Reliability of an infrared forehead skin thermometer for core temperature measurements

J.A. Kistemaker, F.E. Hartog, H. Daanen

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The SensorTouch thermometer performs an infrared measurement of the skin temperature above the Superficial Temporal Artery (STA). This study evaluates the validity and the accuracy of the SensorTouch thermometer. Two experiments were performed in which the body temperature was measured with a rectal sensor, with an oesophageal sensor and with the SensorTouch. After entering a warm chamber the SensorTouch underestimated the core temperature during the first 10 minutes. After that, the SensorTouch was not significantly different from the core temperature, with an average difference of 0.5°C (SD 0.5°C) in the first study and 0.3°C (SD 0.2°C) in the second study. The largest differences between the SensorTouch and the core temperature existed 15 minutes after the start of the exercise. During this period the SensorTouch was significantly higher than the core temperature. The SensorTouch did not provide reliable values of the body temperature during periods of increasing body temperature, but the SensorTouch might work under stable conditions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)252-261
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Medical Engineering and Technology
Volume30
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2006

Bibliographical note

Working title: Accuracy of an infrared skin thermometer

Keywords

  • Core temperature
  • Infrared
  • Temporal artery
  • Thermometry

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