Exergen TemporalScanner TAT-2000 Series Manual

TemporalScanner

TAT-2000 Series

™

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Accuracy supported by more than 70 peer-reviewed published studies
for all ages from neonate to geriatric, and in all clinical settings.

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Changing the Way the World Takes Temperature

Temporal Artery Thermometry

The temporal artery (TA) area

has a long history of temperature

assessment dating back thousands

of years with recorded references

to palpation of the head for fever

assessment. Branching from the

external carotid, the superficial TA

courses within about a millimeter

of the skin’s surface over the lateral

forehead, providing good heat

conduction to the skin surface, is

readily accessible, and provides no

risk of injury from being touched.

Since it is not an anastomosing

vessel, perfusion remains high and

stable, ensuring the reliability of

conditions for the patented Arterial

Heat Balance method to compute

accurate temperatures.

This new, superior class of

thermometry has been shown to

improve outcomes and reduce

costs by noninvasively measuring

temperature with a degree of

clinical accuracy unachievable with

other methods of thermometry.

2

Temporal Artery Thermometry

What is arterial temperature?

Arterial temperature is the same

temperature as the blood flowing from

the heart via the aorta. It is the best

determinate of body temperature, and

unaffected by the artifactual errors and

time delays of oral and rectal methods.

What is the TemporalScanner?

The TemporalScanner is an infrared

thermometer designed for non-

invasive temperature assessment at

the temporal artery (TA). It is a kinder,

gentler way to take temperature, and a

better method for patient and clinician

alike. It is breakthrough technology.

How does it work?

Temperature is measured by gently

stroking the TemporalScanner

across the forehead, and includes

a momentary touch of the probe to

the neck area behind the ear lobe, to

account for any cooling of the forehead

as a result of diaphoresis. The patented

arterial heat balance technology

(AHBTM) automatically measures the

temperature of the skin surface over

the artery and ambient temperature,

synthesizing the two to produce

arterial temperature by sampling and

calculating these paired readings some

5000 times with each use.

How accurate is it?

It has been clinically proven in all

departments for all patients in premier

university hospitals and proven to be

more accurate than ear thermometry.

What are the benefits of TA

thermometry?

Besides the inherent accuracy, as a

site for temperature measurement, TA

presents many benefits: no risk of

injury for patient or clinician, eliminates

the need for disrobing or unbundling,

and is suitable for all ages from

preemies to geriatrics.

Unique to infrared thermometry, the

instrument can be used with or without

disposable covers, thereby providing

a substantial cost savings unavailable

with other methods of thermometry.

3

Product Map

Probe Cone

Probe Sensor Lens

Probe

LCD Display

Screen

LED Indicator

Light

ON Button

Automatic turn-off

in 30 seconds

LED Indicator Light

Thumb-Push
Ridges

Battery
Compartment for
9-volt battery

Probe Caps & Dispenser

TemporalScanner Model 2000 can be used either with disposable caps (Part No.

134203), or if preferred, without disposable caps by simply wiping the probe with
alcohol or other disinfectant between patients.

If using disposable caps,
they are easily applied on
the probe as illustrated in
Figure 1, and easily ejected
by a gentle push of your
thumb as illustrated in
Figure 2.

A convenient wall or pole
mounted dispenser holding
50 disposable caps is
available, illustrated in
Figure 3 (Part No. 134202).

Accessories, including disposable caps are available from many distributors, or by
calling Exergen Customer Service at 617-923-9900 or 800-422-3006, or by emailing
[e-mail].

4

1

2 3

Measuring TA Temperature

What you should know before
using the TAT:

• Measure only the side of the head
exposed to the environment. Anything
covering the area to be measured
(hair, hat, wig, bandages) would
insulate the area, resulting in falsely
high readings.

• Slide the thermometer straight across
the forehead, not down the side of the
face. Midline on the forehead, the TA
is about a millimeter below the skin,
whereas at the side of the face, the
TA is much deeper, and measuring
there would result in falsely low
readings.

• When taking a temperature behind
the ear lobe, first push away any
hair, exposing the area. Then, tuck
the thermometer on the neck under
the ear lobe, in the soft conical
depression below the mastoid, (the
place where perfume is typically
applied).

• Wait about 30 seconds before
measuring the same patient again to
avoid excessive cooling of the skin.

• An infant frequently presents with
blankets and clothing covering
the neck area. Since the perfusion
rate is normally strong for infants,
and unless visibly diaphoretic, one
measurement at the TA area is
typically all that is required. Should
you feel the temperature is low,
then push aside any clothing or
blankets covering the neck area for
~30 seconds or so, and repeat the
measurement behind the ear.

Brush hair aside if
covering the TA area

Place the probe flush
on the center of the
forehead.

1

Depress the ON button,

Keep depressed
throughout
measurement…

2

Slowly slide the probe
midline across the
forehead to the hair line

3

Brush hair aside if
covering ear

Lift probe from forehead
and touch on the neck
just behind the ear lobe

4

Release button, read
and record

• Display will remain for
30 seconds, before
automatic turn-off.

5

• To turn off immediately,
press and release

• To restart immediately,
depress button and
continue as above

5

Measuring TA Temperature

What else should I know?

• A dirty probe lens and cone can cause
a low reading. If not shiny, clean the
lens and cone with an alcohol prep or
a Q-tip moistened in alcohol.

• It is preferable
to hold the
instrument
sideways.
Approaching
your patient with
the instrument
straight up and down could be
somewhat intimidating, especially
to an agitated patient.

• If you are right
handed, you
might find
it easier to
measure the
left side of your
patient; a left
hander would find measuring the
right side of the patient to be easier.

• Consider holding the thermometer
like a pencil or pen as illustrated.

• If your patient is agitated, or squirms
away before you have completed
your measurement, just keep the
button depressed and you can
continue the measurement without
having to wait.

Why measure behind the ear lobe
(BE) as well as the temporal artery?

To avoid any possibility of false low
temperature caused by diaphoresis,
which many times is not obvious. Think
of it as a touch of insurance.

How does diaphoresis affect
readings?

Moisture cools the skin over the
temporal artery area.

Why behind the ear lobe?

If your patient is sweaty, vasodilation will
always be present, and blood flow BE
will be as high as the TA area were it dry.

What if the TA area has been
traumatized by burns or lacerations,
or is completely covered with
dressings?

With head trauma, surgical or
accidental, the temperature can be
obtained from the alternative site on
the neck BE. Just as with diaphoresis,
the perfusion will be high.

Why not use the area BE as a
sole site?

Without diaphoresis or head trauma,
this area is just too variable to be
reliable as a sole site.

6

Clinical Information

Normal Body Temperature (BT)

Normal BT is not a single temperature,
but a range of temperatures influenced by
age, time of day, and measurement site.

General Rule of Thumb

Rectal temperature is ≈2°F (1°C) higher
than axillary and ≈1° F (0.5°C ) higher
than oral temperature.

1

Expect the Differences

Arterial temperature measurement (PA
Catheter, TA Thermometry) leads all
other methods in identifying fever or
defervescence, and is unaffected by
activities of daily living. Accordingly, it
will sometimes be different from your
present methods — but accurate.

Guidelines for Patient
Temperature Assessment

1. Normal TA Temperature: On a

stable resting patient, TAT is ≈0.8°F (

0.4°C ) higher than an optimum oral
temperature, and is about the same as
a rectal temperature. However, during
febrile episodes, the difference can be
much higher, mainly because of the
artifacts of oral and rectal sites.

2. Fever Definition: Clinically, fever is
defined as a BT ≥1.8°F (1°C) above
the mean standard deviation at the
site of recording.2

A single oral temperature of ≥101°F (38.3°C )
in the absence of obvious environmental causes
is usually considered fever. An oral temperature
of ≥100.4°F (38.0°C) over at least 1 hour
indicates a fever state.3

A single arterial temperature >101.8°F (38.8°C)
in the absence of obvious environmental causes
is usually considered fever. An arterial temperature
>101.2°F (38.4°C) over at least 1 hour
indicates a fever state.

While the above are recommended
guidelines, not all fevers require
laboratory tests, and clinical
assessment in concert with standard
hospital protocol for fever workups
should always prevail.

3. Oral Temperature Risks: Oral
temperature can be clinically
misleading, and many febrile patients
can have a “normal” temperature.4
Mouth breathing, tachypnea,
heated gases, and hot or cold fluids
can distort the reading, as can
intubation or inability of the patient to
cooperate. Accordingly, comparisons
with TA may not be reliable.

Normal Body Temperature Ranges at
Various Measurement Sites:

Arterial: 97.4-100.1°F

36.3-37.8°C

Oral: 96.6-99.5°F

35.9-37.5°C

Esophageal: 98.4-100.0°F

36.9-37.8°C

Rectal: 97.7-100.3°F

36.5-37.9°C

Axillary: 95.5-98.8°F

35.3-37.1°C

Oronasal: 96.6-99.0°

35.9-37.2°C

7

Clinical Information

4. Rectal Temperature Risks:
Rectal temperature should only be
considered as a good approximation
of core temperature when the
patient’s thermal balance is stable,
but is not suitable during and after
surgery,5 and may be misleading
after antipyretics, physical exercise,
or other intervention that may change
temperature quickly.

