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Electronic stethoscope and the stethoscope auscultation method using the same

  • US 8,144,887 B2
  • Filed: 06/27/2008
  • Issued: 03/27/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A stethoscope auscultation method, adapted for assisting a medical diagnosis according to visceral sounds, comprising the steps of:

  • providing a stethoscope, whereas the stethoscope is comprised of;

    a stethoscope head module comprising;

    at least a first sensor, for detecting whether or not the stethoscope is ready for entering an auscultation mode, and a visceral sound receiver, for receiving audio signals of visceral organs originating from visceral organs of a living body;

    at least two supporting parts, for positioning the stethoscope in multiple poses, each supporting part comprising;

    an earpiece positioned to the top thereof, fitted with at least a second sensor embedded in the earpiece for sensing pressure variations of the earpiece;

    a joint of the at least two supporting parts, for joining the two supporting parts together, comprising at least a third sensor for detecting the multiple poses of the stethoscope;

    a preamplifier matching circuit, electrically connected to the stethoscope head module, for amplifying the received audio signals of the visceral organs;

    a processing unit electrically connected to the preamplifier matching circuit for processing the received audio signals of the visceral organs and controlling overall operation of the stethoscope, comprising;

    an audio signal processor, electrically connected to the visceral sound receiver, for processing the received audio signals of the visceral organs and issuing a shut-off signal as soon as the visceral sound receiver receives no visceral sound; and

    a micro control unit, electrically connected to the sensors, the preamplifier matching circuit, and the audio signal processor, being designed to receive the activation signal and the shut-off signal so as to perform one action selected from the group consisting;

    turning on the stethoscope according to the activation signal and shutting off the stethoscope according to the shut-off signal;

    an attribute visceral sound processor, electrically connected to the processing unit, for receiving and amplifying a characteristic band of the visceral organs contained in the received audio signals;

    an audio power amplifier, electrically connected to the attribute visceral sound processor, for amplifying the audio signals of the visceral organs after they are processed by the attribute visceral sound processor; and

    a signal output unit, electrically connected to the audio power amplifier for outputting the audio signals received from the audio power amplifier;

    enabling the first sensor to issue a first activation signal to the processing unit as soon as it detects that the stethoscope head module enters the auscultation mode, and enabling the audio signal processor to issue a shut-off signal as soon as the visceral sound receiver receives no visceral sound;

    enabling the second sensor to issue a second activation signal to the processing unit upon evaluation of the sensed pressure variation to determine whether the stethoscope is ready for entering the auscultation mode;

    enabling the third sensor to issue a third activation signal to the processing unit upon detection of a pose of the stethoscope indicating the stethoscope is ready for entering an auscultation mode;

    activating the stethoscope as soon as the first activation signal is received by the processing unit;

    using the stethoscope to perform an auscultation process upon the living body as the visceral sound receiver is enabled to receive the audio signals originated from the visceral organs of the living body;

    amplifying and processing the received audio signals of the visceral organs received from the visceral sound receiver, and performing further signal processing by amplifying a characteristic band of the visceral organs contained in the received audio signals;

    determining whether the visceral sound receiver is receiving the visceral sounds in a continuous manner, and if not, issuing the shut-off signal; and

    enabling the micro control unit of the processing unit to shut off the stethoscope automatically when the visceral sound receiver is unable to receive the audio signals originated from the visceral organs, when the comparison of the pressure variation of the second sensor indicates the stethoscope is not ready for entering the auscultation mode, or when the pose of the stethoscope sensed by the third sensor indicates the stethoscope is not ready for entering the auscultation mode.

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