JP2021048920A - Ear type clinical thermometer - Google Patents

Abstract

To measure continuously and accurately an eardrum temperature by minimizing the effect of an environmental temperature.SOLUTION: An ear type clinical thermometer includes a device body 20 locked to the outside of an ear canal D inlet, a strut 30 extending from the device body 20 to the ear canal D side, a temperature sensor 50 formed on the tip of the strut 30, and flange parts 42, 43, 44 formed on the tip side of the strut 30, separating the strut 30 from the ear canal D by having a contact with the internal surface of the ear canal D, and formed of a single foamed silicone material having lower thermal conductivity than the strut 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to an ear thermometer that is inserted into the ear canal of a person or the like to measure body temperature in a non-contact manner.

For example, in order to control the body temperature of a patient undergoing surgery or an athlete during exercise, it may be necessary to continuously measure the body temperature over a long period of time. For such body temperature measurement, in order to reduce the burden on the user, it is desirable to insert a probe into the ear canal and measure the temperature of the eardrum in a non-contact manner. An ear thermometer is known as a thermometer used in such an application.

When the ear thermometer was used in a low ambient temperature, the probe cooled the ear canal, and after several measurements, the temperature value dropped, and accurate body temperature measurement could not be performed. For this reason, an ear thermometer having a structure excellent in heat insulation, flexibility, and shape restoration by forming the probe with a foam of polyurethane or silicone resin has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1). reference.). Like commercially available urethane foam earplugs, such an ear thermometer is inserted into the ear canal in a crushed state, so it swells over time and adheres to the ear canal. It is difficult to achieve insulation that does not completely remove heat.

In addition, in order to improve heat insulation, the waveguide provided at the tip of the probe is covered with a triangular frustum-shaped hood, and the ridge of this hood is placed against the inner wall of the ear canal for positioning and the ear canal. An ear thermometer having a structure that minimizes the contact area with the user has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2). An infrared detector is attached to the base end of the waveguide, and the waveguide has a function of transmitting light received to the infrared detector. In this ear thermometer, the hood is locked near the entrance of the ear canal where the inner diameter sharply narrows, so the tip of the waveguide cannot be inserted sufficiently deeper than the entrance of the ear canal, and the tip of the waveguide and the eardrum Was difficult to get close enough.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-194365 Jikkenhei 6-445004

An object of the present invention is to measure the temperature of the eardrum continuously and accurately by minimizing the influence of the environmental temperature.

As one aspect of the present invention, the ear thermometer is a device body locked to the outside of the ear canal entrance, a support extending from the device body to the ear canal side, and a temperature sensor formed at the tip of the support. A ridge formed of a low thermal conductive material having a lower thermal conductivity than the strut, which is formed on the tip end side of the strut and separates the strut from the external auditory canal by contacting the inner wall surface of the external auditory canal. It has a department.

According to the present invention, by minimizing the influence of the outside air temperature, the temperature of the eardrum can be continuously and accurately measured.

The perspective view which shows the ear type thermometer which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. A side view showing a state in which the same-ear thermometer is inserted into the ear canal. A vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which the same-ear thermometer is inserted into the ear canal. The block diagram which shows the structure of the control part incorporated in the same ear thermometer. The perspective view which shows the ear type thermometer which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. A side view showing a state in which the same-ear thermometer is inserted into the ear canal. A vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which the same-ear thermometer is inserted into the ear canal. A vertical cross-sectional view of a main part showing a state in which the same-ear thermometer is inserted into the ear canal. The perspective view which shows the ear type thermometer which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. A side view showing a state in which the same-ear thermometer is inserted into the ear canal. A vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which the same-ear thermometer is inserted into the ear canal. A cross-sectional view of a main part showing a state in which the same-ear thermometer is inserted into the ear canal.

1 to 4 are explanatory views of the ear thermometer 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ear thermometer 10, FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state in which the ear thermometer 10 is inserted into the ear canal D, and FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing a state in which the ear thermometer 10 is inserted into the ear canal D. , FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 100 incorporated in the ear thermometer 10. In FIGS. 2 and 3, G indicates the external ear canal, K indicates the concha cavity, D indicates the ear canal, and C indicates the eardrum. Further, P in FIGS. 2 and 3 is an air layer. The thermal conductivity of air is 0.026 W / m · K at room temperature.

The ear thermometer 10 includes a device body 20 that fits in the external ear canal G and the ear canal cavity K, a support column 30 extending from one end of the device body 20 on the external auditory canal D side, and an outer peripheral wall on the tip end side of the support body 30. It is provided with an earpiece 40 attached to the support and a temperature sensor 50 attached to the tip of a support column 30.

The device body 20 is formed in a hollow shape, and a control unit 100 and a battery 200 are housed therein. The control unit 100 is connected to the temperature sensor 50 by a flexible substrate, lead wires, etc. (not shown), an amplifier 101 that amplifies the input signal from the temperature sensor 50, and an AD converter that converts the output of the amplifier 101 into analog-to-digital conversion. The 102, the processor 103 that converts the output of the AD converter 102 into temperature data, the memory 104 that stores the temperature data, and the interface 105 that outputs the temperature data to the display, an external display device or data processing device by wire or wirelessly. I have. A battery 200 is connected to the control unit 100 to supply electric power to each unit including the temperature sensor 50.

The strut 30 is made of a slightly flexible hard resin material. It is formed by being bent according to the shape of the ear canal D, and its base end side is attached to the device body 20 by a bolt or the like.

The earpiece 40 is made of a single-foamed silicon material (low heat conductive material). The earpiece 40 has a piece body 41 that is formed in a tubular shape and fits on the outer peripheral surface of the support column 30, and three sets of flange portions (protruding portions) 42 that are integrally attached to the outer peripheral surface of the piece body 41. It has 43 and 44. The flange portions 42, 43, 44 are attached at substantially equal intervals along the axial direction of the support column 30. The outer peripheral edges of the flange portions 42, 43, 44 are in contact with the inner wall surface of the ear canal D in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the strut 30, and the strut 30 is separated from the ear canal D by a certain distance. The struts 30 are held substantially in the center of the ear canal D by the flange portions 42, 43, 44. Each of the flange portions 42, 43, 44 is formed of a silicon material (low thermal conductive material) that is independently foamed (a plurality of bubbles are separated from each other and are independent), which has lower thermal conductivity than the support column 30. Has excellent heat insulation and biosafety. The thermal conductivity of solid silicon is 2 to 3 W / m · K, whereas that of single-foamed silicon is 0.1 W / m · K.

The temperature sensor 50 is an infrared thermometer such as a thermistor or sir mobile, and is formed to have a size sufficiently smaller than the inner diameter of the ear canal D. The temperature in front of the sensor surface of the temperature sensor 50 can be detected in a non-contact manner. The output of the temperature sensor 50 is connected to the control unit 100 by a flexible substrate or a lead wire as described above.

The ear thermometer 10 configured in this way is used as follows. The shape and length of the support column 30 are adjusted by selecting an appropriate one according to the user who wears the ear-type thermometer 10 and bending it as appropriate. Next, the user activates the control unit 100. Then, the device body 20 is held, and the support column 30 is inserted into the user's ear canal D. As the support column 30 is inserted, the earpiece 40 comes into contact with the inner wall surface of the ear canal D. The contact force of the earpiece 40 with respect to the ear canal D may be weak, and it is sufficient if the support column 30 can be positioned so as to be located at the center of the ear canal D. Further, since the contact portion between the earpiece 40 and the ear canal D is only the outer peripheral surface of the flange portions 42 to 44, the contact area is very small.

Further, as the ear thermometer 10 is inserted, the device body 20 is locked near the entrance of the ear canal D, and the device body 20 fits in the external ear canal G and the concha cavity K. As a result, the entry of the support column 30 into the ear canal D is completed, the ear thermometer 10 is attached to the user's ear, and the eardrum C faces the front of the temperature sensor 50.

Since the control unit 100 has already been activated, the output of the temperature sensor 50 is sequentially taken into the control unit 100 and stored in the memory 104 as temperature data.

On the other hand, since the earpiece 40 is made of a single-foamed silicon material having low thermal conductivity, the temperature of the ear canal D has almost an influence on the environmental temperature even if the flange portions 42 to 44 are in contact with the ear canal D. Not done. That is, when the earpiece 40 is made of a material having high thermal conductivity, when the environmental temperature is lower than the temperature of the ear canal D, heat is transferred from the ear canal D to the earpiece 40, and the temperature of the ear canal D drops. On the contrary, when the environmental temperature is higher than the temperature of the ear canal D, heat is transferred from the earpiece 40 to the ear canal D, and the temperature of the ear canal D rises. Since the temperature of the ear canal D also affects the temperature of the eardrum C, it is not possible to accurately measure the temperature of the eardrum C, that is, the body temperature.

