WO2004047646A1

WO2004047646A1 - Stethoscope with timer

Info

Publication number: WO2004047646A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2003/000175
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rubendran Naicker
Original assignee: Rubendran Naicker
Priority date: 2002-11-27
Filing date: 2003-11-26
Publication date: 2004-06-10
Also published as: AU2003294687A1

Abstract

A medical device which includes a stethoscope (12) comprising at least one ear piece (14), a sensor (18) and a conduit (16) between the ear piece and the sensor, and a timer (20) which is engaged with the conduit or the sensor.

Description

STETHOSCOPE WITH TIMER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to an accessory which is suitable for use with a stethoscope.

[0002] Stethoscopes are widely used in the medical profession to monitor heart beats. To this end a sensor of the stethoscope is positioned at a suitable location on a patient's body and, using a watch, a count is made of the number of heart beats over a convenient time period, for example 15 seconds.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0003] The invention provides a device for use with a stethoscope which includes a body, an electrically actuated timer inside the body, and means for attaching the timer to the stethoscope.

[0004] Preferably the timer is attachable to a tube or conduit of the stethoscope.

[0005] The timer may be of any appropriate kind and for example may include a conventional watch but, more preferably, includes a timing unit which is in the nature of a stop watch.

[0006] Preferably the timer can be set to indicate the passing of a predetermined time interval of, say, 15 seconds. The end of the predetermined time interval may be indicated in any appropriate way for example by means of an audible alarm, a visual alarm or a sensory alarm such as a vibration. [0007] The device may have a light emitting element attached to the body. Use may be made of an LED or a similar device for this purpose. This is a useful feature for a doctor or nurse, who is using the stethoscope, then has available a readily used light source eg. for ear, eye or throat inspections, or the like.

[0008] The invention also extends to a medical device which includes a stethoscope comprising at least one ear piece, a sensor and a conduit between the ear piece and the sensor, and a timer which is engaged with the conduit or the sensor.

[0009] The conduit may be flexible and the timer is preferably engaged with the conduit at a location which is at or near the sensor.

[0010] The timer may be of any appropriate type and may include a time piece such as a watch or clock.

[0011] Preferably the timer includes a stop/start timer.

[0012] The timer may time a specific time interval which may be adjusted according to requirement. The time interval may for example be of the order of 15 seconds but it is to be understood that this is given merely by way of example.

[0013] The end of the time interval may be indicated in any appropriate way for example visually eg. by activating a light element, audibly eg. by activating a sound generator or in a sensory way for example by activating a vibrating mechanism.

[0014] The timer may include attachment device which allows the location at which the timer is attached to the conduit to be adjusted. The attachment device may be of any appropriate type and, in one example, includes a strap which is engageable with the conduit. The timer may include a formation which is adapted to be engaged with the conduit and the formation may include a high friction component such as rubber or a similar resilient material which allows the timer to be engaged tightly with the conduit.

[0015] The timer may additionally include a light which is actuable, when required, to provide illumination for a doctor or nurse engaged in medical examinations which require a high lighting level for example for eye, ear, nasal or throat inspections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a medical device according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a timer included in the device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the medical device taken on a line 3 - 3 in

Figure 1 , Figure 4 is a plan view of a strap which is suitable for use with the timer shown in

Figures 2 and 3; and

Figure 5 is an under plan view of the strap shown in Figure 4.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates a medical device 10 according to the invention which includes a stethoscope 12 consisting of an ear piece

14, a flexible tube or conduit 16 and a sensor 18, and a timer 20. [0018] The stethoscope 12 is substantially conventional in construction and therefore is not further described in detail herein.

[0019] Figures 2 and 3 illustrate in plan and from the side respectively the timer 20.

[0020] The timer includes a body 22 which is moulded from a suitable material eg. a light weight plastics material. The body contains a long life battery 24, an electronic board 26, and a display 28 which is mounted on an upper surface 30 of the body. The board 26 is an integrated circuit device which carries out timing functions in a manner which is known in the art while the display 28 is a liquid crystal display (LCD) or similar device.

