g. measuring temperature via microwaves emitted by the object G01K17/003, G01J5/00 take precedence; measuring the effect of a material on X-, gamma- or particle radiation G01K11/30

Abstract

A transducer for noninvasively determining an internal temperature of a location of interest in a body of a subject may be configured to receive native temperature signals originating from the location of interest without substantially receiving interfering signals. Such a transducer may include one or more shielding features for preventing interference. In addition, such a transducer may include a dielectric cavity configured or positioned to increase the native temperature signals sensed, or received, by the antenna. A transducer may be configured to multiplex signals that are indicative of a temperature of a location of interest within the body of a subject and reference temperature signals. Such a transducer may include a connector that facilitates the communication of a multiplexed signal, such as a connector for a coaxial cable. The connector of a transducer may be configured to swivel relative to an end of a cable that has been coupled thereto. Systems including such a transducer are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A transducer for noninvasively measuring temperature within a body of a subject, comprising:

a circuit board including a front side and a back side opposite from the front side, the circuit board defining an antenna for receiving at least one native temperature signal from a location of interest within a body of a subject;

wherein the circuit board carries at least a portion of an electrical circuit including the antenna, a capacitor and the thermistor, the capacitor being positioned in series between a receiving aperture and the thermistor, the thermistor being in direct communication with the cable connector;

a reference temperature sensor; and

a coaxial cable connector for transmitting a multiplexed signal including an intermediate temperature signal from the antenna and a reference temperature signal from the reference temperature sensor, wherein the coaxial cable connector and an end of a cable are configured to swivel relative to one another upon connecting the end of the cable to the cable connector.

2. The transducer of claim 1, wherein the reference temperature sensor comprises a thermistor.