Cordless stethoscope for hazardous material environments

• US 20050043642A1
• Filed: 08/20/2003
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keith A. Sauerland
• Original Assignee: Keith A. Sauerland
• Inventors: Sauerland, Keith A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,182,733 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/528
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R

Abstract

A cordless stethoscope for use in hazardous material environments comprising a fluid tight hand held sound sensing device having a stethoscope head for sensing auscultatory sounds, a transmitter for transmitting sounds sensed by the device, a receiver for receiving transmissions from the transmitter and an ear piece for converting the received transmissions into audible sound. The housing is sized and shaped for being grasped by a gloved hand and is fluid tight for decontamination purposes. The sound sensing device may further comprise a microphone for sensing otherwise inaudible voice communications from a patient. The transmitter and receiver preferably uses magnetic induction transmissions to transmit sounds through barriers such as hazardous material suits that may be worn by clinicians during treatment of patients in possible hazardous material situations.

Claims

1. A cordless stethoscope for use in hazardous material environments, the cordless stethoscope comprising:

a fluid tight housing sized and shaped for being grasped by a gloved hand having a head opening, an activation switch opening, a microphone opening and a microphone switch opening;

a power source within the fluid tight housing;

a stethoscope head within the head opening of the housing for sensing auscultatory sounds having a fluid tight member between the stethoscope head and the head opening connected in circuit to the power source;

a fluid tight cover over the stethoscope head sealing the head opening;

a momentary activation switch within the activation switch opening connected in circuit to the stethoscope head for activating the stethoscope head when the momentary activation switch is actuated;

a second fluid tight cover over the momentary activation switch sealing the activation switch opening;

a microphone within the microphone opening for sensing sound communications having a second fluid tight member between the microphone and the microphone opening connected in circuit to the power source;

a microphone activation switch within the microphone switch opening connected in circuit to the microphone for activating the microphone when the microphone activation switch is actuated;

a third fluid tight cover over the microphone switch sealing the microphone switch opening;

a magnetic induction transmitter within the fluid tight housing connected in circuit to the power source for transmitting the auscultatory sound sensed by the stethoscope head and sound communications sensed by the microphone in a magnetic field;

a receiver housing;

a receiver power source within the receiver housing;

a magnetic induction receiver within the receiver housing connected in circuit to the receiver power source for receiving the magnetic field containing the auscultatory sound and sound communications; and

an ear piece connected in circuit to the magnetic induction receiver for converting the magnetic field received by the receiver into audible sound.

2. The cordless stethoscope of claim 1 wherein the fluid tight housing further comprises an indicator opening and an indicator for indicating power flow to the stethoscope head within the indicator opening connected in circuit to the power source.

3. The cordless stethoscope of claim 2 wherein the fluid tight housing further comprises a ring providing means for attaching the fluid tight housing to another object.

4. The cordless stethoscope of claim 1 further comprising a no slip grip connected to an outer portion of the fluid tight housing providing an improved gripping surface.

5. A sound sensing device for use in hazardous material environments, the device comprising:

a fluid tight housing sized and shaped for being grasped by a gloved hand having a head opening, an activation switch opening, a microphone opening and a microphone switch opening;

a power source within the fluid tight housing;

a stethoscope head within the head opening of the housing for sensing auscultatory sounds having a fluid tight member between the stethoscope head and the head opening connected in circuit to the power source;

a momentary activation switch within the activation switch opening connected in circuit to the stethoscope head for activating the stethoscope head when the momentary activation switch is actuated;

a fluid tight cover over the momentary activation switch sealing the activation switch opening;

a microphone within the microphone opening for sensing sound communications having a second fluid tight member between the microphone and the microphone opening connected in circuit to the power source;

a microphone activation switch within the microphone switch opening connected in circuit to the microphone for activating the microphone when the microphone activation switch is actuated;

a second fluid tight cover over the microphone switch sealing the microphone switch opening; and

a magnetic induction transmitter within the fluid tight housing connected in circuit to the power source for transmitting the auscultatory sound sensed by the stethoscope head and the sound communications sensed by the microphone.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the fluid tight housing further comprises an indicator opening and an indicator for indicating power flow to the stethoscope head within the indicator opening connected in circuit to the power source.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the fluid tight housing further comprises a ring providing means for attaching the fluid tight housing to another object.

8. The device of claim 5 further comprising a no slip grip connected to an outer portion of the fluid tight housing providing an improved gripping surface.

9. A cordless stethoscope for use in hazardous material environments, the cordless stethoscope comprising:

a fluid tight hand held sound sensing device sized and shaped for being grasped by a gloved hand having a stethoscope head for sensing auscultatory sounds;

a transmitter within the device for transmitting sounds sensed by the device;

a receiver for receiving transmissions from the transmitter; and

an ear piece for converting the received transmissions into audible sound.

10. The cordless stethoscope of claim 9 wherein the sound sensing device further comprises a microphone for sensing sound communications connected in circuit to the transmitter, the transmitter transmitting voice communications sensed by the microphone to the receiver.

11. The cordless stethoscope of claim 9 wherein the transmitter is a magnetic induction transmitter.

12. The cordless stethoscope of claim 11 wherein the auscultatory sounds are sent to the receiver through a magnetic field.

13. The cordless stethoscope of claim 10 wherein the sound sensing device further comprises an indicator for indicating operation of the stethoscope head.

14. The cordless stethoscope of claim 13 wherein the sound sensing device further comprises a ring providing means for attachment to another object.

15. The cordless stethoscope of claim 12 wherein the sound sensing device further comprises a no slip grip connected to an outer portion of the sound sensing device providing an improved gripping surface.

16. A sound sensing device for use in hazardous material environments, the device comprising:

a fluid tight housing sized and shaped for being grasped by a gloved hand having a stethoscope head for sensing auscultatory sounds and a microphone for sensing sound communications; and

a transmitter within the housing for transmitting the auscultatory sounds and the sound communications.

17. The sound sensing device of claim 16 wherein the transmitter is a magnetic induction transmitter.

18. The sound sensing device of claim 17 wherein the auscultatory sounds and the sound communications are transmitted through a magnetic field by the magnetic induction transmitter.

19. The sound sensing device of claim 18 further comprising an indicator for indicating operation of the stethoscope head.

20. The sound sensing device of claim 19 further comprising a ring providing means for attaching the device to another object.

21. A sound sensing device for use in hazardous material environments, the device comprising:

a fluid tight housing sized and shaped for being grasped by a gloved hand having a head opening and an activation switch opening;

a power source within the fluid tight housing;

a stethoscope head within the head opening of the housing for sensing auscultatory sounds having a fluid tight member between the stethoscope head and the head opening connected in circuit to the power source;

a momentary activation switch within the activation switch opening connected in circuit to the stethoscope head for activating the stethoscope head when the momentary activation switch is actuated;

a fluid tight cover over the momentary activation switch sealing the activation switch opening; and

a magnetic induction transmitter within the fluid tight housing connected in circuit to the power source for transmitting the auscultatory sounds.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein the fluid tight housing further comprises an indicator opening and an indicator for indicating power flow to the stethoscope head within the indicator opening connected in circuit to the power source.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the fluid tight housing further comprises a ring providing means for attaching the fluid tight housing to another object.

24. The device of claim 23 further comprising a no slip grip connected to an outer portion of the fluid tight housing providing an improved gripping surface.