[0021] Buttons or switches 32 are used for controlling the electronic circuit 26 in a manner which is known in the art. By using the buttons the timing function of the electronic circuit 26 can be controlled, for example to act in the nature of a conventional watch or, according to requirement, to act in a stop-start manner in the nature of a stop watch.

[0022] A high intensity light emitting diode 36 is fixed to the body at a suitable location. The diode can be energised, by energy drawn from the battery 24, by means of a push button switch 38 fixed to the upper surface of the body.

[0023] Referring particularly to Figure 3 the body, on an under surface 40, is formed with a groove 42 which extends the length of the body and which is semi-circular in outline.

[0024] Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a strap 50 which is used with the device 20. The strap is made from a suitable flexible material and is divided into a number of successive regions 52 to 64. The regions 56 and 64 have small holes 66A and 66B while the region 58 has a number of cut outs 68. Alternatively the cut outs are transparent sections of material.

[0025] The regions 52, 54 and 56, on one side of the strap, are covered with hook material 80 of the kind used in a hook and eye fastening system of the type known as

Velcro. A thin layer of rubber 74 is centrally positioned in the region 54. On the reverse side of the strap, shown in Figure 5, the regions 60, 62 and 64 are covered with eye material 82 of the type used in the aforementioned hook and eye fastening system, and a rubber strip 76 is centrally positioned in the region 62.

[0026] In order to secure the device 20 to the conduit a selected strap 50 is wrapped around the body and the conduit. The hole 66A is positioned so that it overlies the lighting emitting diode 36. The strap is oriented so that the cut outs 68 overlie the display and the control switches 32 and 38 respectively. The regions 52, 54, and 56 are brought to the underside of the body and the rubber portion 74 is pushed into the groove 42. The device is then positioned on the conduit so that the conduit lies inside the groove and is in contact with the rubber portion 74. The regions 60, 62 and 64 are then wound around a lower side of the body and the hole 66B is brought into register with the hole 66A to ensure that the light source 36 is visible. The hook and eye formations 80 and 82 are thereby brought into contact with each other and the device 20 is firmly secured to the conduit of the stethoscope.

[0027] When the stethoscope is used and it is necessary to count heart beats over a predetermined timing interval then the appropriate controls 32 are actuated to commence a timing interval, when required. It is therefore not necessary for the doctor or nurse to use a separate watch. [0028] It is possible to design the circuit 26 so that, at the end of a predetermined timing interval, an audible alarm is sounded. Another possibility is that the light emitting diode 36 could be caused to flash to indicate that the timing period has finished. It is also possible to incorporate a small vibrator in the body which commences its action when the timing interval is finished.

[0029] If the switch 38 is actuated the light source is energised. This is a useful feature which means that a doctor or nurse, using the stethoscope, has a light source available for carrying out eye, ear, nose, throat or similar inspections.

[0030] The strap 50 may carry printed material 84. This material may be promotional or advertising material or it may include a ready source of reference to fundamental medical data.

Claims

1. A device for use with a stethoscope which includes a body, an electrically actuated timer inside the body, and means for attaching the timer to the stethoscope.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the timer is attachable to a tube or conduit of the stethoscope.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the timer includes a timing unit which is in the nature of a stop watch.

4. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the timer is settable to indicate the passing of a predetermined time interval, and which includes an indicator to indicate the end of the predetermined time interval.

5. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 which includes a light emitting element attached to the body.

6. A medical device which includes a stethoscope comprising at least one ear piece, a sensor and a conduit between the ear piece and the sensor, and a timer which is engaged with the conduit or the sensor.

7. A medical device according to claim 6 wherein the conduit is flexible and the timer is engaged with the conduit at a location which is at or near the sensor.

8. A medical device according to claim 6 or 7 wherein the timer includes a stop/start timer.

9. A medical device according to any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein the timer times a specific time interval and which includes an indicator for indicating the end of the time interval.

10. A medical device according to any one of claims 6 to 9 which includes an attachment device which allows the location at which the timer is attached to the conduit to be adjusted.

11. A medical device according to any one of claims 6 to 10 which includes a light which is actuable, when required, to provide illumination for medical examinations.