Deep tissue temperature probe constructions

• US 20100268113A1
• Filed: 04/14/2010
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company (Solventum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Arizant Healthcare Inc. (3M Company)
• Inventors: Bieberich, Mark T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,310,257 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/549
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0271 Thermal or temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0276 comprising a thermosensitive compound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• 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 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/16 Special arrangements for conducting heat from the object to the sensitive element
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/165 for application in zero heat flux sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals

Abstract

Disposable, zero-heat-flux, deep tissue temperature probes are constructed using a support assembly constituted of a flexible substrate that supports elements of the probe. One support assembly embodiment includes a folded substrate with a heater and thermal sensors disposed on it. Another support assembly includes multiple sections separable into strata supporting a covering guard heater, a central thermal sensor, and a thermal sensor displaced at least radially from the central thermal sensor.

Claims

1. A support assembly for a deep tissue temperature probe, comprising:

a substrate with two sides;

a plurality of sections defined in the substrate, in which each section is joined to at least one adjacent section at a peripheral location common to both sections;

two thermal sensors, each supported on a respective one of two adjacent sections;

a heater supported on a third section; and

,

a pattern of slits in the sections.

2. The support assembly of claim 1, wherein a first thermal sensor is mounted on a surface of a first section of the two adjacent sections, the second thermal sensor is mounted on a surface of the second section of the two adjacent sections, the pattern of slits define a plurality of zones in the heater, and the sections are folded together such that the common pattern of slits are aligned and open through all of the sections.

3. The support assembly of claim 2, wherein the zones are wedge shaped and the slits are radial slits.

4. The support assembly of claim 2, wherein the zones are arcuately shaped and the slits are arcuately-shaped slits.

5. The support assembly of claim 2, wherein the zones are partially circular and the slits are partially circular slits.

6. A support assembly for a deep tissue temperature probe, comprising:

a flexible substrate with three sections folded together;

a plurality of zones defined through the folded-together sections;

two thermal sensors, supported on respective adjacent sections; and

,

a heater supported on the third section and including a heater zone positioned on each of the zones.

7. The support assembly of claim 6, wherein the zones are wedge shaped and form a pinwheel configuration in which each zone is flexible independently of another zone.

8. The support assembly of claim 6, wherein the zones are arcuately shaped and each zone is flexible independently of any other zone.

9. The support assembly of claim 6, wherein the zones are partially circularly shaped and each zone is flexible independently of any other zone.

10. A temperature article with a support structure comprising:

a substrate with two sides;

the substrate having a partially circular periphery;

partially circular slits in the substrate defining at least two partially circular support sections disposed within the periphery;

two thermal sensors on the same side of the substrate, each supported on a respective one of the at least two support sections; and

,

a layer of thermal insulating material separate from the substrate and disposed between the respective support sections.

11. The temperature article of claim 10, wherein the thermal sensors are separated radially within the periphery.

12. The temperature article of claim 11, wherein a first of the respective support sections is positioned at a center defined by the periphery and the second of the respective support sections is concentric with the first respective support section.

13. The temperature article of claim 12, further including a heater trace on the second respective support section.

14. The temperature article of claim 13, further including a notch in the heater trace, wherein one of the thermal sensors is located in the notch.

15. The temperature article of claim 14, further including a third support section located between and concentrically with the first and second respective support sections, a heater trace on the third support section, and layer of thermal insulating material separate from the substrate and disposed between the first and third support sections.

17. A temperature article, comprising an assembly constituted of a flexible substrate that supports elements of a temperature probe, in which the support assembly includes a layer with a multi-zone heater, thermal sensors, and a thermal resistor disposed on it.

18. The temperature article of claim 17, in which the heater has multiple zones defined by openings formed through the layer, between the zones.

19. A temperature article, comprising a support assembly constituted of a flexible substrate that supports elements of a temperature probe, in which the support assembly includes multiple layers, and a first layer supports a guard heater, a second layer supports a first thermal sensor, and a third layer supports a thermal sensor displaced at least radially from the first thermal sensor.

20. The temperature article of claim 19, in which a layer of thermally insulating material is interposed between the second and third layers.