Compact hybrid stethoscope

• US 4,528,690 A
• Filed: 03/12/1984
• Issued: 07/09/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HART Group A Partnership Consisting of Milledge A HART III and G Perry CULP of Texas
• Original Assignee: Genovation Incorporated
• Inventors: Sedgwick, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): Rubinson, Gene Z.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Byrd, Danita R.
• Application Number:
  US06/588,767
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 381/67, 181/126, 181/131, 128/715
• US Class Current: 381/67
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R

Abstract

A compact hybrid stethoscope comprises a detachable headpiece for picking up auscultory sounds, a flexible tubing pneumatically connected to the headpiece for transmitting the auscultory sounds, an amplifier unit pneumatically connected to the flexible tube for receiving the auscultory sounds and reproducing amplified auscultory sounds, and a pair of auricles pneumatically connected to the amplifier for transmitting the reproduced sounds to the user'"'"'s ears. An automatic on/off timer switch is connected to the amplifier so that even if inadvertently left on, the on/off timer automatically switches off the hybrid stethoscope after a predetermined interval, thus saving electric power. A tone control is connected to the amplifier so that the user may listen to the particularly desired auscultory sounds, such as respiratory or cardiac sounds while eliminating certain other auscultory sounds. A volume control is connected to the amplifier so that at the minimum volume the hybrid stethoscope works as a traditional acoustic stethoscope while at the maximum volume it enables a user to hear auscultory sounds through several layers of cloth in a noisy room.

Claims

1. A compact hybrid stethoscope for use in ausculation of sounds made within the body, which comprises:

(a) a sound pickup to be held against said body for picking up said sounds;

(b) tubing means pneumatically connected at one end to said sound pickup for transmitting said sounds;

(c) amplifying means which includes;

(i) a microphone pneumatically connected to the other end of said tubing means for converting said sounds into electric signals;

(ii) an amplifier circuit electrically connected to said microphone for amplifying said electric signals;

(iii) an electronic switch connected between said amplifier circuit and a battery, said electronic switch including;

a pair of CMOS schmitt triggers connected across said battery so as to be powered at all times; and

an on/off switch connected to one of said schmitt triggers so that said electronic switch may shut off said amplifier circuit a predetermined period of time after said on/off switch is pressed, and

(iv) a speaker electrically connected to said amplifier circuit for converting said electric signals into acoustic sounds; and

(d) a head set pneumatically connected to said speaker for transmitting said sounds to the user'"'"'s ears.

2. A compact hybrid stethoscope as defined in claim 1, wherein said amplifying means further includes an external jack connected in parallel to said speaker to the output of said amplifying circuit for plugging in an auxiliary amplifier or taperecorder for storing auscultory sounds on tape.

3. A compact hybrid stethoscope as defined in claim 2, wherein said microphone and said speaker are directly connected to said tubing means and said head set respectively.