Multi-site infrared thermometer

• US 7,815,367 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2007
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Quinn, David E., Lane, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo; Lisa M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jagan; Mirellys
• Application Number:
  US11/678,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20070189358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 374/121, 374/209, 374/208, 374/158, 600/474
• US Class Current: 374/121
• 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 5/027 making use of sensor-related data, e.g. for identification of sensor parts or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/04 Casings
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/046 Materials; Selection of thermal materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/049 Casings for tympanic thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/08 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0887 Integrating cavities mimicking black bodies, wherein the heat propagation between the black body and the measuring element does not occur within a solid; Use of bodies placed inside the fluid stream for measurement of the temperature of gases; Use of the reemission from a surface, e.g. reflective surface; Emissivity enhancement by multiple reflections
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0893 Arrangements to attach devices to a pyrometer, i.e. attaching an optical interface; Spatial relative arrangement of optical elements, e.g. folded beam path G01J5/049 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/18 for reducing thermal inertia
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/25 Protective devices therefor, e.g. sleeves preventing contamination

Abstract

Disclosed in this specification is an infrared thermometer with multiple probes for use at a variety of bodily sites. The thermometer automatically detects which of the multiple probes is currently attached, loads a predetermined program from memory that corresponds to the current probe, and thereafter obtains a temperature measurement from a patient using infrared radiation emitted therefrom. Each of the probes is comprised of an infrared target which provides a substantially consistent sources of infrared radiation for the thermometer to measure.

Claims

1. An infrared thermometer kit comprising

a. an infrared thermometer comprised of

i. an infrared sensor for sensing infrared radiation from an infrared target disposed within a probe;

ii. a processor for processing a signal from said infrared sensor based upon a current program and determining a temperature of a mammal;

iii. a display for displaying said temperature;

iv. a data storage device for storing a multiplicity of programs for determining said temperature of said mammal based upon said signal from said infrared sensor; and

v. a switch for loading said current program from said multiplicity of programs;

b. a first probe configured to be removably connected to said infrared thermometer, wherein

i. said first probe is comprised of a first key for activating said switch, thus loading a first program from said multiplicity of programs;

ii. said first probe is comprised of a first infrared target that absorbs thermal radiation, said first infrared target being used for receiving thermal radiation from said mammal, wherein said first program contains parameters specific to said first infrared target, and wherein said first infrared target has an emissivity of greater than about 0.8; and

iii. said first probe is selected from the group consisting of a tympanic probe, an oral probe, a rectal probe, an axillary probe, and a temporal probe;

c. a second probe configured to be removably connected to said infrared thermometer, wherein,

i. said second probe is comprised of a second key for activating said switch, thus loading a second program from said multiplicity of programs;

ii. said second probe is comprised of a second infrared target that absorbs thermal radiation, said second infrared target being used for receiving thermal radiation from said mammal, wherein said second program contains parameters specific to said second infrared target, and wherein said second infrared target has an emissivity of greater than about 0.8;

iii. said second probe is selected from the group consisting of a tympanic probe, an oral probe, a rectal probe, an axillary probe, and a temporal probe; and

d. said first and second probe are selected from different groups.

2. The infrared thermometer kit as recited in claim 1, wherein said mammal is a human being.

3. The infrared thermometer kit as recited in claim 1, wherein said first infrared target and said second infrared target each have a mass of less than about 10 milligrams.

4. The infrared thermometer kit as recited in claim 1, wherein said first infrared target and said second infrared target each have an emissivity of greater than about 0.9.

5. The infrared thermometer kit as recited in claim 1, wherein said first infrared target and said second infrared target are comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, cellulose paper, fabric, metal, and combinations thereof.

6. The infrared thermometer kit as recited in claim 1, further comprising a third probe selected from the group consisting of a tympanic probe, an oral probe, a rectal probe, an axillary probe, and a temporal probe, wherein said first probe, said second probe, and said third probe are each selected from different groups.

7. The infrared thermometer kit as recited in claim 6, wherein

a. said third probe is comprised of a third key for activating said switch, thus loading a third program from said multiplicity of programs;

and

b. said third probe is comprised of a third infrared target that absorbs thermal radiation, wherein said third program contains parameters specific to said third infrared target, and wherein said third infrared target has an emissivity of greater than about 0.8.