Temperature Monitoring Equipment, Thermometer Supplies & Medical Probes

What is Body Temperature?

Body temperature relates to the temperature that is deep inside the body. It must be maintained to ensure the stable operation of vital functions, which include the internal organs, brain, and main arteries. Normal temperature is usually around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, or 37 degrees Celsius. However, normal body temperature is not the same for everyone. Temperature can also vary with time of day and with age, as it is usually lowest in the morning, highest in the afternoon, and a little lower at night. Since body temperature is a vital sign, it is important to measure it accurately. It should be measured and recorded regularly with consistency, precision, and diligence. Practitioners should be extremely aware of their patient’s temperature, because it serves as a helpful indicator of a change in a patient’s clinical condition.

What are the Various Types of Medical Temperature Probes?

There are several different types of medical temperature probes, and each one is made for a particular purpose. These include an esophageal stethoscope, a general purpose temperature probe, a nasopharyngeal probe, a nasal probe, Foley catheters with temperature sensors, a myocardial temperature probe, an adult skin temperature probe, a tympanic temperature probe, and a sensostrip temperature indicator.

An esophageal stethoscope is designed for use in a surgical setting to monitor respiratory and heart sounds, and to measure core body temperature in an anesthetized patient. It provides high quality heart and respiratory sound transmission, and is available with or without temperature monitoring capability. It comes in all popular French sizes, is fully compatible with most monitors, and it is available in extra-long lengths. For improved patient comfort, it is accessible in regular and soft flexible styles. Its surface comes in atraumatic, low-friction so insertion is easier. The esophageal stethoscope has a thin distal cuff which allows optimal sound transmission and fidelity, a positive locking connector for secure cable connections, and is latex free.

A general purpose temperature probe is used for routine monitoring of a patient’s core body temperature. Its versatile design allows it to be introduced nasally, orally or rectally. It has a low friction surface to ease its insertion with a positive locking connector for a secure cable connection. The general purpose probe has completely enclosed sensor wires for improved hygiene and stability, a thin, flexible design to ensure optimal patient safety, and non-toxic, non-porous materials for additional patient security. It is fully compatible with most monitors, available in regular and soft flexibility for enhanced patient comfort, and latex free.

A nasopharyngeal probe has an optimized design for nasal use with a very soft sheath for atraumatic insertion to minimize epistaxis. To provide additional flexibility, is has an 18 inch (457 mm) sheath on a 30 inch (762 mm) wire. It fits standard DeRoyal interface cables, is sterile, and latex free.

A nasal probe has an optimized design for nasal use with a smoothed tip for atraumatic insertion. To protect delicate nasal tissue it has a 1 inch (25 mm) sheath along with a soft and pliable wire. It fits standard DeRoyal interface cables, can be held in place with any standard medical tape, is latex free, and sterile.

A Foley catheter with a temperature sensor is used for urinary drainage and simultaneous monitoring of a patient’s core body temperature. Its dual purpose design can be used before, during, or after surgery and has color coded hubs for size identification. It has a positive locking connector for a secure cable attachment, is fully compatible with most monitors, and features safe and non-toxic components. The catheter comes in a complete range of sizes, 8-18 French, is feasible as a single sterile product or can be delivered in a custom procedural tray, and is constructed of dependable 100% silicone. It is certified as MR conditional for use in a Magnetic Resonance (MR) environment at 3.0 telsa, and is latex free.

A myocardial temperature probe is used to monitor the temperature of the myocardium during open heart surgery, and is applicable in a full range of popular sizes. It highlights a small diameter stainless steel needle for less traumatic applications, with a tiny needle hub to improve the probe’s accuracy and minimize operating site interference. All of the myocardial probes have a 21 gauge needle and are latex free.

An adult skin temperature probe can be used in all clinical settings that require routine monitoring of the patient’s surface temperature. It has non-irritating adhesive which is less traumatic to a patient’s skin, and the package is sterile for convenient use in any clinical setting. The skin probe has a positive locking hub for secure cable connections with a highly accurate skin sensor to provide reliable surface temperature readings. It is fully compatible with most monitors, and is latex free.

A tympanic temperature probe is designed for atraumatic measurement of a patient’s temperature from the aural canal. It has a contoured ear piece to ensure a simple and secure placement with a soft cotton tip to minimize trauma. The probe’s sturdy wire connector assemblies are engineered for dependability, its extra-long lead eliminates wire tension, and is latex free.

An LCD sensostrip temperature trend indicator provides an accurate, convenient and inexpensive way to monitor a patient’s temperature through all the stages of surgery. It is an excellent detector of malignant hyperthermia and hypothermia with continuous digital readout in 10 increments. The indicator can be adjusted for core temperature, may be used in conjunction with probes, has a lit bar to indicate proper numerical reading in seconds, and is latex free.

Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Co-Founder & CEO

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