Auscultation augmentation device

• US 5,812,678 A
• Filed: 02/26/1996
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Adele Scalise Rainone, Dennis W. Davis, Stanley J. Scalise
• Original Assignee: Adele Scalise Rainone, Dennis W. Davis, Stanley J. Scalise
• Inventors: Rainone, Adele Scalise, Scalise, Stanley J., Davis, Dennis W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Isen, Forester W.
• Application Number:
  US08/606,567
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 381/67, 381/71.6, 381/71.7, 128/715
• US Class Current: 381/67
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise

Abstract

A noise-canceling biological sound monitoring system provides electronic noise cancellation at the pickup head by using a primary transducer to sense anatomy sounds and a secondary sensor as a noise monitor. The system philosophy emphasizes the capability to provide the medical practitioner with an improved signal-to-noise ratio while at the same time maintaining the character of the sound to which the practitioner is accustomed. Various embodiments of the system include a device for use as an amplifying aid with conventional stethoscopes and a system which provides telemetry of sound to a remote receiver for listening, analysis or recording.

Claims

1. A noise-canceling system for the detection and amplification of anatomy sounds for presentation to a conventional stethoscope, said system comprising an assembly containing:

a) an acoustic sensing face placed in contact with a biological source of anatomy sounds for efficient coupling of sound into said noise-canceling system;

b) a first sound sensitive transducer receiving anatomy sounds coupled from said acoustic sensing face and noise sounds coupled from said acoustic sensing face as well as through the body of said assembly, said first sound sensitive transducer converting the combination of said anatomy sounds and said noise sounds into an electrical signal;

c) a second sound sensitive transducer contained in said assembly, said second sound sensitive transducer preferentially sensing said noise sounds and converting said noise sounds into an electrical signal;

d) a processing system receiving said electrical signals output from said first and second sound sensitive transducers, said processing system processing said electrical signals output from said first and second sound sensitive transducers so as to provide a noise-reduced output signal that contains energy due to said anatomy sounds, but is largely devoid of an energy contribution due to said noise sounds;

e) a sound transducer for output of signals from said processing system, said sound transducer providing an acoustic signal input to a conventional stethoscope;

f) means for delivering output of said processing system to said sound transducer;

g) a surface of shape complementary to the front side of the bell of a conventional stethoscope, said surface having at least one aperture therein for the transmission of acoustic energy from said sound transducer to said bell when said surface is mated with said bell, whereby, said noise-canceling system when used in concert with a stethoscope provides stethoscope output sound that has a signal-to-noise ratio improved over that available from an unaided conventional stethoscope.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for delivering output of said processing system to said sound transducer is an electrical connection.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said processing system provides an audio output for the purpose of recording sounds and an audio input for the replay of recorded sounds through said sound transducer.

4. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said processing system provides an audio output, said audio output connected to transmitting means for transmission of said audio to remote recording means.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, including means of automatically activating said device when said device is pressed against a patient'"'"'s anatomy, said means comprising low current drain monitoring circuitry, said monitoring circuitry detecting pressure variations at said acoustic sensing face characteristically produced by unavoidable relative motion between said system and patient'"'"'s anatomy when holding said device against a patient'"'"'s anatomy, said detection subsequently activating said device, said activation remaining as long as said low frequency pressure variations are detected.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said assembly comprises two physically separable modules with said means for delivering output of said electronic circuitry to said sound transducer comprising a transmitter and receiver, the first of said modules comprising:

a) an acoustic sensing face placed in contact with the body for efficient coupling of sound into said noise-canceling system;

b) a first sound sensitive transducer receiving anatomy sounds coupled from said acoustic sensing face and noise sounds coupled from said acoustic sensing face as well as through the body of said first module, said first sound sensitive transducer converting the combination of said anatomy sounds and said noise sounds into an electrical signal;

c) a second sound sensitive transducer contained in said assembly, said second sound sensitive transducer preferentially sensing said noise sounds and converting said noise sounds into an electrical signal;

d) a processing system receiving said electrical signals output from said first and second sound sensitive transducers, said processing system processing said electrical signals output from said first and second sound sensitive transducers so as to provide a noise-reduced output signal that contains energy due to said anatomy sounds, but is largely devoid of an energy contribution due to said noise sounds;

e) transmitting means transmitting energy modulated with said noise-reduced output signal, and a second of such said modules comprising;

(a) receiving means receiving from said transmitting means energy modulated by said noise-reduced output signal and providing a reproduction of said noise-reduced output signal in electrical form;

(b) a sound transducer electrically connected to output of said receiving means providing acoustic output for sensing by a conventional stethoscope;

(c) said surface of shape complementary to the front side of said bell, said first module capable of transmitting to said second module when said first module and said second module are physically separated and also when said first module and said second module are in physical contact, said first module capable of transmitting to a plurality of said second modules for the purpose of allowing a plurality of listeners, each equipped with separate stethoscopes, to hear said acoustic output at the same time.

7. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first module includes means of automatically activating said first module when said first module is pressed against a patient'"'"'s anatomy, said means comprising low current drain monitoring circuitry, said monitoring circuitry detecting pressure variations at said acoustic sensing face characteristically produced by unavoidable relative motion between said first module and patient'"'"'s anatomy when holding said first module against a patient'"'"'s anatomy, said detection subsequently activating said first module, said activation remaining as long as said low frequency pressure variations are detected, and wherein said second module includes means of automatically activating said second module when said receiving means of said second module receives energy transmitted by said first module, said means of automatic activation comprising low current drain monitoring circuitry.

8. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said transmitting means comprises an electrical connection from the output of said processing system contained in said first module to the input of said receiving means contained in second said module.

9. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein electronic circuitry of said second module has provision for an audio output for the purpose of recording sounds and an audio input for the replay of recorded sounds through said sound transducer.

10. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said transmitting means comprises an ultrasonic transmitter contained in said first module and said receiving means comprises an ultrasonic receiver contained in said second module.

11. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said transmitting means comprises an optical transmitter contained in said first module and said receiving means comprises an optical receiver contained in said second module.

12. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said transmitting means comprises a radio frequency transmitter contained in said first module and said receiving means comprises a radio frequency receiver contained in said second module.

13. A noise-canceling system for the detection, noise-suppressing amplification, and transmission of anatomy sounds to a remote receiving and relaying subsystem, said noise-canceling system comprising a transmitting sensor subsystem and a receiving and relaying subsystem, said transmitting sensor subsystem further comprising:

a) an acoustic sensing face placed in contact with the body for efficient coupling of sound into said noise-canceling system;

b) a first sound sensitive transducer receiving anatomy sounds coupled from said acoustic sensing face and noise sounds coupled from said acoustic sensing face as well as through the body of said transmitting sensor subsystem, said first sound sensitive transducer converting the combination of said anatomy sounds and said noise sounds into an electrical signal;

c) a second sound sensitive transducer contained in said transmitting sensor subsystem, said second sound sensitive transducer preferentially sensing said noise sounds and converting said noise sounds into an electrical signal;

d) a processing system receiving said electrical signals output from said first and second sound sensitive transducers, said processing system processing said electrical signals output from said first and second sound sensitive transducers so as to provide a noise-reduced output signal that contains energy due to said anatomy sounds, but is largely devoid of an energy contribution due to said noise sounds;

e) transmitting means, transmitting said noise-reduced output signal from said processing system to said receiving and relaying subsystem, said receiving and relaying system comprising the combination of a device selected from the group comprising receivers and repeaters, and a terminal-end device having a sound transducer housed in an assembly that exhibits a surface of shape complementary to the front side of the bell of a conventional stethoscope, said surface having at least one aperture therein for the transmission of acoustic energy from said sound transducer to said bell when said surface is mated with said bell.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said transmitting means comprises an electrical connection from output of said processing system to input of said receiving and relaying subsystem.

15. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said transmitting means comprises an ultrasonic transmitter and said receiving and relaying subsystem comprises an ultrasonic receiver, receiving from said ultrasonic transmitter, ultrasonic energy modulated by said noise-reduced output signal and providing as output to said sound transducer, a reproduction of said noise-reduced output signal in electrical form.

16. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said transmitting means comprises an optical transmitter and said receiving and relaying subsystem comprises an optical receiver, receiving from said optical transmitter optical energy modulated by said noise-reduced output signal and providing as output to said sound transducer, a reproduction of said noise-reduced output signal in electrical form.

17. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said transmitting means comprises a radio frequency transmitter and said receiving and relaying subsystem comprises a radio frequency receiver, receiving from said radio frequency transmitter radio frequency energy modulated by said noise-reduced output signal and providing as output to said sound transducer, a reproduction of said noise-reduced output signal in electrical form.

18. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said transmitting means comprises an ultrasonic transmitter and said receiving and relaying subsystem comprises:

a) an ultrasonic receiver, receiving from said ultrasonic transmitter ultrasonic energy modulated by said noise-reduced output signal and providing as output, a reproduction of said noise-reduced output signal; and

b) means for recording said reproduction.

19. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said transmitting means comprises an optical transmitter and said receiving and relaying subsystem comprises:

a) an optical receiver, receiving from said optical transmitter optical energy modulated by said noise-reduced output signal and providing as output, a reproduction of said noise-reduced output signal; and

b) means for recording said reproduction.

20. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said transmitting means comprises a radio frequency transmitter and said receiving and relaying subsystem comprises:

a) a radio frequency receiver, receiving from said radio frequency transmitter radio frequency energy modulated by said noise-reduced output signal and providing as output, a reproduction of said noise-reduced output signal; and

b) means for recording said reproduction.

21. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said transmitting means comprises a transmitter and said receiving and relaying subsystem comprises:

a) a first repeater, receiving from said transmitter, energy modulated by said noise-reduced output signal, said first repeater transmitting on electrical power mains a reproduction of said noise-reduced output signal, transmission over said power mains achieved by coupling of low power signals to said power mains;

b) a second repeater, receiving from said first repeater said reproduced, noise-reduced output signal over said power mains and transmitting by means other than said power mains, said reproduced, noise-reduced output signal; and

c) final receiving means, receiving by means other than said power mains said reproduced, noise-reduced output signal from said second repeater, said final receiving means including said sound transducer,

wherein a plurality of said second repeaters allows access to said reproduced, noise-reduced output signal by a plurality of users at the same time, at widely separated locations, and wherein a plurality of final receiving means allows a plurality of users to access said reproduced, noise-reduced output signal from a single said second repeater.

22. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said transmitting means comprises a transmitter and said receiving and relaying subsystem comprises:

a) a first repeater, receiving from said transmitter energy modulated by said noise-reduced output signal, said first repeater transmitting on electrical power mains a reproduction of said noise-reduced output signal and receiving on said power mains remote control information, transmission and reception over said power mains achieved by application of low power signals to said power mains, said remote control information causing the control of functioning of said first repeater;

b) a second repeater, receiving from said first repeater said reproduced, noise-reduced output signal over said power mains and transmitting to said first repeater said remote control information over said power mains, said second repeater receiving said remote control information and transmitting by means other than said power mains, said reproduced, noise-reduced output signal;

c) a remote controller that transmits said remote control information to said second repeater; and

d) final receiving means, receiving said reproduced, noise-reduced output signal from said second repeater and transmitting said remote control information to said second repeater, said final receiving means including remote control input means and said sound transducer,

wherein a plurality of said second repeaters allows access to said reproduced, noise-reduced output signal by a plurality of users at the same time, at widely separated locations, and wherein a plurality of final receiving means allows a plurality of users to access said reproduced, noise-reduced output signal from a single said second repeater.

23. A noise-canceling system for the detection and amplification of anatomy sounds for presentation to a conventional stethoscope, said system comprising an assembly containing:

a) an acoustic sensing face placed in contact with a biological source of anatomy sounds for efficient coupling of sound into said noise-canceling system;

b) a sound sensitive transducer receiving anatomy sounds coupled from said acoustic sensing face and noise sounds coupled from said acoustic sensing face as well as through the body of said assembly, said sound sensitive transducer converting the combination of said anatomy sounds and said noise sounds into an electrical signal;

c) a processing system receiving said electrical signal output from said sound sensitive transducer, said processing system processing said electrical signal output from said sound sensitive transducer so as to provide a noise-reduced output signal that contains energy due to said anatomy sounds, but is largely devoid of an energy contribution due to said noise sounds;

d) a sound transducer for conversion of said noise-reduced output signal to an acoustic signal for input to a conventional stethoscope;

e) means for delivering said noise-reduced output signal to said sound transducer;

f) a surface of shape complementary to the front side of the bell of a conventional stethoscope, said surface having at least one aperture therein for the transmission of acoustic energy from said sound transducer to said bell when said surface is mated with said bell,

whereby, said noise-canceling system when used in concert with a stethoscope provides stethoscope output sound that has a signal-to-noise ratio improved over that available from an unaided conventional stethoscope.

24. A noise-canceling system for the detection and amplification of anatomy sounds for presentation to a conventional stethoscope, said system comprising an assembly that further comprises:

a) a plurality of sound sensitive transducers that receive anatomy sounds and noise sounds and convert said anatomy and noise sounds into electrical signals;

b) a processing system receiving said electrical signals output from said sound sensitive transducers and jointly processing said electrical signals so as to provide a noise-reduced output signal that contains energy due to said anatomy sounds, but is largely devoid of an energy contribution due to said noise sounds;

c) a sound transducer for acoustic transmission of said noise-reduced output signal to a stethoscope and;

f) a surface of shape complementary to the front side of the bell of a conventional stethoscope, said surface having at least one aperture therein for the transmission of acoustic energy from said sound transducer to said bell when said surface is mated with said bell.

25. A method of providing amplified anatomy sounds having an improved signal-to-noise ratio compared to the output of a conventional stethoscope, said method comprising:

a) collecting acoustic energy comprising anatomy and noise sound components by placing an acoustic sensing face in contact with a biological source of anatomy sounds;

b) conducting said acoustic energy from said acoustic sensing face to a first sound sensitive transducer, said first sound sensitive transducer converting said acoustic energy to an electrical signal;

c) detecting noise acoustic energy with a second sound sensitive transducer, said second sound sensitive transducer converting said noise acoustic energy to an electrical signal;

d) processing said output of said first and second sound sensitive transducers jointly so as to provide a noise-reduced output signal that contains energy due to said anatomy sounds, but is largely devoid of an energy contribution due to said noise sounds;

e) transmitting said noise-reduced output signal to a sound transducer for acoustic output of amplified anatomical sounds having improved signal-to-noise ratio; and

f) housing said sound transducer in an assembly that has a surface of shape complementary to the front side of the bell of a conventional stethoscope, said surface having at least one aperture therein for the transmission of acoustic energy from said sound transducer to said bell when said surface is mated with said bell.

26. A method of providing amplified anatomy sounds having an improved signal-to-noise ratio compared to the output of a conventional stethoscope, said method comprising:

a) collecting acoustic energy comprising anatomy and noise sound components by placing an acoustic sensing face in contact with a biological source of anatomy sounds;

b) conducting said acoustic energy from said acoustic sensing face to a first sound sensitive transducer, said first sound sensitive transducer converting said acoustic energy to an electrical signal;

c) detecting noise acoustic energy with a second sound sensitive transducer, said second sound sensitive transducer converting said noise acoustic energy to an electrical signal;

d) processing said output of said first and second sound sensitive transducers jointly so as to provide a noise-reduced output signal that contains energy due to said anatomy sounds, but is largely devoid of an energy contribution due to said noise sounds;

e) transmitting said noise-reduced output signal to a relaying system;

f) receiving said noise-reduced output signal from said relaying system by final receiving means;

g) outputting, acoustically, said noise-reduced output signal from said final receiving means by a sound transducer; and

h) housing said sound transducer in an assembly that has a surface of shape complementary to the front side of the bell of a conventional stethoscope, said surface having at least one aperture therein for the transmission of acoustic energy from said sound transducer to said bell when said surface is mated with said bell.