US3276536A - Littmann stethoscope - Google Patents

Littmann stethoscope Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3276536A
US3276536A US3276536DA US3276536A US 3276536 A US3276536 A US 3276536A US 3276536D A US3276536D A US 3276536DA US 3276536 A US3276536 A US 3276536A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
side wall
stem
diaphragm
projection
edge
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
Application number
Other languages
English (en)
Publication date
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3276536A publication Critical patent/US3276536A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B7/00—Instruments for auscultation
    • A61B7/02—Stethoscopes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to stethoscope chestpieces and more particularly to novel and improved stethoscope chestpieces which have excellent sound pickup properties and which are convenient and relatively easy to use and manufacture.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a stethoscope chestpiece in accordance with the preceding object which is lightweight and highly compact.
  • Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved method for the manufacture of stethoscope chestpieces in accordance with the preceding objects.
  • a lightweight stethoscope chestpiece has a body formed of a solid integral mass with a circular apron having two major opposite side walls.
  • One side wall is concave in configuration and the other side wall has a rearwardly extending projection coaxially formed on the side wall.
  • An annular edge connects the peripheries of the side walls.
  • a planar circular diaphragm covers one side wall with its edge joined to the annular edge and the projection has an annular concave side wall continuous with the apron.
  • a top is provided on the projection having a peripheral edge common with an edge of the annular concave side wall.
  • An elongated stern has an opening extending longitudinally thereof and a first end extending into the projection at an acute angle with respect to the plane of the diaphragm and terminates in the body adjacent an axis passing through the center of the diaphragm and the center of the first mentioned side wall.
  • Means defining a circular opening is provided in the body coincident with the axis of the diaphragm and interconnects the stem opening with a space formed between the diaphragm and the first mentioned side wall of the apron.
  • the top of the projection is concave and provides a thumb pressure surface for pressing the chestpiece against the body of a patient.
  • the top has an outer edge lying in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the diaphragm thereby providing for ease of thumb pressure actuation when listening through the sound tube of a stethoscope in which the chestpiece is used.
  • the chestpiece is uniformly covered with an anodized colored coating to enhance the appearance of the chestpiece.
  • a bore is formed in the projection at an acute angle to the diaphragm.
  • a second bore is formed from the first mentioned side wall underlying the diaphragm axially thereof to meet with the projection bore.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of the face of a preferred embodiment of the chestpiece of this invention
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of an opposite face thereof.
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken through line 3-3 of FIG. 1.
  • a chestpiece 10 is illustrated having a body 11, a stem 12 and a diaphragm 13 attached thereto.
  • the body 11 is preferably made of a lightweight metal such as aluminum formed as a solid integral mass with a circular apron 14.
  • the apron 14 has a first major side wall 15 and a second major side wall 16 opposing said first side wall. Side walls 15 and 16 are joined at their periphery by an annular threaded edge 17.
  • An integral projection 18 extends from side wall 16 and has an annular concave side wall 19 continuous with the apron at one edge and a top concave surface 20 having an edge 21 common with the edge of the annular concave side wall as best seen in FIG. 3.
  • the edge 21 is preferably located parallel to the plane of diaphragm 13 in order to maintain the chestpiece as flatas possible.
  • the concave top 20 provides a thumb pressure surface for pressing the chestpiece firmly against the chest of a patient with little exertion on the part of a user.
  • the annular concave side wall 19 cooperates to allow the fingers to grip the stethoscope as it is pressed into use.
  • a bore 22 defines an opening passing from the annular concave side wall 19 to a point adjacent and beyond a central axis of the diaphragm 13 and side wall 15.
  • the elongated stem 12 is snugly received within the circular bore 22 and has an angled opened end 23 by which its hollow passageway is interconnected with the space between the diaphragm 13 and the side wall 15.
  • the stem can be secured in the bore by any conventional means and is preferably secured therein by a suitable adhesive.
  • the opened end 23 can be easily aligned with a circular bore 30 passing axially of the diaphragm in the body to interconnect the stem opening with the space 24.
  • bore 22 has an opening with an edge portion 28 adjacent apron side wall 16 and a second edge portion spaced from the top edge 21 of the projection.
  • this bore provides for the stem passing at an acute angle to the diaphragm thereby enhancing the compact flat configuration of the chestpiece.
  • the angle of the center line of the stem with a plane parallel to the plane of diaphragm 12 is preferably no greater than 30 degrees and in the specific preferred embodiment is 7 /2 degrees.
  • Annular grooves or indentations 29 are preferably provided in the stem 12 for attachment of the stem to a conventional stethoscope resilient sound tube.
  • the circular planar diaphragm 13 may be any conventional plastic or other diaphragm known in the art.
  • the diaphragm 13 has a peripheral edge extending near edge 17 as best shown in FIG. 3 and is joined to the apron by an annular member 26.
  • Annular member 26 is internally threaded to mate with the threaded edge 17 and provide an annular end wall slightly larger than the Width of the apron with an inwardly extending lip 27 overlying the diaphragm peripheral edge and securing the diaphragm to the body.
  • edge 17 has a diameter of 1.7 inches
  • diaphragm 13 has a diameter of 1% inches
  • bore 30 has a diameter of bore 22 has a diameter of inch
  • top 20 has a diameter of inch
  • the overall thickness of the chestpiece from diaphragm 13 to edge 21 is approximately 1% inches.
  • the chestpiece is made of aluminum and is extremely lightweight.
  • the side wall 16 and projection 18 are preferably coated with an anodized layer which may comprise any of the anodized aluminum layers to give an esthetically pleasing colored effect to the stethoscope. also be formed on the outer surface of annular member 26.
  • the chestpiece is preferably formed in a conventional manner with a solid aluminum mass for body 11. Bore 22 is then drilled into body 11. It has been found that the annular concave wall 19 facilitates drilling of. bore 22. i It is preferred not to have bore 22 contact side wall 15 but rather be spaced therefrom as shown in FIG. 3. A second bore forming circular opening 30 on side wall 15 is then drilled to interconnect bore 22 and bore 21. The stem 12 is then inserted into the bore 22 and adhesively secured using conventional methods with its opened end 23 interconnecting space 24 with the stem of the chestpiece. This method of using two bores rather than a conventional method of drilling bore 22 until it meets side wall 15, is believed to be advantageous in providing for excellent sound receiving properties of the chestpiece. In addition, precision of manufacture is assured since opening 30 is always located coaxially of the side wall 15 and diaphragm 13.
  • a lightweight compact stethoscope chestpiece comprising:
  • a body formed of a solid integral mass having a circular apron with two opposite major side walls,
  • one side wall being concave in configuration and the other side wall having a rearwardly extending projection coaxially formed thereon, said projection defining a stem passageway
  • the colored layer cansaid projection having an annular concave side Wall continuous with said apron and a top having a peripheral edge common with an edge of said annular concave side wall, said stem passageway having an outer end on said concave wall, said one side wall defining a substantially circular opening axially aligned with a central axis of said one side wall and said diaphragm with said circular opening interconnecting a space between said one side wall and said diaphragm with said stern passageway,
  • said stem having a portion thereof removed for communication of said stem passageway with said space through said first-mentioned opening.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Surgery (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Ultra Sonic Daignosis Equipment (AREA)
  • Prostheses (AREA)
US3276536D Littmann stethoscope Expired - Lifetime US3276536A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1104220T

