Patent ID: 7540864

Claim:
A method of measuring temperature of a fluid at various locations along an intravenous fluid line extending between a fluid source and a patient via a temperature sensing device including a base with a groove defined therein forming a receptacle to receive and retain a portion of said fluid line and to allow said fluid line to extend continuously through said temperature sensing device and a temperature sensor to measure temperature of fluid within said retained fluid line portion, wherein said temperature sensing device further includes a plurality of resilient prongs and said receptacle is disposed on said temperature sensing device between said resilient prongs, said method comprising: (a) providing a desired location along said fluid line residing at any of a plurality of fluid line locations between said fluid source and said patient from which to measure temperature of said fluid; (b) receiving said temperature sensing device at a portion of said fluid line corresponding to said desired location, wherein said temperature sensing device is selectively securable to said fluid line at any of said plurality of fluid line locations and said plurality of fluid line locations includes at least one proximal fluid line location toward said fluid source and at least one distal fluid line location toward said patient, and wherein step (b) further includes: (b.1) receiving said desired fluid line portion between said prongs and within said receptacle formed by said groove within said base; and (b.2) engaging said temperature sensor with said prongs to secure said temperature sensor proximate to said desired fluid line portion; (c) measuring a temperature of fluid flowing through said selected portion of said fluid line via said temperature sensor; and (d) displaying the measured temperature via a temperature monitor in communication with said temperature sensor.