Thermal tympanic thermometer tip

• US 20040240516A1
• Filed: 12/10/2003
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardinal Health Ireland Unlimited Company (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Harr, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,108,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/121
• 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 5/04 Casings
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/049 Casings for tympanic thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/06 Arrangements for eliminating effects of disturbing radiation; Arrangements for compensating changes in sensitivity for adjusting of solid angle of collected radiation G01J5/07; means for wavelength selection G01J5/0801
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/061 by controlling the temperature of the apparatus or parts thereof, e.g. using cooling means or thermostats

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a tympanic thermometer including a heat sensing probe defining a longitudinal axis and an outer surface extending from a distal end of the tympanic thermometer. The heat sensing probe includes a sensor housing extending to a distal end thereof. A sensor can is mounted with the sensor housing and a nozzle is mounted onto the sensor housing. The sensor can includes temperature sensing electronics for sensing temperature via the heat sensing probe. The nozzle includes a base disposed with the sensor housing and an elongated cylindrical nose portion disposed about the sensor housing. The nozzle is configured to direct heat flux to the distal end of the heat sensing probe. A probe cover is mountable to the distal end of the tympanic thermometer. The probe cover has an inner surface configured to engage an outer surface of the nozzle. The sensor can preferably include a lip extending radially therefrom and contacting the nozzle at at least one contact point to provide heat flux to the sensor can.

Claims

1. A tympanic thermometer comprising:

a heat sensing probe defining a longitudinal axis and an outer surface extending from a distal end of said tympanic thermometer;

said heat sensing probe including a sensor housing extending to a distal end thereof;

a sensor can mounted with the sensor housing and including temperature sensing electronics for sensing temperature via the heat sensing probe;

a nozzle being mounted onto the sensor housing, said nozzle including a base disposed with said sensor housing and an elongated cylindrical nose portion being disposed about said sensor housing, said nozzle being configured to direct heat flux to said distal end of said heat sensing probe; and

a probe cover being mountable to said distal end of said tympanic thermometer, said probe cover defining an inner surface configured to engage an outer surface of the nozzle.

2. The tympanic thermometer according to claim 1, wherein said sensor can includes a lip extending radially therefrom and contacting said nozzle at at least one contact point to provide heat flux to said sensor can.

3. A tympanic thermometer comprising:

a thermometer body; and

a heat sensing probe extending from said thermometer body;

said heat sensing probe including

an elongated thermally conductive nozzle having an inner surface defining a cavity;

an elongated thermally insulating sensor housing disposed within said cavity and having an air gap separating said sensor housing from said inner surface; and

a sensor can mounted to a distal end of said sensor housing and contacting said inner surface of said nozzle.

4. The tympanic thermometer according to claim 3 wherein said heat sensing probe further comprises a base engaging said sensor housing and said nozzle and providing coaxial alignment therebetween.

5. The tympanic thermometer according to claim 4 wherein said base comprises means for attaching said sensing probe to said thermometer body.

6. The tympanic thermometer according to claim 3 wherein said sensor can includes at least one protrusion extending radially outward, said at least one protrusion providing at least one contact point between said inner surface of said nozzle and said can to facilitate heat flow therebetween.

7. The tympanic thermometer according to claim 6 wherein said at least one protrusion comprises a lip.

8. The tympanic thermometer according to claim 7 wherein said lip comprises a plurality of lip members.

9. The tympanic thermometer according to claim 8 wherein said plurality of lip members extend from said sensor can to form a helical protrusion contacting said inside surface of said nozzle.

10. The tympanic thermometer according to claim 6 wherein said at least one protrusion is made from a metal alloy.

11. The tympanic thermometer according to claim 6 wherein at least one of said protrusions is made from a material different from at least one other of said protrusions.

12. The tympanic thermometer according to claim 10 wherein said at least one protrusion is made from a material selected to provide an optimized heat flow rate.

13. The tympanic thermometer according to claim 6 wherein at least one of said protrusions is electrically preheated to reduce the temperature gradient in said heat sensing probe.

14. The tympanic thermometer according to claim 3 wherein said sensor can incorporates:

at least one infrared transmissive window in a said can;

a sensor base having a distal surface;

an infrared sensor disposed on said distal surface and receiving infrared radiation through said infrared transmissive window.

15. The tympanic thermometer according to claim 3 further comprising a disposable probe cover disposed over said heat sensing probe, said probe cover including an infrared transmissive film substantially enclosing a distal end of said probe cover and aligned with a distal opening of said nozzle.

16. A tympanic thermometer according to claim 3 wherein said sensor can comprises:

a can surface and a thermistor incorporated in said sensor can; and

wherein a temperature differential between said can surface and said thermistor remains substantially constant while ambient temperature changes over time.

17. The tympanic- thermometer according to claim 16 wherein said constant temperature differential is provided by optimizing a heat conduction path between an ambient environment and said can surface.

18. A method for reducing temperature measurement error in a tympanic thermometer comprising:

providing a thermally conductive path between the external environment and a sensor can incorporating temperature sensing electronics in a heat sensing probe of said tympanic thermometer.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein said thermally conductive path comprises an elongated thermally conductive nozzle contacting said sensor can.

20. The method according to claim 19 further comprising:

preheating said sensor can to a predetermined temperature to reduce temperature gradients across said heat sensing probe.