JPH0644504U - Ear thermometer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide an ear thermometer that can bring stability and reproducibility to instructions of the thermometer. [Structure] A waveguide 14 having an infrared window 13 at its tip,
An infrared detector 15 for detecting infrared radiation from the K measuring visual field M of the external auditory meatus passing through this waveguide, the waveguide 14 and the infrared detector 15 are housed, and a hood inserted into the external auditory canal K during use. And a probe 16 having a probe 11, and the hood 11 is configured to substantially reduce the contact area between the body wall 12 and the ear canal K.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an ear thermometer that measures the temperature (ear temperature) of the ear canal by passing red radiation from the measurement field of the ear canal through a probe inserted in the ear canal.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Conventionally, ear thermometers that measure a body temperature by inserting a probe into the ear canal have a hood having a conical shape or a shape close to a conical shape at the front end.

In use, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the hood 1 a having a shape close to a cone formed at the tip of the probe 1 is inserted into the ear canal K, and infrared rays from the measurement visual field M are emitted. The temperature of the external auditory canal K applied to the measurement visual field M 1 is measured by being detected by the infrared detector through the entrance window 2 and the waveguide. At this time, as the probe 1, a type in which the hood 1a is covered with a probe cover or a type in which the hood 1a and the probe cover are integrated is often used. 8 and 9, reference numeral 3 is an eardrum, and reference numeral 4 is an auricle.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

However, when the probe 1 is inserted into the external auditory meatus K through the hood 1a during use, the conical hood 1a comes into close contact with the external auditory canal K, so that the temperature changes up to the measurement visual field M of the external auditory canal K. That is, in the contact area C of the hood 1a with the torso wall 5 (see FIG. 9), the heat of the ear temperature T _{0 to be} measured in the hood 1a escapes from the external auditory canal K through the torso wall 5 by heat conduction, so that FIG. As shown in, the ear thermometer indicates T ₁ (T ₁ ≠ T ₀ ) instead of T ₀ as the instruction temperature. As a result, it is difficult to bring stability and reproducibility to the indication of the thermometer.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an ear thermometer capable of providing stability and reproducibility to instructions of the thermometer.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 This invention contains a waveguide having an infrared window at the tip, an infrared detector for detecting infrared radiation from the measurement visual field of the ear canal passing through the waveguide, and the waveguide and the infrared detector. An ear thermometer, comprising a probe having a hood that is inserted into the ear canal when in use, and further configured such that the hood substantially reduces the contact area between the body wall and the ear canal.

In this invention, the hood is configured to substantially reduce the contact area between the body wall and the ear canal. For example, the hoods 11, 21, and 1 shown in FIGS. Like the reference numerals 31 and 41, the body walls 12, 22, 42 of the hoods 11, 21, 41 are configured such that the body wall lower surfaces 12a, 22a, 42a and the body wall lower surfaces 12a, 22a, 42a project from the plurality of body wall upper surfaces. And a body wall 32 of the hood 31 is composed of a body wall lower surface 32a and a body wall upper surface 32b. The hoods 11, 21, 41, 31 When the hood 11 and the ear canal are inserted into the ear canal, for example, in the hood 11, as shown in FIG. 3, the protrusion 12b forms a gap S between the lower surface 12a of the torso wall and the ear canal K. of The contact area can be limited to the area of only the protruding portion 12b that is in close contact with the ear canal K, and the non-contact area of the lower surface 12a of the body wall that is not in close contact with the ear canal K can be transferred from the ear canal through the body wall by heat conduction. This means that it is possible to reduce the escape of heat of the ear temperature T ₀ to be measured that reaches the hood.

The infrared window in this invention is made, for example, of a material that transmits infrared radiation in the wavelength range of 8 to 20 microns.

[0009]

[Action]

 According to the above configuration, during use, the hood formed at the tip of the probe is inserted into the ear canal, and infrared rays from the measurement visual field are detected by the infrared detector through the infrared window and the waveguide. The temperature of the ear canal applied to the measurement visual field is measured. At this time, when the probe was inserted into the ear canal through the hood, in the past, the entire cone-shaped hood was in close contact with the ear canal, so the temperature was changed to the measurement visual field portion of the ear canal. Since the hood is configured to substantially reduce the contact area between the torso wall and the ear canal, the contact area between the hood and the ear canal is formed by forming a gap between the torso wall and the ear canal. It can be suppressed to a small area that is in close contact with the external ear canal, and only the non-contact area that is not in close contact with the external ear canal can escape the heat of the ear temperature to be measured from the external ear canal to the hood due to heat conduction. Can be reduced.

[0010]

【Example】

 An embodiment of an ear thermometer according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3, the ear thermometer includes a waveguide 14 having an infrared window 13 at its tip, an infrared detector 15 for detecting infrared radiation from a measurement visual field M of an external auditory meatus K passing through the waveguide, In addition to accommodating the waveguide 14 and the infrared detector 15, the probe 16 having the hood 11 inserted into the ear canal K during use is mainly provided.

Further, the body wall 12 of the hood 11 is composed of a body wall lower surface 12a and a plurality of protruding portions 12b as a body wall upper surface having a shape protruding from the body wall lower surface 12a.

Reference numeral 17 is a holder, and reference numerals 18 and 19 are an eardrum and an auricle, respectively. In this embodiment, the ear thermometer covered with the probe cover 20 over the hood 11 is used, but an integrated hood and probe cover may be used.

Since this embodiment has the above-mentioned structure, the contact area between the hood 11 and the external auditory canal K is set by forming the gap S between the lower surface 12a of the body wall and the external auditory canal K by the protruding portion 12b. The area of the protruding portion 12b that is in close contact with the external ear canal can be suppressed, and the non-contact area of the lower surface 12a of the torso wall that is not in close contact with the external ear canal is thermally transferred from the external ear canal K to the hood 11 via the external wall 12. It is possible to reduce the heat escape of the ear temperature T ₀ to be measured. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the ear temperature T ₀ to be measured shown in FIG. 4 without changing the temperature of the external auditory meatus applied to the measurement visual field even when the probe is inserted, and as a result, the thermometer's indication is stable and stable. Reproducibility can be brought about.

[0014]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, since the hood is configured to substantially reduce the contact area between the torso wall and the ear canal, a gap is formed between the torso wall and the ear canal. By doing so, the contact area between the hood and the ear canal can be reduced to a small area that is in close contact with the ear canal, and only the non-contact area that is not in contact with the ear canal is transferred to the hood from the ear canal through the body wall by heat conduction. Since it is possible to reduce the escape of heat of the ear temperature to be measured, it is possible to obtain the ear temperature to be measured without changing the temperature of the external auditory canal in the measurement visual field even when the probe is inserted. It has the effect of providing stability and reproducibility to the instructions of the thermometer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an essential part showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an overall configuration showing a usage state in the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a main part configuration showing a usage state in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram showing respective indicated temperatures of the example and the conventional example.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an essential part showing a first modified example of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an essential part showing a second modified example of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an essential part showing a third modified example of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an overall configuration explanatory diagram showing a usage state of a conventional example.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a main part configuration showing a usage state of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

11, 21, 31, 41 ... Hood, 12, 22, 32,
42 ... Hood wall 12a, 22a, 32a, 42a
... lower surface of body wall, 12b, 22b, 32b, 42b ... upper surface of body wall, 13 ... infrared window, 14 ... waveguide, 15 ... infrared detector, 16 ... probe, K ... ear canal, M ... measurement field of view, S ...
gap.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A waveguide having an infrared window at its tip, an infrared detector for detecting infrared radiation from a measurement visual field of the ear canal passing through the waveguide, and the waveguide and the infrared detector being housed. An ear-type clinical thermometer comprising a probe having a hood that is inserted into the ear canal when in use, and further configured so that the hood substantially reduces a contact area between the torso wall and the ear canal.