CA1299671C - Electronic stethoscopic apparatus - Google Patents
Electronic stethoscopic apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1299671C CA1299671C CA000540694A CA540694A CA1299671C CA 1299671 C CA1299671 C CA 1299671C CA 000540694 A CA000540694 A CA 000540694A CA 540694 A CA540694 A CA 540694A CA 1299671 C CA1299671 C CA 1299671C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- audio
- wave
- wireless radio
- main body
- amplifying
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
ELECTRONIC STETHOSCOPIC APPARATUS
An electronic stethoscopic apparatus includes: a housing device with a main body having a plurality of switches and jacks electrically installed therein; an audio-signal amplifying device consisting of substantially a pre-amplifying circuit device, a low pass filter and a volume controller disposed in the main body and electrically coupled with the switches and jacks; a battery supply replaceably provided in the main body and electrically connected to the audio-signal amplifying device; an audio-wave guiding device having transducers disposed therein for converting the audio wave into an electric signal and positioned on top of the main body and electrically connected to the audio-signal amplifying device; a wireless radio wave transmitting device also disposed in the main body to receive the electric signals and transmit the same as radio signals; an upper cover of the housing device connected to the top end of the main body and to the audio-wave guiding means: and a body contact device communicatively connected to the audio-wave guiding device; thereby, auscultation can be made through an earphone/speaker and/or recorder for accurate diagnosis, and besides, a remote auscultation or bedside group teachings can be achieved by turning on the wireless radio wave transmitting device enabling the radio wave signals to be received by those at a remote place.
ELECTRONIC STETHOSCOPIC APPARATUS
An electronic stethoscopic apparatus includes: a housing device with a main body having a plurality of switches and jacks electrically installed therein; an audio-signal amplifying device consisting of substantially a pre-amplifying circuit device, a low pass filter and a volume controller disposed in the main body and electrically coupled with the switches and jacks; a battery supply replaceably provided in the main body and electrically connected to the audio-signal amplifying device; an audio-wave guiding device having transducers disposed therein for converting the audio wave into an electric signal and positioned on top of the main body and electrically connected to the audio-signal amplifying device; a wireless radio wave transmitting device also disposed in the main body to receive the electric signals and transmit the same as radio signals; an upper cover of the housing device connected to the top end of the main body and to the audio-wave guiding means: and a body contact device communicatively connected to the audio-wave guiding device; thereby, auscultation can be made through an earphone/speaker and/or recorder for accurate diagnosis, and besides, a remote auscultation or bedside group teachings can be achieved by turning on the wireless radio wave transmitting device enabling the radio wave signals to be received by those at a remote place.
Description
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ELECTRONIC STETHOSCOPIC APPAR~TUS
sackground o~ the Invention This invention relates to an electronic stethoscopic apparatus, and particularly to such apparatus intended for multiple auscultation and historical recording of detected sounds emanating from a patient and also intended for clearly transmitting as clearly as possible the detected sound from the body portion of a patient.
The stethoscope is an indispensable medical instrument for detecting the sounds of body portions of a patient such as heart, lung, trachea, blood vessels, intestine, fetal heart, pulse beat, etc., so as to assist in the diagnosis of the illness of the patient by doctors. The structure of the known stethoscope is usually composed of a chest piece with a diaphragm and a bell, a rubber tube connected to the chest piece at one end, and a pair of eartips that engage in the doctor's ears arranged at another end of the rubber tube through a pair of flexible binaurals. This known stethoscope, though widely used by doctors, has the following problems:
1) In order to allow the user to perform the auscultation without interference by external noise, the binaurals must be sufficiently resilient, which is uncomfortable for the user. If the resilience of the binaurals is reduced to a lower value for the user's comfort, the relay of the detected sound to the user's ear will be reduced.
ELECTRONIC STETHOSCOPIC APPAR~TUS
sackground o~ the Invention This invention relates to an electronic stethoscopic apparatus, and particularly to such apparatus intended for multiple auscultation and historical recording of detected sounds emanating from a patient and also intended for clearly transmitting as clearly as possible the detected sound from the body portion of a patient.
The stethoscope is an indispensable medical instrument for detecting the sounds of body portions of a patient such as heart, lung, trachea, blood vessels, intestine, fetal heart, pulse beat, etc., so as to assist in the diagnosis of the illness of the patient by doctors. The structure of the known stethoscope is usually composed of a chest piece with a diaphragm and a bell, a rubber tube connected to the chest piece at one end, and a pair of eartips that engage in the doctor's ears arranged at another end of the rubber tube through a pair of flexible binaurals. This known stethoscope, though widely used by doctors, has the following problems:
1) In order to allow the user to perform the auscultation without interference by external noise, the binaurals must be sufficiently resilient, which is uncomfortable for the user. If the resilience of the binaurals is reduced to a lower value for the user's comfort, the relay of the detected sound to the user's ear will be reduced.
2) In addition to the above-noted defect, the sound detection of the known stethoscope is always made through the chest piece, which is positioned on the patient's body for obtaining the sound and effecting diagnosis. ~owever, the sound generated from the patient's body is usually very weak and also varies, and transformation of the detected sound is often caused by the known stethoscope, with the result that often correct diagnosis cannot be made easilyJ and even erroneous diagnosis may result because of the transformed sound.
3) Since the known stethoscopes are generally designed for a single user it is very inconvenient if consultation and/or ' ~ 967~L
bed-side teaching is required for the same patient, particularly a female one, because the examination area is confined to a specific spot such as the heart, lung, etc., with the result that the observers need to perform the auscultation one after another on the specific spot for the same patient. Meanwhile, owing to a different time and different operation of each observer with different types of stethoscopes, the sounds detected may be sufficiently varied as to result in different diagnosis. ~articularly, when a bed-side teaching has to be conducted, it is difficult to obtain a unified diagnosis with the known stethoscopes.
bed-side teaching is required for the same patient, particularly a female one, because the examination area is confined to a specific spot such as the heart, lung, etc., with the result that the observers need to perform the auscultation one after another on the specific spot for the same patient. Meanwhile, owing to a different time and different operation of each observer with different types of stethoscopes, the sounds detected may be sufficiently varied as to result in different diagnosis. ~articularly, when a bed-side teaching has to be conducted, it is difficult to obtain a unified diagnosis with the known stethoscopes.
4) Since the known stethoscopes are normally designed to perform auscultation only on the spot, it is hard to make a diagnosis from a very weak and transient sound produced by the body portion of a patient. Moreover, there is no recording function provided for the known stethoscopes to record the sound required for the patient's medical history for correct diagnosis or for bed-side teaching purpose.
5) It is sometimes necessary for consultation purpose to transmit the sound produced by the body portions of a patient to a doctor who is located in a remote place. However, unfortunately the conventional stethoscopes do not have proper means to achieve this.
Summary of the Invention In accordance with the present invention there is provided an electronic stethoscopic apparatus comprising:
a housing means adapted for hand gripping and operational control;
an audio-signal amplifying means having input/output terminals provided therein installed in said housing means for amplifying and outputting audio signals therefrom;
power supply means replaceably installed in said housing means and electrically connected to said audio-signal amplifying means for providing power thereto an audio-wave guiding means disposed on said housing means for receiving and transmitting sound waves;
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transducing means having output terminals provided thereto disposed in said audio-wave guiding means and electrically connected to said audio-signal amplifying means for receiving said sound waves and converting same into electrical audio signals to be Eed into said audio-signal amplifying means;
and a body contact means composed of a sound transmission pipe with a diaphram on one side, a bell on another, and a sound-wave duct in a middle portion thereof, sleevingly c~nnected to said audio-wave guiding means for being placed on a body portion of a patient.
The said housing means may comprise a main body formed in an elongated shape and having a level surface with a central recess formed in, said audio-wave guiding means being positioned on said level surface:
a first cover detachably connected to one end of the main body;
a recorder jack and an earphone/speaker jack in the main body and electrically connected to said audio-signal amplifying means which is installed in the main body;
a control knob provided on the main body and electrically connected to said audio-signal amplifying means for controlling the magnitude of output audio signals therefrom; and a second cover having an inner section formed in a shape conforming to that of said audio-wave guiding means connected to the main body for wrappingly pressing a portion of said audio-wave guiding means against said level surface with another portion of said audio-wave guiding means extending out of the second cover and being sleevingly connected with the sound wave duct of said body contact means.
The said audio-signal amplifying means may further comprise at least a pre-amplifying device, a low pass filtering device for filtering out high frequency ambient noise, and power amplifying circuit means.
Said stethoscopic apparatus may further comprise a wireless radio wave transmitting means to receive said audio signals from said audio signal amplifying means and generating 9~67~
--an output wireless radio signal, and said wireless radio transmitting means may comprise a wireless radio wave generating circuit means and an antenna connected to said circuit means for radiating out said radio signal.
Also in accordance with the invention there is provided an electronic stethoscopic apparatus comprising:
a body contact device;
an audio wave guiding means installed in said body contact device for receiving audio waves therein;
a pair of transducing means disposed in said body contact device for converting audio waves into electrical signals and transferring the signals therefrom;
a housing means connected to said audio wave and guiding means;
an audio wave amplifying device disposed in said housing means for amplifying said electric signals;
a wireless radio wave transmitting device installed in said housing means for transforming said electrical signal into wireless radio wave signals;
a power supply means provided in said housing means for supplying electrical power to said audio wave amplifying device and said wireless radio wave transmitting device; and switching on/off switches for said power supply means and said wireless radio wave transmitting device.
The electronic stethoscopic apparatus of the invention enables electrical earphones to be used for performing ausculation, and with which the sound of the patient's viscera can be electrically sensitively detected and amplified for clear transmission.
Such multi-functional electronic stethoscopic apparatus can permit several users to simultaneously perform auscultation for facilitating consultative diagnosis or for teaching purpose, and also can permit the diagnostic condition on the spot, such as the sound of a patient's viscera, the discussions held during consultation or bed-side teaching, etc., to be recorded for detailed study and later reference.
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Such an electronic stethoscopic apparatus rnay include a wireles radio wave transmitting device built therein for transmitting the sound produced by the body portions of the patient as a radio signal to be received by a receiver located at a remote place.
Other salient features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed . .
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description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a an exploded and perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of an electronic stethoscopic apparatus according to this invention;
Figure 2 is an illustrative view showing the assembly, partly cut-off, of the first preferred embodiment of multi-functional stethoscopic apparatus in Fig. 1.
Figure 3 is a side view of the assembled preferred embodiment of Fig. l;
Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating the operational functions of the first preferred embodiment;
Figure 5 is a functional bloc~ diagram of the audio wave signal amplifying device and the wireless radio wave transmitting device adopted in the electronic stethoscopic apparatus of the present invention;
Figure 6 is an electric circuit diagram embodying the functional block diagram in Fig. 5 for the audio signal amplifying device and the wireless radio wave transmitting device;
Figure 7 is an exploded and perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of an electronic stethoscopic apparatus according to the present invention; and Figure 8 is an illustrative view showing the assembly, partly cut-off, of the second preferred ~1.2~71 embodiment of the stethoscopic apparatus shown in Fig. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Flgs, 1, 2, 3 and 4, th~ first preferred embodlment of an electronic stethoscopic apparatus according to this invention comprises: a housing unit 10 composed of a main body 11, an upper cover 12 with a through opening 121, and a lower cover 13; an audio-wave guide 30 provided on top of the main body 11 at one end; and a body contact device 40 fixedly connected to the other end of audio-wave guide.
As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, with reference to Figs.
4 and 5 the main body 11, adapted for hand gripping, includes:
PC board 14, having audio-signal amplifying device 140 and wireless radio wave transmitting device 141 formed thereon with a plurality of input and output terminals installed in the main body 11, as shown in Fig. 4; a battery supply 15 provided in the main body 11 (batteries can be easily placed and replaced through the lower cover 13) and electrically connected to the audio-signal amplifying device 140 and ~ wireless radio wave transmitting device 141 through power switch 16 and wireless radio on switch 202 respectively installed in a side wall of the main body 11, as shown in Fig.
3; a control knob 203, which is electrically coupled with the audio-signal amplifying device 140, provided at an upper side of the main body 11 for controlling signal output magnitude of the audio-signal amplifying device 140, a recorder jack 18 and 67~
an earphone/speaker jack 19 respectively provided in the lower end of the main body 11 an~ electrically connected to the output terminals of the audio-signal amplifying device 140 as shown in Fig. l; and a level surface 111 with a central recess 112 formed on top of the main body 11, as shown in Fig. 1.
The audio-wave guide 30, formed in a hollow Y-shape and made of flexible material, includes a lower forked portion 31, having a pair of mircrophones 20 respectively disposed therein, and an upper branch portion 32 for receiving audio waves. The lower forked portion 31 of the audio-wave guide 30 is properly positioned in the level surface 111 with each output conductive cord 143, 142 of the microphones 20 separately connected to the input terminals of the audio-signal amplifying device 140 through the central recess 112. The upper cover 12 of which the inner section is formed in a shape conforming to that of the audio-wave guide 30, is fixed on the top end of the main body 11 with the audio-wave guide 30 being completely surrounded thereby and being pressed against the level surface 111 of the main body 11 for firm positioning, and with a certain length of the branch portion 32 extending out of the opening 121 of the upper cover 12. It shall be appreciated that the connection between the main body 11 and upper cover 12 as well as the lower cover 13 can be made through a kind of halved joint by which the protrusions provided at both ends of the main body 11 can be easily engaged with the notches respectively formed in an inner wall .
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of the upper cover 12 and the lower cover 13 so that assembly and disassembly of the housing unit 10 can be quickly made therewith.
As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the body contact devlce 40, composed of a sound transmission pipe 43 with a diaphragm 41 (for high frequency sounds) one one side, a bell 42 (for low frequency sounds) on the other, and a sound-wave duct 44 in the middle, is sleevingly connected to the upper branch portion 32 through the sound-wave duct, of which the lower end is firmly wrapped by the branch portion 32 of the audio-wave guide 30, and the upper part can be turned in unilateral communication with either the diaphragm 41 or the bell 42.
Referring to Fig. 4 and 5 wireless radio wave transmitting device 141 includes a wireless radio wave generating circuit 204 formed on the PC board 14, a wireless radio on switch 202 and a wire type antenna 201. The audio wave amplifying device 140 mainly consists of a circuit means which is also formed and arranged on the PC board 14.
Referring to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 which show the functional block dlagram and the actual circuit diagram of the audio signal amplifying device and the wireless radio wave transmitting device in the stethoscopic apparatus acording to the present invention, the audio wave amplifying device 140 comprises a pre-amplifying device 211, a low pass filtering device 212 which is used to filter those signals of ' ~ ' ..... : , ' .
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frequencies upper than 3000 Hertz, a volume control devi.ce 203 which is usually a variable resistor for controlling the output of the signal, and a power amplifying circuit means 213. The wireless radio wave transmitting device 141 comprises a wireless radio wave generating circuit means 204 which is usually an osclllation circuit, an antenna 201 and a wireless radio on switch 202. The filtered electric signal is fed into the wireless radio wave generating circu.it 204 for oscillation and transmitted through the antenna 201 when the switch 202 is on. The corresponding electric circuit of the audio wave amplifying device 140 and the wireless radio wave transmitting device 141 is best shown in Fig. 6. Since the circuitry is fallen in the area of the conventional art and also self-explanatory for those skilled in the art to enable the circuit, the operation of this circuitry will not be detailed hereinbelow for the purpose of simplicity.
