Premium
On the spatial resolution of clinical thermometers
Author(s) -
Gerig L. H.,
Szanto J.,
Raaphorst G. P.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 2473-4209
pISSN - 0094-2405
DOI - 10.1118/1.596897
Subject(s) - thermometer , thermocouple , image resolution , materials science , reproducibility , biomedical engineering , optics , medicine , mathematics , physics , thermodynamics , composite material , statistics
In this work the spatial resolution of type T (copper‐Constantan) and type K (Chromel‐Alumel) multipoint thermocouple thermometers was investigated. For clinical use, thermocouples are usually inserted within catheters to provide easy access, reproducibility, and a sterile environment. The effect of several types of catheter on the ability of these thermometers to accurately resolve thermal gradients was studied. The influence of the number of wire pairs within the multipoint thermometer was also investigated. A mathematical model has been developed to determine the spatial resolving power of these thermometers. Results indicate that type K thermocouples are generally superior to type T and the use of catheters plays a significant role in spatial resolution. Moreover, the use of mineral oil as a thermal coupling agent between the catheter and the thermometer was also found to have some effect.