Thermometer for determining the temperature of an animal's ear drum and method of using the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a thermometer for determining the temperature of an animal's ear drum. The thermometer includes a probe, an infrared-radiation detector adapted to receive infrared radiation emitted by the ear drum, and devices that help determine the probe's position in the ear canal so as to optimize the infrared radiation received from the ear drum, and to minimize the infrared radiation received from other ear parts. A method of using the thermometer is also disclosed.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A thermometer for determining a temperature of a vertebrate animal's ear drum disposed at the inner end of the animal's ear canal defined by an ear canal wall, said thermometer comprising:
 a probe adapted to be inserted into the ear canal;   a detector adapted to sense infrared radiation emitted by the ear canal and the ear drum, said detector being operatively coupled to said probe;   an array of electrode pads arranged about said probe; and   a microprocessor in operative electrical communication with each of said electrode pads in said array of electrode pads,
 wherein the microprocessor is configured to determine an electrical value associated with at least one of said electrode pads in said array of electrode pads, 
 wherein the microprocessor is configured to assess the electrical value relative to a threshold electrical value associated with said at least one electrode pad, and 
 wherein the microprocessor is configured to determine an indication of the orientation of said probe relative to the wall of said ear canal in the vicinity of said probe based on ascertaining whether the electrical value attains or exceeds the associated threshold electrical value for said at least one electrode pad. 
   
     
     
         2 . The thermometer according to  claim 1  wherein said array includes at least three electrode pads, wherein the microprocessor is configured to assess the electrical value relative to a threshold value associated with each of said at least three electrode pads, wherein the microprocessor is configured to assign a weighting value to each of said assessments, and wherein the microprocessor is configured to inhibit the temperature from being determined at least partially based on said assessments and said assignments. 
     
     
         3 . The thermometer according to  claim 1  wherein said array includes at least three electrode pads, wherein the microprocessor is configured to assess the electrical value relative to a threshold electrical value associated with each of said at least three electrode pads, and wherein the microprocessor is configured to inhibit the temperature from being determined unless at least one of said assessments attains at least one predetermined condition. 
     
     
         4 . The thermometer according to  claim 1  wherein said array includes at least two electrode pads, wherein said probe possesses a peripheral surface, and wherein the peripheral surface of said probe is formed with a plurality of surface depressions in which said at least two electrode pads are situated. 
     
     
         5 . The thermometer according to  claim 1  further comprising a visual display in operative electrical communication with the microprocessor, and wherein the microprocessor is configured to activate one or more of a plurality of unique visual images on said visual display depending on the indication of the orientation. 
     
     
         6 . The thermometer according to  claim 1  further comprising an audio speaker in operative communication with the microprocessor, and wherein the microprocessor is configured to initiate the communication of one or more of a plurality of audio messages from said speaker depending on the indication of the orientation. 
     
     
         7 . The thermometer according to  claim 1  wherein said array includes at least two electrode pads, and wherein the microprocessor is configured to determine an electric value associated with said at least two electrode pads according to a predetermined sequence such that the effects of electric field interference between said at least two electrode pads is reduced. 
     
     
         8 . The thermometer according to  claim 7  wherein said at least two electrode pads overlap. 
     
     
         9 . A method of determining a temperature of a vertebrate animal's ear drum disposed at the inner end of the animal's ear canal defined by an ear canal wall, said method comprising:
 providing a speculum possessing an array of electrical zones arranged thereabout;   providing an infrared-radiation detector operatively coupled to said speculum;   providing a microprocessor in operative electrical communication with each of said electrical zones in said array of electrical zones,
 wherein the microprocessor is configured to determine an electrical value associated with at least one of said electrical zones in said array of electrical zones, 
 wherein the microprocessor is configured to assess the electrical value relative to a threshold electrical value associated with said at least one electrical zone, and 
 wherein the microprocessor is configured to assess the orientation of said speculum relative to the wall of said ear canal in the vicinity of said speculum based on ascertaining whether the electrical value attains or exceeds the associated threshold electrical value for said at least one electrode pad; 
   inserting said speculum into the ear canal;   assessing with the microprocessor when a predetermined orientation of said speculum occurs;   determining the amount of infrared radiation detected by said infrared-radiation detector when said predetermined orientation of said speculum occurs according to said assessment; and   correlating the amount of the infrared radiation so determined with an associated temperature.   
     
     
         10 . The method of determining a temperature according to  claim 9  further comprising:
 providing an electronic signal suggesting how said speculum should be moved to attain the predetermined orientation. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of determining a temperature according to  claim 9  further comprising:
 determining electronically the depth of insertion of said speculum into the ear canal based on the electrical conductivity of each of said zones as said speculum is inserted into the ear canal. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of determining a temperature according to  claim 11  further comprising:
 providing an electric signal suggesting how said speculum should be moved to attain a predetermined depth of insertion. 
 
     
     
         13 . A thermometer for determining a temperature of a vertebrate animal's ear drum disposed at the inner end of the animal's ear canal defined by an ear canal wall, said thermometer comprising:
 a probe adapted to be inserted into the ear canal, said probe possessing a frusto-conical configuration about a longitudinal axis and possessing an outer peripheral surface;   a detector adapted to sense infrared radiation emitted by the ear canal and the ear drum, said detector being operatively coupled to said probe;   an array of at least three electrically conductive zones disposed adjacent to and arranged about said outer peripheral surface;   at least one sensor electrically connected to each of said zones, said at least one sensor adapted to sense the conductivity of each of said zones as said probe is inserted into the ear canal; and   a microprocessor configured to assess the orientation of the longitudinal axis of said probe relative to the wall of said ear canal in the vicinity of said probe at least partially based on the conductivity sensed by said at least one sensor.   
     
     
         14 . The thermometer according to  claim 13  wherein each of said zones extends circumferentially about said outer peripheral surface, wherein each of said zones has a uniform width and the same width as any other of said zones, and each of said zones is separated a uniform spacing from any adjacent ones of said zones and with the same spacing between any adjacent ones of said zones. 
     
     
         15 . The thermometer according to  claim 13  wherein the microprocessor is in operative electrical communication with said at least one sensor and configured to assess the conductivity of each of said zones. 
     
     
         16 . The thermometer according to  claim 15  wherein the microprocessor is configured to assess whether the aggregate conductivity of each of said zones exceeds a predetermined value. 
     
     
         17 . The thermometer according to  claim 15  wherein the microprocessor is configured to assess whether the conductivity of a preselected percentage greater than zero percent of the number of said zones exceeds a predetermined value. 
     
     
         18 . The thermometer according to  claim 13  wherein said outer peripheral surface is formed with a plurality of surface depressions in which each of said zones are situated. 
     
     
         19 . The thermometer according to  claim 13  further comprising an adapter configured and adapted to be selectively mounted over said probe and wherein said zones are carried by said adapter. 
     
     
         20 . The thermometer according to  claim 13  wherein the microprocessor is configured to determine an electric value associated with said at least three zones according to a predetermined sequence such that the effects of electric field interference between said at least three zones is reduced.