US5124819A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Liquid crystal medical device having distinguishing means
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-08-22
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Granted: 1992-06-23
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Expires: 2010-08-22
Abstract
Abstract A liquid crystal device (10) includes at least two layers of encapsulated thermochromic, e.g., liquid crystal, material (14, 16) for providing a color response with respect to temperature, the temperature ranges of color response of the at least two liquid crystal layers being different, a mechanism (18) for distinguishing the temperature range in which the device is operational, and a support (20) for supporting the at least two liquid crystal layers and distinguishing mechanism for positioning with respect to at least part of a body. A method for making the liquid crystal device and a method for using the liquid crystal device to detect and to indicate the temperature of a body.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 23:53
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01K; G01K11/00; G01K11/12; G01K11/16; G01K11/165; G01K13/00; G01K13/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A liquid crystal device comprising at least two thermochromic means for providing an optical response with respect to temperature, the temperature ranges of optical response of said at least two thermochromic means being different, distinguishing means for distinguishing the temperature range in which the device is operational, and support means for supporting said at least two thermochromic means and distinguishing means for positioning with respect to at least part of a body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
A liquid crystal device comprising at least two thermochromic means for providing an optical response with respect to temperature, the temperature ranges of optical response of said at least two thermochromic means being different, distinguishing means for distinguishing the temperature range in which the device is operational, and support means for supporting said at least two thermochromic means and distinguishing means for positioning with respect to at least part of a body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said thermochromic means comprises liquid crystal material that has a color characteristic responsive to temperature in an operational temperature range whereby said optical response is a color response.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device of claim 2, wherein each of said liquid crystal means comprises encapsulated cholesteric liquid crystal material, the temperature range of color response of said cholesteric liquid crystal material in each of said liquid crystal means being different.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 3, wherein the temperature ranges of color response of at least two of said liquid crystal means are generally adjacent each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 2, wherein said support means comprises a flexible support capable of being placed in close contact with the body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 5, said flexible support comprising substantially clear plastic material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 5, said flexible support comprising a brassiere-like device capable of being placed relatively securely over the breasts of a person for use to indicate the relative temperature of portions of the breasts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
The device of claim 2, wherein said liquid crystal means are arranged in superpositioned relation in respective layers, said distinguishing means comprises a pattern means on either the relatively top or bottom layer of liquid crystal means, wherein said distinguishing means comprises a patterned arrangement of liquid crystal material of at least one of said liquid crystal means, and wherein each of said liquid crystal means comprises encapsulated cholesteric liquid crystal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 2, said support means having an elastic characteristic to permit resilient stretching of the device, and said liquid crystal means comprising liquid crystal material in an elastic binder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 2, said liquid crystal means comprising liquid crystal material in plural capsules of a containment medium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 2, said liquid crystal means comprising liquid crystal material in a containment medium formed as a slurry thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 2, at least one of said liquid crystal means comprising cholesteric liquid crystal material and a polyvinylidine chloride binder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 1, said thermochromic means comprising thermochromic material in a containment medium selected from the group comprising one or more of polyvinylidine chloride, gelatin, gum arabic, acrylics, polyurethanes, and copolymers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said thermochromic means comprises thermochromic material in a containment medium, said containment medium being tinted to enhance certain colors or to differentiate one thermochromic means from another.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of making a liquid crystal device comprising separately making at least two liquid crystal means for providing an optical response with respect to temperature by mixing respective temperature responsive liquid crystal materials with a binder, the temperature ranges of optical response of said at least two liquid crystal means being different, applying each of such at least two liquid crystal means in superimposed position for support by a support means capable of positioning with respect to a body, and applying distinguishing means for distinguishing the temperature range in which the device is operational.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of making a liquid crystal device comprising separately making at least two liquid crystal means for providing an optical response with respect to temperature by mixing respective temperature responsive liquid crystal materials with a binder, the temperature ranges of optical response of said at least two liquid crystal means being different, applying each of such at least two liquid crystal means in superimposed position for support by a support means capable of positioning with respect to a body, and applying distinguishing means for distinguishing the temperature range in which the device is operational.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said optical response is color response.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15, said applying distinguishing means comprising forming at least one of such liquid crystal means in a prescribed distinguishable pattern.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 15, said applying distinguishing means comprising applying a viewable pattern between a pair of said liquid crystal means for viewing as a function of the light transmission characteristics of such liquid crystal means.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of detecting the temperature of a body, comprising applying in thermal transfer relation with respect to a body a liquid crystal device having plural liquid crystal means for providing respective optical responses as a function of temperature, the temperature ranges of optical response of said at least two liquid crystal means being different, and distinguishing the temperature range in which the device is operational by vieweing means positioned relative to said liquid crystal means and partly viewable depending on the temperature range of such liquid crystal means.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of detecting the temperature of a body, comprising applying in thermal transfer relation with respect to a body a liquid crystal device having plural liquid crystal means for providing respective optical responses as a function of temperature, the temperature ranges of optical response of said at least two liquid crystal means being different, and distinguishing the temperature range in which the device is operational by vieweing means positioned relative to said liquid crystal means and partly viewable depending on the temperature range of such liquid crystal means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said optical response is a color response.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 19, said distinguishing comprising selectively viewing a pattern positioned between respective layers of liquid crystal means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 20, said distinguishing comprising selectively viewing a pattern formed by at least one layer of said liquid crystal means.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of making a thermochromic device comprising making at least two thermochromic means for providing an optical response with respect to temperature by mixing respective temperature responsive thermochromic materials with a binder, the temperature ranges of optical response of said at least two thermochromic means being different, applying such thermochromic means in superimposed position for support by a support means capable of positioning with respect to a body, and applying distinguishing means for distinguishing the temperature range in which the device is operational.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of making a thermochromic device comprising making at least two thermochromic means for providing an optical response with respect to temperature by mixing respective temperature responsive thermochromic materials with a binder, the temperature ranges of optical response of said at least two thermochromic means being different, applying such thermochromic means in superimposed position for support by a support means capable of positioning with respect to a body, and applying distinguishing means for distinguishing the temperature range in which the device is operational.
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