JP2001149324A - Ear type clinical thermometer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the accuracy of measurement of an ear type clinical thermometer by eliminating causes of errors in the measurement. SOLUTION: This ear type clinical thermometer 1 comprises a probe 2 to be inserted into an earhole of a person, an infrared ray sensor for detecting infrared rays irradiated from around the eardrum by way of the probe 2, an operation means for converting the output value of the infrared ray sensor to the temperature value, and a display means for displaying the result of the operation. The clinical thermometer 1 also has a temperature correction means for correcting the output value of the infrared ray sensor by detecting the temperature at the tip of the probe 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ear thermometer for measuring body temperature based on infrared rays radiated from near the eardrum.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an ear thermometer has been provided which can measure body temperature in a short time of 1 to 3 seconds by detecting infrared rays radiated from the vicinity of the eardrum. Since it can be measured in a short time, it is suitable for infants who have difficulty in measuring.

An example of the ear thermometer 1 is shown in FIG.
2. Referring to FIG. 2, an infrared sensor 22 for detecting infrared light emitted from the vicinity of the eardrum 9 and the infrared sensor 2 in the probe 2 inserted into the ear canal during measurement.
2, a light guide tube 21 for guiding the infrared light is provided, and the output from the infrared sensor 22 is converted into a body temperature value by an arithmetic unit and displayed on the display unit 4. The tip of the probe 2 has ear wax. An infrared transmitting material 3 made of a polyethylene film, a silicon lens, or the like for preventing the like from entering the inside is attached.

[0004]

The conventional ear thermometer has the following problems. That is, when the probe 2 stored at a low temperature is inserted into the ear canal, the infrared transmitting material 3 composed of a silicon lens or the like is rapidly heated to cause dew condensation on the surface, which causes a measurement error. Had become.

When the probe 2 stored at room temperature or low temperature is inserted into the ear canal, the tip of the probe 2 is placed in the external auditory canal constriction 9.
0, the heat of the ear canal stenosis part 90 is taken away, and the temperature is lowered.
Since the temperature is within the viewing angle of 2, the resulting output temperature value is also low, and accurate measurement cannot be performed.

There is also a device that detects and corrects the temperature, but this is a correction for the ambient temperature of the infrared sensor 22. A thermistor is used as the temperature detecting element, and the temperature of the light guide tube is set in the ear canal. Light guide tube 21 whose temperature rises later than the contact portion with the ear canal constriction 90
It is arranged in the periphery, and there is a point that it does not match the actual situation of the ear thermometer whose measurement time is about 1 second. In addition, since the heat capacity of the thermistor itself is also affected, the response is further delayed. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ear thermometer capable of eliminating a cause of a measurement error and improving measurement accuracy.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a probe inserted into an ear canal of a human body, an infrared sensor for detecting infrared radiation emitted from the vicinity of the eardrum via the probe, and an output value of the body temperature. Calculating means for converting the value into a value;
An ear-type thermometer having a display means for displaying the calculation result; and a temperature correction means for detecting the temperature of the probe tip and correcting the output value of the infrared sensor.
It has the following characteristics. The means for detecting the temperature at the tip of the probe here may suitably use a surface of an infrared transmitting material disposed at the tip of the probe or a temperature sensitive resistance element incorporated therein, and in particular, a film may be formed on the surface of the infrared transmitting material. A temperature-sensitive resistance element formed in a shape divided into a plurality of sections can be suitably used.

The present invention also provides a probe inserted into an ear canal of a human body, an infrared sensor for detecting infrared rays radiated from the vicinity of the eardrum via the probe, and arithmetic means for converting an output value of the probe into a body temperature value. A second feature of the ear thermometer having display means for displaying the calculation result is that the heating means for heating the tip of the probe is provided. In this case, it is more preferable to provide a temperature control means for detecting the temperature of the probe tip and controlling the temperature of the heating means. The heating means at the tip of the probe here can be preferably a surface of the infrared transmitting material disposed at the tip of the probe or a resistive element incorporated therein. In particular, a film is formed on the surface of the infrared transmitting material. In addition to a resistance element formed in a multi-part arrangement, a ring-shaped heater disposed at the tip of the probe can be suitably used.

Further, the present invention provides a probe inserted into an ear canal of a human body, an infrared sensor for detecting infrared rays radiated from the vicinity of the eardrum via the probe, and an arithmetic means for converting an output value thereof to a body temperature value. The ear thermometer having display means for displaying the calculation result has a third feature in that dew condensation detecting means for detecting dew condensation attached to the tip of the probe is provided. In this case, the dew detection means is also
It is preferable to use a resistance element incorporated in the surface of or inside the infrared transmitting substance disposed at the tip of the probe.The external resistance element also serves as a temperature detecting member for detecting the temperature of the tip of the probe, or the tip of the probe is added. It is also preferable to use the heating means for heating.

