Wireless thermometer and method of use thereof
An apparatus and method for sensing body temperature and wirelessly communicating measured data to at least one electronic device. The device includes a sensor device having a housing base, a housing cover releasably mountable on the housing base, and components for sensing body temperature and wirelessly communicating the measured temperature, including a temperature sensor, a power supply, a microprocessor, and a transmitter and receiver. The electronic device can include an application that communicates with the sensor device and provides a user interface.
1. A method for sensing a body temperature and wirelessly communicating a measured body temperature to an external device, the method comprising:
wirelessly connecting a device configured to sense the body temperature to the external device;
flexing a carrier to expand an aperture of the carrier and inserting the device into the expanded aperture;
positioning the device against a user using the carrier;
measuring the body temperature of the user using the device;
transmitting data associated with the measured body temperature of the user wirelessly from the device to the external device; and
storing the data on the external device.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting measurement instructions from the external device to the device.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying the data on the external device, wherein the data is displayed in an application installed on the external device.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of positioning the device comprises removing a peel-off backing from the carrier to expose an adhesive section and positioning the adhesive section against the user's skin.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device includes a peripheral channel, and the step of inserting the device into the expanded aperture comprises:
inserting the device into the expanded aperture to align the peripheral channel with an edge of an inner perimeter of the aperture; and
returning the carrier to a relaxed position where the edge is received within the peripheral channel.
6. A thermometer assembly comprising:
a carrier configured to attach to a user;
a device coupled to the carrier, the device including
a housing,
a temperature sensor disposed within the housing and configured to measure a temperature of the user, and
a transmitter disposed within the housing and configured to transmit data associated with the measured temperature of the user;
wherein at least a portion of the housing extends entirely through an opening in the carrier; and
wherein a transparent layer extends across the opening and is configured to accommodate a portion of the housing positioned in the opening.
7. The thermometer assembly of claim 6 , wherein the carrier includes an adhesive layer between a frame and a peel-off backing layer configured such that, when the peel-off backing layer is removed, the adhesive layer contacts the housing and the user, and wherein a perforated strip extends from the adhesive layer into the opening and engages the housing.
8. The thermometer assembly of claim 6 , wherein the housing includes a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the carrier and the first portion of the housing are curved such that ends of the carrier and the first portion are further disposed in a direction from the second portion to the first portion than center portions of the carrier and the first portion.
9. The thermometer assembly of claim 6 , wherein the housing includes a channel, and wherein the device is retained in the opening of the carrier by the channel.
10. The thermometer assembly of claim 6 , wherein the housing comprises:
a housing base including a projection configured to contact the user, the temperature sensor being disposed within the projection; and
a housing cover releasably mounted to the housing base to permit removal of the housing cover from the housing base and reattachment of the housing cover to the housing base;
wherein the housing base and the housing cover are connected by a snap-fit or friction-fit connection.
11. The thermometer assembly of claim 6 , wherein the thermometer assembly includes a tab coupled to the housing and configured to be pulled by a user to assist in removing the device from the carrier.
12. The thermometer assembly of claim 6 , wherein the device further includes a receiver configured to receive measurement instructions from an external device.
13. A thermometer assembly comprising,
a carrier configured to attach to a user;
a device coupled to the carrier, the device including,
a housing,
a temperature sensor disposed within the housing and configured to measure a temperature of the user, and
a transmitter disposed within the housing and configured to transmit data associated with the temperature of the user;
wherein at least a portion of the housing extends entirely through an opening in the carrier;
wherein the housing includes a peripheral channel;
wherein the opening of the carrier includes an inner edge;
wherein the inner edge is received within the peripheral channel when the device is coupled to the carrier; and
wherein at least a portion of the housing extends through the opening on either side of the carrier.
14. The thermometer assembly of claim 13 , wherein the carrier includes an adhesive layer between a frame and a peel-off backing layer configured such that, when the peel-off backing layer is removed, the adhesive layer contacts the housing and the user, and wherein a perforated strip extends from the adhesive layer into the opening and engages the housing.
15. The thermometer assembly of claim 13 , wherein the housing includes a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the carrier and the first portion of the housing are curved such that ends of the carrier and the first portion are further disposed in a direction from the second portion to the first portion than center portions of the carrier and the first portion.
16. The thermometer assembly of claim 13 , wherein the housing comprises:
a housing base including a projection configured to contact the user, the temperature sensor being disposed within the projection; and
a housing cover releasably mounted to the housing base to permit removal of the housing cover from the housing base and reattachment of the housing cover to the housing base;
wherein the housing base and the housing cover are connected by a snap-fit or friction-fit connection.
17. The thermometer assembly of claim 13 , wherein a transparent layer extends across the opening and is configured to accommodate a portion of the housing positioned in the opening.
18. The thermometer assembly of claim 13 , wherein the housing is retained in the opening of the carrier by the peripheral channel.
19. The thermometer assembly of claim 13 , wherein the device further includes a receiver configured to receive measurement instructions from an external device.
20. The thermometer assembly of claim 13 , wherein the thermometer assembly includes a tab coupled to the housing and configured to be pulled by a user to assist in removing the device from the carrier.