Electronic clinical thermometer

Abstract: An electronic clinical thermometer of the present invention can maintain a high precision of prediction in a wider range of changes in temperature by storing a plurality of prediction methods and setting a prediction method for the equilibrium temperature in accordance with changes in detected temperature with the passage of time.

Description: 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic clinical thermometer, and more particularly to predictive electronic clinical thermometer. 2. Description of the Prior Art Conventional predictive electronic clinical thermometers predict the equilibrium temperature by using specific predictive operational expressions and prediction realization conditions. GB-A-2 197 724 describes a predictive electronic clinical thermometer which comprises a memory circuit for temporarily storing a plurality of temperature data detected by a temperature section, a time measuring circuit for measuring an elapsed time of temperature detection and a parameter calculation section for calculating parameters of a specific functional expression based on the temperature data and elapsed time data. The predicted temperature is calculated using the functional expression. Document US-A-4 727 500 discloses a predictive clinical thermometer which includes a temperature sensitive element and a programmable microcomputer which receives temperature data from the temperature sensitive element. The thermometer stores three sets of data each comprising one operational expression. In accordance with the detected changes of temperatures during a predetermined period prior to a prediction operation, a selection of the adequate operational expression for high, low and normal temperatures, respectively, is performed. After processing the data in accordance with a control program using the selected operational expression, a predicted equilibrium temperature is provided on a display. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic clinical thermometer which maintains a high precision of prediction in a wide range of changes in temperature. The object is achieved with an electronic clinical thermometer according to claim 1. The thermometer comprises: temperature detection means for detecting the temperature T(t) as a function of time of a region to be measured; memory means storing a plurality of sets of information, each set defining a prediction method by way of one of a plurality of predictive operational expressions for calculating a predictive equilibrium temperature Y(t) as a function at least of time, of the detected temperature T(t) and of the change dT/dt over time of said temperature T(t), and one of a plurality of prediction realization conditions based on said change dT/dt of said temperature T(t), for judging whether the predictive equilibrium temperature Y(t) has a sufficient precision of prediction; each such set of information being associated with one of a plurality of groups of states of change in temperature as detected prior to a prediction operation, each group corresponding to one of a plurality of regions (I, II, III; Fig. 9) of a graph representing states of changes in temperature as points having as coordinates the temperature T(t1) detected at a time point t1 of the detected temperature rise, and the ratio ΔT(t early )/ΔT(t late ) of the temperature rises ΔT (t early ) and ΔT (t late ) experienced by the temperature during a predetermined period of time, as detected at an early time point t early of the detected temperature rise and at a later time point t late , respectively; prediction method setting means for determining to which region of said graph a point representative of a detected state of change in temperature belongs and for setting the prediction method associated with the group of states of change in temperature corresponding to the so determined region; predictive operation means for calculating the predictive equilibrium temperature Y(t) using the predictive operational expression and the prediction realization condition of the set of information as stored in the memory means which corresponds to the prediction method set by the prediction method setting means; and display means for displaying the predictive equilibrium temperature which is judged to have a sufficient precision of prediction. In such a composition, a precise predictive equilibrium temperature can be obtained by setting a prediction method in accordance with changes in detected temperature with the passage of time before or during a predictive operation. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electronic clinical thermometer which maintains a high precision of prediction in a wide range of changes in temperature. Other objects, compositions and advantages will be apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig.1 is a block diagram showing the composition of an electronic clinical thermometer of an embodiment; Fig.2 is an outward view of a body of the electronic clinical thermometer of the embodiment; Fig.3 is a flowchart showing procedures of controlling the whole electronic clinical thermometer of the embodiment; Fig.4 is a conceptual view of a first prediction method setting not claimed by the present application; Fig.5 is a conceptual view of a second prediction method setting not claimed by the present application; Fig.6 is a conceptual view of a third prediction method setting not claimed by the present application; Figs.7 to 10 are views explaining examples of prediction methods; and Fig.11 is a view showing the rise in temperature in a conventional thermometer. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An electronic clinical thermometer of an embodiment will now be described in detail. Fig.1 is a block diagram showing the composition of the electronic clinical thermometer of the embodiment. The electronic clinical thermometer is comprised of a temperature measuring unit 10 for measuring the temperature and outputting the temperature in digital values, an operation control unit 20 for calculating a predictive temperature based on the measured temperature and controlling the electronic clinical thermometer, and a display unit 30 for displaying a measurement result. The temperature measuring unit 10 comprises a thermistor 13 and a capacitor 14 connected in parallel and disposed in a temperature sensing portion, a one-shot multivibrator 15 for taking one shot according to time constants of the thermistor 13 and the capacitor 14, a clock generator 11 for generating reference clocks, a divider 12 for dividing the reference clocks, and a counter 16 for counting the number of clocks from the clock generator 11 while outputs from the one-shot multivibrator 15 are on a high level. When the number of counts of the counter 16 changes according to the temperature of the thermistor 13, the temperature is output as the digital amount. This composition of the temperature measuring unit 10 is an example, and the composition of the temperature measuring unit of the present invention is not limited to this. The operation control unit 20 comprises a CPU 21 for controlling operation, a ROM 22 including a memory portion 22a for storing a control program and predictive expressions 1, 2, ... used in the electronic clinical thermometer, a realization condition memory portion 22b for storing realization conditions 1, 2, ..., and a RAM 23 for auxiliary memory and for storing measured temperatures in time series. The operation unit 20 sets a predictive expression and a realization condition, performs predictive operation, and controls operations of the electronic clinical thermometer. Fig.2 is an outward view of the electronic clinical thermometer. The body of the electronic clinical thermometer is composed of a liquid crystal display (LCD) 1 corresponding to the the display unit 30, a case 2, and a metallic tip cap 3 for conducting the temperature to the thermistor 13 shown in Fig.1. Fig.3 is a flowchart showing the-operation procedures of the whole electronic clinical thermometer. The realization of prediction means that a condition capable of obtaining a sufficient precision of prediction in each prediction method is satisfied. When the power is turned on by a predetermined start switch, for example, a magnetic cap, initialization is performed in Step S11. A predetermined prediction method may be set, or a first measure value may be displayed as it is. In Step S12, data from the temperature measuring unit 10 is stored according to the passage of time. It is judged in Step S13 whether or not a prediction method is set based on the rise in temperature up to this time. If it is set (changed), a prediction method suitable for the rise in temperature is set in Step S14. As described below, in this embodiment, the state of the rise in temperature is checked 30 seconds after the measurement is started and the prediction realization condition is changed. However, this is an example in which the present invention is carried out. The prediction method may be set a plurality of times, in an extreme way, in each measurement of temperature, or in the case in which the temperature rise curve departs from a predetermined range. As a prediction method to be set, a predictive expression and a prediction realization condition are given. When the prediction method is set in Step S14, a predictive operation is performed in Step S15 based on the selected predictive expression, and it is checked in Step S16 whether the selected prediction realization condition is satisfied. Both the predictive expression and the prediction realization condition may be selected, or one of them may be selected. If the prediction realization condition is not satisfied, the predicted temperature is displayed on the LCD in Step S19 and the measurement is continued, returning from Step S20 to Step S12. If the prediction is realized, proceeding from Step S16 to S17, it is checked whether or not the prediction is realized for the first time. If it is the first realization, a buzzer for signalling the realization is sounded-in Step S18. If it is not the first realization, the predictive temperature is displayed on the LCD in Step S19 without sounding a buzzer and the measurement is started again returning from Step S20 to Step S12. The measurement is repeated and ends when the measurement is reset, for example, when the clinical thermometer is taken out of the region to be measured. Several examples of the prediction method setting in Step S14 will now be described. Fig.4 shows a first example of