JPS5929686Y2 - stethoscope microphone - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Many stethoscopes in use today are of the dual chest-piece microphone type with a switching valve for selectively connecting the cannula to a low-frequency bell or a high-frequency diaphragm. piece type of
Microphone).

Both the bell and the diaphragm are required when the practitioner desires to auscultate cardiac lesions very close to the heart.

For example, the diaphragm is useful for auscultating heart sounds in the 100-2000 Hz range.

The diaphragm can be large as it does not need to be in close contact with the patient's skin, it is only necessary that at least a portion of the diaphragm surface touch the patient's skin.

On the other hand, the periphery of the bell-shaped portion must be in close contact with the patient's skin.

This is because the skin itself is used as a diaphragm.

Therefore, the bell is useful at low frequencies in the 50-150 Hz range.

It has been found that the deeper the bell, the better the sensitivity to the auscultator in this frequency range.

In conventional stethoscopes, obtaining a deep bell required that the axis of the bell be offset 90' from the axis of the diaphragm.

A valve is disposed at the intersection of the axis of the bell-shaped portion and the axis of the diaphragm.

The bell or diaphragm can therefore be closed to extinguish the deposits when not in use.

Although this arrangement creates an excellent stethoscope with high sound quality, it adds bulk to the microphone and makes the entire microphone very heavy, making it inconvenient to use and carry.

Additionally, such stethoscopes require the use of both hands by the physician or auscultator when switching from one microphone state to another.

That is, if the auscultator is using a diaphragm and wishes to use the bell, he must use his free hand for the switching operation.

Therefore, if the patient requires support, the presence of a nurse or other attendant is required.

Furthermore, this conventional stethoscope has the disadvantage that it is difficult to use the two microphones in a narrow space such as under a shirt or inside a bra.

For this reason, in order for a physician to auscultate a patient's heart with both microphone modes, the patient will almost always be required to at least partially undress.

In recent years, it has become common to have a dual microphone in which a bell-shaped portion and a diaphragm are aligned on the same axis on opposite sides of a microphone body.

Such a stethoscope is shown, for example, in US Pat. No. 3,472,335, which was previously proposed by the present inventor.

In this, a movable switching member is placed near the axis of the microphone, allowing the auscultator to use one hand when switching from one microphone state to another.

However, to be completely practical, microphones come to exhibit some disadvantages.

That is, in order to keep the thickness of the microphone within a range that does not make it practically difficult to handle, it is necessary to reduce the depth of the bell-shaped portion.

As a result, the stethoscope is unable to detect and transmit sounds emitted by the heart at the lowest desired frequency.

Therefore, there is a need to provide a dual microphone with a bell of maximum practical depth.

It is desirable for such a microphone to have a relatively small bulk so as to be comfortable for the person applying it and to facilitate portability of the stethoscope.

It is also preferable that such a stethoscope minimizes the overall height of the stethoscope so that it can be easily auscultated while the patient is clothed.

The present invention seeks to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art described above and to provide a stethoscope microphone that satisfies each of the above-mentioned needs.

Furthermore, the present invention provides such a stethoscope, which can use a plastic injection molded bell-shaped part, thereby reducing the coldness felt by the patient when the stethoscope is applied to the patient's skin. That's what it's like.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the stethoscope microphone is configured such that the bell axis is neither perpendicular nor coaxial with the diaphragm axis.

In the present invention, the two axes intersect at an acute angle, and the preferred angle between the two axes is in the range of about 20 to 70 degrees, more preferably about 30 degrees.

The offset of the bell from the diaphragm axis allows the bell to be placed close to the front of the microphone, making it extremely easy for the auscultator to place the microphone against the patient's skin without causing discomfort to the patient. Close contact can be achieved, and it is extremely easy to even invert the microphone for use with the diaphragm in tight areas of clothing.

Additionally, the present invention allows for the use of a concave valve spool supported within the valve body over substantially all of its periphery, so that the valve spool can seal very tightly to its valve seat, eliminating noise within the microphone. Avoid leakage and poor sound transmission.

The cannula can be rigidly connected to a valve spool through which sound waves can travel to a tube communicating with the binaural canals.

The sleeve also acts as a lever to facilitate rotation of the valve spool within a predetermined range of its acoustic connection with the bell or diaphragm.

In other words, the auscultator can both support the microphone and switch the microphone from one listening mode to another using only one hand.

Thus, for example, the physician may support the patient with the left hand while using the right hand to both hold the microphone and switch sound connections when reversing the microphone from one tone mode to the other.

If desired, the valve spool can be configured to releasably lock with the sound passage and the passage connected, so that the auscultator does not have to hold or restrain the valve connection.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

From this, various important unique features of the invented microphone will become clear.

Similarly, it will be obvious that the present invention can be modified in a wide variety of ways other than the embodiments shown below, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

As shown in FIG.
1 can be suitably attached to a flexible cannula 13, which is electrically connected to a binaural canal 15 which can be fitted in the ear of an auscultator in a known manner.

To describe FIGS. 1 to 4, the microphone 11
includes a first body member 17 having a pair of upright ears or flanges 19, only one of which is shown in FIG.

The body member 17 has a periphery 21 formed therein;
A ring 23 is mounted on the periphery by threading or other suitable means to seal the diaphragm 25 between the ring 23 and the body member 17.

As a result, a nitride 27 is formed between the diaphragm and body member and communicates with the first passage (L29) of the member.

Various stationary structures are provided on the upper surface of the body member 17, including a guide 31 with a key 33 for stationary support of the upper (second) body member 51.

The first body member 17 may be made of plastic, stainless steel, or other suitable material, and the second body member 51 may be injection molded of plastic, if desired.

Since a microphone is usually carried around the user's neck or in a pocket, if the body member 51 is made of an injection molded product, the bell-shaped part 53 will not touch the patient's body when the microphone is applied to the patient. It doesn't make you feel too cold.

The second body member may be integrally formed with a bell 53 having a lip or periphery 55.

The bell-shaped portion 53 has a central chamber 57 (FIGS. 3 and 4) extending about an axis 59.

An opening 61 is formed in the inner wall of the bell-shaped portion 57 and communicates the interior of the bell-shaped portion with a listening hole 65 in the body member 51.

The body member 51 also has a horizontal cylindrical hole 67 communicating with the through hole 65 .

Hole 67 communicates with through hole 69, which is in sealing communication with through hole 29 when body members 17 and 51 are assembled as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

An open lower part 3 is provided extending from a cylindrical hole 67 to the rear of the body member 51 , and a sound 75 passes through the open lower part 3 and connects with the tube 13 .

The acoustic tube 75 is rigidly connected at the inner end of the tube 75 to a concave valve spool 79 which is fitted into the hole 67 with a hermetic seal therebetween.

A radial through hole 81 connects the through hole 69 to one side of the spool 79.
It is equipped to communicate with

The end of the through hole 81 is connected to a rectangular hole 83 in the spool, and the inner end of the acoustic 75 is tightly inserted into the hole.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, acoustic 75 moves up and down along arrow 81 to switch the sonic connection between through hole 81 and bell 53 or diaphragm 25. I can do it.

As a result, the acoustic wave 75 not only serves to form an airway for transmitting acoustic waves to both ears, but also serves as a lever for rotating the spool 79.

Thus, using only one hand, the auscultator can not only change the position of the valve spool in the manner described above, but also hold the microphone relative to the patient.

To prevent unnecessary movement of the valve spool 79, means are provided for releasably securing the valve spool 79 in the two illustrated positions.

In this embodiment, the means comprises a pair of lateral catch grooves 95 formed around the periphery of the valve spool 79.

A pin or bar 97 connects the opening 99 in the body member 51.
When the locking groove 95 reaches the position of the pin 97, the pin 97 is inserted into the locking groove 95 by a spring 101 disposed in a space 103 formed between the body members 17 and 51. Ru.

