Patent ID: 8591103

Claim:
An infrared thermometer comprising: a probe with an infrared target having an emissivity of at least 0.8 that receives thermal energy via conductance and infrared radiation to provide an indirect and substantially consistent source of infrared radiation, said probe further comprising at least one probe tip body having a distal end, a proximal end, an infrared opaque wall between said distal and proximal ends and a distal aperture for preventing contamination of the infrared target while permitting the reception of thermal energy by the target; and an infrared sensor for sensing infrared radiation from the infrared target, the infrared target being positioned within one of the distal aperture and the interior of the probe tip body adjacent the distal end and axially relative to said distal aperture wherein said infrared target receives thermal energy passing through the distal aperture and thereafter emits infrared radiation from a planar rear surface of said infrared target to the infrared sensor using the infrared opaque wall of said probe tip body as a waveguide for transmission of said radiation and without intermediate optical elements between said target and said sensor.