the prediction method setting of the detected temperature not claimed by the present application. A variable α is found as a function of the temperature T, the differential coefficient T' and so on measured up to this time in Step S21, and a function f in which the variable α is used as a parameter is determined in Step S22 and used as a predictive expression. F(T, T', T", ..., t) is an optional function in which the time t, the temperature T(t), the differential coefficient T'(t) and the second-order differential coefficient T"(t) at the time t and other parameters are variables. Table 1 shows examples of the above function. The function f is an optional function having the variable α as one of its variables. The shape of the function f as a predictive expression is determined by determining the variable α, and is used for the predictive operation. If other unknown quantities, such as a prediction realization condition, are necessary for the predictive operation, they are similarly determined with the variable α as a parameter. In Tables 1 and 2, a and b are optional constants. In the different examples, the variables having the same name do not have the same content. t 1 , t 2 and t 3 may be different from each other or the same as each other. In order to set the prediction method simply, a predictive operation can be performed at a fixed time in accordance with the variable α or the classification. Fig.5 shows a second example of the prediction method setting not claimed by the present application. In Steps S31 1 to S31 n , prediction methods for Steps S32 1 to S32 n+1 are set in accordance with the range of a value of a function G by comparing the function G of the temperature T, the differential coefficient T' and so on measured up to this time with a variable g. The function G(T, T', T", ..., t) is an optional function in which the time t, the temperature T(t), the differential coefficient T'(t) and the second-order differential coefficient T"(t) at the time t and other parameters are variables, and examples of the function are given in Table 1. g, ..., g n are optional functions of optional variables (n is an optional natural number, and g 1 ≥... ≥ g n ) and examples thereof are shown in Table 2. In the prediction methods 1, ..., n, different predictive expressions may be used. Fig.6 shows a third example of the prediction method setting not claimed by the present application. In Steps S41 1 , S41 2 , ..., groups of each variable are made and a prediction method is determined by a map h from the groups of the variables in Step S42. When one value y of a set Y corresponds to one optional value (a constituent) of a set X, this correspondence is called a map from X to Y. h(a, b, ...), which is an optional map of 1 to 1 or a plurality to 1, makes a correspondence from a value of a set of groups of variables, which is composed of one or several variables, to a value of a set of prediction methods. Therefore, one prediction method corresponds to one group of variables, for example, a group of one or several variables selected from the time t, the temperature T(t), the differential coefficient T'(t) and the second-order differential coefficient T"(t) at the time t and other parameters. The prediction method is set by this map. A more specific example of an embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to Figs.7 to 10. The prediction method of a predictive electronic clinical thermometer is as follows. When the time is t and the detected temperature is T, a predictive equilibrium temperature at the time t is given, for example, as follows: Y(t) = T(t) + U(t) U(t) = (a dT dt + b)t + (c dT dt + d) a = 0.04321, b = 0.38085 c = -0.00014, d = 0.17734 The condition upon which the prediction is judged to have a sufficient accuracy (the prediction realization condition) is found, for example, as follows: dT dt = 0.300/20 (°C/sec) When the prediction is realized, the buzzer tells the realization of the prediction to the person whose temperature is being taken. However, since the above method treats all data on detected temperature in the same manner, only the accuracy of standard data can be assured. Therefore, in order to perform an accurate prediction for a wider range of data, it is necessary to change prediction methods in accordance with the data. An example of such a change in the prediction methods is described below. Much data on temperature is arranged using values T(6), T(12), T(24) and T(30) in the graph shown in Fig.7. In this example, the vertical axis represents the following value corresponding to the ratio of the differential coefficients: T(12) - T(6) T(30) - T(24) Since the process is performed by the microcomputer, the interval between approximation of the differential coefficients by the differentials, in which the differences are removed, is 6 seconds. If the interval is too short, errors caused by differences in the regions to be measured and so on cannot be covered, and if the interval is too long, the data is averaged and features cannot be drawn out. A proper value is approximately 4 to 20 seconds. In this example, the interval of 6 seconds is used. The numerator in the ratio of the differential coefficients includes information on the rise of data at an early time. If the time is too early, it