METROLOGICAL SUPPORT FOR THE VERIFICATION OF MEDICAL INFRARED THERMOMETERS

Abstract

The paper analyzes two methods of checking medical infrared thermometers – using the black body model and using the gray body model. The use of black body models provides the highest accuracy of temperature reproduction. Direct verification of infrared thermometers is not possible due to the discrepancy between the emissivity value entered in the infrared thermometer and the emissivity value of the black body. In this paper, we propose an algorithm for calculating corrections to the value of the temperature reproduced by the black body. The values of the corrections for different temperatures and emissivity introduced in infrared thermometers are given. Using the gray body model does not require any additional calculations. A model of a gray body with an emissivity from 0.94 to 0.99 has been developed and studied. The advantage of the proposed design is low cost, ease of practical application, and the possibility of simultaneous verification of infrared thermometers with different set emissivity values. For each of the methods, an algorithm for estimating the measurement uncertainty during verification is proposed. The results of the research can be used in testing medical infrared thermometers for type approval and the development of verification methods.