Medical auscultation device

• US 5,078,151 A
• Filed: 09/04/1990
• Issued: 01/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vincent Laballery
• Original Assignee: Vincent Laballery
• Inventors: Laballery, Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US07/571,556
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 128/715, 128/672, 128/773
• US Class Current: 600/528
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1491 Heated applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/02 Stethoscopes acoustic details thereof G10K11/00

Abstract

A medical auscultation device comprising an element intended to be applied to a patient'"'"'s skin, which is characterized by the fact that it comprises on or in the vicinity of this element a heating resistance which is supplied by a contactor from an electric current source such as a battery.

Claims

1. A medical auscultation device comprising:

a) an element for application to a patient'"'"'s skin;

b) an electric current source,

c) a contactor

d) a heating resistance supplied by said contactor from said electric current source connected to said element.

2. A medical auscultation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electric current source is a battery.

3. A medical auscultation device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said device is a stethoscope having a membrane for contact with a patient'"'"'s skin with a patient contact side and a patient non-contact side and wherein said heating resistance is applied to said patient non-contact side of said membrane.

4. A medical auscultation device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said heating resistance consists of a filament which is adhered along a winding passage to the face of said patient non-contact side of said membrane.

5. A medical auscultation device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said heating resistance is printed on to said membrane.

6. A medical auscultation device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a tube having first and second ends, wherein said first end is connected to said element of said stethoscope;

ear tips connected to said second end of said tube; and

a case attached to said tube for holding said battery in the vicinity of said element.

7. A medical auscultation device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a tube having first and second ends, wherein said first end is connected to said element of said stethoscope;

ear tips connected to said second end of said tube; and

a case placed directly upon said element for holding said battery in the vicinity of said element.

8. A medical auscultation device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said case further comprises contacts located on the periphery of said case for recharging said battery contained therein.

9. A medical auscultation device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said element further comprises at least one photovoltaic cell thereon for recharging said battery.

10. A medical auscultation device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a switch means for operating said heating resistance, which consists of a push button.

11. A medical auscultation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heating resistance is incorporated into said membrane.

12. A medical auscultation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heating resistance is self-regulated.

13. A medical auscultation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said device is a sphygmomanometer having an inflatable rubber face which is applied to a patient'"'"'s skin and a heating resistance applied to said face, supplied with electrical current by a switch means.