Temperature Measuring Device

• US 20140024962A1
• Filed: 07/01/2013
• Published: 01/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lisa A. Dunn
• Original Assignee: Lisa A. Dunn
• Inventors: Dunn, Lisa A.
• Application Number:
  US13/932,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20140024962A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/549
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/045 Newborns, e.g. premature baby monitoring
• 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 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6847 mounted on an invasive device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0465 Tracheostomy tubes; Devices for performing a tracheostomy; Accessories therefor, e.g. masks, filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals

Abstract

An apparatus for accurately measuring the body temperature of a patient at the tracheal wall of the patient. The apparatus includes a novel handheld temperature readout assembly that is easy to use by the caregiver and one which clearly and accurately displays the temperature of the patient. The handheld temperature readout assembly includes a handheld housing having a viewing window and a light emitting diode temperature display that is carried by the housing and is readily viewable through the viewing window of the handheld housing for displaying the patient temperature. The apparatus also includes a built-in alarm system to alert to high and low body temperatures.

Claims

1. A temperature measuring apparatus usable by a caregiver for measuring the body temperature of the patient at the tracheal wall of the patient comprising:

(a) a tracheal tube having an interior end and an exterior end, said interior end being constructed and arranged to enter the trachea of the patient and to engage the trachea wall;

(b) a generally annular shaped temperature sensor interconnected with and circumscribing said tracheal tube proximate said interior end thereof, said temperature sensor being so constructed and arranged so as to engage a substantial portion of the trachea wall of the patient; and

(c) a handheld temperature readout assembly operably interconnected with said temperature sensor for displaying the temperature of the patient, said readout assembly being spaced apart from and freely movable relative to the tracheal tube and comprising;

(i) a handheld housing having an internal chamber and a viewing window;

(ii) an integrated circuit board housed within said internal chamber, said integrated circuit board including an electronic processor having data storage capability;

(iii) a light emitting diode temperature display carried by said housing and being viewable through said viewing window of said handheld housing for displaying the temperature detected by said temperature sensor; and

(iv) an alarm system carried by said handheld housing for alerting the caregiver to high and low body temperature readings, said alarm system comprising a speaker array mounted on said handheld housing

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said handheld temperature readout assembly is removably interconnected with said temperature sensor by a quick connect assembly.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said handheld temperature readout assembly further includes a universal serial bus port and a universal serial bus controller operably associated with said universal serial bus port, said universal serial bus controller being operably associated with said electronic processor.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including an inflatable cuff disposed proximate said interior end of said tracheal tube, said inflatable cuff being so constructed and arranged as to engage the wall of the trachea of the patient when inflated.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 further including an elongated fill tube connected to said inflatable cuff.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said tracheal tube comprises an endotracheal tube.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 further including an elongated fill tube connected to said inflatable cuff.

7. A temperature measuring apparatus usable by a caregiver for measuring the body temperature of an infant at the tracheal wall of the infant comprising:

(a) a tracheal tube having an interior end and an exterior end, said interior end being constructed and arranged to enter the trachea of the infant and to engage the trachea wall;

(b) a generally annular shaped temperature sensor interconnected with and circumscribing said tracheal tube proximate said interior end thereof, said temperature sensor being so constructed and arranged so as to engage a substantial portion of the trachea wall of the patient; and

(c) a handheld temperature readout assembly operably interconnected with said temperature sensor for displaying the temperature of the patient, said readout assembly being spaced apart from and freely movable relative to the tracheal tube and comprising;

(i) a handheld housing having an internal chamber and a viewing window;

(ii) an integrated circuit board housed within said internal chamber, said integrated circuit board including an electronic processor having data storage capability;

(iii) a light emitting diode temperature display carried by said handheld housing and being viewable through said viewing window of said handheld housing for displaying the temperature detected by said temperature sensor;

(iv) an alarm system carried by said handheld housing for alerting the caregiver to high and low body temperature readings, said alarm system comprising a speaker array mounted on said handheld housing; and

(v) an inflatable cuff disposed proximate said interior end of said tracheal tube, said inflatable cuff being so constructed and arranged as to engage the wall of the trachea of the infant when inflated.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which said handheld temperature readout assembly is removably interconnected with said temperature sensor by a quick connect assembly.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which said handheld temperature readout assembly further includes a universal serial bus port and a universal serial bus controller operably associated with said universal serial bus port, said universal serial bus controller being operably associated with said electronic processor.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 in which said handheld housing includes a universal serial bus port access opening.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which said temperature sensor comprises a thermistor.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which said temperature sensor comprises a thermocouple.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which said tracheal tube comprises a tracheostomy tube.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which said tracheal tube comprises an endotracheal tube.

20. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 further including an inflatable cuff disposed proximate said interior end of said tracheal tube, said inflatable cuff being so constructed and arranged as to engage the wall of the trachea of the infant when inflated.

12. A temperature measuring apparatus usable by a caregiver for measuring the body temperature of a patient at the tracheal wall of the patient comprising:

(a) a tracheal tube having an interior end and an exterior end, said interior end being constructed and arranged to enter the trachea of the patient and to engage the trachea wall;

(b) a generally annular shaped temperature sensor interconnected with and circumscribing said tracheal tube proximate said interior end thereof, said temperature sensor being so constructed and arranged so as to engage a substantial portion of the trachea wall of the patient;

(c) a handheld temperature readout assembly operably interconnected with said temperature sensor for displaying the temperature of the patient, said readout assembly being spaced apart from and freely movable relative to the tracheal tube and comprising;

(i) a handheld housing having an internal chamber and a viewing window;

(ii) an integrated circuit board housed within said internal chamber, said integrated circuit board including an electronic processor having data storage capability;

(iii) a light emitting diode temperature display carried by said handheld housing and being viewable through said viewing window of said handheld housing for displaying the temperature detected by said temperature sensor;

(iv) an alarm system carried by said handheld housing for alerting the caregiver to high and low body temperature readings, said alarm system comprising a speaker array mounted on said handheld housing; and

(v) a universal serial bus port and a universal serial bus controller operably associated with said universal serial bus port, said universal serial bus controller being operably associated with said electronic processor;

(d) an inflatable cuff disposed proximate said interior end of said tracheal tube, said inflatable cuff being so constructed and arranged as to engage the wall of the trachea of the infant when inflated; and

(e) an elongated fill tube connected to said inflatable cuff.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which said handheld temperature readout assembly is removably interconnected with said temperature sensor by a quick connect assembly.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which said handheld housing includes a universal serial bus port access opening for receiving universal serial bus data storage device.

21. The apparatus as defined in claim 12 further including means carried by said tracheal tube for inflating said inflatable cuff.

23. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 further including an inflatable cuff connected to said interior portion of said tracheal tube, said inflatable cuff being so constructed and arranged as to engage the wall of the trachea of the neonate when inflated.

15. A temperature measuring apparatus for measuring the temperature of an infant comprising:

(a) a tracheal tube having an interior end and an exterior end, said interior end being constructed and arranged to enter the trachea of the infant and to engage the trachea wall;

(b) a temperature sensor interconnected with said tracheal tube proximate said interior end thereof, said temperature sensor being so constructed and arranged so as to engage the trachea wall of the infant;

(c) a handheld temperature readout assembly operably interconnected with said temperature sensor for displaying the temperature of the infant, said readout assembly comprising;

(i) a handheld housing having a viewing window;

(ii) a light emitting diode temperature display carried by said housing and being viewable through said viewing window of said handheld housing for displaying the temperature detected by said temperature sensor; and

(d) a switch operably associated with said temperature display for activating said temperature display.

22. A temperature measuring apparatus for measuring the temperature of a neonate comprising:

(a) a tracheostomy tube having a curved interior portion and an exterior portion connected to said curved interior portion, said interior portion being constructed and arranged to enter the trachea of the neonate and to engage the trachea wall of the neonate;

(b) a temperature sensor comprising a thermistor connected to said interior portion of said tracheostomy tube, said temperature sensor being so constructed and arranged so as to engage the trachea wall the neonate; and

(c) a handheld temperature readout assembly operably associated with said temperature sensor for displaying the temperature of the neonate, said readout assembly comprising;

(i) a handheld hollow housing having an outer wall having a viewing window;

(ii) a light emitting diode temperature display carried by said housing and being viewable through said viewing window of said handheld housing for displaying the temperature detected by said temperature sensor; and

(iii) a switch operably associated with said light emitting diode of said temperature display for activating said light emitting diode.