The present invention provides a probe inserted into an ear canal of a human body, an infrared sensor for detecting infrared rays emitted from the vicinity of the eardrum via the probe, and an arithmetic unit for converting an output value of the probe into a body temperature value. A thermometer main body having display means for displaying a calculation result, and a storage container for the thermometer main body, wherein the storage container includes heating means for heating at least the probe tip of the thermometer main body. It has four features. It is preferable that the container has a function of washing and sterilizing and drying the probe, and also has a built-in charger for charging a rechargeable battery built in the thermometer body in a non-contact manner.

Also, the present invention provides a probe inserted into an ear canal of a human body, an infrared sensor for detecting infrared rays emitted from the vicinity of the eardrum via the probe, and an arithmetic means for converting an output value of the probe into a body temperature value. A thermometer main body having display means for displaying the calculation result, and a storage container for the thermometer main body, the storage container being provided with a black body furnace for reference temperature evaluation. are doing.

It is preferable to provide a large number of axial grooves on the outer peripheral surface of the tip of the probe.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an example of an embodiment. As shown, an ear thermometer 1 shown in the drawing includes a probe 2 inserted into an external auditory canal at the time of measurement.
An infrared sensor 22 for detecting infrared light radiated from the vicinity of the eardrum 9 and a light guide tube 21 for guiding the infrared light to the infrared sensor 22 are provided. The output from the infrared sensor 22 is converted into a body temperature value by a calculation unit and displayed on a display unit. 4, an infrared transmitting material 3 made of a polyethylene film, a silicon lens, or the like for preventing earwax or the like from entering inside is attached to a tip portion of the probe 2.

On the surface of the infrared transmitting material 3, as a temperature detecting means 6, a temperature-sensitive resistance element formed in a film shape is arranged in four parts. The temperature-sensitive resistance element serving as the temperature detecting means 6 is formed by printing carbon or the like on a film of polyethylene or the like, and changes the resistance value according to the temperature.

The infrared transmitting material 3 (silicon lens) transmits infrared light, but since it has a limit of about 50% by itself and 80 to 90% even if it is coated, the limit of the infrared transmittance is secondary radiation. The effect of infrared sensor 22
Is concerned. Further, when the probe 2 is inserted into the ear canal and the infrared transmitting material 3 at the tip of the probe 2 hits the ear canal constriction 90, the temperature of the ear canal constriction 90 is lowered by the probe 2 as described above. For this purpose, the temperature detection means 6 knows the surface temperature of the infrared transmitting material 3 so that the temperature can be corrected. At this time, the temperature detection means 6 is attached to the tip end surface of the probe 2. Because of the provision, a quick response can be obtained.
In the example shown in the figure, the temperature detecting means 6 is formed by dividing the temperature-sensitive resistance element into four parts. However, even if the temperature-sensitive resistance element is not divided, the correction can be performed by increasing the number of divisions. Accuracy can be improved.

FIG. 3 shows another example. Here, a heating means 5 made of a resistance wire is provided on the surface of the infrared transmitting material 3 in parallel with a temperature detection means 6 made of a temperature-sensitive resistance element. In order to avoid the effects of secondary radiation as much as possible, it is desirable that the surface temperature of the infrared transmitting material 3 is uniform, whereas in the winter the equipment is left in a cold place and the body temperature is measured immediately. When the stenosis portion 90 hits the ear canal stenosis portion 90, the stenosis portion 90 is cooled and the temperature is displayed low. Therefore, the temperature can be prevented from being lowered by capturing the resistance change in this portion and warming. More preferably, the heating means 5
Is preheated, and the temperature is controlled to be in the vicinity of the human body temperature range (37 ° C.) by the temperature detecting means 6. In this way, since the temperature difference from the human body is small, stable measurement can be performed with almost no temperature change.

The humidity in the ear canal is high and humid throughout the year, but the outside temperature is low in winter and dry. Therefore, if the equipment is left in a cold room and immediately brought to a heated room, or otherwise measured in a cold room, condensation may form in the hot and humid condition in the ear canal. Is conceivable enough. FIG. 4 illustrates this point. In this example, a humidity sensor 7 formed by arranging two resistance wires on an infrared transmitting material 3 on a polyethylene film or the like at equal intervals in parallel is provided. ing.

When the humidity sensor 7 has an oscillating circuit as shown in FIG. 5, since the oscillating frequency changes in accordance with the humidity condition, it is possible to detect whether or not dew has formed.

