Multiple Communication Interface Medical Examination Apparatus, System, and/or Method

• US 20080232605A1
• Filed: 03/24/2008
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tiba Medical, Inc. (Mortara Instruments Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tiba Medical, Inc. (Mortara Instruments Inc.)
• Inventors: Bagha, Merat
• Granted Patent: US 9,398,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/67
• 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 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/366 Detecting abnormal QRS complex, e.g. widening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R

Abstract

An embodiment of an auscultation device can be constructed using, at least in part, electronic components to provide improved acquisition, processing, and communication of sound signals. An input device can be used for detecting sounds, and electrical signals representing the sounds can be processed and transmitted via one or more of a plurality of substantially contemporaneously available wired and/or wireless communications interfaces. Bluetooth and/or another form of wireless communication can be employed. Such embodiments can employ, at least in part, one or more of several commercially available wired and/or wireless receiver devices, such as, without limitation, headsets and headphones, mobile phones, PDAs and/or other handheld devices, desktop, laptop, palmtop, and/or tablet computers, speakers and/or other conventional and/or specifically configured computer devices and/or electronic devices.

Claims

1. An auscultation device, comprising:

a chest piece component having a contact surface to be placed in contact with a subject;

an input device for detecting sound from the subject and converting the sound into an electrical signal;

a controller for processing said electrical signal; and

a plurality of substantially contemporaneously available communication interfaces configured for transmitting the processed signal to a user.

2. The auscultation device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of communication interfaces include:

a wireless communication interface, an audio jack, and an audio transmission conduit.

3. The auscultation device of claim 1, wherein at least two of the plurality of communication interfaces are configured for substantially simultaneous transmission.

4. The auscultation device of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the audio transmission conduit can be disconnected from a remaining portion of the auscultation device when the audio transmission conduit is not selected for transmission.

5. The auscultation device of claim 1, further comprising an input control for selecting an auscultation mode.

6. The auscultation device of claim 1, further comprising an input control for selecting from among the plurality of communication interfaces.

7. An auscultation method comprising:

generating electrical signals representing sounds detected from a subject undergoing examination;

processing said electrical signals for communication via a plurality of communication interfaces;

substantially contemporaneously transmitting the electrical signals through one or more selected ones of the one or more communication interfaces.

8. The auscultation method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving the transmitted electrical signals at a receiver; and

presenting the electrical signals for analysis via the receiver.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the transmitting step includes wireless communications substantially in accordance with a Bluetooth wireless communications specification.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of establishing a Bluetooth pairing relationship between an electronic auscultation device and the receiver.

11. The auscultation method of claim 8 wherein the presenting step includes generating a visual representation of the electrical signals.

12. The auscultation method of claim 8 wherein the presenting step includes generating an audible audio tone representing the electrical signals.

13. The auscultation method of claim 8, further comprising the step of amplifying the electrical signals.

14. The auscultation method of claim 7 further comprising the step of identifying the selected communication interfaces, wherein the electrical signals are processed for substantially contemporaneous communication via the selected communication interfaces.

15. An auscultation system comprising:

an auscultation device having;

a chest piece component having a contact surface to be placed in contact with a subject;

an input device for detecting sound from the subject and converting the sound into an electrical signal;

a controller for processing said electrical signal; and

a plurality of substantially contemporaneously available communication interfaces configured for transmitting the processed signal to one or more receivers; and

a plurality of receivers configured for substantially contemporaneously receiving the processed signal transmitted from the auscultation device

16. The auscultation system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of communication interfaces include:

a wireless communication interface, an audio jack, and an audio transmission conduit.

17. The auscultation system of claim 16, wherein the wireless communication interface is configured for transmitting the processed signal substantially in accordance with a Bluetooth wireless communications specification.

18. The auscultation system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of receivers are chosen from a group including:

a wired or wireless headphone, speaker, computer, PDA, table PC, mobile communication device, hearing aid device, and ear bud.