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US 9,282,883 B2Granted
Medical instrument with probe and methods of using the same
OwnerRay D. Stone, David E. Quinn +1inventors
InventorsRay D. Stone, David E. Quinn, John A. Lane
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A medical instrument including a probe adapted to be inserted into an orifice of an animal's body. Electromagnetic radiation that is sensed by a sensor mounted on the probe. The sensor can then determine, by variations in the amount of radiation received, whether the walls of the body orifice block the radiation, thereby indicating a position of the sensor, and thus, the probe, within the orifice.
Claims14
A method of determining the depth of insertion of a probe of an infrared thermometer into an orifice of a body, comprising:
- (a) providing an infrared thermometer including:
- (1) a support structure;
- (2) a probe attached to said support structure, said probe possessing an outer peripheral surface and adapted to be inserted into an orifice in an animal's body;
- and
- (3) a sensor adapted to sense electro-magnetic radiation from a source of said radiation remote from the animal's body, said sensor mounted on said outer peripheral surface of said probe in a position so as to receive said radiation;
- (b) sensing radiation from said source with said sensor;
- (c) determining the magnitude of said radiation sensed by said sensor;
- (e) inserting said probe into the orifice;
- (e) monitoring the magnitude of said radiation sensed by said sensor as said probe is inserted into the orifice;
- and
- (f) evaluating whether the degree of any reduction of said monitored magnitude as said probe is inserted into the orifice indicates the extent to which said sensor has passed a wall of the orifice.
8 more elements
An infrared thermometer including
- a support structure;
- a probe attached on said support structure, said probe extending in a longitudinal direction and possessing an outer peripheral surface and adapted to be inserted into an ear in an animal's body;
- a sensor adapted to sense electro-magnetic radiation from a source of said radiation remote from the animal's ear and body, said radiation including ambient radiation within the visible spectrum in the vicinity of said thermometer, said sensor mounted on said outer peripheral surface of said probe in a position so as to receive said radiation, wherein said sensor extends in a elongate, substantially longitudinal direction along said outer peripheral surface of said probe and whereby when said probe is inserted into the ear, said radiation is partially blocked by the walls of the ear from reaching said sensor and as said probe is inserted deeper into the ear even more of said radiation is blocked by the walls of the ear from reaching said sensor;
- and
- a microprocessor operatively connected to said sensor, said microprocessor configured to monitor the magnitude of said radiation sensed by said sensor and to evaluate the degree of any reduction of said monitored magnitude as an indication of the insertion of said probe into the ear.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.