is not appropriate since too big an influence is exerted by the initial conditions for starting the measurement and so on The proper range of the duration of the measurement up to this time is 10 to 40 seconds. The time of 12 seconds is used in this example. The denominator includes information at a time when the temperature has risen to some extent and changes in the rise rate of temperature stop. Although it is not significant if the time of the denominator is close to the time of the numerator, if the time is too late, the values of the data are averaged and the characteristics thereof cannot be drawn out. A proper range of the time is 30 to 60 seconds. The time of 30 seconds is used in this example. The changes in the data with the passage of time (the shape of the whole data) can be found by taking the ratio between the times. The horizontal axis represents the temperature corresponding to a predetermined elapsed time and to the temperature 12 seconds after in this example. If the time to be measured is too early, the initial conditions for measurement and so on have too big an influence, and if the time is too late, the values of the data are averaged. It is necessary to adopt a characteristic temperature for each data. The proper range of time is 10 to 60 seconds, and the time of 12 seconds is used in this example. Fig.7 shows information on the shape and the position of the data. Referring to Fig.7, points near 1 ○ correspond to the data shown by the curve 1 ○ in Fig.8, and other points near 2 ○, 3 ○ and 4 ○ also correspond to curves in Fig.8 the same as 1 ○. Thus, since each data has characteristics, it is necessary to set a prediction method in accordance with the characteristics. After experiments of the relation between the useful predictive operational expressions and prediction . realization conditions and the position of the points in Fig. 7 are repeated, the points in Fig. 7 are classified into some groups corresponding to whether a difference between prediction value and actual value is less than the predetermined value or not. It is found as the result that the data is classified into three parts by the two lines, one line passing through points (35.5,9) and (32.55,1) and another line passing through points (36.9,9) and (32.85,1). The three parts are called Group I, Group II and Group III respectively and are shown in Fig.9. The two lines correspond to a curve for separating Groups I and II and a curve for separating Groups II and III shown in Fig.10. Specifically, proper conditions for forming groups are found. In this example, the above two straight lines for forming the groups are obtained based on the degree of influence of the changes in the measurement environment, such as the person to be measured and the room temperature, on the precision of prediction. The setting of a prediction method corresponding to each group will now be described. <Selection of the prediction realization conditions>. Group II is assumed to be composed of. standard data, and therefore, a conventional prediction method is used for Group II. Since the rise in temperature becomes small relatively early in Group III, changes after the prediction condition is realized are likely to be too big for the conventional prediction method. In Group I, changes in the rise rate of temperature are small and changes after the prediction condition is realized are likely to be smaller than those of Group III in the conventional method. Therefore, as shown in Fig.ll, the conventional predictive expressions and prediction realization conditions cannot come up with the changes after the prediction is realized. Then, the prediction realization condition (0.300°C/20sec) of Group II is left as is and the prediction realization conditions of both of Groups I and III are made smaller than those of Group II. Since the rise in temperature becomes small relatively early in Group III, the prediction realization condition of Group III uses a small value. For example: dT dt = 0.140/20 (°C/sec) In Group I, if the same condition as that in Group III is used, the precision is further enhanced. However, since the change in temperature is not as great as that in Group III and since it takes too much time to reach the prediction realization condition, a moderate value between the values of Groups II and III is used. For example: dT dt = 0.180/20 (°C/sec) In a real measurement of temperature, after the detected temperatures are stored, the following equation is solved: ΔT = T(12) - T(6) T(30) - T(24) Referring to Fig.9, when the vertical axis is y and the horizontal axis is x, the two lines shown in Fig.9 are found as follows: y = 2.71x - 87.3 y = 1.98x - 63.9 Therefore, the real data can be classified as follows: ΔT > 2.71×T(12) - 87.3 → Group III ΔT < 1.98×T(12) - 63.9 → Group I Others → Group II This classification corresponds to the classification shown in Fig.10 and is performed T(30) seconds after. Subsequently, the prediction realization condition is changed in accordance with the group. This is a map method of the third example in the embodiment. In other words, one group of variables of the vertical and horizontal axes corresponds to one prediction method (predictive expression and prediction realization condition). By adopting this method, a