Auscultation Training Device and Related Methods

• US 20090117527A1
• Filed: 09/08/2008
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul Jacques Charles Lecat
• Original Assignee: Paul Jacques Charles Lecat
• Inventors: Lecat, Paul Jacques Charles
• Granted Patent: US 8,257,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/266
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/00 Instruments for auscultation
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/28 for medicine
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/30 Anatomical models G09B23/281 - G09B23/288 take precedence

Abstract

A cap composition that can mechanically attach to a stethoscope headpiece, the cap composition having a cap; a cap element having a design that includes a shape and characteristic dimensions that enable the cap to mechanically attach to a stethoscope headpiece; and a speaker attached to and positioned on or at least partially within the cap, such that when the cap is attached to the stethoscope headpiece, the speaker is either touching or proximate to the stethoscope diaphragm such that a sound or signal emitted by the speaker can cause the stethoscope diaphragm to vibrate.

Claims

1. An auscultation training device, comprising:

a medical training mannequin including a means for detecting the position of an auscultation device relative to the mannequin;

a controller in electronic communication with the means for detecting relative position and the controller is adapted to receive location data from the means for detecting relative position, wherein the data indicates the position of the auscultation training device relative to the medical training mannequin;

a database of auscultation training sound data in electronic communication with the controller, wherein the controller is adapted to select and retrieve auscultation sound data corresponding to data received from the means for detecting relative position;

a sound generating device in electronic data communication with the database and adapted to convert sound files communicated therefrom into acoustic wave signals; and

an auscultation device having at least one ear piece in acoustic communication with the sound generating device and adapted to transmit acoustic wave signals to a human ear.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller, the database, the transmitter, the receiver, and the sound generating device each independently comprise one or more of an integrated component of the mannequin, a handheld module, or a desktop module.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller, the database, the transmitter, the receiver, and the sound generating device are each independently adapted to be in electronic communication with at least one other component, and each independently through one or more of an on-board hardwire electronic connection, a remote hardwire electronic connection, or a remote wireless connection.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the hardwire connection is selected from one or more of serial bus, parallel bus, SCSI, I2C, or SPI.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the wireless connection is selected from one or more of WiFi, Bluetooth®

, or ZigBee®

.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the means for detecting comprises at least one array of proximity switches adapted to determine the relative position of the auscultation device in proximity to the mannequin.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the means for detecting comprises a triangulation system including at least one transmitter beacon disposed on or in the auscultation device and at least two receivers disposed on the mannequin and adapted to receive a signal from the transmitter beacon, the receivers being in electronic communication with a computer adapted to read signals from the receivers, process the signals according to a predetermined triangulation method and thereby calculate a relative position.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to receive command signals from a human operator.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the database is written to a computer readable medium comprising one or more of a flash memory, EPROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, or hard drive.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the database comprises one or more of a list, a hash table, a hierarchical database, a relational database, or a network database.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the database is read using a device selected from one or more of an MP3 player, a compact disk player, a personal computer, or a flash drive.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter in electronic data communication with the database and adapted to receive one or more auscultation sound data signals and transmit the signal; and

at least one receiver disposed in or on at least one auscultation training device, the receiver being adapted to receive auscultation sound data signals from the transmitter.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit signals selected from one or more of radio, FM radio, AM radio, or infrared.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the at least one receiver comprises a plurality of receivers each disposed in a different auscultation device.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the receiver and sound generation device are disposed in the headpiece of a stethoscope.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the sound generation device comprises an electronic speaker.

17. A process for auscultation training, comprising the steps of:

simulating a patient;

detecting the position of an auscultation device relative to the simulated patient;

selecting an auscultation sound data file from a database, wherein the selected sound corresponds to the detected relative position of the auscultation device; and

communicating the auscultation sound data file to at least one sound generating device disposed in or on at least one auscultation device.

18. An auscultation training device, comprising:

an inanimate means for simulating a patient;

a means for detecting the relative position of an auscultation device;

a means for storing prerecorded auscultation sound data files;

a means for selecting one or more prerecorded sound data files from the means for storing;

a means for audibly delivering the one or more sound files to at least one ear piece adapted to fit a human ear; and

a means for controlling the means for containing, the means for selecting, and the means for delivering.