Heart sound sensor
First Claim
1. A bio-acoustic signal sensing device for placement on the body of a patient to detect low frequency bio-acoustical signals and being for use with medical diagnostic devices, comprising:
- a. a housing structure retaining the remaining elements of the device and having securement means for holding the device to the body of the patient, said housing structure having an open end for sound wave reception and a fluid ingress/egress aperture said open end having a horizontal dimension of at least 5 cm.;
b. hydrophone means spacially fixed within said housing structure for producing electrical signals in response to transmitted bio-acoustic signals;
c. flexible diaphragm means extended across said open end of said housing structure and having retention means to fix it thereacross, said diaphragm means being for placement in direct contact with the patient body surface, for conforming to the contours of the patient body surface and being vibratingly sensitive to the sound waves generated in the patient'"'"'s body;
d. a bubble free fluid gel medium filling the remaining interior volume of said housing structure, said fluid medium transmitting sound waves from said diaphragm means to said hydrophone means; and
e. cable means communicatively connected to said hydrophone means for transmitting electrical signals from said hydrophone means to medical diagnostic devices.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A heart sound sensing device for placement on the body of a patient and for the detection of low frequency sound waves. The device is for use with medical diagnostic devices, and comprises a cylindrical housing structure for retaining the remaining elements of the device, a strap for holding the device to the body of the patient, a fluid ingress/egress aperture, an open end for receiving sound waves, and a hydrophone assembly centrally fixed within the housing structure for producing electrical signals in response to transmitted heart sound waves. The device of this invention is further provided with a flexible diaphragm which is vibratingly sensitive to sound waves generated by the patient'"'"'s heart and being for placement in direct contact with the patient body surface to conform to the body contours. A bubble free fluid medium is provided to fill the remaining interior volume of the housing structure to transmit sound waves from the diaphragm to the hydrophone assembly. The device further includes a cable means communicatively connected to the hydrophone assembly for transmitting electrical output signals to medical diagnostic devices. The sound sensing device is further used in a method for sensing heart sound waves.
165 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A bio-acoustic signal sensing device for placement on the body of a patient to detect low frequency bio-acoustical signals and being for use with medical diagnostic devices, comprising:
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a. a housing structure retaining the remaining elements of the device and having securement means for holding the device to the body of the patient, said housing structure having an open end for sound wave reception and a fluid ingress/egress aperture said open end having a horizontal dimension of at least 5 cm.; b. hydrophone means spacially fixed within said housing structure for producing electrical signals in response to transmitted bio-acoustic signals; c. flexible diaphragm means extended across said open end of said housing structure and having retention means to fix it thereacross, said diaphragm means being for placement in direct contact with the patient body surface, for conforming to the contours of the patient body surface and being vibratingly sensitive to the sound waves generated in the patient'"'"'s body; d. a bubble free fluid gel medium filling the remaining interior volume of said housing structure, said fluid medium transmitting sound waves from said diaphragm means to said hydrophone means; and e. cable means communicatively connected to said hydrophone means for transmitting electrical signals from said hydrophone means to medical diagnostic devices. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A heart sound sensing device for placement on the body of a patient and being for the detection of sub-KHz, low frequency sound waves for use with medical diagnostic devices, comprising:
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a. a cylindrical housing structure retaining the remaining elements of the device, said housing structure having a rigid top portion and a pliant bottom portion, said top portion having securement means for holding the device to the body of the patient and a fluid ingress/egress aperture, and said bottom portion having an open end of a diameter of at least 5 cm. for receiving sound waves; b. hydrophone means centrally fixed within said housing structure for producing electrical signals in response to transmitted sub-KHz frequency heart sound waves, said hydrophone means having a transducer and an exterior insulating covering for converting heart sound waves into electrical output signals; c. flexible diaphragm means extending across said open end of said pliant bottom portion and having retention means to fix said diaphragm means at the periphery thereof, said diaphragm means being for placement in direct contact with the patient body surface, said diaphragm means and said pliant bottom portion conforming to the contours of the patient body surface and being vibratingly sensitive to sound waves generated by the patient'"'"'s heart; d. a bubble free fluid medium completely filling the remaining interior volume of said housing structure about said hydrophone means and surrounding said hydrophone means, said fluid medium transmitting sound waves from said diaphragm means to said hydrophone means; and e. cable means communicatively connected to said hydrophone means for transmitting electrical signals from said hydrophone means to medical diagnostic devices. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of sensing heart sound waves comprising:
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a. selecting an area on the thoracic region of the body of a patient for heart sound wave reception; b. providing a medical diagnostic device to analyze heart sound waves; c. providing a heart sound sensing device having; (1) a housing structure retaining the remaining elements of said heart sound sensing device and having securement means for holding said device to the body of the patient, said housing structure having an open end for sound wave reception and a fluid ingress/egress port, said open end having a horizontal dimension of at least 5 cm.; (2) hydrophone means placed within said housing structure for producing electrical signals in response to transmitted heart sound waves; (3) flexible diaphragm means for placement in direct contact with the patient body surface and which conforms to the contours of the patient body surface and which is vibratingly sensitive to the sound waves generated by the patient'"'"'s heart, said diaphragm means being extended across said open end of said housing structure and having retention means to fix it thereto; (4) a bubble free fluid medium transmitting sound waves from said diaphragm means to said hydrophone means, said fluid medium filling the remaining interior volume of said housing structure; and (5) cable means communicatively connected to said hydrophone means for transmission of electrical signals from said hydrophone means to said medical diagnostic device; d. placing and arranging said heart sound sensing device whereby said diaphragm means is in contact with said body surface area of the patient; e. connecting said cable means to the medical diagnostic device; and f. performing a diagnostic heart sound analysis procedure. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification