|
|
Temperature Assessment via the Temporal Artery: Validation of a New Method Arterial Heat Balance Thermometry at an Exposed Skin Site: Accuracy, Comfort, and Convenience for Patient and Clinician Abstract: There has in the past been no method of thermometry that is considered by patients and clinicians to be comfortable, convenient, and accurate. Rectal, oral, axilla, and ear thermometry all have either significant discomfort due to the use of a body cavity, artifactual inaccuracies due to physiological/device phenomena, or both, thus making them less than desirable for the needs of both patient and clinician. The exposed skin eliminates the use of a body cavity, but an accurate method using the skin has heretofore not been demonstrated. The superficial temporal artery demonstrates the necessary requirements for the skin thermometry method: it is easily accessible, contains no mucous membranes, and notably, it has no or very few arteriovenous anastomoses (AVA).1,2 Lack of AVA's means that perfusion rate is reliable under essentially all conditions, and the blood flow is relatively free of vasomotor control in response to thermomoregulatory stimuli. This property is unique to the temporal artery when considering all accessible cutaneous blood vessels. The high and reliable perfusion allows accurate mathematical computations of the heat lost to the environment due to the cutaneous flow, and thus an accurate calculation of the source arterial temperature at the heart. As a site for temperature measurement, the temporal artery presents many benefits: it poses no risk of injury for patient or clinician, eliminates any need for disrobing or unbundling, and is suitable for all ages. Accordingly, Exergen, incorporating a patented and well-proven arterial heat balance method, developed instrumentation for non-invasive arterial temperature assessment on the skin over temporal artery. This report presents a validation of accuracy of the arterial heat balance method. Full Report.
1 Bergersen TK. A search for arteriovenous anastomoses in human skin using ultrasound Doppler. Acta Physiol Scand Feb;147(2):195-201. 2 Takehiko I, Sessler et al. Influence of thermoregulatory vasomotion and ambient temperature variation on the accuracy of core-temperature estimates by cutaneous liquid-crystal thermometers, Anesthesiology, V 86, No 3, Mar 1997.
| The Product TAT-5000 Temporal Artery Thermometer with Silver Ion Antimicrobial Head The Exergen Temporal Artery Thermometer is the only thermometer with an Antimicrobial Head manufactured from a material fully impregnated with silver ions that are released through a unique and controlled ion exchange process. 
Laboratory tests demonstrate the controlled release of silver ions from the sensor head provides continuous antimicrobial protection for more than five years, working proactively against a broad spectrum of bacteria, fungi and other microbes. A 90% cost reduction is provided because disposable covers are optional, as an alcohol or other disinfectant wipe can be used between patients. Resposable covers are available for certain patients, which can be reused on the same patient. The Lifetime Warranty, unique to thermometry, completely protects the entire instrument, and eliminates spare parts storage, biomedical engineering labor, and all repair charges. Specifications (28 KB) | About the Product Fast, Accurate, and Non-Invasive ...and, it started with a kiss!  Taking a temperature with a light stroke across the forehead, the TemporalScanner provides an innovative method of temperature assessment based on infrared readings of temporal artery blood flow. The Temporal Artery Thermometer is fast, accurate, easy to use and even gentle enough to use on a sleeping patient. It is non-invasive and can be used for all patients – newborns through geriatrics. More than 25 peer reviewed published studies have demonstrated the Exergen temporal artery thermometer to be more accurate than ear thermometry, providing accuracy comparable to the Gold Standards of pulmonary artery catheters, esophageal probes, rectal temperature on a stable patient, and rectal temperature when compared over time, and to outcome. |
|