Noncontact thermometry systems and methods

• US 10,638,936 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Lane, John A., Grant, Jennifer M., Kinsley, Matthew J., Mullin, Matthew D., Nguyen, Nick H., Quinn, David E., Salibra, Alisa R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F
• Application Number:
  US15/692,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20170360305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0257 Proximity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• 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 5/015 By temperature mapping of body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7278 Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49004 including measuring or testing of device or component part

Abstract

A method of determining a temperature of a patient includes determining that a temperature measurement device is located within at least one of a distance range and an alignment range of a portion of a measurement site of the patient, providing an indication to a user of the device that the device is located within the at least one of the distance range and the alignment range, and determining, with the device, a first temperature of a first location on the portion of the measurement site without contacting the patient with the device. Such a method also includes determining, with the device, a second temperature of a second location on the portion of the measurement site without contacting the patient with the device, wherein the second location is different from the first location. Such a method further includes determining a third temperature of the patient based on the first and second temperatures.

Claims

1. A method of determining a temperature of a patient, comprising:

determining that a temperature measurement device is located within a predetermined range of a measurement site of the patient, the measurement site comprising a skin surface at an inner-canthal region, a forehead, or a temple of the patient;

providing an indication to a user of the device that the device is located within the predetermined range;

receiving an input via the device and based at least in part on the indication;

determining, with the device and based at least in part on the input, a temperature of the measurement site, without contacting the patient with the device; and

determining a core temperature of the patient based on the temperature.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the temperature measurement device is located within the predetermined range comprises determining that the measurement site is within a field of view of a sensor of the device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the temperature of the measurement site comprises determining a first temperature of a first location of the measurement site using an infrared temperature sensor of the device and determining a second temperature of a second location of the measurement site, different from the first location, using the infrared temperature sensor, wherein the core temperature is determined based on the first and second temperatures.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the input is received from the user in response to the indication.

5. The method of claim 1, further including capturing a visual image of the patient with a digital camera of the device, determining a physical attribute of the patient based at least in part on the visual image, and automatically selecting an operating mode of the device based on the attribute, wherein the core temperature is determined based on the selected operating mode.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the attribute comprises at least one of a distance between a first location of the measurement site and a second location of the measurement site, a distance between at least one of the first and second locations and a third location of the measurement site, and a dimension of an ear of the patient.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises a non-patient indication provided via a display of the device, and the input is received via the display of the device in response to the indication.

7. A temperature measurement device, comprising:

a proximity sensor configured to determine that the device is located within a predetermined angular alignment range relative to a measurement site of a patient, the measurement site comprising a skin surface at an inner-canthal region, a forehead, or a temple of the patient;

an infrared temperature sensor configured to determine a temperature of a location of the measurement site without contacting the patient,

wherein the temperature of the location is determined in response to the proximity sensor determining that the device is located within the predetermined angular alignment range;

a controller in communication with the proximity sensor and the infrared temperature sensor, the controller being programmed to determine a core temperature of the patient based on the temperature of the location; and

a display in communication with the controller,

wherein the display is configured to display a visual image of the patient with a non-patient indication, illustrated in the image, that the device is located within the predetermined angular alignment range.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the predetermined angular alignment range is defined relative to a plane substantially defined by at least a portion of the measurement site.

9. The device of claim 7, further comprising at least one additional infrared temperature sensor in communication with the controller and configured to determine at least one additional temperature of the measurement site without contacting the patient, wherein the controller is programmed to determine the core temperature using the temperature of the location and the at least one additional temperature as inputs.

10. The device of claim 7, further comprising a digital camera in communication with the controller and configured to capture the visual image of the patient.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to determine a physical attribute of the patient using an input from the digital camera and the proximity sensor, and to automatically select an operating mode of the device based on the attribute, wherein the core temperature is determined based on the selected operating mode.

12. The device of claim 7, further including a substantially fluid-tight compartment within the temperature measurement device, wherein a component of at least one of the controller, the proximity sensor, and the infrared temperature sensor is disposed within the compartment.

13. The device of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to:

receive an input via the display and in response to the non-patient indication, and

determine the core temperature of the patient based at least in part on the input.