Probe cover container identification

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10156481-B2
Application number	US-201715784654-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 16, 2017
Priority date	Feb 3, 2012
Publication date	Dec 18, 2018
Grant date	Dec 18, 2018

Abstract

A temperature measurement system includes a temperature probe including a temperature sensor. The system also includes a reader, and a controller in communication with the temperature sensor and the reader. The system further includes a container housing a plurality of probe covers associated with the temperature probe. The container includes an information feature providing information related to the plurality of probe covers. The reader is configured to read the information and direct a signal to the controller indicative of the information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of determining a temperature of a patient, comprising:
reading information related to a plurality of probe covers stored within a container with a reader, wherein
at least one probe cover of the plurality of probe covers contacts a bottom surface of the container, and
at least a portion of the container is removably retained within a compartment of a receptacle, the receptacle being separate from the container;

mounting a probe cover of the plurality of probe covers onto a temperature probe while the probe cover is disposed substantially within the container;
measuring a temperature of the patient with a temperature sensor of the temperature probe; and
estimating a core temperature of the patient based on the measured temperature and the information, wherein the reader comprises a reading device separate from the temperature sensor.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein mounting the probe cover comprises inserting a portion of the temperature probe within the probe cover such that the reader remains exposed outside of the probe cover, the information being read from an information feature disposed on the container.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising disabling the temperature probe in response to the information.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying the container with the reader and recording a cumulative number of probe covers used from the container.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising disabling the temperature probe for subsequent temperature measurements utilizing probe covers from the container in response to the cumulative number meeting a probe cover capacity associated with the container.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein each probe cover of the plurality of probe covers is characterized by a unique value indicative of a physical property of the respective probe cover, the information comprising an average of the unique values.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the physical property comprises one of a thickness and a transmissivity.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, with an electronic control device in communication with the reader and based on the information, that the probe cover is a product of an acceptable manufacturer; and
activating, with the electronic control device, an additional component of the temperature probe in response to determining that that the probe cover is the product of the acceptable manufacturer.

9. A system, comprising:
a temperature probe including a temperature sensor;
a reading device;
an electronic control device in communication with the temperature sensor and the reading device; and
a receptacle including a compartment, wherein:
the receptacle is configured to removably retain a container within the compartment, the container storing a plurality of probe covers and including an information feature providing information related to the plurality of probe covers,
the reading device is configured to read the information from the information feature during at least one of insertion of the temperature probe into a probe cover of the plurality of probe covers, and insertion of the container within the compartment, and
the electronic control device is configured to estimate core temperature of a patient based on a temperature measured by the temperature sensor and the information read by the reading device.

10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising memory in communication with the electronic control device, the memory including one of pattern recognition software and identification software, wherein the electronic control device employs the one of pattern recognition software and identification software to assist the reading device in reading the information provided by the information feature.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the electronic control device is configured to determine whether at least one of the container and the plurality of probe covers is a product of an acceptable manufacturer based on the information, and to disable the temperature probe in response to determining that the at least one of the container and the plurality of probe covers is not a product of the acceptable manufacturer.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the information is indicative of at least one of a thickness, a transmissivity, a material composition, a manufacture date, a lot number, a manufacture location, a manufacturer name, and a probe cover type.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the reading device comprises one of an RFID reader, a barcode reader, an MCIR reader, a conductance sensor, a resistance sensor, and a magnetic sensor, and
wherein the information feature comprises one of an RFID tag, a barcode, MCIR printing, a conductive strip of material, a resistive strip of material, and a magnetic strip of material.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the temperature sensor is in communication with the electronic control device via a wireless connection.

15. A system, comprising:
a reader;
an electronic control device in communication with the reader; and
a receptacle including a compartment, wherein:
the receptacle is configured to removably retain a container within the compartment, the container storing a plurality of probe covers and including an information feature providing information related to the plurality of probe covers, at least one probe cover of the plurality of probe covers contacting a bottom surface of the container,
the reader is configured to read the information from the information feature when the information feature is disposed within a sensing range of the reader, and to provide a signal to the electronic control device indicative of the information, and
the electronic control device is configured to estimate core temperature of a patient based on the information read by the reader, and on additional information received by the electronic control device indicative of a measured temperature.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a temperature sensor in communication with the electronic control device, the temperature sensor being configured to
determine the measured temperature, and
provide the additional information to the electronic control device.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the reader comprises a camera, and wherein the electronic control device employs one of pattern recognition software and identification software to assist in reading the information provided by the information feature.

18. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a proximity sensor in communication with the electronic control device, the electronic control device being configured to activate the reader in response to a signal received from the proximity sensor.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the electronic control device is configured to activate the reader in response to the a least one probe cover being connected to a temperature probe such that the reader reads the information from the information feature substantially simultaneously with connection of the at least one probe cover to the temperature probe.

20. The system of claim 15 , further comprising an optical component associated with the reader and configured to widen or narrow the sensing range of the reader.

Assignees

• Welch Allyn Inc

Inventors

• Mullin Matthew D
• Lane John A
• Meyerson Craig M
• Quinn David E
• Stone Ray D
• Martin Scott A

Classifications

• Y10T29/49

  Method of mechanical manufacture · CPC title

• G01K1/083 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• G01J5/025

  Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface · CPC title

• G01J5/0011

  Ear thermometers (G01J5/021 and G01J5/049 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01J5/021 Primary

  Probe covers for thermometers, e.g. tympanic thermometers; Containers for probe covers; Disposable probes · CPC title