When the dew condensation is detected, it is possible to cover the measurement accuracy by displaying that the measurement cannot be performed because the infrared rays are remarkably blocked by moisture, but the circuit shown in FIG. The heating means 5 and the temperature detecting means 6 are provided side by side to eliminate condensation. That is, when the power supply / measurement switches 11 and 12 are turned on, the oscillation circuit operates, and the controller reads the oscillation frequency that changes according to the impedance R4 between the two resistance wires shown in FIG. Then, when dew condensation occurs, the transistor Q1 operates to activate the heating means 5, and the temperature of the heating means 5 is determined by the temperature-sensitive resistance element RO which is the temperature detection means 6 arranged in parallel with the heating means 5. Is controlled to keep the output Vh constant.

At this time, a message indicating that the body temperature cannot be measured is displayed on the display unit 4 during the dew condensation, and a measurement sign is displayed on the display unit 4 when it is determined based on the oscillation frequency that the dew has been eliminated.

When the probe 2 is inserted into the ear canal and the power / measurement switches 11 and 12 are pressed again to start the measurement, the body temperature is displayed on the display unit 4 in about one second, and the measurement is completed.

Rth in FIG. 5 is a thermistor for detecting a reference temperature, and a controller for converting the output voltage VO of the temperature-sensitive resistance element R0 as the temperature detecting means and the output voltage Vth of the thermistor Rth into a temperature value, respectively. While calculating the difference, the difference value is added to the body temperature value calculated from the output value Vb of the infrared sensor 22 and the output value of the thermistor Rth, and the result is displayed on the display unit 4 as the body temperature. Although the humidity sensor 7 is shown as the impedance R4 in FIG. 5, the same effect can be obtained by changing the capacitance of the capacitor C1. Further, one of the two resistance wires constituting the humidity sensor 7 may also serve as the temperature detecting means 6 and the other may serve also as the heating means 5.

FIG. 6 shows an arrangement in which a ring-shaped heater is arranged as a heating means 5 on the outer peripheral surface of the tip of the probe 2, and FIG.
Denotes a probe 2 in which a heating means 5 composed of a ring-shaped heater surrounding the light guide tube 21 and the infrared transmitting material 3 is disposed inside the distal end of the probe 2. By arranging the heating means 5 that is heated to about the ear canal temperature at the above position, the probe 2 in a low temperature state does not directly contact the ear canal or the stenosis part 90,
Therefore, the measurement can be performed with high accuracy.

The heating means 5 is provided not in the ear thermometer 1 itself, but in a container for storing the ear thermometer 1 so that the entire ear thermometer 1 can be constantly warmed to a body temperature. As a container in this case, as shown in FIG. 8, power is supplied to the rechargeable battery 15 incorporated in the ear thermometer 1 in a non-contact manner by coupling of a magnetic field between the primary coil and the secondary coil. It is preferable to provide a charger 17 for performing the charging.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the container 16 is capable of containing a liquid for cleaning and sterilizing, for example, alcohol, and is provided with a fan 19 and a heater 18 so as to provide the liquid. By holding the ear-type thermometer 1 by hand and stirring it in a state in which the probe 2 is inserted, it is possible to remove dirt such as germs and earwax attached to the tip of the probe 2 and sterilize it. And the like can be dried by the fan 19 and the heater 18 at the upper part. At this time, the heater 18 is preferably used not only for drying but also for the heating means 5.

FIG. 10 shows a container 16 provided with a black body furnace 8 for reference temperature evaluation on the inner bottom surface thereof. Earwax attached to the probe 2 and water droplets due to condensation absorb infrared rays from the ear canal, causing a measurement error. However, before measurement, the black body furnace 8 on the bottom of the container 16 is measured and the display unit By confirming the temperature difference between the temperature indicated in 4 and the temperature of the black body furnace 8, it is possible to know whether or not the probe 2 is dirty or there is a failure in the control circuit and the like, so that measurement can be performed with high accuracy at any time. The temperature of the black body furnace 8 is 30 to 45.
The temperature can be freely set in the range of about ° C. In addition, as the black body paint, a material having the same emissivity (0.9 to 1.0) as the ear canal by using a high-efficiency radiation paint is used.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 11, it is preferable to provide a large number of axial grooves 25 on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end of the probe 2 so as to reduce the contact area with the inner wall of the ear canal. The flow of heat from the probe 2 to the ear canal or constriction 90 can be minimized, and the temperature drop can be minimized.

[0029]

As described above, in the present invention, the temperature correction means for detecting the temperature at the tip of the probe and correcting the output value of the infrared sensor is provided, so that the correction based on the temperature can be performed more accurately. be able to.

Further, when the heating means for heating the tip of the probe is provided, the body temperature can be accurately measured without cooling the ear canal temperature even in a low temperature environment.

Further, the apparatus provided with the dew condensation detecting means for detecting the dew condensation adhering to the tip of the probe can avoid the problem of the measurement error due to the dew condensation.

Even if the storage container of the thermometer main body is provided with a heating means for heating at least the tip of the probe, the body temperature can be accurately measured.

In the case where the storage container is provided with a black body furnace for reference temperature evaluation, it is possible to know the presence or absence of a temperature error based on the contamination of the probe or a failure.

If a large number of axial grooves are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the tip of the probe, the contact area between the probe and the inside of the ear canal is reduced, so that the temperature exchange between the probe and the inside of the ear canal can be minimized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an example of an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a)
Is a front view, and (b) is a front view of the probe tip surface.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the probe is inserted into an ear canal.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a probe tip surface when a heating unit and a temperature detection unit are provided.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a case where a humidity sensor is arranged on a probe tip surface.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of the same.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another example.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a probe portion according to still another example.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of another example.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of still another example.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a different example.

FIG. 11 is a front view of another example of the probe.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ear thermometer 2 Probe 6 Temperature detection means

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A probe inserted into an ear canal of a human body, an infrared sensor for detecting infrared rays radiated from the vicinity of the eardrum via the probe, an arithmetic unit for converting an output value thereof into a body temperature value, and an arithmetic result An ear thermometer comprising: a display means for displaying the temperature of the probe; and a temperature correction means for detecting the temperature of the tip of the probe and correcting the output value of the infrared sensor. 2. The ear type according to claim 1, wherein the means for detecting the temperature at the tip of the probe is a temperature-sensitive resistance element incorporated in or on the surface of an infrared transmitting material disposed at the tip of the probe. Thermometer. 3. The ear-type thermometer according to claim 2, wherein the temperature-sensitive resistance element formed in a film shape on the surface of the infrared transmitting material is arranged in multiple divisions. 4. A probe inserted into an ear canal portion of a human body, an infrared sensor for detecting infrared rays radiated from the vicinity of the eardrum via the probe, arithmetic means for converting an output value thereof to a body temperature value, and an arithmetic result An ear-type thermometer comprising: a display means for displaying the following: a heating means for heating the tip of the probe. 5. The ear thermometer according to claim 4, further comprising temperature control means for detecting the temperature of the probe tip and controlling the temperature of the heating means. 6. The heating means at the probe tip is a resistance element incorporated in or on the surface of an infrared transmitting material disposed at the probe tip.
Or an ear thermometer according to 5. 7. The ear thermometer according to claim 6, wherein the resistance element formed in a film shape on the surface of the infrared transmitting material is arranged in multiple divisions. 8. The ear-type thermometer according to claim 4, wherein the heating means is a ring-shaped heater disposed at a tip portion of the probe. 9. A probe inserted into an ear canal portion of a human body, an infrared sensor for detecting infrared rays radiated from around the eardrum via the probe, an arithmetic unit for converting an output value thereof to a body temperature value, and an arithmetic result An ear-type thermometer comprising: a display unit for displaying dew; a dew-condensation detecting unit for detecting dew-condensation attached to the probe tip; 10. The ear-type thermometer according to claim 9, wherein the dew condensation detecting means uses a resistance element incorporated in the surface of or inside the infrared transmitting substance disposed at the tip of the probe. 11. The ear thermometer according to claim 10, wherein the resistance element also serves as a temperature detecting member for detecting a temperature at the tip of the probe. 12. The thermometer according to claim 10, wherein the resistance element also serves as a heating means for heating the tip of the probe. 13. A probe inserted into an ear canal portion of a human body, an infrared sensor for detecting infrared rays emitted from the vicinity of the eardrum via the probe, an arithmetic unit for converting an output value thereof to a body temperature value, and an arithmetic result And a storage container for the thermometer main body, the storage container including a display means for displaying the thermometer main body, and the storage container is provided with heating means for heating at least the probe tip of the thermometer main body. Type thermometer. 14. The ear thermometer according to claim 13, wherein the container has a function of washing and sterilizing and drying the probe. 15. The ear thermometer according to claim 13, wherein the container has a built-in charger for charging a rechargeable battery built in the thermometer main body in a non-contact manner. 16. A probe inserted into an ear canal portion of a human body, an infrared sensor for detecting infrared rays radiated from around the eardrum via the probe, an arithmetic unit for converting an output value thereof to a body temperature value, and an arithmetic result An ear-type thermometer comprising: a thermometer main body having display means for displaying a thermometer; and a storage container for the thermometer main body, wherein the storage container includes a black body furnace for reference temperature evaluation. 17. The ear thermometer according to claim 1, wherein a number of axial grooves are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end of the probe.