Ear type clinical thermometer

• US 6,386,757 B1
• Filed: 01/13/2000
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Konno, Tomoyasu
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Diego F. F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEJESUS, LYDIA M
• Application Number:
  US09/482,033
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 374/158, 374/204, 600/549, 600/474
• US Class Current: 374/158
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/02 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/021 Probe covers for thermometers, e.g. tympanic thermometers; Containers for probe covers; Disposable probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/025 Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/04 Casings
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/049 Casings for tympanic thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/06 Arrangements for eliminating effects of disturbing radiation; Arrangements for compensating changes in sensitivity for adjusting of solid angle of collected radiation G01J5/07; means for wavelength selection G01J5/0801
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/064 Ambient temperature sensor; Housing temperature sensor; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/08 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0818 Waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/16 Arrangements with respect to the cold junction; Compensating influence of ambient temperature or other variables
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/53 Reference sources, e.g. standard lamps; Black bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/70 Passive compensation of pyrometer measurements, e.g. using ambient temperature sensing or sensing of temperature within housing
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/20 Compensating for effects of temperature changes other than those to be measured, e.g. changes in ambient temperature

Abstract

An ear type thermometer for metering a body temperature includes a thermometer body, and a probe mounted in the thermometer body and adapted to be inserted into an ear. The probe is provided with a probe cover. A screwing member is provide for fixing the probe cover on the probe.

Claims

1. An ear type thermometer for metering a body temperature, comprising:

a thermometer body;

a probe mounted in said thermometer body and adapted to be inserted into an ear, with a probe cover comprised of a preformed cylindrical body having an open proximal end and a closed distal end, a screwing member for fixing said probe cover mounted on said probe, and temperature measuring means for measuring the body temperature based on infrared rays from the ear passing through the probe cover.

2. An ear type thermometer according to claim 1,

wherein said screwing member is given a function to regulate the depth of insertion of said probe into the ear.

3. An ear type thermometer according to claim 2,

wherein said screwing member has a flat end face to come into abutment against the periphery of a subject portion for regulating the depth of insertion of said probe into the ear.

4. An ear type thermometer according to claim 1,

wherein said probe is removably mounted on said thermometer body.

5. An ear type thermometer according to claim 4,

wherein said screwing member is given a function to fix said probe with respect to said thermometer body.

6. An ear type thermometer according to claim 1,

wherein said screwing member is a ring nut to be fastened on said thermometer body.

7. An ear type thermometer according to claim 1,

wherein said screwing member includes slip stopping means for preventing slippage of a user'"'"'s fingers during fixing and releasing actions of the screwing member.

8. An ear type thermometer for metering a body temperature, comprising:

a thermometer body;

a probe mounted in said thermometer body and adapted to be inserted into an ear, with a probe cover comprised of a preformed cylindrical body having an open proximal end and a closed distal end, at least one screwing member having a function to fix said probe cover mounted on said probe, the at least one screwing member being replaceable with at least one other screwing member having a different shape and size, and temperature measuring means for measuring the body temperature based on infrared rays from the ear passing through the probe cover.

9. An ear type thermometer for metering a body temperature, comprising:

a thermometer body;

a probe mounted in said thermometer body and adapted to be inserted into an ear, with a probe cover comprised of a preformed cylindrical body having an open proximal end and a closed distal end, at least one screwing member having a function to fix said probe cover mounted on said probe, the at least one screwing member being replaceable with at least one other screwing member to provide a different length of protrusion of said probe, and temperature measuring means for measuring the body temperature based on infrared rays from the ear passing through the probe cover.

10. An ear type thermometer for metering a body temperature, comprising:

a thermometer body;

a probe mounted on said thermometer body and adapted to be inserted into an ear;

a probe cover adapted to be positioned over an end of the probe, the probe cover comprised of a preformed cylindrical body having an open proximal end for receiving the probe;

a rotatable ring nut for fixing the probe cover on the probe; and

temperature measuring means for measuring the body temperature based on infrared rays form the ear passing through the probe cover.

11. The ear type thermometer according to claim 10, wherein a support base supporting the probe includes external threads and the rotatable ring nut includes internal threads, the internal threads of the rotatable ring nut engaging the external threads of the support base to fix the probe cover on the probe.

12. The ear type thermometer according to claim 10, wherein the ring nut includes a generally flat distal end face that is adapted to abut against a portion of an entrance to the ear upon insertion of the probe to regulate insertion of the probe to a predetermined depth.

13. The ear type thermometer according to claim 10, wherein an outer circumference of the ring nut is provided with slide stopping means for preventing slipping of a user'"'"'s fingers during rotation of the ring nut.

14. The ear type thermometer according to claim 10, wherein the probe cover has a closed distal end, the probe cover having a ring-shaped lip portion at the closed distal end and a film that is positioned inwardly of the lip portion, the film being recessed relative to the lip portion.