Infrasonic stethoscope for monitoring physiological processes
AssigneeUnited States of America AS Represented By the Adminstrator of Nasa
InventorsQamar A. Shams, Allan J. Zuckerwar, Albert L. Dimarcantonio
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Abstract
An infrasonic stethoscope for monitoring physiological processes of a patient includes a microphone capable of detecting acoustic signals in the audible frequency bandwidth and in the infrasonic bandwidth (0.03 to 1000 Hertz), a body coupler attached to the body at a first opening in the microphone, a flexible tube attached to the body at a second opening in the microphone, and an earpiece attached to the flexible tube. The body coupler is capable of engagement with a patient to transmit sounds from the person, to the microphone and then to the earpiece.
Claims20
An infrasonic stethoscope device for monitoring physiological processes of a patient, said device comprising:
- a body comprising an opening within a first end, a body end wall at a second end opposite the first end, and a body side wall extending between the first end and the second end;
- a body coupler attached to the first end and over the opening of the body to form a substantially air-tight seal, wherein the body coupler is capable of engagement with the patient;
- a cavity surrounded by the body end wall, the body side wall and the body coupler;
- a conductive backplate within the cavity and defining a backchamber between the conductive backplate and the body 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;
- and
- a preamplifier board in electrical connection with the conductive backplate, the preamplifier board (i) being capable of measuring a capacitance between the conductive membrane and the conductive backplate and converting the measured capacitance into a voltage signal, (ii) being parallel to each of the conductive backplate and the conductive membrane, and (iii) defining first and second chambers within the body;
- said device being capable of detecting acoustic signals in a frequency range of 0.03 Hertz to about 1000 Hertz, including being capable of detecting infrasonic acoustic signals in a frequency range of less than about 20 Hertz.
An infrasonic stethoscope device for monitoring physiological processes of a patient, said device comprising:
- a body comprising an opening within a first end, a body end wall at a second end opposite the first end, and a body side wall extending between the first end and the second end;
- a cavity surrounded by the body end wall, the body side wall and the body coupler;
- a flexible, non-conductive diaphragm extending over the opening and being capable of engagement with the patient;
- and
- a preamplifier board positioned within the cavity and being parallel to the flexible, non-conductive diaphragm;
- said device being capable of detecting acoustic signals in a frequency range of less than about 20 Hertz.
An infrasonic stethoscope for monitoring physiological processes of a patient, comprising:
- a microphone capable of detecting both audible and infrasonic acoustic signals in a frequency range of 0.03 Hertz to about 500 Hertz, inclusive of acoustic signals in an infrasonic frequency range of less than about 20 Hertz, the microphone comprising a body having a first and second spaced apart openings and containing a preamplifier board defining first and second chambers within the body, the preamplifier board being configured to output a voltage signal indicative of a measured capacitance within the microphone;
- a body coupler attached to the first opening of the body to form a substantially air-tight seal, wherein the body coupler is capable of engagement with the patient;
- a flexible tube attached to the body at the second opening;
- and
- an earpiece attached to the flexible tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.