Hybrid Contact Non-Contact Temperature Measurement System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing non-contact thermometers for determining patient core temperature are prone to significant errors due to inaccurate external body surface temperature measurements, which do not correlate well with traditional measurement sites, and are unreliable for patient evaluation.

Innovation Solution

A temperature measurement system that includes both contact and non-contact temperature sensors, allowing for the determination of core temperature by combining measurements from external body surfaces and traditional measurement sites, with a controller to adjust for alignment parameters such as distance and angle to improve accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If non-contact thermometers are used to measure external body surface temperature, then the risk of contamination is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate due to poor correlation with core temperature

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidmeasurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines both contact-based temperature sensors (for direct measurement at traditional sites) and non-contact temperature sensors (for external surface measurement) into a single integrated thermometer device. This merging allows the system to leverage the ease of operation and contamination avoidance benefits of non-contact sensing while maintaining the measurement precision of contact-based sensing through combined data processing to estimate core temperature.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If contact-based thermometers are used to measure temperature at traditional sites, then measurement precision is improved, but the risk of contamination increases and ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges contact-based and non-contact-based temperature sensing capabilities into one device, enabling the system to obtain precise temperature data through contact measurement while simultaneously providing contamination-free operation through non-contact measurement options.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The thermometer device is designed with multi-functionality, capable of operating in both contact-based mode (for high precision at traditional sites) and non-contact-based mode (for contamination-free operation). This universal design allows the single device to serve multiple functions depending on the clinical situation, reducing contamination risk while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If non-contact thermometers are used, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity is reduced while measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple sensing modalities (contact and non-contact) into a single integrated device with a controller that processes data from both sensors. This combination improves reliability by cross-validating measurements and using algorithms to estimate core temperature based on both external surface temperature and traditional measurement site data, thereby maintaining high reliability while preserving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 system enhances the accuracy of core temperature determination by integrating multiple measurement methods and alignment adjustments, reducing errors and improving reliability in patient temperature evaluation.

Implementation Method 1

measuring a first temperature of the patient with a temperature device without contacting the patient with the device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation detection: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 2

measuring a second temperature of the patient by contacting a measurement site of the patient with the device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS9901258B2Temperature measurement system

Publication Date: 2018.02.27 WELCH ALLYN INC

AI summary

A method of determining a temperature of a patient includes determining a temperature associated with a measurement site of the patient with a temperature device, and without contacting the patient with the device. The method also includes estimating a temperature of the patient based at least in part on the temperature associated with the measurement site. The temperature device includes a sensing element configured to determine the temperature associated with the measurement site, an imaging device, and a controller configured to estimate the temperature of the patient based on the temperature associated with the measurement site.