GB1348049A - Stethoscopes - Google Patents

Abstract

1348049 Stethoscopes CHAS F THACKRAY Ltd 21 June 1972 [29 June 1971] 30388/ 71 Heading A5R A stethoscope chest-piece comprises a coupling element 1 having a male portion 1a engaging in a female portion 2a of a sounding element 2, elements 1 and 2 being relatively rotatable about an axis A-A, the coupling element 1 having at least one air passage 54 for connection at one end to a listening tube and having its other end opening into a surface of the portion 1a the sounding element having three or more listening devices (12), (13), Figures 1, 2, 4 to 6 (not shown), and 14, each having a respective air-passage (20), (31), 40 opening at one end into a surface of the female portion 2a the or each air-passage of the coupling element being placed in communication with any selected one of the passages (20), (31), 40 on relative rotation of the elements 1 and 2. The portions 1a, 2a may be partly or entirely frusto-conical. There may be a diaphragm listening device (12) and two bell devices (13), 14 of different diameters, each such device having an axis of symmetry, such as D-D. The element 1 has a stem 6 releasably retained in a bore 9 in element 2 by engagement of a part of stem 6 with a collar 10. A frusto-conical part 47 of portion 1a three cut-outs 48, (49), 50 two of which are continuous for obturating the air passages in the unused listening devices and the other, 48, having two passages 54 opening thereinto for communicating with the passage in the selected device. A locking device, such as detents and a spring-loaded ball, may be provided, for retaining elements 1, 2 in selected relative positions. The listening devices may be formed as separate parts and secured in a body part of the sounding element 2, or the sounding element including the listening devices may be a unitary moulding, Figs. 7, 8 (not shown).