US5159936A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Noncontact infrared tympanic thermometer
Assignee: THERMACARE PARTNERSHIP
•
Filing: 1990-08-17
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Granted: 1992-11-03
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Expires: 2010-08-17
Abstract
Abstract A noncontact infrared tympanic thermometer which does not require environmental stabilization or waveguide temperature control because it utilizes an optically stabilized infrared detector for detecting the infrared energy emitted by the tympanic membrane. The optical stabilization renders the instrument insensitive to ambient temperature effects and allows it to read true tympanic membrane temperatures unaffected by the temperature of the side walls of the detector package. This selectivity is accomplished by locating a neutral density filter over half of the optical aperture of the detector package such that the neutral density filter "shadows" only one of two thermopile channels for detecting the infrared energy emitted by the tympanic membrane. The two thermopile channels are connected in series opposition such that any optical signal equally present in both channels will yield a zero net output. Since the infrared energy emitted by the walls of the detector package reach each detector equally, the effects of these emissions on the temperature measurement are eliminated. The neutral density filter prevents the energy from the tympanic membrane from falling equally on the two thermopile detectors and similarly cancelling. Instead, the resulting differential signal may be processed along with the ambient temperature signal to determine the temperature of the tympanic membrane. The infrared detector of the invention may also be incorporated into an otoscope.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark Yelderman
- 👤 Daniel S. Goldberger
- 👤 James R. Braig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 21:09
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J5/00; G01J5/02; G01J5/04; A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/227; G01J5/028; G01J5/06; G01J5/064; G01J5/08; G01J5/0801; G01J5/0802; G01J5/0816; G01J2005/066; G01J5/041; G01J5/045; G01J5/049; G01J5/10; G01J5/12; G01J5/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
An apparatus for measuring a temperature of an infrared radiation emissive target, comprising: means for sensing the amount of incident infrared radiation emitted by said infrared radiation emissive target, comprising: a substrate, first and second thermopiles, connected in opposed relation to each other and positioned on the same said substrate so as to receive incident infrared radiation emitted by said infrared radiation emissive target and by an ambient environment of said first and second thermopiles, for producing output electrical signals representative of the intensity of said incident infrared radiation, a bandpass filter, disposed in an energy path between said infrared radiation emissive target and said first and second thermopiles, for passing a predetermined range of infrared wavelengths of incident infrared radiation from said radiation emissive target to said first and second thermopiles, and an attenuating neutral density filter, disposed in said energy path so as to attenuate the incident infrared radiation impinging upon only one of said thermopiles from said radiation emissive target without attenuating incident infrared radiation in said energy path due to infrared emissions by said ambient environment of said first and second thermopiles; and means for processing said output electrical signals to determine said temperature of said radiation emissive target substantially independent of ambient temperature variations of said ambient environment.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
213 words
An apparatus for measuring a temperature of an infrared radiation emissive target, comprising: means for sensing the amount of incident infrared radiation emitted by said infrared radiation emissive target, comprising: a substrate, first and second thermopiles, connected in opposed relation to each other and positioned on the same said substrate so as to receive incident infrared radiation emitted by said infrared radiation emissive target and by an ambient environment of said first and second thermopiles, for producing output electrical signals representative of the intensity of said incident infrared radiation, a bandpass filter, disposed in an energy path between said infrared radiation emissive target and said first and second thermopiles, for passing a predetermined range of infrared wavelengths of incident infrared radiation from said radiation emissive target to said first and second thermopiles, and an attenuating neutral density filter, disposed in said energy path so as to attenuate the incident infrared radiation impinging upon only one of said thermopiles from said radiation emissive target without attenuating incident infrared radiation in said energy path due to infrared emissions by said ambient environment of said first and second thermopiles; and means for processing said output electrical signals to determine said temperature of said radiation emissive target substantially independent of ambient temperature variations of said ambient environment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a reference detector for detecting an ambient temperature of said ambient environment of said first and second thermopiles and generating a reference temperature signal, said reference temperature signal being processed with said output electrical signals by said processing means to determine an absolute temperature of said infrared radiation emissive target.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said processing means comprises an amplifier for increasing the gain of said output electrical signals and a microprocessor for determining said temperature from said output electrical signals and said reference temperature signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said infrared radiation emissive target comprises an internal tissue of a patient.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
268 words
A tympanic thermometer for measuring the internal temperature of a patient's body from infrared radiation emitted by the patient's tympanic membrane, comprising: a housing adapted for insertion into the patient's ear canal; means within said housing for sensing the amount of infrared radiation emitted by the patient's tympanic membrane, comprising: first and second thermopiles, connected in opposed relation to each other and positioned in said housing so as to receive infrared radiation emitted by the patient's tympanic membrane and by a portion of said housing in an energy path between the patient's tympanic membrane and said first and second thermopiles, for producing output electrical signals representative of the intensity of the radiation emitted by the patient's tympanic membrane, a bandpass filter, disposed in said energy path between the patient's tympanic membrane and said first and second thermopiles, for passing a predetermined range of infrared wavelengths of infrared radiation from the patient's tympanic membrane through said energy path to said first and second thermopiles, and an attenuating neutral density filter disposed at an end of said housing in said energy path between the patient's tympanic membrane and one of said first and second thermopiles so as to attenuate the infrared radiation from the patient's tympanic membrane which impinges upon said one thermopile without attenuating incident infrared radiation in said energy path due to infrared emissions by said portion of said housing in said energy path between the patient's tympanic membrane and said first and second thermopiles; and means for processing said output electrical signals to determine said temperature of the patient's tympanic membrane substantially independent of ambient temperature variations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
268 words
A tympanic thermometer for measuring the internal temperature of a patient's body from infrared radiation emitted by the patient's tympanic membrane, comprising: a housing adapted for insertion into the patient's ear canal; means within said housing for sensing the amount of infrared radiation emitted by the patient's tympanic membrane, comprising: first and second thermopiles, connected in opposed relation to each other and positioned in said housing so as to receive infrared radiation emitted by the patient's tympanic membrane and by a portion of said housing in an energy path between the patient's tympanic membrane and said first and second thermopiles, for producing output electrical signals representative of the intensity of the radiation emitted by the patient's tympanic membrane, a bandpass filter, disposed in said energy path between the patient's tympanic membrane and said first and second thermopiles, for passing a predetermined range of infrared wavelengths of infrared radiation from the patient's tympanic membrane through said energy path to said first and second thermopiles, and an attenuating neutral density filter disposed at an end of said housing in said energy path between the patient's tympanic membrane and one of said first and second thermopiles so as to attenuate the infrared radiation from the patient's tympanic membrane which impinges upon said one thermopile without attenuating incident infrared radiation in said energy path due to infrared emissions by said portion of said housing in said energy path between the patient's tympanic membrane and said first and second thermopiles; and means for processing said output electrical signals to determine said temperature of the patient's tympanic membrane substantially independent of ambient temperature variations.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A thermometer as in claim 5, further comprising a reference detector for detecting an ambient temperature of said first and second thermopiles and generating a reference temperature signal, said reference temperature signal being processed with said output electrical signals by said processing means to determine an absolute temperature of the patient's tympanic membrane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A thermometer as in claim 6, wherein said processing means comprises an amplifier for increasing the gain of said output electrical signals and a microprocessor for determining said temperature of the patient's tympanic membrane from said output electrical signals and said reference temperature signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thermometer as in claim 5, further comprising a display mounted on said housing for displaying said temperature of the patient's tympanic membrane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
