Infrared radiation thermometer with variable exterior probe head for conforming to body cavity
First Claim
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1. An infrared radiation thermometer comprising:
- (a) a probe head adapted to be introduced into a body cavity wherein said probe head comprises an inner tubular member having a proximal portion fixed within a chamber of a housing such that a distal portion of said inner tubular member extends out of said chamber, said probe head further comprising an intermediate tubular member in coaxial relation around said distal portion of said inner tubular member to provide for telescopic sliding of said intermediate tubular member relative to said inner tubular member, said inner and intermediate tubular members each having a cross-sectional area which is generally uniform longitudinally, said probe head having a slide control mounted within said housing in connection with the proximal end of said intermediate tubular member to provide controllable longitudinal displacement of said intermediate tubular member from a position where the distal end of said intermediate tubular member longitudinally coincides with the distal end of said inner tubular member and a position where the distal end of said intermediate tubular member is positioned longitudinally between said housing and the distal end of said inner tubular member; and
(b) an infrared sensor connected to said probe head.
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Abstract
The invention is directed to an infrared radiation thermometer, in particular an ear thermometer, having a probe head (10) whose outer diameter and/or shape is variable by an elastic arrangement (4, 14, 24). This enables the probe head to conform itself automatically to the size and/or contour of the body cavity or to be conformed manually. The thermometer is therefore equally well suited for both children and adults, although their ear canals differ in diameter.
33 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An infrared radiation thermometer comprising:
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(a) a probe head adapted to be introduced into a body cavity wherein said probe head comprises an inner tubular member having a proximal portion fixed within a chamber of a housing such that a distal portion of said inner tubular member extends out of said chamber, said probe head further comprising an intermediate tubular member in coaxial relation around said distal portion of said inner tubular member to provide for telescopic sliding of said intermediate tubular member relative to said inner tubular member, said inner and intermediate tubular members each having a cross-sectional area which is generally uniform longitudinally, said probe head having a slide control mounted within said housing in connection with the proximal end of said intermediate tubular member to provide controllable longitudinal displacement of said intermediate tubular member from a position where the distal end of said intermediate tubular member longitudinally coincides with the distal end of said inner tubular member and a position where the distal end of said intermediate tubular member is positioned longitudinally between said housing and the distal end of said inner tubular member; and
(b) an infrared sensor connected to said probe head. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An infrared radiation thermometer comprising:
(a) a probe head adapted to be introduced into a body cavity; and
(b) an infrared sensor connected to said probe head, wherein the diameter and/or the outer shape of the probe head is variable by a variable arrangement, wherein the variable arrangement is formed by a plurality of coaxial telescope elements which are in sliding relationship to each other, and the outer shape of said variable arrangement varies in response to the position of the individual telescope elements, a spring being provided for urging a telescope element into a predetermined position.
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10. An infrared radiation thermometer comprising:
(a) a probe head adapted to be introduced into a body cavity; and
(b) an infrared sensor connected to said probe head, wherein the diameter and/or the outer shape of the probe head is variable by a variable arrangement, wherein the variable arrangement is formed by a plurality of coaxial telescope elements which are in sliding relationship to each other, and the outer shape of said variable arrangement varies in response to the position of the individual telescope elements, the telescope elements being displaceable by at least one slide control.- View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. An infrared radiation thermometer comprising:
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(a) a probe head adapted to be introduced into a body cavity; and
(b) an infrared sensor connected to said probe head, wherein the diameter and/or the outer shape of the probe head is variable by a variable arrangement, wherein the variable arrangement is formed by a plurality of coaxial telescope elements which are in sliding relationship to each other, and the outer shape of said variable arrangement varies in response to the position of the individual telescope elements, the thermometer including a waveguide forming the innermost lying telescope element, a spring being provided for urging a telescope element into a predetermined position.
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13. An infrared radiation thermometer comprising:
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(a) a probe head adapted to be introduced into a body cavity; and
(b) an infrared sensor connected to said probe head, wherein the diameter and/or the outer shape of the probe head is variable by a variable arrangement, wherein the variable arrangement is formed by a plurality of coaxial telescope elements which are in sliding relationship to each other, and the outer shape of said variable arrangement varies in response to the position of the individual telescope elements, the thermometer including a waveguide forming the innermost lying telescope element, the telescope elements being displaceable by at least one slide control.
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14. An infrared thermometer comprising:
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(a) a probe head adapted to be introduced into a body cavity wherein said probe head comprises an inner tubular member positioned in a chamber of a housing such that said inner tubular member is in coaxial relation wit said chamber, said inner tubular member being telescopically displaceable relative to said housing, said inner tubular member having a distal portion around which is an intermediate tubular member in coaxial relation therewith to provide for telescopic sliding of said intermediate tubular member relative to said inner tubular member, said inner and intermediate tubular members each having a cross-sectional area which is generally uniform longitudinally, said probe head having a slide control mounted within said housing in connection with the proximal ends of said inner and intermediate tubular member to provide controllable longitudinal displacement of said inner and intermediate tubular members from positions where (i) the distal end of said intermediate tubular member longitudinally coincides with the distal end of said inner tubular member where both of the distal ends are selectively displaceable longitudinally relative to said housing, and (ii) the distal end of said intermediate tubular member is positioned longitudinally between said housing and the distal end of said inner tubular member where both of the distal ends are selectively displaceable longitudinally relative to said housing; and
(b) an infrared sensor connected to said probe head. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification