Temperature and pulse detector

• US 3,916,877 A
• Filed: 10/25/1973
• Issued: 11/04/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Paul Beckman
• Original Assignee: Paul Beckman
• Inventors: Beckman, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Queisser, Richard C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Appleman, John S.
• Application Number:
  US05/409,382
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 73/344,361,432R 128/2H,2.5P,2.6E,2.6R,2.5R
• US Class Current: 600/483
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/13 Circuits for cold-junction compensation

Abstract

A temperature and pulse detector is disclosed having a disposable oral probe with a thermopile mounted thereon. The thermopile acts as a temperature sensor and the thermopile hot junctions as one of the electrodes for pulse detection. The other pulse detection electrode is mounted on a connector housing which holds the disposable probe. In use, the patient holds the connector housing with his left hand so that his thumb contacts the electrode mounted thereon and places the probe in his mouth. The patient'"'"''"'"'s temperature is sensed by the thermopile and his pulse rate derived from the electrical activity of the heart sensed by the electrodes.

Claims

1. An apparatus for simultaneously sensing body temperature and the electrical activity of the heart comprising an oral probe, first electrode means mounted on said probe for insertion into the mouth to simultaneously sense body temperature and act as an electrode means for sensing the electrical activity of the heart, second electrode means, means for mounting said second electrode means for contact with the body, said first and second electrode means acting to sense the electrical activity of the heart when said first electrode means is inserted into the mouth and said second electrode means is simultaneously contacted with the body, and electrical means connected to said first electrode means to determine body temperature and to said first and second electrode means to determine electrical activity of the heart.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising means for determining pulse rate from the sensed electrical activity of the heart.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said first electrode means comprises a sensor which develops a voltage proportional to the temperature sensed.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said first electrode means comprises thermocouple means.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 and further comprising means for translating the developed voltage into a reading in degrees of temperature.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising means for holding said probe, said second electrode means being mounted on the bottom of said probe holding means for being contacted by the thumb.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said probe comprises an elongated, electrically non-conductive member having a first end of suitable size for insertion into the mouth.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which said first electrode means comprises thermopile means having a plurality of thermocouples connected in series mounted on said probe member and defining a plurality of hot junctions near said first end of said probe member and a plurality of cold junctions near a second end of said probe member.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which said thermopile means comprises a first metal wire wound around said probe member in the longitudinal direction thereof and a second metal joined to said first metal wire between said hot and cold junctions.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 and further comprising means for holding said probe, resistance thermometer means for measuring the temperature of said cold junctions of said thermopile means mounted in said probe holding means and means for releasably securing said second end of said probe member in said probe holding means in a predetermined position so that said cold junctions are positioned in physical and thermal contact with said resistance thermometer means.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 and further comprising electrical circuit means for measuring the temperature of said hot junctions of said thermopile means, said electrical circuit means including a bridge circuit in which said resistance thermometer means forms one arm of said bridge circuit means for measuring the temperature of said cold junctions, at least a portion of said bridge circuit means being mounted in said probe holding means so that said thermopile means is electrically connected to said electrical circuit means when said probe is releasably secured in said probe holding means, said electrical circuit means combining the output of said thermopile means and said bridge circuit to give a signal proportional to the temperature of said hot junctions.

12. An apparatus for simultaneously sensing body temperature and the electrical activity of the heart comprising an oral probe, fiRst electrode means mounted on said probe for insertion into the mouth to simultaneously sense body temperature and act as an electrode means for sensing the electrical activity of the heart, means for holding said probe, and second electrode means mounted on said probe holding means, said first and second electrode means acting to sense the electrical activity of the heart when said first electrode means is inserted into the mouth and said second electrode means is simultaneously contacted by the hand.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 and further comprising means for determining pulse rate from the sensed electrical activity of the heart.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 in which said first electrode means comprises a sensor which develops a voltage proportional to the temperature sensed.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 in which said first electrode means comprises thermocouple means.

16. The apparatus of claim 3 and further ccomprising means for translating the developed voltage into a reading in degrees of temperature.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said second electrode means is mounted on the bottom of said probe holding means for being contacted by the thumb.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said probe comprises an elongated, electrically non-conductive member having a first end of suitable size for insertion into the mouth.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 in which said first electrode means comprises thermopile means having a plurality of thermocouples connected in series mounted on said probe member and defining a plurality of hot junctions near said first end of said probe member and a plurality of cold junctions near a second end of said probe member.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 in which said thermopile means comprises a first metal wire wound around said probe member in the longitudinal direction thereof and a second metal joined to said first metal wire between said hot and cold junctions.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 and further comprising resistance thermometer means for measuring the temperature of said cold junctions of said thermopile means mounted in said probe holding means and means for releasably securing said second end of said probe member in said probe holding means in a predetermined position so that said cold junctions are positioned in physical and thermal contact with said resistance thermometer means.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 and further comprising electrical circuit means for measuring the temperature of said hot junctions of said thermopile means, said electrical circuit means including a bridge circuit in which said resistance thermometer means forms one arm of said bridge circuit means for measuring the temperature of said cold junctions, at least a portion of said bridge circuit means being mounted in said probe holding means so that said thermopile means is electrically connected to said electrical circuit means when said probe is releasably secured in said probe holding means, said electrical circuit means combining the output of said thermopile means and said bridge circuit to give a signal proportional to the temperature of said hot junctions.

23. An apparatus for sensing the electrical activity of the heart comprising an oral probe, first electrode means mounted on said probe for insertion into the mouth, means for holding said probe, and second electrode means mounted on the bottom of said probe holding means for being contacted by the thumb, said first and second electrode means acting to sense the electrical activity of the heart when said first electrode means is inserted into the mouth and said second electrode means is simultaneously contacted by the thumb.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 and further comprising means for determining pulse rate from the sensed electrical activity of the heart.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 in which said second electrode means is a phosphor bronze electrode.

26. The apparatus of claim 23 in which said probe is disposable and is detachabLy mountable in said probe holding means.