Digital Thermometers

Digital thermometers are easy to read. And that has been an ultimate upgrade from trying to read the mercury line by squinting your eyes. However, that is not the only feature. A digital display is just one out of many specifications. If you are about to buy a digital thermometer, you can try reading a bit about the product.

Usually, personal care medical devices are different from the ones used by experts. You can think of it as commercial or personal products. However, handheld digital thermometers are more or less the same, apart from a few differences. For example, the ones used in the medical field are lightweight and have an ergonomic design, which is a must for all-day use. They even comprise a few additional features. Pulse and respiratory timers are two common ones you can find. You can decide whether you want these features or not in your personal kit. However, additional features are something to probe after you know what type of thermometer you need. You can explore first and decide what fits your purpose.

Parts of digital thermometers

These thermometers, if dismantled, consist of a cap, battery, tip, display screen, electronic circuitry, and power button. The structure is usually of plastic, measuring around 100mm long. The design specifications may vary from product to product. However, apart from understanding these parts, you should also know a bit about the product’s working. Let’s start with what happens when you place the tip of the thermometer close to the body part. A thermistor close to the tip gets activated, which is actually responsible for reading the body temperature. The reason the outer environment’s temperature doesn’t affect the thermistor is that the metal or steel cap prevents such a situation. The thermistor is also responsible for converting the temperature into electrical signals, which you see on the display screen. Simple enough!

Forehead thermometers

With this type of digital thermometer, the temperature checker can maintain the distance with the diseased, and the device also does not have to touch the diseased person. It is a compatible product when mass checking has to be performed. A pandemic breakout is one of the examples we have faced where forehead thermometers have been used everywhere, from malls to airports. This handheld device has a digital display and functions by picking infrared rays produced by the human body. However, the accuracy is sometimes questionable because the surroundings can compromise the results. Sometimes a result is inaccurate when the person is wearing a headwrap. This is the reason forehead thermometers only lay doubt, and further reports are needed to confirm the body’s situation. However, the purpose of mass temperature checking by being contactless is served well by this product.

Electronic ear thermometers

Tympanic thermometers are another name for ear thermometers because they measure the temperature of the tympanic membrane. As the first thing to notice about this product is its accuracy, ear types are pretty accurate. It is important to place the thermometer in the right position, and if it does, it can read a person’s core temperature accurately. However, there may be a compromise with the reading due to certain conditions. A few of them include improper positioning, ear canal’s small size, earwax, or moisture in the ear. Also, a person with ear surgery, infection, any ear sore, or using an ear prescription should not use this thermometer to check their temperature. Whenever you are buying any medical equipment, it is imperative that you read its limitations. Based on what you read, you can make an informed decision.

Oral thermometers

These are the most common handheld thermometers. Forehead and ear thermometers are all digital versions. However, oral ones can have a digital display or mercury line. It is your personal choice to choose one. To use these types, you need to place the oral thermometer under the tongue for 40 seconds or the time mentioned on the packaging or in the manual. There are also products that beep, so you don’t have to monitor the time. The use is pretty simple, but not for those with breathing issues. Elderly and children can restrain from using this product as they can face trouble closing their mouths for long. Like all other thermometers, this product has its limitations too. Also, the reading may be compromised if you have just eaten. So, take measures of that.