high precision of prediction can be maintained in a wider range of changes in temperature. The vertical axis represents the value corresponding to the ratio of differential coefficients (in reality, the ratio of differentials). <Selection of the predictive operational expressions> In addition to the selection of the prediction realization conditions, the selection of the predictive operational expressions is performed as follows. When the predictive operational expression is Y(t) = T(t) + U(t) U(t) = (a dT dt +b)t + (c dT dt + d), if Group I a = 0.04103, b = -0.71931, c = -0.008.13, d = 0.864; if Group II a = 0.04321, b = 0.38085, c = -0.00014, d = 0.17734; if Group III a = 0.05441, b = -0.49832, c = -0.00532, d = 0.79982. When the predictive operational expression is Y(t) = T(t) + U(t) U(t) = (a dT dt + b)t + (c dT dt + d)+e; a = 0.04321, b = 0.38085, c = -0.00014, d = 0.17734; if Group I e = -0.06; if Group II e = 0; if Group III e = +0.07. The selection of the prediction realization conditions is the same as the above-mentioned embodiment in above two examples of the selection of the predictive operational expressions. As described above, an electronic clinical thermometer of this embodiment has a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of a region to be measured, an operation circuit for setting a prediction method in accordance with changes in the detected temperature with the passage of time and predicting the equilibrium temperature, and a display means for displaying the equilibrium temperature, and can predict a precise equilibrium temperature in a wider range of changes in temperature. Changes, modifications and additions in the embodiment are possible without departing from the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims: An electronic clinical thermometer comprising: temperature detection means (10) for detecting the temperature T(t) as a function of time of a region to be measured; memory means (22) storing a plurality of sets of information, each set defining a prediction method by way of: one of a plurality of predictive operational expressions (22a) for calculating a predictive equilibrium temperature Y(t) as a function at least of time, of the detected temperature T(t) and of the change dT/dt over time of said temperature T(t); and - one of a plurality of prediction realization conditions (22b) based on said change dT/dt of said temperature T(t), for judging whether the predictive equilibrium temperature Y(t) has a sufficient precision of prediction; each such set of information being associated with one of a plurality of groups of states of change in temperature as detected prior to a prediction operation, each group corresponding to one of a plurality of regions (I, II, III; FIG. 9) of a graph representing states of changes in temperature as points having as coordinates: the temperature T(t1) detected at a time point t1 of the detected temperature rise; and the ratio ΔT(t early )/ΔT(t late ) of the temperature rises ΔT(t early ) and ΔT(t late ) experienced by the temperature during a predetermined period of time, as detected at an early time point t early of the detected temperature rise and at a later time point t late , respectively; prediction method setting means (21) for determining to which region of said graph a point representative of a detected state of change in temperature belongs and for setting the prediction method associated with the group of states of change in temperature corresponding to the so determined region; predictive operation means (21) for calculating the predictive equilibrium temperature Y(t) using the predictive operational expression and the prediction realization condition of the set of information as stored in the memory means which corresponds to the prediction method set by the prediction method setting means; and display means (30) for displaying the predictive equilibrium temperature which is judged to have a sufficient precision of prediction. An electronic clinical thermometer according to claim 1, wherein the predictive operational expression is of the form Y(t)=T(t)+U(t) wherein: U(t) = addition value expression , a,b,c,d = coefficients, T = detected temperature, t = elapsed time, and a set of the coefficients a, b, c and d is selected corresponding to the selected group. An electronic clinical thermometer according to claim 1, wherein the predictive operational expression is of the form Y(t)=T(t)+U(t) wherein: U(t) = addition value expression, a,b,c,d ,e = coefficients , T = detected temperature, t = elapsed time, and the coefficient e is selected corresponding the selected group. An electronic clinical thermometer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the prediction realization condition is selected from a plurality of change values of temperature, dT dt = 0.180/20 (°C/sec), dT dt = 0.300/20 (°C/sec), and dT dt = 0.140/20 (°C/sec), corresponding the selected group.

Inventors: IKEDA MAKOTO, TORIUMI MAKOTO, IKEDA, MAKOTO, TORIUMI, MAKOTO, IKEDA, MAKOTO, C/O TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TORIUMI, MAKOTO, C/O TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Applicants: TERUMO CORP, TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1990
Main classification: G01K13
IPC codes: G01K7, A61B5