Optical temperature probe
US4016761A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 18, 1974 |
| Grant date | Apr 12, 1977 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 18, 1994 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01K11/12
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A temperature probe measures temperature changes of biological tissue while he tissue is being irradiated with microwaves. The temperature probe is completely nonmetallic to minimize perturbation of the microwave field, and the structure of the probe includes a plurality of optic fibers which carry light to and from a reflective liquid crystal film. The liquid crystal is enclosed in a housing at the tip of the probe which is in contact with the biological tissue, and the liquid crystal undergoes changes in absolute reflectance proportional to the temperature changes of the tissue. The optic fibers are gathered in a bundle with a first portion of the bundle transmitting light from a light generation device to the liquid crystal and the remainder of the bundle transmitting reflected light from the crystal back to a photo transistor. The reflected light received by the photo transistor is converted into an electrical signal and displayed as a representation of temperature.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.