# US 11,992,361 B2 · Acoustic patient sensor coupler > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,992,361 B2 - Document ID: US11992361B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/241,705 - Filed: 2021-04-27 - Published: 2021-08-12 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2012-09-20 - Assignees: Masimo Corporation - Applicants: Masimo Corporation - Inventors: Valery G. Telfort - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992361B2 ## CPC - A61B 7/04: Electric stethoscopes - A61B 5/257: using adhesive means, e.g. adhesive pads or tapes - A61B 5/263: characterised by the electrode materials - A61B 7/026: {comprising more than one sound collector} - A61B 5/28: for electrocardiography [ECG] - A61B 2562/0204: Acoustic sensors - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract According to certain described aspects, multiple acoustic sensing elements are employed in a variety of beneficial ways to provide improved physiological monitoring, among other advantages. In various embodiments, sensing elements can be advantageously employed in a single sensor package, in multiple sensor packages, and at a variety of other strategic locations in the monitoring environment. According to other aspects, to compensate for skin elasticity and attachment variability, an acoustic sensor support is provided that includes one or more pressure equalization pathways. The pathways can provide an air-flow channel from the cavity defined by the sensing elements and frame to the ambient air pressure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An acoustic sensor comprising: a frame; an acoustic sensing element supported by the frame; and a one piece integral acoustic coupler comprising: a top hole configured to be stretched open, from an unstretched state, to enable receiving the frame and the acoustic sensing element, wherein: the top hole is further configured to stretch back to the unstretched state after the frame and the acoustic sensing element are received by the acoustic coupler, and the acoustic coupler covers at least a portion of a top of the frame; a bottom surface; and one or more air vent holes on at least one sidewall of the acoustic coupler and aligned with corresponding pressure equalization pathways in the frame, wherein the acoustic coupler forms an acoustic chamber that provides improved signal-to-noise ratio of the acoustic sensing element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The acoustic sensor of claim 1, wherein the acoustic coupler at least partially surrounds the frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The acoustic sensor of claim 2, wherein the acoustic sensing element is configured to output a signal responsive to acoustic vibrations associated with a patient when the acoustic sensor is attached to the patient. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The acoustic sensor of claim 3, wherein the acoustic coupler is configured to be coupled with an area of the skin of the patient, wherein the bottom surface comprises a dielectric material that electrically decouples the area of the skin of the patient from the acoustic sensing element when the acoustic sensor is attached to the patient. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The acoustic sensor of claim 4, wherein the bottom surface of the acoustic coupler has no openings and forms a barrier between the patient and the acoustic sensing element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The acoustic sensor of claim 5, wherein the frame defines an acoustic cavity and is configured to support the acoustic sensing element across the acoustic cavity. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The acoustic sensor of claim 6 further comprising: at least one pressure equalization pathway extending from the acoustic cavity to ambient air pressure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The acoustic sensor of claim 7, wherein the at least one pressure equalization pathway comprises at least one of a notch or hole. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The acoustic sensor of claim 7, wherein the acoustic coupler comprises equal numbers of air vent holes on opposite sidewalls of the acoustic coupler, and wherein the frame comprises equal numbers of pressure equalization pathways on corresponding opposite sides of the frame. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The acoustic sensor of claim 9, wherein the frame comprises two pressure equalization pathways on each of opposite sides of the frame. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The acoustic sensor of claim 10 further comprising: a cable in communication with the acoustic sensing element and configured to communicate the signal to an acoustic monitor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The acoustic sensor of claim 7, wherein the frame comprises at least two pressure equalization pathways that are symmetrically positioned on the frame. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) The acoustic sensor of claim 5, wherein the acoustic coupler comprises a silicone material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method comprising: detecting, by an acoustic sensor according to claim 1, acoustic vibrations, wherein the acoustic vibrations are transmitted to the acoustic sensing element via the acoustic coupler; converting, by the acoustic sensing element, the acoustic vibrations into an electrical signal; and outputting the electrical signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 further comprising: processing the electrical signal by an acoustic monitor to determine one or more physiological parameter measurements of a patient. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising: wherein the one or more physiological parameter measurements include at least one of: heart rate, heart sounds, respiratory rate, expiratory flow, tidal volume, minute volume, apnea duration, breath sounds, riles, rhonchi, stridor, or changes in breath sounds such as decreased volume or change in airflow.