LOW-POWER HEAT FLUX MODULATOR FOR CORE BODY TEMPERATURE SENSING

摘要

A core body temperature measuring device comprises: a heat flux modulator (8) comprising first and second microtubing (16, 18) thermally isolated from each other and a fluid pump (26) operatively connected with the first and second heat exchangers and operable to drive a working fluid through the heat exchangers so as to selectively provide thermal communication between the first and second heat exchangers; a probe (30) having a contacting surface (32) configured to contact skin, the heat flux modulator arranged to modulate heat flux from the skin contacted by the contacting surface of the probe; temperature sensors (40, 42) arranged to measure (i) a temperature of the skin contacted by the contacting surface of the probe and (ii) a parameter correlated with heat flux from the skin contacted by the contacting surface of the probe; and a core body temperature processor (50) configured to determine a core body temperature reading based on measurements received from the temperature sensors.