Quick registering thermometer
First Claim
1. A quick registering thermometer comprising:
- a housing having a probe, the probe at least partially comprised of a heat insulating material;
temperature responsive means mounted on the periphery of the heat insulated portion of the probe;
means communicating with the temperature responsive means for detecting the changes in the temperature of the responsive means;
means communicating with the detecting means for converting the detected temperature changes in the temperature responsive means to electrical signals representing a calculated temperature;
means communicating with the converting means for displaying the calculated temperature; and
,error adjustment means is communication with the converting means for changing the calculated temperature as a function of the number of displays by the thermometer in a given period of time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A quick registering thermometer utilizing a sensor that has electrical resistance varying with temperature located at the tip of a probe, the sensor having relatively small thermal mass and short thermal time constant. Within seconds of contact with the patient, the circuitry communicating with the sensor determines the rate of change in resistance of the sensor and, in turn, the temperature that the sensor would reach if allowed the length of time it would need to reach equilibrium with the contact surface of the patient. Based on the equilibrium temperature determined for the surface of the patient, the circuitry calculates and registers the core body temperature. Included in the circuitry is an error adjustment mechanism for changing the calculated temperature as a function of the number of displays of the thermometer in a given period of time.
168 Citations
3 Claims
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1. A quick registering thermometer comprising:
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a housing having a probe, the probe at least partially comprised of a heat insulating material; temperature responsive means mounted on the periphery of the heat insulated portion of the probe; means communicating with the temperature responsive means for detecting the changes in the temperature of the responsive means; means communicating with the detecting means for converting the detected temperature changes in the temperature responsive means to electrical signals representing a calculated temperature; means communicating with the converting means for displaying the calculated temperature; and
,error adjustment means is communication with the converting means for changing the calculated temperature as a function of the number of displays by the thermometer in a given period of time.
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2. A quick registering thermometer for displaying a calculated core temperature of an object prior to reaching thermal equilibrium with a surface of the object, the thermometer comprising:
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a housing having a probe, the probe at least partially comprised of a heat insulating material; temperature responsive means having electrical resistance properties that vary with temperature, the responsive means mounted on the periphery of the heat insulated portion of the probe; means communicating with the temperature responsive means for detecting the changes in the resistance of the responsive means; means communicating with the detecting means for converting the detected changes in resistance of the temperature responsive means to electrical signals representing a predicted temperature for the surface prior to the temperature responsive means reaching thermal equilibrium with the surface, and for converting the predicted surface temperature to a calculated core temperature for the object; means communicating with the converting means for displaying the calculated core temperature; and
,error adjustment means in communication with the converting means for changing the calculated temperature as a function of the number of displays by the thermometer in a given period of time.
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3. A quick registering thermometer for displaying the core body temperature of a mammal, the thermometer comprising:
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a housing having a probe adapted to contact the skin of the mammal, the probe at least partially comprised of a heat insulating material; temperature responsive means having electrical resistance varying with temperature, the temperature responsive means mounted on the periphery of the heat insulated portion of the probe to contact the skin when the probe is applied thereto; means for detecting the changes in the resistance of the temperature responsive means; means for converting the detected changes in resistance of the temperature responsive means to signals representative of a predicted skin temperature prior to the temperature responsive means teaching thermal equilibrium with the skin and for converting the predicted skin temperature to signals representative of the core body temperature; means for displaying the core body temperature; and
,error adjustment means in communication with the converting means for changing the displayed temperature as a function of the number of prior displays by the thermometer in a given period of time.
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Specification