Acoustic sensor

• US 20070049837A1
• Filed: 06/21/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MedScanSonics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MedScanSonics, Inc.
• Inventors: Shertukde, Hemchandra, Beckmann, Peter
• Application Number:
  US11/472,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20070049837A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/528
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0204 Acoustic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/00 Instruments for auscultation
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0607 using multiple elements B06B1/064 and B06B1/0688 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0611 in a pile
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 11/08 using piezoelectric devices

Abstract

Disclosed are devices, systems, and methods for capturing acoustic data in an efficient manner. Some embodiments have piezoelectric sensing portions with polarization axes and conducting layers. In some embodiments, piezoelectric sensing portions can be positioned generally coplanar to each other and in partial electrical contact. In some embodiments, polarization axes of two piezoelectric sensing portions have a non-zero angle between them. Certain embodiments comprise a noise reducing element. In some embodiments, an electrode is included to detect electrical signals.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sensing acoustic signals from a source, the apparatus comprising:

a first acoustic sensing element comprising a first piezoelectric portion having a first polarization axis and two electrically conductive portions;

a second acoustic sensing element comprising a second piezoelectric portion having a second polarization axis and two electrically conductive portions; and

a noise reducing element;

wherein one electrically conductive portion of the first piezoelectric portion is electrically connected to one electrically conductive portion of the second piezoelectric portion,

wherein the first and the second piezoelectric portions are oriented such that the first and the second polarization axes form a non-zero angle therebetween.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the noise reducing element comprises a noise reducing material adapted to attenuate acoustic noise.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the noise reducing material comprises a noise reducing foam, elastomer, or gel.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the noise reducing material substantially surrounds at least a portion of at least one of the first and the second acoustic sensing elements.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the noise reducing element is configured to at least partially shield at least one of the first or the second acoustic sensing elements from acoustic noise.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a noise reducing material adapted to attenuate acoustic noise.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the noise reducing element is configured to reduce acoustic noise in an acoustic frequency band.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the acoustic frequency band is from about 300 Hz to about 2000 Hz.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the noise reducing element is spaced apart from the first and the second acoustic sensing elements.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing, the first and the second acoustic elements disposed in the housing, the housing comprising a surface portion adapted to permit acoustic signals from the source to be received by the first and the second sensing elements.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the noise reducing element comprises noise reducing material disposed within the housing.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the first or the second acoustic sensing elements is disposed generally between the surface portion of the housing and the noise reducing material.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the noise reducing material substantially surrounds the first or the second acoustic sensing element.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the source is located in a body and the surface portion of the housing is adapted to applied to the skin of the body.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-zero angle is about ninety degrees.

16. An apparatus for sensing acoustic and electric signals, the apparatus comprising:

a first acoustic sensing element comprising a first piezoelectric portion having a first polarization axis and two electrically conductive portions;

a second acoustic sensing element comprising a second piezoelectric portion having a second polarization axis and two electrically conductive portions; and

an electrode electrically insulated from the electrically conductive portions of the first and the second acoustic sensing elements,

wherein one electrically conductive portion of the first piezoelectric portion is electrically connected to one electrically conductive portion of the second piezoelectric portion,

wherein the first and the second piezoelectric portions are oriented such that the first and the second polarization axes form a non-zero angle therebetween.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the electrode comprises an electrically conductive layer.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the electrically conductive layer comprises a metal or a metal alloy.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the electrode is configured to at least partially transmit acoustic signals from an acoustic source so that the acoustic signals can be received by at least one of the first or the second acoustic sensing elements.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the electrode is adapted to be electrically coupled to the skin of a patient.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the electrode is adapted to receive electrical signals from the heart of the patient and the first and the second acoustic sensing layers are adapted to receive acoustic signals from anatomical structures within the patient.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a noise reducing element.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the noise reducing element comprises a noise reducing material adapted to attenuate acoustic noise.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the noise reducing element is configured to at least partially shield at least one of the first or the second acoustic sensing elements from acoustic noise.

25. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the non-zero angle is about ninety degrees.