Clinical thermometer with pulsimeter

• US 5,509,422 A
• Filed: 10/12/1994
• Issued: 04/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tetsuji Fukami
• Original Assignee: Tetsuji Fukami
• Inventors: Fukami, Tetsuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US08/321,970
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 128/670, 128/736, 128/696
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals

Abstract

A clinical thermometer equipped with a pulsimeter particularly for measuring a body temperature and a pulse rate at the same time. Such a thermometer has first and second electric conductors. A temperature sensor is arranged on the second electric conductor via a heat insulator or directly arranged without such an insulator. With such a construction, the temperature sensor measures a body temperature, while the first and second electric conductors measure a pulse rate and electrocardiographic variation.

Claims

1. A clinical thermometer in combination with a pulsimeter comprising:

a first hollow cylinder having a closed end, and an open end and formed of an electrically and thermally conductive material, said first cylinder having a first diameter,

a second hollow cylinder formed of an electrically conductive material and having a diameter larger than said first diameter and suitable to be hand held,

a cylindrical body of electrically nonconductive and thermally insulative material joining said first cylinder at said open end substantially coaxially to a first end of said second cylinder,

a thermoelectric transducer disposed within said first hollow cylinder adjacent said closed end thereof for sensing temperature transmitted through said first cylinder,

and a plurality of electric conductors disposed within said hollow cylinders and said cylindrical body, wherein two of said electric conductors are connected to said transducer for connecting said transducer to means for measuring the temperature to which said transducer is exposed, and two more of said electric conductors are connected to said hollow cylinders, one to each, for connecting said hollow cylinders to means for measuring pulse rate.

2. A clinical thermometer in combination with a pulsimeter according to claim 1, in which said means for measuring the temperature and said means for measuring pulse rate are disposed within said second hollow cylinder.

3. A clinical thermometer in combination with a pulsimeter according to claim 2, wherein said second cylinder has a window formed therein, and said means for measuring the temperature and said means for measuring pulse rate include a display element visible through said window.

4. A clinical thermometer in combination with a pulsimeter comprising:

a cylindrical body having a first section at one end with a diameter suitable to be hand held, an intermediate tapered section, and at the other end of said cylindrical body a narrow section with a closed distal end of smaller diameter than said first section, said intermediate section providing a transition between said first section and said narrow section,

a first hollow cylinder formed of an electrically conductive material surrounding said narrow section near but spaced from the closed distal end of said narrow section,

a second hollow cylinder formed of an electrically conductive material surrounding said first section,

a thermoelectric transducer disposed at said closed distal end of said narrow section spaced from and thermally isolated from said first hollow cylinder,

and a plurality of electric conductors disposed within said cylindrical body, wherein two of said electric conductors are connected to said transducer for connecting said transducer to means for measuring the temperature to which said transducer is exposed, and two more of said electric conductors are connected to said hollow cylinders, one to each, for connecting said hollow cylinders to means for measuring pulse rate.

5. A clinical thermometer in combination with a pulsimeter according to claim 4, in which said means for measuring the temperature and said means for measuring pulse rate are disposed within said first section of said cylindrical body.

6. A clinical thermometer in combination with a pulsimeter according to claim 5, wherein said first section has a window formed therein, and said means for measuring the temperature and said means for measuring pulse rate include a display element visible through said window.