Therefore, in the ear thermometer 10 according to the present embodiment, the earpiece 40 is made of a single-foamed silicon material having low thermal conductivity, and the contact area is minimized, and further between the ear canal D and the support column 30. By forming the air layer P surrounded by the flange portions 42 to 44, the influence of the environmental temperature can be minimized. Further, the flange portions 42 to 44 of the earpiece 40 are in contact with the inner wall surface of the ear canal D by the minimum contact area, and the support column 30 is positioned at the center of the ear canal D. Therefore, the temperature sensor 50 is also located in the center of the ear canal D, and the eardrum C located in front of the temperature sensor 50 can be measured near the center of the measurement range. That is, the temperature (body temperature) of the eardrum C can be continuously and accurately measured.

In addition, since the device body 20 is locked near the entrance of the ear canal D to prevent the ear thermometer 10 from entering any more, the earpiece 40 has a structure of locking at a specific position in the ear canal D. It doesn't have to be. That is, since the earpiece 40 can be miniaturized, the support column 30 and the temperature sensor 50 can be inserted all the way into the ear canal D regardless of the shape and size of the user's ear, and accurate temperature measurement can be performed. be able to.

5 and 8 are explanatory views of the ear thermometer 10A according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an ear thermometer 10A, FIG. 6 is a side view showing a state in which the ear thermometer 10A is inserted into the ear canal D, and FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing a state in which the ear thermometer 10A is inserted into the ear canal D. FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a main part showing a state in which the ear thermometer 10A is inserted into the ear canal D. In these figures, the same functional parts as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The ear thermometer 10A has an earpiece 60 instead of the earpiece 40 of the ear thermometer 10 described above. The earpiece 60 includes piece parts 61, 62, 63. The piece parts 61, 62, 63 are arranged at substantially equal intervals along the extending direction of the support column 30.

The piece component 61 includes a piece body 61a that fits on the outer peripheral surface of the support column 30, and a flange portion (protruding portion) 61b that is integrally attached to the outer peripheral surface of the piece body 61a. Similarly, the piece component 62 includes a piece body 62a that fits on the outer peripheral surface of the support column 30, and a flange portion (protruding portion) 62b that is integrally attached to the outer peripheral surface of the piece body 62a. Similarly, the piece component 63 includes a piece body 63a that fits on the outer peripheral surface of the support column 30, and a flange portion (protruding portion) 63b that is integrally attached to the outer peripheral surface of the piece body 63a.

Like the flange portions 42, 43, 44 described above, each of the flange portions 61b, 62b, 63b is formed of a single-foamed silicon material (low thermal conductive material) having a lower thermal conductivity than the support column 30, and is heat-insulated. Excellent in sex and biosafety.

The outer peripheral edges of the flange portions 61b, 62b, 63b are in contact with the inner wall surface of the ear canal D in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the strut 30, and the strut 30 is separated from the ear canal D by a certain distance. The contact force of the earpiece 60 with respect to the ear canal D may be weak, and it is sufficient if the support column 30 can be positioned so as to be located at the center of the ear canal D. Further, since the contact portion between the earpiece 60 and the ear canal D is only the outer peripheral edge of the flange portions 61b, 62b, 63b, the contact area is very small.

The ear thermometer 10A according to the present embodiment can also obtain the same effect as the ear thermometer 10 described above.

9 to 12 are explanatory views of the ear thermometer 10B according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 9 is a perspective view showing an ear thermometer 10B, FIG. 10 is a side view showing a state in which the ear thermometer 10B is inserted into the ear canal D, and FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view showing a state in which the ear thermometer 10B is inserted into the ear canal D. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a state in which the ear thermometer 10B is inserted into the ear canal D. In these figures, the same functional parts as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the details thereof will be omitted.