A thermometer as in claim 5, further comprising a speculum for covering said portion of said housing adapted for insertion into the patient's ear canal so as to prevent contamination of said housing when said thermometer is inserted into the patient's ear canal for the measurement of the amount of infrared radiation emitted by the patient's tympanic membrane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A thermometer as in claim 5, wherein said attenuating neutral density filter has a transmission coefficient of approximately 0.50.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of measuring a temperature of an infrared radiation emissive target, comprising the steps of: sensing the amount of incident infrared radiation emitted by said infrared radiation emissive target, comprising the steps of: positioning first and second thermopiles in opposed relation to each other and on the same substrate so as to receive incident infrared radiation emitted by said infrared radiation emissive target and by an ambient environment of said first and second thermopiles, passing a predetermined range of infrared wavelengths of incident infrared radiation from said infrared radiation emissive target to said first and second thermopiles, attenuating the incident infrared radiation impinging upon only one of said first and second thermopiles from said radiation emissive target without attenuating incident infrared radiation received from said ambient environment of said first and second thermopiles; and producing output electrical signals representative of the intensity of said incident infrared radiation received by said first and second thermopiles; and processing said output electrical signals to determine said temperature of said radiation emissive target substantially independent of ambient temperature variations of said ambient environment.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of measuring a temperature of an infrared radiation emissive target, comprising the steps of: sensing the amount of incident infrared radiation emitted by said infrared radiation emissive target, comprising the steps of: positioning first and second thermopiles in opposed relation to each other and on the same substrate so as to receive incident infrared radiation emitted by said infrared radiation emissive target and by an ambient environment of said first and second thermopiles, passing a predetermined range of infrared wavelengths of incident infrared radiation from said infrared radiation emissive target to said first and second thermopiles, attenuating the incident infrared radiation impinging upon only one of said first and second thermopiles from said radiation emissive target without attenuating incident infrared radiation received from said ambient environment of said first and second thermopiles; and producing output electrical signals representative of the intensity of said incident infrared radiation received by said first and second thermopiles; and processing said output electrical signals to determine said temperature of said radiation emissive target substantially independent of ambient temperature variations of said ambient environment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as in claim 11, comprising the further steps of detecting an ambient temperature of said ambient environment of said first and second thermopiles, generating a reference temperature signal corresponding to the detected ambient temperature, and processing said reference temperature signal with said output electrical signals to determine an absolute temperature of said infrared radiation emissive target.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as in claim 12, wherein said processing step comprises the steps of amplifying said output electrical signals so as to increase the gain of said output electrical signals and determining said temperature from said output electrical signals and said reference temperature signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as in claim 11, wherein said infrared radiation emissive target comprises an internal tissue of a patient and said positioning step includes the step of placing said first and second thermopiles in a body cavity containing said internal tissue.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
205 words
A method of measuring the internal temperature of a patient's body from infrared radiation emitted by the patient's tympanic membrane, comprising the steps of: sensing the amount of incident infrared radiation emitted by the patient's tympanic membrane, comprising the steps of: positioning first and second thermopiles in opposed relation to each other in a housing adapted for insertion in to the patient's ear canal and so as to receive incident infrared radiation emitted by the patient's tympanic membrane and by an ambient environment of said first and second thermopiles, passing a predetermined range of infrared wavelengths of incident radiation from the patient's tympanic membrane to said first and second thermopiles, attenuating, using an attenuating neutral density filter disposed at an end of said housing, the incident infrared radiation impinging upon only one of said first and second thermopiles from the patient's tympanic membrane without attenuating incident infrared radiation received from said ambient environment of said first and second thermopiles, and producing output electrical signals representative of the intensity of said incident infrared radiation received by said first and second thermopiles; and processing said output electrical signals to determine said temperature of the patient's tympanic membrane substantially independent of ambient temperature variations of said ambient environment.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
205 words
