Fluid-Circulating Temperature Probe for Accurate Skin Burn Hazard Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat sensing instruments fail to accurately represent human skin temperature for longer exposure times to heat sources, as they do not account for blood circulation's role in heat dissipation and temperature regulation.
Innovation Solution
A heat sensing probe is designed to circulate fluid at a temperature and flow-rate similar to human blood, dissipating excess heat to model blood circulation and provide an accurate representation of skin temperature, allowing for analysis of potential burn hazards over extended periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fluid circulation is added to the probe, then measurement precision for long exposure times is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A fluid circulation system acts as an intermediary between the heat sensing face and the temperature sensor, simulating blood flow to transport heat away from the measurement surface. This mediator enables accurate representation of tissue temperature during prolonged heat exposure by continuously removing excess heat that would otherwise accumulate at the probe face.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe dynamically changes the temperature parameter of the circulating fluid to match physiological blood temperature conditions. By controlling the fluid temperature to remain close to body temperature (approximately 37°C), the system accurately simulates in-vivo thermal conditions without requiring the entire probe structure to be at physiological temperature.
2Device complexity
If the probe structure is simplified without fluid circulation, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates for long exposure times
Solution Approach 1:
The heat dissipation function is extracted from the solid probe structure and implemented separately through a fluid circulation system. This allows the main probe body to remain structurally simple while the circulating fluid provides the necessary thermal management function that would be complex to achieve through solid material design alone.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the probe face temperature is allowed to rise for long exposure measurement, then measurement duration is extended, but temperature accuracy deteriorates due to heat buildup
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid circulation operates continuously throughout the measurement process, constantly removing heat from the probe face. This continuous thermal management enables the probe to maintain accurate temperature measurements over extended periods by preventing heat accumulation that would otherwise limit measurement duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulating fluid serves as a thermal intermediary that absorbs excess heat at the probe face and transports it away, allowing the measurement surface to remain at accurate physiological temperatures even during prolonged exposure to heat sources.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables more accurate analysis of potential burn hazards for longer exposure times, ensuring compliance with safety standards for electronic devices in contact with human skin, such as medical prostheses.
Implementation Method 1
fluid is circulated through the probe at a temperature and flow-rate close to that of human blood in the body. This fluid flow acts to dissipate excess build-up of heat from the probe face
Implementation Method 2
an embedded heat sensor is used to measure a temperature increase caused by the heat source
Data Source
AI summary
The present application discloses instruments, systems, and methods for measuring temperature. In one example, an instrument or heat sensor probe includes a housing that defines a chamber, which is configured for a fluid to circulate therein, and a body of material disposed over the housing. The body has a first side proximal to the housing and a second side distal from the housing. The probe further includes a heat sensor configured for sensing heat at a position spaced inwardly from the second side of the body.