Abstract: A device (10) for calibrating tympanic thermometers includes an enclosure (12) which may be heated or cooled depending upon the testing temperature. Within the enclosure (12) there is provided a sealed flask (14) which contains substance (16) which melts at the test temperature (this may be ethylene carbonate, melting point 36.3° C.). Located within the sealed flask (14) is a re-entrant well (18) which provides the blackbody for testing tympanic thermometers and a viewing aperture (20). The well (18) is treated to achieve a high surface emissivity. The device (10) allows the testing of thermometers by measuring the triple point or melting point of the substance (16). As the temperature of the substance (16) is accurately known, so is the temperature in the blackbody cavity (18) and thermometers can be calibrated thereby.

Abstract: A device (10) for calibrating tympanic thermometers includes an enclosure (12) which may be heated or cooled depending upon the testing temperature. Within the enclosure (12) there is provided a sealed flask (14) which contains substance (16) which melts at the test temperature (this may be ethylene carbonate, melting point 36.3° C.). Located within the sealed flask (14) is a re-entrant well (18) which provides the blackbody for testing tympanic thermometers and a viewing aperture (20). The well (18) is treated to achieve a high surface emissivity. The device (10) allows the testing of thermometers by measuring the triple point or melting point of the substance (16). As the temperature of the substance (16) is accurately known, so is the temperature in the blackbody cavity (18) and thermometers can be calibrated thereby.