The ear thermometer 10B has an earpiece 70 instead of the earpiece 40 of the ear thermometer 10 described above. The earpiece 70 includes a piece main body 71 that fits on the outer peripheral surface of the support column 30, and a plurality of plate-shaped portions (protrusions) 72 that are integrally attached to the outer peripheral surface of the piece main body 71. The plate-shaped portions 72 are arranged at substantially equal intervals along the circumferential direction. The tip of each plate-shaped portion 72 is in contact with the inner wall surface of the ear canal D in parallel with the axial direction of the strut 30, and the strut 30 is separated from the ear canal D by a certain distance.

Like the flange portions 42, 43, 44 described above, each plate-shaped portion 72 is formed of a single-foamed silicon material (low thermal conductive material) having a lower thermal conductivity than the support column 30, and has heat insulating properties and a living body. It has excellent safety.

The contact force of the earpiece 70 with respect to the ear canal D may be weak, and it is sufficient if the support column 30 can be positioned so as to be located at the center of the ear canal D. Further, since the contact portion between the earpiece 70 and the ear canal D is only the tip of the plate-shaped portion 72, the contact area is very small.

The ear thermometer 10B according to the present embodiment can also obtain the same effect as the ear thermometer 10 described above.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-mentioned example, the ear thermometers 10 and 10A have three flanges, but the number is not limited to three. Further, the number of plate-shaped portions of the ear thermometer 10B may be increased or decreased as appropriate. Although the amount of heat transfer increases when both the flange portion and the plate-shaped portion are increased, the function of positioning the support column in the center of the ear canal D can be strengthened. In addition, it goes without saying that various modifications can be carried out without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Further, in the first to third embodiments described above, the flange portion (protruding portion) and the plate-shaped portion (protruding portion) are formed of a single-foamed silicon material (low thermal conductive material). The entire earpiece may be formed of a single foamed silicon material (low thermal conductive material).

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, the present invention is included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof. The inventions described in the claims of the original application of the present application are described below.
[Appendix 1]
The device body, which is locked to the outside of the ear canal entrance,
A strut extending from the device body to the ear canal side,
The temperature sensor formed at the tip of this column and
A ridge portion formed of a low thermal conductive material having a lower thermal conductivity than the strut, which is formed on the tip end side of the strut and separates the strut from the external auditory canal by contacting the inner wall surface of the external auditory canal. Ear thermometer equipped with.
[Appendix 2]
The ear-type thermometer according to [Appendix 1], wherein the ridge portion is formed in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the support column.
[Appendix 3]
The ear-type thermometer according to [Appendix 1], wherein the ridge portion is formed parallel to the extending direction of the support column.
[Appendix 4]
The ear-type thermometer according to any one of [Appendix 1] to [Appendix 3], wherein the ridge portion is provided on an earpiece formed on the tip end side of the support column.
[Appendix 5]
The ear thermometer according to any one of [Appendix 1] to [Appendix 4], wherein the low heat conductive material is foamed silicon.

10, 10A, 10B ... Ear thermometer, 20 ... Device body, 30 ... Support, 40 ... Earpiece, 41 ... Piece body, 42,43,44 ... Flange part (protrusion part), 50 ... Temperature sensor, 60 ... Earpiece , 61 ... piece parts, 61a ... piece body, 61b ... flange part (protruding part), 62a ... piece body, 62b ... flange part (protruding part), 63a ... piece body, 63b ... flange part (protruding part) , 70 ... earpiece, 71 ... piece body, 72 ... plate-shaped part (protruding part), 100 ... control unit, 101 ... amplifier, 102 ... AD converter, 103 ... processor, 104 ... memory, 105 ... interface, 200 ... battery , C ... eardrum, D ... ear canal, G ... external auditory canal, K ... concha cavity, P ... air layer.

Claims (5)

The device body, which is locked to the outside of the ear canal entrance,
A strut extending from the device body to the ear canal side,
The temperature sensor formed at the tip of this column and
A ridge portion formed of a low thermal conductive material having a lower thermal conductivity than the strut, which is formed on the tip end side of the strut and separates the strut from the external auditory canal by contacting the inner wall surface of the external auditory canal. Ear thermometer equipped with. The ear-type thermometer according to claim 1, wherein the ridge portion is formed in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the support column. The ear-type thermometer according to claim 1, wherein the ridge portion is formed parallel to the extending direction of the support column. The ear thermometer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ridge portion is provided on an earpiece formed on the tip end side of the support column. The ear thermometer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the low heat conductive material is foamed silicon.

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