PALPATION METHODS

• US 3,742,935 A
• Filed: 01/22/1971
• Issued: 07/03/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harvey F. Glassner, James G. Gerard, Lee R. Baessler, Waters T. James
• Original Assignee: Harvey F. Glassner, James G. Gerard, Lee R. Baessler, Waters T. James
• Inventors: Baessler, Lee R., Glassner, Harvey F., Gerard, James G., Waters, T. James
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Application Number:
  US05/108,720
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.5P,2.5S,2.5R,2K,2S,2Z 340/407,384 179/121C,181F,17E,1ST,1B 181/31B 35/35A,35C
• US Class Current: 600/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/00 Instruments for auscultation

Abstract

A method for simultaneous palpation by a plurality of individuals in which the physical displacement of a sensor may be amplified and simultaneously reproduced at a plurality of remote locations. The physical displacement signal from a transducer in pressural engagement with the patient'"'"''"'"'s skin is amplified and utilized to drive a palpation platform which is tactually engaged by the physician to aid in the diagnosis. Additional palpation platforms may be slaved to the physician'"'"''"'"' s unit and the slave units utilized for instruction purposes. The palpation platform may include a speaker cone substantially filled with a solid material and covered by a material approximating human skin. The method may take the form of a physician'"'"''"'"'s diagnostic aid, or as a medical teaching aid. Use, including self-instruction, of the equipment for speech therapy is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of teaching speech to students with hearing defects including the steps of:

a. generating a signal related in amplitude and frequency to the speech responsive displacement of the skin of an instructor;

b. amplifying the signal;

c. driving a palpation platform responsively to the amplified signal;

d. tactually sensing the physical displacement of the palpation platform by the student for comparison with the speech responsive, tactually-sensed, displacement of the student, also sensed by the student.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the signal is generated responsively to a recording.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the signal is generated responsively to a transducer in pressural engagement with the throat of an instructor.

4. The method of claim 1 including the further steps of generating a second signal related in amplitude and frequency to the speech of the student;

driving a second palpation platform responsively to the second signal; and

, tactually sensing the physical displacement of the second palpation platform by the student for comparison with the physical displacement of the first-mentioned palpation platform by the student.

5. A method of examining the physical displacement of a patient'"'"''"'"'s skin due to subcutaneous cardiovascular displacement comprising the steps of:

a. providing a sensor adapted for pressural engagement with the skin of a patient;

b. providing a palpation platform responsive in displacement to the amplitude of an electrical signal;

c. positioning the sensor on the patient under examination in pressural engagement with the skin thereof;

d. generating an electrical signal related in amplitude to the physical displacement of the skin sensed by the sensor;

e. amplifying the generated electrical signal;

f. applying the amplified electrical signal to the palpation platform; and

, g. tactually sensing the displacement of the palpation platform.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the amplification of the generated signal includes the amplification of frequency components in the range between about 0.05 Hz and about 35 Hz.

7. A method of teaching the art of palpation to a student comprising the steps of:

a. providing a sensor adapted for pressural engagement with the skin of a patient;

b. providing a plurality of palpation platforms responsive in displacement to the amplitude of an electrical signal;

c. positioning the sensor on the patient under examination in pressural engagement with the skin thereof;

d. generating an electrical signal related in amplitude to the physical displacement of the skin as sensed by the sensor;

e. amplifying the generated electrical signal;

f. applying the amplified electrical signal to each of the palpation platforms; and

g. tactually sensing the displacement of one of the palpation platforms while instructing a student in the tactile sensing of the displacement of another of the palpation platforms.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the amplification of the generated signal includes the amplification of frequency components in the range between about 0.05 Hz and about 35 Hz.

9. The method of claim 7 including the step of simultaneously modifying the degree of amplification of the generated electrical signal applied to each of the palpation platforms.

10. A method of examining the physical displacement of a patient'"'"''"'"'s skin comprising the steps of:

a. generating a signal related in amplitude to the physical displacement of a patient'"'"''"'"'s skin;

b. amplifying the generated signal;

c. applying the amplified signal to a palpation platform; and

, d. tactually sensing the physical displacement of the palpation platform.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the amplification of the generated signal includes the amplification of frequency components in the range between about 0.05 Hz and about 35 Hz.

12. The method of claim 10 including the steps of applying the amplified signal to a plurality of additional palpation platforms and tactually sensing the physical displacement of the additional palpation platforms.

13. The method of claim 12 including the step of simultaneously controlling the degree of amplification of the signal applied to all of the additional palpation platforms.

14. A method of examining subcutaneous cardiovascular displacement comprising the steps of:

a. providing a sensor adapted for pressural engagement with the skin of a patient;

b. providing a palpation platform responsive in displacement to an applied signal;

c. positioning the sensor on the patient under examination in pressural engagement with the skin thereof;

d. generating a signal related to subcutaneous cardiovascular displacement as sensed by the sensor;

e. amplifying the generated signal;

f. applying the amplified signal to the palpation platform; and

, g. tactually sensing the displacement of the palpation platform.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the amplification of the generated signal includes the amplification of frequency components in the range between about 0.05 Hz and about 35 Hz.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the signal generated is electrical and is related in amplitude to subcutaneous cardiovascular displacement.