RU206389U1 - Remote Patient Auscultation Device - Google Patents

Abstract

The useful model relates to the field of medical diagnostic technology and can be used for examination by acoustic signals of human internal organs, for example, listening to murmurs and heart sounds, respiratory noises, pleural friction noises, pulmonary wheezing, peristaltic sounds of the stomach and intestines, fetal heart sounds in pregnant women The device for remote auscultation of patients contains a stethophonendoscope head, an electric wire connecting an electronic microphone with an audio jack, a rubber tube and a frequency corrector, which is connected by electric wires on one side with an autonomous power source and a built-in transmitter with a button to turn it on, on the other - with an audio jack, and the head of the stethophonendoscope is equipped with an elastic suction cup located along its edge.In the age of high technologies, with the development of telemedicine, the use of the device will allow: to the doctor to receive reliable information about the patient's state of health and provide him with the necessary recommendations. If necessary, the doctor can remotely recommend isolation for a patient who poses an infectious risk to the health of people around him. The compact device can become a reliable assistant, especially during a pandemic. 4 ill.

Description

The utility model relates to the field of medical diagnostic equipment, namely to diagnostic equipment, and can be used for examination by acoustic signals of human internal organs, for example, listening to murmurs and heart sounds, respiratory noises, pleural friction noises, pulmonary wheezing, peristaltic stomach sounds, etc. intestines, fetal heart sounds of pregnant women in health and disease.

Known electronic phonendoscope (RU 2585141, IPC А61В 7/04, 2015), which contains a housing, a microphone, a filtering and amplification device, a controller for signal processing and a wireless transmission and reception device, while a MEMS microphone with digital output, the filtering and amplification device, the controller and the wireless transmission and reception device are made in the form of a single microcircuit to which the digital output of the MEMS microphone is connected, while the filtering and amplification device, the controller and the wireless transmission and reception device, the MEMS microphone and the source power supplies are located on one printed circuit board, and as a wireless transmission and reception device, a wireless transmission and reception device is used, which ensures the use of Internet technology.

The disadvantage of the known device is the technical complexity of the elements, difficulties in operating the device by a patient alone.

Known is an electronic phonendoscope-stethoscope (RU 2173538, IPC A61B 7/04, 1997) containing an acoustic receiver made in the form of a piezoelectric sensor, an amplifier and filtration unit, a telephone with sound-conducting tubes, a headband with "olives". In addition, the device has an analog-to-digital analyzer, the output of which and the output of the block of reference phonograms are connected to the inputs of the analysis block.

The disadvantage of the known device is the presence of interference due to the radiation of the electronic unit and the inability to recognize quiet noises transmitted by sound vibrations from telephones through tubes and "olives" to the ear membrane, as well as the need for a specialist to be present during the listening procedure.

Known optoelectronic phonendoscope (RU 86434, IPC А61В 7/04, 2009), containing a housing and an acoustic signal receiver. Inside the case, made of plastic, there is an optoelectronic unit with an amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter, a block for programmed data analysis, a memory card, and an autonomous power supply. The input of the optoelectronic unit is connected to the receiver of the acoustic signal through the connector, the socket of which is located on the body of the device, by means of an optical communication cable consisting of two optical fibers. The receiver is made in the form of an optical microphone, which is located in the bell. The output of the optoelectronic unit is connected to the headphones-telephones via a conductive communication cable through the connector. On the front surface of the case there is a control panel with a display, and on the side surfaces of the case there is a socket for a cable plug for connecting to a computer and a socket for recharging an autonomous power source. A battery is used as a source of autonomous power supply. The front cover of the housing is made with the possibility of folding. The device is collapsible and consists of three separate replaceable units: a housing, a light microphone with an optical communication cable and headphones-phones connected by means of connectors.

The disadvantage of the known device is the need for the presence of a doctor during the listening procedure, the need to recharge the battery, the bulkiness of the device, short service life with frequent or prolonged use.

Known portable wrist electronic phonendoscope (RU 146979, IPC A61B 7/00, 2014) containing an acoustic signal receiver, inside a housing made of plastic, an amplifier is placed, an optoelectronic unit including an analog-to-digital converter, a recording, storage and playback device information, block of program analysis of the received data, memory card, autonomous power supply. The input of the optoelectronic unit is connected to a microphone via an optical communication cable, consisting of two optical fibers. On the front surface of the case there is a control panel with a display. The optoelectronic unit further includes a wireless communication device and a heating element control device. An optical microphone is located on the front surface of the body next to the control panel, and a miniature digital camera with the ability to take photo and video is also placed on the front surface of the body. The control panel is designed as a touch screen. A battery is used as a source of autonomous power supply.

The disadvantage of the known device is the technical complexity, the need for the presence of a specialist to prepare the device and take the data obtained, the need to recharge the device, not a high service life with frequent or long-term use, limited scope.

Since the development of the first models of the stethophonendoscope, it has not undergone any improvements, except for the use of a two-way rotary head, proposed in the late 40s of the last century by the Russian doctor Yakov Lvovich Rapoport.

The modern standard stethophonendoscope is designed for listening to physiological and pathological sound vibrations during the operation of the lungs, heart and blood vessels, as well as for determining blood pressure, recognizing arteriovenous aneurysms. The stetofonendoscope is also used in the study of the digestive system, as well as in the study of joints (noise of friction of intra-articular surfaces).

Modern inventors are trying to solve this problem by complicating the design with modern components that consume electrical energy, it is necessary to recharge, the patient will not always be able to conduct an examination and the devices being developed are not always highly reliable.

The patient and the doctor are physically in the same room, and the doctor himself moves the device over the patient's body parts.

The closest in technical essence to the claimed device is a device for converting a mechanical stethophonendoscope into an electronic one (RU 188636, IPC А61В 5/08, А61В 7/04, А61В 7/00, 2018), containing a stethophonendoscope head, an electric wire connecting a microphone and a connector ... There is a cylindrical metal tip for connection to the head of a SpragueRappaport stethophonendoscope using a threaded connection located at the end of the tip. At the base of the threaded connection, in the center of the tip, there is an electret microphone (for example, Panasonic wm61a, Japan) with the following characteristics: sensitivity -35 dB, frequency range from 20 to 20,000 Hz, signal-to-noise ratio 62 dB, a shielded cable is rigidly fixed to the microphone (for example , RG-174A / U, China) secured to the lug with a set screw. On the opposite side, a 3.5 mm mini-jack audio connector (for example, Sennheiser, China) is rigidly fixed to the cable to connect to a recording device (computer, smartphone).

The disadvantage of the known device is low sensitivity when transmitting a signal in the low frequency region. An electret microphone cannot pick up signals at all desired frequencies. This drastically reduces the effectiveness of the use of this device in real practice. The disadvantage of this device is also the need for direct patient-doctor contact.

The technical task of the proposed utility model is to improve the quality and purity of the original signal, in other words, to increase efficiency due to the clarity of sound, high sensitivity and the ability to conduct a patient study remotely (without direct physical contact between the patient and the doctor).

The technical result is achieved in that the device for remote auscultation of patients includes a stethoscope head, an electronic microphone and an audio jack, according to the utility model, the stethophonendoscope head is connected to a rubberized tube, an electronic microphone is mounted on the opposite end of said rubberized tube, and the electronic microphone is configured to convert an acoustic waves from the head of a stethoscope into an electrical signal and transmission of an electric signal through an electric wire to a frequency corrector, which is connected by electric wires on one side with an autonomous power source and a built-in transmitter with a button for turning it on, on the other - with an audio jack, while the head of the stethoscope is equipped with an elastic suction cup located along its edge.

The utility model is illustrated by drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a device for remote auscultation of patients; in fig. 2 - frequency and dynamic range of human hearing; in fig. 3 - frequency response of an electret microphone; in fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of an operational amplifier corrector.

The device for remote auscultation of patients contains a stethophonendoscope head 1 with an elastic rubber suction cup located along its edge, connected to a rubberized tube 2. An electronic microphone 3 is mounted at the opposite end of the tube, which converts the acoustic wave from the head 1 into an electrical signal. Further, the signal through the electric wire 4 is fed to the frequency corrector 5

The need for frequency correction by the frequency corrector 5 is explained by the following: the head of the stethophonendoscope 1 emits a sound wave during auscultation at frequencies of the order of several tens of hertz. The human ear perceives sound at frequencies of 10 Hz and higher.

To obtain an undistorted signal, it is necessary to transmit a frequency range of 10 Hz and higher, and modern microphones that can be used in a device have a noticeable drop at low frequencies.

