Electronic clinical thermometer, and method of measuring body temperature

An electronic clinical thermometer which comprises:

• means for sensing body temperature at various prescribed parts of a body;
• arithmetic means coupled to said temperature sensing means for predicting a final, stable temperature based on the sensed body temperature, said arithmetic means being adapted to selectively execute a plurality of temperature prediction functions conforming with measurement conditions pertaining to each of the various prescribed body parts to be measured, in which functions elapsed measurement time is a variable, each function prescribing a temperature change up to a final, stable temperature;
• display means coupled to said arithmetic means for displaying the predicted temperature;
• and
• control means for clocking elapsed measurement time and for controlling said temperature sensing means and said arithmetic means at sampling instants;
• said arithmetic means including;
• (a) first setting means for setting one of said plurality of temperature prediction functions for a prescribed body part;
• (b) means for obtaining a final, stable temperature at least twice in accordance with a time series, at the sampling instants decided by said control means, based on said set temperature prediction function and body temperature sensed by said temperature sensing means;
• (c) means for comparing a final, stable temperature last obtained by said obtaining means with a final, stable temperature obtained at a previous sampling instant, and for obtaining the difference between said two final temperatures;
• (d) second setting means for setting a new temperature prediction function from said plurality of temperature prediction functions for said prescribed body part when said difference falls outside prescribed limits to enable said obtaining means to obtain a final, stable temperature at least twice in accordance with said time series based on said new temperature prediction function;
• and
• (e) means for supplying said display means with a signal indicative of a final, stable temperature obtained by said obtaining means which results in said difference falling within the prescribed limits, and wherein said obtaining means, said comparing means and said second setting means continue to operate to correct the signal supplied to said display means.

A method of measuring body temperature, comprising the steps of:

• (a) setting for execution by arithmetic means one of a plurality of temperature prediction functions conforming with measurement conditions pertaining to body parts to be measured, in which functions elapsed measurement time is a variable, each function prescribing a temperature change up to a final, stable temperature;
• (b) clocking elapsed measurement time and reading in a sensed body temperature at a specific point in time;
• (c) predicting a final, stable temperature by repeating, at least twice in accordance with a time series, a process for obtaining a stable, final temperature based on said read body temperature and said temperature prediction function at said point in time;
• (d) comparing the final, stable temperatures at two points in said time series and determining a difference between said final temperatures;
• (e) altering the temperature prediction function by setting another temperature prediction function of said plurality when said difference falls outside prescribed limits, and executing said steps (c) and (d);
• and
• (f) outputting said final, stable temperature to output means as a measured temperature when said difference falls within said prescribed limits.

A method of measuring body temperature, comprising the steps of:

• (a) setting for execution by arithmetic means one of a plurality of temperature prediction functions conforming with measurement conditions pertaining to body parts to be measured, in which functions elapsed measurement time is a variable, each function prescribing a temperature change up to a final, stable temperature;
• (b) clocking elapsed measurement time and reading in a sensed body temperature at a specific point in time;
• (c) predicting a final, stable temperature by repeating, at least twice in accordance with a time series, a process for obtaining a stable, final temperature based on said read body temperature and said temperature prediction function at said point in time;
• (d) comparing the final, stable temperatures at two points in said time series and determining a difference between said final temperatures;
• (e) altering the temperature prediction function by setting another temperature prediction function of said plurality when said difference falls outside prescribed limits, and executing said steps (c) and (d);
• and
• (f) outputting said final, stable temperature to output means as a measured temperature, and returning to step (c), when said difference falls within said prescribed limits.