ACOUSTIC RESPIRATORY MONITORING SENSOR HAVING MULTIPLE SENSING ELEMENTS
First Claim
1. An acoustic sensor for non-invasively outputting signals responsive to acoustic vibrations indicative of one or more physiological parameters of a medical patient, comprising:
- a sensor support;
a first acoustic sensing element at least partially supported by the sensor support and comprising an inner portion and an outer portion;
a second acoustic sensing element at least partially supported by the sensor support and comprising an inner portion and an outer portion;
the inner portions positioned between the outer portions, the outer portions forming an electrical shielding barrier around the inner portions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
According to certain described aspects, multiple acoustic sensing elements are employed in a variety of beneficial ways to provide improved physiological monitoring, among other advantages. In various embodiments, sensing elements can be advantageously employed in a single sensor package, in multiple sensor packages, and at a variety of other strategic locations in the monitoring environment. According to other aspects, to compensate for skin elasticity and attachment variability, an acoustic sensor support is provided that includes one or more pressure equalization pathways. The pathways can provide an air-flow channel from the cavity defined by the sensing elements and frame to the ambient air pressure.
170 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An acoustic sensor for non-invasively outputting signals responsive to acoustic vibrations indicative of one or more physiological parameters of a medical patient, comprising:
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a sensor support; a first acoustic sensing element at least partially supported by the sensor support and comprising an inner portion and an outer portion; a second acoustic sensing element at least partially supported by the sensor support and comprising an inner portion and an outer portion; the inner portions positioned between the outer portions, the outer portions forming an electrical shielding barrier around the inner portions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of manufacturing an acoustic sensor for non-invasively outputting signals responsive to acoustic vibrations indicative of one or more physiological parameters of a medical patient, the method comprising:
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providing a first acoustic sensing element comprising an inner portion and an outer portion; providing a second acoustic sensing element comprising an inner portion and an outer portion; attaching the first acoustic sensing element to a sensor support; and attaching the second sensing element to the sensor support over the first acoustic sensing element, wherein the inner portions of the first and second acoustic sensing elements are disposed between the outer portions of the first and second acoustic sensing elements, and wherein the outer portions form an electrical shielding barrier around the inner portions. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. An acoustic sensor configured to non-invasively detect acoustic vibrations associated with a medical patient, said acoustic vibrations indicative of one or more physiological parameters of the medical patient, said acoustic sensor comprising:
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a sensor support; first and second sensing membranes supported by the sensor support, each of said first and second sensing membranes comprising first and second surfaces on opposite sides of each of said first and second sensing membranes; wherein said first and second sensing membranes are aligned such that said first surfaces face each other, said first surfaces being configured to provide an electrical signal indicative of a physiological parameter of a medical patient, and said second surfaces being configured to provide electrical shielding around said first surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification