Braun Thermoscan pro 4000

Braun ThermoScan PRO 4000

The temperature reading is an important measurement we need in order to tell whether our body is functioning properly or affected by any disease or an infection. Traditionally, we used a mercury thermometer, but, the reading of this thermometer is reliable or not is an important question. We know that the oral route or axillary route of temperature measurement with mercury thermometer can go wrong in many instances and this makes them more unreliable and difficult to trust for its accuracy. Do not panic, when we have a better and more comfortable option, why do we have to choose mercury thermometer.

The advancement in science and technology made possible to develop a special thermometer called Braun Thermoscan pro 4000.  It is an ear thermometer and has greater accuracy than any other thermometer due to its use of modern technology.

Braun Thermoscan Pro 4000 Technology

Braun Thermoscan Pro 4000 technology measures the infrared energy released by our tympanic membrane and its adjacent tissues. This helps to determine the accurate reading. The probe of Braun Thermoscan is heated to a degree that is equivalent to our normal body temperature. This preheated probe of Thermoscan is inserted into the ear canal, and the probe monitors the infrared radiation from the tympanic membrane and its surroundings until the temperature reaches the equilibrium between the emitted infrared radiation and of the Thermoscan probe. This technological advancement enables Thermoscan to produce accurate readings. Unlike in another thermometer, the temperature has to rise from zero from its lowest state to the actual temperature. This method leads to temperature loss during the transition state and the errors are also high with those traditional methods.

Braun ThermoScan PRO 4000 Ear Thermometer and Base Station Kit

Research also shows that the oral temperature readings are equivalent to the Braun Thermoscan pro 4000 reading and this research used people who had a fever and people who had no fever.

Why ear, but not any other localization?

There might be many questions, as for why do we check ear, but not through an oral cavity or per rectum or auxiliary area. The simplest explanation that can be achieved is through knowing about our brain and ear in detail.

The hypothalamus is an organ which is situated within the brain. This organ is responsible for temperature regulation in our body. Hypothalamus senses our core body temperature and it regulates the temperature before other organs in our body feel it. However, hypothalamus and the tympanic membrane share the blood supply and due to this specific reason, the temperature reading from tympanic membrane and its surrounding can be an ideal temperature measurement. This makes Braun Thermoscan pro 4000 technology an accurate method.

On the other hand, the axillary temperature reading more usually reflects the temperature of the skin rather than the internal or core body temperature. This makes the temperature reading to be unreliable.

The rectal temperature reading does not reflect the exact temperature, because, the internal body temperature fluctuations cannot be recorded from the rectal temperature reading as there is a delay in receiving the temperature changes to the rectum.

While oral temperature measurement can go wrong in many ways due to different factors including incorrect positioning of the thermometer, eating or drinking hot food before taking the reading or even breathing through the mouth. All these factors influence on the temperature reading and the error is very high with this method.

Features of Braun Thermoscan Pro 4000

Preheated Probe and sensor

Probe and the sensor of the Braun Thermoscan help to record the accurate reading of the temperature.

Probe covers

Probe covers cover the preheated probe so that the accurate reading can be taken. The probe is soft and comfortable, and would not cause any irritation to the ear canal. Every time, new probe cover is used to measure the reading.

Automatic probe cover eject switch

This switch helps us to remove the probe cover after taking the reading. This automatic ejection switch helps to remove the probe cover without damaging the preheated probe.

Memory button

Memory button helps to display the previously stored data and this comes in handy when you did not keep a track of the readings earlier.

LCD display

The small screen with LCD display gives us the reading in the desired unit. The temperature reading can be viewed either in Fahrenheit (F) or in Celsius (C).

Battery

The battery of this Thermoscan is rechargeable and can be used for approximately for the period of 6 months and this Braun Thermoscan can be kept in the standby mode for a maximum of 3 months.

Start button

The start button helps to preheat the probe and the releasing of this start button measure the temperature inside the ear canal. The result of the temperature takes around 3-7 seconds to appear on the LCD display after releasing the start button.

How to use Braun Thermoscan Pro 4000?

The usage of Braun Thermoscan is easy and does not involve any difficult procedure. First, you need to make sure that the preheated probe tip and the sensor’s lens are cleaned properly so that you can use it to measure the temperature. After cleaning, make sure to fix a new probe cover onto the preheated probe and ensure that the probe cover is fitted properly. There is no magic or you do not need to be a tech-savvy to know whether the probe cover is fitted properly. When you fix the probe cover properly, the Braun Thermoscan Pro 4000 senses it and turn on the Thermoscan automatically. In order to start the process, you need to wait for a few seconds to hear a “beep” sound.

How to use Braun Thermoscan Pro 4000

Now that the Thermoscan is ready to take the reading, you need to insert the probe cover part of Thermoscan into the ear canal by pressing the start button. After fixing the probe cover part of Thermoscan, give a slight push inside the ear canal and release the start button.

After a few seconds, if everything you did was correct, you will hear another “beep” sound, but this time, the beep sound is quite longer than the first beep sound. And the reading of the temperature displays on the LCD display in the selected format, either in Fahrenheit or in Celsius.

But, you may think, how do I use this Thermoscan in another person? Yes, Thermoscan developers also thought about it and placed a special light “ExacTemp”, and this light will guide you, when you need to measure the temperature of another person, especially your children. This light flashes until the probe fit correctly into the ear canal and when everything is alright, the light stays steady, so that you can wait for the temperature reading to appear on the LCD display.

Interpretation of the results of the Thermoscan

The reading of the temperature appears on the LCD display, but how do you know that the result appears on the screen is high or low or even optimum.  The Thermoscan comes with a normal range chart for different age group.

Age Braun Thermoscan Pro 4000 Optimum value
0-2 years 36.40C/94.50F – 38.00C/100.40F
3-10 years 36.10C/97.00F – 37.80C/100.00F
11-65 years 35.90C/96.60F – 37.60C/99.70F
Greater than 65 years 35.80C/96.40F – 37.50C/99.50F

 

However, the results can be influenced by certain external and internal factors. They are

  • Time of the day of measurement
  • Gender of the person
  • Physical activity
  • Taking of any prescribed or non-prescribed medications

Warnings & Precautions

The Thermoscan should be kept out of very high or too low temperatures as if -200C/-40F or greater than 500C/1220F. This extreme temperature exposure damages the probe. In addition, the probe also should\ be protected from exposure to humidity above 95%. Moreover, the probe must be clean, free from any moisture and without any damage to get an accurate reading from the Braun Thermoscan Pro 4000. Further, the Thermoscan should be transported with the storage cover on and also when it is not in use. And these storage covers should be from the Braun Thermoscan Pro 4000, and avoid using any other type of storage cover and this can damage the probe. Every new usage of the Thermoscan need new, clean and dry probe cover and dispose of the used probe cover.

Tips to improve the accuracy of Braun Thermoscan Pro 4000

The temperature reading from the right and the left ear differs and due to this, you need to ensure that you make the readings from the same ear. This prevents the recording inaccurate results and that can cause misinterpretation. And the ear should also be free from any blockage or excessive Cerumen deposit. These factors also decrease the accuracy of the Thermoscan.

In addition, the temperature reading can be affected by certain external factors, and these are

  • Lying down on a surface with pressing an ear,
  • Exposure of the ear to very hot or cold temperature,
  • Swimming or bathing.

In these circumstances, you need to remove the person or yourself from these situations and need to wait for 20 minutes before recording the temperature.

The people who use ear plugs or ear aids need to remove them and to wait for 20 minutes before taking the reading of the temperature. Furthermore, if you are using any ear drops, please use the Thermoscan in the other ear.

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