JP7031645B2 - Ear thermometer - Google Patents

Description

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

In recent years, in order to observe and manage the body temperature of a sleeping subject, a patient undergoing surgery, and an athlete during exercise, a thermometer that continuously measures the body temperature over a long period of time may be used. As such a device for measuring body temperature, an ear-type thermometer in which a probe is inserted into an ear canal and the temperature of the eardrum is measured non-contactly by an infrared temperature sensor is known in order to reduce the burden on the subject (for example, a patent). See Document 1).

Such an ear thermometer has a housing for accommodating an infrared temperature sensor, a control unit, a power supply, and the like. A sensor cover that covers the light receiving surface is provided at the end of the housing for waterproofing and antifouling of the infrared temperature sensor. As the material of the sensor cover, a resin such as polyethylene or a glass material capable of transmitting infrared rays in the far infrared wavelength range (about 10 μm) of the human radiation level is adopted.

When the output from the infrared temperature sensor is input, the control unit has a function of performing amplification, A / D conversion, and the like and outputting it as temperature data. Since the incident infrared rays are attenuated at a constant rate by the sensor cover, the control unit makes corrections according to the transmittance and thickness of the cover material. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, since the sensor cover C and the infrared temperature sensor S are also infrared radiators, correction is performed based on the temperature difference between the sensor cover C and the infrared temperature sensor S. In FIG. 6, K indicates the eardrum to be measured, and UR1 and UR2 indicate infrared rays.

The correction control by infrared attenuation is a simple control with a constant ratio regardless of the usage situation and environment. On the other hand, correction control based on temperature difference requires correction in real time while monitoring the temperature of the sensor cover, which constantly fluctuates depending on the usage conditions and environment, which complicates the control algorithm and requires additional sensors. There is a problem.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-94533

An object of the present invention is to measure an accurate body temperature with simple control without performing complicated control such as detecting and correcting the temperature of the sensor cover in real time.

The ear-type thermometer according to the present invention is an ear-type thermometer provided with an ear tip provided with an insertion hole into which a sensor device is inserted, and the sensor device receives infrared rays from a temperature measurement target on a light receiving surface. A non-contact infrared temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the temperature measurement target, a housing to which the infrared temperature sensor is attached to the tip so that the light receiving surface is exposed, and an infrared transmissive material are formed. A sensor cover that covers the infrared temperature sensor from the light receiving surface side so that the hem is located on the side surface on the tip end side of the housing is provided, and the sensor cover and the light receiving surface are brought into close contact with each other. The sensor cover is arranged so that the hem is located in the insertion hole when the sensor device is inserted into the insertion hole. ..

According to the present invention, accurate body temperature can be measured with simple control without performing complicated control such as detecting and correcting the temperature of the sensor cover in real time.

The perspective view which shows the state which attached the ear type thermometer which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention to the ear of a subject. Side view showing the same-ear thermometer. Front view showing the same-ear thermometer. Sectional drawing which shows the body temperature sensor built in the same ear type thermometer. An explanatory diagram schematically showing the relationship between the eardrum, the sensor cover, and the infrared temperature sensor in the same-ear thermometer. An explanatory diagram schematically showing the relationship between the eardrum, the sensor cover, and the infrared temperature sensor.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the ear thermometer 10 is attached to the subject's ear E, FIG. 2 is a side view showing the ear thermometer 10, FIG. 3 is a front view showing the ear thermometer 10, and FIG. 4 is an ear thermometer. A cross-sectional view showing a sensor device 40 incorporated in the thermometer 10, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the relationship between the tympanic membrane K in the ear thermometer 10, the sensor cover 43, and the infrared temperature sensor 42. In FIG. 5, UR1 indicates infrared rays.

The ear thermometer 10 has a device body 20, an insert body (housing) 30 protruding from the device body 20 and inserted toward the ear canal of the ear E, and a sensor attached to the tip of the insert body 30. It is equipped with a device 40.

The device body 20 is formed sufficiently larger than the ear canal, and has a shape that is locked to the tragus and the concha space of the ear due to the positional relationship with the insert 30 inserted into the ear canal. Further, inside the device main body 20, a battery (power supply) 110 that supplies electric power to the control unit 100, the control unit 100, and the sensor device 40 is housed.

The insert 30 is provided on an ear tip 31 formed in a truncated cone shape whose tip side is narrower than the proximal end side so as to be easily inserted into the ear canal and directed toward the eardrum K, and a light receiving portion 31a at the tip of the ear tip 31. It is provided with an insertion hole 32 into which the sensor device 40 is inserted. The ear tip 31 is made of a soft material (silicon rubber or the like) that is highly safe when in contact with the human body.

The sensor device 40 includes a cylindrical housing 41. A pair of leaf springs 41a are attached to the housing 41. When the leaf spring 41a is inserted into the insertion hole 32, the leaf spring 41a expands due to its elastic force, so that the housing 41 is fixed inside the insertion hole 32.

