Exergen TemporalScanner 200C - Temps in seconds!
Written: May 21 '09
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fast, easy, appears to be accurate, inexpensive
Cons: Clear cover means you can leave it on and get inaccurate readings
The Bottom Line: I like the design, easy of use, and it's become a piece of our home first aid kit.
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| briandalsmom's Full Review: Exergen Temporal Scanner Infrared Thermometer |
The technology of the Exergen TemporalScanner 200C is pretty cool. The scanner measures the temperature of the room as well as the temperature of the skin over the temporal artery about 1000 times a second as you sweep the scanner across the forehead. It then uses a formula to calculate how much the blood has cooled down on its journey from the heart to the skin and makes allowances for this in the temperature it displays.
Why the temporal artery? It's the artery, which carries blood directly from the heart and is closest to the heart so it provides the most accurate results. In addition, it's readily available since it lays just under the skin. Also, because the artery is forked, you have a better chance of passing over the artery and therefore getting accurate results.
I asked my husband, an EMT and the person in charge of purchasing aid supplies for his department, what he thought about the scanner. They have the much more expensive professional model. He's found that the TemporalScanner is not as accurate as oral mercury thermometers, but since they've now gone the way of VHS tapes, this is the next best thing. They've tried the professional ear thermometers and electronic oral, and this has produced more accurate results. When they absolutely must know, they still use rectal thermometers on the children, but for most incidences, this scanner (in the professional model) provides adequate results.
Can the home version do as well? The home version is plastic, though I find it well made. The probe and body are one piece and fit nicely in my hand. The scan button is in a expected and comfortable place and once I read the directions on how to scan I was able to do it easily.
Simple to use:
1. Remove the protective cap.
2. Check the probe to be sure the lens is clean (the center portion of the probe). If it's not shiny clean, use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol to clean the probe and allow to dry before using.
3. Gently place the probe flat in the center of the forehead - midway between the eyebrow and the hairline.
4. Press and hold the SCAN button.
5. Lightly slide the thermometer horizontally across the forehead keeping the sensor flat and in contact with the skin until you are within the hairline. You will hear beeping and a red light will blink - these indicate that the measurement is taking place.
6. Release the SCAN button and remove the thermometer from the head. Read the temperature display.
7. The thermometer will shut off automatically after 30 seconds or you can turn it off immediately by pressing and releasing the scan button quickly. Replace the protective cap.
If the patient has a clammy or there's perspiration present on the forehead, use the behind the ear method. Wiping the forehead is not recommended since the sweating can't be stopped and the reading would be inaccurate.
Alternate Behind-the-ear Method (only if sweating is present):
1. Run the scanner as noted above until step 5.
2. After you've completed the scan to the hairline, keep the SCAN button depressed and place the scanner immediately on the neck directly behind the ear lobe.
3. Release the button and read the temperature. This method is only recommended when perspiration prevents you from taking a forehead scan as this area is less accurate but also not prone to sweating.
4. Shut off as noted in #7 above.
For the best results, be conscious of where you're scanning. If your child is wrapped in a blanket, you'll want to scan the side of his head that has been exposed to air and not covered by blankets or hats. Additionally, wait 30-seconds before measuring the temperature again and if you've moved the thermometer from a warm environment to cool (or visa versa) give it 30 minutes to acclimate before trying to use it. You will get an error message of Hi or Low if temperature of the probe is a problem.
Prefer to know your temp in Celsius instead of Fahrenheit? There's a button inside the battery compartment that allows you to choose. Default in Fahrenheit. It does require a 9v battery to operate and the nice folks at Exergen provide one with purchase (an Energizer, not a cheap throw away battery). Installation of the battery was extremely easy, no tools require, although I did manage to put the battery in backwards the first time even though there were icons to help with the process.
Would I recommend it? Well, a Harvard Medical School study found it to be more accurate than ear thermometer and at least as accurate as rectal thermometer but it's non-invasive, comfortable, and easy to use. If you remember to wait 30 seconds before scanning again (30 seconds is a long time when you're anxious) and introduce it to a child when he/she isn't sick, you'll likely have better results.
The chart provided with the scanner shows an adult to be at the upper limits of normal (ie., he/she has a fever) at 100.1º F. According to the instructions, a rectal temperature is about 2ºF higher than underarm and about 1ºF higher than an oral temperature, therefore, when comparing the temporal to oral you'll need to subtract 1ºF. Confused? Just stick with the temporal temps and know that at 100.1ºF for adults you're in the fever range and skip all the adding and subtracting).
My results were steady (after I remembered to take off the nearly-clear protective cap). With the cap on, my temperatures varied widely - duh! When I used it correctly, my results were constantly in the 98º range which would be expected as I run 97.6 orally.
The size is perfect - large enough not to get lost in the bathroom junk drawer but small enough to travel with. Using a standard 9V battery also means it's not problem locating a new battery when it's needed.
I think as a first check it's a good tool and at $49.99 it's not going to break a budget and should last for years if taken care of (avoid dropping).
Details:
* Expected battery life - 7,500 readings
* Warranty - 1 year
* Weight - 4.5 oz (including battery)
* Size - 7" x 1.75" x 1.25"
* Temperature range - 60º - 107.6 º F
Recommended:
Yes
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briandalsmom
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Member: Mom
Location: USA
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