Francesco Pompei

Francesco "Frank" Pompei is the founder and chief executive officer of Exergen Corporation. Pompei earned BS and MS mechanical engineering degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also earned an MS and PhD from Harvard University. In addition to his work with Exergen, Pompei holds an appointment as Research scholar in the Dept. of Physics at Harvard. Pompei created the technology that led to the invention of Exergen's Temporal Scanner while working as a researcher at Harvard and he holds 60 patents  in "non-invasive thermometry for medical and industrial applications."


 * Temporal artery temperature detector (patent number: 7346386 issued on Mar 18, 2008) – “Body temperature measurements are obtained by scanning a thermal radiation sensor across the side of the forehead over the temporal artery. A peak temperature measurement is processed to compute an internal temperature of the body as a function of ambient temperature and the sensed surface temperature. The function includes a weighted difference of surface temperature and ambient temperature, the weighting being varied with target temperature through a minimum in the range of 96.degree. F. and 100.degree. F. The radiation sensor views the target surface through an emissivity compensating cup which is spaced from the skin by a circular lip of low thermal conductivity.”
 * Ambient and perfusion normalized temperature detector (patent number: 7314309 issued on Jan 1, 2008) – “A body temperature detector is particularly suited to axillary temperature measurements of adults. The radiation sensor views a target surface area of the body and electronics compute an internal temperature of the body as a function of ambient temperature and sensed surface temperature. The function includes a weighted difference of surface temperature and ambient temperature, the weighting being varied with target temperature to account for varying perfusion rate. Preferably, the coefficient varies from a normal of about 0.13 through a range to include 0.09. The ambient temperature used in the function is assumed at about 80.degree. F. but modified with detector temperature weighted by 20%.”
 * Radiation detector with passive air purge and reduced noise (patent number: 6641301 issued on Nov 4, 2003) – “A method and apparatus for maintaining a viewing window of a detector substantially clean includes enclosing the detector within a housing, and moving a target surface relative to the viewing window to create an airflow adjacent the viewing window. The housing can include an aperture through which the viewing window of the sensor views the target surface. Motion of the target surface creates an airflow velocity adjacent the viewing window for maintaining the viewing window substantially clean. To increase the accuracy of the detector, a high emissivity area is provided on an outside surface of the housing which faces the target surface.”
 * Axillary infrared thermometer and method of use (patent number: 5874736 issued on Feb 23, 1999) – “A radiation detector for axillary temperature measurement comprises a wand having an axially directed radiation sensor at one end and an offset handle at the opposite end. The radiation sensor is mounted within a heat sink and retained by an elastomer in compression. The radiation sensor views a target surface through an emissivity compensating cup and a plastic film. A variable reference is applied to a radiation sensor and amplifier circuit in order to maintain full analog-to-digital converter resolution over design ranges of target and sensor temperature with the sensor temperature either above or below target temperature.”
 * Differential radiation detector probe (patent number: 5836692 issued on Nov 17, 1998) – “An infrared detector is positioned in a probe having nonthermocouple leads which connect to socket connectors of a standard hand-held voltmeter. The voltmeter has a clip to retain the probe. The detected voltage may indicate the difference between a target temperature surface and ambient temperature. For more accurate sensing of ambient temperature, a thermocouple may be connected in series with the thermopile with one junction at the thermopile cold junction temperature and another junction sensing ambient temperature. The ambient temperature may be that temperature surrounding the infrared detector or the temperature of the environment surrounding the meter. The infrared detector is calibrated to provide a direct reading of temperature degrees by a factor of ten on the voltage scale of the meter. To that end, multiple thermocouples may be connected in series, each with a junction responding to ambient temperature and a junction responding to thermopile cold junction temperature.”
 * Radiation detector with temperature display (patent number: RE35554 issued on Jul 8, 1997) – “A radiation detector with temperature readout has a multicolored LED display divided into segments of zero degrees to 9 degrees centigrade colored green, 10 degrees to 19 degrees centigrade in yellow, and 20 degrees to 100 degrees centigrade in red. Alternatively, two red segments are provided for ranges of 20 degrees to 64 degrees centigrade and 65 degrees centigrade and above, respectively. The radiation detector is automatically zeroed at ambient upon use and provides a readout of temperature rise above ambient throughout a scan of a subject. In one design, only one LED for each segment of the display is illuminated at a time. An audible signal is sounded at an increasing pulse frequency as the display is illuminated from the green segment to the red segment of measured temperature rise above ambient with a constant tone for temperature rises above about 20 degrees centigrade. In an alternative design a timing circuit allows the detector to self operate for a predetermined length of time. The detector sounds a `beep` tone before automatically shutting itself off. A window made of germanium covers the radiation sensor and filters out wavelengths not of interest.”
 * Differential thermal sensor (patent number: 5081359 issued on Jan 14, 1992) – “A differential temperature sensor uses two different thermopiles each encased in its own can. The thermopiles are given a position and spatial orientation to best suit the measuring task. A connector of low thermal impedance thermally connects the cold junctions of the two thermopiles. The connector is adjusted, angled or pivoted to allow the proper relative orientation of the thermopiles. The thermopiles are placed close to the detected areas to keep the thermopile cold junctions and a detected reference area close in temperature. An automatic assembly process uses the present invention in conjunction with a photoelectric switch which confirms the presence of the subject being measured. An improved chiropractic measuring device also uses the differential sensor to accurately sense nerve damage near the spine.”