THERMOCROMATIC PATCH FOR MONITORING/DETECTING BODY TEMPERATURE

• US 20100268112A1
• Filed: 07/17/2009
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hot Dot, Inc. (Midwest Holding Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Hot Dot, Inc. (Midwest Holding Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ouimet, Albert B., Short, Bryan S., Short, Dan C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,182,430 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/549
• 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: G01K 11/14 of inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/16 of organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2217/00 Temperature measurement using electric or magnetic components already present in the system to be measured

Abstract

A thermocromatic device for detecting body temperature includes a substrate treated with a thermocromatic composition. The thermocromatic composition includes a thermocromatic agent that changes color at a predetermined temperature indicative of a condition to be detected.

Claims

1. A thermocromatic device for detecting body temperature, comprising:

a substrate; and

a thermocromatic composition on said substrate, said thermocromatic composition including a thermocromatic agent that changes color at a predetermined temperature indicative of a temperature related condition to be detected.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said thermocromatic composition includes between about 0.1 and about 5.0 weight percent thermocromatic agent, between about 0.5 and about 1.0 weight percent negatively charged ionizing agent and the remainder carrier.

3. The device of claim 1, further including an adhesive for positively securing said substrate to skin on a body to be monitored.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said thermocromatic agent is selected from a group consisting of a thermocromatic ink, a thermocromatic liquid crystal ink, a chiro nematic liquid crystal ink, cholesteryl nonanoate, a cyanobisphenyl, a combination of sholesteryl and nematic inks, a mixture of leuco dyes with a weak acid, a mixture of crystal violet lactone, a spirolactone, a fluoran, a spiropyran, a fulgide or a fulgide with bisphenol A, a paraben, octadecylphosphoric acid, a 1,2,3-triazole derivative or 4-hydroxycoumarin, a mineral oxide, zinc oxide, lead oxide, cuprous mercury iodide, mercury iodide, nickel sulfate, a chromium rich pyrope, a chrystalline bismuth oxychloride, an organosiloxane containing methacryloyl or acryloyl functional groups, an organosiloxane containing nuclei that are divalent radicals consisting of 1,4 phenylene, 1,4 cyclohexylene, 2,2 pyridinylene, 2,5 pyranylene, 5,2 pyrimidinylene, 2,5-(1,3-dioxanylene), 2,6-naphthylidene and 1,4-naphylidene and combinations thereof.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate is woven, knit or non-woven.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate is selected from a group of materials consisting of a natural fiber, a synthetic fiber, cotton, polyester, nylon, rayon, silk, wool, cotton blends, polyester blends and mixtures thereof.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein said adhesive is selected from a group consisting of flexible silicones, epoxies, acrylics and mixtures thereof.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate takes a form selected from a group consisting of a patch, a scarf, a shirt, a headband, a wrist band, a sweat band, a tee shirt, a compression jersey, a necklace and a pair of compression shorts.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said predetermined temperature is between 95°

-101°

F.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said predetermined temperature is between 99°

-110°

F.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said predetermined temperature is between 100°

-101°

F.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said predetermined temperature is about 100°

F.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said predetermined temperature is between 95°

-97°

F.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein said predetermined temperature is about 96°

F.

15. The device of claim 2, wherein said negatively charged ionizing agent is selected from a group consisting of diatomaceous earth, hydrated aluminosilicate minerals, zeolite, choline chloride, modified polyolefins and mixtures thereof.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said carrier is selected from a group consisting of water, alcohols, polyols, phthlates and mixtures thereof.

17. A method of monitoring body temperature of an animal comprising:

positioning a thermocromatic device into intimate contact with skin of the animal wherein said thermocromatic device changes color at a predetermined temperature indicative of a temperature related physical condition to be detected.

18. The method of claim 17 including adhering said thermocromatic device to said skin.

19. The method of claim 17, including elastically biasing said thermocromatic device into close engagement with said skin.

20. The method of claim 19, including using a flexible substrate in said thermocromatic device capable of following the surface of the skin during bodily movement.