US3858005A - Stethoscope with display - Google Patents

Stethoscope with display Download PDF

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US3858005A
US3858005A US00416024A US41602473A US3858005A US 3858005 A US3858005 A US 3858005A US 00416024 A US00416024 A US 00416024A US 41602473 A US41602473 A US 41602473A US 3858005 A US3858005 A US 3858005A
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section
pick
amplifier
stethoscope
vibration
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T Spielburg
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G01R13/00—Arrangements for displaying electric variables or waveforms
    • G01R13/20—Cathode-ray oscilloscopes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B7/00—Instruments for auscultation
    • A61B7/02—Stethoscopes
    • A61B7/04—Electric stethoscopes

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  • FIG. 1 A first figure.
  • This invention relates to stethoscopes and particularly to a stethoscope having electronic display capability as well as conventional listening capability.
  • the stethoscope is an old and well known instrument used by physicians for listening to the heart and other areas of the body. It generally serves as a pick up and transmittance means, through air, of the sounds from the subjects body to the physician s ears. The pick up is accomplished usually by a diaphragm or a bell which picks up vibrations and itself vibrates, which vibrations are transmitted through tubes to the ears of the listener. The interpretation of the sounds is sometimes difficult, takes a great deal of skill, and may be debatable among various physicians.
  • the present invention is an improvement on the conventional stethoscope retaining its portability and conventional, manual use while providing an electronic display capability so as to be able to see simultaneously the oscilloscopic representations of the unamplified sounds one is hearing.
  • the invention is an improved stethoscope having a diaphragm or bell pick up, communicating with a divided tubing for transmitting heart sounds to a listeners ears and also including means to pick up and convert heart or other bodily sounds to an electrical signal; a miniaturized amplifier mounted to receive the signal and a small cathode ray tube receiving the output of the amplifier to display for example, the heart sounds, as in a phonocardiograph.
  • FIG. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the stethoscope of the invention, partially broken away.
  • FIG. 2 is a cross sectional side view of the chest piece of this invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a rear view of the chest piece.
  • FIG. 4 is a side view of the power supply section.
  • FIG. 5 is a top view of the power supply.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 The improved stethoscope is seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 as having a chest piece 1 and a tube assembly 2 and a power source 3.
  • the chest piece as shown in further detail in FIGS. 2 and 3 has a pick up section comprising a housing 4a diaphragm or bell 5 and a transmission space 6. Mounted on the diaphragm or bell are crystal sound pick ups 7 in this preferred embodiment. A carbon particle-type microphone might also be used.
  • the pick ups 7 are present in such number and at such points on the diaphragm as may be determined by conventional experimentation to provide the best results. From the crystal pick ups 7, three being shown, wires 8 lead to a miniaturized amplifier 9 diagrammatically shown as being mounted on a printed circuit board. The amplifier is connected to a miniaturized cathode ray tube 10 diagrammatically illustrated, having its tube face 11 facing outwardly at the rear of the chest piece 1; that is, opposite the diaphragm 5.
  • the amplifier 9 and cathode ray tube 10 are powered by a power supply 13, comprising, in this preferred embodiment, a mercury battery 13 mounted on a cap 14 which sets into the housing 4 and connects operably to the components to which it supplies power.
  • a power supply 13 comprising, in this preferred embodiment, a mercury battery 13 mounted on a cap 14 which sets into the housing 4 and connects operably to the components to which it supplies power.
  • the cathode ray tube face 11 is represented with exemplary controls such as on/off contrast 15, and focus 16.
  • exemplary controls such as on/off contrast 15, and focus 16.
  • Other desirable controls such as freeze and repeat may be provided.
  • the transmission space 6 usually containing air communicates with air in the hollow tube assembly 2 which divides to forks 17 and 18 and which terminate in ear pieces 19.
  • the stethoscope is applied in a manner known to physicians and others similarly skilled, to a patients body. Cardiac vibrations, for example, are picked up by the diaphragm or bell 5 and transmitted through the air in the transmission space 6 and the tube assembly 2 to the listeners ear without electrical amplification in this preferred embodiment.
  • the vibrations are converted by the crystal pick ups 7, for example, to electrical signals and transmitted via the wires 8 to the amplifier 9 where they are processed and fed to the cathode ray tube 10.
  • the vibrations thus picked up from the patients body are displayed as a signal or oscilloscopic pattern directly on the stethoscope for instant interpretation.
  • the cathode ray tube display would usually be used in conjunction with the manual use of the stethoscope, one complimenting the other.
  • An improved stethoscope comprising:
  • a chest piece having a body containing:
  • the pick up section comprises a diaphragm or bell mounted on the body and adapted to pick up the vibration of heart or other bodily sounds and a transmission space containing a vibration transmitting medium and means to pick up the vibration of heart sounds and convert them to an electrical signal and transmit them to the amplifier section; and
  • the amplifier section is spaced from the diaphragm or bell and comprises miniaturized circuitry adapted to receive the transmissions from the pick up section, amplify and transmit signals to the display section;
  • the display section comprises a miniaturized cathode ray tube for receiving and displaying a signal from the amplifier section, the display section being located on the stethoscope proximate to the bod b.
  • a tu be assembly comprising a hollow tube communicating with the transmission space and dividing to form a pair of tubes adapted to reach the ears of the stethoscope user and to transmit the vibration of heart or other bodily sounds.

Abstract

An improved stethoscope incorporating in addition to conventional cardiac vibration pick up and transmission, miniaturized electronic pick up and display on a cathode ray tube mounted on the back of a chest piece, or attached to the tubing of the stethoscope.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Marshall et al.
STETHOSCOPE WITH DISPLAY Inventors: Robert A. Marshall, 132 Sherman St., Cambridge, Mass. 02138; Theodore E. Spielburg, 27 Lexington Rd., Wellesley, Mass. 02181 Filed: Nov. 15, 1973 Appl. No.: 416,024
U.S. Cl. 179/1 ST, 128/205 S Int. Cl A61b 7/02 Field of Search 179/1 ST; 128/205 S References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1962 Seven et al l79/l ST Primary ExaminerWilliam C. Cooper Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Lawrence S. Cohen 5 7 ABSTRACT An improved stethoscope incorporating in addition to conventional cardiac vibration pick up and transmission, miniaturized electronic pick up and display on a cathode ray tube mounted on the back of a chest piece, or attached to the tubing of the stethoscope.
1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDUEB31 I974 FIG. I
FIG.
FIG3 4/ FIG. 4
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to stethoscopes and particularly to a stethoscope having electronic display capability as well as conventional listening capability. The stethoscope is an old and well known instrument used by physicians for listening to the heart and other areas of the body. It generally serves as a pick up and transmittance means, through air, of the sounds from the subjects body to the physician s ears. The pick up is accomplished usually by a diaphragm or a bell which picks up vibrations and itself vibrates, which vibrations are transmitted through tubes to the ears of the listener. The interpretation of the sounds is sometimes difficult, takes a great deal of skill, and may be debatable among various physicians.
Therefore, some electronic means have been devised to detect and record cardiac sounds in a more objective manner. However, none has enabled the use of a small, portable device like the conventional stethoscope. Such electronic means, called phonocardiograph machines, are usually very large, requiring the patient to be brought to a special location. Others utilize special pick up means which are attached to the patients body and are adapted to the recording device. The audible output, if available, is always electronically amplified and not nautral.
The present invention is an improvement on the conventional stethoscope retaining its portability and conventional, manual use while providing an electronic display capability so as to be able to see simultaneously the oscilloscopic representations of the unamplified sounds one is hearing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is an improved stethoscope having a diaphragm or bell pick up, communicating with a divided tubing for transmitting heart sounds to a listeners ears and also including means to pick up and convert heart or other bodily sounds to an electrical signal; a miniaturized amplifier mounted to receive the signal and a small cathode ray tube receiving the output of the amplifier to display for example, the heart sounds, as in a phonocardiograph.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the stethoscope of the invention, partially broken away.
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional side view of the chest piece of this invention.
FIG. 3 is a rear view of the chest piece.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the power supply section.
