Infrared thermometer as measured on forehead artery area

• US 20030067958A1
• Filed: 10/09/2001
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Chen-Chang Jang
• Original Assignee: Chen-Chang Jang
• Inventors: Jang, Chen-Chang
• Application Number:
  US09/975,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20030067958A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/131
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0022 for sensing the radiation of moving bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0025 Living bodies ear thermometers G01J5/0011; detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/02 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/021 Probe covers for thermometers, e.g. tympanic thermometers; Containers for probe covers; Disposable probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0265 Handheld, portable ear thermometers G01J5/049
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/08 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0815 Light concentrators, collectors or condensers

Abstract

An infrared thermometer includes: a thermal-mass sleeve concentrically mounted in a probe of the thermometer main body having a flat front rim of the probe, an infrared sensor thermally conductively secured to a bottom portion of the thermal-mass sleeve and connected to a printed circuit board fixed in the main body, and a disposable hygienic cap covering the probe, with the thermal-mass sleeve defining a conical hole tapered inwardly from an outer larger opening of the sleeve towards the bottom portion of the sleeve for passing the infrared radiation waves from a larger target surface of a patient'"'"'s forehead artery sensing area, whereby the flat front rim of the probe will be planarly rested upon the patient'"'"'s forehead surface for a comfortable reliable body-temperature measurement.

Claims

1. An infrared thermometer comprising:

a main body having a thermally insulative probe formed on a front or upper portion of the main body having a flat front rim of the probe adapted to be rested upon a patient'"'"'s forehead surface and having a central hole formed in said probe;

a thermal-mass sleeve concentrically formed in the central hole in said probe defining an air gap between said sleeve and an inside wall of said central hole of said probe for passing infrared radiation waves emitted from the patient'"'"'s forehead surface inwardly rearwardly;

an infrared sensor secured to said sleeve for detecting the radiation waves passing through said sleeve and converting the radiation waves to be electrical signals;

a printed circuit board connected with said sensor and fixed in said main body for receiving and processing said electrical signals as detected from said sensor for obtaining readable digital temperature to be displayed on said main body; and

a disposable hygienic cap detachably covering said probe;

the improvement which comprises;

said thermal-mass sleeve including;

a hollow cylinder made of high thermal conductivity materials, a conical hole formed through the hollow cylinder and tapered inwardly rearwardly from a front end of the cylinder towards a bottom portion formed on a rear end of the cylinder having the infrared sensor secured to the bottom portion of the cylinder and thermally conducted with the cylinder;

with the conical hole defining a taper angle tapered inwardly rearwardly; and

said hollow cylinder having a thickness formed as a thermal mass and heat sink for quickly conducting heat as generated in the thermometer to form an isothermal status in the thermometer.

2. A thermometer according to claim 1, wherein said taper angle ranges from 30 through 150 degrees.

3. A thermometer according to claim 1, wherein said disposable hygienic cap is made of thermally insulating materials and includes:

a flat front rim having a central opening formed in the front rim corresponding to the central hole of the probe, a plurality of tenons formed on an inside wall of the cap to be engaged with a groove annularly recessed in the probe for stably securing the cap on the probe and a plurality of lugs each formed on a bottom rim of the cap adjacent to each said tenon to serve as a handle for easily disengaging the tenons from the groove for detaching the cap from the probe for replacing a new cap on the probe.

4. A thermometer according to claim 1, wherein said sleeve is made of thermally conductive materials including:

copper, aluminum, aluminum alloy, and metals having high thermal conductivity.