Disposable clinical thermometer

Claim 2

An electric fever thermometer comprising the combination of: a disposable temperature sensing unit which includes a continuous flexible strand and relatively more rigid probe element, said strand and probe element being an extruded, single, unitary length of nontoxic sterilizable material, a temperature sensitive element mounted proximate the free end of the probe, and conductors extending from the temperature sensitive element through and being integrally bonded in spaced relation in the probe and strand, the relatively greater rigidity of the probe resulting from a substantially larger probe cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of the strand; a temperature indicating unit which includes means for generating a signal in response to a temperature related electrical characteristic of the temperature sensitive element, and means responsive to said signal for visually indicating the temperature of the temperature sensitive element; and means for electrically connecting the conductors at the free end of the temperature sensitive unit strand to the signal generating means in the temperature indicating unit.

Claim 3

An electric fever thermometer of the type described in claim 1 wherein the temperature sensitive member includes a thin, heat conductive, electrically insulating coating, the probe and the temperature sensitive member being arranged and constructed such that the temperature sensitive Element coating can be in direct contact with the body tissue of a patient during use to give a rapid and precise visual indication of the patient''s temperature.

Claim 4

The electric fever thermometer as described in claim 1 wherein the strand and probe are unitarily formed of extruded thermoplastic polymeric material.

Claim 5

An electric fever thermometer of the type described in claim 1 wherein the temperature sensitive element is a thermistor coated with a thin, electrically insulating, heat conductive material adapted to lie in intimate contact with a patient''s tissue during use for permitting rapid and accurate measurement of the tissue temperature and for electrically insulating and sealing the thermistor to the free end of the probe, the probe and strand being unitarily formed of extruded thermoplastic material, the relatively greater rigidity of the probe resulting from a substantially greater probe cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of the strand, the temperature sensitive unit being so formed and constructed as to be economically disposable after a single use.

Claim 6

The electric fever thermometer described in claim 4 wherein the connecting means comprises: an electrical receptacle in the temperature indicating unit and an electrical plug adapted to be received in said receptacle attached to the free end of the strand of the temperature sensing unit, said plug consisting essentially of a single, thin, flat, rectangular insulating board, a foil secured on each side of the board, means securing the conductors respectively to the conductive foils, and means thermoplastically formed from the strand material securing the insulating board and foils to the strand.

Claim 7

An electric fever thermometer of the type described in claim 1 wherein the connecting means consists essentially of an electrical receptacle in the temperature indicating unit and an electrical plug adapted to be received in said receptacle attached to the free end of the strand of the temperature sensing unit, said plug consisting essentially of a single, thin, flat, rectangular insulating board, an electrically conductive foil laminated on each side of the insulating board, means securing the conductors respectively to the conductive foils, and means thermoplastically formed from the strand material securing the insulating board and laminated foils to the strand.

Claim 8

An electric fever thermometer comprising the combination of: an inexpensive disposable temperature sensing unit made up of an extruded unitary strand and probe element composed of flexible, nontoxic sterilizable thermoplastic polymeric material having a pair of electrical conductors extending from end to end thereof with the probe having a substantially larger cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of the strand to give the probe relatively greater rigidity than the strand, a high precision, high sensitivity thermistor connected to the conductors at the free end of the probe and a coating of electrically insulating, heat conductive material thinly covering the thermistor and bonding the thermistor to the end of the probe, and an electrical plug secured to the free end of the strand, said plug consisting essentially of a thin, flat insulating board, a conductive foil laminated on each side of the insulating board, means securing the conductors respectively to the foils, and a globule formed from the strand material by thermoplastic deformation securing the strand to the laminated board; and a temperature indicating unit including an electrical receptacle for the temperature sensing unit plug, means electrically connected to the receptacle for generating a signal in response to the electrical resistance of the thermistor, and a meter responsive to said signal for visually indicating the temperature of the thermistor; said temperature sensing unit being so constructed and formed as to be economically disposable after a single use, the coating on the thermistor being sufficiently thin and the probe beiNg so designed as to permit the thermistor coating to rest in intimate contact with the tissue of a patient during use for giving a rapid and precise visual indication of the patient''s temperature.

Claim 9

An electric fever thermometer comprising the combination of: an inexpensive disposable temperature sensing unit made up of an extruded unitary strand and probe element composed of flexible, nontoxic sterilizable thermoplastic polymeric material having a pair of electrical conductors extending from end to end thereof with the probe having a substantially larger cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of the strand to give the probe relatively greater rigidity than the strand, a high precision, high sensitivity thermistor connected to the conductors at the free end of the probe and a coating of electrically insulating, heat conductive material thinly covering the thermistor and bonding the thermistor to the end of the probe, and an electrical plug secured to the free end of the strand, said plug consisting essentially of a thin, flat insulating board, a conductive foil laminated on each side of the insulating board, means securing the conductors respectively to the foils, and a globule formed from the strand material by thermoplastic deformation securing the strand to the laminated board; and a temperature indicating unit including an electrical receptacle for the temperature sensing unit plug, means electrically connected to the receptacle for generating a signal in response to the electrical resistance of the thermistor, and a meter responsive to said signal for visually indicating the temperature of the thermistor; said temperature sensing unit being so constructed and formed as to be economically disposable after a single use, the coating on the thermistor being sufficiently thin and the probe beiNg so designed as to permit the thermistor coating to rest in intimate contact with the tissue of a patient during use for giving a rapid and precise visual indication of the patient''s temperature.

Claim 10

The electric fever thermometer as described in claim 7 wherein the strand is so formed and constructed as normally to assume a coiled configuration.

Claim 11

The electrical fever thermometer as described in claim 8 wherein the probe is ovally shaped in cross section.

Claim 12

A disposable temperature sensing unit for use with a temperature indicating unit as an electric fever thermometer comprising: an extruded, single, unitary strand and probe element composed of flexible, nontoxic, sterilizable material and including integrally bonded conductors in spaced relation in said material extending from end to end therethrough, the strand being easily flexible with the probe having a substantially larger probe cross sectional area than the cross section area of the strand to give the probe relatively greater rigidity; an electrical plug secured to the free end of the strand and connected to the conductors therein; and a temperature sensitive element secured to the conductors and to the free end of the probe.

Claim 13

A disposable temperature sensing unit for use with a temperature indicating unit as an electric fever thermometer comprising: an extruded, single, unitary strand and probe element composed of flexible, nontoxic, sterilizable material and including integrally bonded conductors in spaced relation in said material extending from end to end therethrough, the strand being easily flexible with the probe having a substantially larger probe cross sectional area than the cross section area of the strand to give the probe relatively greater rigidity; an electrical plug secured to the free end of the strand and connected to the conductors therein; and a temperature sensitive element secured to the conductors and to the free end of the probe.

Claim 14

A temperature sensing unit of the type described in claim 10 further comprising; a heat conductive, electrically insulating coating thinly covering the temperature sensitive element and bonding the temperature sensitive element to the end of the probe.

Claim 15

The temperature sensing unit as described in claim 10 wherein the electrical plug comprises: a thin flat insulating board; conductive foils on the sides of the insulating board; means securing the conductors respectively to the foils; and a globule of thermoplastically formed strand material securing the laminated board to the strand.

Claim 16

The temperature sensing unit as described in claim 12 wherein the laminated board has an aperture into which the strand material extends for forming a strong mechanical connection with the strand.

Claim 17

A disposable temperature sensing unit comprising: an extruded unitary nontoxic sterilizable thermoplastic strand and probe element which includes a pair of conductors extending from end to end therethrough, the probe portion of the element having a substantially larger cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of the strand thereby giving the probe relatively greater rigidity; a thermistor connected to the conductors at the free end of the probe; an electrically insulating, thermally conductive coating thinly covering the thermistor and bonding the thermistor to the end of the probe; and a plug secured to the free end of the strand, said plug consisting essentially of a flat insulating board, a conductive foil laminated to each side of the board, means connecting the conductors respectively to the foils, and a globule of thermoplastically deformed strand material securing the strand to the board; the coating on the thermistor being sufficiently thin and the probe and thermistor combination being so constructed and formed as to permit the thermistor to lie in intimate contact with the tissue of a patient during use to permit rapid and accurate temperature measurement when the temperature sensing unit is used in association with a temperature indicating unit.

Claim 18

A disposable temperature sensing unit comprising: an extruded unitary nontoxic sterilizable thermoplastic strand and probe element which includes a pair of conductors extending from end to end therethrough, the probe portion of the element having a substantially larger cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of the strand thereby giving the probe relatively greater rigidity; a thermistor connected to the conductors at the free end of the probe; an electrically insulating, thermally conductive coating thinly covering the thermistor and bonding the thermistor to the end of the probe; and a plug secured to the free end of the strand, said plug consisting essentially of a flat insulating board, a conductive foil laminated to each side of the board, means connecting the conductors respectively to the foils, and a globule of thermoplastically deformed strand material securing the strand to the board; the coating on the thermistor being sufficiently thin and the probe and thermistor combination being so constructed and formed as to permit the thermistor to lie in intimate contact with the tissue of a patient during use to permit rapid and accurate temperature measurement when the temperature sensing unit is used in association with a temperature indicating unit.

Claim 19

The disposable temperature sensing unit as described in claim 14 wherein the strand is so formed as to assume a normally coiled configuration.

Claim 20

A disposable temperature sensing unit for use with a temperature indicating unit as an electric fever thermometer, consisting essentially of: an extruded, single, unitary probe element composed of thermoplastic, insulating, flexible, nontoxic, sterilizable material and including integrally bonded conductors in spaced relation in said material extending from end to end therethrough the strand being easily flexible, the probe being relatively more rigid than the strand by reason of a Greater cross sectional probe area than the cross sectional area of the strand; a thermistor secured to the conductors at one end of the probe; a heat conductive, electrically insulating coating thinly covering the thermistor and bonding the thermistor to the end of the probe; and means for connecting the probe to the indicating unit including a thin flat insulating board, conductive foils on the sides of the insulating board, means securing the conductors extending from the other end of the probe respectively to the foils, and a globule of said thermoplastic material securing the laminated board to and insulating the conductors.

Claim 21

A disposable temperature sensing unit for use with a temperature indicating unit as an electric fever thermometer, consisting essentially of: an extruded, single, unitary probe element composed of thermoplastic, insulating, flexible, nontoxic, sterilizable material and including integrally bonded conductors in spaced relation in said material extending from end to end therethrough the strand being easily flexible, the probe being relatively more rigid than the strand by reason of a Greater cross sectional probe area than the cross sectional area of the strand; a thermistor secured to the conductors at one end of the probe; a heat conductive, electrically insulating coating thinly covering the thermistor and bonding the thermistor to the end of the probe; and means for connecting the probe to the indicating unit including a thin flat insulating board, conductive foils on the sides of the insulating board, means securing the conductors extending from the other end of the probe respectively to the foils, and a globule of said thermoplastic material securing the laminated board to and insulating the conductors.

Claim 22

The disposable sensing unit as described in claim 16 wherein the insulating board includes an aperture into which said thermoplastic material extends.