Fernandes, Caroline S.

1. Electronic Thermometers:

Digital heat sensor: these are standard electronic thermometers, and use electronic heat sensors to
detect body temperature. These thermometers can be used in the mouth, armpit or rectum
Infrared wave sensor: these thermometers use infrared rays to measure the bodys temperature. The
most common form is the ear thermometer, also referred to as the tympanic thermometer. A new and
developing thermometer that measures the temporal artery in the forehead also uses infrared waves to
measure temperature.

Basal thermometers: these thermometers are a form of digital thermometer that is highly sensitive and
tracks precise, minute, temperature changes within the body. They are most often used for female fertility
purposes and ovulation tracking rather than general, body temperature measuring purposes. A normal
thermometer usually measures temperature in two-tenths of a degree increments, while a basal
thermometer measures by tenths of a degree.

2. Liquid- Filled Glass Thermometers:

Alcohol filled- This thermometer measures temperature via thermal expansion of the ethanol, and should
be held in place for several minutes until the expansion stops. To reset the thermometer, be sure to shake
it until the alcohol level resumes to room temperature before using it again.

Mercury filled- Liquid mercury is held in a reservoir bulb at one end and rises through a capillary tube
when the glass chamber is placed in contact with the body. Before recording a temperature using a
mercury thermometer, the caregiver shakes the mercury down by holding the thermometer firmly at the
clear end and flicking it quickly a few times with a downward wrist motion toward the silver end. The
mercury should be shaken down below 96F (35.5C) before the patient's temperature is taken.

3. Disposable thermometers

are plastic strips with dots on the surface that have been impregnated with temperature-sensitive
chemicals. The strips are sticky on one side to adhere to the skin under the armpit and prevent slippage.
The dots change color at different temperatures as the chemicals in them respond to body heat. The
temperature is readable after two to three minutes, depending on the instrument's guidelines.

Tips on how to take care of thermometers:

Many digital and infrared thermometers are self-calibrating. To ensure accuracy, mercury thermometers
should be shaken down prior to every use and left in place for at least three minutes. They require careful
storage to prevent breakage and thorough cleaning after each use to prevent cross-infection. For regular
digital thermometers and alcohol-filled thermometers, be sure to sterilize the tip with rubbing alcohol, or
wash well with warm water and soap after each use. For ear or tympanic thermometers, it may be helpful
to invest in some disposable caps that can be tossed after each use.

Thermostats present in electronic equipment

A thermostat can often be the main control unit for a heating or cooling system, in applications ranging
from ambient air control, to such as automotive coolant control, but is also used in many other
applications, such as an electric clothes iron. Newer digital thermostats have no moving parts to measure
temperature and instead rely on thermistors or other semiconductor devices such as a resistance
thermometer (resistance temperature detector). Typically, one or more regular batteries must be installed
to operate it, although some so-called "power stealing" digital thermostats use the common 24 volt AC
circuits as a power source, but will not operate on thermopile powered "millivolt" circuits used in some
furnaces