Body core temperature measurement
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for measuring body core temperature comprising:
- a light guide comprising an internally reflective tube, the light guide coupled to an earpiece, the light guide having a first end and a second end, and the light guide comprising an aperture positioned at the second end;
a first sensor positioned at the first end of the light guide; and
a processor coupled to the first sensor;
wherein the first sensor is operable to sense infrared radiation from an infrared source at the second end of the light guide; and
wherein the processor is configured to determine a temperature of the infrared source at the second end of the light guide via a transfer function that correlates a measure of the infrared radiation observed by the first sensor and an effect of radiation of the light guide;
wherein the second end of the light guide comprises a flared component, wherein the flared component is operable to reject light from angles of incidence, thereby minimizing an amount of light that is able to internally reflect and propagate down the light guide.
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Abstract
An apparatus for measuring body core temperature includes a light guide with an internally reflective tube. The light guide is coupled to an earpiece, and has a lens or an aperture positioned at one of its ends. A sensor is positioned at the other end of the light guide, and a processor is coupled to the sensor. The sensor senses infrared radiation from an infrared source at the end of the light guide, and the processor determines a temperature of the infrared source at the end of the light guide via a transfer function that correlates a measure of the infrared radiation observed by the sensor and an effect of radiation of the light guide.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring body core temperature comprising:
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a light guide comprising an internally reflective tube, the light guide coupled to an earpiece, the light guide having a first end and a second end, and the light guide comprising an aperture positioned at the second end; a first sensor positioned at the first end of the light guide; and a processor coupled to the first sensor; wherein the first sensor is operable to sense infrared radiation from an infrared source at the second end of the light guide; and wherein the processor is configured to determine a temperature of the infrared source at the second end of the light guide via a transfer function that correlates a measure of the infrared radiation observed by the first sensor and an effect of radiation of the light guide; wherein the second end of the light guide comprises a flared component, wherein the flared component is operable to reject light from angles of incidence, thereby minimizing an amount of light that is able to internally reflect and propagate down the light guide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for measuring body core temperature comprising:
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a light guide comprising an internally reflective tube, the light guide coupled to an earpiece, the light guide having a first end and a second end, and the light guide comprising an aperture positioned at the second end; a first sensor positioned at the first end of the light guide; and a processor coupled to the first sensor; wherein the first sensor is operable to sense infrared radiation from an infrared source at the second end of the light guide; and wherein the processor is configured to determine a temperature of the infrared source at the second end of the light guide via a transfer function that correlates a measure of the infrared radiation observed by the first sensor and an effect of radiation of the light guide; wherein the light guide comprises a hollow tube, and an internal surface of the hollow tube at the second end comprises a section having a non-reflecting or absorbing coating in order to reject reflection and propagation of wide-angle incident light. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification