Bio-acoustic signal sensing device
First Claim
1. A sound sensor apparatus for reception of bio-acoustic signals from the body of a patient and being for use with a medical diagnostic device, comprising:
- a. a unitary and flexible containment structure consisting entirely of a pliable, homogeneous polymeric material which is substantially acoustically matched to the human body, and being for conforming placement to contact the patient body surface;
b. sound sensing means embedded and enclosed within said containment structure, said sound sensing means being constructed and arranged to receive and convert bio-acoustic signals to electrical signals; and
c. connection means communicatively linked to said sound sensing means for transmitting said electrical signals to the medical diagnostic device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention provides a sound sensor apparatus for reception of bio-acoustic signals from the body of a patient and for use with a medical diagnostic device. The apparatus comprises a unitary containment structure of a pliable, adhering material for conforming placement on the patient body surface. A sound sensing transducer is embedded in the containment structure to receive and convert bio-acoustic signals to electrical signals. A cable is communicatively linked to the sound sensing transducer for transmitting the electrical signals to the medical diagnostic device. The composition of the pliable containment structure material is a polymeric mixture substantially acoustically matched to the patient body. The sound sensing transducer is preferably a piezoelectric crystal transducer constructed of a composite material which comprises at least 65 percent by weight lead, at least 20 percent by weight zirconium, and at least 10 percent by weight titanium.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A sound sensor apparatus for reception of bio-acoustic signals from the body of a patient and being for use with a medical diagnostic device, comprising:
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a. a unitary and flexible containment structure consisting entirely of a pliable, homogeneous polymeric material which is substantially acoustically matched to the human body, and being for conforming placement to contact the patient body surface; b. sound sensing means embedded and enclosed within said containment structure, said sound sensing means being constructed and arranged to receive and convert bio-acoustic signals to electrical signals; and c. connection means communicatively linked to said sound sensing means for transmitting said electrical signals to the medical diagnostic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A sound sensor apparatus for reception of bio-acoustic signals from the body of a patient and for use with a medical diagnostic device, comprising:
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a. a flexible pliable, unitary and homogeneous containment means constructed of a material having a density-sound velocity product between 1.5×
104 and 1.5×
106 gm/cm2 sec., said containment means being for conforming placement onto the patient body surface;b. a compact transducer means for reception and conversion of bio-acoustic signals to electrical signals, said transducer means being embedded in said containment means; and c. connection means communicatively linked to said transducer means for transmitting said electrical signals to the medical diagnostic device.
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20. A compact sound sensor apparatus for reception of bio-acoustic signals from the body of a patient and for use with a medical diagnostic device, comprising:
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a. a flexible and pliable containment means for placement on the patient body surface, said containment means being molded of a unitary structure having a density-sound velocity product of from 1.5×
104 to 1.5×
106 gm/cm2 sec., said structure being a polymeric cross-linked styrene-elastomer-styrene composition;b. a low power transducer means embedded in said molded structure and being constructed and arranged to receive and convert bio-acoustic signals to electrical signals; and c. connection means communicatively linked to said transducer means for transmitting said electrical signals to the medical diagnostic device.
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21. A sound sensor apparatus for reception of bio-acoustic signals from the body of a patient and being for use with a medical diagnostic device, comprising:
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a. a unitary and flexible containment structure of a pliable, homogeneous material, and being for conforming placement to contact the patient body surface; b. sound sensing means embedded in said containment structure, said sound sensing means being constructed and arranged to receive and convert bio-acoustic signals to electrical signals; c. means to convert electrical signals from said sound sensing device to optical signals; and d. an optical fiber, communicatively linked to said conversion means, for transmitting said optical signals to the medical diagnostic device.
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Specification