Body function measuring apparatus

• US 5,732,711 A
• Filed: 08/27/1996
• Issued: 03/31/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1996
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Draeger Medical Incorporated (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Manufacturing Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Fitzpatrick, Joseph F., Romano, Anthony C., Richards, John H., Kolarovic, Ronald S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINGOOD, PAMELA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US08/703,794
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 128/736, 128/743, 128/633, 128/664, 128/665, 128/666, 128/667, 128/690, 128/798
• US Class Current: 600/549
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/16 Special arrangements for conducting heat from the object to the sensitive element
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals

Abstract

Body function measuring apparatus which provides: (1) an indication of the body function being measured, and (2) a loose probe condition by determining that the difference between the rate of change of a first body function signal, developed by a first sensor in the probe, and the rate of change of a second body function signal, developed by a second sensor in the probe, exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. Skin temperature measuring apparatus comprising:

a housing;

first and second identical thermistors spaced apart in said housing but in proximity to each other and adapted for contact with generally the same area of skin for developing first and second temperature signals, respectively; and

means responsive to said first temperature signal and said second temperature signal for;

(a) developing an indication of the temperature at the skin with which said first thermistor and said second thermistor are in contact, and

(b) detecting a difference between the rate of change of said first temperature signal and the rate of change of said second temperature signal which exceeds a predetermined threshold representing a difference in the proximity of said first thermistor to the skin and the proximity of said second thermistor to the skin.

2. Skin temperature measuring apparatus according to claim 1 further including means responsive to said first temperature signal and second temperature signal for detecting a difference between said first temperature signal and said second temperature signal which exceeds a predetermined threshold representing a failure of one of said first thermistor and said second thermistor.

3. Skin temperature measuring apparatus according to claim 3 further including a flexible substrate on which said first thermistor and said second thermistor are mounted.

4. Skin temperature measuring apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said substrate has:

(a) first and second lands on which said first thermistor and said second thermistor, respectively, are mounted, and

(b) a neck extending between said first land and said second land and having a width narrower than the width of said first land and said second land.

5. Body function measuring apparatus comprising:

a housing;

first and second identical sensors spaced apart in said housing but in proximity to each other and adapted for contact with generally the same area of skin for developing first and second body function signals, respectively; and

means responsive to said first body function signal and said second body function signal for;

(a) developing an indication of the body function at the skin with which said first sensor and said second sensor are in contact, and

(b) detecting a difference between the rate of change of said first body function signal and the rate of change of said second body function signal which exceeds a predetermined threshold representing a difference in the proximity of said first sensor to the skin and the proximity of said second sensor to the skin.

6. Body function measuring apparatus according to claim 5 further including means responsive to said first body function signal and said second body function signal for detecting a difference between said first body function signal and said second body function signal which exceeds a predetermined threshold representing a failure of one of said first sensor and said second sensor.

7. Body function measuring apparatus according to claim 5 further including a flexible substrate on which said first sensor and said second sensor are mounted.

8. Body function measuring apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said substrate has:

(a) first and second lands on which said first sensor and said second sensor, respectively, are mounted, and

(b) a neck extending between said first land and said second land and having a width narrower than the width of said first land and said second land.