Reliability and Validity of Electrothermometers and Associated Thermocouples

Jutte, Lisa S.; Knight, Kenneth L.; Long, Blaine

doi:10.1123/jsr.17.1.50

Cited by 10 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The uncertainty of Physitemp's IT-21 thermocouples during experiment 1 (Table 1) and Physitemp's IT-21s and PT-6s during the preapplication measures of experiment 2 ( Table 2) was similar to the uncertainty observed in a previous study 5 (60.26C). Validity of the IT-21 thermo- Figure. The distal ends of 10 IT-21 thermocouples were inserted through a polystyrene cooler, secured with a silicone-based polymer, and connected to the Iso-Thermex.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

“…6 Our P value was set at , .05, whereas differences of less than the manufacturer's claims (60.16C) were not considered practically different. 1,5 In experiment 2, we identified 2 IT-21 outliers with box plots and removed them before data analysis. For experiment 2, after we removed the outlier data, ice application to the thermocouple leads influenced the validity of the temperature measures (F 2,12 5 14.82, P 5 .001; Table 2).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1,5 The means of the absolute differences were our measure of validity for each thermocouple. Differences in thermocouple validity with or without extension leads and for each application phase were analyzed with repeatedmeasures analyses of variance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We collected data for each trial every 20 seconds for 5 minutes. 1,2,5 Experiment 2. For Experiment 2, 5 IT-21 and 5 PT-6 thermocouples were set up in our polystyrene cooler similarly to the setup used in experiment 1 but without the use of extension leads.…”

Section: Instrumentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Data were collected every 10 seconds for 10 minutes during preapplication (2.5 minutes), application (5 minutes), and postapplication (2.5 minutes) phases. 1,2,5 During the application phase, we placed a 2-kg ice bag on the thermocouple leads.…”

Section: Instrumentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Temperature Measurement Reliability and Validity With Thermocouple Extension Leads or Changing Lead Temperature

Jutte

Long

Knight

2010

Journal of Athletic Training

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Context: Thermocouples' leads are often too short, necessitating the use of an extension lead.Objective: To determine if temperature measures were influenced by extension-lead use or lead temperature changes.Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Setting: Laboratory.Other Participants: Experiment 1: 10 IT-21 thermocouples and 5 extension leads. Experiment 2: 5 IT-21 and PT-6 thermocouples.Methods: In experiment 1, temperature data were collected on 10 IT-21 thermocouples in a stable water bath with and without extension leads. In experiment 2, temperature data were collected on 5 IT-21 and PT-6 thermocouples in a stable water bath before, during, and after ice-pack application to extension leads.Results: In experiment 1, extension leads did not influence IT-21 validity (P 5 .45) or reliability (P 5 .10). In experiment 2, postapplication IT-21 temperatures were greater than preapplication and application measures (P , .05).Conclusions: Extension leads had no influence on temperature measures. Ice application to leads may increase measurement error.Key Words: uncertainty, therapeutic modalities, cryotherapy, thermotherapy Key Points N The use of extension leads did not affect thermocouple measurement reliability and validity. N Researchers should report the reliability and validity of thermocouple measurements.T hermocouples are interfaced with electrothermometers to measure temperature. Some thermocouple models, such as the implantable IT-21 (Physitemp Instruments, Inc, Clifton, NJ), have leads that are too short to reach from an electrothermometer to the tissue or substance being measured, necessitating the use of a thermocouple extension lead. When studying superficial modalities, such as ice and heat packs, researchers must place most modalities on at least part of the leads during data collection. In previous work, 1,2 we reported that an electrothermometer influenced uncertainty (validity 6 reliability), otherwise referred to as accuracy by manufacturers. 3 The only thermocouple model to influence uncertainty more than the electrothermometer manufacturer's claims was the IT-21 2 ; thermocouple manufacturers provide only range values for their equipment. 4 This finding caused us to question whether extension leads influence temperature measurement uncertainty. Because thermocouples are composed of 2 dissimilar metal wires and metal is typically a good conductor of heat energy, we also asked if altering the temperature around the thermocouple leads could influence the reported temperature. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to determine if the use of extension leads or the temperature of the thermocouple lead alters the validity and reliability of temperature measurements. METHODS Study DesignTwo experiments were performed. Experiment 1 was a 2 3 2 repeated-measures factorial design with extension lead (with, without) and trial (1, 2) as the independent variables. Experiment 2 was a 1 3 3 repeated-measures factorial design with phase (preapplication, ice application, postapplication) as the independent var...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Instrumentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Instrumentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Temperature Measurement Reliability and Validity With Thermocouple Extension Leads or Changing Lead Temperature

Jutte

Long

Knight

2010

Journal of Athletic Training

Self Cite

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Upconversion Spectral Modulation and Temperature Sensing of NaYF4:Yb3+/Ho3+/Tm3+/Gd3+ Nanorods with Resistance to Thermal Quenching

Zhou,

Yang,

Jin

2024

J. Electron. Mater.

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Validity and reliability of temperature measurement by heat flow thermistors, flexible thermocouple probes and thermistors in a stirred water bath

et al. 2011

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We determined the validity and reliability of heat flow thermistors, flexible thermocouple probes and general purpose thermistors compared with a calibrated reference thermometer in a stirred water bath. Validity (bias) was defined as the difference between the observed and criterion values, and reliability as the repeatability (standard deviation or typical error) of measurement. Data were logged every 5 s for 10 min at water temperatures of 14, 26 and 38 °C for ten heat flow thermistors and 24 general purpose thermistors, and at 35, 38 and 41 °C for eight flexible thermocouple probes. Statistical analyses were conducted using spreadsheets for validity and reliability, where an acceptable bias was set at ±0.1 °C. None of the heat flow thermistors, 17% of the flexible thermocouple probes and 71% of the general purpose thermistors met the validity criterion for temperature. The inter-probe reliabilities were 0.03 °C for heat flow thermistors, 0.04 °C for flexible thermocouple probes and 0.09 °C for general purpose thermistors. The within trial intra-probe reliability of all three temperature probes was 0.01 °C. The results suggest that these temperature sensors should be calibrated individually before use at relevant temperatures and the raw data corrected using individual linear regression equations.

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Reliability and Validity of Electrothermometers and Associated Thermocouples

Abstract: Thermocouple models vary in reliability and validity. Scientists should test and report the uncertainty of their equipment rather than depending on manufactures' claims.

Cited by 10 publications

References 8 publications

Temperature Measurement Reliability and Validity With Thermocouple Extension Leads or Changing Lead Temperature

Temperature Measurement Reliability and Validity With Thermocouple Extension Leads or Changing Lead Temperature

Upconversion Spectral Modulation and Temperature Sensing of NaYF4:Yb3+/Ho3+/Tm3+/Gd3+ Nanorods with Resistance to Thermal Quenching

Validity and reliability of temperature measurement by heat flow thermistors, flexible thermocouple probes and thermistors in a stirred water bath

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