WO2004027363A1 - Appareil de telemesure thermique - Google Patents

Appareil de telemesure thermique Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2004027363A1
WO2004027363A1 PCT/SG2003/000225 SG0300225W WO2004027363A1 WO 2004027363 A1 WO2004027363 A1 WO 2004027363A1 SG 0300225 W SG0300225 W SG 0300225W WO 2004027363 A1 WO2004027363 A1 WO 2004027363A1
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Prior art keywords
temperature
subject
telemeter
sensor
transmitter
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PCT/SG2003/000225
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English (en)
Inventor
Chin Leong Lim
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Dso National Laboratories
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Priority to AU2003273201A priority Critical patent/AU2003273201A1/en
Publication of WO2004027363A1 publication Critical patent/WO2004027363A1/fr

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01K—MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01K1/00—Details of thermometers not specially adapted for particular types of thermometer
    • G01K1/02—Means for indicating or recording specially adapted for thermometers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to the measurement of body temperature.
  • the present invention relates to a system and method for measuring temperature from a body cavity and wirelessly transmitting the temperature reading to a receiver for monitoring.
  • T c also known as deep body temperature
  • T c The measuring and monitoring of a person's core temperature (T c ), also known as deep body temperature, is important for a variety of health and safety reasons. This is because a person's T c must be maintained within a very narrow range for the body to function normally. Any excursion outside of this prescribed range can result in a number of temperature-related disorders and other physiological problems.
  • a person can develop disorders such as heat stroke and other symptoms such as exhaustion, cramps, rashes, and fatigue that may develop as a result of overheating.
  • An abnormally high T c may even result in death.
  • Persons engaged in activities involving high ambient temperatures, radiant heat sources, high humidity, direct physical contact with hot objects, or strenuous physical activities are highly susceptible to heat disorders. Such risks are inherent in many industries and professions, including fire fighting, athletics, active military combat positions, and construction work. This is particularly true for workers that are required to wear semi- permeable or impermeable protective clothing.
  • hypothermia may occur at the other end of the spectrum.
  • a person may develop hypothermia when T c falls below 35°C.
  • hypothermia is frequently fatal when T c falls below 32°C.
  • Infants, neonates and elderly persons are generally susceptible to hypothermia.
  • Elderly persons usually have a more limited ability to detect cold while infants and neonates are prone to becoming hypothermic because of their lack of subcutaneous fat.
  • mountain climbers, skiers, and other travelers to areas having chilly climates are also susceptible to hypothermia.
  • temperature related disorders might be easily prevented by early detection of temperature excursions out of the acceptable range and administration of the appropriate preventive measures and treatments. After detection, prompt treatment will usually lead to a rapid and complete recovery. Therefore, it is best if persons at risk of developing temperature-related disorders, such as those involved in strenuous physical activity, have their core temperatures monitored.
  • temperature monitoring is common in hospitals. During surgery, a patient's T c is monitored and maintained at around 36°C to prevent the onset of mild hypothermia (except in cases of induced hypothermia).
  • Another example of the use of temperature monitoring in hospitals is in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Because patients warded in an ICU are usually in serious condition, therefore in most cases, they must have their core temperatures monitored.
  • ICU Intensive Care Unit
  • a number of core temperature measuring devices have been developed.
  • a patient's core temperature is usually monitored via a temperature probe inserted into a body cavity of the patient, such as the mouth, the axilla or the rectum.
  • the temperature probe can also be inserted through the patient's nose, down to the esophagus.
  • the insertion of a temperature probe into a patient's rectum or esophagus usually causes significant discomfort to the patient.
  • a less invasive core temperature measuring device is highly preferred.
  • An example of a core temperature measuring device is an ingestible transmitter disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,844,076 issued to Lesho et al.
  • the ingestible transmitter is encapsulated in a pill and swallowed by a subject or patient. To ensure that the transmitter is in the proper location when T c readings are taken, the subject must swallow the transmitter at least an hour before the temperature is measured.
  • the temperature of foods and liquids consumed by the' subject as well as fluids generated by the body may influence the core temperature measurements obtained through the use of such transmitters. Hence, the accuracy and consistency ofthe readings taken may vary.
  • a further drawback ofthe Lesho transmitter is that it cannot be reused due to hygienic considerations. Therefore, the use of such ingestible transmitters can be rather costly since each transmitter is only operable for a limited period of time.
  • European Patent Application EP 476,730 describes a system for ovulation detection and prediction using an embedded temperature sensor which emits temperature information.
  • United States Patent US 4,676,254 describes an intrauterine device for monitoring ovulation by taken and storing a succession of temperature readings which are subsequently downloaded to an external device.
  • United States Patent US 5,033,864 describes a baby pacifier which is used intra- orally to detect temperature and transmit a signal to an external device if the detected temperature is outside a predetermined range.
  • Ear temperature monitor 10 comprises a monitor 12 coupled to an earpiece 14 via a flexible wire 16.
  • Earpiece 14 further comprises a thermistor 18 encased in a foam earplug 20, and a speaker 22.
  • Foam earplug 20 is first inserted into the ear canal of a subject. Thermistor 18 then measures the temperature within the ear canal. The measured temperature reading is sent through flexible wire 16 to monitor 12, where the temperature reading is stored and displayed on a screen 24. When a pre-set temperature threshold is reached, speaker 22 may be configured to sound a warning signal.
  • this core temperature measuring device is that only the subject of ear temperature monitor 10 may conveniently monitor his own T c . In the event of an emergency, for instance an acute case of hypothermia, devices such as ear temperature monitor 10 are unable to warn others of the subject's predicament. Even in less urgent circumstances, ear temperature monitor 10 is not well suited to provide the T c of the subject to another monitoring entity.
  • ear temperature monitor 10 Another problem with conventional core temperature measuring devices, such as ear temperature monitor 10, is that they are wired systems using thermistors or thermocouples. It is inconvenient and cumbersome to have a wire hanging out of a subject's ear, which is further connected to a monitor of considerable size. The wires may interfere with or hamper the mobility of the subject, while the monitor is an undesirable burden. This is particularly true when it is desirable to monitor the temperature of an active subject, such as a soldier or a construction worker. In such cases, the wires would become an occupational hazard.
  • the present invention fills these needs by providing a temperature telemeter and a method and system to measure a body temperature. It should be appreciated that the present invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including as a process, an apparatus, a system, a device or a method. Several inventive embodiments of the present invention are described below.
  • a temperature telemetric sender in a first embodiment of the present invention, includes a sensor to measure a temperature of a body cavity, preferably an ear canal, of a subject.
  • a transmitter coupled to the sensor is responsive to the sensor and transmits a signal indicative of the temperature of the body cavity of the subject.
  • a temperature telemeter in a second embodiment of the present invention, includes the telemetric sender of the first embodiment, and a receiver which receives the signal wirelessly from the transmitter.
  • the temperature telemetric sender preferably includes a housing to support the sensor and the transmitter.
  • the housing secures the temperature telemeter to the ear canal.
  • the housing is also preferably shaped to fit in the ear canal.
  • the temperature telemeter preferably includes a modulator, coupled between the sensor and the transmitter, to amplify the signal.
  • the temperature telemeter includes a battery housing for supporting a battery to provide power for the sensor and the transmitter.
  • the receiver preferably includes uses a conversion algorithm to convert the temperature indicative signal to an estimation of a core body temperature of the subject.
  • the core temperature is displayed on a monitor included at the receiver.
  • the temperature telemeter includes an ambient temperature sensor to measure an ambient temperature.
  • the ambient temperature sensor may be located at the receiver or telemetric sender.
  • the receiver preferably uses a conversion algorithm to compensate the temperature indicative signal for changes in ambient temperature. The ambient compensated temperature may then be displayed on a monitor.
  • a preferred embodiment includes a store for storing values indicative of a plurality of temperatures of the subject.
  • the stored temperature values may be displayed in a graphical form on a monitor.
  • the receiver may include an alarm which provides an alarm indication when the signal received from the transmitter, or a temperature value derived from that signal, is indicative of a temperature which equals a predetermined temperature or falls outside a predetermined range.
  • a method for measuring a body temperature of a subject includes the measuring of a temperature at a body cavity of the subject to generate a temperature measurement, which is provided to a transmitter and transmitted wirelessly for reception by a receiver, where it is optionally displayed.
  • the body cavity is an ear canal of the subject.
  • the temperature may be converted to an estimated core body temperature using a conversion algorithm.
  • the estimation of a core body temperature may be displayed at the receiver.
  • an alarm is provided when the temperature equals a predetermined temperature or falls outside a predetermined temperature range.
  • the method may include measuring an ambient temperature, preferably at the transmitter or receiver, and using the ambient temperature measurement in an algorithm to compensate the temperature measurement received by the receiver for changes in ambient temperature.
  • the compensated temperature may be displayed at the receiver.
