Modular auscultation sensor and telemetry system
First Claim
1. A modular auscultation sensor and telemetry system for use in sensing body sounds emanating from a living body, comprising:
- a transducer head having a first chamber and a second chamber substantially acoustically isolated from said first chamber, wherein said first chamber has an opening, said transducer head comprisinga first sensor positioned adjacent to or in said first chamber, anda second sensor positioned adjacent to or in said second chamber;
a telemetry conduit coupled to said transducer head and comprising a first signal conductor operably coupled to said first sensor and a second signal conductor operably coupled to said second sensor; and
a signal processor operably coupled to said first and second signal conductors for receiving signals from said first and second sensors and producing an output signal that is indicative of the body sounds emanating from a living body when the transducer head is brought in contact with a living body.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular auscultation sensor and telemetry system ("MASTS") for sensing body sounds of a patient in a noisy environment where both desired body sounds and undesirable noise may be detected. The MASTS includes a transducer head that comprises two sensors that are substantially acoustically and mechanically isolated from each other. The first sensor is positioned to sense body sounds of a patient when the transducer head is placed against a patient'"'"'s skin, and the second sensor is positioned to sense primarily noise, if any. The sound signals are transmitted to a digital signal processor carried in a waist-pack or similar container. The digital signal processor processes the sound signals using an adaptive filter scheme to produce an output signal that is indicative of primarily of the body sounds emanating from the patient. A receiving device such as earphones, a hybrid noise reduction ("HNR") headset, an HNR helmet, a tape deck, or a computer may be plugged into the waist-pack and coupled to the digital signal processor to receive the output signals.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A modular auscultation sensor and telemetry system for use in sensing body sounds emanating from a living body, comprising:
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a transducer head having a first chamber and a second chamber substantially acoustically isolated from said first chamber, wherein said first chamber has an opening, said transducer head comprising a first sensor positioned adjacent to or in said first chamber, and a second sensor positioned adjacent to or in said second chamber; a telemetry conduit coupled to said transducer head and comprising a first signal conductor operably coupled to said first sensor and a second signal conductor operably coupled to said second sensor; and a signal processor operably coupled to said first and second signal conductors for receiving signals from said first and second sensors and producing an output signal that is indicative of the body sounds emanating from a living body when the transducer head is brought in contact with a living body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A modular auscultation sensor and telemetry system for use in sensing body sounds emanating from a living body, comprising:
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a transducer head having a first chamber and a second chamber substantially isolated from said first chamber, wherein said first chamber has an opening, said transducer head comprising a first sensor positioned adjacent to or in said first chamber, a second sensor positioned adjacent to or in said second chamber, and a diaphragm that extends across said opening of said first chamber; a telemetry conduit coupled to said transducer head and comprising a first signal conductor operably coupled to said first sensor and a second signal conductor operably coupled to said second sensor; and digital signal processing means, operably coupled to said first and second conductors for receiving signals from said first and second sensors, processing said signals and producing an output signal that is indicative of body sounds when said diaphragm of said transducer head is brought into contact with a living body. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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39. A stethoscope comprising:
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a transducer head having a first chamber and a second chamber substantially isolated from said first chamber, said transducer head comprising an outer housing having an inner chamber, an inner housing positioned within said inner chamber of said outer housing, said inner housing having an inner chamber that at least partially constitutes said first chamber, and an opening to said inner chamber; a diaphragm that extends across said opening of said inner chamber, a first sensor positioned adjacent to or in said first chamber of said inner housing, and a second sensor positioned adjacent to or in said second chamber; and a telemetry conduit coupled to said transducer head comprising a first signal conductor operably coupled to said first sensor and a second signal conductor operably coupled to said second sensor. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification