Patent ID: 6827488
Filing Date: 2004-12-07
Classification: G01K

Abstract:
A thermometry apparatus used for measuring the temperature of a patient, said apparatus comprising:a housing; an elongate temperature sensitive probe; said housing further including a probe receiving chamber releasably attachable to a receiving port of said housing and having a probe well sized for retaining said temperature sensitive probe when said probe is not in use, said chamber providing a fluid-tight seal relative to the remainder of the interior of said housing and at least one switch disposed in said housing interior and exterior to said probe well wherein said switch includes a light emitter and a light detector, each of said light detector and light emitter being oppositely disposed relative to the receiving port of said housing and forming a connective light path, said probe well being made from a light transmissive material such that only the presence of said probe in said probe well disrupts the connective light path between said emitter and said detector.