A method of measuring the internal temperature of a patient's body from infrared radiation emitted by the patient's tympanic membrane, comprising the steps of: sensing the amount of incident infrared radiation emitted by the patient's tympanic membrane, comprising the steps of: positioning first and second thermopiles in opposed relation to each other in a housing adapted for insertion in to the patient's ear canal and so as to receive incident infrared radiation emitted by the patient's tympanic membrane and by an ambient environment of said first and second thermopiles, passing a predetermined range of infrared wavelengths of incident radiation from the patient's tympanic membrane to said first and second thermopiles, attenuating, using an attenuating neutral density filter disposed at an end of said housing, the incident infrared radiation impinging upon only one of said first and second thermopiles from the patient's tympanic membrane without attenuating incident infrared radiation received from said ambient environment of said first and second thermopiles, and producing output electrical signals representative of the intensity of said incident infrared radiation received by said first and second thermopiles; and processing said output electrical signals to determine said temperature of the patient's tympanic membrane substantially independent of ambient temperature variations of said ambient environment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method as in claim 15, comprising the further steps of detecting an ambient temperature of said ambient environment of said first and second thermopiles, generating a reference temperature signal corresponding to the detected ambient temperature, and processing said reference temperature signal with said output electrical signals to determine an absolute temperature of the patient's tympanic membrane.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as in claim 15, wherein said processing step comprises the steps of amplifying said output electrical signals so as to increase the gain of said output electrical signals and determining said temperature from said output electrical signals and said reference temperature signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 15, wherein said positioning step includes the step of placing a device housing said first and second thermopiles into the patient's ear canal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 15, comprising the further step of displaying said temperature on a temperature display.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as in claim 15, comprising the further step of covering a device housing said first and second thermopiles with a speculum to prevent contamination of said device when said device is inserted into the patient's ear canal for the measurement of the amount of infrared radiation emitted by the patient's tympanic membrane.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
252 words
A tympanic thermometer for measuring the internal temperature of a patient's body from infrared radiation emitted by the patient's tympanic membrane, comprising: a housing adapted for insertion into the patient's ear canal; first and second thermopiles, connected in opposed relation to each other and positioned in said housing so as to receive infrared radiation emitted by the patient's tympanic membrane and by a portion of said housing in an energy path between the patient's tympanic membrane and said first and second thermopiles, for producing output electrical signals representative of the intensity of the radiation emitted by the patient's tympanic membrane; a bandpass filter, disposed in said energy path between the patient's tympanic membrane and said first and second thermopiles, for passing a predetermined range of infrared wavelengths of infrared radiation from the patient's tympanic membrane through said energy path to said first and second thermopiles; a speculum for covering said portion of said housing adapted for insertion into the patient's ear canal so as to prevent contamination of said housing when said thermometer is inserted into the patient's ear canal for the measurement of the amount of infrared radiation emitted by the patient's tympanic membrane, said speculum comprising an integral attenuating neutral density filter disposed in said energy path so as to attenuate the infrared radiation from the patient's tympanic membrane which impinges upon only one of said thermopiles; and means for processing said output electrical signals to determine said temperature of the patient's tympanic membrane substantially independent of ambient temperature variations.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
252 words
A tympanic thermometer for measuring the internal temperature of a patient's body from infrared radiation emitted by the patient's tympanic membrane, comprising: a housing adapted for insertion into the patient's ear canal; first and second thermopiles, connected in opposed relation to each other and positioned in said housing so as to receive infrared radiation emitted by the patient's tympanic membrane and by a portion of said housing in an energy path between the patient's tympanic membrane and said first and second thermopiles, for producing output electrical signals representative of the intensity of the radiation emitted by the patient's tympanic membrane; a bandpass filter, disposed in said energy path between the patient's tympanic membrane and said first and second thermopiles, for passing a predetermined range of infrared wavelengths of infrared radiation from the patient's tympanic membrane through said energy path to said first and second thermopiles; a speculum for covering said portion of said housing adapted for insertion into the patient's ear canal so as to prevent contamination of said housing when said thermometer is inserted into the patient's ear canal for the measurement of the amount of infrared radiation emitted by the patient's tympanic membrane, said speculum comprising an integral attenuating neutral density filter disposed in said energy path so as to attenuate the infrared radiation from the patient's tympanic membrane which impinges upon only one of said thermopiles; and means for processing said output electrical signals to determine said temperature of the patient's tympanic membrane substantially independent of ambient temperature variations.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-11-03 | 1996-05-04 | 1996-11-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-11-03 | 2000-05-04 | 2000-11-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-11-03 | 2004-05-04 | 2004-11-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |