Method and device for diagnosing an inflammatory process
First Claim
1. A diagnostic device for diagnosing an inflammatory process at an individual'"'"'s middle ear by determining a quantity of heat energy extracted from his auditory canal over a period of time, the device comprising a thermally isolated ear piece having a rear end and a front end;
- an energy receiving element fitted at the front end for receiving heat emanating from a portion of the auditory canal in close proximity to the tympanic membrane of the ear;
wherein the energy receiving element is inserted into the individual'"'"'s ear at a predetermined reference temperature which is lower than the individual'"'"'s core temperature; and
an indicator associated with the energy receiving element for indicating change in temperature with respect to time.
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Abstract
A diagnostic device and method for diagnosing an inflammatory process at an individual'"'"'s middle ear. The device comprises a thermally isolated ear piece having a rear end and a front end, an energy receiving element fitted at the front end for heat pickup at a portion of the auditory canal in close proximity with the tympanic membrane. The energy receiving element is inserted into the individual'"'"'s ear at a reference temperature which is lower than the individual'"'"'s core temperature and an indicator is associated with the energy receiving element for indicating change in temperature with respect to time.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A diagnostic device for diagnosing an inflammatory process at an individual'"'"'s middle ear by determining a quantity of heat energy extracted from his auditory canal over a period of time, the device comprising a thermally isolated ear piece having a rear end and a front end;
- an energy receiving element fitted at the front end for receiving heat emanating from a portion of the auditory canal in close proximity to the tympanic membrane of the ear;
wherein the energy receiving element is inserted into the individual'"'"'s ear at a predetermined reference temperature which is lower than the individual'"'"'s core temperature; and
an indicator associated with the energy receiving element for indicating change in temperature with respect to time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
- an energy receiving element fitted at the front end for receiving heat emanating from a portion of the auditory canal in close proximity to the tympanic membrane of the ear;
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29. A diagnostic method for diagnosing an inflammatory process at an individual'"'"'s middle ear by determining the quantity of heat energy received by a heat sensing device over a predetermined period of time from the auditory canal, at a vicinity in close proximity to the tympanic membrane of the ear, the method comprising the following steps:
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(a) cooling a heat sensing device to a predetermined reference temperature below an individual'"'"'s core temperature;
(b) inserting the heat sensing device into the auditory canal in close proximity with a tympanic membrane;
(c) measuring a temperature sensed by the sensing device within predetermined intervals of time and coordinates; and
(d) calculating a rate of temperature change over a given period of time and generating a diagnostic signal indicative of an inflammatory state of the ear. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification