Disposable sensing device with contaneous conformance

• US 5,365,937 A
• Filed: 09/09/1992
• Issued: 11/22/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MCG International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MCG International Incorporated
• Inventors: Miller, Douglas R., Reeves, William, Hilmer, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Application Number:
  US07/942,286
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 128/687, 128/715, 128/773, 128/774, 128/782, 128/721-722, 381/151, 381/173, 310/311, 310/331, 310/332, 310/348, 310/349, 310/355, 310/363
• US Class Current: 600/528
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0204 Acoustic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 11/08 using piezoelectric devices
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/004 Mounting transducers, e.g. provided with mechanical moving or orienting device mountings specially adapted to a particular sound-producing device, see the preceding groups G10K1/00 - G10K9/00, e.g. G10K1/26, G10K1/28, G10K9/22; arrangements of sonic watch equipment on submarines B63G8/39; buoys B63B22/00

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sensing device for capturing acoustic heart sounds. The sensing device has a diaphragm formed from a piezoelectric transducer material which generates excitation signals in response to acoustic and vibratory energy outputs. The sensing device includes metallization layers on the diaphragm for receiving and transmitting the excitation signals to an output display device via associated electrical contacts and electrical leads and also includes a layer of adhesive material for coupling the sensing device to the subject. The sensing device further includes snap connectors for allowing the device to be quickly disengaged from electrical leads and discarded. A patch sensor device is disclosed which enables acoustic outputs to be triangulated and pinpointed.

Claims

1. A sensing device for capturing cardiac output and acoustic output, said sensing device comprising:

a pliable diaphragm formed from a piezoelectric transducer material for generating voltage signals in response to excitation by acoustic and vibratory outputs;

metallization layers on opposed surfaces of said diaphragm for receiving and transmitting said excitation signals generated by said diaphragm;

a layer of adhesive material attached to one of said metallization layers for mechanically coupling the sensing device to a subject'"'"'s flesh in a way that said sensing device and said flesh conform and become one so as to insure a maximum amount of said acoustic and vibratory outputs being received by said diaphragm;

electrical contacts electrically connected to said metallization layers;

an electrical lead connected to each of said electrical contacts;

a bow-shaped member for applying a tension force to said diaphragm; and

said diaphragm being mechanically connected to said bow-shaped member.

2. The sensing device of claim 1 further comprising said bow-shaped member and an upper one of said metallization layers being spaced apart so that an air gap is present therebetween.

3. The sensing device of claim 1 further comprising:

said diaphragm having a substantially rectangular configuration with longitudinal ends and latitudinal ends; and

said longitudinal ends of said diaphragm being bonded to the bow-shaped member.

4. A sensing device for capturing cardiac output and acoustic output, said device comprising:

a diaphragm formed from a piezoelectric transducer material for generating excitation signals in response to acoustic and vibratory outputs;

metallization layers on opposed surfaces of said diaphragm for receiving and transmitting said excitation signals generated by said diaphragm;

a layer of adhesive material attached to said one of said metallization layers for mechanically coupling the sensing device to a desired portion of a subject'"'"'s anatomy;

electrical contacts electrically connected to said metallization layers;

an electrical lead connected to each of said electrical contacts;

a bow-shaped member for applying a tension force to said diaphragm;

said diaphragm being mechanically connected to said bow-shaped member; and

a strain relief device within said bow-shaped member through which said electrical leads pass.

5. A sensing device for capturing cardiac output and acoustic output, said sensing device comprising:

a diaphragm formed from a piezoelectric transducer material for generating excitation signals in response to acoustic and vibratory outputs;

metallization layers on opposed surfaces of said diaphragm for receiving and transmitting said excitation signals generated by said diaphragm;

a layer of adhesive material for mechanically coupling the sensing device to a desired portion of a subject'"'"'s anatomy, said layer of adhesive material being attached to one of said metallization layers;

electrical contacts electrically connected to said metallization layers;

a backing layer adhesively bonded to one of said metallization layers;

each of the electrical contacts connected to the metallization layers comprising a male portion extending through the backing layer and a terminal connector for insuring that said backing layer does not move relative to said male portion; and

a snap connector associated with each of the electrical contacts, said snap connector having a female portion configured to mate with said male portion.

6. The sensing device of claim 5 wherein said female portion has an electrical contact layer housed within an electrically non-conductive housing, said electrical contact layer having a shape which enables mating with the male portion.

7. The sensing device of claim 6 wherein said male portion has embossed metal characters on an upper surface and said electrical contact layer has matching metal characters for mating with the metal characters on said male portion.

8. A sensing device for capturing cardiac output and acoustic output, said sensing device comprising:

a diaphragm formed from a piezoelectric transducer material for generating excitation signals in response to acoustic and vibratory outputs;

metallization layers on opposed surfaces of said diaphragm for receiving and transmitting said excitation signals generated by said diaphragm;

a layer of adhesive material attached to one of said metallization layers for mechanically coupling the sensing device to a desired portion of a subject'"'"'s anatomy;

electrical contacts electrically connected to said metallization layers;

an electrical lead connected to each of said electrical contacts; and

each of said electrical leads containing a bayonet type connector comprising a male portion and a female portion, said male portion having a tip portion with a particular design and said female portion having a mating design.

9. The sensing device of claim 8 wherein said tip portion has a desired radius of curvature and an edge with a region of different taper near the tip portion.

10. A sensing device for capturing cardiac output and acoustic output, said sensing device comprising:

a diaphragm formed from a piezoelectric transducer material for generating excitation signals in response to acoustic and vibratory outputs;

metallization layers on opposed surfaces of said diaphragm for receiving and transmitting said excitation signals generated by said diaphragm;

a layer of adhesive material attached to one of said metallization layers for mechanically coupling the sensing device to a desired portion of a subject'"'"'s anatomy; and

an integrated circuit chip placed on said sensing device for providing security and insuring compatibility of the device and electrical components to which a signal is transmitted.