Operations of the first assembled preferred embodiment of the electronic stethoscopic apparatus according to this invention are as follows:
Referring to Figs. l, 3, 4 and 5, before using the electronic stethoscopic apparatus for auscultation, an earphone 50 for single user or a speaker 52 for group bed-side teaching or consultation can be connected to the audio-signal amplifying cord 51 plugged into the earphone/speaker .... . . . - .
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jack 19 of the main body 11. As the situation dictates, the user can select either the diaphragm 41 or the bell 42 along with the audio-wave duct 44 to be placed on the body portion of a patient. Sound detected rom the body portion by the body contact device 40 is transmitted through the audio-wave duct 44 and upper branch 32 of the audio-wave guide 30 and received by the microphones 20 from which the sound waves are transduced into electrical signals and fed into the audio-signal amplifying device 140. Upon being amplified by the amplifying device 140, audio signals are transmitted to the earphone 50 for auscultation or to the speaker 52 for consultation and/or bed-side teaching through the earphone/speaker jack 19.
In addition, if sound recording is needed for establishing the patient's history or for further study, a recorder 60 can also be connected to the audio-signal amplifying device 140 through another electrical conductive cord 61, which is plugged into the recorder jack 18 of the main body 11. Thus, the amplified audio signals from the audio-signal amplifying device 140 can also be fed into the recorder 60 through the recorder jack 18 for.sound recording purpose.
If the detected sound is to be transmitted to a remote place such as for the performance of group bedside teaching of auscultation, the user may turn on the wireless radio on switch 202 and the wireless radio wave transmitting device 141 is then actuated to transmit the signal through thë- antenna 201. By the wireless radio ' ~2~
wave transmitting device 141, remote auscultation and group bedside teaching of auscultation can be conveniently achieved through respectively prepared pocketable receiver and earphone.
It shall be appreciated that since auscultation according to this invention is made through an earphone, it is much more comfortable for the user than the resilient eartips of the conventional stethoscopes. Further than this, with the arrangement of the highly sensitive microphones 20 and the control knob 203 for controlling the amplitude of the audio-wave volume, the detected sound from the body portion of a patient can be optionally amplified and clearly received by the earphone 50 or the speaker 52 for ensuring the correctness and reliability of diagnosis. Moreover, as the detected sound from the body portion of a patient can be recorded, repeated auscultations can be performed when it is necessary, and medical history can be conveniently established for being used, such as in bed-side teaching, in the future.
Furthermore, during bed-side teaching or consultation, simultaneous auscultation can be made through the reproduced sound of the speaker 52 electrically connected to the audio-signal amplifying device 140 through the earphone/speaker jack 19 without requiring repeated individual auscultations as is necessary with the conventional stethoscopes.
In addition to the above-noted features, the - : .
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preferred embodiment of this invention can also be use~ to convert the detected sound from a patient's body portion into substantial informatlon so as to effectuate visual diagnosis and establish medical data files. In respect of this arrangement, as shown in Fig. 4, an interface of audio control device 80 is electrically connected to the output of the audio-signal amplifying device 140, and an oscillograph 90 and a plotting instrument 100 can be functionally coupled with the output of the audio control device 80 so that audio signals from the patient's body portion can be converted into visual display information for visual diagnosis and/or data processing operation.
Referring to Figs. 7 and 8 which show the exploded 1~ perspective view and partly cut-off sectional view of a second embodiment of the multi-functional electronic stethoscopic apparatus according to the present invention, it is noted that the housing device 11 and most part of the stethoscopic apparatus in the second embodiment are the same in structure as ~ that in the first embodiment stethoscopic apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 3. The audio wave guide 30' lncludes a lower cover 181 which is connected to a slightly curved portion of the casing 12 a cylinder body 31' and an upper cover 182 which is in connection to the upper chamber 311' of the cylinder body 31'.
The cylinder body 31' is properly positioned in the round chamber 410 of the body contact means 40' with the vertical portion 312 of the three-way opening 312 aligned with the , 1 Z996~L
opposing communication opening 412 or 413, and the steel balls 314 biased by springs 316 respectively located in the orifices 411 so as to keep the cylinder body 31' in position in the round chamber 410 of the body contact means 40'. The conductive cords al and bl o~ the microphones 20, 20', which are separately located in the lower and upper chambers 311, 311', are respectively connected to the audio wave amplifying device through the upper opening 121 of the upper casing 12 with the cord bl passing through the penetrating hole 313 of the cylinder body 31'. It can be particularly noted that the audio wave guiding means 30' is not like that shown in Figs. 1 to 3 in a Y-shaped configuration. The audio signal amplifying device 140 and the wireless radio wave transmitting device 141 adapted in the first embodiment can be incorporated in the electronic stethoscopic apparatus of the second embodiment shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The operation of the second embodiment electronic stethoscopic apparatus is exactly the same as that o~ the stethoscopic apparatus shown in the first embodiment, While a preferred embodiment has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that many changes may be made in the general construction and arrangement of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and it is therefore desired that the invention be not limited to the exact disclosure but only to the ,, '`: '~' , .
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1 extent of the appending claims.
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Summary of the Invention In accordance with the present invention there is provided an electronic stethoscopic apparatus comprising:
a housing means adapted for hand gripping and operational control;
an audio-signal amplifying means having input/output terminals provided therein installed in said housing means for amplifying and outputting audio signals therefrom;
power supply means replaceably installed in said housing means and electrically connected to said audio-signal amplifying means for providing power thereto an audio-wave guiding means disposed on said housing means for receiving and transmitting sound waves;
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transducing means having output terminals provided thereto disposed in said audio-wave guiding means and electrically connected to said audio-signal amplifying means for receiving said sound waves and converting same into electrical audio signals to be Eed into said audio-signal amplifying means;
and a body contact means composed of a sound transmission pipe with a diaphram on one side, a bell on another, and a sound-wave duct in a middle portion thereof, sleevingly c~nnected to said audio-wave guiding means for being placed on a body portion of a patient.
The said housing means may comprise a main body formed in an elongated shape and having a level surface with a central recess formed in, said audio-wave guiding means being positioned on said level surface:
a first cover detachably connected to one end of the main body;
a recorder jack and an earphone/speaker jack in the main body and electrically connected to said audio-signal amplifying means which is installed in the main body;
a control knob provided on the main body and electrically connected to said audio-signal amplifying means for controlling the magnitude of output audio signals therefrom; and a second cover having an inner section formed in a shape conforming to that of said audio-wave guiding means connected to the main body for wrappingly pressing a portion of said audio-wave guiding means against said level surface with another portion of said audio-wave guiding means extending out of the second cover and being sleevingly connected with the sound wave duct of said body contact means.
The said audio-signal amplifying means may further comprise at least a pre-amplifying device, a low pass filtering device for filtering out high frequency ambient noise, and power amplifying circuit means.
Said stethoscopic apparatus may further comprise a wireless radio wave transmitting means to receive said audio signals from said audio signal amplifying means and generating 9~67~
--an output wireless radio signal, and said wireless radio transmitting means may comprise a wireless radio wave generating circuit means and an antenna connected to said circuit means for radiating out said radio signal.
Also in accordance with the invention there is provided an electronic stethoscopic apparatus comprising:
a body contact device;
an audio wave guiding means installed in said body contact device for receiving audio waves therein;
a pair of transducing means disposed in said body contact device for converting audio waves into electrical signals and transferring the signals therefrom;
a housing means connected to said audio wave and guiding means;
an audio wave amplifying device disposed in said housing means for amplifying said electric signals;
a wireless radio wave transmitting device installed in said housing means for transforming said electrical signal into wireless radio wave signals;
a power supply means provided in said housing means for supplying electrical power to said audio wave amplifying device and said wireless radio wave transmitting device; and switching on/off switches for said power supply means and said wireless radio wave transmitting device.
The electronic stethoscopic apparatus of the invention enables electrical earphones to be used for performing ausculation, and with which the sound of the patient's viscera can be electrically sensitively detected and amplified for clear transmission.
Such multi-functional electronic stethoscopic apparatus can permit several users to simultaneously perform auscultation for facilitating consultative diagnosis or for teaching purpose, and also can permit the diagnostic condition on the spot, such as the sound of a patient's viscera, the discussions held during consultation or bed-side teaching, etc., to be recorded for detailed study and later reference.
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Such an electronic stethoscopic apparatus rnay include a wireles radio wave transmitting device built therein for transmitting the sound produced by the body portions of the patient as a radio signal to be received by a receiver located at a remote place.
Other salient features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed . .
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description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a an exploded and perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of an electronic stethoscopic apparatus according to this invention;
Figure 2 is an illustrative view showing the assembly, partly cut-off, of the first preferred embodiment of multi-functional stethoscopic apparatus in Fig. 1.
Figure 3 is a side view of the assembled preferred embodiment of Fig. l;
Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating the operational functions of the first preferred embodiment;
Figure 5 is a functional bloc~ diagram of the audio wave signal amplifying device and the wireless radio wave transmitting device adopted in the electronic stethoscopic apparatus of the present invention;
Figure 6 is an electric circuit diagram embodying the functional block diagram in Fig. 5 for the audio signal amplifying device and the wireless radio wave transmitting device;
Figure 7 is an exploded and perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of an electronic stethoscopic apparatus according to the present invention; and Figure 8 is an illustrative view showing the assembly, partly cut-off, of the second preferred ~1.2~71 embodiment of the stethoscopic apparatus shown in Fig. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Flgs, 1, 2, 3 and 4, th~ first preferred embodlment of an electronic stethoscopic apparatus according to this invention comprises: a housing unit 10 composed of a main body 11, an upper cover 12 with a through opening 121, and a lower cover 13; an audio-wave guide 30 provided on top of the main body 11 at one end; and a body contact device 40 fixedly connected to the other end of audio-wave guide.
As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, with reference to Figs.
4 and 5 the main body 11, adapted for hand gripping, includes:
PC board 14, having audio-signal amplifying device 140 and wireless radio wave transmitting device 141 formed thereon with a plurality of input and output terminals installed in the main body 11, as shown in Fig. 4; a battery supply 15 provided in the main body 11 (batteries can be easily placed and replaced through the lower cover 13) and electrically connected to the audio-signal amplifying device 140 and ~ wireless radio wave transmitting device 141 through power switch 16 and wireless radio on switch 202 respectively installed in a side wall of the main body 11, as shown in Fig.
3; a control knob 203, which is electrically coupled with the audio-signal amplifying device 140, provided at an upper side of the main body 11 for controlling signal output magnitude of the audio-signal amplifying device 140, a recorder jack 18 and 67~
an earphone/speaker jack 19 respectively provided in the lower end of the main body 11 an~ electrically connected to the output terminals of the audio-signal amplifying device 140 as shown in Fig. l; and a level surface 111 with a central recess 112 formed on top of the main body 11, as shown in Fig. 1.
The audio-wave guide 30, formed in a hollow Y-shape and made of flexible material, includes a lower forked portion 31, having a pair of mircrophones 20 respectively disposed therein, and an upper branch portion 32 for receiving audio waves. The lower forked portion 31 of the audio-wave guide 30 is properly positioned in the level surface 111 with each output conductive cord 143, 142 of the microphones 20 separately connected to the input terminals of the audio-signal amplifying device 140 through the central recess 112. The upper cover 12 of which the inner section is formed in a shape conforming to that of the audio-wave guide 30, is fixed on the top end of the main body 11 with the audio-wave guide 30 being completely surrounded thereby and being pressed against the level surface 111 of the main body 11 for firm positioning, and with a certain length of the branch portion 32 extending out of the opening 121 of the upper cover 12. It shall be appreciated that the connection between the main body 11 and upper cover 12 as well as the lower cover 13 can be made through a kind of halved joint by which the protrusions provided at both ends of the main body 11 can be easily engaged with the notches respectively formed in an inner wall .
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of the upper cover 12 and the lower cover 13 so that assembly and disassembly of the housing unit 10 can be quickly made therewith.
As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the body contact devlce 40, composed of a sound transmission pipe 43 with a diaphragm 41 (for high frequency sounds) one one side, a bell 42 (for low frequency sounds) on the other, and a sound-wave duct 44 in the middle, is sleevingly connected to the upper branch portion 32 through the sound-wave duct, of which the lower end is firmly wrapped by the branch portion 32 of the audio-wave guide 30, and the upper part can be turned in unilateral communication with either the diaphragm 41 or the bell 42.
Referring to Fig. 4 and 5 wireless radio wave transmitting device 141 includes a wireless radio wave generating circuit 204 formed on the PC board 14, a wireless radio on switch 202 and a wire type antenna 201. The audio wave amplifying device 140 mainly consists of a circuit means which is also formed and arranged on the PC board 14.
Referring to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 which show the functional block dlagram and the actual circuit diagram of the audio signal amplifying device and the wireless radio wave transmitting device in the stethoscopic apparatus acording to the present invention, the audio wave amplifying device 140 comprises a pre-amplifying device 211, a low pass filtering device 212 which is used to filter those signals of ' ~ ' ..... : , ' .
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frequencies upper than 3000 Hertz, a volume control devi.ce 203 which is usually a variable resistor for controlling the output of the signal, and a power amplifying circuit means 213. The wireless radio wave transmitting device 141 comprises a wireless radio wave generating circuit means 204 which is usually an osclllation circuit, an antenna 201 and a wireless radio on switch 202. The filtered electric signal is fed into the wireless radio wave generating circu.it 204 for oscillation and transmitted through the antenna 201 when the switch 202 is on. The corresponding electric circuit of the audio wave amplifying device 140 and the wireless radio wave transmitting device 141 is best shown in Fig. 6. Since the circuitry is fallen in the area of the conventional art and also self-explanatory for those skilled in the art to enable the circuit, the operation of this circuitry will not be detailed hereinbelow for the purpose of simplicity.
Operations of the first assembled preferred embodiment of the electronic stethoscopic apparatus according to this invention are as follows:
Referring to Figs. l, 3, 4 and 5, before using the electronic stethoscopic apparatus for auscultation, an earphone 50 for single user or a speaker 52 for group bed-side teaching or consultation can be connected to the audio-signal amplifying cord 51 plugged into the earphone/speaker .... . . . - .
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jack 19 of the main body 11. As the situation dictates, the user can select either the diaphragm 41 or the bell 42 along with the audio-wave duct 44 to be placed on the body portion of a patient. Sound detected rom the body portion by the body contact device 40 is transmitted through the audio-wave duct 44 and upper branch 32 of the audio-wave guide 30 and received by the microphones 20 from which the sound waves are transduced into electrical signals and fed into the audio-signal amplifying device 140. Upon being amplified by the amplifying device 140, audio signals are transmitted to the earphone 50 for auscultation or to the speaker 52 for consultation and/or bed-side teaching through the earphone/speaker jack 19.
In addition, if sound recording is needed for establishing the patient's history or for further study, a recorder 60 can also be connected to the audio-signal amplifying device 140 through another electrical conductive cord 61, which is plugged into the recorder jack 18 of the main body 11. Thus, the amplified audio signals from the audio-signal amplifying device 140 can also be fed into the recorder 60 through the recorder jack 18 for.sound recording purpose.
If the detected sound is to be transmitted to a remote place such as for the performance of group bedside teaching of auscultation, the user may turn on the wireless radio on switch 202 and the wireless radio wave transmitting device 141 is then actuated to transmit the signal through thë- antenna 201. By the wireless radio ' ~2~
wave transmitting device 141, remote auscultation and group bedside teaching of auscultation can be conveniently achieved through respectively prepared pocketable receiver and earphone.
It shall be appreciated that since auscultation according to this invention is made through an earphone, it is much more comfortable for the user than the resilient eartips of the conventional stethoscopes. Further than this, with the arrangement of the highly sensitive microphones 20 and the control knob 203 for controlling the amplitude of the audio-wave volume, the detected sound from the body portion of a patient can be optionally amplified and clearly received by the earphone 50 or the speaker 52 for ensuring the correctness and reliability of diagnosis. Moreover, as the detected sound from the body portion of a patient can be recorded, repeated auscultations can be performed when it is necessary, and medical history can be conveniently established for being used, such as in bed-side teaching, in the future.
Furthermore, during bed-side teaching or consultation, simultaneous auscultation can be made through the reproduced sound of the speaker 52 electrically connected to the audio-signal amplifying device 140 through the earphone/speaker jack 19 without requiring repeated individual auscultations as is necessary with the conventional stethoscopes.
In addition to the above-noted features, the - : .
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preferred embodiment of this invention can also be use~ to convert the detected sound from a patient's body portion into substantial informatlon so as to effectuate visual diagnosis and establish medical data files. In respect of this arrangement, as shown in Fig. 4, an interface of audio control device 80 is electrically connected to the output of the audio-signal amplifying device 140, and an oscillograph 90 and a plotting instrument 100 can be functionally coupled with the output of the audio control device 80 so that audio signals from the patient's body portion can be converted into visual display information for visual diagnosis and/or data processing operation.
Referring to Figs. 7 and 8 which show the exploded 1~ perspective view and partly cut-off sectional view of a second embodiment of the multi-functional electronic stethoscopic apparatus according to the present invention, it is noted that the housing device 11 and most part of the stethoscopic apparatus in the second embodiment are the same in structure as ~ that in the first embodiment stethoscopic apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 3. The audio wave guide 30' lncludes a lower cover 181 which is connected to a slightly curved portion of the casing 12 a cylinder body 31' and an upper cover 182 which is in connection to the upper chamber 311' of the cylinder body 31'.
The cylinder body 31' is properly positioned in the round chamber 410 of the body contact means 40' with the vertical portion 312 of the three-way opening 312 aligned with the , 1 Z996~L
opposing communication opening 412 or 413, and the steel balls 314 biased by springs 316 respectively located in the orifices 411 so as to keep the cylinder body 31' in position in the round chamber 410 of the body contact means 40'. The conductive cords al and bl o~ the microphones 20, 20', which are separately located in the lower and upper chambers 311, 311', are respectively connected to the audio wave amplifying device through the upper opening 121 of the upper casing 12 with the cord bl passing through the penetrating hole 313 of the cylinder body 31'. It can be particularly noted that the audio wave guiding means 30' is not like that shown in Figs. 1 to 3 in a Y-shaped configuration. The audio signal amplifying device 140 and the wireless radio wave transmitting device 141 adapted in the first embodiment can be incorporated in the electronic stethoscopic apparatus of the second embodiment shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The operation of the second embodiment electronic stethoscopic apparatus is exactly the same as that o~ the stethoscopic apparatus shown in the first embodiment, While a preferred embodiment has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that many changes may be made in the general construction and arrangement of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and it is therefore desired that the invention be not limited to the exact disclosure but only to the ,, '`: '~' , .
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.
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1 extent of the appending claims.
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Claims (8)
1. 1. An electronic stethoscopic apparatus comprising:
a housing means adapted for hand gripping and operational control;
an audio-signal amplifying means having input/output terminals provided therein installed in said housing means for amplifying and outputting audio signals therefrom;
power supply means replaceably installed in said housing means and electrically connected to said audio-signal amplifying means for providing power thereto;
an audio-wave guiding means disposed on said housing means for receiving and transmitting sound waves;
transducing means having output terminals provided thereto disposed in said audio-wave guiding means and electrically connected to said audio-signal amplifying means for receiving said sound waves and converting same into electrical audio signals to be fed into said audio-signal amplifying means; and a body contact means composed of a sound transmission pipe with a diaphragm on one side, a bell on another, and a sound-wave duct in a middle portion thereof, sleevingly connected to said audio-wave guiding means for being placed on a body portion of a patient.
a housing means adapted for hand gripping and operational control;
an audio-signal amplifying means having input/output terminals provided therein installed in said housing means for amplifying and outputting audio signals therefrom;
power supply means replaceably installed in said housing means and electrically connected to said audio-signal amplifying means for providing power thereto;
an audio-wave guiding means disposed on said housing means for receiving and transmitting sound waves;
transducing means having output terminals provided thereto disposed in said audio-wave guiding means and electrically connected to said audio-signal amplifying means for receiving said sound waves and converting same into electrical audio signals to be fed into said audio-signal amplifying means; and a body contact means composed of a sound transmission pipe with a diaphragm on one side, a bell on another, and a sound-wave duct in a middle portion thereof, sleevingly connected to said audio-wave guiding means for being placed on a body portion of a patient.
2. An electronic stethoscopic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said housing means comprises:
a main body formed in an elongated shape and having a level surface with a central recess formed in, said audio-wave guiding means being positioned on said level surface:
a first cover detachably connected to one end of the main body;
a recorder jack and an earphone/speaker jack in the main body and electrically connected to said audio-signal amplifying means which is installed in the main body;
a control knob provided on the main body and electrically connected to said audio-signal amplifying means for controlling the magnitude of output audio signals therefrom; and a second cover having an inner section formed in a shape conforming to that of said audio-wave guiding means connected to the main body for wrappingly pressing a portion of said audio-wave guiding means against said level surface with another portion of said audio-wave guiding means extending out of the second cover and being sleevingly connected with the sound wave duct of said body contact means.
a main body formed in an elongated shape and having a level surface with a central recess formed in, said audio-wave guiding means being positioned on said level surface:
a first cover detachably connected to one end of the main body;
a recorder jack and an earphone/speaker jack in the main body and electrically connected to said audio-signal amplifying means which is installed in the main body;
a control knob provided on the main body and electrically connected to said audio-signal amplifying means for controlling the magnitude of output audio signals therefrom; and a second cover having an inner section formed in a shape conforming to that of said audio-wave guiding means connected to the main body for wrappingly pressing a portion of said audio-wave guiding means against said level surface with another portion of said audio-wave guiding means extending out of the second cover and being sleevingly connected with the sound wave duct of said body contact means.
3. An electronic stethoscopic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said audio signal amplifying means further comprises at least a pre-amplifying device, a low pass filtering device for filtering out high frequency ambient noise, and power amplifying circuit means.
4 An electronic stethoscopic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said audio signal amplifying means further comprises at least a pre-amplifying device, a low pass filtering device for filtering out high frequency ambient noise, and power amplifying circuit means.
5. An electronic stethoscopic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a wireless radio wave transmitting means to receive said audio signals from said audio signal amplifying means and generating an output wireless radio signal, and said wireless radio transmitting means may comprise a wireless radio wave generating circuit means and an antenna connected to said circuit means for radiating out said radio signal.
6. An electronic stethoscopic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a wireless radio wave transmitting means to receive said audio signals from said audio signal amplifying means and generating an output wireless radio signal, and said wireless radio transmitting means may comprise a wireless radio wave generating circuit means and an antenna connected to said circuit means for radiating out said radio signal, wherein said wireless radio wave transmitting means comprises a wireless radio wave generating circuit means and an antenna connected to said circuit means for radiating out said radio signal.
7. An electronic stethoscopic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said audio wave guiding means comprises a Y-shaped body with a forked portion at one end thereof for respectively receiving said transducer means therein, and an open branch portion at another end thereof for being sleevingly coupled with the body contact means.
8. An electronic stethoscopic apparatus comprising:
a body contact device;
an audio wave guiding means installed in said body contact device for receiving audio waves therein;
a pair of transducing means disposed in said body contact device for converting audio waves into electrical signals and transferring the signals therefrom;
a housing means connected to said audio wave and guiding means;
an audio wave amplifying device disposed in said housing means for amplifying said electric signals;
a wireless radio wave transmitting device installed in said housing means for transforming said electrical signal into wireless radio wave signals;
a power supply means provided in said housing means for supplying electrical power to said audio wave amplifying device and said wireless radio wave transmitting device; and switching on/off switches for said power supply means and said wireless radio wave transmitting device.
a body contact device;
an audio wave guiding means installed in said body contact device for receiving audio waves therein;
a pair of transducing means disposed in said body contact device for converting audio waves into electrical signals and transferring the signals therefrom;
a housing means connected to said audio wave and guiding means;
an audio wave amplifying device disposed in said housing means for amplifying said electric signals;
a wireless radio wave transmitting device installed in said housing means for transforming said electrical signal into wireless radio wave signals;
a power supply means provided in said housing means for supplying electrical power to said audio wave amplifying device and said wireless radio wave transmitting device; and switching on/off switches for said power supply means and said wireless radio wave transmitting device.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000540694A CA1299671C (en) | 1987-06-26 | 1987-06-26 | Electronic stethoscopic apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000540694A CA1299671C (en) | 1987-06-26 | 1987-06-26 | Electronic stethoscopic apparatus |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1299671C true CA1299671C (en) | 1992-04-28 |
Family
ID=4135988
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000540694A Expired - Lifetime CA1299671C (en) | 1987-06-26 | 1987-06-26 | Electronic stethoscopic apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1299671C (en) |
-
1987
- 1987-06-26 CA CA000540694A patent/CA1299671C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
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| MKLA | Lapsed |