SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIAGNOSIS OF BOVINE DISEASES USING AUSCULTATION ANALYSIS

• US 20120215077A1
• Filed: 04/09/2012
• Published: 08/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intervet Incorporated, Safecom 911 Inc
• Original Assignee: Pierson Precision Auscultation
• Inventors: Geissler, Randolph K., Taylor, Garrett W., Taylor, Wade A., Noffsinger, Thomas H., Lewis, Steve A., Nelson, Scott A.
• Granted Patent: US 11,389,080 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/40 Animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms
• 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

A system and method are provided for diagnosis of animal respiratory diseases using auscultation techniques. Animal lung sounds are recorded and digitized. Lung sounds are obtained by an electronic digital stethoscope or a wireless audio digital recording unit. The sounds are stored as digital data, and one or more algorithms are applied to the data for producing an output to the user indicative of the health of the animal. The acoustic characteristics of the sound are compared with baseline data in the algorithms. One embodiment includes a digital stethoscope with an integral display. Another embodiment provides a system for gathering information about an animal to include not only auscultation data, but also information from other field devices such as temperature probes or weigh scales. The combined information can be analyzed by system software to generate detailed information to a user to include a diagnosis and recommended treatment options.

Claims

1. A system for diagnosing animal diseases using auscultation analysis, said system comprising:

a wireless electronic digital stethoscope for recording auscultated lung sounds obtained from the animal in the form of digital sound data;

a processor for processing the digital sound data;

computer coded instructions for manipulating the digital sound data through incorporation of at least one algorithm used to calculate a value, said algorithm utilizing selected frequencies of the auscultated sounds;

a database for storing data reflective of diagnosis that correspond to the values obtained from the algorithm; and

a user display incorporated on the digital stethoscope for displaying information reflective of a state of health of the animal.

2. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said processor is integrated within a housing on the digital stethoscope, said housing for holding said processor and said user display therein.

3. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

selected frequencies are removed from the recorded sounds as noise.

4. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

a first test sound is recorded to confirm the stethoscope is recording sound that falls within pre-determined parameters including parameters for expected frequency ranges and amplitudes.

5. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said digital stethoscope includes a wireless audio digital recording unit, said unit having a curved paddle recording element, and a rotatable handle connected to the paddle.

6. A system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said paddle includes at least one sensor including a multi channel microphone incorporated therein for detecting and transmitting auscultated sounds to the processor.

7. A method for diagnosing animal diseases using auscultation analysis, said method comprising:

recording auscultated sounds from an animal by an electronic digital stethoscope and converting the sounds to digital data;

converting the digital data to data in a frequency domain;

separating data in the frequency domain into predetermined desired groups of amplitudes and frequencies forming converted data;

applying an algorithm to the converted data to generate at least one of a value or visual indication that corresponds to a state of health of the animal;

providing an integral display on the digital stethoscope; and

generating an output on the display for observation by a user indicating to the user a status of health of the animal.

8. A system for gathering information regarding an animal and using the information for determining a state of health of the animal, said system comprising:

a wireless electronic digital stethoscope for recording auscultated lung sounds obtained from the animal in the form of digital sound data;

a processor for processing the digital sound data;

computer coded instructions for manipulating the digital sound data through incorporation of at least one algorithm used to calculate a value, said algorithm utilizing selected frequencies of the auscultated sounds, said algorithm generating a first set of data;

said first set of data recorded in a database of said processor and said first set of data reflective of a diagnosis that corresponds to the values obtained from the algorithm;

a user display incorporated on the digital stethoscope for displaying information reflective of a state of health of the animal corresponding to the diagnosis and to additional health information;

at least one field device wirelessly communicating with the stethoscope, said field device including at least one of a weigh scale, an RFID reader, a diagnostic device, and a temperature probe;

a second set of data obtained from the field device as prompted by a polling command from the stethoscope, wherein the second set of data corresponds to additional data obtained from the field device for the animal, and the first and second data sets collectively are provided to the user display corresponding to the additional health information.

9. A system, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said processor and said computer coded instructions are within a remote computer, and said stethoscope communicates wirelessly with said remote computer by transmitting the digital sound data to the remote computer, and receiving the diagnosis and additional health information for display on the user display.

10. A system, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said processor and said computer coded instructions are incorporated within an integrated recording and display unit of the stethoscope.

11. An electronic digital stethoscope especially adapted for auscultation analysis, comprising:

a chest piece;

at least one earpiece

an integrated recording and display unit, said unit including (i) a processor for processing digital sound data received by auscultation, (ii) computer coded instructions for manipulating the digital sound data through incorporation of at least one algorithm used to calculate a value, said algorithm utilizing selected frequencies of auscultated sounds, said algorithm generating a first set of data, a (iii) memory for storing data, (iv) at least one database including data used for executing the algorithm, said first set of data corresponding to an indication of a health state of an animal, and (v) a health status indicator including at least one of a plurality of health indicator lights or a user display;

a communication cord interconnecting said chest piece to said unit; and

a listening extension interconnecting said at least one earpiece to said unit.

12. An electronic digital stethoscope especially adapted for auscultation analysis, comprising:

a chest piece;

at least one earpiece

an integrated recording and display unit, said unit including a health status indicator including at least one of a plurality of health indicator lights or a user display;

a communication cord interconnecting said chest piece to said unit;

a listening extension interconnecting said at least one earpiece to said unit; and

wherein said health status indicator provides a health status of an animal based upon an auscultation analysis that has taken place with sounds recorded by the stethoscope upon the animal, the analysis including use of at least one algorithm, said algorithm utilizing selected frequencies of the recorded sounds, said algorithm generating a set of data corresponding to an indication of a health state of the animal and made observable to a user on said health status indicator.

13. A stethoscope, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said unit further includes a wireless adapter for wireless communication.

14. A wireless audio digital recording unit especially adapted for auscultation analysis, comprising:

a paddle including at least one sensor for detecting sound, said paddle having a curved shape;

an extension pole rotatably connected to said paddle;

a sensor including one or more multi channel microphones incorporated therein for detecting and transmitting auscultated sounds as digitized data; and

a wireless adapter for transmitting the sounds as digitized data.

15. A unit, as claimed in claim 14, further including:

an integrated recording and display unit, said unit including a health status indicator including at least one of a plurality of health indicator lights or a user display; and

wherein said health status indicator provides a health status of an animal based upon an auscultation analysis that has taken place with sounds recorded by the unit upon the animal, the analysis including use of at least one algorithm, said algorithm utilizing selected frequencies of the recorded sounds, said algorithm generating a set of data corresponding to an indication of a health state of the animal and made observable to a user on said health status indicator.