Sensor for non-invasive measurement of sound, pressure and vibration on the human body

• US 5,035,247 A
• Filed: 12/29/1988
• Issued: 07/30/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jochen Heimann
• Original Assignee: Jochen Heimann
• Inventors: Heimann, Jochen
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Manuel, George
• Application Number:
  US07/291,513
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 128/715, 128/773, 128/701
• US Class Current: 600/528
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0204 Acoustic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/025 using a piezoelectric polymer

Abstract

The invention relates to a sensor (1) for non-invasive measurement of sound, pressure and vibration on the human body which features a transducer in the form of a transducer membrane (23) to achieve a very good response characteristic coupled with low weight and small size. The transducer diaphragm (23) is preferably configured as a piezoelectric foil which converts the mechanical input variables into electrical signals which can be processed by means of processor units.

Claims

1. A sensor for non-invasive measurement of sound, pressure and vibration on the human body comprising:

a sensor cell featuring a probe which can be placed on the surface of said body to sense mechanical input variables;

a housing providing an enclosure;

a transducer comprising a piezoelectric foil diaphragm located in said enclosure with the transducer being coupled to said probe and which converts said mechanical input variables into an electrical signal;

a transmission device connected to said transducer; and

a signal preamplifier connected via said transmission device to said transducer and which can be connected to a processing unit, said housing having a pressure offset port which is smaller than the wavelength to be received.

2. A sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said enclosure comprises an electrically conducting part and an electrically nonconducting part.

3. A sensor as claimed in claim 4 wherein said enclosure is dynamically balanced.

4. A sensor as claimed in any of claims 1 through 3 wherein said probe penetrates a wall of said enclosure and projects therefrom.

5. A sensor as claimed in any of claims 1 through 4 wherein the mass of said probe is much smaller than the mass of said enclosure.

6. A sensor as claimed in claim 5 wherein the total mass of said sensor is less than 2 g.

7. Sensor as claimed in any of claims 1 through 6 wherein said transmission device is a short cable.

8. Sensor as claimed in claim 7 wherein said cable has a high insulation resistance and a low capacitance.

9. Sensor as claimed in claim 2 wherein said electrically conducting part of said enclosure is of brass.

10. Sensor as claimed in claim 2 wherein said non-electrically conducting part of said enclosure is of PVC.

11. Sensor as claimed in any of claims 1 through 10 wherein said signal preamplifier is an active charge amplifier.

12. Sensor as claimed in any of claims 1 through 11 wherein said signal preamplifier is located on said housing enclosure.

13. Sensor as claimed in any of claims 1 through 12 wherein said probe is coupled to said transducer by a spring element.

14. Sensor as claimed in claim 13 wherein the rigidity of said spring element is less than that of said transducer diaphragm.

15. Sensor as claimed in claim 13 or 14 wherein said spring element is a flex diaphragm.

16. Sensor as claimed in any of claims 1 through 15 wherein said probe is spherical or ellipsoidal.

17. Sensor as claimed in any of claims 1 through 12 wherein said probe and said transducer are a single member.

18. Sensor as claimed in claim 17 wherein said member is a piezoelectric transducer diaphragm.

19. Sensor as claimed in claim 17 or 18 wherein said diaphragm is tensioned between said enclosure parts.