5. Axillary Temperature Risks:
Based on strong evidence cited by
the NIH, “axillary temperature is
contraindicated in critically ill adults,
and its use in the general patient
population should be discouraged

due to its unreliable correlation
with core temperature and its poor
reproducibility.”

References:

1. Kuzucu EY. Measurement of temperature. Int
Anesthesiol Clin, 3(3):435-49, May, 1965

2. El-Radhi AS, Carroll JE. Fever in Paediatric Practice,
Ch 2, pp 15-49, Oxford Blackwell Scientific
Publications, 1994

3. Hughes WT et al. 1997 Guidelines for the use of
antimicrobial agents in neutropenic patients with
unexplained fever. Infectious Diseases Society of
America (IDSA)

4. Tandberg D et al. Effect of tachypnea on the
estimation of body temperature by an oral
thermometer. NE J Med, 308, 945-46,1983

5. O’Grady NP, Barie PS, Bartlett JG, et al. Practice
guidelines for evaluating new fever in critically ill
adult patients. Task Force of the Society of Critical
Care Medicine and the Infectious Diseases Society of
America. Clin Infect Dis 1998 May: 26(5):1042-59

6. Houdas Y, et al. Human body temperature. Ch 5, p89,
Plenum Press, 1982, USA, UK

6

Product Specifications

Clinical Accuracy: Meets ASTM E 1965-98 and EN60601-1 standards for

electronic and radiation thermometers to the extent
applicable to thermometers which measure the surface of
the skin over the temporal artery.

EMI/RFI Protection: Error message displayed
Calibration Protection: Error message displayed
Temperature Range: 15.5 to 42°C (60 to 107.6°F)
Operating Environment: 15.5 to 40°C (60 to 104°F)
Resolution: 0.1°C or °F
Response Time: Approximately 0.03 second
Time Displayed on Screen: 30 seconds before automatic shutdown
Battery Life: Approximately 7,500 readings
Size: 7.0 in x 1.75 in x 1.25 in (17.8 cm x 4.45 cm x 3.18 cm)
Weight: 4.16 oz (12 grams) incl batt
Display Type: High contrast LCD’s
Construction Method: Impact resistant casing, hermetically sealed sensing system
Warranty: 3 years
Patents: Listed at www.exergen.com/patents

ASTM laboratory accuracy requirements in the display range of 37° to 39°C (98 to 102°F) for IR thermometers is +/-0.2°C (+/-

0.4°F) whereas for mercury-in-glass and electronic thermometers, the requirement per ASTM standards E667-86 and E1112 is
+/-0.1°C (+/-0.2°F).

*Full responsibility for this product meeting applicable portions of this standard is assumed by Exergen Corporation, Watertown, MA 02472

8

Cleaning the Instrument

The TemporalScanner is an optical instrument. Like a camera or eye glasses, a dirty
lens will distort the view. If the thermometer is unable to see the heat clearly, it will be
unable to measure it accurately, resulting in low readings.

Probe lens and cone
should be shiny clean, if
not, wipe with an alcohol
prep, or with a swab
moistened in alcohol or
water.

Hold upside-down
to prevent excess
moisture from entering
the sensor area. It will
not harm the sensor,
but if it becomes too
wet, you will be unable
to take a temperature
until it dries.

Do not hold the
TemporalScanner under
the faucet or submerge
in water. It is not
waterproof.

Thermometer case
can be cleaned
with any hospital
approved disinfectant,
alcohol, even bleach
solutions. Avoid gritty,
abrasive cleaners as
they can scratch the
thermometer.

Changing the Battery

Blinking battery icon
with temperature
displayed: battery is
low but will still operate
correctly. Replace soon.

Blinking battery icon
with 2 dashes: not
enough energy in the
battery to measure
correct temperature.
Replace battery.

Remove the battery
compartment door
by squeezing on the
ridges with your thumb,
and pushing away as
indicated. Use both
thumbs if necessary.

Insert a 9-volt battery
as illustrated, with the
positive (small terminal)
always on the right.

Replace the battery
compartment door as
indicated, with a push
of your thumb on the
ridges.

9

Smart Glow Features

Soft Glow Display: Soft lighting for easy reading in any light. Perfect for checking

the temperature of a sleeping infant (or adult) in a darkened room.

8 Temperature Memory: Automatically retains the last 8 temperature readings for
instant recall to check on fever progression.

Programmable °F or °C: Select most convenient temperature scale.

Programmable Beeper: Beeping sound indicating scanning can be turned off or

on to avoid waking a sleeping child (or adult). The flashing LED facing the forehead
while scanning turns off when the beeper is turned off.

One-button Programming: Elegant one-button programming & memory access.

