The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 27, 1997
Filed:
Nov. 03, 1994
Thomas K Gregory, Carlsbad, CA (US);
John W Stevenson, Carlsbad, CA (US);
Diatek, L.P., San Diego, CA (US);
Abstract
An improved prediction-type medical thermometer that provides an accurate estimate of a patient's temperature in substantially reduced time as compared to prior thermometers of this kind. This improved performance is achieved by using a special hollow probe tip having a low heat capacity and incorporating a resistive heater that is actuated only upon removal of the probe from a base housing. The heater regulates the temperature to a value of about 93.degree. F. After the probe is applied to the patient, a microprocessor repeatedly samples the thermistor and estimates the patient's temperature based on the successive samples. If a predetermined number of successive temperature estimates lie within a predetermined error range, the sampling is terminated and the most recent estimate is displayed as the patient's temperature. In addition, when that estimate lies outside of a normal temperature range, an increased number of successive estimates lying within a predetermined error range are required before the thermometer displays the estimated temperature.