Medical infrared thermometer offers you an accurate reading without being invasive. It is the best tool ever for medical professionals during the pandemic. Because of its zero contact mode with patients. Although if you want to buy and use these thermometers, you should beware of some points. If you are still confused, here’s a quick guide to buying IR thermometers.
An overview of medical infrared thermometer
The medical infrared thermometer never comes in contact with a contaminated and invasive environment. Because of zero contact mode with any infected individual. So, you must know how to use this thermometer. Although it came as a blessing to medical experts in COVID-19. But some people are still confused about its uses.
You can use this thermometer to record temperature for even animals. As it is in non-contact with objects and uses infrared waves to take the temperature. So you can record temperature either from the forehead or wrist.
How to use a medical infrared thermometer?
Here are some steps to use infrared thermometers:
- Start the device: The switching method differs by device. Some thermometers start with an on button, but some with a trigger.
- Choose the measurement: Medical infrared thermometer offers you two options. You can select between Celsius and Fahrenheit.
- Select the object: Now whom you want to experiment with like a human or animal. Finally, select any mode. To see everything, some infrared thermometers have an HD LED screen. You can also view multiple readings at the same time.
- Press the trigger: Pull the trigger! To get the correct reading, you must hold for a few seconds. It also shows the temperature on the screen.
How to select the best thermometer for your needs?
You can find medical infrared thermometers from reliable sources. But picking the one for yourself must be tricky. So you select them by differentiating lenses.
Here are three types of IR thermometers based on the lens:
No lens: If you want to buy the cheapest of all, one with zero lens works the best. However, it is easy to use for domestic purposes. But you should keep it at a distance to get an accurate reading.
Fresnel lens: One of the most popular medical infrared forehead thermometers on the market. Professionals from the food industry depend on this type. So, if anybody catches up with a high temperature, the result may not be correct. Therefore, it doesn’t fit the scientific research standards.
Mica Lens: Moving on to the third type, the Mica lens. It is one of the most expensive lenses. So does the monitoring because the results are accurate. Therefore fits in the research standards.
You will find many medical infrared thermometers with chargeable batteries. As a result, it can be used in a variety of subjects to provide accurate readings. You can purchase thermometers from any reputable source or online for a genuine buy. So, the more batteries you replace, the longer it will work for you.
Applications of medical infrared thermometers
Here are some of the uses of IR thermometers:
- It may be a good fit for measuring component temperatures. Such as power supply units and I/O cards. Because it remains in the analyzer room or substation’s panel. So you should be able to tell whether or not a particular panel is adequately cooled.
- The best application of medical infrared forehead thermometer was during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because medical personnel was unable to physically touch the patients.
- It can assist you in monitoring heating and cooling systems for any insulation breakdown.
Causes of incorrect readings
If you remember the D:S ratio and emissivity, the readings can never go wrong. Although some things cause inaccurate measurements.
- Steam, smoke, dust, and fog can deflect an object’s infrared radiation to reach the device.
- If your lens is not clean or damaged, it will not focus on the object.
- If you keep in mind, the medical infrared thermometers in opposite extreme temperatures. So, it will take time to get into your surroundings.
- If you get any radio frequency in between, it may misread the measurements to confuse readings.
Limitations of medical infrared thermometer
Medical infrared thermometers are the best tools for every situation. But only if you do it in the right way. So here are numerous limitations to IR thermometers use.
- You should only measure the surface temperature of food and not any internal temperatures! As a result, a thermometer is not a replacement for an infrared medical thermometer. They determine internal temperatures in foods.
- Perhaps the surface measurements differ depending on the type.
- It may not function due to smoke, frost, dust, fog, or other natural factors.
- Rapid changes in ambient temperature have a temporary effect on it.
- It also distinguishes itself by its proximity to a radio frequency. And that with an electromagnetic field strength of at least three volts per meter.
- It doesn’t work well with transparent surfaces. Because the light beam doesn’t pass through the object. If you point an IR at a window, you’ll be measuring the temperature of the window pane, not the outdoors.
Cleaning of medical infrared thermometer
Here are some tips to follow for cleaning IR thermometers.
- IR thermometers should be kept clean for accurate readings. Just dampen the clean cloth to clean it with a cotton swab.
- Gently wipe the lens and then the thermometer’s body.
- Allow the thermometer to dry completely before using it.
- Never use soap or chemicals on the thermometer, and never immerse any part of it in water.
Conclusion: Medical thermometers help you to measure readings from different objects. However, you must understand the proper buying guide and how to use it.
Frequently Questioned Answer
Q1.What is the maximum distance for an infrared thermometer?
Ans 1.The maximum measuring distance for most infrared thermometers is approximately 100 feet.
Q2.How accurate are IR thermometers?
Ans 2. According to research, infrared thermometers are just as accurate as other thermometers while being less invasive.
Q3.Where is the best place to take the infrared temperature?
Ans 3.Rectal or ear temperature readings are slightly higher than oral readings.