Body temperature thermometer and method fo measuring human body temperature utilizing calibration mapping
First Claim
1. A body temperature thermometer, comprising:
- first sensor means for generating a first output signal representative of an amount of infrared radiation impinging thereon from a biological surface tissue of a patient;
second sensor means for generating a second output signal representative of a temperature of the first sensor means;
processor means connected to the sensor means for processing the output signals to determine a body temperature of the patient utilizing a calibration mapping of a plurality of target temperatures to corresponding output signals; and
means connected to the processing means for providing a user with an indication of the determined body temperature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A body temperature thermometer has a probe head assembly (8) which includes a first sensor (10), such as a thermopile, for generating a first output signal representative of an amount of infrared radiation impinging thereon The probe head assembly further includes a waveguide (16) and a surrounding hollow probe (14) for receiving infrared radiation emitted by a biological surface tissue, such as the external ear canal and tympanic membrane of a patient, and directing the radiation to the first sensor. A second sensor (12) is mounted in the probe head assembly for generating a second output signal representative of a temperature of the first sensor. A third sensor (26) is thermally coupled to the waveguide for providing a third output signal representative to the temperature thereof. A processor (30) is connected to the sensors for processing the output signals to determine a body temperature of the patient utilizing a calibration mapping of a plurality of target temperatures to corresponding output signals taken over a predetermined range of ambient temperatures. A display (34) is driven by the processor for providing a user with a visual indication of the determined body temperature.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A body temperature thermometer, comprising:
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first sensor means for generating a first output signal representative of an amount of infrared radiation impinging thereon from a biological surface tissue of a patient; second sensor means for generating a second output signal representative of a temperature of the first sensor means; processor means connected to the sensor means for processing the output signals to determine a body temperature of the patient utilizing a calibration mapping of a plurality of target temperatures to corresponding output signals; and means connected to the processing means for providing a user with an indication of the determined body temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A tympanic thermometer, comprising:
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first sensor means for generating a first output signal representative of an amount of infrared radiation impinging thereon from an external ear canal of a patient; second sensor means for generating a second output signal representative of a temperature of the first sensor; probe means for receiving infrared radiation emitted by the biological surface tissue and directing the radiation to the first sensor means; third sensor means for generating a third output signal representative of a temperature of the infrared radiation receiving and directing means; processor means connected to the sensor means for processing the output signals to determine a body temperature of the patient utilizing a calibration mapping of a plurality of target temperatures to corresponding output signals over a predetermined range of ambient temperatures; and means connected to the processing means for providing a user with an indication of the determined body temperature. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of determining the body temperature of a patient, comprising the steps of:
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providing a probe head assembly having a probe tip insertable in an external ear canal of a patient and an infrared sensor; sampling the output of the infrared sensor prior to insertion of the probe tip into the external ear canal and storing a first set of values representative thereof; inserting the probe tip into the external ear canal so that infrared emissions in the external ear canal impinge on the infrared sensor; sampling the output of the infrared sensor and storing a second set of values representative thereof; and determining a body temperature of the patient based upon a peak value of the first and second set of values.
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21. A method of determining the body temperature of a patient, comprising the steps of:
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providing a probe head assembly having a first sensor for receiving infrared radiation emitted in the ear canal of a patient and generating a first output signal representative of the amount of infrared radiation impinging thereon and a second sensor for generating a second output signal representative of the temperature of the first sensor; successively pointing the probe head assembly at a plurality of targets each maintained at a corresponding reference temperature; storing a calibration mapping of the magnitudes of the first and second output signals for each of the targets; and pointing the probe head assembly at the external ear canal and determining the body temperature of the patient utilizing the outputs signals from the sensors and the calibration mapping. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A tympanic thermometer, comprising:
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a non-isothermal probe head assembly including an infrared sensor, a waveguide for receiving and directing infrared radiation from the external ear canal and the tympanic membrane of a patient, and means for supporting the waveguide and the first sensor so that a rear end of the waveguide is spaced adjacent to an active face of the infrared sensor, the supporting means being made solely of plastic to minimize heat flow; an ambient sensor mounted in the probe assembly; and means connected to the infrared sensor and the ambient sensor for determining a body temperature of the patient.
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Specification