An infrared temperature sensor 42 is attached to the tip of the housing 41 with the light receiving surface 42a facing upward in FIG. A polyethylene sensor cover 43 is attached to the front surface of the infrared temperature sensor 42. The thickness of the sensor cover 43 is 50 μm to 300 μm, and if it is less than 50 μm, the strength is insufficient, and if it exceeds 300 μm, the infrared attenuation amount becomes large and the measurement accuracy deteriorates. The thickness of the sensor cover 43 is set accurately, and the infrared attenuation factor is calculated by a known calculation formula. The calculated infrared attenuation factor is stored in the control unit 100.

The sensor cover 43 covers the entire light receiving surface 42a of the infrared temperature sensor 42, and the peripheral edge portion is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the housing 41 by adhering it with a heat conductive adhesive or pressing the side surface with a heat shrink tube or the like. .. The output terminal of the infrared temperature sensor 42 is connected to the control unit 100 housed in the device main body 20 by using a flexible substrate, a lead wire, or the like.

The light receiving surface 42a of the infrared temperature sensor 42 and the sensor cover 43 are in close contact with each other so as not to form a gap, and the respective contact portions have an isothermal temperature.

The ear thermometer 10 configured in this way is used as follows. That is, when the power of the ear thermometer 10 is turned on, power is supplied from the battery 110 to the control unit 100. The infrared temperature sensor 42 connected to the control unit 100 is activated, and the infrared intensity input to the infrared temperature sensor 42 is measured. The measured infrared intensity is output as a detection signal and input to the control unit 100. The detection signal is amplified by the control unit 100, A / D converted, and then input to the processor. Here, correction is performed based on the infrared attenuation factor stored in advance, and a temperature signal is output.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, after the infrared UR1 is incident, infrared radiation does not occur between the infrared temperature sensor 42 and the sensor cover 43, so that the amount of infrared energy does not fluctuate during use. Therefore, real-time correction while detecting the temperature of the sensor cover 43 is not necessary. Therefore, it is output as a temperature signal after being corrected by the infrared attenuation factor by the processor. The temperature signal is stored in a memory in the control unit 100, and then displayed or transmitted to the outside.

According to the ear-type thermometer 10 configured in this way, if the correction setting of the transmission attenuation is performed at the initial stage (during manufacturing, etc.) with the sensor cover 43 attached, the real-time correction while detecting the temperature of the sensor cover 43 is performed. You don't have to. Therefore, a sensor for detecting the temperature of the sensor cover 43 becomes unnecessary, which can contribute to miniaturization and power saving. Further, since the correction algorithm is simplified in the control unit 100 as well, it is possible to reduce the memory, improve the processing speed, and reduce the development period. Therefore, the cost can be reduced for the entire ear thermometer 10.

As the sensor cover 43, polyethylene that is inexpensive and easy to mold can be used, and the waterproof / antifouling function of the infrared temperature sensor 42 can be maintained. Even if the sensor cover 43 is attached, sufficient measurement performance as a thermometer can be maintained. ..

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-mentioned example, the polyethylene material is exemplified as the sensor cover, but other resin materials or glass materials may be used as long as they have infrared transmittance and the transmittance is specified. In addition, it goes without saying that various modifications can be carried out without departing from the gist of the present invention.

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 original claims of the present application are described below.
[Appendix 1]
A non-contact infrared temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the object to be measured,
A sensor cover formed of an infrared transmissive material and arranged so as to be interposed between the temperature measurement target and the infrared temperature sensor.
Equipped with
An ear-type thermometer in which the sensor cover and the infrared temperature sensor are brought into close contact with each other so that the respective contact portions have an isothermal temperature.
[Appendix 2]
The ear thermometer according to [Appendix 1], wherein the sensor cover is made of a polyethylene material.
[Appendix 3]
The ear thermometer according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the sensor cover is 50 to 300 μm.

10 ... Ear thermometer, 20 ... Device body, 30 ... Insert, 31 ... Ear tip, 31a ... Light receiving part, 32 ... Insert hole, 40 ... Sensor device, 41 ... Housing, 41a ... Leaf spring, 42 ... Infrared temperature sensor , 43 ... sensor cover, 100 ... control unit, 110 ... battery (power supply), E ... ear, Eg ... outer ear, K ... eardrum, UR1, UR2 ... infrared.

Claims (4)

An ear thermometer with an eartip that has an insertion hole into which the sensor device is inserted.
The sensor device is
A non-contact infrared temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the temperature measurement target by receiving infrared rays from the temperature measurement target on the light receiving surface, and
A housing to which the infrared temperature sensor is attached to the tip so that the light receiving surface is exposed, and
A sensor cover formed of an infrared transmissive material and covering the infrared temperature sensor from the light receiving surface side so that the hem is located on the side surface of the housing on the tip side .
Equipped with
When the sensor cover and the light receiving surface are in close contact with each other, the respective contact portions become isothermal .
The sensor cover is an ear thermometer arranged so that the hem is located in the insertion hole when the sensor device is inserted into the insertion hole . The ear thermometer according to claim 1, wherein the sensor cover is made of a polyethylene material. The ear thermometer according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the sensor cover is 50 to 300 μm. The ear thermometer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sensor cover is adhered to the housing with a heat conductive adhesive.

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