NONCONTACT THERMOMETRY SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20170360305A1
• Filed: 08/31/2017
• Published: 12/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Lane, John A., Grant, Jennifer M., Kinsley, Matthew J., Mullin, Matthew D., Nguyen, Nick H., Quinn, David E., Salibra, Alisa R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,638,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0257 Proximity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• 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 5/015 By temperature mapping of body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7278 Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49004 including measuring or testing of device or component part

Abstract

A method of determining a temperature of a patient includes determining that a temperature measurement device is located within at least one of a distance range and an alignment range of a portion of a measurement site of the patient, providing an indication to a user of the device that the device is located within the at least one of the distance range and the alignment range, and determining, with the device, a first temperature of a first location on the portion of the measurement site without contacting the patient with the device. Such a method also includes determining, with the device, a second temperature of a second location on the portion of the measurement site without contacting the patient with the device, wherein the second location is different from the first location. Such a method further includes determining a third temperature of the patient based on the first and second temperatures.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a temperature measurement device, comprising:

providing a first sensor configured to determine that the device is located within a predetermined range of a measurement site of a patient;

providing at least one additional sensor configured to determine a first temperature of a first location on the measurement site and a second temperature of a second location on the measurement site,

wherein the at least one additional sensor determines the first and second temperatures without contacting the patient, and

wherein the first and second temperatures are determined in response to the first sensor determining that the device is located within the predetermined range;

providing a controller in communication with the first sensor and the at least one additional sensor;

providing a display in communication with the controller, the display configured to display a visual image of the patient with a non-patient indication, illustrated in the image, that the device is located within the predetermined range; and

programming the controller to determine a third temperature of the patient based on the first and second temperatures.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the at least one additional sensor comprises providing a first infrared sensor in communication with the controller and configured to determine the first temperature, and providing a second infrared sensor in communication with the controller separate from the first infrared sensor, the second infrared sensor configured to determine the second temperature.

3. The method of claim 1, further including providing a user interface in communication with the controller, the user interface configured to receive an input from a user of the device in response to determining that the device is located within the predetermined range, wherein the at least one additional sensor is configured to determine at least one of the first temperature and the second temperature in response to the input.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined range comprises one of a distance range associated with the first sensor or an alignment range associated with the first sensor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one additional sensor comprises a second sensor and a third sensor separate from the second sensor, and wherein the non-patient indication illustrated in the image comprises a first indication indicating that the first location is within a field of view of the second sensor, and a second indication indicating that the second location is within a field of view of the third sensor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the display is configured to receive an input from the user in response to the non-patient indication.

7. The method of claim 1, further including providing an imaging device in communication with at least one of the controller and the display, the imaging device being configured to assist in generating the image of the patient displayed on the display.

8. The method of claim 1, further including providing a substantially fluid-tight compartment within the temperature measurement device, wherein a component of at least one of the controller, the first sensor, and the at least one additional sensor is disposed within the compartment.

9. A method of determining a temperature of a patient, comprising:

determining that a temperature measurement device is located within a predetermined range of a measurement site of the patient, the measurement site comprising a skin surface at an inner-canthal region, a forehead, or a temple of the patient;

providing an indication to a user of the device that the device is located within the predetermined range;

determining, with the device, a temperature of the measurement site, without contacting the patient with the device; and

determining a core temperature of the patient based on the temperature.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining that the temperature measurement device is located within the predetermined range comprises determining that the measurement site is within a field of view of a sensor of the device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the temperature of the measurement site comprises determining a first temperature of a first location of the measurement site using an infrared temperature sensor of the device and determining a second temperature of a second location of the measurement site, different from the first location, using the infrared temperature sensor, wherein the core temperature is determined based on the first and second temperatures.

12. The method of claim 9, further including receiving an input from the user in response to the indication, and determining the temperature of the measurement site in response to the input.

13. The method of claim 9, further including capturing a visual image of the patient with a digital camera of the device, determining a physical attribute of the patient based at least in part on the visual image, and automatically selecting an operating mode of the device based on the attribute, wherein the core temperature is determined based on the selected operating mode.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the attribute comprises at least one of a distance between a first location of the measurement site and a second location of the measurement site, a distance between at least one of the first and second locations and a third location of the measurement site, and a dimension of an ear of the patient.

15. A temperature measurement device, comprising:

a proximity sensor configured to determine that the device is located within a predetermined range of a measurement site of a patient, the measurement site comprising a skin surface at an inner-canthal region, a forehead, or a temple of the patient;

an infrared temperature sensor configured to determine a temperature of a location of the measurement site without contacting the patient,

wherein the temperature of the location is determined in response to the first sensor determining that the device is located within the predetermined range;

a controller in communication with the proximity sensor and the infrared temperature sensor, the controller being programmed to determine a core temperature of the patient based on the temperature of the location; and

a display in communication with the controller,

wherein the display is configured to display a visual image of the patient with a non-patient indication, illustrated in the image, that the device is located within the predetermined range.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the predetermined range extends from a plane substantially defined by the device to a plane substantially defined by at least a portion of the measurement site.

17. The device of claim 15, further comprising at least one additional infrared temperature sensor in communication with the controller and configured to determine at least one additional temperature of the measurement site without contacting the patient, wherein the controller is programmed to determine the core temperature using the temperature of the location and the at least one additional temperature as inputs.

18. The device of claim 15, further comprising a digital camera in communication with the controller and configured to capture the visual image of the patient.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to determine a physical attribute of the patient using an input from the digital camera and the proximity sensor, and to automatically select an operating mode of the device based on the attribute, wherein the core temperature is determined based on the selected operating mode.

20. The device of claim 15, further including a substantially fluid-tight compartment within the temperature measurement device, wherein a component of at least one of the controller, the proximity sensor, and the infrared temperature sensor is disposed within the compartment.