Body-mountable temperature monitor accounting for ambient conditions
A method of monitoring an internal body temperature of a patient includes detecting a skin temperature of the patient using a temperature sensor in a body-mountable temperature monitor attached to the patient; calculating, using the temperature sensor, a heat flux associated with the body-mountable temperature monitor based on selectively activating a heater in the body-mountable temperature monitor; and determining the internal body temperature of the patient using the skin temperature and the heat flux.
1. A method of monitoring an internal body temperature of a patient, the method comprising:
detecting a skin temperature of the patient using a single temperature sensor in a body-mountable temperature monitor attached to skin of the patient;
calculating, using the single temperature sensor, a heat flux associated with the body-mountable temperature monitor based on selectively activating a heater in the body-mountable temperature monitor; and
determining the internal body temperature of the patient using the skin temperature and the heat flux,
wherein the body-mountable temperature monitor comprises an adhesive layer;
wherein the adhesive layer comprises an opening; and
wherein the single temperature sensor is positioned within the opening of the adhesive layer.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating an alarm when the internal body temperature of the patient is greater than a predetermined maximum temperature.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating an alarm when the internal body temperature of the patient is less than a predetermined minimum temperature.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein calculating the heat flux comprises:
activating the heater;
monitoring, using the single temperature sensor, a temperature increase of the skin temperature of the patient during the activation of the heater;
deactivating the heater; and
monitoring, using the single temperature sensor, a temperature decrease of the skin temperature of the patient after the deactivation of the heater;
wherein the heat flux is based on the temperature decrease.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the heat flux is further based on the temperature increase.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the body-mountable temperature monitor is attached to the skin of the patient via the adhesive layer.
7. A method of monitoring an internal body temperature of a patient, the method comprising:
detecting a skin temperature of the patient using a temperature sensor in a body-mountable temperature monitor attached to the patient;
wherein the body-mountable temperature monitor comprises an adhesive layer and wherein the body-mountable temperature monitor is attached to the skin of the patient via the adhesive layer;
calculating, using the temperature sensor, a heat flux associated with the body-mountable temperature monitor based on selectively activating a heater in the body-mountable temperature monitor;
wherein calculating the heat flux comprises:
activating the heater;
monitoring, using the temperature sensor, a temperature increase of the skin temperature of the patient during the activation of the heater;
deactivating the heater; and
monitoring, using the temperature sensor, a temperature decrease of the skin temperature of the patient after the deactivation of the heater;
wherein the heat flux is based on the temperature decrease and the temperature increase;
determining the internal body temperature of the patient using the skin temperature and the heat flux; and
predicting a future internal body temperature based on the heat flux, the skin temperature of the patient, and a historical skin temperature of the patient.