To Use the 8 Temperature Memory Recall Mode

In memory mode, a small “M” will appear on the display with memory location
(1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) and the memory location will alternate with the temperature stored

in that location. The most recent temperature is stored in location 1 and the earliest
temperature is stored in location 8. A reading of 188.8 means that no temperature
reading is stored in that memory location. Readings already in the memory when you
first use it are from the factory tests.

1. To enter memory recall mode, start from a blank display, and tap the button. 1M
will appear and alternate with the temperature stored in that memory location.

2. To access previously stored readings, tap the power button again. 2M will alternate
with the temperature in that memory location. Repeat through 8M to access all
recent memory readings.

3. To exit memory recall mode and take a temperature, press and hold the button for
1-2 seconds until the display turns off.

Programmable Beeper

Your TemporalScanner is equipped with a beeper and front/back flashing LED’s which
gives you a soft audible and visual feedback as you scan over the temporal artery on
the forehead. The original factory setting is with the beeper and LED’s ON.

If the beeper is on and you are concerned that the sound or flashing LED may wake a
sleeping child (or adult), the beeper and front LED can be turned off as follows:

1. Starting with a blank display, tap the power button until the display flashes
loud. (tap 10 times, past the 8 memory locations and the F-C display)

2. Press and hold the button until Shh is displayed, indicating the quiet
mode. A beep will indicate that the setting has been changed, and the
TemporalScanner will automatically shut off.

10

3. To turn the beeper and front LED back on, repeat step 1 to find Shh then
step 2 to change into loud.

Display Messages

To Select °F or °C Mode

Your TemporalScanner can be programmed to display the temperature in either
°F or °C, as indicated by the small °F or °C in the upper right of the display.

The original factory setting is °F. If you wish to change it to °C, follow the
steps below:

1. Starting from a blank display tap the button until the flashing F - C appears after
the 8 memory locations (9 taps). The current temperature mode will appear in the
upper right indicated by the small °F or °C.

2. To change from the °F mode to the °C mode, press and hold button until the small
°F in the upper right of the display changes to °C. A beep will indicate that the
setting has been changed, and the TemporalScanner will automatically shut off.

3. To change from the °C mode to the °F mode, repeat step 2, and press and hold the
button until the small °C in the upper right of the display changes to °F.

Additional Display Messages

A flickering Scn on display is visible during measurement. At completion,
releasing the button will display and lock temperature on the screen for 30
seconds.

The target temperature measured is higher than 107.6°F (42°C).

The target temperature measured is lower than 60° F (15.5°C).

Temperature of the thermometer is higher than 104°F (40°C). Let the
instrument acclimatize for about 10 minutes or so in the area in which it
will be used.

The temperature of the thermometer is lower than 60°F (15.5°C). Let
instrument acclimatize for about 10 minutes or so in the area in which it
will be used.

EMI/RFI (like static on a radio) protection is preventing a temperature from
being taken. Wait a minute and you should be able to proceed. If not, reset
by removing and replacing the battery. Be sure battery is tightly connected.

11

Three Year Warranty

Exergen Corporation warrants each new Exergen TemporalScanner 2000 Series (except battery) against
defects in materials or workmanship for a period of three years from the date of purchase, and agrees to
repair or replace any defective product without charge.

IMPORTANT: This warranty does not cover damage resulting from accident, misuse or abuse, lack of
reasonable care, the affixing of any attachment not provided with the product or loss of parts or subjecting
the product to any but the specified battery.* Use of unauthorized replacement parts will void this warranty.

Exergen Corporation will not pay for warranty service performed by a nonauthorized repair service and will
not reimburse the customer for damage resulting from warranty service performed by a non-authorized
repair service. No responsibility is assumed for any special, incidental or consequential damages.

In order to obtain warranty service, simply call Exergen Corporation Customer Service, 617-923-9900,
for a Return Material Authorization number (RMA). Then send the product, postage or shipping prepaid,
to Exergen in accordance with the instructions given with the RMA number. It is suggested that for your
protection, you ship the product, insurance prepaid. Damage occurring during shipment is not covered by
this warranty.

NOTE: No other warranty, written or verbal, is authorized by Exergen Corporation. This warranty gives you
specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state. Some states do
not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above exclusion and
limitations may not apply to you.

*Read enclosed instructions carefully.

To evaluate, email:
[e-mail]

For general information:
www.exergen.com

Invented, designed,
assembled, tested,
and packaged in the
U.S.A. by Exergen.

For clinical information, visit:
www.TAThermometry.org

For educational videos,
clinical studies, and manuals:
www.exergen.com/ww

P/N 818503 Rev8

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Exergen Corporation
400 Pleasant Street
Watertown, MA, 02472
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
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