Electronic thermometer
AssigneeSherwood Services AG
InventorMitchell H. Babkes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved electronic thermometer for rectal, oral, and axillary temperature measurements includes a removable module that houses a temperature sensitive probe and isolation chamber as well as a supply of clean, uncontaminated disposable probe covers on a single color coded module. Each removable module is interchangeably operable with a single temperature calculating unit. This thermometer design reduces the risk of patient exposure to all of the common sources of contamination encountered in the use of electronic thermometers by isolating the probe, the isolation chamber, and a supply of disposable probe covers on one dedicated removable module.
Claims26
An electronic thermometer comprising:
- a. a probe for sensing the temperature and creating an electronic signal representative of the sensed temperature;
- b. a module housing having an isolation chamber for receiving and storing said probe, a storage chamber for storing a carton of probe covers, and a first connector component electrically communicating said signal;
- c. a cable connecting said probe to said module housing for delivering said electronic signal from said probe to said module housing;
- d. a temperature calculating unit having a second connector component for electrically communicating with said temperature calculating unit and having internal electronic circuitry capable of receiving said signal representing a temperature reading, converting said signal into said temperature reading, and displaying said temperature reading in a visible display;
- e. a connector comprising said first and said second component, said first connector component electrically communicating with cable, and said second connector component electrically communicating with the internal electronic circuitry of said temperature calculating unit, for passing said signal from said module housing to the internal electronic circuitry in order to convert said signal to an equivalent temperature reading.
A removable module comprising:
- a. a probe assembly comprising a probe for sensing temperature and for creating a signal representative of said sensed temperature, a first connector component electrically communicating with a second connector component, and a cable connecting said probe to said first connector component;
- b. a module housing having an isolation chamber for receiving and storing said probe, and a storage chamber for storing a supply of probe covers;
- wherein said module housing further comprises fastening means for removably securing said removable module to a temperature calculating unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.