Electronic stethoscope device with noise cancellation
Inventors
Donovan, Neal • Freschl, Daniel • Gershtein, Eugene • Goolkasian, Philip • Landgraf, Connor • Mostowfi, Darius • Venkatraman, Subramaniam • Wasson, Jaclyn Leverett
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11741931-B2
Publication Date
2023-08-29
Expiration Date
Abstract
An electronic stethoscope device can be integrated into a conventional stethoscope to digitize auscultated sounds from the body of a patient. The device can be switched off so that the conventional stethoscope can be used as a standard stethoscope. When the device is switched on, the digitized auscultated sounds can be modified to remove the noise. Such modified sounds can be sent wirelessly from the electronic stethoscope device to a peripheral device that can receive such wireless signals, such as computer, cell phone, or cloud application, where the data can be viewed and manipulated further as desired.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an electronic stethoscope device that switches between an acoustic mode and a digital mode using a switching valve disposed within an airway between a first chamber and a second chamber. In the acoustic mode, the switching valve permits acoustic transmission of auscultated sound between the first chamber and the second chamber. In the digital mode, the switching valve blocks the acoustic transmission of the auscultated sound between the first chamber and the second chamber.
The device converts auscultated sound detected from a patient's body into an auscultated electronic signal using a first microphone disposed in the airway, and applies electronic acoustic modification using an electronic acoustic modifier to form a modified electronic signal for transmission. A computer processing unit is configured to receive and transmit electronic signals from one or more of the first microphone and the electronic acoustic modifier. A second microphone detects audio from outside the electronic stethoscope device, converts the audio into an electronic audio signal, and the electronic acoustic modifier uses the electronic audio signal in modifying the auscultated electronic signal to form the modified electronic signal.
The device provides a first port fluidly coupled to an input portion of the airway downstream of the switching valve, and a second port fluidly coupled to ambient and not coupled to the airway. The disclosed noise cancellation is improved by mechanically isolating the ambient/noise microphone and its ambient port from the airway and speaker, with the disclosure including housing wall thickness, component placement, and port separation. The electronic stethoscope can also employ optional mechanical acoustic modifiers/filters in airway chambers and support output via a speaker and/or a wireless transceiver and an audio output connector.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims are directed to two core inventive aspects: a valve-switched airway that defines acoustic mode versus digital mode while enabling electronic acoustic modification using a microphone-based auscultation signal, and a control/power arrangement where the control unit is unpowered in acoustic mode and electrically powered in digital mode, with the second microphone mechanically isolated from the airway and the modified auscultation sound output transmitted to audio interface outputs and/or a wireless transceiver. Across the two independent claims, the inventive features cover the switching valve arrangement, the microphone and electronic acoustic modifier signal path, the use of an ambient audio input from a second microphone, and the porting/mechanical isolation from the airway/ambient separation, yielding a complete system for mode-dependent modified auscultation output.
Switchable airway defining acoustic and digital modes
An airway disposed between an input tube in acoustic communication with a stethoscope chestpiece and an output tube, the airway comprising a first chamber adjacent to the input tube and a second chamber adjacent to the output tube configured for acoustic communication, wherein a switching valve disposed within the airway between the first chamber and the second chamber has an open position permitting acoustic transmission of the auscultated sound (acoustic mode) and a closed position blocking the acoustic transmission (digital mode).
Electronic acoustic modification of a microphone-converted auscultation signal
A first microphone disposed in the airway configured to receive the auscultated sound and convert the auscultated sound into an auscultated electronic signal, and an electronic acoustic modifier configured to receive the auscultated electronic signal, apply electronic acoustic modification to form a modified electronic signal, and transmit the modified electronic signal, with a computer processing unit configured to receive and transmit electronic signals from one or more of the first microphone and the electronic acoustic modifier.
Ambient audio input microphone used in modifying the auscultation electronic signal
A second microphone configured to detect audio from outside the electronic stethoscope device and convert the audio into an electronic audio signal, where the electronic acoustic modifier receives the electronic audio signal from the second microphone and uses it in modifying the auscultated electronic signal to form the modified electronic signal.
Porting arrangement isolating the second microphone from the airway
A first port to the first microphone fluidly coupled to an input portion of the airway downstream of the switching valve in a direction from an input end to an output end of a housing, and a second port fluidly coupled to ambient and not coupled to the airway.
Mode-dependent power for the control unit and generation/transmission of modified output
During the acoustic mode of operation, the control unit is unpowered, and during the digital mode of operation, the control unit is electrically powered, where the electronic acoustic modifier generates a modified auscultation sound output based on a first auscultation sound input from the first microphone and a second audio input from the second microphone and transmits the modified auscultation sound output to one or more audio interface outputs and/or a wireless transceiver.
Mechanical isolation of the second microphone from the airway
The second microphone is mechanically isolated from the airway.
Mode-structure for chestpiece-to-airway acoustic path
An airway between an input tube and an output tube including a switching valve to switch between a digital mode of operation and an acoustic mode of operation, with a chestpiece coupled to the input tube.
Second port ambient coupling and first port downstream airway coupling
A first port to the first microphone and a second port to the second microphone, the first port fluidly coupled to an input portion of the airway downstream of the switching valve in a direction from an input end to an output end of a housing, the input portion receiving auscultation sound acquired by the chestpiece, and the second port fluidly coupled to ambient and not coupled to the airway.
Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on a valve-switched airway that defines acoustic versus digital mode operation, microphone-based conversion of auscultated sound into an electronic signal, electronic acoustic modification using both an auscultation microphone and an ambient audio microphone, and an explicit porting/isolation arrangement that couples the first microphone to the airway while coupling the second microphone to ambient and mechanically isolating it from the airway. A further core element is that in one claim the control unit is unpowered in acoustic mode and electrically powered in digital mode to generate and transmit a modified auscultation sound output to audio interface outputs and/or a wireless transceiver.
Stated Advantages
Improved noise cancellation by mechanically isolating the ambient/noise microphone and its ambient port from the airway and speaker.
Documented Applications
Electronic stethoscope use for auscultation sound detected from a patient's body, with switching between acoustic mode and digital mode to provide modified auscultation sound output.
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