Electronic stethoscope measurement system and method
First Claim
1. A method for characterizing the response of an electronic stethoscope, comprising the steps of:
- a) holding the sensor of the electronic stethoscope in contact with a test surface of a phantom;
b) inducing internal vibrations in the phantom;
c) measuring surface motion of the test surface of the phantom using a surface accelerometer coupled to the test surface;
d) detecting vibrations from the phantom and generating an electric signal based on the detected vibrations with the electronic stethoscope; and
e) calculating a surface transfer function based on the surface motion measured in step (c) and the electric signal generated in step (d) to characterize the response of the electronic stethoscope.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for characterizing the response of an electronic stethoscope. The sensor of the electronic stethoscope is held in contact with a test surface of a phantom. A shaker, which is coupled to a stinger rod that extends inside the phantom, is driven to produce internal vibrations in the phantom. Surface motion of the test surface of the phantom is measured using a surface accelerometer coupled to the test surface. Vibrations from the phantom are detected and an electric signal based on the detected vibrations is generated with the electronic stethoscope. A surface transfer function is calculated based on the measured surface motion and the electric signal to characterize the response of the electronic stethoscope.
107 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for characterizing the response of an electronic stethoscope, comprising the steps of:
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a) holding the sensor of the electronic stethoscope in contact with a test surface of a phantom;
b) inducing internal vibrations in the phantom;
c) measuring surface motion of the test surface of the phantom using a surface accelerometer coupled to the test surface;
d) detecting vibrations from the phantom and generating an electric signal based on the detected vibrations with the electronic stethoscope; and
e) calculating a surface transfer function based on the surface motion measured in step (c) and the electric signal generated in step (d) to characterize the response of the electronic stethoscope. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer readable medium adapted to instruct a general purpose computer to characterize the response of an electronic stethoscope, the method for comprising the steps of:
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a) generating a test signal to drive a shaker coupled to a stinger rod that extends inside a phantom, whereby internal vibrations are produced in the phantom;
b) receiving a motion signal from a surface accelerometer coupled to a test surface of the phantom;
c) receiving an electronic stethoscope signal from the electronic stethoscope which is in contact with the test surface of the phantom; and
d) calculating a transfer function for the electronic stethoscope based on the motion signal received in step (b) and the electronic stethoscope signal received in step (c). - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. An electronic stethoscope testing apparatus comprising:
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a phantom including a test surface;
a stinger rod which extends into the interior of the phantom;
a shaker coupled to the stinger rod to provide vibrations to the phantom;
a surface accelerometer coupled to the test surface of the phantom to measure movement of the test surface;
an electronic stethoscope holder coupled to the phantom and arranged to hold a sensor of the electronic stethoscope in contact with the test surface of the phantom; and
circuitry electrically coupled to the shaker, the surface accelerometer, and the electronic stethoscope to direct and analyze signals provided by the surface accelerometer and the electronic stethoscope. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification