The present invention relates to a device for resetting clinical thermometers, in particular of the ecological type.

As is known, the most widely used thermometers in the clinical field were mercury based, at least until the toxicity of mercury led to the design of electronic thermometers and thermometers based on less hazardous fluids than mercury.

In particular, the second category includes gallium thermometers, also known as "ecological thermometers" because they do not require batteries and do not contain toxic substances, such as mercury, which may disperse into the environment in case of breakage.

Gallium thermometers are essentially used in the same manner as traditional thermometers, therefore it is necessary to firmly hold the side opposite the bulb and shake the thermometer with rapid movements of the wrist to reset them. Ecological thermometers are, however, more difficult to reset, meaning that it is more difficult to return the gallium to its initial position compared to similar mercury thermometers, for the subsequent measurement of a patient's body temperature.

This becomes even more difficult if the thermometer is not reset before its temperature returns to ambient temperature.

In this regard, it should be considered that at a temperature of around 20°C mercury has a fluidity of about one and a half times that of the alloy of gallium, indium and tin commonly used in ecological thermometers, and a density which is almost double.

A person weakened by illness, old age, or joint pain could therefore have great difficulty in performing the operation described above.

Moreover, the need to vigorously shake the thermometer without the case can lead to it being broken accidentally as a result of it slipping or hitting another object.

In order to facilitate the resetting of ecological thermometers some tools were developed consisting essentially of a grip coupled with a cap-shaped seat by means of a flexible segment.

The grip is squeezed between thumb and forefinger and the thermometer, stuck in the cap, is made oscillate with wrist movements of sufficient magnitude to

PCT00131 EN.docx transmit a motion of around 180°.

These known devices can, however, be perfected.

First of all, it should be noted that the movement that is necessary to reset the thermometer requires in any case a certain intensity in order to be effective.

Beyond that, it must be considered that a device of this type holds the thermometer due to the effect of the vacuum that forms in the cap.

This locking system can make it especially difficult to separate the two elements, for example to put the thermometer back in its case.

The aim of the invention is to provide a device for resetting a clinical thermometer, in particular of the ecological type, which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above.

Within the scope of this aim, a particular object of the invention is to provide a device that facilitates the resetting of an ecological thermometer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device usable even by physically weaker people.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which enables a thermometer to be reset in a safe manner for the user.

The above aim, as well as the objects mentioned and others which will become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a device for resetting a clinical thermometer, in particular of the ecological type, comprising an elongated body having a free end and the opposite end associated with a thermometer case by means of a flexible element; this device is characterized in that said elongated body comprises a shaped head, substantially obtained at the level of the end associated with the thermometer case and suited to allow the temporary and partial winding of said flexible element and its subsequent rapid releasing during the revolution of the elongated body, said flexible element being substantially filiform.

Further characteristics and advantages will become clearer from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a device for resetting a clinical thermometer, in particular of the ecological type, according to the invention, illustrated by way of a non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is a view simulating the movement transmitted to the device according to the invention by a user; - Figure 3 is a front view of the device according to the invention during the first part of a rotation;

- Figure 4 is a front view of the device according to the invention in a successive part of the rotation;

- Figure 5a is a side view of the device according to the invention illustrating the relative position of its components at the beginning of the rotation;

- Figure 5b is a side view of the device according to the invention illustrating the relative position of its components during the rotation;

- Figure 5c is another side view of the device according to the invention illustrating the relative position of its components during the rotation.

With reference to the above figures, a device for resetting a clinical thermometer, in particular of the ecological type, is indicated as a whole by the reference number 1.

The device 1 comprises an elongated body 2 which has a free end and the opposite end associated with a thermometer case 4 by means of a flexible element 3.

Advantageously, in the vicinity of the free end of the elongated body 2 there is a grip portion 5 that is shaped so that it can be easily held by a user 100.

According to the invention, the elongated body 2 has a particular shaped head 10 obtained at the level of its end associated with the thermometer case 4.

The shaped head 10 is designed in such a way as to allow the temporary and partial winding of the flexible element 3, following a revolving motion imparted to the elongated body 2, and its subsequent rapid releasing, as will be better explained below.

In the present case, the flexible element 3 is made up of a wire or a string made of an inextensible material, preferably with a length similar to that of the thermometer case 4.

More in detail, the shaped head 10 is formed by a rounded portion 1 1 which, advantageously, ends with a cap 12.

The rounded portion 1 1 is also delimited circumferentially by a tapered portion 13 inclined with respect to both the lateral surface of the elongated body 2 and its longitudinal axis.

Essentially, the cross section of the rounded portion 1 1 is smaller than the cross section of the elongated body 2 and the boundary between the two elements is demarcated by the tapered portion 13, which fundamentally works as a guide for the winding of the flexible element 3.

It was particularly advantageous to ensure that the rounded portion 1 1 has an oval cross section, as illustrated in the attached figures.

Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tapered portion 13 is formed by two incident portions inclined in such a way as to induce the flexible element 3 to move with a helical motion around the shaped head 10 during the revolution of the elongated body 2.

It should be noted that the shaped head 10 is symmetrical with respect to an imaginary longitudinal plane which divides it into two specular identical halves. A first end of the flexible element 3 is fastened substantially at the level of the intersection point between the tapered portion 13 and the rounded portion 1 1 farthest from the cap 12.

In contrast, the second end of the flexible element 3 is fastened to a box-shaped body 6 that together with a removable cover 7 constitutes the thermometer case 4.

Clearly, the box-shaped body 6 is configured in such a way as to house a thermometer 20, or an equivalent instrument.

The box-shaped body 6 is also provided with means, known per se and therefore not described herein, suited to lock the thermometer case 4 on the elongated body 2 in a non-operating position.

The operation of the device according to the invention is simple and intuitive. To reset the thermometer 20 it is sufficient to insert it in the thermometer case 4, placing the bulb at the farthest end from the elongated body 2, close the removable cover 7, and start rotating the device 1 holding the grip portion 5. The speed of the revolutions may be even moderate, a few revolutions per second.

When the thermometer case 4 begins to rotate, the tapered portion 13 causes the flexible element 3 to wrap around the rounded portion 1 1, until it reaches the apex, where it rests on a surface with an increasing slope, constituted by a portion of the cap 12.

At this point the flexible element 3 loses its grip and slides or rolls down the shaped head 10, as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5.

Essentially, the flexible element 3, starting from a radial position, that is, orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body 2, tends to wrap around the rounded portion following a rotating motion, thus substantially perpendicular to the axis of the elongated body 2, but when it encounters the tapered portion 13 it slides over the rounded portion 1 1 and takes on a substantially helical movement that leads it to the area of the cap 12, where it can no longer wrap around and comes off the end.

This release causes slack that frees the movement of the thermometer case 4, which continues its motion in a substantially tangential direction causing the sudden releasing of the flexible element 3.

When the flexible element 3 returns to its taut position, the thermometer 20 undergoes a sharp deceleration, which combined with the rotation results in a force being exerted on the liquid contained in the glass tube, as clearly shown in Figure 4.

With this method, the thermometer 20 can easily be reset and prepared for the next measurement in a very short time and with little effort, even if it is left to cool to ambient temperature.

Obviously, the slower the rotation of the thermometer case 4, the greater number of revolutions is needed to reset the thermometer 20.

It is important to highlight that the symmetry of the shaped head 10 allows the same effect to be obtained regardless of the direction of rotation chosen by the user, that is, regardless of whether the device of the invention is rotated clockwise or counter clockwise.

Thus the above demonstrates that the invention achieves the set aim and objects, as it provides a device that makes it possible to reset a clinical thermometer, particularly of the ecological type, quickly and easily.

The device according to the invention makes the resetting operation much easier even in the case in which the operation is performed when the thermometer has already reached ambient temperature.

Additionally, the use of the device according to the invention is particularly safe, since the resetting operations are performed by inserting the thermometer in a special case.

The device for resetting a clinical thermometer, in particular of the ecological type, thus conceived can be subjected to numerous modifications and variations, all falling within the scope of the innovative concept; moreover, all the components may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

Essentially, any materials may be employed, provided that they are compatible with the specific use, and any dimensions and shapes can , according to the requirements and the state of the art.