Self-contained stethoscope transmitter
First Claim
1. A self-contained stethoscope transmitter comprising:
- a pickup head including a housing which defines a precordial dome for contact with a patient whose bodily sounds are to be observed and/or monitored, said housing comprising a closed chamber and a base movably mounted thereto and including means for coupling an esophageal probe to said housing for detecting bodily sounds by means of said esophageal probe and selector means for moving said base relative to said closed chamber such that said housing is configured to observe and/or monitor bodily sounds via said precordial dome or an esophageal probe; and
electronic circuit means positioned within said housing for receiving said sounds, converting said sounds into a modulated signal representative thereof and transmitting said modulated signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self-contained stethoscope transmitter comprises a pickup head including a housing which defines a precordial dome formed thereinto for contact with a patient whose bodily sounds are to be observed and/or monitored, and electronic circuitry positioned within the housing for receiving the sounds, converting the sounds into an FM signal representative thereof and transmitting the FM signal. The frequency of transmission is tunable over a range of frequencies by using a screwdriver which is removably secured within the housing. The pickup head includes a luer taper within a base of the head for alternate operation with an esophageal probe. The base can also be rotated relative to the remainder of the head to configure the head for either precordial or esophageal use with rotation of the head switching an internal battery to conserve the battery for shipment, storage or extended usage of the transmitter if desired. Preferably, the pickup head is constructed of inexpensive materials such that the stethoscope transmitter can be thrown away after a single use without concern for contamination which would otherwise require cleaning and sterilization of the stethoscope transmitter for subsequent use.
52 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A self-contained stethoscope transmitter comprising:
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a pickup head including a housing which defines a precordial dome for contact with a patient whose bodily sounds are to be observed and/or monitored, said housing comprising a closed chamber and a base movably mounted thereto and including means for coupling an esophageal probe to said housing for detecting bodily sounds by means of said esophageal probe and selector means for moving said base relative to said closed chamber such that said housing is configured to observe and/or monitor bodily sounds via said precordial dome or an esophageal probe; and electronic circuit means positioned within said housing for receiving said sounds, converting said sounds into a modulated signal representative thereof and transmitting said modulated signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A self-contained stethoscope transmitter comprising:
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a pickup head including a housing which defines a precordial dome for contact with a patient whose bodily sounds are to be observed and/or monitored; electronic circuit means positioned within said housing for receiving said sounds, converting said sounds into a frequency modulated signal representative thereof and transmitting said frequency modulated signal, said electronic circuit means comprising a transmission antenna and tuner means for tuning said frequency modulated signal to a desired frequency to ensure interference free operation of said self-contained stethoscope transmitter; and tool means for operating said tuner means, said tool means being removably secured to said housing and positioned to block access to said tuner means when secured to said housing.
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16. A self-contained stethoscope transmitter comprising:
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a pickup head including a housing which defines a precordial dome for contact with a patient whose bodily sounds are to be observed and/or monitored, said pickup head being constructed of inexpensive materials whereby said stethoscope transmitter can be thrown away after a single use without concern for contamination which would otherwise require cleaning and sterilization of the stethoscope transmitter for subsequent use; and electronic circuit means positioned within said housing for receiving said sounds, converting said sounds into a modulated signal representative thereof and transmitting said modulated signal, said circuit means including one time transmitter activating switch means comprising a pair of normally closed contacts and an electrically insulating sheet inserted therebetween to open said contacts, said sheet extending through said pickup head and being pulled to remove said sheet and close said contacts to activate said transmitter.
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Specification