CEATEC JAPAN 2015

The Omron booth

Omron Healthcare (Omron hereinafter) developed ultra-compact, stick-on-type body temperature measurement technology to measure body surface temperature using the company’s unique sensor structure and calculation method.

Ultra compact at 2.5 cm high by 5cm wide. Temperature measured by attaching the device to the skin

There are two types of body temperature measurement – “actual measured body temperature” and “predicted body temperature.”
With actual measured body temperature using the older mercury thermometers, the thermometer have to be held in position until the temperature stop rising, which took about 10 minutes.
In contrast, more modern electronic thermometers measure temperature by predicted body temperature, which entails looking at how the temperature rises for an initial period of time (30 seconds or so) to predict the body temperature that would normally be reached after 10 minutes.

However, although this method offers shorter measurement time, predicted body temperature has a number of disadvantages.
For starters, holding a thermometer in place in the armpit of a baby that won’t stay still is problematic, and an elderly person who might not perceive some temperature related symptoms probably won’t take the opportunity to measure their temperature, which means symptoms could become serious by the time they do finally notice.

To overcome these weak points, Omron focused on the heat that is emitted from inside to the outside of the body. This technology uses a heat flow sensor to measure how much heat is being emitted, and in combination with a conventional surface-type thermometer, the system is able to predict the temperature inside the body.

Successful chip miniaturization for temperature sensor

Omron’s ultra-compact, stick-on type body temperature measurement technology designed for caring