Infrared-transmitting-fiber-optic-cable-based device for non-contact thermometry

摘要

An improved waveguide for an infrared thermometer, comprising a silver halide optical fiber cable of low transmission loss, a high aspect ratio, and a radially decreasing index of refraction. The transmission loss is low enough to enable the cable to be up to ten meters in length, thereby extending beyond the housing of the thermometer and being insertable in confined spaces such as an ear canal. The small cross sectional area and radially decreasing index of refraction of the cable make the field of view of the cable small enough to enable it to resolve targets as small as a portion of the human tympanic membrane, enabling the device to be used to measure the core temperature of humans and other organisms.