How does an ear thermometer work

You don't want to be touching the eardrum with a thermometer. This makes the detection of the eardrum's temperature a remote sensing problem. Granted, it is not very remote -- just a centimeter or so. But it's remote nonetheless! It turns out that the remote sensing of an object's temperature can be done using its infrared radiation. This technique is a very good way to detect the temperature of a person's eardrum. All of the objects around you are radiating infrared energy right now. Human beings don't have any sensors that can detect subtle differences in infrared, but our skin can detect objects radiating lots of infrared energy.

When you warm yourself by standing close to a fire , the "warmth" is infrared energy that you are absorbing. At the end of an infrared ear thermometer is a lens for focusing the infrared energy on to a thermopile, normally made of a thin pyroelectric crystal.

The crystal generates an electric charge proportional to the amount of energy received and a temperature measurement is obtained based on the amount of electric charge generated. How to Use an Infrared Ear Monitor. Infrared baby thermometer. How to use an infrared ear thermometer An infrared ear thermometer derives the body temperature by remotely detecting the eardrum temperature.

Gently pull the ear back to straighten the ear canal. For some people, their ear canals are curved slightly and this would prevent pointing the sensor directly at the eardrum.

When positioning the probe into the ear canal, make sure it aims at the eardrum. If the probe points to the ear canal wall, the reading may be off slightly.

If the ear canal is blocked by earwax, fluid or other material, this would interfere with the radiation reaching the sensor. If the sensor is not clean, reading would be off as some radiation would be blocked by the dirt. The answer is that one is not better than the other, they are simply suited for different children. But what of households that have both older children and infants? Do such parents have to buy multiple thermometers?

Is there a thermometer that can be used for children of all ages? A 5-time winner of the Mother and Baby best thermometer award, here are some features mums love:. Stores the previous 32 readings for your reference can also store readings for different children. There you have it! Whichever thermometer you choose, it is sure to help you along your parenting journey! Find out more about Cherub Baby at www. Nav Menu.

Expo Dashboard Login. Pre-conception Fertility. Loading Facebook Like button By Cherub Baby A must have household item for new parents is of course a baby thermometer. Forehead Thermometer The forehead thermometer is also known as the temporal artery thermometer.

Advantages of the Forehead Thermometer 1. Disadvantages of the Forehead Thermometer 1. Ear Thermometer The ear thermometer is also known as the tympanic thermometer. Advantages of the Ear Thermometer 1.