Method and articles for sensing relative temperature
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of sensing and visually indicating relative body temperature, the method comprises:
- a) providing a body covering that is fabricated at least in part with a melt-extrudable polymer material and at least two thermochromic colorants pre-blended with a semi-crystalline carrier resin, wherein the thermochromic colorants and the carrier resin are contained within a matrix of said polymeric material, said thermochromic colorants including a proton-accepting chromogen and a solvent, said solvent having a melting point that controls relative temperature at which the chromogen will change color, wherein the thermochromic colorants are visually reactive at a certain temperature or temperature range, and at least one of said thermochromic colorants is sensitive to a temperature within a range from about 32°
C. to about 38°
C.;
b) applying said body covering to a portion of a heat-emanating body, andc) monitoring for an observable change in color of the body covering.
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Abstract
A method for determining the relative body temperature of a warm-bodied animal is described. The method, in part, involves an article of manufacture that provides a manifestation, or visually observable indication on an exterior surface, of a relative state of the warm-bodied animal'"'"'s body temperature, either being too cold or too hot, as a measure against relative levels of hypothermia or hyperthermia, or poor circulation.
87 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of sensing and visually indicating relative body temperature, the method comprises:
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a) providing a body covering that is fabricated at least in part with a melt-extrudable polymer material and at least two thermochromic colorants pre-blended with a semi-crystalline carrier resin, wherein the thermochromic colorants and the carrier resin are contained within a matrix of said polymeric material, said thermochromic colorants including a proton-accepting chromogen and a solvent, said solvent having a melting point that controls relative temperature at which the chromogen will change color, wherein the thermochromic colorants are visually reactive at a certain temperature or temperature range, and at least one of said thermochromic colorants is sensitive to a temperature within a range from about 32°
C. to about 38°
C.;b) applying said body covering to a portion of a heat-emanating body, and c) monitoring for an observable change in color of the body covering. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for instructing a caregiver on the use of a temperature monitoring device, the method comprising:
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a) providing a body covering made at least in part with a melt-extrudable polymeric material a thermochromic substance pre-blended with a semi-crystalline carrier resin, wherein the thermochromic substance that includes a proton-accepting chromogen and a solvent, and which is not of a chloresteric liquid crystal, wherein said thermochromic substance and said carrier resin are contained within a matrix of said polymeric material and wherein said thermochromic substance communicates a visually detectable signal at a predetermined temperature or temperature range, and exhibits an observable color change of a Δ
E value greater than three (>
3);b) contacting said body covering to a warm-blooded body; c) monitoring a visual change in said body covering; and d) providing an instruction to said caregiver about said temperature monitoring device. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A device for monitoring relative body temperature by non-electronic visual indication, said device being part of a body covering that is at least partially made with a melt-extrudable polymeric material, said device containing a temperature-sensitive colorant and a semi-crystalline carrier resin contained within a matrix of said polymer material, wherein said temperature sensitive colorant includes a proton-accepting chromogen and a solvent, and said temperature-sensitive colorant manifests a color change at a predetermined temperature or temperature range that is from about 34°
- C. to about 38°
C. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- C. to about 38°
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19. An article of manufacture comprising:
- a body covering that is made in part with a melt-extrudable polymeric material, the covering containing a first thermochromic colorant sensitive to a temperature range from about 30°
C. to about 42°
C., a second thermochromic colorant sensitive to low temperature range from about −
20°
C. to about 10°
C., and a semi-crystalline carrier resin contained within a matrix of said polymeric material, at least one of the colorants being a thermochromic colorant that includes a proton-accepting chromogen and a solvent, and manifests a color change when exposed to a predetermined temperature or temperature range. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
- a body covering that is made in part with a melt-extrudable polymeric material, the covering containing a first thermochromic colorant sensitive to a temperature range from about 30°
Specification