Wiring harness for use with auscultatory sound-or-vibration sensors

Inventors

Telenkov, Sergey A • Martin, Simon • ARMSTRONG, Mark W. • Morton, Steven P. • Griffin, Robert J.

Assignees

Ausculsciences Inc

Abstract

Each conductor of a plurality of insulated conductors of a wiring harness extends between, and electrically connects, a corresponding terminal of a first electrical connector to either a corresponding terminal of an electrical connector jack of a plurality of electrical jacks located along the wiring harness, or to a corresponding terminal of a corresponding auscultatory sound-or-vibration sensor of the plurality of auscultatory sound-or-vibration sensors. The plurality of insulated conductors are organized in a plurality of distinct branches, each distinct branch originating either from the first electrical connector or from another portion of the wiring harness, and the locations of the plurality of distinct branches, in cooperation with the plurality of electrical jacks, if present, are implicitly suggestive of a corresponding location of the corresponding auscultatory sound-or-vibration sensor on a thorax of a test subject.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to a wiring harness for operatively coupling a plurality of auscultatory sound-or-vibration sensors to a recording module. The harness includes a plurality of insulated conductors and a first electrical connector, and each insulated conductor extends between and electrically connects a corresponding terminal of the first electrical connector to either a corresponding terminal of an electrical connector jack of a plurality of electrical jacks located along the wiring harness, or to a corresponding terminal of a corresponding auscultatory sound-or-vibration sensor.

The insulated conductors are organized in a plurality of distinct branches, where each distinct branch originates either from the first electrical connector or from another portion of the wiring harness. The locations of the distinct branches, in cooperation with the plurality of electrical jacks if present, are implicitly suggestive of a corresponding location of the corresponding auscultatory sound-or-vibration sensor on a thorax of a test subject. The first electrical connector is adapted to connect to a corresponding counterpart first electrical connector of the recording module to provide for connecting electrical signals from each of the plurality of auscultatory sound-or-vibration sensors to the recording module for processing thereby.

The disclosure further provides interconnection context between the sensors and the recording module using connector and jack structures along the harness. It describes magnetically attachable multi-conductor connectors and multi-terminal mating connectors, including spring-loaded pogo-style contacts and ferromagnetic portions that enable electrical connection when magnetically attached. It also describes elastomeric low-durometer overmolding or sheathing for flexible positioning of harness portions relative to sensor placement, including a tree-shaped wiring harness with a central spine portion and elastomeric sheath.

Claims Coverage

The independent claim is clm-00001. It includes multiple inventive features: coupling multiple auscultatory sound-or-vibration sensors to a recording module using insulated conductors and a first electrical connector, organizing the insulated conductors into distinct branches with locations implicitly suggestive of sensor locations on a thorax, and adapting the first electrical connector for connection to a recording module counterpart to provide sensor electrical signals for processing. Dependent claims further refine branch/jack positioning, elastomeric overmolding material property, magnetically attachable connector mechanics with spring-loaded pogo-style contacts and ferromagnetic portions, and connector orientation for substantially transverse conductor exit.

Across the independent claim and its dependent refinements, the coverage centers on a harness that couples multiple auscultatory sound-or-vibration sensors to a recording module using insulated conductors and a first electrical connector, with distinct branch/jack locations implicitly suggestive of thorax sensor placement. Additional claim coverage refines elastomeric overmolding durometer range and specifies magnetically attachable connector mechanics using spring-loaded pogo-style contacts and ferromagnetic portions, plus a connector orientation constraint for substantially transverse conductor exit.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications