Handheld sensor for acoustic data acquisition

• US 6,878,117 B1
• Filed: 09/25/2000
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Zargis Medical Corp.
• Inventors: Watrous, Raymond L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US09/670,053
• Time in Patent Office: 1,660 Days
• Field of Search: 181/131, 181/137, 600/495, 600/528, 600453-456, 128/903
• US Class Current: 600/528
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/00 Instruments for auscultation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

An apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided for sensing acoustic signals. The apparatus includes a housing having an apertured posterior member, a sensing unit extending through the apertured posterior member for interfacing by contact with a patient, a cursor control for positioning a cursor on a display, the display located anteriorially on the housing, a button for fixing a position of the cursor in the display, indicating the position on the housing with respect to the patient, and a circuit for causing the cursor to move about the display in response to the cursor control, and for transmitting the acoustic signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sensing an acoustic signal, comprising:

a housing having an apertured posterior member;

a sensing unit extending through the apertured posterior member for interfacing by contact with a patient;

a cursor control for positioning a cursor on a display, the display located anteriorially on the housing;

a button for fixing a position of the cursor in the display, indicating the position of the housing with respect to the patient; and

a circuit for causing the cursor to move about the display in response to the cursor control, and for transmitting the acoustic signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit is passive.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit is mounted to a pod by a mounting spring for reducing a motion artifact in the acoustic signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cursor control is a rocker switch having two axes of motion.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the acoustic signal is transmitted via one of a cable and a wireless transmitter to a data processing system.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuit further comprises a pre-amplifier circuit for amplifying the acoustic signal.

7. An apparatus for sensing an acoustic signal comprising:

a housing having an apertured posterior member;

a sensing unit for interfacing by contact with a patient and capturing the acoustic signal, wherein the sensing unit is supported by a mounting apparatus for reducing a motion artifact in the acoustic signal, wherein the mounting apparatus is connected to the housing; and

a telemetry sensor for indicating a position of the housing with respect to the patient.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the sensing unit is passive.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the sensing unit is flush mounted with the housing.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the mounting apparatus is one of a spring, and a rubber mount.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sensing unit extends through the apertured posterior member.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the acoustic signal is transmitted via one of a cable and a wireless transmitter to a data processing system.

13. An apparatus for generating an electrical signal representative of an acoustic signal of a cardiovascular system comprising:

a sensing unit for detecting the acoustic signal and converting the acoustic signal to the electrical signal, wherein the sensing unit is supported by a mounting apparatus for reducing a motion artifact in the acoustic signal, wherein the mounting apparatus is connected to a pod housing;

a preamplifier for amplifying the electrical signal; and

a telemetry unit for transmitting positional data and the electrical signal to a data processing system.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a liquid crystal display located anteriorly on the pod housing the sensor, the pre-amplifier, and the telemetry unit,

a rocker switch for positioning a cursor in the display, indicating a position of the sensing unit with respect to a patient; and

contoured switch for fixing the position of the cursor on the display.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the positioning of the cursor is converted from an analog position of the rocker switch to a digital signal by a cursor control circuit.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the mounting apparatus is one of a spring, and a rubber mount.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sensing unit extends through an apertured posterior member of the pod housing.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sensing unit is flush mounted in the housing.

19. An apparatus for generating an electrical signal representative of an acoustic signal of a cardiovascular system comprising:

a sensing unit for detecting the acoustic signal and converting the acoustic signal to the electrical signal;

a preamplifier for amplifying the electrical signal;

a telemetry unit for transmitting positional data and the electrical signal to a data processing system;

a liquid crystal display located anteriorally on a pod housing the sensor, the preamplifier, and the telemetry unit;

a rocker switch for positioning a cursor in the display, indicating a position of the sensing unit with respect to a patient; and

a contoured switch for fixing the position of the cursor on the display.