Apparatus for making surface temperature measurements on the human body

#The present invention relates to apparatus for measuring the surface temperature at points on the human body and particularly, but not exclusively, for measuring surface temperatures at points on the breast.

#It is known that areas of a human breast adjacent to a cancerous growth in the breast may be slightly warmer (say 1.degree. or 2.degree. F) than unaffected areas of the other breast. Comparison of the 24-hour temperature variation (circadian variation) between normal and cancerous breasts have shown clear differences in time structure. Such measurements have been made in hospital environments usually with sensors fixed on the skin.

#An object of the invention is to provide a special garment which can be worn normally and which allows temperature measurements to be recorded over relatively long periods while the subject lives normally.

#Certain embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 illustrates a brassiere according to the invention,

#FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the circuit associated with the brassiere of FIG. 1 and

#Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 a brassiere 10 includes a number of temperature sensors 11 positioned at points where tumors have been shown to occur most frequently.

#As shown the sensors are positioned at one, two and three o'clock, over the nipple and at nine o'clock on the left breast, and on the right breast there is a similar concentration of sensors over the upper outward quadrant, that is at nine, ten and eleven o'clock with a sensor over the nipple and one at three o'clock. While these positions are specifically mentioned it will be realised that the sensors may be differently positioned and that different numbers of sensors may be employed.

#Each sensor is connected to an analogue multiplexer circuit 12 which on receipt of strobe signals from a control circuit 13 scans the sensors by gating signals one at a time from the sensors to a sample and hold circuit 14. The circuits 12 and 14 of FIG. 2 are contained in a package 15 shown in FIG. 1 but the control circuit 13 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.