Devices for rapid temperature detection

• US 5,918,981 A
• Filed: 01/15/1997
• Issued: 07/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hans O. Ribi
• Original Assignee: Hans O. Ribi
• Inventors: Ribi, Hans O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dombroske, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): AMROZOWICZ, PAUL DOUGLAS
• Application Number:
  US08/784,197
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 374/104, 374/106, 374/159, 374/160, 374/161, 374/162, 374/208, 116/207, 116/217, 116/219, 426/88
• US Class Current: 374/162
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/16 Special arrangements for conducting heat from the object to the sensitive element
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/16 of organic materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes

Abstract

Temperature probes are provided comprising a porous or permeable substrate into which is absorbed at least at the surface a diyne monomer. The absorption is achieved by employing a solution of the diyne monomer in a solvent which is transported by the solid substrate. After impregnation of the substrate, the diyne is polymerized to provide a blue product, which upon being heated above a transition temperature turns to red. Various substrates and devices may be employed for a variety of situations requiring a determination of the occurrence of a particular minimum temperature.

Claims

1. A temperature monitoring device comprising:

a plastic or cellulosic entity having a sharp end; and

a region of said substrate proximal to said surface of said substrate comprising a diacetylene polymer having at least one non-oxo carbonyl group and having a transition temperature in the range of 25 to 300°

C. resulting in a change from blue to red, said diacetylene polymer resulting from impregnation of solution comprising diacetylene monomer permeating said substrate, evaporating the solvent of said solution and irradiating said region, said region being proximal to said sharp end, and wherein said region comprises a plurality of separate areas comprising diacetylene polymers having different transition temperatures, and wherein said different transition temperature separate areas are produced by varying the irradiating as to each of said separate areas.

8. A package of temperature monitoring devices comprising a plurality of temperature monitoring devices according to claim 1, 2, 5 or 4, wherein said devices are connected to each other by breakable linkages between said devices.

2. A method for preparing a temperature monitoring device comprising a substrate having a surface and a region of said substrate proximal to said surface of said substrate comprising a diacetylene polymer having at least one non-oxo carbonyl group and having a transition temperature in the range of 25-300°

C. resulting in a change from blue to red, said method comprising;

contacting a permeable substrate with a solution of diacetylene monomer having a carbon chain of from 12 to 30 carbon atoms, for a time sufficient for said solution to permeate said substrate to a desired depth;

evaporating solvent from said solution permeated in said substrate; and

irradiating said substrate for sufficient time to polymerize at least a portion of said diacetylene monomer to from a blue polymer,

wherein said solution further comprises a plastic which hardens to an abrasive resistant coating.

3. A method for preparing a temperature monitoring device comprising a substrate having a surface and a region of said substrate proximal to said surface of said substrate comprising a diacetylene polymer having at least one non-oxo carbonyl group and having a transition temperature in the range of 25-300 °

C. resulting in a change from blue to red, said method comprising;

contacting a permeable substrate with a solution of diacetylene monomer having a carbon chain of from 12 to 30 carbon atoms, for a time sufficient for said solution to permeate said substrate to a desired depth;

evaporating solvent from said solution permeated in said substrate; and

irradiating said substrate for sufficient time to polymerize at least a portion of said diacetylene monomer to from a blue polymer,

wherein said permeable substrate is formed by injection molding as a plurality of devices connected by breakable linkages and having a handle region and a temperature measuring region; and

said contacting comprises dipping said temperature measuring region into said solution for sufficient time for said solution to permeate said permeable substrate.

4. A temperature monitoring device for measuring the temperature of foods comprising a coating of a polydiacetylene as a thermochromic composition changing from blue to red at the transition temperature and at least one of at least two regions having different transition temperatures or a colorant reference region having the transition temperature color of the thermochromic composition.

5. A temperature monitoring device comprising:

a substrate having a surface with a temperature measuring region proximal to one end of said substrate and comprising a reference region at a terminus of said temperature measuring region and said substrate;

said temperature measuring region of said substrate comprising a diacetylene polymer having at least one non-oxo carbonyl group and having a transition temperature in the range of 25-300°

C. resulting in a change from blue to red, said temperature measuring region being produced by contacting said substrate at the temperature measuring region with a solvent capable of permeating said substrate comprising a diacetylene monomer for a time sufficient for said solution to permeate said coating to a desired depth, evaporating said solvent;

irradiating said substrate for sufficient time to polymerize at least a portion of said diacetylene monomer to from a blue polymer; and

coating said reference region with a colorant providing a color substantially equivalent to said red.

6. A temperature monitoring device according to claim 5, wherein said device comprises a handle region and a probe region comprising said temperature measuring region and said reference region, wherein said handle region has a greater cross-section than said probe region and said probe region terminates in a puncturing end.

7. A package of temperature measuring devices comprising a plurality of temperature monitoring devices according to claim 6, wherein said devices are connected to each other by breakable linkages between said devices.