Infrared clinical thermometer
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for measuring a temperature of an infrared radiation emissive target comprising:
- a housing having at least one infrared radiation receiving port;
an infrared radiation sensor means enclosed in said housing and further comprising a wave guide means having one end accessible to infrared radiation, an infrared radiation detector means positioned to receive infrared radiation from said target as directed by said wave guide means, and further to generate a signal corresponding to a quantity of infrared radiation detected, a detector temperature sensor means positioned to measure a temperature of said infrared radiation detector means and further to generate a signal corresponding to said temperature of the infrared radiation detector means, said wave guide, and an isothermic block means, wherein said infrared radiation detector means and said detector temperature sensor means are held at or about an ambient temperature by said isothermic block means, a signal processing means for receiving said infrared radiation detector means signal and said detector temperature sensor means signal, and generating an output signal corresponding to the temperature of said infrared radiation emissive target.
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Abstract
A clinical infrared thermometer is disclosed for use in measuring the internal temperature of living subjects. The system operates by the combination of a radiation sensor that is held in isothermic condition with wave guide at ambient temperature. A thermistor, or other temperature sensor, is thermally coupled thereto and compensates for changes in ambient conditions.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring a temperature of an infrared radiation emissive target comprising:
- a housing having at least one infrared radiation receiving port;
an infrared radiation sensor means enclosed in said housing and further comprising a wave guide means having one end accessible to infrared radiation, an infrared radiation detector means positioned to receive infrared radiation from said target as directed by said wave guide means, and further to generate a signal corresponding to a quantity of infrared radiation detected, a detector temperature sensor means positioned to measure a temperature of said infrared radiation detector means and further to generate a signal corresponding to said temperature of the infrared radiation detector means, said wave guide, and an isothermic block means, wherein said infrared radiation detector means and said detector temperature sensor means are held at or about an ambient temperature by said isothermic block means, a signal processing means for receiving said infrared radiation detector means signal and said detector temperature sensor means signal, and generating an output signal corresponding to the temperature of said infrared radiation emissive target. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- a housing having at least one infrared radiation receiving port;
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13. In combination in a device for the sensing of infrared radiation from a patient and determining patient body temperature based thereon, comprising:
- sensor means including an open-end wave guide having an inner end adjacent to a radiation detector means;
an outer end of said sensor means being adapted for positioning adjacent to said patient to receive through an outer end of said wave guide radiation from the patient, said radiation is guided toward said radiation detector means by said wave guide for impingement thereon;
a protective means formed to be essentially transparent to said radiation and adapted to be removably positioned over said outer end of the wave guide in a manner to limit sensor means contact with the patient; and
heat conducting block means;
wherein said radiation detector means and the wave guide are held at or about an isothermic condition by said heat conducting block means at or about a temperature corresponding to air temperature immediately adjacent to said heat conducting block means. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- sensor means including an open-end wave guide having an inner end adjacent to a radiation detector means;
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20. A method for measuring internal body temperature of a patient comprising the steps of:
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(a) Positioning a radiation sensor adjacent to an ear of the patient in a manner so that radiation emitted by a tympanic membrane of the ear is directed into said radiation sensor, and further said radiation is directed by an open ended wave guide means in said sensor onto a radiation detector means; (b) Converting said radiation impinging onto said radiation detector means into a signal that is dependent on a quantity of radiation received per unit time; (c) Measuring a temperature of said radiation detector means and wave guide; (d) Adjusting said radiation detector signal in response to said temperature of the radiation detector means and wave guide; and (e) Displaying the tympanic membrane temperature as derived from said adjusted radiation signal wherein said radiation detector means and wave guide are substantially held at ambient temperature by an isothermal block means, and further steps b-d above are essentially concurrently performed. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification