Clinical ear thermometer

• US 3,156,117 A
• Filed: 09/21/1961
• Issued: 11/10/1964
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1961
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Theodor H. Benzinger
• Original Assignee: Theodor H. Benzinger
• Inventors: Benzinger, Theodor H.
• Application Number:
  US04/139,812
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 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: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6856 with a distal loop
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals

Claims

16. A CLINICAL EAR THERMOMETER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FLEXIBLE TUBULAR ELEMENT, A LOOP FORMED IN SAID TUBULAR ELEMENT, A TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE ELEMENT POSITIONED AT THE BEND OF SAID LOOP AND FORMING WITH SAID TUBULAR ELEMENT A THERMAL-SENSITIVE PROBE, THE STIFFNESS OF SAID TUBULAR ELEMENT BEING SUCH THAT WHEN SAID PROBE IS INSERTED INTO THE AUDITORY CANAL OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHOSE TEMPERATURE IS TO BE MEASURED AND THE BEND OF SAID LOOP BROUGHT IN CONTACT WITH THE TYMPANIC MEMBRANE OF SAID INDIVIDUAL, ANY EXCESSIVE FORCE APPLIED TO SAID PROBE TO PLACE SAID BEND IN THE ABOVE POSITION CAUSES A BUCKLING OF SAID TUBULAR ELEMENT WHEREBY DAMAGE TO SAID TYMPANIC MEMBRANE IS PREVENTED AND MEANS SECURED TO SAID TUBULAR ELEMENT AND ADAPTED TO COOPERATE WITH THE INNER WALL SURFACE OF SAID AUDITORY CANAL FOR RELEASABLY RETAINING THE BEND OF SAID LOOP IN CONTACT WITH SAID TYMPANIC MEMBRANE.