From the characteristics of the electret microphone (Fig. 3) it can be seen that at frequencies below 63 Hz, the level of the microphone signal transmission is greatly reduced, and therefore frequency compensation is necessary. This function is performed by a frequency equalizer (equalizer amplifier) 5. There are several types of microcircuits that perform this function. For example - a five-band two-channel equalizer CXA1352AS from Sony Corporation, LA 3600, LM 3915 and many others. Their peculiarity is that they are intended for multi-band sound stereos and therefore are very redundant in terms of hardware performance. The use of an operational amplifier as a corrector is optimal.

The signal from the output of the frequency corrector 5 is transmitted using a switch (not shown in the figure) through an electric wire 4 to the built-in transmitter 6 for wireless communication via a Bluetooth radio channel (operates from an autonomous power source 7), or through an electric wire 4 using an audio ground 8, for example 3 .5 mm for direct connection to a receiver (computer, telephone, etc.).

As an autonomous power source 7, two Li-ion batteries of the CR2032 type with a voltage of 3V each are used. The capacity of these elements, feeding the electronic microphone 3, frequency corrector 5 and transmitter 6, is sufficient for the long-term operation of the utility model during operation under real conditions.

The built-in transmitter 6 is turned on with the button 9, its presence is due to the additional ability to transmit information to the receiver (computer, telephone, etc.) via a radio channel.

From the electronic microphone 3, the electrical signal is transmitted through the electric wire 4 to the frequency corrector 5 and enters the audio connector 8.

The execution of the tube 2 rubberized due to the fact that such a material is elastic, strong, ensures the safety and immobility of the elements enclosed in it.

The head 1 of a stethophonendoscope with an elastic suction cup located along its edge is stationary, and its replacement is not necessary, since it is suitable for both children and adults. The suction cup function allows the patient to fix the head 1 in the desired place and not create additional noise when moving the hand in which the head is located, if the patient has, for example, tremor.

The length of the rubberized tube 2 between the head of the stethophonendoscope 1 and the electronic microphone 3 is determined by the need for natural interference of sound waves and should be sufficient to move the head of the stethophonendoscope 1 over the patient's body and conduct an examination, for example, of the heart, lungs.

The device for remote auscultation of patients works as follows.

The patient calls the attending physician. After the doctor's answer, the patient tells his complaints and, on the doctor's recommendation, picks up the device for remote patient auscultation, connects it to an external power source (computer or telephone) using audio jack 8, or turns on the built-in transmitter 6 using button 9. Online the patient himself applies the device to various parts of the body surface, for example, in the region of the heart and lungs. The head of the stethophonendoscope 1 with an elastic rubber suction cup along its edge receives and transmits sound from the examined human organ through the rubberized tube 2 and then enters the electronic microphone 3, where it is converted into an electrical signal and is transmitted through the electrical wire 4 to the frequency corrector 5 and then the signal is fed to audio jack 8 using an electric wire 4 or through the built-in transmitter 6 via a radio channel.

Through the network, the signal goes to a receiver (computer, telephone, etc.) located at the attending physician, which listens to the patient remotely in real time - online. The doctor receives a clear, clean sound signal and can assess the patient's condition with high reliability and make recommendations.

In order for the patient to be able, without assistance, to apply the device to inaccessible parts of the body on the recommendation of a specialist, for example, on the back, an auxiliary device is provided, for example, a telescopic expandable tube, which is attached to the head of the device for remote auscultation of patients (not shown in the figure) ... The length of the rubber tube 2 of the device for remote auscultation of patients allows this.

The device is simple to manufacture, convenient in operation, reliable, the audio signal quality is sufficient for correct diagnosis of the causes of discomfort in the patient.

The use of the device will allow the patient to consult a doctor online remotely, and the attending physician to receive reliable information about the patient's health status and provide him with the necessary recommendations. The compact device can be a reliable assistant for everyone.

Claims (1)

A device for remote auscultation of patients, including the head of a stethophonendoscope, an electronic microphone and an audio jack, characterized in that the head of the stethophonendoscope is connected to a rubberized tube, an electronic microphone is mounted on the opposite end of said rubberized tube, and the electronic microphone is configured to convert an acoustic wave from the head of a stethophonendoscope into an electric signal and transmission of an electrical signal through an electric wire to a frequency corrector, which is connected by electric wires on one side with an autonomous power source and a built-in transmitter with a power button, on the other - with an audio jack, while the head of the stethophonendoscope is equipped with an elastic suction cup located along its edge.

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