Prenatal audio apparatus

• US 4,934,998 A
• Filed: 07/10/1986
• Issued: 06/19/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joy P. Thomas
• Original Assignee: Thomas W. Shannon Jr
• Inventors: Thomas, W. Shannon Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lacyk, J. P.
• Application Number:
  US06/884,026
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• Field of Search: 128/1 R, 128/1 C, 128/24 R, 434/250, 434/122, 434/266, 600/26-28
• US Class Current: 600/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0866 involving foetal diagnosis; pre-natal or peri-natal diagnosis of the baby
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/145 Embryo, fetus
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/46 Special adaptations for use as contact microphones, e.g. on musical instrument, on stethoscope throat mountings H04R1/14

Abstract

Prenatal audio apparatus includes a belt for fitting over a pregnant woman for directing audio sounds to the unborn baby. A belt has an inside surface, to fit against a pregnant woman'"'"'s body, and an outside surface. Belt fasteners, such as hook and loop material, may adjustably attach the belt to the person. The belt can be made of a soft loop material fastenable for a hook material fastener portion. An audio signal source, such as a small portable tape recorder, is attachable to the belt. A pair of audio transducers are mounted in the belt in foam material with the output of the transducers facing the belt'"'"'s inside surface, so that when attached to the patient, the sounds will be directed toward the unborn baby. The audio transducer is operatively connected to the audio signal source. The audio signal source may also be connected to earphones worn by the woman carrying the baby.

Claims

1. A prenatal audio apparatus comprising in combination:

a belt having an inside surface to fit against a person'"'"'s body and an outside surface;

a belt fastener means for adjustably attaching the belt to a person;

a tape recorder audio signal source attachable to said belt;

at least one audio transducer having an output side, said audio transducer being mounted in said belt with the output side facing in the direction of the inside surface of said belt, and said audio transducer being operatively connected to said tape recorder audio signal source, whereby audio signals from a tape recorder are directed into a person'"'"'s body.

2. A prenatal audio apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said belt is formed of a foamed polymer material having audio transducer pockets formed therein.

3. A prenatal audio apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which said belt foamed polymer material has a cloth surface thereon.

4. A prenatal audio apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which said belt includes a foamed polymer material folded along an elongated center line and attached with elongated VELCRO members.

5. A prenatal audio apparatus in accordance with claim 4 in which said belt foamed polymer material has a pair of pockets formed therein which are folded to fit over each other to form an audio transducer cavity.

6. A prenatal audio apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which a pair of headphones may be connected to the tape recorder audio signal source for simultaneously listening by, a person using said prenatal audio apparatus.

7. A prenatal audio apparatus in accordance with claim 6 in which a pair of audio transducers are mounted in said belt to provide stereo from said transducers against a person'"'"'s skin and towards the person'"'"'s womb.