Infrasonic stethoscope for monitoring physiological processes

A microphone for use in an infrascope for monitoring physiological processes of a patient, said microphone comprising:

• a body comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a body side wall extending between the proximal end and the distal end, an end wall at the proximal end, and an aperture at the distal end;
• a body coupler attached to the distal end and over the aperture so as to form a substantially air-tight seal, wherein the body coupler is capable of engagement with the patient;
• a cavity surrounded by the body side wall, the end wall and the body coupler;
• a conductive backplate within the cavity and defining a backchamber between the conductive backplate and the end wall;
• a conductive membrane within the cavity, the conductive backplate and the conductive membrane being spaced apart from each other to form a capacitor;
• a flexible diaphragm of the body coupler spaced apart from the conductive membrane, wherein acoustic energy is coupled through the flexible diaphragm and to the conductive membrane whereby movement of the conductive membrane changes a capacitance between the conductive membrane and the conductive backplate;
• and
• a preamplifier board in electrical connection with the conductive backplate, the preamplifier board (i) being capable of measuring the capacitance between the conductive membrane and the conductive backplate and converting the measured capacitance into a voltage signal, and (ii) being disposed toward the proximal end away from the conductive backplate,
• said microphone being capable of detecting acoustic signals in a frequency range of 0.03 Hertz to 1000 Hertz.