Patient thermal monitoring system

A patient monitoring system, comprising:

• (a) a first nonconductive substantially planar substrate with an upper surface and a lower surface, at least said upper surface being suitable for printing thereon;
• (b) a thermocouple printed on said substrate upper surface, said thermocouple being comprised of
• (b1) a first powdered ink thermocouple element printed on said substrate upper surface, and,
• (b2) a second powdered ink thermocouple element printed on said substrate upper surface, wherein at least a portion of said second thermocouple element is in electrical contact with said first thermocouple element, said second thermocouple element being comprised of a second powdered ink material different from said first powdered ink material, wherein said first and said second thermocouple elements taken together produce a thermocouple effect;
• (c) a first electrical connector in electrical communication with said first thermocouple element;
• (d) a second electrical connector in electrical communication with said second thermocouple element;
• and,
• (e) an electronic patient monitor in electronic communication with said first and second electrical connectors, said electronic patient monitor containing a microprocessor therein, said microprocessor being programmed to at least perform the steps of
• (e1) using said first and second electrical connectors to determine a patient temperature,
• (e2) continuing to determine the patient temperature using said first and second electrical connectors until the patient temperature changes, and,
• (e3) after the patient temperature changes, activating an alarm.

A method of detecting wetness in a patient, wherein is provided a patient sensor having a plurality of spatially temperature sensors therein, comprising the steps of:

• (a) using said plurality of spaced apart temperature sensors to determine a steady state temperature distribution of the patient;
• (b) repeatedly redetermining the temperature distribution of the patient until the redetermined temperature distribution is different from the steady state temperature distribution;
• (c) if the redetermined temperature distribution of the patient is different from the steady state temperature distribution and if the redetermined temperature distribution is broader than the steady state temperature distribution,
• (c1) determining that the patient is wet, and
• (c2) initiating an alarm.

A system for monitoring a patient's condition, comprising:

• (a) an electronic patient monitor, said electronic patient monitor having a CPU therein, said CPU being positionable to be in electronic communication with a patient thermal sensor placed proximate to the patient, said CPU being at least programmed to monitor the patient's temperature using said patient thermal sensor and initiating an alarm if the patient's temperature changes, wherein said thermal patient sensor comprises:
• (a1) a first flexible nonconductive substantially planar medium with a first surface suitable for printing thereon;
• (a2) a first thermocouple element printed on said first medium first surface, said first thermocouple element being comprised of a first powdered ink material;
• (a3) a second flexible nonconductive substantially planar medium with a second surface suitable for printing thereon;
• (a3) a second thermocouple element printed on said second surface, wherein said second thermocouple element is in electrical communication with said first thermocouple element, said second thermocouple element being comprised of a second powdered ink material different from said first powdered ink material, wherein said first and said second thermocouple elements taken together produce a thermocouple effect, said first thermocouple element and said second thermocouple element taken together comprising a thermocouple;
• (a4) a first electrical connector in electrical communication with said first thermocouple element;
• and,
• (a5) a second electrical connector in electrical communication with said second thermocouple element, said first and second electrical connectors being in electronic communication with said CPU.