Temperature Assessment via the Temporal Artery: Validation of a New Method

What is it ? The Sensor Touch is an infrared thermometer designed for non invasive temperature assessment at the temporal artery (TA) It has been clincally proven in premier university hospital to be as accurate as and even superior to rectal temperatures. IT is a superior method for patient and clinic alike. It is break through technology. How does it work ? Temperature is measured by gently stroking the Sensor Touch across the forehead and includes a momentary touch of the probe to the neck area behind the ear lobe, to account for any cooling of the forehead as a result of diaphoresis. The patented arterial heat balance technology (AHB) automatically measures the temperature of the skin surface over the artery and ambient temperature synthesizing the two produce arterial tenperature, by sampling and calculating these paired readings some 2000 times a second with each use. How accurate is it? It is at least as accurate and data suggest it is even superior to rectal temperate measurement. The adjacement chart represents 404 paired measurements of rectal and TA temperatures on infants and young children. Mean difference was -0.06 and SD of this difference was 0.34, demonstrating strong agreement, supporting inter changebility between the methods. In fact, Data analyses are strongely suggestive of prognostic significance for the TA method, and formal investigation toward that end is underway. Why measure behind the ear lobe? Sweat couses evaporative cooling on the forehead, and the possibility of a false low temperatue. But during diaphoresis, the area on the head behind the lobe will exhibit blood flow necessary for the arterial measurement. Why not use only the area behind the ear lobe? Since the arterial branch is deeper behind the ear lobe than at the temple, under normal conditions it is less accurate, But under diahoretic conditions, the blood flow behind the ear lobe is as high as at the TA, making it as accurate as the TA, but only during diaphoresis. What are the benefits of using temporal artery thermometry? Besides the inherent accurate, as a site for temperture measurement, TA presents many benefits: no risk of injury for patient or clinician, eliminates the need for disrobing or unbudling, and is suitable for all ages. EXERGEN COPRORATE * 51 WATER STREET * WATER, MA * 02472 * PH 617.923.990 * www.exergen.com Download PDF version If you do not have Acrobat Reader, click on the icon below to download before proceeding. e-mail: medical@exergen.com