Axillary infrared thermometer and method of use

• US 6,241,384 B1
• Filed: 02/04/2000
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Exergen Corporation
• Original Assignee: Exergen Corporation
• Inventors: Pompei, Francesco, Ternullo, Janus
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Diego
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODWIN, JEANNE M
• Application Number:
  US09/498,279
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 374/126, 374/132, 374/133, 374/129, 374/130, 250/335.1, 250/339.04, 250/339.06, 250/339.11, 250/338.9, 250/338.11, 250/341.2, 600/473-474, 600/549
• US Class Current: 374/126
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0022 for sensing the radiation of moving bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0025 Living bodies ear thermometers G01J5/0011; detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/02 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/021 Probe covers for thermometers, e.g. tympanic thermometers; Containers for probe covers; Disposable probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/025 Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/026 Control of working procedures of a pyrometer, other than calibration; Bandwidth calculation; Gain control
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0265 Handheld, portable ear thermometers G01J5/049
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/04 Casings
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/045 Sealings; Vacuum enclosures; Encapsulated packages; Wafer bonding structures; Getter arrangements getter arrangements per se H01L23/26 and H01L21/3221
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/05 Means for preventing contamination of the components of the optical system; Means for preventing obstruction of the radiation path
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/06 Arrangements for eliminating effects of disturbing radiation; Arrangements for compensating changes in sensitivity for adjusting of solid angle of collected radiation G01J5/07; means for wavelength selection G01J5/0801
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/064 Ambient temperature sensor; Housing temperature sensor; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/16 Arrangements with respect to the cold junction; Compensating influence of ambient temperature or other variables

Abstract

A radiation detector for axillary temperature measurement comprises a wand having an axially directed radiation sensor at one end and an offset handle at the opposite end. The radiation sensor is mounted within a heat sink and retained by an elastomer in compression. The radiation sensor views a target surface through an emissivity compensating cup and a plastic film. A variable reference is applied to a radiation sensor and amplifier circuit in order to maintain full analog-to-digital converter resolution over design ranges of target and sensor temperature with the sensor temperature either above or below target temperature.

Claims

1. A radiation detector for sensing body temperature comprising:

a housing of low thermal conductivity material;

a radiation sensor within the housing for viewing a target through a window;

a low emissivity cup through which the radiation sensor views a target, the low emissivity cup providing heat loss from the target to match the heat loss from the target when the radiation detector is not in position, the low emissivity compensation cup is dimensioned such that is has a mean distance from the end thereof of about ⅛

inch; and

an infrared transparent plastic film across the radiation detector housing over the cup.