New products

Bios Diagnostics Forehead Thermometer by Thermor

Thermometers aren’t a seasonal item but it should come as no surprise that retail sales figures show that demand peaks during flu season. That was never more true than with the latest flu season, which included the H1N1 strain. Many pharmacies sold out of thermometers.

New on the market this year was a new kind of digital thermometer, the Bios Diagnostics Forehead Thermometer from Thermor of Newmarket, Ontario. The company sold all of the units it made. No thermometer handles all situations optimally, which is why there are so many different kinds, but this easy-to-use thermometer has features which make it an especially good choice for use in the home by families with small children.

It’s as accurate as the popular ear thermometer for adults and older kids but more accurate on small kids, according to Mark Beaton, VP of Sales and Marketing at Thermor. Also less intrusive. The BIOS forehead thermometer measures infrared energy radiated from the skin above the eyebrow area and the surrounding tissue. This energy is collected through the lens and converted to a temperature value – Celsius or Fahrenheit as chosen by the user. Temperature readings obtained by scanning above the eyebrow area will provide the greatest accuracy. It can be used on children’s foreheads while they’re asleep without waking them. The thermometer scans the forehead in three seconds without needing to touch the skin.

It stores the last 12 readings in memory, which is handy. It’s good for establishing a temperature baseline for family members because normal temperatures vary among individuals. The thermometer  uses a replaceable battery and, as Beaton pointed out, its compact size makes it a popular accessory to take along on a family trip.

Available at drug stores and retail chains across Canada for $49.99.  More detailed information is available at www.thermor-ins.com

Posted March 4, 2010