Abstract: A disposable probe cover for an electronic tympanic ("ear") thermometer is made of closed-cell foam that is laminated with a sheet of high density polyethylene plastic film substantially transparent to infrared radiant energy. The probe cover is hollow, defining a central passageway that accepts an oversized probe and can potentially accommodate a variety of different probe configurations. The foam construction allows the probe cover to stretch over the oversized probe--retaining the probe cover on the probe during use. The foam construction also allows the probe cover to deform when inserted into a patient's ear--sealing the patient's ear canal to prevent external heat and light from affecting the measurement, and providing a high degree of cushioning and comfort not available in any prior disposable probe cover design. The film laminate and foam provide a barrier that is impervious to germs, fluids and other secretions--further reducing the already low risk of cross-contamination.

Abstract: A two-piece portable, self-contained tympanic thermometer temperature measuring system includes a measuring unit and a base unit. The measuring unit can be ergonomically designed as a compact, pencil-shaped, easy to hold unit that includes a removable sensing module that interfaces with the base unit and/or other host via digital signaling. All analog circuitry can be self-contained within the sensor module, and the sensing module circuitry components may be potted with thermally conductive epoxy to reduce variations due to differences in component temperatures. The sensing module casing may be made out of a conductor to provide electromagnetic field isolation. The sensing module can include a microcontroller that communicates with a microcontroller in the base unit via a removable modular 4-conductor telephone handset cord.

Abstract: In contrast to the non-linear systems used in certain past infrared thermometers, the present invention uses an empirical data set to determine patient temperature. The empirical data set provided by the present invention represents actually measured thermometer sensor outputs over a substantial number of target and ambient temperature points within the thermometer's operating range. The empirical data set is collected during a testing process, and is stored in a non-volatile memory within the thermometer. At temperature measuring time, the thermometer accesses the appropriate cell in the non-volatile memory to determine temperature. The substantial size of the empirical data set eliminates guesswork and estimation--since the most accurate indication of how a thermometer will perform under certain conditions is a record of how it previously performed under those same conditions.

Abstract: A system includes a microcontroller for controlling a fan particularly suited to be mounted in a window. The microcontroller monitors and responds at relatively high sampling rates to the actual and desired temperatures of the room associated with the fan. The microcontroller senses a predetermined difference between the desired and actual temperatures to generate the speed, forward-reverse drive and/or on-off controls of the fan and so that the operation of the fan closely tracks the temperature conditions of the room being serviced by the fan.

Abstract: A disposable probe cover for an electronic tympanic ("ear") thermometer is made of closed-cell foam that is laminated with a sheet of high density polyethylene plastic film substantially transparent to infrared radiant energy. The probe cover is hollow, defining a central passageway that accepts an oversized probe and can potentially accommodate a variety of different probe configurations. The foam construction allows the probe cover to stretch over the oversized probe--retaining the probe cover on the probe during use. The foam construction also allows the probe cover to deform when inserted into a patient's ear--sealing the patient's ear canal to prevent external heat and light from affecting the measurement, and providing a high degree of cushioning and comfort not available in any prior disposable probe cover design. The film laminate and foam provide a barrier that is impervious to germs, fluids and other secretions--further reducing the already low risk of cross-contamination.