Continuous temperature monitor

A tympanic temperature sensor comprising:

• a rigid structure of beryllium oxide having a film suspended across an opening in the rigid structure;
• a thermopile having a hot junction and a cold junction and mounted on the film to view a tympanic membrane wherein the thermopile senses radiation emitted from a tympanic membrane and provides a first output signal indicative of the temperature of the tympanic membrane;
• a thermocouple mounted on the rigid structure and in close thermal contact with the cold junction of the thermopile wherein the thermocouple provides a second output signal indicative of the temperature of the cold junction of the thermopile;
• a window located at one end of the opening in the rigid structure and mounted on the rigid structure;
• a first layer of non-thermally conductive material surrounding the rigid structure and providing thermal insulation to the rigid structure;
• a coating of silver paint covering the first layer of non-thermally conductive material and providing electrical shielding to the rigid structure;
• and
• a second layer of non-thermally conductive material surrounding the silver painted first layer of non-thermally conductive material and providing additional thermal insulation to the rigid structure.

A method for monitoring tympanic temperature comprising:

• providing a radiation detector adapted to fit into an ear canal and having a thermopile with a hot junction and a cold junction wherein the thermopile is mounted to view a tympanic membrane, a thermocouple having a hot junction and a cold junction wherein the hot junction of the thermocouple is in close thermal contact with the cold junction of the thermopile, a plug structure from which the radiation detector extends into the ear canal and molded to fit in the concha region of an ear, a second temperature sensor mounted within the plug structure, and a flexible extension connecting the radiation detector to the plug structure;
• inserting the radiation detector into the ear canal with the plug structure seated in the concha region of the ear;
• sensing the tympanic temperature with the thermopile wherein the thermopile generates a first output signal indicative of the temperature of the tympanic membrane;
• sensing the cold junction temperature of the thermopile with the thermocouple wherein the thermocouple generates a second output signal indicative of the temperature differential between the cold junction of the thermopile and the plug structure;
• sensing the temperature of the plug structure with the second sensor wherein the second sensor generates a third output signal indicative of the temperature in the plug structure;
• combining the first, second and third output signals to produce a total output signal;
• and
• converting the total output signal to a tympanic temperature indication.

An ear canal temperature monitor comprising:

• a radiation detector mounted to view a tympanic membrane;
• an adapter shaped to fit in the concha region of an ear;
• an ear-piece shaped to fit behind the ear;
• and
• an extension at least 8 mm in length connecting the radiation detector with the ear-piece;
• wherein the adapter is positioned along the extension such that separation between the adapter and the radiation detector is adjustable.

An ear canal temperature monitor comprising:

• a radiation detector which comprises a thermopile with a hot junction and a cold junction wherein the thermopile senses the radiation emitted by a tympanic membrane and provides a first output signal indicative of the temperature of the tympanic membrane and a first temperature sensor which senses the temperature of the cold junction of the thermopile and provides a second output signal indicative thereof;
• an adapter shaped to fit in the concha region of an ear;
• an ear-piece shaped to fit behind the ear and which comprises electronics for combining the first and second output signals and a second temperature sensor for providing a third output signal indicative of the temperature within the ear-piece;
• a flexible extension which conforms to the contours of the ear canal and which fits through the hollow adapter to connect the radiation detector with the ear-piece, wherein the adapter is positioned along the flexible extension such that separation between the adapter and the radiation detector is adjustable with a maximum separation of nineteen millimeters;
• and
• a remote housing unit which comprises additional electronics for combining the first, second and third output signals to produce an ear canal temperature indication.

A method for monitoring ear canal temperature comprising:

• providing a radiation detector mounted to view a target, a plug structure shaped to fit in the concha region of an ear, an ear-piece having electronics and shaped to fit behind the ear, and a flexible extension which fits through the plug structure and connects the radiation detector and the ear-piece;
• inserting the radiation detector into an ear canal wherein the radiation detector views the tympanic membrane, the flexible extension conforming to the contours of the ear canal and the ear-piece fitting behind the ear to prevent the remote assembly from backing out of the ear canal;
• sensing the radiation in the ear canal emitted by the tympanic membrane with the radiation detector;
• and
• converting the sensed radiation to ear canal temperature.

A method for monitoring the rate of change of ear canal temperature comprising:

• providing a radiation detector mounted to view a target, a plug structure shaped to fit in the concha region of an ear, an ear-piece having electronics and shaped to fit behind the ear, and an extension connecting the radiation detector and the ear-piece;
• inserting the radiation detector into an ear canal wherein the radiation detector views the tympanic membrane, the extension being shaped to conform to the contours of the ear canal and the ear-piece fitting behind the ear to prevent the remote assembly from backing out of the ear canal;
• sensing the radiation in the ear canal emitted by the tympanic membrane with the radiation detector;
• and
• converting the sensed radiation to a rate of change of ear canal temperature.