Temperature patch and method of using the same

• US 7,857,507 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2007
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Corcoran, Clare L., Quinn, David E., Meyerson, Craig M., Martin, Scott A., Lane, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): VERBITSKY, GAIL KAPLAN
• Application Number:
  US11/873,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20080137709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 374/100, 374/120, 374/121, 374/163, 374/183, 374/185, 374/179, 374/137, 374/112, 374/141, 374/115, 374/29, 374/132, 374/208, 374/1, 374/2, 374/159, 600/474, 600/549, 116/216, 250/338.1
• US Class Current: 374/132
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 17/002 for detecting period of heat of animals, i.e. for detecting oestrus for humans A61B10/0012
• 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 5/025 Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/08 Optical arrangements
• 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

A patch having an infrared (IR) target is placed proximate to the surface of a mammal. The patch may include an insulator for protecting the target from exterior, ambient IR and may include bar codes or other indicia uniquely associated with either the patch or the mammal. The patch may also include a bio-reactive agent for indicating characteristics such as the pH of the mammal'"'"'s skin. The patch may also include a thermometer for sensing the level of IR radiation from the IR target and may include a display of the temperature associated with such a level. The patch may also include a transmitter for wirelessly communicating information about such level to a remote location. A method of using the patch is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A patch adapted for placement proximate to a surface region of a mammal, said patch including:

a. an infrared target for receiving thermal energy from said surface region and for emitting infrared radiation according to a substantially known emissivity property whereby, when said target is placed proximate to said surface region, the characteristics of infrared radiation emitted by said target substantially correspond to the temperature of said surface region; and

b. an insulator for protecting said target from the thermal effects of media adjacent to, but different from, said surface region,

wherein said patch is configured substantially as a circular disk, wherein said insulator includes a substantially ring-shaped foam structure possessing a central aperture and disposed adjacent to said target such that infrared radiation emitted by said target may pass through the central aperture of said foam structure.

2. A patch according to claim 1 further including an adhesive for selectively, removably securing said target in a placement proximate to said surface region.

3. A patch according to claim 1 wherein said insulator includes a foam structure.

4. A patch according to claim 1 wherein said insulator further includes a substantially transparent sheet disposed over said central aperture.

5. A patch according to claim 1 including an indicia on a surface of said patch.

6. A patch according to claim 5 wherein said indicia is essentially visible to the human eye.

7. A patch according to claim 5 wherein said indicia is essentially invisible to the human eye.

8. A patch according to claim 5 wherein said indicia is selected from the group consisting of a bar code or other pattern adapted to be recognized by a machine, an RFID device, a photodiode, a magnetic medium, and physical deformation of a portion of the patch.

9. A patch according to claim 1 including indicia uniquely associated with a particular location on the mammal where said patch is to be placed.

10. A patch according to claim 9 wherein said indicia is essentially visible to the human eye.

11. A patch according to claim 9 wherein said indicia is essentially invisible to the human eye.

12. A patch according to claim 9 wherein said indicia is selected from the group consisting of a bar code or other pattern adapted to be recognized by a machine, an RFID device, a photodiode, a magnetic medium, and physical deformation of a portion of the patch.

13. A patch according to claim 1 wherein said patch includes a bio-reactive agent having a characteristic that is configured to be detectively altered in the presence of a pre-selected bio-chemical property of said surface region.

14. A patch according to claim 13 wherein said property is essentially the pH value of said surface region.

15. A patch according to claim 13 wherein said bio-reactive agent characteristic is configured to be altered in a manner detectable through spectroscopy.

16. A patch according to claim 1 wherein said target possesses a substantially disk shape and wherein the thickness of said target is within the range of about 0.5-10 one-thousandths of an inch.

17. A patch according to claim 16 wherein the thickness of said target is within the range of about 0.5-3 one-thousandths of an inch.

18. A patch according to claim 1 wherein said patch possesses a substantially disk shape and wherein the thickness of said patch is less than about one-sixth of an inch.

19. A patch according to claim 1 further including an infrared thermometer disposed proximate to said target for sensing infrared radiation emitted by said target.

20. A patch according to claim 1 further including an infrared thermometer adapted to be selectively disposed proximate to said target for sensing infrared radiation emitted by said target.

21. A patch according to claim 1 further including an infrared thermometer disposed within said central aperture for sensing infrared radiation emitted by said target.

22. A patch according to claim 1 further including an infrared thermometer selectively disposed within said central aperture for sensing infrared radiation emitted by said target.

23. A patch according to claim 1 further including an infrared thermometer disposed so as to sense infrared radiation emitted by said target and passing through said central aperture.

24. A patch according to claim 1 further including an infrared thermometer selectively disposed so as to sense infrared radiation emitted by said target and passing through said central aperture.

25. A patch according to claim 1 wherein said target and said insulator are flexible so as to permit said patch to adapt and conform to the contour of said surface region.

26. A patch according to claim 1 wherein said target and said insulator are adapted to be disposable and are fashioned of essentially biodegradable materials.