Background
Maintaining optimal core temperature is vital for overall health, from everyday comfort to medical interventions like therapeutic hypothermia. However, existing methods often involve invasive procedures or have limitations. Dr. Kenneth R. Diller and his team have developed a 2D resistance temperature detector (RTD) for measuring the average surface temperature of any solid object through direct contact. Dr. Diller, a renowned authority in heat and temperature-related processes in living tissues, offers expertise in computational biomedical engineering and molecular biomechanics. His work encompasses a wide range of medical applications, including temperature effects on tissue healing, core body temperature regulation, sleep management using temperature, and the impact of body temperature on blood flow.
Invention
The 2D RTD temperature sensor is made of insulated magnet wire woven, knitted, or crocheted into various sizes. It utilizes 32, 34, or 36 AWG enamel-coated Cu wire, with a thickness approximately twice that of the wire. This thin device conforms to complex curved surfaces, allowing temperature measurement across the entire surface. Unlike traditional devices, it provides temperature readings across multiple points, enhancing accuracy. Its construction from readily available materials using knitting/weaving machines reduces manufacturing costs, making it suitable for diverse applications on complex body parts.
Technology overview
STS involves the application of mild surface heating along the spinal cord to target localized thermoreceptors. This stimulation influences thermoregulatory responses, particularly in glabrous skin areas such as the palms and soles. By modulating blood flow in these regions, STS enhances convective heat exchange capabilities, facilitating effective temperature management.
Benefits
- Non-invasive: Does not require invasive procedures, minimizing patient discomfort and risk.
- Enhances thermoregulation: Improves the body's ability to regulate core temperature, aiding in maintaining optimal physiological conditions
- Efficient heat exchange: Increases blood flow in glabrous skin areas, enhancing convective heat exchange between the core and peripheral tissues
- Potentially versatile: Can be applied in various clinical scenarios requiring temperature modulation, from perioperative care to therapeutic hypothermia induction
Commercial applications
- Perioperative normothermia maintenance: Aids in core temperature regulation during surgery, lowering the risk of complications like infections and cardiac issues
- Therapeutic hypothermia induction: Non-invasively induces therapeutic hypothermia in conditions such as cardiac arrest, stroke, and traumatic brain injury, potentially enhancing patient outcomes
