JPH0862042A - Eardrum thermometer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain a highly accurate eardrum thermometer being inserted into the external acoustic meatus of a subject in which the switch operation is facilitated. CONSTITUTION: The pen type eardrum thermometer comprises a body part 1 and a probe part 5 having substantially aligned axes. A measurement starting switch 3 can be operated with the hand gripping the body part 1 and thereby a temperature indicating part 2 can be visually recognized easily when the body part 1 is gripped with right hand or left hand.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermometer, and more particularly to a thermometer for measuring infrared rays from the eardrum.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Rapid and accurate reading of the temperature of the human body is useful for the diagnosis and monitoring of many diseases. From this viewpoint, in recent years, the tympanic membrane and / or near the tympanic membrane, that is, substantially from the tympanic membrane, is detected. Infrared thermometers that measure body temperature by detecting infrared rays have been developed.

The eardrum temperature includes body temperature information that is important as brain temperature because it shares blood flow with the hypothalamus, which is called the body temperature control center.

On the other hand, the temperature of the ear canal is essentially different from the eardrum temperature because it is due to venous blood cooled on the surface of the head.

As a typical device for measuring the eardrum temperature,
It is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,840. In this device, in order to measure the temperature of the human body, a probe is inserted into the external auditory meatus of the human body, infrared rays emitted from the eardrum are detected, and the body temperature is quickly measured without contact.

However, the shape of the external auditory meatus of the human body, including the inner diameter, length, etc., varies greatly among individuals due to differences in race, sex, age, etc. As shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the main body has a substantially L-shape, and the main body 1 is grasped by hand, and the tip 5a of the probe 5 is inserted into the ear canal to measure the eardrum temperature.

[0007]

However, since the movement of the hand and the movement of the probe tip portion 5a do not coincide with each other in the state where the body portion 1 having the substantially L-shape is held by the hand as described above, it is inserted into the ear. It is difficult to delicately operate the direction of the probe tip 5a to be inserted, and it is difficult to insert it along the outer ear shape having a large individual difference (individual difference due to sex, age, race, etc.).

Further, since the display unit 2 for displaying the temperature and the like is near the grip unit 6, it is difficult to see the display unit 2 when operated with the left hand.

Further, since the center of gravity of the main body 1 is near the lower portion of the main body 1, it is difficult to finely operate the direction of the probe tip 5a inserted into the ear.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has a main body having a comparatively thin shape, and a portion closer to the probe than the center of the main body is used as a gripping portion and is inserted into an ear. It is an object of the present invention to provide an eardrum thermometer capable of delicately and easily operating the direction of the probe tip portion.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tympanic thermometer which allows the measured temperature to be visually recognized easily.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an eardrum thermometer which is easy to switch.

[0013]

The present invention for achieving the above object comprises a main body portion having at least a gripping portion and a probe portion provided at an end portion of the main body portion, and is substantially composed of an eardrum. Eardrum thermometer for detecting infrared radiation of
In the eardrum thermometer, the longitudinal axis of the probe part and the longitudinal axis of the body part are substantially in the same direction.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the grasping portion is an eardrum thermometer provided at a position closer to the probe portion than a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the eardrum thermometer is provided with a display part, and the display part is provided at an end opposite to the end where the probe is provided.

[0016] In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the eardrum thermometer is provided with a display unit, which is provided separately from the main body unit provided with the probe unit.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
The power supply switch unit and the measurement start switch unit are eardrum thermometers provided substantially on the left and right symmetrical axes of the main body unit and at positions substantially supporting the center of gravity.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the probe portion is smoothly reduced in diameter, has a probe base portion and a probe tip portion, and the ratio of the outer diameter of the base portion to the outer diameter of the tip portion is:
The eardrum thermometer is 4: 1 to 12: 1 and the ratio of the outer diameter of the base portion to the length of the probe portion is 1: 1.5 to 1: 3.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the body is made of a relatively hard synthetic resin such as ABS resin, polyurethane, polycarbonate, polypropylene, or a light metal such as aluminum, aluminum alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, and / or the like. It is formed of the alloy.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The eardrum thermometer according to the embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention, which is a so-called integrated eardrum thermometer. At one end 6a of the main body 1, a probe unit 5 having a temperature measuring unit (not shown) including an infrared sensor inside is provided. The probe portion 5 is smoothly reduced in diameter toward the tip portion 5a, and the base portion 5b of the probe portion 5 and the probe portion 5 are
The ratio of the outer diameter of the probe 5 to the tip 5a is 4: 1 to 12: 1, and the ratio of the outer diameter of the base 5b to the length of the probe 5 is 1: 1.5.
It is about 1: 3.

As the material of the probe portion 5, a relatively hard synthetic resin such as ABS resin, polyurethane, polycarbonate, polypropylene, a soft vinyl chloride resin, a relatively soft synthetic resin such as a silicone resin, aluminum, an aluminum alloy. , Metal materials such as titanium, titanium-based alloys, brass, and copper are appropriately used.

The main body 1 includes a control circuit for processing temperature information and the like from an infrared sensor (not shown), a power source unit for the measuring circuit, a storage unit for storing temperature information and the like, a control unit and the like. A measurement start switch unit 3 and a power switch unit 4 for starting temperature measurement are provided on the outer surface of the main body 1.

The measurement start switch section 3 is formed of a button switch such as a tact switch, and the power switch section 4 is
A switch button is provided in the recess so that the power cannot be turned off accidentally.

A display unit 2 such as a liquid crystal for displaying temperature, error, etc. is provided at an end 1b opposite to the end 1a provided with the probe unit 5, and is used at the time of use as shown in FIG. Even in the gripping state, the display unit 2 can be easily visually recognized.

FIG. 4 shows a so-called separate type eardrum thermometer, which is a main body 1 having a probe 5 at one end thereof.
And the temperature processing unit 8 including at least the temperature display unit 2 is separated. Also in this case, the central axis in the longitudinal direction of the main body 1 having the grip portion 6 and the central axis in the longitudinal direction of the probe 5 provided at the end of the main body 1 are substantially in the same direction. It is formed as there is.

The temperature processing unit 8 includes a control circuit for processing temperature information and the like from an infrared sensor (not shown) provided in the probe unit 5, a measurement circuit power supply unit, a storage unit for storing temperature information and the like, and a control unit. Etc. are built in. The probe unit 5 and the temperature processing unit 8 are detachably connected via a signal line 7 or the like. Further, the temperature information or the like for each subject may be printed out such as a trend display if necessary.
Further, since the display unit 2 can be made larger than that of the integrated type, temperature information and the like for each subject can be trend-displayed on the display unit 2 as necessary.

The temperature information obtained by the infrared sensor may be wirelessly transmitted by a so-called telemeter method, but in this case, the main body portion 5 includes a power source portion for the measuring circuit, a storage portion for storing the temperature information and the like, temperature information and the like. An output unit for outputting to the temperature processing unit 8 is provided.

At the time of use (at the time of temperature measurement), a probe cover (not shown) formed of a synthetic resin thin film (thickness of about 30 to 70 μm) of polypropylene, polyethylene or the like that substantially transmits infrared rays is used for the probe portion. 5, the main body 1 is gripped as shown in FIG. 2, the power switch 4 is turned on, and the tip 5a of the probe 5 is moved to a predetermined position on the ear canal of the subject (not shown). Insert it, turn on the measurement start switch 3, detect the infrared rays substantially emitted from the eardrum, correct the detected infrared rays and the temperature due to the external atmosphere such as the external auditory meatus with the control circuit, and the body temperature in a few seconds to a few tens of seconds. Ask.

The material of the main body 1 may be the same as the material of the probe 5, or a relatively hard synthetic resin such as ABS resin, polyurethane, polycarbonate, polypropylene,
A metal material such as aluminum, an aluminum-based alloy, titanium, or a titanium-based alloy is used as appropriate.

The main body portion 1 and the probe portion 5 are so-called pen-shaped, and the central axis line X in the longitudinal direction of the probe portion 5 and the central axis line X'in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 1 substantially coincide with each other. Has been formed.

The grip portion 6 is preferably the main body portion 1.
Is provided at a position closer to the probe 5 than the substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction. Further, the power supply switch unit and the measurement start switch unit are preferably provided on substantially the symmetrical axis Y of the main body unit 1 and at positions substantially supporting the center of gravity G.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the central axis X'in the longitudinal direction of the main body 1 and the central axis X in the longitudinal direction of the probe portion 5 are substantially coincident with each other on the left and right symmetry axes (see FIG. 5).
(B)) In the vertical position, the operability is further improved by providing the central axis X in the longitudinal direction of the probe unit 5 above the central axis X ′ in the longitudinal direction of the main body 1 (FIG. 5A). Can be made. 5A is a side view,
FIG. 5B is a plan view.

Such a shape can be applied to both the integral type and the separate type. As shown in FIG. 2, a normal pen can be gripped as if it were a grip, and it can be gripped without a sense of discomfort, and the measurement start switch 3 can be easily turned on with the index finger during measurement. Further, even if the body portion 1 is held with either the left or right hand, the display portion 2 such as the temperature can be visually recognized.

The eardrum thermometer of the present invention can be applied to any type of eardrum thermometer such as a bolometer type and a pyroelectric type.

[0035]

As described in detail above, the eardrum thermometer according to the present invention is composed of at least the main body portion having the grip portion and the probe portion provided at the end portion of the main body portion. This is an eardrum thermometer that detects the infrared radiation of the eardrum thermometer, in which the longitudinal center axis of the probe part and the longitudinal center axis of the main body part are substantially in the same direction. The probe tip can be easily and subtly manipulated.

Since the grip portion is an eardrum thermometer provided closer to the probe than the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the main body, the grip portion can be gripped more comfortably and the probe tip can be operated delicately. Since the tip of the probe can be inserted to a predetermined position, the eardrum temperature can be measured with higher accuracy.

Further, since a display unit is provided and the display unit is a tympanic thermometer provided at the end opposite to the end where the probe is provided, the temperature measured with either the left or right hand is measured. It is possible to easily see the display such as.

Since the display unit is a tympanic thermometer provided separately from the main body unit provided with the probe unit, the operability is further improved and the measured temperature and the like are displayed. Further, it can be visually recognized easily and the trend can be displayed together.

Further, the power supply switch section and the measurement start switch section are provided substantially on the left and right symmetrical axes of the main body section, and
Since the eardrum thermometer is provided at a position that substantially supports the center of gravity, the eardrum thermometer can be gripped without a sense of discomfort, the probe tip can be delicately operated, the probe tip can be inserted to a predetermined position, and the switch operation becomes easy.

The probe portion has a smoothly reduced diameter, and has a probe base portion and a probe tip portion, and the ratio of the outer diameter of the base portion to the outer diameter of the tip portion is 4: 1 to 12: 1. Since there is an eardrum thermometer in which the ratio of the diameter to the length of the probe is 1: 1.5 to 1: 3, the probe unit can be easily inserted along the ear canal of the subject.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an eardrum thermometer (integrated type) according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a gripped state of a probe of the eardrum thermometer of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional eardrum thermometer.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an eardrum thermometer (separate type) according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an axis of another eardrum thermometer according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Main body part 2 ... Display part 3 ... Measurement start switch 4 ... Power switch 5 ... Probe part 6 ... Gripping part 7 ... Signal line 8 ... Temperature processing part

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A tympanic thermometer for detecting infrared radiation from a tympanic membrane, comprising a main body portion having at least a grip portion and a probe portion provided at an end portion of the main body portion. A tympanic thermometer, wherein the central axis of the body in the longitudinal direction and the central axis of the body in the longitudinal direction are substantially in the same direction. 2. The eardrum thermometer according to claim 1, wherein the grip portion is provided at a position closer to the probe portion than a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion. 3. The eardrum temperature according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit, wherein the display unit is provided at an end opposite to the end provided with the probe unit. Total. 4. The eardrum thermometer according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit, wherein the display unit is provided separately from the main body unit provided with the probe unit. 5. The power supply switch unit and the measurement start switch unit are provided substantially on the left and right symmetrical axes of the main body unit and at positions substantially supporting the center of gravity. The eardrum thermometer according to item 1. 6. The probe portion is smoothly reduced in diameter and has a probe base portion and a probe tip portion, and a ratio of an outer diameter of the base portion to an outer diameter of the tip portion is 4: 1 to 12: 1. The eardrum thermometer according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the outer diameter of the base portion to the length of the probe portion is 1: 1.5 to 1: 3.