# US 5,348,397 A · Medical temperature sensing probe

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- Number: US 5,348,397 A
- Document ID: US5348397A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/038,291
- Filed: 1993-03-29
- Granted: 1994-09-20
- Earliest claimed: 1993-03-29
- Inventors: R. Keith Ferrari
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5348397A

## CPC

- G01K 13/20: Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
- G01K 7/16: using resistive elements
- H01B 1/04: mainly consisting of carbon-silicon compounds, carbon or silicon
- H01B 7/0009: {Details relating to the conductive cores}
- H01C 1/14: Terminals or tapping points specially adapted for resistors; Arrangements of terminals or tapping points on resistors
- G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00)
- H01B: CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES (selection for magnetic properties H01F1/00; waveguides H01P {; printed circuits H05K})
- H01C: RESISTORS

## Abstract

A medical temperature sensing probe including a temperature responsive device having electric contacts and insulated electric conductors having one end electrically connected to a respective one of the electric contacts. Each conductor comprises a carbon-fiber tow having low thermal conductivity and plated with an electrically conductive metal. The metal plated tows are X-ray translucent and have low thermal conductivity to minimize thermal conduction of heat to or from the temperature responsive device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A medical temperature sensing probe including a temperature responsive device having electric contacts and insulated electric conductors having one end electrically connected to a respective one of the electric contacts, the improvement wherein each conductor comprises a carbon-fiber tow having low thermal conductivity and less than two thousand fibers and plated with an electrically conductive metal in an amount such that the metal plated tow is at least X-ray translucent, the metal plating being 20% to 40% by weight of the metal plated carbon fiber tow.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A temperature sensing probe according to claim 1 wherein each carbon fiber tow has about 800 to 1200 fibers.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A temperature probe according to claim 2 wherein the metal plating is about 25% to 30% by weight of the metal plated carbon-fiber tow.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A temperature sensing probe according to claim 1 wherein the metal is selected from the group comprising nickel, silver, gold, or a combination of any of the foregoing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A temperature sensing probe according to claim 1 wherein the metal is nickel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A temperature sensing probe according to claim 1 wherein the metal plated carbon fiber tows each have one end soldered to a respective one of the electric contacts on the temperature responsive device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A temperature probe according to claim 1 wherein the conductors have a length of about one-half meter.

### Claim 8

A medical temperature sensing probe including a thermistor having electric contacts and insulated electric conductors having one end electrically connected to a respective one of the electric contacts, the improvement wherein each conductor comprises a pan based carbon-fiber tow having about 800 to 1200 fibers and plated with an electrically conductive metal in an amount such that the metal plated tow is at least X-ray translucent, the metal plating being 20% to 40% by weight of the metal plated carbon-fiber tow.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A temperature sensing probe according to claim 8 wherein the metal is nickel.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

A temperature probe according to claim 8 wherein the metal plating is about 25% to 30% by weight of the metal plated carbon-fiber tow.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

A temperature probe according to claim 8 wherein the conductors have a length of about one-half meter.