Device for measuring the body temperature

• US 6,929,611 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2002
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dragerwerk AG & Company KGaA (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Drager Medical AG & Co KG (Dragerwerk AG)
• Inventors: Koch, Jochim
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SZMAL, BRIAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US10/171,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20030032893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 600/549, 128/903, 340/586, 340/573.1, 2/5
• US Class Current: 600/549
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/427 Temperature calculation based on spatial modeling, e.g. spatial inter- or extrapolation

Abstract

A device method and system are provided for measuring the body temperature in the area of the head. Reliable measured values are furnished even during movement and physical exercise. The device includes a head strap (1), whose strap elements (2, 3) are in contact at least partially as strap sections (7, 10) with the scalp of a user (4) of the headband and in which at least one of the strap sections (7) is designed for receiving a first temperature sensor (12) measuring the skin temperature.

Claims

1. A device for measuring a body temperature of a subject, the device comprising:

a head positioning element with a section positioned adjacent to the scalp of a subject or adjacent to the fontanelle of the subject; and

a double temperature sensor with a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor arranged as an assembly unit opposite each other, wherein said double temperature sensor is positioned by said head positioning element such that said first temperature sensor measures a temperature th₁ near the skin on the forehead of the said subject substantially in the middle between the eyes or on the head in the area of the fontanelle and said second temperature sensor measures a temperature th₂ close in space to the head or the forehead; and

a body temperature evaluating unit determining the body temperature of the subject from the calculation formula

tc=th₁+(th₁−

th₂) * Ks/Kg

in which

Ks=coefficient of thermal conduction for the sensor and

Kg=coefficient of thermal conduction for the tissue.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said head positioning element includes a strap holding said first temperature sensor fastened in an area of the forehead of the subject or in the area of the top side of the head of the subject, said strap accommodating said double temperature sensor and said double temperature sensor including an element that is at least partially self-sticking.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said bead positioning element strap as a head strap.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3, wherein said head strap has strap elements at least partially in contact as strap sections with the scalp of the subject.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said head positioning element includes strap sections as elements of an inner part of a protective helmet with a hard outer shell.

6. A device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said head positioning element includes strap sections as elements of a protective helmet wherein said strap sections are elements of an inner part of a protective helmet with a fix outer shell.

7. A device in accordance with claim 6, wherein said inner art is a helmet inner shell.

8. A device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said strap elements are elements of an inner part of a protective helmet with a fixed outer shell wherein said second temperature sensor is fastened in an area between the inner part an inner wall of the outer shell.

9. A device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor are arranged thermally insulated from one another.

10. A device in accordance with claim 4, further comprising a receiving station, wherein said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor are connected to said evaluating unit for transmitting measured temperature values to said receiving station.

11. A device in accordance with claim 10, further comprising a wireless transmission section provided between the evaluating unit and the receiving station.

12. A device in accordance with claim 10, further comprising a contact switch actuating at least said evaluating unit by which said evaluating unit can be brought into an operating position when the head strap is put on.

13. A method of monitoring a subject'"'"'s body temperature, the method comprising:

providing a doable temperature sensor with a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor arranged as an assembly unit opposite one another;

positioning the first temperature sensor for measuring with said first temperature sensor the temperature th₁ near the skin on the forehead of the subject in the middle or on the head in the area of the fontanelle;

measuring with said second temperature sensor the temperature in the near environment;

and using the measured temperature near the skin and temperature in the near environment to determine the body core temperature of the subject from the calculation formula

tc=th₁+(th₁−

th₂) * Ks/Kg

in which

Ks=coefficient of thermal conduction for the sensor and

Kg=coefficient of thermal conduction for the tissue.

14. A body temperature measurement system, comprising:

a head strap with a strap section at least partially in contact with the scalp of a subject;

a first temperature sensor for measuring the skin temperature, said strap section supporting said first temperature sensor in contact with the scalp of a subject;

a helmet connected to said head strap;

a second temperature sensor connected to one or more of said first temperature sensor and said head strap, said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor being disposed in said helmet;

an evaluating circuit and a receiving station, wherein said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor are connected to said evaluating circuit for transmitting measured temperature values to said receiving station, said first temperature sensor measuring the temperature th₁ near of skin of the subject, wherein said first temperature sensor is fastened in an area of the forehead of the subject and said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor form a double sensor arrangement with said second temperature sensor measuring the temperature th₂ in the near environment within the helmet; and

a body temperature evaluating unit determining the body temperature of the subject from the calculation formula tc=th₁+(th₁−

th₂) * Ks/Kg in which

Ks=coefficient of thermal conduction for the sensor and

Kg=coefficient of thermal conduction for the tissue; and

a wireless transmission section provided between the evaluating unit and the receiving station.

15. A body temperature measurement system, comprising:

a head strap with a strap section at least partially in contact with the scalp of a subject;

a first temperature sensor for measuring the skin temperature th₁, said strap section supporting said first temperature sensor in contact with the scalp of a subject;

a helmet connected to said head strap;

a second temperature sensor connected to one or more of said first temperature sensor and said head strap for measuring a temperature th₂ close in space to the head a forehead, said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor being disposed in said helmet; and

an evaluating circuit and a receiving station, wherein said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor are connected to said evaluating circuit for transmitting measured temperature values to said receiving station, said first temperature sensor measuring the temperature near of skin of the subject, wherein the strap section receiving said first temperature sensor is at least partially provided as a pressure-sensitive self sticking element;

a body temperature evaluating unit determining the body temperature of the subject from the calculation formula tc=th₁+(th<sub>1−

th2</sub>) * Ks/Kg in which

Ks=coefficient of thermal conduction for the sensor and

Kg=coefficient of thermal conduction for the tissue; and

a wireless transmission section provided between the evaluating unit and the receiving station.

16. A body temperature measurement system, comprising:

a head strap with a strap section at least partially in contact with the scalp of a subject;

a first temperature sensor for measuring the skin temperature th₁, said strap section supporting said first temperature sensor in contact with the scalp of a subject;

a helmet connected to said head strap;

a second temperature sensor connected to one or mare of said first temperature sensor and said head strap for measuring a temperature th₂ close in space to the head or forehead said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor being disposed in said helmet;

an evaluating circuit and a receiving station, wherein said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor are connected to said evaluating circuit for transmitting measured temperature values to said receiving station, said first temperature sensor measuring the temperature near of skin of the subject, wherein said strap section is an element of an inner shell part of said helmet with a fixed outer shell wherein said second temperature sensor is fastened in the area between the inner part and the inner wall of the outer shell; and

a body temperature evaluating unit determining the body temperature of the subject from the calculation formula tc=th₁+(th₁−

th₂) * Ks/Kg in which

Ks=coefficient of thermal conduction for the sensor and

Kg=coefficient of thermal conduction for the tissue; and

a wireless transmission section provided between the evaluating unit and the receiving station.

17. A body temperature measurement system, comprising:

a head strap with a strap section at least partially in contact with the scalp of a subject;

a first temperature sensor for measuring the skin temperature th₁, said strap section supporting said first temperature sensor in contact with the scalp of a subject;

a helmet connected to said head strap;

a second temperature sensor connected to one or more of said first temperature sensor and said head strap for measuring a temperature th₂ close in space to the head or forehead said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor being disposed in said helmet;

an evaluating circuit and a receiving station, wherein said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor are connected to said evaluating circuit to transmitting measured temperature values to said receiving station, said first temperature senor measuring the temperature near of skin of the subject, wherein said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor are integrated in one assembly unit providing a double temperature sensor, in which the temperature sensors are arranged opposite and thermally insulated from one another; and

a body temperature evaluating unit determining the body temperature of the subject from the calculation formula tc=th₁=(th₁−

th₂) * Ks/Kg in which

Ks=coefficient of thermal conduction for the sensor and

Kg=coefficient of thermal conduction for the tissue; and

a wireless transmission section provided between the evaluating unit and the receiving station.