Visiofocus Vet Non Contact Thermometer

Press Kit

Unique Properties

Infrared medical thermometer intended to measure body temperature of animals without even touching them, for instantaneous, hygienic and accurate measurements.
The aiming system, which is absolutely safe (no laser), indicates the correct reading distance and the area whose temperature is taken. The recommended measurement area in most of animals is the eye. Thanks to an app it is possible to align the measurement to any type of animals (each type, breed and size has its own temperature range).

Dimensions & Packaging

Dimensions: 144 x 43.5 x 21.5 mm including cap; weight: 98 gr (with batteries)

Tags

Non-contact thermometer, no touch thermometer, animal thermometer, medical device, animal health, animal health care

Production Technology

Technology includes:
1) a patented aiming system, made of a LED system projecting two pair of arches, which clearly indicates the correct distance and the correct point for an accurate measurement to be taken;
2) two exclusive stabilisation systems (Automatic and Manual Quick Calibration Systems) to stabilise the thermometer to the ambient conditions;
3) an alignment system to calibrate the temperature reading to any type, breed and size of animals (through an App).

Design Challenge

The first challenge of this design was to identify the best area from which to take a temperature to an animal, without touching it. Criteria for the best area are that it should be without hair and well vascularised.
Test demonstrated that eye is a very good place and animals well tolerate this reading. In case eye was not accessible, non-contact measurement in the rectal area have been demonstrated to be enough accurate and comfortable.

Research

We activated a clinical research with the department of Veterinary Sciences of the University of Parma with two purposes:
1) to align non-contact eye measurements with internal temperatures taken with traditional rectal thermometers. The reason is that the surface external temperature is lower than the internal one due to the dissipation of heating. This is due to the second law of thermodynamics (if a body - the eye in this case -, is immersed in a fluid - the surrounding air -, the body should reach the same temperature of the fluid). This heat loss is partially compensated by the body (in a live subject) and the equilibrium that is reached depends on the ambient temperature.
2) To make VisioFocus Vet able to add the right correction factor for each animal (because the animals’ body temperature changes according to type, breed and size).

Inspiration

VisioFocus Vet is the natural evolution of VisioFocus, the non-contact projection thermometer intended for human use, and of Thermofocus Animal, the first non-conctact thermometer for animals and belonging to the same family of Thermofocus, the first non-contact thermometer in the world.
After revolutionising and simplifying the way human beings’ temperature is taken, Tecnimed has thought of pets and animals as well: there is no more reason to take the animal's temperature using a rectal thermometer.

Project Duration

The project started in January 2019 and finished in January 2021 (with a pause due to Covid-emergency) in Vedano Olona (Italy).

Operation Flow

To measure body temperature: 1) press the measuring button associated with the animal; 2) approach the thermometer perpendicular to the eye, until the projected arcs form a circle on the hair around the eye (if the thermometer is too close or too far away, the arcs do not form a circle); 3) when a complete circle formed by the 4 arcs is projected, the thermometer is at the right distance and the reading is accurate.
You can also take skin temperature to monitor inflammations or other local problems.

Patents

Patented. Patents holder: Tecnimed s.r.l.. Patents no. US 7,651,266B2 (2010, USA) - US 8,128,280 (2012, USA) - US 8,821,010 (2014, USA) - EP 1.886.106 (2006, Europe) - EP 2577242(B1) (2011, Europe) - KR 10-1898897 (2018, Korea) - CN 103026192B (2015, China)