Thermal measuring and testing – Temperature measurement – In spaced noncontact relationship to specimen
Patent
1993-06-28
1994-08-23
Gutierrez, Diego F. F.
Thermal measuring and testing
Temperature measurement
In spaced noncontact relationship to specimen
374158, 374208, 374209, 128736, 128664, G01K 108, G01K 114, A61B 500, G01J 502
Patent
active
053402154
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a radiant-energy clinical thermometer for measuring body temperature by measuring the amount of energy radiated from the human body, especially radiant energy (heat rays) in the infrared region. More particularly, the invention relates to a radiant-energy clinical thermometer suitable for sensing heat rays from the external ear of the human body.
2. Background Art
A radiant-energy clinical thermometer is equipped with a probe projecting outwardly from a portion of a case body. The tip of the probe is open and a radiant-temperature sensor (a thermopile, for example) is provided within the opened tip. When the tip of the probe is inserted slightly into the orifice of the ear, heat rays emitted from the external ear impinge upon the radiant-temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is connected to a temperature measuring circuit provided within the case body. The measuring circuit determines the body temperature based upon the output of the temperature sensor. The radiant-energy clinical thermometer is capable of measuring body temperature in a short period of time in a basically contactless manner (the temperature sensor at least does not contact the human body).
The radiant-energy clinical thermometer has a measurement starting switch, which is provided on the case body. The switch is operated manually. Closing the measurement starting switch starts the operation of the temperature measuring circuit.
The timing at which the measurement starting switch is closed differs from one operation to the next depending upon the operator. There are individuals who close the switch immediately upon inserting the tip of the probe into the ear orifice, and there are individuals who operate the switch upon passage of a short period of time following insertion of the probe.
The radiant-temperature sensor is readily influenced by a slight change in the state of the external ear, and the measured temperature fluctuates with the passage of time upon insertion of the probe into the ear orifice. Accordingly, measuring body temperature under identical conditions at all times is desirable.
When the timing at which the measurement starting switch is operated differs depending upon the individual and depending upon time as mentioned above, a variance appears in the value of measured body temperature. Measures for making the measurement starting time the same on all occasions are desired.
An object of the present invention is to provide a radiant-energy clinical thermometer in which the timing for starting measurement of body temperature is capable of being fixed at all times.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
A radiant-energy clinical thermometer according to the present invention comprises a support member having a portion projecting outwardly from a case body, a radiant-temperature sensor attached to a tip of the outwardly projecting portion of the support member, a cylindrical probe held by the support member in a freely extendible and retractable manner and having an open tip, a biasing mechanism for biasing the cylindrical probe outwardly and holding the tip of the cylindrical probe at a position at which it covers the periphery of the temperature sensor, and switch means for sensing that the cylindrical probe has been retracted against a biasing force of the biasing mechanism and generating a trigger signal that starts measurement of body temperature.
When the radiant-energy clinical thermometer is not used, the cylindrical probe is in the outwardly extended state so that the periphery of the radiant-temperature sensor attached to the tip of the support member is covered by the cylindrical probe. As a result, the temperature sensor is protected.
When the cylindrical probe is inserted into the orifice of the ear in order to measure body temperature, the cylindrical probe is retracted against the biasing force of the biasing mechanism. The radiant-temperature sensor is situated near the opening in the tip of the retracted cylindrical probe. The fact that the cylindrical pr
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Makita Shigeru
Nakamura Yasushi
Ota Hiroyuki
Sano Yoshihiko
Gutierrez Diego F. F.
Omron Corporation
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