A bandage based thermometer placed on the temple region of the forehead provides an non-invasive means of measuring a patient's core body temperature. An array of temperature sensors spaced along the length of the bandage is used to determine the skin temperature over the temporal artery. Temperature sensors buried within the bandage allow the direct measurement of the heat flow leaving the skin over the temporal artery. By using the method of heat balance in conjunction with the skin temperature and heat flux measurements, the temperature of the blood within the temporal artery, which is at the core body temperature, can be estimated. Compared to the traditional hand-held Temporal Artery Thermometer, this approach decreases the sensitivity of the core temperature estimation to errors arising from air flow across the forehead, perspiration, and the local environment. A wireless link transmits the data to a remote monitoring station, allowing long term monitoring of patient temperature.
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