Conducting structure and electronic clinical thermometer embodying the structure

• US 7,320,544 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2005
• Issued: 01/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Actherm Inc.
• Original Assignee: Actherm Inc.
• Inventors: Hsieh, Chih-Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutierrez; Diego
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vaughn; Megann
• Application Number:
  US11/286,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20070014330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 374/208, 374/163, 374/165, D10/57
• US Class Current: 374/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/16 Special arrangements for conducting heat from the object to the sensitive element
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals

Abstract

A conducting structure and an electronic clinical thermometer, wherein the conducting structure is provided on the measuring end of the clinical thermometer, and the measuring end has a recess, a temperature sensor and conducting wires fitted in the recess, and a contact member having a curved top and made of metallic conductive material and having a predetermined length embedded in the recess thereby providing the contact member with a large temperature sensing contact area but only with a small portion protruded out of the measuring end, and therefore enabling the thermometer to be fully in contact with a certain portion of the human body such as the armpit, preventing the thermometer from being broken, and achieving heat balance rapidly. The measuring end of the thermometer may be bent at a predetermined angle or the contact member may be arranged at either side of the measuring end as required.

Claims

1. A conducting structure of an electronic clinical thermometer, arranged on a measuring end of the electronic clinical thermometer, comprising:

said measuring end having a recess in which is fitted a temperature sensor and conductive wires;

a supporting member fitted within said measuring end and formed with a recess for receiving a contact member, said contact member having a curved top and made of metallic conductive material and having a predetermined length embedded in said recess of said supporting member with said curved top protruded out of said measuring end; and

wherein said recess of said supporting member has an inner circumferential edge thereby forming a groove between said inner circumferential edge and an inner wall of said recess of said supporting member for engaging said contact member.

2. The conducting structure of an electronic clinical thermometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein a proportion of area of said curved top of said contact member to area of engaging area between said contact member and said measuring end is not less than 2:

3.

3. The conducting structure of an electronic clinical thermometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein a proportion of average length of said contact member embedded in said measuring end to average length of said contact member protruded out of said measuring end is not less than 3:

2.

4. The conducting structure of an electronic clinical thermometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said temperature sensor is in close contact with an inner top of said contact member.

5. The conducting structure of an electronic clinical thermometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conductive wires are in close contact with an inner top of said contact member.

6. The conducting structure of an electronic clinical thermometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supporting member has a through hole for passage of said conductive wires.

7. The conducting structure of an electronic clinical thermometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supporting member has an inner portion engaged with said measuring end.