Patent ID: 9282883
Filing Date: 2016-03-15
CPC Classification: A61B,G01J

Claim Text:
1. A method of determining the depth of insertion of a probe of an infrared thermometer into an orifice of a body, comprising: (a) providing an infrared thermometer including: (1) a support structure; (2) a probe attached to said support structure, said probe possessing an outer peripheral surface and adapted to be inserted into an orifice in an animal's body; and (3) a sensor adapted to sense electro-magnetic radiation from a source of said radiation remote from the animal's body, said sensor mounted on said outer peripheral surface of said probe in a position so as to receive said radiation; (b) sensing radiation from said source with said sensor; (c) determining the magnitude of said radiation sensed by said sensor; (e) inserting said probe into the orifice; (e) monitoring the magnitude of said radiation sensed by said sensor as said probe is inserted into the orifice; and (f) evaluating whether the degree of any reduction of said monitored magnitude as said probe is inserted into the orifice indicates the extent to which said sensor has passed a wall of the orifice.