Therefore, when the lever 75 is moved, the pin 97 acts against the pressing force of the spun tongue 101, but is pushed downward by the ridge formed between the latching grooves 95.

As the movement of the sound 75 continues, the pin 97 fits into the newly facing locking groove 95.

Therefore, the spring and pin have sufficient force to produce an acoustic 75
The spool 79 is reliably locked from moving until it is added to the spool 79.

The lower surface of the body member 51 has an appropriate shape to fit the guide 31 and key 33.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the body member 51 has a keyway 111. Recessed grooves 113 and the like are formed.

Thus, the body members 17.51 can be properly engaged and secured by suitable means, such as bolts 115 passing through the body members 17 and screwed into the body members 51.

In other words, the diaphragm 25 and ring 23 are assembled after the bolts 115 are installed.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 4, the bell axis 59 and the central axis 109 of the diaphragm and microphone intersect at an acute angle.

The angle between these equiaxes is preferably about 30°, but 7
It may be as large as about 0° or as small as about 20°.

In any case, in this illustrated embodiment, axes 59 and 10
9 intersects on the side of the diaphragm 25 opposite to the nitrogen-containing portion 27.

However, if the angle of the axis 59 is changed so that it becomes coaxial with the axis 109, the depth of the bell-shaped portion 53 must be made shallower, or the thickness of the microphone 111 must be increased.

Similarly, if the axis 59 is to be displaced counterclockwise around the intersection of the axes, the radius of the bell-shaped portion 55 must be made considerably smaller, or the thickness of the microphone must be increased. .

In other words, by properly choosing the acute angle between the two axes, the microphone itself can be of the minimum practical thickness, and the practical bell can be of the maximum practical depth. can.

Also, although the opening 61 leads from the bell to the switching valve, it need not be at the bottom or axis 59 of the bell.

This is because even if the position of the opening 61 deviates from the axis 59, it does not adversely affect the acoustics.

Furthermore, as is apparent from a comparison of Figures 3 and 4, the specific relationship between the valve spool and the various tone holes or openings allows the auscultator to manipulate the microphone with great ease. .

For example, when the bell-shaped portion is applied to the auscultator's body as shown in FIG. 3, the sound 75 is in a lowered position, so that it is easier for the auscultator to operate and hold the microphone in this case.

Similarly, when the diaphragm is held against the patient's body as shown in FIG. 4, the cannula 75 is in an up position to facilitate holding the microphone against the patient.

Application of the present invention reduces the thickness and bulk of the microphone, making it extremely easy for the auscultator to hold the microphone in a narrow space under the patient's shirt or inside the patient's bra without causing any discomfort to the patient. .

Furthermore, the auscultator can easily flip the microphone without disturbing the patient and usually without having to remove the microphone from the patient's clothing, thus making auscultation easier and the examination faster. make it possible.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it goes without saying that various changes may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art even if not shown or described.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the microphone of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the microphone in the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a vertical side view showing how the bell-shaped portion of the microphone is used, and FIG. 4 is a vertical side view showing how the diaphragm of the microphone is used. 5 to 11 are a front side slope view, a back side slope view, a right side view, a rear view, a front view, a top view, and a bottom view of the microphone according to the present invention. 11 is a stethoscope microphone, 13 is a flexible cannula, 1
5 is both ear canals, 17 is a first body member, 19 is a flange (ear), 21 is a periphery, 23 is a ring, 25 is a diaphragm, 27 is a nitrogen-containing material, 29 is a first through hole, 31 is a guide, 33 is a key, 51 is a second body member, 53
is a bell-shaped part, 55 is a periphery, 57 is a central chamber, 61 is an opening,
65 is a listening hole, 67 is a cylindrical hole, 69 is a through hole, 73
is an opening, 75 is a cannula (sound guiding hole), 79 is a valve spool, 81 is a radial through hole, 83 is a hole, 95 is a retaining groove,
97 is a pin (or bar), 99 is an opening, 103 is a void, 111 is a keyway, and 113 is a groove.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] ■ A bell-shaped part having an axis and receiving low-frequency sound; A diaphragm having an axis and receiving high-frequency sound; The bell-shaped part and the diaphragm are arranged so that the axis of the bell-shaped part is at an acute angle with the diaphragm axis. a body having a valve seat that connects and supports the valve seat in an intersecting state; a valve that is selectively movable in the valve seat to bring the bell-shaped portion and the diaphragm into communication with the sound conducting hole independently; a stethoscope microphone, the valve having a sound conducting hole for independently connecting the bell portion and the diaphragm with a cannula. ■ Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration ■ In the stethoscope microphone described in ■, the body includes a bell-shaped portion and a diaphragm such that the bottom end of the bell-shaped portion and the valve seat are on the opposite side of the diaphragm axis. Supports stethoscope microphone. ■ Scope of Utility Model Registration Claim ■ In the stethoscope microphone described in ■, the valve seat is substantially connected only between the bell-shaped portion and the valve hole, or between the diaphragm and the valve hole. A stethoscope microphone that is a continuous surface. ■ Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration ■ In the stethoscope microphone described in ■, the bulb includes a circular spool supported on the above-mentioned substantially continuous surface and rotatable about an axis. A stethoscope microphone, wherein the spool includes a latching means for selectively restraining the spool in a position connecting the bell and the microphone to a sound conducting passage, respectively. (1) Scope of Utility Model Registration Claims (1) In the stethoscope microphone described in (1), the body includes a first body member having a bell-shaped portion and a valve; and a diaphragm fixed to the first body member; An auscultation device with a second body member to obtain a microphone. ■ Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration The stethoscope microphone as described in ■ is provided with a restraint key and means for pushing the restraint key into the above-mentioned latching means and cooperating with the locking means. ■ Scope of Utility Model Registration Claims ■ The stethoscope microphone according to item (1), wherein the intersecting acute angle of the axes is not smaller than 20' and not larger than 70°. (i) a first body member having a solid axis, a diaphragm substantially perpendicular to the axis, a nitrogenous material adjacent to the diaphragm, and a first through hole for communicating the nitrogenous material with the through hole; ; a sound-receiving bell-shaped part having an axis; a second through-hole for communicating the bell-shaped part with the sound-guiding through-hole; a second through-hole for connecting the first body member to the first through-hole; a second body member having a through hole of No. 3 and a valve seat; and fixing the first body member to the second body member in a state where the axis of the bell-shaped portion intersects the axis of the solid body at an acute angle. the second and third through holes bordering the valve seat;
The valve spool is rotatably seated on the valve seat;
The stethoscope according to claim 2, wherein the valve spool has means for forming a through hole in the valve spool that is selectively connected to the second through hole and the third through hole by rotation of the valve spool. microphone. ■Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration■In the stethoscope microphone described in ■, the solid axis intersects with the valve seat, and the bell-shaped part axis does not intersect with the valve seat. [Phase] Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration In the stethoscope microphone described in ■, the through hole of the valve spool is connected to the second valve spool.
A stethoscope microphone comprising means for restraining the valve spool in at least two states, selectively connected between the valve spool and the third through hole. ■ Scope of Utility Model Registration Claims ■ The stethoscope microphone according to item (1), wherein the intersecting acute angle between the solid axis and the bell axis is not less than 20 degrees and not more than 70 degrees. ■ Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration ■ The stethoscope microphone as described in ■, wherein the acute angle of intersection between the solid axis and the bell axis is approximately 30°. 0 Scope of Utility Model Registration Claims (1) The stethoscope microphone according to item 3, wherein the intersection between the solid axis and the bell-shaped part axis is on the opposite side of the diaphragm to the metal wheel. (2) A stethoscope microphone according to claim 0, in which the second through hole intersects the inner surface of the bell-shaped portion at a location other than the axis of the bell-shaped portion.