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3276536A true US3276536A (en) 1966-10-04

Family

ID=10874300

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US3276536D Expired - Lifetime US3276536A (en) Littmann stethoscope

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US3276536A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1104220A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
MY (1) MY7300233A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3339667A (en) * 1966-08-02 1967-09-05 Propper Mfg Company Inc Stethoscope
US3417838A (en) * 1966-12-14 1968-12-24 Shlyakhter Isaak Abramovich Funnel of flexible stethoscope for mediate auscultation
US4440258A (en) * 1982-05-12 1984-04-03 Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company Tunable stethoscope
US4475619A (en) * 1983-03-24 1984-10-09 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Stethoscope with floating diaphragm
US4502562A (en) * 1983-03-28 1985-03-05 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Stethoscope with removable insert
US6019186A (en) * 1997-04-16 2000-02-01 Zambrano; Sergio-Sanchez Disposable stethoscope assembly
US6279677B1 (en) 1999-03-16 2001-08-28 Sergio Sanchez-Zambrano Disposable diaphragm stethoscope
US7424929B1 (en) * 2005-09-22 2008-09-16 Stethocap, Inc. Cover for a bell or a diaphragm of a stethoscope
US7757807B1 (en) * 2005-09-22 2010-07-20 Stethocap, Inc. Cover for a bell or a diaphragm of a stethoscope
US7806226B2 (en) 2004-12-30 2010-10-05 3M Innovative Properties Company Stethoscope with frictional noise reduction

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US652442A (en) * 1899-03-06 1900-06-26 Warren B Outten Auscultator.
US872448A (en) * 1907-01-02 1907-12-03 Dunlap Pearce Penhallow Stethoscope.
US910854A (en) * 1909-01-26 Charles J Pilling Stethoscope.
US1832422A (en) * 1931-11-17 Stethoscope
US1845795A (en) * 1932-02-16 Sheldon joseph
US2651380A (en) * 1953-09-08 Stethoscope with means for regu
US3152659A (en) * 1964-10-13 Littmann

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US910854A (en) * 1909-01-26 Charles J Pilling Stethoscope.
US1832422A (en) * 1931-11-17 Stethoscope
US1845795A (en) * 1932-02-16 Sheldon joseph
US2651380A (en) * 1953-09-08 Stethoscope with means for regu
US3152659A (en) * 1964-10-13 Littmann
US652442A (en) * 1899-03-06 1900-06-26 Warren B Outten Auscultator.
US872448A (en) * 1907-01-02 1907-12-03 Dunlap Pearce Penhallow Stethoscope.

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3339667A (en) * 1966-08-02 1967-09-05 Propper Mfg Company Inc Stethoscope
US3417838A (en) * 1966-12-14 1968-12-24 Shlyakhter Isaak Abramovich Funnel of flexible stethoscope for mediate auscultation
US4440258A (en) * 1982-05-12 1984-04-03 Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company Tunable stethoscope
US4475619A (en) * 1983-03-24 1984-10-09 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Stethoscope with floating diaphragm
US4502562A (en) * 1983-03-28 1985-03-05 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Stethoscope with removable insert
US6019186A (en) * 1997-04-16 2000-02-01 Zambrano; Sergio-Sanchez Disposable stethoscope assembly
US6279677B1 (en) 1999-03-16 2001-08-28 Sergio Sanchez-Zambrano Disposable diaphragm stethoscope
US7806226B2 (en) 2004-12-30 2010-10-05 3M Innovative Properties Company Stethoscope with frictional noise reduction
US7424929B1 (en) * 2005-09-22 2008-09-16 Stethocap, Inc. Cover for a bell or a diaphragm of a stethoscope
US7757807B1 (en) * 2005-09-22 2010-07-20 Stethocap, Inc. Cover for a bell or a diaphragm of a stethoscope

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1104220A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
MY7300233A (en) 1973-12-31

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3276536A (en) Littmann stethoscope
USD467002S1 (en) Handheld ultrasonic transducer with curved bulb grip
US3951230A (en) Multi-sound chamber stethoscope
US20050000534A1 (en) Cuticle removing device
CA2358351A1 (en) Disposable glove
USD509591S1 (en) Pulse wave measuring instrument with a sphygmomanometer
Littmann An approach to the ideal stethoscope
US3630308A (en) Stethoscope
US872448A (en) Stethoscope.
US3450226A (en) All-plastic megaphone
US5420382A (en) Sea-shell stethoscope head
US3366198A (en) O-ring construction
US3938615A (en) Stethoscope consisting of a stethoscope chest piece and a sound mixer
USD279925S (en) Suction tube handle with valve
USD288361S (en) Handle for surgical instrument
US1841078A (en) And charles kiaqges
US5861584A (en) Stethoscope
US6615086B2 (en) Non-adhesive massager with conductive silicon
USD379260S (en) Wrist band
US1543453A (en) Stethoscope
US20100247225A1 (en) Cosmetic applying device
US2233087A (en) Stethoscopic instrument
JPH0534705Y2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CN217687521U (zh) 一种方便握持使用的红外测温仪
US1932227A (en) Stethoscope