Temperature Monitoring

Dr. Shreepathi

Thermal compartments
Core:

Temperature is uniform Range of 36.5 to 37.5C Should be monitored when significant change expected

Shell:

Non uniform and lower than core by 2 - 4C Skin surface and axilla are usual sites

Sites of measurement

Skin Axilla Nasopharynx Urinary bladder Esophagus Tympanic membrane Pulmonary artery Oral cavity Rectum

Temperature monitoring technologies

ELECTRICAL
Thermistor Thermocouple Platinum wire

NON ELECTRICAL
Dial thermometers (Bimetallic strip, Bourdon gauge) Fluid expansion (mercury, alcohol) Infrared thermometers

Fluid expansion

Mercury- minus 39 to 250 degree Celsius

It takes 2-3 minutes for thermal equilibrium and there is risk of breakage

Alcohol-minus 117 to 78 degree Celsius Alcohol is cheaper than mercury !!!!

Dial thermometers- bimetallic strip

.

Bourdon gauge thermometer

Infrared thermometer

Objects at body temperature primarily emits infra red radiation. Senses infrared radiation from a warm surface- both ear drum and ear canal Otoscope like probe with disposable probe cover

Mechanism of infrared thermometer

Pyroelectric sensor containing polarized ceramic crystalline material Change in temperature cause change in polarization Change in polarization is detected as a voltage from which the temperature is calculated.

Advantages of infrared thermometers Well tolerated by the patient Stable over a wide range of patients and ambient temperature Non traumatic Rapid measurement

Disadvantages
Intermittent Poor penetration, improper aiming Ear wax and curvature will give low reading

Thermistor temperature system

Metal

(Mn, Ni, Co, or Zn) oxide sintered into

a wire Changes its resistance to the flow of current when it is exposed to a different temperature. The thermistor is incorporated into a wheatstone bridge Temperature is calculated from the change in current flow

Thermistor
. Resistance

Temperature

Advantages
Small

sensors Rapid response Continuous reading Sensitive Inexpensive Disposable

Disadvantages
Resistance increases with the age of the device and will change with rapid and large changes in temperature

Platinum wire
a positive temperature coefficient resistor

Electrical resistance of platinum wire varies linearly with temperature Positive temperature coefficient Working principle similar to thermistor Extremely small diameter wire

Platinum wire
Resistance

Temperature

Thermocouple
Thomas Johann Seebeck - 1821

Electrical circuit with two wires of different metals added together at ends. One junction exposed to the area being measured and the other end at a constant reference temperature The temperature difference between these two points create a potential difference (Seebeck effect) and is converted to a temperature reading Copper and Constantan (alloy of Copper and Nickel) is usually used

Thermocouple
. Junction Potential

Temperature

Thermocouple
Galvanometer

Metal A

Metal B

Reference junction

T1

Measuring junction

T2

Advantages
- Accuracy - Small size - Rapid response time - Continuous reading - Stability