FIG. 5 is a top view of the power supply.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The improved stethoscope is seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 as having a chest piece 1 and a tube assembly 2 and a power source 3.
The chest piece as shown in further detail in FIGS. 2 and 3 has a pick up section comprising a housing 4a diaphragm or bell 5 and a transmission space 6. Mounted on the diaphragm or bell are crystal sound pick ups 7 in this preferred embodiment. A carbon particle-type microphone might also be used.
The pick ups 7 are present in such number and at such points on the diaphragm as may be determined by conventional experimentation to provide the best results. From the crystal pick ups 7, three being shown, wires 8 lead to a miniaturized amplifier 9 diagrammatically shown as being mounted on a printed circuit board. The amplifier is connected to a miniaturized cathode ray tube 10 diagrammatically illustrated, having its tube face 11 facing outwardly at the rear of the chest piece 1; that is, opposite the diaphragm 5.
The amplifier 9 and cathode ray tube 10 are powered by a power supply 13, comprising, in this preferred embodiment, a mercury battery 13 mounted on a cap 14 which sets into the housing 4 and connects operably to the components to which it supplies power.
In FIG. 4 the cathode ray tube face 11 is represented with exemplary controls such as on/off contrast 15, and focus 16. Other desirable controls such as freeze and repeat may be provided.
The transmission space 6 usually containing air communicates with air in the hollow tube assembly 2 which divides to forks 17 and 18 and which terminate in ear pieces 19.
In use, the stethoscope is applied in a manner known to physicians and others similarly skilled, to a patients body. Cardiac vibrations, for example, are picked up by the diaphragm or bell 5 and transmitted through the air in the transmission space 6 and the tube assembly 2 to the listeners ear without electrical amplification in this preferred embodiment.
Simultaneously, the vibrations are converted by the crystal pick ups 7, for example, to electrical signals and transmitted via the wires 8 to the amplifier 9 where they are processed and fed to the cathode ray tube 10. The vibrations thus picked up from the patients body are displayed as a signal or oscilloscopic pattern directly on the stethoscope for instant interpretation.
The cathode ray tube display would usually be used in conjunction with the manual use of the stethoscope, one complimenting the other.
We claim:
1. An improved stethoscope comprising:
a. a chest piece having a body containing:
1. a pick up section;
2. an amplifier section; and
3. a display section; in which the pick up section comprises a diaphragm or bell mounted on the body and adapted to pick up the vibration of heart or other bodily sounds and a transmission space containing a vibration transmitting medium and means to pick up the vibration of heart sounds and convert them to an electrical signal and transmit them to the amplifier section; and
in which the amplifier section is spaced from the diaphragm or bell and comprises miniaturized circuitry adapted to receive the transmissions from the pick up section, amplify and transmit signals to the display section; and
in which the display section comprises a miniaturized cathode ray tube for receiving and displaying a signal from the amplifier section, the display section being located on the stethoscope proximate to the bod b. a tu be assembly comprising a hollow tube communicating with the transmission space and dividing to form a pair of tubes adapted to reach the ears of the stethoscope user and to transmit the vibration of heart or other bodily sounds.
c. an integral power source for operating the amplifier and the cathode ray tube.

Claims (3)

1. An improved stethoscope comprising: a. a chest piece having a body containing: 1. a pick up section; 2. an amplifier section; and 3. a display section; in which the pick up section comprises a diaphragm or bell mounted on the body and adapted to pick up the vibration of heart or other bodily sounds and a transmission space containing a vibration transmitting medium and means to pick up the vibration of heart sounds and convert them to an electrical signal and transmit them to the amplifier section; and in which the amplifier section is spaced from the diaphragm or bell and comprises miniaturized circuitry adapted to receive the transmissions from the pick up section, amplify and transmit signals to the display section; and in which the display section comprises a miniaturized cathode ray tube for receiving and displaying a signal from the amplifier section, the display section being located on the stethoscope proximate to the body; b. a tube assembly comprising a hollow tube communicating with the transmission space and dividing to form a pair of tubes adapted to reach the ears of the stethoscope user and to transmit the vibration of heart or other bodily sounds. c. an integral power source for operating the amplifier and the cathode ray tube.
2. an amplifier section; and
3. a display section; in which the pick up section comprises a diaphragm or bell mounted on the body and adapted to pick up the vibration of heart or other bodily sounds and a transmission space containing a vibration transmitting medium and means to pick up the vibration of heart sounds and convert them to an electrical signal and transmit them to the amplifier section; and in which the amplifier section is spaced from the diaphragm or bell and comprises miniaturized circuitry adapted to receive the transmissions from the pick up section, amplify and transmit signals to the display section; and in which the display section comprises a miniaturized cathode ray tube for receiving and displaying a signal from the amplifier section, the display section being located on the stethoscope proximate to the body; b. a tube assembly comprising a hollow tube communicating with the transmission space and dividing to form a pair of tubes adapted to reach the ears of the stethoscope user and to transmit the vibration of heart or other bodily sounds. c. an integral power source for operating the amplifier and the cathode ray tube.
US00416024A 1973-11-15 1973-11-15 Stethoscope with display Expired - Lifetime US3858005A (en)

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Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4428380A (en) 1980-09-11 1984-01-31 Hughes Aircraft Company Method and improved apparatus for analyzing activity
US4534058A (en) * 1983-03-29 1985-08-06 The Hart Group Electronic stethoscope with automatic power shut-off
US4591668A (en) * 1984-05-08 1986-05-27 Iwata Electric Co., Ltd. Vibration-detecting type microphone
US4628939A (en) * 1980-09-11 1986-12-16 Hughes Aircraft Company Method and improved apparatus for analyzing heart activity
US4672975A (en) * 1985-06-17 1987-06-16 Vladimir Sirota Stethoscope with image of periodically expanding and contracting heart
US4783813A (en) * 1986-12-24 1988-11-08 Lola R. Thompson Electronic sound amplifier stethoscope with visual heart beat and blood flow indicator
EP0397787A1 (en) * 1988-02-04 1990-11-22 Blood Line Technology, Inc. Intelligent stethoscope
US5003605A (en) * 1989-08-14 1991-03-26 Cardiodyne, Inc. Electronically augmented stethoscope with timing sound
US5213108A (en) * 1988-02-04 1993-05-25 Blood Line Technology, Inc. Visual display stethoscope
US5218969A (en) * 1988-02-04 1993-06-15 Blood Line Technology, Inc. Intelligent stethoscope
US5602924A (en) * 1992-12-07 1997-02-11 Theratechnologies Inc. Electronic stethescope
US5825895A (en) * 1995-07-21 1998-10-20 Stethtech Corporation Electronic stethoscope
US6002777A (en) * 1995-07-21 1999-12-14 Stethtech Corporation Electronic stethoscope
US6026170A (en) * 1995-11-27 2000-02-15 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Electronic stethoscope with idealized bell and idealized diaphragm modes
US20020071570A1 (en) * 2000-12-07 2002-06-13 Gerard Cohen Hybrid structure
US6757392B1 (en) * 1995-07-06 2004-06-29 Artemio Granzotto Electronic stethoscope
US20070106179A1 (en) * 2005-10-20 2007-05-10 Tiba Medical, Inc. Medical examination apparatus, system, and/or method
US7721843B1 (en) * 2006-02-08 2010-05-25 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Visual acoustic device
US9398891B2 (en) 2005-10-20 2016-07-26 Tiba Medical, Inc. Multiple communication interface medical examination apparatus, system, and/or method
CN105997135A (en) * 2016-07-05 2016-10-12 林建军 Auscultator used for pediatrics medical treatment

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB871595A (en) * 1958-11-06 1961-06-28 Exxon Research Engineering Co Knock detector
US3052756A (en) * 1962-09-04 Phonocardiography apparatus
US3247324A (en) * 1964-06-26 1966-04-19 Cefaly Acoustic and electronic stethoscope
DE1215299B (en) * 1963-11-14 1966-04-28 Dr Med Helmut Kronschwitz Transportable, small and lightweight device designed to make the cardiac current curve visible

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3052756A (en) * 1962-09-04 Phonocardiography apparatus
GB871595A (en) * 1958-11-06 1961-06-28 Exxon Research Engineering Co Knock detector
DE1215299B (en) * 1963-11-14 1966-04-28 Dr Med Helmut Kronschwitz Transportable, small and lightweight device designed to make the cardiac current curve visible
US3247324A (en) * 1964-06-26 1966-04-19 Cefaly Acoustic and electronic stethoscope

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4428380A (en) 1980-09-11 1984-01-31 Hughes Aircraft Company Method and improved apparatus for analyzing activity
US4628939A (en) * 1980-09-11 1986-12-16 Hughes Aircraft Company Method and improved apparatus for analyzing heart activity
US4534058A (en) * 1983-03-29 1985-08-06 The Hart Group Electronic stethoscope with automatic power shut-off
US4591668A (en) * 1984-05-08 1986-05-27 Iwata Electric Co., Ltd. Vibration-detecting type microphone
US4672975A (en) * 1985-06-17 1987-06-16 Vladimir Sirota Stethoscope with image of periodically expanding and contracting heart
US4783813A (en) * 1986-12-24 1988-11-08 Lola R. Thompson Electronic sound amplifier stethoscope with visual heart beat and blood flow indicator
US5218969A (en) * 1988-02-04 1993-06-15 Blood Line Technology, Inc. Intelligent stethoscope
EP0397787A4 (en) * 1988-02-04 1991-01-30 Blood Line Technology Intelligent stethoscope
US5213108A (en) * 1988-02-04 1993-05-25 Blood Line Technology, Inc. Visual display stethoscope
EP0397787A1 (en) * 1988-02-04 1990-11-22 Blood Line Technology, Inc. Intelligent stethoscope
US5003605A (en) * 1989-08-14 1991-03-26 Cardiodyne, Inc. Electronically augmented stethoscope with timing sound
US5602924A (en) * 1992-12-07 1997-02-11 Theratechnologies Inc. Electronic stethescope
US6757392B1 (en) * 1995-07-06 2004-06-29 Artemio Granzotto Electronic stethoscope
US6002777A (en) * 1995-07-21 1999-12-14 Stethtech Corporation Electronic stethoscope
US5825895A (en) * 1995-07-21 1998-10-20 Stethtech Corporation Electronic stethoscope
US6026170A (en) * 1995-11-27 2000-02-15 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Electronic stethoscope with idealized bell and idealized diaphragm modes
US20020071570A1 (en) * 2000-12-07 2002-06-13 Gerard Cohen Hybrid structure
US20070106179A1 (en) * 2005-10-20 2007-05-10 Tiba Medical, Inc. Medical examination apparatus, system, and/or method
US8092396B2 (en) 2005-10-20 2012-01-10 Merat Bagha Electronic auscultation device
US9398891B2 (en) 2005-10-20 2016-07-26 Tiba Medical, Inc. Multiple communication interface medical examination apparatus, system, and/or method
US7721843B1 (en) * 2006-02-08 2010-05-25 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Visual acoustic device
CN105997135A (en) * 2016-07-05 2016-10-12 林建军 Auscultator used for pediatrics medical treatment

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