To test the practicality of tympanic thermometry using an optical fiber, we conducted three tests. The first test compared measured temperature with reference temperature. The second test compared tympanic temperature as measured by this new system (infrared-Tty) with tympanic temperature as measured by thermistor (thermistor-Tty) and esophageal temperature measured by thermocouple (Tes), both during lower leg immersion at 42 ℃ and constant load exercise. The third test compared the sensitivity and internal temperature threshold parameters for the onset of sweating calculated by infrared Tty with those calculated by thermistor-Tty and Tes. The results of the first test confirmed that the new system has good linearity, dynamic response and stability. The system showed temperature variation of ± 0.2 ℃ during the stability test. The infrared-Tty values were similar to those by thermistor-Tty and Tes both during lower leg immersion and exercise. The new infrared system was able to measure tympanic temperature continuously throughout the experiments. The sweating sensitivity and the threshold for the onset of sweating parameters calculated by infrared-Tty were similar to those calculated by thermistor-Tty and Tes. These results indicate that this new method makes it possible to measure tympanic temperature continuously, and more safely.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.20/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE