SYSTEMS AND METHOD TO MEASURE CORE BODY TEMPERATURE BY A VARYING GRADIENT

A core body temperature sensor (10) includes a thermoresistant structure (12) having a proximal surface (11) configured for attachment to skin of an associated patient, and a distal end (13) opposite from the proximal surface. A plurality of temperature sensors (14) is arranged to measure temperatures of the thermoresistant structure at a corresponding plurality of different distances from the proximal surface of the thermoresistant structure. A temperature-changing element (16) is configured to change a temperature of the distal end of the thermoresistant structure. An electronic processor (20) is programmed to acquire temperature measurements from the plurality of temperature sensors while operating the temperature-changing element to maintain a temperature of the distal end of the thermoresistant structure at a temperature different from an ambient temperature, and extrapolate a core body temperature of the associated patient from the acquired temperature measurements.