Patent ID: 7434991

Claim:
A tympanic thermometer having a proximal end and a distal end, the thermometer comprising: a thermally conductive nozzle extending from the distal end of the thermometer, the nozzle being located and shaped to receive a probe cover thereon, a sensor can housing temperature sensing electronics for sensing temperature, the sensor can including a base thermally connected to the nozzle to define a path of conductive heat transfer from the nozzle to the base of the can, the sensor can being otherwise free of thermal connection with a thermally conductive structure of greater mass than the sensor can, the thermometer in combination with the probe cover thermally connected to the nozzle as part of the path of conductive heat transfer, wherein heat from outside the thermometer is transferred from the probe cover through the nozzle to the base of the sensor can via the path of conductive heat transfer, and further wherein the probe cover is thermally connected to the nozzle solely at a distal end margin of the nozzle.