Method and apparatus for measuring internal body temperature utilizing infrared emissions

A body temperature measuring system comprising:

• a probe unit having a handle portion, a head assembly connected to a forward end of the handle portion, an infrared sensor mounted in the head assembly and the probe means connected to the head assembly and insertable in an ear canal of a patient for placing the infrared sensor in sufficient proximity for receiving infrared radiations emitted in the ear canal;
• a chopper unit connected to, or connectable to, the probe unit, and configured to removably receive the probe unit and including processing means for receiving an output signal of the infrared sensor and determining an internal body temperature of the patient therefrom, means including a constant temperature target for calibrating the processing means, and means for displaying the temperature.

Apparatus for measuring the core body temperature of a living subject comprising, a sensor of infrared radiation;

• probe means including an open-ended tubular waveguide having an inner end adjacent said sensor and having an outer end remote from said sensor, the outer end of said probe means being adapted for insertion into a body opening of a living subject to receive through the outer end of the waveguide infrared radiation from the interior of the body opening, which radiation is guided toward said sensor for impingement thereon;
• thermostatically controlled means for maintaining the environment of said sensor at a predetermined temperature;
• and means for determining the core body temperature based upon an output signal of said sensor including means connected to, or connectable to, said probe means for calibrating said determining means against a predetermined reference temperature.

Apparatus for measuring the core body temperature of a living subject comprising, a sensor of infrared radiation;

• probe means including an open-ended tubular waveguide having an inner end ajacent said sensor and having an outer end remote from said sensor, the outer end of said probe means being adapted for insertion into a body opening of a living subject to receive through the outer end of the waveguide infrared radiation from the interior of the body opening, which radiation is guided toward said sensor for impingement thereon;
• and thermostatically controlled means maintained at a predetermined temperature and connected to, or connectable to, said probe means for calibrating the apparatus.

In combination, a radiation sensor;

• probe means including an open-end tubular waveguide having an inner end adjacent said sensor and having an outer end remote from said sensor, the outer end of said probe means being adapted for insertion into a body opening of a living subject to receive through the outer end of the waveguide radiation from the interior of the body opening, which radiation is guided toward said sensor for impingement thereon;
• a speculum made of pliant material removably disposed over the outer end of said probe means, said speculum having a generally cylindrical body portion and a radiation transparent imperforate transverse membrane portion extending across a forward end of the body portion and through which radiation can enter the waveguide;
• and a calibrator connected to, or connectable to, said probe means.

In combination, an infrared radiation responsive sensor;

• calibratable means connected to said sensor for determining the temperature of a source of infrared radiation impinging on said sensor based on the response of the sensor to such radiation;
• target means maintained at a predetermined substantially constant reference temperature, said sensor and target means being selectively positionable in juxtaposition such that infrared radiation emitted by the target means impringes on said sensor;
• and means connected to, or connectable to, said sensor for calibrating said calibratable temperature determining means against said reference temperature when said sensor and target means are in said juxtaposition.

Apparatus for measuring the core body temperature of a living subject comprising, a sensor of infrared radiation;

• probe means including a tubular waveguide having an inner end adjacent said sensor and having an outer end remote from said sensor, the outer end of said probe means being adapted for insertion into a body opening of a living subject to receive through the outer end of the waveguide infrared radiation from the interior of the body opening, which radiation is guided toward said sensor for impingement thereon;
• thermostatically controlled means for maintaining the environment of said sensor at a predetermined temperature;
• and means for determining the core body temperature based upon an output signal of the sensor including means connected to, or connectable to, to probe means for calibrating the determining means against a predetermined reference temperature.

Apparatus for measuring the core body temperature of a living subject comprising, a sensor of infrared radiation;

• probe means including a tubular waveguide having an inner end adjacent said sensor and having an outer end remote from said sensor, the outer end of said probe means being adapted for insertion into a body opening of a living subject to receive through the outer end of the waveguide infrared radiation from the interior of the body opening, which radiation is guided toward said sensor for impingement thereon;
• and thermostatically controlled means maintained at a predetermined temperature and connected to, or connectable to, said probe means for calibrating the apparatus.

In combination, a radiation sensor;

• probe means including a tubular waveguide having an inner end adjacent said sensor and having an outer end remote from said sensor, the outer end of said probe means being adapted for insertion into a body opening of a living subject to receive through the outer end of the waveguide radiation from the interior of the body opening, which radiation is guided toward said sensor for impingement thereon;
• a speculum made of a pliant material removably disposed over the outer end of said probe means, said speculum having a generally cylindrical body portion and a radiation transparent imperforate transverse membrane portion extending across a forward end of the body portion and through which radiation can enter the waveguide;
• and a calibrator connected to, or connectable to, said probe means.