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:
Dec. 14, 1999
Filed:
May. 20, 1997
Thomas K Gregory, Carlsbad, CA (US);
Kerry O Banke, La Mesa, CA (US);
John A Mossman, La Mesa, CA (US);
John W Stevenson, Carlsbad, CA (US);
Edward D Suszynski, Vista, CA (US);
Welch Allyn, Inc., 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. In particular, a processor measures an initial temperature upon the probe's removal and applies to the heater an initial electrical signal having prescribed parameter, e.g., pulse duration, that varies according to the initial temperature measurement. This warms the probe to a prescribed temperature at or near about 93.degree. F., after which the processor applies a sequence of pulses to the heater, to controllably regulate the probe's temperature to the prescribed value.