  • a preferred embodiment includes the storing of values indicative of temperatures of the subject and the displaying of the stored values in graphical form.
  • the method may also provide an alarm indication when the temperature measurement received from the transmitter, or a temperature value derived from that measurement, is indicative of a temperature which equals a predetermined temperature or falls outside a predetermined range.
  • a temperature telemetric system in yet another embodiment, includes a plurality of temperature telemetric senders according to the first aspect noted above.
  • Each of the plurality of temperature telemetric senders includes a sensor to measure a temperature of a body cavity, preferably an ear canal, of a subject, and a transmitter which is coupled to the sensor and is responsive to the sensor.
  • the transmitter transmits a signal indicative of the temperature of the body cavity of the subject.
  • a common receiver receives the signals wirelessly from the transmitters of each of the plurality of temperature telemetric senders.
  • the common receiver may include a monitor to display one or more temperatures, preferably of the body cavities as measured by the sensors.
  • the common receiver may include a conversion algorithm to convert the signals received from the transmitters to estimations of core body temperatures of the subjects, and the common receiver may include a monitor to display the estimations of the core body temperatures.
  • the temperature telemeter system preferably includes at least one ambient temperature sensor for making a measurement of ambient temperature, and may have a correction algorithm which uses the ambient temperature measurement to compensate one or more of the transmitted signals indicative of temperatures of the subjects for changes in ambient temperature.
  • the at least one ambient temperature sensor may be located at the common receiver or at one of the telemetric senders.
  • the temperature telemeter system preferably includes a store for storing values indicative of a plurality of temperatures of the subject and the common receiver may include a monitor for displaying the stored temperature values in graphical form.
  • the common receiver preferably includes an alarm which provides an alarm indication when at least one of the signals received from the transmitters is indicative of a temperature which equals a predetermined temperature or falls outside a predetermined temperature range.
  • a temperature telemeter system includes: a plurality of temperature telemetric senders each according to the first embodiment; a corresponding plurality of respective relaying transceivers, wherein each transceiver is for wearing on the body of a respective subject, and each transceiver is for wirelessly receiving said signal from the respective one of the transmitters of the telemetric sender worn by the respective subject, and wirelessly transmitting a relay signal; and a common receiver to wirelessly receive said relay signals from each of said transceivers.
  • the common receiver includes a monitor to display one or more temperatures which are preferably the temperatures of the body cavities as measured by the sensors.
  • the common receiver may include a conversion algorithm to convert the signals relayed from the transmitters to estimations of core body temperatures of the subjects which may be displayed on a monitor.
  • the temperature telemeter system also includes at least one ambient temperature sensor for making a measurement of ambient temperature, and may include a correction algorithm which uses the ambient temperature measurement to compensate one or more of the signals relayed from the transmitters for changes in ambient temperature.
  • the at least one ambient temperature sensor may be located at the common receiver or multiple ambient temperature sensors may be respectively located at each of the relaying transceivers.
  • the temperature telemeter system includes a store for storing values indicative of a plurality of temperatures of the subjects.
  • the stored temperature values may be displayed in a graphical form by a monitor.
  • the common receiver may include an alarm which provides an alarm indication when at least one of the signals relayed from the transmitters is indicative of a temperature which equals a predetermined temperature or falls outside a predetermined temperature range.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a conventional ear temperature monitor.
  • Figure 2 illustrates a schematic of a temperature telemeter in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of a temperature telemeter in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 4 illustrates an anatomical view of an ear canal with a probe inserted therein in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 5a illustrates a scatter diagram of T ec as a function of T re based on data obtained from a trial conducted on one embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 5b illustrates a scatter diagram of T ec as a function of T gi based on data obtained from a trial conducted on one embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 5c illustrates a scatter diagram of T ec as a function of T alt based on data obtained from a trial conducted on one embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of a subject wearing a temperature telemeter in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 7 illustrates an anatomical view of an ear canal with a probe inserted therein in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 8 illustrates a schematic of a temperature telemeter in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 9 illustrates an anatomical view of an ear canal with a probe inserted therein in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 10 illustrates a schematic of temperature telemetric system in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
  • a temperature telemeter and a method to measure a body temperature are provided.
  • numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be understood, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process operations have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic of a temperature telemeter 50 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • Temperature telemeter 50 comprises telemetric sender with a sensor 52 enclosed in a probe 54 coupled to a housing 56, which supports a modulator 58, a transmitter 60 and a battery casing 62. A battery supported by battery casing 62 may be used to power sensor 52, modulator 58, and transmitter 60.
  • Temperature telemeter 50 further comprises a monitor 64, which receives temperature signals wirelessly from transmitter 60.
  • Probe 54 is inserted into a body cavity, such as an ear canal, under an armpit, in a mouth, etc., so that sensor 52 can measure the temperature in the body cavity (T bc ) and generate a temperature signal.
  • Sensor 52 is positioned near the surface of probe 54 so that sensor 52 will be in close proximity to the surface of the body cavity. This facilitates the attainment of a more accurate temperature measurement.
  • the temperature signal generated by sensor 52 is relayed to modulator 58.
  • Modulator 58 varies the amplitude, frequency, and/or phase of the temperature signal to an appropriate waveform for transmission by transmitter 60.
  • Monitor 64 receives the temperature signal wirelessly from transmitter 60 and displays T bc in real-time. Additionally, the temperature signals received by monitor 64 may be stored and collated so that T bc can be displayed in a graphical form when prompted by a subject. The option to display T bc graphically allows the subject to keep track of the changes in T bc more easily. To facilitate mobility, monitor 64 may be implemented in a form like a watch, to be worn on a wrist, or as a pager, which could be attached to a belt or kept in the subject's pocket.
  • An alarm 66 in monitor 64 alerts the subject when T bc exceeds or falls below a pre-programmed temperature range.
  • the warning given by alarm 66 can be auditory, such as a beep, a string of notes, etc., or vibratory.
  • Alarm 66 can also be programmed to emit different types of signals depending on the severity of the incursion outside the preprogrammed temperature range. If information regarding an individual subject's physical conditions and abilities is available, alarm 66 can be tailored to suit a specific subject's requirements.
  • a battery to provide electrical energy to operate sensor 52, modulator 58 and transmitter 60 is inserted into battery casing 62.
  • Battery casing 62 is designed such that the battery can be easily removed and replaced once the battery is flat so that temperature telemeter 50 can be reused.
  • Many types of batteries may be implemented to provide power for the present invention. For example, two 1.55 Nolt silver oxide batteries have been successfully implemented.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a temperature telemeter 100 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • Temperature telemeter 100 comprises a probe 102 coupled to a housing 104 by a flexible wire 106. Further, temperature telemeter 100 includes a monitor 108, which receives temperature signals wirelessly from a transmitter supported in housing 104.
  • a sensor 110 enclosed in probe 102, is inserted into an ear canal 150 as illustrated in Figure 4 to measure the temperature (T ec ) in ear canal 150.
  • Sensor 110 is located close to the surface of probe 102 so that sensor 110 will be in close proximity of the surface of ear canal 150. This facilitates the attainment of a more accurate temperature measurement.
  • the sensor is also placed as close as possible to the tympanic membrane 152.
  • a housing (hidden from view in Figure 4 but shown in Figure 6, as will be explained further below) is placed behind an earlobe 154, and is coupled to flexible wire 106, which extends around the top of earlobe 154.
  • Probe 102 may be molded according to the ear impression of a subject to obtain a better fit.
  • sensor 110 may be embedded in a piece of foam or any other malleable material. With a better fit, probe 102 will be more securely positioned in ear canal 150 and will not be easily dislodged. The subject is then able to carry out vigorous activities without fears of dislodging probe 102.
  • a temperature signal is generated by sensor 110.
  • a modulator supported in housing 104, receives the temperature signal from sensor 110 and adjusts the amplitude, frequency, and/or phase of the temperature signal to an appropriate waveform before transmission by the transmitter to monitor 108.
  • the temperature signal transmitted wirelessly by the transmitter, is received in monitor 108 and may be converted into a digital form.
  • T ec can then be displayed digitally on a display 112, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD).
  • the display may be a bar graph where temperature is indicated by the number of bars being displayed. The colour of the bars may change when a predetermined temperature alarm condition is reached.
  • the option of displaying T ec graphically is also available.
  • a graphical display may take the form of a temperature- time graph with co-ordinate axes of time and temperature. Having a graphical display is advantageous to track the history of changes in the T ec of a subject.
  • An indication of temperature may be provided as an aural signal, for example an artificial voice may provide a spoken indication of the temperature.
  • Monitor 108 preferably includes a processor to execute a compensation algorithm to perform calculations to compensate for changes in ambient temperature (T lmb ).
  • a T amb sensor may be coupled to monitor 108 to measure T amb . With T amb as an input, the compensation algorithm is able to perform the appropriate calculations to generate a good estimate of T c .
  • the T amb sensor may be located at the monitor 108. As an alternative, the T amb sensor can also be located in the external ear at the probe 102, or outside the ear canal, for example, behind the external ear, at the housing 104.
  • the present invention may include sensors to measure a variety of environmental conditions, such as dry bulb temperature, relative humidity, globe temperature, wet bulb temperature, and solar radiation. Additionally, the present invention may be integrated with other sensors to measure physiological conditions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation, and electrocardiogram (ECG). In addition, the present invention may include a microphone to aid the subject's hearing.
  • ECG electrocardiogram
  • T re and T es are the most commonly used indicators of T c .
  • T ec is a less frequently used indicator of T c .
  • the present invention provides for a method of measuring T ec to estimate T c in occupational settings (or where the subject is active). In such environments, where temperature related disorders pose health and safety risks, T ec is much more convenient and less intrusive to measure than T re and T es , or temperatures at other body orifices or cavities, such as the vagina or mouth, because it is less invasive and cumbersome and allows the subject to continue with minimal if any impediment to normal movements and functions.
  • a temperature telemetric device can be readily mounted in an ear canal with little or no invasion of the privacy of the subject, and with a reduced risk of infection when compared to the insertion and location of such devices in other body orifices which secrete greater quantities of mucus.
  • T ec is seldomly used by thermal physiologists in research due to the difficulty in obtaining accurate measurements.
  • a temperature measurement should be measured as close as possible to the tympanic membrane.
  • this poses a health and safety risk as there is a danger that the tympanic membrane may be pierced by accident, rendering a person deaf or partially deaf as a result.
  • the temperature T ec is usually measured along the ear canal instead.
  • T ec was measured by a rectal probe (YSI, USA) inserted 10 centimeters (cm) into the rectum.
  • Gastrointestinal temperature (T gi ) was measured through a temperature sensor pill (CorTemp, USA).
  • a probe in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention was inserted by about 1.5 cm into one ear to monitor T ec , whilst a conventional T ec measurement device (Quest Technologies, USA) was inserted into the other ear to monitor the temperature in the other ear (T alt ).
  • a trial was conducted in a climatic chamber programmed at 35°C ambient temperature, 70% relative humidity and 800 Watts per square meter (W.m ⁇ 2 ) of simulated solar simulation, and the trial subjects were clothed in military uniforms made of 50% cotton and 50% polyester.
  • the trial subjects were asked to walk on a treadmill at a pace that corresponded with 70% to 80% of their heart rate reserve (HRR) and were allowed to consume water freely.
  • HRR heart rate reserve
  • T ec , T re , T gi and T all of each test subject were recorded at intervals of 15 seconds, 1 minute, 15 seconds, and 10 seconds, respectively.
  • the trial ceased after a trial subject's T re reached 39.5°C and remained at or above this temperature for at least 1 minute.
  • the data collected was then analyzed. A statistical significance (p-value) of less than 0.05 was deemed an acceptable level of error.
  • T ec , T re , T gi and T aU were analyzed with the Pearson Product Moment Correlation (r), which reflects the linear relationship between a pair of variables. Pearson's correlation (r) ranges from +1 to -1, with a value of +1 indicating a perfect positive linear relationship between the pair of variables. Similarly, high positive r-values indicate a strong positive linear relationship between the pair of variables.
  • the data obtained from the trial was used to plot scatter diagrams of T ec as a function of T re , T gi and T a , accent. The scatter diagrams are useful for evaluating the nature and degree of relationship between the variables.
  • Figure 5a illustrates a scatter diagram of T ec as a function of T re .
  • the scatter diagram in Figure 5a indicates that there is a positive linear relationship between T ec and T re
  • Figure 5b illustrates a scatter diagram of T ec as a function of T gi .
  • the scatter diagram in Figure 5b indicates that there is a positive linear relationship between T ec and T gi .
  • Figure 5c illustrates a scatter diagram of T ec as a function of T all .
  • the scatter diagram in Figure 5c indicates that there is a positive linear relationship between T ec and T al . Pearson's correlation (r) between the different types of temperature measurements was then computed with the following formula:
  • N Number of data points
  • a conversion algorithm having a regression equation is used to estimate T c , T re , or T gi from T ec measured by a sensor.
  • the regression equation can be obtained by performing linear regression on the data points plotted in a scatter diagram. For example, a linear regression performed on the data plotted in Figures 5a and 5b gave rise to the following prediction models:
  • Monitor 108 with equation (2) programmed therein would display a T re of 38.7 C C when sensor 110 measures a T ec of 38°C.
  • monitor 108 with equation (3) " programmed therein would display a T gi of 38.8°C when sensor 110 measures a T ec of 38°C.
  • the conversion algorithm may be used to convert T ec to T re by adding the mean of the error (MOE) between T ec and T re to T ec measured by sensor 110 to obtain T re .
  • MOE mean of the error
  • a T ec of 38°C would correspond to a T re of 38.81°C.
  • the conversion algorithm can also be programmed to perform both types of conversion, that is, from T ec to both T re and T gj .
  • the methodology described above may be applied to obtain a conversion algorithm in respect of any body cavity, such as the armpit or the mouth.
  • housing 104 also supports a battery casing 114, in which a battery, such as a pair of 1.55 Volts silver oxide batteries, may be inserted.
  • the battery is coupled to and provides power for sensor 110, the modulator, and the transmitter.
  • Battery casing 114 includes a battery casing door 116 with a tab 118, which assists in the opening and closing of battery casing door 116.
  • FIG 6 illustrates a perspective view of a subject 160 wearing temperature telemeter 100, shown in Figure 3, in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.
  • Housing 104 which is placed behind an earlobe 154, is coupled to flexible wire 106, which extends around the top of earlobe 154. This arrangement of housing 104 and flexible wire 106 secures housing 104 to subject 160 and allows temperature telemeter 100 to access the ear canal of subject 160.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates an anatomical view of an ear canal 200 with a probe 202 inserted therein in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.
  • Probe 202 is coupled to a housing 204 located in earlobe 206.
  • Housing 204 preferably supports a modulator, a transmitter and a battery casing having a battery casing door 210.
  • a sensor enclosed in probe 202 measures T ec in ear canal 200 and generates a temperature signal, which is relayed to the modulator in housing 204.
  • the modulator varies the amplitude, frequency, and/or phase of the temperature signal to an appropriate waveform before transmission by the transmitter in housing 204.
  • the temperature signal which is transmitted wirelessly by the transmitter, is received by a receiver and preferably displayed on a monitor.
  • the sensor is located close to the surface of probe 202 so that the sensor will be as close as possible to the surface of ear canal 200. This facilitates the attainment of a more accurate temperature measurement. As discussed previously, the sensor is also placed as close as possible to a tympanic membrane 208. Probe 202 may be molded to an ear impression of a subject, or embedded in a piece of foam or any other malleable material to obtain a better fit.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic of a temperature telemeter 250 in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • Temperature telemeter 250 comprises a probe 252 in which a sensor 254, a modulator 256, a transmitter 258 and a battery casing 260 are enclosed.
  • Temperature telemeter 250 further comprises a monitor 262, which receives temperature signals wirelessly from transmitter 258.
  • Probe 252 is inserted into a body cavity so that sensor 254 can measure T bc and generate a temperature signal.
  • Sensor 254 is positioned close to the surface of probe 252 so that sensor 254 will be in close proximity to the surface of the body cavity. This facilitates the attainment of a more accurate temperature measurement.
  • the temperature signal generated is relayed to modulator 256.
  • Modulator 256 varies the amplitude, frequency, and phase of the temperature signal to an appropriate waveform for transmission by transmitter 258.
  • Monitor 262 receives the temperature signal wirelessly from transmitter 258 and preferably displays the temperature in real-time.
  • the temperature signals received are preferably converted into a digital form for display, for example by a liquid crystal display (LCD).
  • the display may be a bar graph where temperature is indicated by the number of bars being displayed. The colour of the bars may change when a predetermined temperature alarm condition is reached.
  • the temperature signals received by monitor 262 may be stored and collated so that T bc can be displayed in a graphical form, for example when prompted by a subject, and may be in the form of a temperature-time graph with co-ordinate axes of time and temperature. The option to display T bc graphically allows the subject to keep track of the changes in T bc more readily.
  • An indication of temperature may be provided as an aural signal, for example an artificial voice may provide a spoken indication of the temperature.
  • monitor 262 may be implemented in a form like a watch, to be worn on a wrist, or as a pager, which could be attached to a belt or kept in a subject's pocket.
  • An alarm 264 in monitor 262 may be used to alert the subject when T bc exceeds or falls below a pre-programmed temperature range.
  • the warning given by alarm 264 can be a visible alarm, such as a flashing light or a blinking display, or may be auditory, such as a beep, a string of notes, etc., or vibratory.
  • Alarm 264 can also be programmed to emit different types of signals to indicate different temperatures. If a database of an individual subject's physical condition and ability is available, alarm 264 can be tailored to suit that subject's requirements.
  • a battery to provide electrical energy to operate sensor 254, modulator 256 and transmitter 258 may be inserted into battery casing 260.
  • Battery casing 260 is designed such that the battery can be easily removed and replaced once the battery is flat so that temperature telemeter 250 can be reused.
  • Probe 252 of temperature telemeter 250 can be inserted into an ear canal 300 as illustrated in Figure 9.
  • Figure 9 illustrates an anatomical view of ear canal 300 with probe 252 inserted therein in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • probe 252 comprises a sensor 254, a modulator, a transmitter and a battery casing.
  • the sensor 254 is located close to the surface of probe 252 so that the sensor will be as close as possible to the surface of ear canal 300. This facilitates the attainment of a more accurate temperature measurement.
  • the sensor is also placed as close as possible to the tympanic membrane 302.
  • Probe 252 further comprises a battery casing door 266 and a door pull 268. By using door pull 268, battery casing door 266 can be opened to insert a battery or to remove a flat battery.
  • door pull 268 is depicted in this embodiment as a string with a knob on one end, it will be appreciated that door pull 268 can also be any device that assists in removing probe 252 from ear canal 300.
  • FIG 10 illustrates a schematic of temperature telemetric system 400 in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
  • Temperature telemetric system 400 comprises a central receiver or monitor 402, which receives temperature signals wirelessly from a plurality of temperature telemeters 404, which are used to monitor the temperature of multiple subjects.
  • the system includes a plurality of warning devices 406.
  • a warning device is respectively coupled to each telemeter 404.
  • Central monitor 402 is preferably used to display T bc in real-time on a screen 408.
  • Central monitor 402 is also preferably equipped with an alarm 410 to alert a supervisor when T bc of any subject exceeds or falls below a pre-programmed temperature range.
  • Temperature telemetric system 400 can be implemented in situations where T c of a number of persons need monitoring, for instance, an ICU in a hospital, where T c of a number of patients must be monitored at any one time. Temperature telemetric system
  • 400 is also applicable for military purposes as it would allow a commander to monitor the state of each soldier deployed.
  • a telemetric sender such as a combination of a temperature sensor and a wireless transmitter, is located in a body cavity, for example and ear canal, as discussed above.
  • a temperature measurement is transmitted to a relay transceiver worn on the body.
  • the relay transceiver is in a form like a watch and is worn on a wrist.
  • the temperature measurement received by the relay transceiver is wirelessly re-transmitted, i.e. relayed, for reception by a remote receiver.
  • the relay transceiver can also include any of the features incorporated in the receiver as already discussed above. For example, the relay transceiver can compensate for ambient temperature, and convert a cavity temperature to an estimation of a core temperature.
  • the relay transceiver can also include a monitor that displays measured temperature values, ambient compensated temperature values, estimated temperatures derived by conversion of measured temperatures, and/or temperature values that are both compensated and converted. These functions are provided in addition to the relay functions by which any of these temperature values can be relayed on to a remotely located common receiver.
  • This relay arrangement can be extended to multiple sets of telemetric senders and relaying transceivers, with each set being worn by a respective user.
  • the multiple relaying transceivers transmit their respective temperature measurement signals to a common receiver where the temperatures of all users can be monitored, with compensation for ambient temperature changes or conversion to a core body temperature if required.
  • the ambient temperature can be measured at the common receiver, or preferably at each of the relay transceivers so that the temperature measurements of each subject can be compensated for the respective ambient temperature at each subject's location.
  • This multiple user relay arrangement has particular utility where the users need to be relatively unencumbered or are not confined to a relatively small location. This is in contrast to situations such as an ICU ward, where the embodiment discussed above in respect of Figure 10 may be more suitable.
  • the use of the transceivers can extend the range between the users and the common receiver, without requiring a bulky battery or transmitter to be located at or closely adjacent the temperature measurement site.
  • a very small in-ear device, located entirely within the ear canal, can provide a sufficiently strong signal for reception by the wrist-worn relay transceiver which provides a relatively strong signal for retransmission to the common receiver.
  • the in-ear telemetric sender components are a combination of a temperature sensor and a transponder.
  • the transponder is a passive device which requires no battery.
  • the passive transponder is responsive to the sensor temperature and emits a temperature indicative signal in response to reception of an interrogation signal transmitted by the wrist-worn relay transceiver.
  • the temperature indication emitted by the transponder is received by the relay transceiver which, being larger than the in-ear transponder, can accommodate a battery and can therefore retransmit the temperature indication at a relatively high power level for reception by the common receiver.

Abstract

L'invention concerne un émetteur télémétrique de température et un appareil de télémesure thermique (50) faisant appel à un ou plusieurs émetteurs et à un récepteur (64) unique ou commun. L'émetteur télémétrique de température comprend un capteur (52) pour mesurer la température d'une cavité corporelle, de préférence un canal auriculaire, chez un sujet. Un émetteur (60) couplé et sensible au capteur transmet un signal indiquant la température de la cavité corporelle, ce signal étant reçu sans fil par le récepteur (64). Les valeurs thermiques reçues par le récepteur peuvent être compensées relativement aux changements de température ambiante mesurée au niveau de l'émetteur ou du récepteur et elles peuvent servir à l'estimation de la température d'une cavité corporelle. Ces températures sont affichées, de préférence sous forme d'un graphique représentant une série de températures. Une alarme (66) peut être utilisée lorsque le signal reçu, ou une valeur thermique en dérivant, indique une température égale à une valeur déterminée ou dépassant une plage thermique définie. La présente invention porte également sur des émetteurs-récepteurs intermédiaires qui retransmettent des signaux de température provenant d'émetteurs correspondants au récepteur commun, ces émetteurs-récepteurs servant à étendre le domaine opérationnel du système.
PCT/SG2003/000225 2002-09-20 2003-09-19 Appareil de telemesure thermique WO2004027363A1 (fr)

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AU2003273201A AU2003273201A1 (en) 2002-09-20 2003-09-19 Temperature telemeter

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SG200205709-9 2002-09-20
SG200205709A SG108873A1 (en) 2002-09-20 2002-09-20 Temperature telemeter

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CN102133088A (zh) * 2010-01-22 2011-07-27 太阳圣华(北京)医疗科技有限公司 局域网控连续监测耳温仪
US8115635B2 (en) 2005-02-08 2012-02-14 Abbott Diabetes Care Inc. RF tag on test strips, test strip vials and boxes
US20160310112A1 (en) * 2015-04-25 2016-10-27 Theresa Anne Gevaert Created cavity temperature sensor
CN112924046A (zh) * 2021-01-22 2021-06-08 国网江苏省电力有限公司宿迁供电分公司 一种环网柜电缆终端接头发热故障在线监测系统及方法
WO2022005406A1 (fr) * 2020-07-03 2022-01-06 National University Of Singapore Système de surveillance de la température corporelle centrale basé dans l'oreille
AU2019400377B2 (en) * 2018-12-17 2023-06-29 Cmic Holdings Co., Ltd. Heatstroke prevention device, heatstroke prevention system, heatstroke prevention method, and program

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8115635B2 (en) 2005-02-08 2012-02-14 Abbott Diabetes Care Inc. RF tag on test strips, test strip vials and boxes
US8223021B2 (en) 2005-02-08 2012-07-17 Abbott Diabetes Care Inc. RF tag on test strips, test strip vials and boxes
US8358210B2 (en) 2005-02-08 2013-01-22 Abbott Diabetes Care Inc. RF tag on test strips, test strip vials and boxes
US8390455B2 (en) 2005-02-08 2013-03-05 Abbott Diabetes Care Inc. RF tag on test strips, test strip vials and boxes
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CN102133088A (zh) * 2010-01-22 2011-07-27 太阳圣华(北京)医疗科技有限公司 局域网控连续监测耳温仪
US20160310112A1 (en) * 2015-04-25 2016-10-27 Theresa Anne Gevaert Created cavity temperature sensor
US10117643B2 (en) * 2015-04-25 2018-11-06 Theresa Anne Gevaert Created cavity temperature sensor
AU2019400377B2 (en) * 2018-12-17 2023-06-29 Cmic Holdings Co., Ltd. Heatstroke prevention device, heatstroke prevention system, heatstroke prevention method, and program
WO2022005406A1 (fr) * 2020-07-03 2022-01-06 National University Of Singapore Système de surveillance de la température corporelle centrale basé dans l'oreille
GB2611230A (en) * 2020-07-03 2023-03-29 Nat Univ Singapore Ear-based core body temperature monitoring system
CN112924046A (zh) * 2021-01-22 2021-06-08 国网江苏省电力有限公司宿迁供电分公司 一种环网柜电缆终端接头发热故障在线监测系统及方法
CN112924046B (zh) * 2021-01-22 2023-10-20 国网江苏省电力有限公司宿迁供电分公司 一种环网柜电缆终端接头发热故障在线监测系统及方法

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