Electronic Termother

Electronic thermometers detect temperature changes using a thermoresistive device in which the electrical resistance changes in response to changes in temperature (Fig. 22-3). This device may be a thermistor or a thermocouple and is incorporated into the tip of a probe. Thermistors are very small and therefore respond rapidly to changes in temperature.18 The current flow from a thermistor is translated into a temperature reading that is displayed on a digital readout. Electronic thermometers display either a predicted equilibrium temperature based on measurements taken over 15-30 seconds (in predictive mode) or an actual equilibrium temperature that is generally achieved in a minute or less (in continuous mode).4