A Thermal Skin Model for Comparing Contact Skin Temperature Sensors and Assessing Measurement Errors

To improve the measurement and subsequent use of human skin temperature (T_sk) data, there is a need for practical methods to compare T_sk sensors and to quantify and better understand measurement error. We sought to develop, evaluate, and utilize a skin model with skin-like thermal properties as a tool for benchtop T_sk sensor comparisons and assessments of local temperature disturbance and sensor bias over a range of surface temperatures. Inter-sensor comparisons performed on the model were compared to measurements performed in vivo, where 14 adult males completed an experimental session involving rest and cycling exercise. Three types of T_sk sensors (two of them commercially available and one custom made) were investigated. Skin-model-derived inter-sensor differences were similar (within ±0.4 °C) to the human trial when comparing the two commercial T_sk sensors, but not for the custom T_sk sensor. Using the skin model, all surface T_sk sensors caused a local temperature disturbance with the magnitude and direction dependent upon the sensor and attachment and linearly related to the surface-to-environment temperature gradient. Likewise, surface T_sk sensors also showed bias from both the underlying disturbed surface temperature and that same surface in its otherwise undisturbed state. This work supports the development and use of increasingly realistic benchtop skin models for practical T_sk sensor comparisons and for identifying potential measurement errors, both of which are important for future T_sk sensor design, characterization, correction, and end use.