PREDICTIVE TEMPERATURE PROBE WITH PROXIMITY SENSOR
First Claim
1. An electric thermometer for estimating the temperature of a patient, the thermometer comprising:
- a probe having a probe tip for positioning in contact with the patient;
a temperature sensor mounted within the probe for producing a temperature signal indicative of the temperature of the probe;
a heater positioned within the probe and operable to heat the probe;
a proximity sensor positioned within the probe and operable to produce a contact signal when the probe tip is in close proximity with the patient; and
a processor configured to receive the temperature signal from the temperature sensor and operate the heater to maintain the probe at a target temperature, wherein the processor receives the contact signal from the proximity sensor and disables the operation of the heater upon receipt of the contact signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for preheating the thermometer probe of an electronic thermometer to a temperature closer to the temperature of the patient to be monitored. The system includes a thermometer probe that includes a heater, temperature sensor and proximity sensor, each coupled to a processor for controlling the operation of the electronic thermometer. The proximity sensor positioned within the thermometer probe generates a contact signal when the thermometer probe is positioned in close proximity to the patient. Upon receiving the contact signal, the processor disables the operation of the heater and begins the process of estimating the patient temperature. By utilizing a separate proximity sensor, the temperature of the probe tip can be elevated to the normal human body temperature, which allows the temperature estimation to be completed more rapidly and allows the thermometer to function at higher ambient temperature environments.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An electric thermometer for estimating the temperature of a patient, the thermometer comprising:
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a probe having a probe tip for positioning in contact with the patient;
a temperature sensor mounted within the probe for producing a temperature signal indicative of the temperature of the probe;
a heater positioned within the probe and operable to heat the probe;
a proximity sensor positioned within the probe and operable to produce a contact signal when the probe tip is in close proximity with the patient; and
a processor configured to receive the temperature signal from the temperature sensor and operate the heater to maintain the probe at a target temperature, wherein the processor receives the contact signal from the proximity sensor and disables the operation of the heater upon receipt of the contact signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of estimating a patient'"'"'s temperature using an electronic thermometer having a probe, the method comprising the steps of:
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positioning a proximity sensor within the probe, the proximity sensor being operable to generate a contact signal when the probe is in close proximity to the patient;
monitoring the temperature of the probe;
selectively activating a heater within the probe to maintain the probe at a target temperature;
disabling the operation of the heater upon detection of the contact signal from the proximity sensor when the probe is in close proximity to the patient; and
estimating the temperature of the patient based upon the monitored temperature of the probe. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A temperature sensing probe for use with an electronic thermometer operable to estimate a patient'"'"'s temperature, comprising:
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a generally hollow probe body;
a metallic probe tip formed at a distal end of the probe body;
a temperature sensor positioned in contact with the probe tip and operable to generate a temperature signal indicative of the temperature of the probe tip;
a heater positioned in contact with the probe tip and selectively operable to heat the probe tip; and
a proximity sensor positioned within the probe and operable to product a contact signal when the probe tip is placed in close proximity with the patient. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification