U.S. patent application number 16/351146 was filed with the patent office on 2020-01-16 for systems, devices, and methods for capturing and outputting data regarding a bodily characteristic.
The applicant listed for this patent is M3DICINE IP PTY LTD. Invention is credited to Arsil Nayyar Hussain.
Application Number | 20200015774 16/351146 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55654614 |
Filed Date | 2020-01-16 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200015774 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hussain; Arsil Nayyar |
January 16, 2020 |
SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR CAPTURING AND OUTPUTTING DATA
REGARDING A BODILY CHARACTERISTIC
Abstract
Systems, devices, and methods are provided for capturing and
outputting data regarding a bodily characteristic. In one
embodiment, a hardware device can operate as a stethoscope with
sensors to detect bodily characteristics such as heart sounds, lung
sounds, abdominal sounds, and other bodily sounds and other
characteristics such as temperature and ultrasound. The stethoscope
can be configured to work independently with built solid state
memory or SIM card. The stethoscope can be configured to pair via a
wireless communication protocol with one or more electronic
devices, and upon pairing with the electronic device(s), can be
registered in a network resident in the cloud and can thereby
create a network of users of like stethoscopes.
Inventors: |
Hussain; Arsil Nayyar; (West
Perth, AU) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
M3DICINE IP PTY LTD |
Brisbane |
|
AU |
|
|
Family ID: |
55654614 |
Appl. No.: |
16/351146 |
Filed: |
March 12, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14882921 |
Oct 14, 2015 |
10265043 |
|
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16351146 |
|
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62210558 |
Aug 27, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 5/0402 20130101;
A61B 5/14551 20130101; A61B 7/04 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61B 7/04 20060101
A61B007/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 14, 2014 |
AU |
2014904100 |
Nov 24, 2014 |
AU |
2014904742 |
Claims
1. A medical system, comprising: a stethoscope that includes a
distal portion having a surface configured to contact a body of a
subject, and a proximal head configured to move relative to the
distal portion to selectively start a sensor sensing body sounds of
the subject and stop the sensor from sensing the body sounds; and a
display coupled to the stethoscope and configured to show a
graphical representation of the sensed body sounds in real time
with the gathering of the signals.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the display is on the proximal
head.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the proximal head is removably
and replaceably coupled to the distal portion.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the proximal head is configured
to be removably and replaceably docked to a wearable electronic
device following removal of the proximal head from the distal
portion.
5. The system of claim 2, wherein the proximal head is
non-removably coupled to the distal portion.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the display is on an electronic
device that is external to and separate from the stethoscope.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the body sounds include at least
one of heart sounds and lung sounds.
8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a processor configured
to cause the display to show the graphical representation in
response to the sensing of the body sounds.
9. A method, comprising: receiving at a network-connected device
data indicative of body sounds of a subject sensed by an electronic
stethoscope in real time with the body sounds being sensed by the
electronic stethoscope; and causing the network-connected device to
provide an output detectable to a user of the network-connected
device, the output being indicative of the received data, and the
output being provided in real time with the body sounds being
sensed by the electronic stethoscope.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein providing the output includes
displaying information indicative of the received data on a display
of the network-connected device.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein providing the output includes at
least one of the network-connected device vibrating, the
network-connected device emitting audio, and a light of the
network-connected device illuminating.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein the electronic stethoscope
provides an output to a user of the electronic stethoscope
indicative of the body sounds being sensed by the electronic
stethoscope, the output of the electronic stethoscope including at
least one of vibration of the electronic stethoscope and
illumination of one or more lights on the electronic
stethoscope.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the output of the
network-connected device is the same as the output of the
electronic stethoscope.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein the network-connected device
includes a plurality of network-connected devices such that each of
the plurality of network-connected devices provides real time
output.
15. The method of claim 9, wherein the network-connected device
includes an application downloaded thereto over a network, the
application controlling the receiving of the data and the providing
of the output.
16. The method of claim 9 wherein the network-connected device
includes one of a phone, a headset, a watch, a tablet, a laptop
computer, a desktop computer, and a server.
17. The method of claim 9, wherein the network-connected device
includes a second electronic stethoscope.
18. A method, comprising: electronically linking a first electronic
stethoscope to a second electronic stethoscope; gathering at the
first electronic stethoscope raw data signals representative of
body sounds of a subject; outputting at the first electronic
stethoscope a first output that includes at least one of an audio
output, a haptic output, and an illuminated output, the first
output being indicative of the gathered signals, and the outputting
at the first electronic stethoscope occurring in real time with the
gathering; transmitting the gathered signals from the first
electronic stethoscope to the second electronic stethoscope; and
outputting at the second electronic stethoscope a second output
that includes at least one of an audio output, a haptic output, and
an illuminated output, the second output being indicative of the
gathered signals, and the outputting at the second electronic
stethoscope occurring in real time with the gathering.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first output includes at
least two of the audio output, the haptic output, and the
illuminated output.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein the first output includes all
of the audio output, the haptic output, and the illuminated
output.
21. The method of claim 18, wherein the body sounds include at
least one of heart sounds and lung sounds.
22. The method of claim 18, wherein the second output is identical
to the first output.
23. The method of claim 18, further comprising analyzing the
gathered signals to determine whether a possible anomaly exists in
the body sounds of the patient; wherein, when it is determined that
a possible anomaly exists, the first output is indicative of the
possible anomaly.
24. The method of claim 18, further comprising pairing the first
electronic stethoscope to a first external electronic device, the
first external electronic device displaying on a first display
thereof first information indicative of the gathered signals, and
the displaying on the first display occurring in real time with the
gathering.
25. The method of claim 24, further comprising pairing the second
electronic stethoscope to a second external electronic device, the
second external electronic device displaying on a second display
thereof second information indicative of the gathered signals, and
the displaying on the second display occurring in real time with
the gathering.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/882,921 entitled "Systems, Devices, and
Methods for Capturing and Outputting Data Regarding a Bodily
Characteristic" filed on Oct. 14, 2015, which claims priority to
Australian Provisional Application No. 2014904100 entitled
"Stethoscope" filed Oct. 14, 2014, to Australian Provisional
Application No. 2014904742 entitled "Systems and Methods for
Capturing Data, for Processing the Same and Delivering Output
Representative of Body Sounds, Other Characteristics and
Conditions" filed Nov. 24, 2014, and to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/210,558 entitled "Systems and Methods for
Capturing Data, for Processing the Same and Delivering Output
Representative of Body Sounds, Other Characteristics and
Conditions" filed Aug. 27, 2015, which are hereby incorporated by
reference in their entireties.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to systems,
devices, and methods for capturing and outputting data regarding a
bodily characteristic.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A conventional stethoscope is an acoustical device for
auscultation or listening to internal sounds of a body.
Conventional acoustical stethoscopes are often used to listen to
lung and heart sounds as well as intestinal sounds and blood flow
in arteries and veins. A conventional acoustical stethoscope
typically has a chest piece which may be a diaphragm or plastic
disc, or alternatively a bell or hollow cup. The chest piece is
typically attached to air-filled hollow tubing that can form a pair
of tubes which each have ear pieces for engagement with each ear of
a general practitioner (GP) or other medical specialist. The bell
transmits low frequency sounds while the diaphragm transmits higher
frequency sounds. Using a conventional acoustical stethoscope, it
can be difficult for a medical specialist to hear the internal
sounds of a body due to any one or more issues such as low sound
levels, a medical specialist's hearing deficiency, and/or ambient
or background noise in the room or other location in which the
conventional acoustical stethoscope is being used.
[0004] Some conventional stethoscopes are electronic and attempt to
overcome the low sound levels of conventional acoustical
stethoscopes by electronically amplifying body sounds. A
conventional electronic stethoscope can be a wireless device, can
be a recording device, and can provide noise reduction, signal
enhancement, visual output, and audio output. Digitalization of
heart sounds from conventional electronic stethoscopes has allowed
collected heart sound data to be analysed, allowed graphic
representations of cardiologic and pulmonologic sounds to be
generated and transmitted for purposes of telemedicine (remote
diagnosis) and teaching. Some conventional electronic stethoscopes
feature audio output that can be used with an external recording
device, such as a laptop or an MP3 recorder. Conventional
electronic stethoscopes are typically complicated in structure,
which makes manufacturing difficult, makes manufacturing expensive,
results in an expensive device, and/or results in a device
difficult for a user to learn how to use. Conventional electronic
stethoscopes also use tubing. The tubing of conventional acoustical
stethoscopes and of conventional electronic stethoscopes require
medical specialists to be in close proximity to the subject on
which the stethoscope is being used, which raises any one or more
issues such as being disadvantageous for the control of infection,
placing the medical specialist in harm's way in cases where the
subject is unpredictable or dangerous (e.g., in the case of certain
animals), and/or making the subject nervous due to close proximity
and/or unfamiliarity (e.g., in the case of children who are
comfortable only with daily caregivers or in the case of zoo
animals who are most comfortable with certain zookeepers).
[0005] Listening to a conventional stethoscope requires a user to
be highly trained and develop an expertise of detecting subtle
sounds and nuances in the audio signal hear through the tubing.
Medical professionals are taught the science of auscultation during
medical school. Thus, use of conventional stethoscopes to listen to
the sounds limits the use and understanding of the use of
stethoscopes to medical professionals.
[0006] Accordingly, a need exists for improved systems, devices,
and methods for capturing and outputting data regarding a bodily
characteristic.
SUMMARY
[0007] Systems, devices, and methods for capturing and outputting
data regarding a bodily characteristic are provided.
[0008] In one aspect, a medical device is provided that in one
embodiment includes a stethoscope that includes an audio sensor
configured to sense body sounds of a subject from outside the
subject's body, a vibration generator configured to vibrate, a
light configured to illuminate, and a processor configured to cause
the vibration generator to vibrate in a pattern indicative of the
sensed body sounds in real time with the sensing of the body
sounds, and configured to cause the light to illuminate in a
pattern indicative of the sensed body sounds in real time with the
sensing of the body sounds.
[0009] The medical device can have any number of variations. For
example, the stethoscope can include a network interface configured
to electronically communicate with an electronic device that is
external to the stethoscope. The processor can be configured to
cause data representing the sensed body sounds to the electronic
device via the network interface in real time with the sensing of
the body sounds.
[0010] For another example, the stethoscope can include an
accelerometer and gyroscope, and the processor can be configured to
cause the stethoscope to switch between an energy saving state and
a normal energy consumption state based on movement of the
stethoscope as sensed by the accelerometer and gyroscope. For yet
another example, the body sounds can include heart sounds. For
still another example, the body sounds can include lung sounds. For
another example, the vibration can cause a sound to be emitted from
the stethoscope such that the stethoscope is configured to
simultaneously vibrate, illuminate, and emit sound. For yet another
example, the stethoscope can include electrocardiogram (ECG)
sensors, the processor can be configured to cause the vibration
generator to vibrate in a pattern indicative of the data sensed by
the ECG sensors in real time with the sensing of the data, and the
processor can be configured to cause the light to illuminate in a
pattern indicative of the data sensed by the ECG sensors in real
time with the sensing of the data. For still another example, the
stethoscope can include a wireless charging receiver configured to
allow wireless charging of the stethoscope.
[0011] For another example, the stethoscope can include a base
having a surface configured to contact the subject's body, a body
having the processor contained therein, and a head. The head can be
movable relative to the base and the body to selectively start the
audio sensor sensing the body sounds and stop the audio sensor from
sensing the body sounds. The head can be configured to rotate
relative to the base and the body and is configured to move
vertically relative to the base and the body. One of the rotation
and the vertical motion can be configured to selectively start the
audio sensor sensing the body sounds and stop the audio sensor from
sensing the body sounds. The other of the rotation and the vertical
motion can be configured to selectively turn network connectivity
of the stethoscope on and off. The head can be configured to move
relative to the base and the body to adjust a gain of the audio
sensor.
[0012] In another aspect, a medical system is provided that in one
embodiment includes a stethoscope and a display coupled to the
stethoscope. The stethoscope includes a distal portion having a
surface configured to contact a body of a subject, and a proximal
head configured to move relative to the distal portion to
selectively start a sensor sensing body sounds of the subject and
stop the sensor from sensing the body sounds. The display is
configured to show a graphical representation of the sensed body
sounds in real time with the gathering of the signals.
[0013] The medical system can vary in any number of ways. For
example, the display can be on the proximal head. The proximal head
can be removably and replaceably coupled to the distal portion, or
the proximal head can be non-removably coupled to the distal
portion. The removable and replaceable proximal head can be
configured to be removably and replaceably docked to a wearable
electronic device following removal of the proximal head from the
distal portion.
[0014] For another example, the display can be on an electronic
device that is external to and separate from the stethoscope. For
yet another example, the body sounds can include at least one of
heart sounds and lung sounds. For still another example, the
medical system can include a processor configured to cause the
display to show the graphical representation in response to the
sensing of the body sounds.
[0015] In another aspect, a method is provided that in one
embodiment includes positioning the stethoscope on the patient's
body, activating the audio sensor to begin the sensing of the body
sounds and thereby begin causing the vibration generator to vibrate
in the pattern indicative of the sensed body sounds in real time
with the sensing of the body sounds and causing the light to
illuminate in the pattern indicative of the sensed body sounds in
real time with the sensing of the body sounds.
[0016] The method can have any number of variations. For example,
the method can include transmitting data representing the sensed
body sounds to an electronic device that is external to the
stethoscope in real time with the sensing of the body sounds.
[0017] In another embodiment, a method is provided that includes
receiving at a network-connected device data indicative of body
sounds of a subject sensed by an electronic stethoscope in real
time with the body sounds being sensed by the electronic
stethoscope, and causing the network-connected device to provide an
output detectable to a user of the network-connected device, the
output being indicative of the received data. The output is
provided in real time with the body sounds being sensed by the
electronic stethoscope.
[0018] The method can vary in any number of ways. For example,
providing the output can include displaying information indicative
of the received data on a display of the network-connected device.
For another example, providing the output can include at least one
of the network-connected device vibrating, the network-connected
device emitting audio, and a light of the network-connected device
illuminating.
[0019] For yet another example, the electronic stethoscope can
provide an output to a user of the electronic stethoscope
indicative of the body sounds being sensed by the electronic
stethoscope, and the output of the electronic stethoscope can
include at least one of vibration of the electronic stethoscope and
illumination of one or more lights on the electronic stethoscope.
The output of the network-connected device can be the same as the
output of the electronic stethoscope.
[0020] For still another example, the network-connected device can
include a plurality of network-connected devices such that each of
the plurality of network-connected devices provides real time
output. For another example, the network-connected device can
include an application downloaded thereto over a network, and the
application can control the receiving of the data and the providing
of the output. For yet another example, the network-connected
device can include one of a phone, a headset, a watch, a tablet, a
laptop computer, a desktop computer, and a server. For still
another example, the network-connected device can include a second
electronic stethoscope.
[0021] In another embodiment, a method is provided that includes
electronically linking a first electronic stethoscope to a second
electronic stethoscope, gathering at the first electronic
stethoscope raw data signals representative of body sounds of a
subject, and outputting at the first electronic stethoscope a first
output that includes at least one of an audio output, a haptic
output, and an illuminated output, the first output being
indicative of the gathered signals. The outputting at the first
electronic stethoscope occurs in real time with the gathering. The
method also includes transmitting the gathered signals from the
first electronic stethoscope to the second electronic stethoscope,
and outputting at the second electronic stethoscope a second output
that includes at least one of an audio output, a haptic output, and
an illuminated output. The second output is indicative of the
gathered signals, and the outputting at the second electronic
stethoscope occurs in real time with the gathering.
[0022] The method can vary in any number of ways. For example, the
first output can include at least two of the audio output, the
haptic output, and the illuminated output. For another example, the
first output can include all of the audio output, the haptic
output, and the illuminated output. For yet another example, the
body sounds can include at least one of heart sounds and lung
sounds. For still another example, the second output can be
identical to the first output. For another example, the method can
include analyzing the gathered signals to determine whether a
possible anomaly exists in the body sounds of the patient, and when
it is determined that a possible anomaly exists, the first output
can be indicative of the possible anomaly.
[0023] For yet another example, the method can include pairing the
first electronic stethoscope to a first external electronic device.
The first external electronic device can display on a first display
thereof first information indicative of the gathered signals. The
displaying on the first display can occur in real time with the
gathering. The method can also include pairing the second
electronic stethoscope to a second external electronic device. The
second external electronic device can display on a second display
thereof second information indicative of the gathered signals. The
displaying on the second display can occur in real time with the
gathering.
[0024] In another embodiment, a method is provided that includes
gathering via an electronic stethoscope raw data signals
representative of body sounds of a subject, and causing a display
to show a graphical representation of the gathered signals in real
time with the gathering of the signals. The graphical
representation includes a track along which a marker traverses in
sync with the gathered signals. The method also includes analyzing
the gathered signals in real time with the gathering to determine
whether a possible anomaly exists in the body sounds of the
patient, and when it is determined that a possible anomaly exists,
causing a mark to appear on the track at a position along the track
corresponding to a time at which the possible anomaly exists, the
mark being indicative of the possible anomaly.
[0025] The method can have any number of variations. For example,
the display can be on the stethoscope. For another example, the
display can be on an electronic device physically independent of
and electronically linked to the stethoscope. For yet another
example, the method can include outputting at the electronic
stethoscope an output that includes at least one of an audio
output, a haptic output, and an illuminated output, the output
being indicative of the gathered signals, and the outputting at the
electronic stethoscope can occur in real time with the
gathering.
[0026] For another example, the body sounds can include heart
sounds. A length of the track can correspond to one heart beat
cycle. The mark can appear on the track at a time where the
possible anomaly exists relative to a first heart sound (S1) and a
second heart sound (S2) in the heart beat cycle.
[0027] For still another example, the body sounds can include lung
sounds. A length of the track can correspond to one breath cycle.
The mark can appear on the track at a time where the possible
anomaly exists relative to a start of inspiration and a start of
expiration in the breath cycle.
[0028] In another embodiment, a method includes gathering via an
electronic stethoscope raw data signals representative of cardiac
sounds of a subject, analyzing the gathered signals in real time
with the gathering to determine a heart rate of the subject, and
analyzing the determined heart rate in real time with the gathering
to determine a breathing rate of the subject.
[0029] The method can vary in any number of ways. For example, the
method can include causing a display to show a graphical
representation of the determined breathing rate in real time with
the gathering.
[0030] Non-transitory computer program products (i.e., physically
embodied computer program products) are also provided that store
instructions, which when executed by one or more processors of one
or more computer systems, causes at least one processor to perform
operations herein. Similarly, computer systems are also provided
that can include one or more processors and one or more memories
coupled to the one or more processors. Each of the one or more
memories can temporarily or permanently store instructions that
cause at least one processor to perform one or more of the
operations described herein. In addition, methods can be
implemented by one or more processors either within a single
computer system or distributed among two or more computer systems.
Such computer systems can be connected and can exchange data and/or
commands or other instructions or the like via one or more
connections, including but not limited to a connection over a
network (e.g., the Internet, a wireless wide area network, a local
area network, a wide area network, a wired network, etc.), via a
direct connection between one or more of the multiple computer
systems, etc.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0031] This invention will be more fully understood from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0032] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a
stethoscope;
[0033] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the stethoscope of FIG. 1;
[0034] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a hollow body, rotary
potentiometer, and a circuit board of the stethoscope of FIG.
1;
[0035] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the circuit board and rotary
potentiometer of FIG. 3;
[0036] FIG. 5 is a side view of the stethoscope of FIG. 1;
[0037] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the stethoscope of FIG.
5 along line A-A;
[0038] FIG. 7 is a zoomed-in view of a knob and the rotary
potentiometer of the stethoscope of FIG. 6;
[0039] FIG. 8 is a top view of circuit board of the stethoscope of
FIG. 1;
[0040] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the stethoscope of FIG. 1,
the stethoscope vibrating;
[0041] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
stethoscope;
[0042] FIG. 11 is a side view of the stethoscope of FIG. 10;
[0043] FIG. 12A is a distal end view of the stethoscope of FIG.
10;
[0044] FIG. 12B is a proximal end view of the stethoscope of FIG.
10;
[0045] FIG. 13A is a side view of another embodiment of a
stethoscope and one embodiment of a wireless transmitter;
[0046] FIG. 13B is a bottom view of the stethoscope of FIG.
13A;
[0047] FIG. 13C is a bottom view of a diaphragm of the stethoscope
of FIG. 13A;
[0048] FIG. 13D is a bottom view of a diaphragm of the stethoscope
of FIG. 13A coupled to one embodiment of a charging cable;
[0049] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a
stethoscope, the stethoscope having a USB cord coupled thereto;
[0050] FIG. 15 is a schematic circuit of the stethoscope of FIG.
14;
[0051] FIG. 16A is a flowchart of modes of the stethoscope of FIG.
14;
[0052] FIG. 16B is a flowchart of sound analysis of the stethoscope
of FIG. 14;
[0053] FIG. 17A is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
stethoscope, the stethoscope including a display thereon;
[0054] FIG. 17B is a perspective view of the stethoscope of FIG.
17A with different information shown on the display than in FIG.
17A;
[0055] FIG. 17C is a side schematic view of a proximal portion of
the stethoscope of FIG. 17A;
[0056] FIG. 17D is a side perspective view of a portion of the
proximal portion of the stethoscope of FIG. 17A;
[0057] FIG. 17E is a perspective schematic view of a head of the
stethoscope of FIG. 17A and a portion of a distal portion of the
stethoscope of FIG. 17A;
[0058] FIG. 17F is a perspective view of one embodiment of a
wearable electronic device configured to couple to a head of a
stethoscope;
[0059] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a system including the
stethoscope of FIG. 1;
[0060] FIG. 19 is a schematic flowchart illustrating one embodiment
of using the stethoscope of FIG. 1;
[0061] FIG. 20 is a schematic flowchart illustrating another
embodiment of using the stethoscope of FIG. 1;
[0062] FIG. 21 is a schematic flowchart illustrating yet another
embodiment of using the stethoscope of FIG. 1;
[0063] FIG. 22 is a schematic flowchart illustrating still another
embodiment of using the stethoscope of FIG. 1;
[0064] FIG. 23 is a schematic view of a system including a
plurality of stethoscopes and a plurality of electronic
devices;
[0065] FIG. 23A is an end view of one embodiment of a Bluetooth
headset;
[0066] FIG. 23B is a perspective view of the headset of FIG.
23A;
[0067] FIG. 23C is another end view of the headset of FIG. 23A;
[0068] FIG. 24 is schematic view of one embodiment of a system
including a stethoscope, a mobile device, and a remote server;
[0069] FIG. 25 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method of
linking at least two stethoscopes;
[0070] FIG. 26 is an excerpt of the system of FIG. 23;
[0071] FIG. 27 is a schematic view of types of types of
communication links that can be established between users of
stethoscopes;
[0072] FIG. 28 is a schematic view of one embodiment of a system
including a plurality of stethoscopes and a remote server;
[0073] FIG. 29 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a cardiology
information screen;
[0074] FIG. 30 is a diagram showing another embodiment of a
cardiology information screen;
[0075] FIG. 31 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a respiratory
information screen;
[0076] FIG. 32 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a login
screen;
[0077] FIG. 33 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a team
screen;
[0078] FIG. 34 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a team add
screen;
[0079] FIG. 35 is a diagram showing the team screen of FIG. 33 with
team members added;
[0080] FIG. 36 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a share
selection screen;
[0081] FIG. 37 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a cardiac
share screen;
[0082] FIG. 38 is a diagram showing another embodiment of a cardiac
share screen;
[0083] FIG. 39 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a referral
received screen;
[0084] FIG. 40 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a referral
centre screen;
[0085] FIG. 41 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a referral
information screen;
[0086] FIG. 42 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a map
screen;
[0087] FIG. 43 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a referrals
list screen;
[0088] FIG. 44 is a diagram showing another embodiment of a team
screen;
[0089] FIG. 45 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a
communication screen;
[0090] FIG. 46 is a diagram showing another embodiment of a login
screen;
[0091] FIG. 47 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a library
screen;
[0092] FIG. 48 is a diagram showing another embodiment of a library
screen;
[0093] FIG. 49 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a library
detail screen;
[0094] FIG. 50 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a recording
confirmation screen;
[0095] FIG. 51 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a subject
detail screen;
[0096] FIG. 52 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a recording
detail screen;
[0097] FIG. 53 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a recording
control screen;
[0098] FIG. 54 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a local
control screen;
[0099] FIG. 55 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a remote
control screen;
[0100] FIG. 56 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a start
screen;
[0101] FIG. 57 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a recording
progress screen;
[0102] FIG. 58 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a stop
screen;
[0103] FIG. 59 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a playback
screen;
[0104] FIG. 60 is a diagram showing one embodiment of an expanded
playback screen;
[0105] FIG. 61 is a diagram showing another embodiment of a
playback screen;
[0106] FIG. 62 is a diagram showing one embodiment of an editing
screen;
[0107] FIG. 63 is a diagram showing another embodiment of a start
screen;
[0108] FIG. 64 is a diagram showing another embodiment of a
recording progress screen;
[0109] FIG. 65 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a subject
select screen;
[0110] FIG. 66 is a diagram showing another embodiment of a
recording progress screen;
[0111] FIG. 67 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a device
settings screen for a professional mode of operation;
[0112] FIG. 68 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a device
settings screen for a general mode of operation;
[0113] FIG. 69 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a device
settings screen for a teacher mode of operation;
[0114] FIG. 70 is a diagram showing the device settings screen of
FIG. 69 after linking of student stethoscopes;
[0115] FIG. 71 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a device
settings screen for a student mode of operation;
[0116] FIG. 72 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a stethoscope
settings screen;
[0117] FIG. 73 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a mode
selection screen;
[0118] FIG. 74 is a diagram showing the mode selection screen of
FIG. 73 with a mode selected;
[0119] FIG. 75 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a linked
devices screen;
[0120] FIG. 76 is a diagram showing the linked devices screen of
FIG. 75 indicating linked devices;
[0121] FIG. 77 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a sleep
selection screen;
[0122] FIG. 78 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a shutoff
selection screen;
[0123] FIG. 79 is a diagram showing another embodiment of a
cardiology information screen;
[0124] FIG. 80 is a diagram showing yet another embodiment of a
cardiology information screen;
[0125] FIG. 81 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a grid for
the screen of FIG. 80;
[0126] FIG. 82 is a diagram showing another embodiment of a
respiratory information screen;
[0127] FIG. 83 is a showing one embodiment of a historical data
screen;
[0128] FIG. 84 is a showing another embodiment of a recording
detail screen; and
[0129] FIG. 85 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a
computer system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0130] Certain exemplary embodiments will now be described to
provide an overall understanding of the principles of the
structure, function, manufacture, and use of the devices and
methods described herein. One or more examples of these embodiments
are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the
art will understand that the devices and methods specifically
described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are
non-limiting exemplary embodiments and that the scope of the
present invention is defined solely by the claims. The features
illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary
embodiment may be combined with the features of other embodiments.
Such modifications and variations are intended to be included
within the scope of the present invention.
[0131] Further, in the present disclosure, like-named components of
the embodiments generally have similar features, and thus within a
particular embodiment each feature of each like-named component is
not necessarily fully elaborated upon.
[0132] Systems, devices, and methods are provided for capturing and
outputting data regarding a bodily characteristic. In at least some
embodiments, a hardware device can be configured to operate as a
stethoscope with one or more sensors configured to detect bodily
characteristics of a subject such as a heart sounds (e.g.,
heartbeat and other heart sounds), lung sounds, abdominal sounds,
and other bodily sounds and other characteristics such as
temperature and ultrasound. The stethoscope can be configured to
work independently with built solid state memory or SIM card. The
stethoscope can be configured to communicate with one or more
electronic devices, such as a mobile device, a laptop, etc. Data
collected by the stethoscope related to the bodily characteristics
can be transmitted from the stethoscope to a diagnostic model. The
output of the diagnostics model can provide a diagnosis and can
provides a graphical user interface with an interpretation of the
output. The stethoscope can be configured to pair via Bluetooth,
Wi-Fi, or other wireless communication protocol with the one or
more electronic devices, and upon pairing with the electronic
device(s), can be registered in a network resident in the cloud and
can thereby create a network of users of like stethoscopes.
[0133] The stethoscope can thus include a sensor design featuring
integrated Bluetooth and integrated visual system that can allow a
user of the stethoscope to hear through any Bluetooth wireless
telephone, mobile, or other device and also to see through
integrated lighting a visual representation of the detected bodily
characteristics, e.g., a visual representation of heart beat and
pulse, a visual representation of breathing rate, etc. The
stethoscope thus need not rely on listening intensely by one GP or
other medical specialist, unlike with conventional stethoscopes,
and/or does not require tubing that limits the movement of the
stethoscope's user and hence the stethoscope does not requires a
user's close proximity to the subject, nor does it require user
expertise to translate the audio to meaningful information, unlike
with conventional stethoscopes.
[0134] The stethoscope can include a combination of auditory and
visual auscultation and can be configured to provide analysis of
the detected bodily characteristics, e.g., detected heart beat and
pulse, etc. The stethoscope can have a multiple sync function
configured to allow the stethoscope's gathered sound to be shared
with multiple other devices, e.g., other stethoscopes or various
types of electronic devices such as Bluetooth headsets and mobile
phones. Thus, multiple people not using the stethoscopes, such as
onlookers, family members of the subject, owners of pets, medical
students, colleagues, etc. can receive the stethoscope's sound
through the use of the other devices. Each of the other devices can
have installed thereon an application (APP) that can be configured
to store, transmit, analyze, and display the received sound
information and present possible diagnosis on based thereon, e.g.,
based on received heartbeat and pulse information. Thus, people
other than a user directly using the stethoscope can evaluate the
subject's condition and make diagnosis and/or treatment decisions
based at least in part of the stethoscope's gathered information.
For example, in the case of a detected bodily characteristic
including heart rate, the heartbeat can be averaged to present an
approximate heart rate to the user and/or to the other multiple
people. A series of colors provided via illuminated lights can be
used to indicate a range of different heart rates and can thereby
be used to easily detect heart rates outside an expected norm.
[0135] The stethoscope including a combination of auditory and
visual auscultation and being configured to provide analysis of the
detected bodily characteristics may allow any user, with or without
medical training, to understand the detected bodily characteristics
by translating gathered audio signals into a visual output (e.g.,
lights) and a haptic output (e.g., vibration). For example, with
respect to detected cardiac sounds, the stethoscope can be
configured to output light of a first color (e.g., green) to
indicate normal heart conditions, to not vibrate when normal heart
conditions are detected, to output light of a second, different
color (e.g., orange) to indicate a detected possible anomaly such
as a murmur, and to vibrate when a detected possible anomaly
exists. For another example, with respect to detected lung sounds,
the stethoscope can be configured to output light of a first color
(e.g., green) to indicate normal breathing conditions, to not
vibrate when normal breathing conditions are detected, to output
light of a second, different color (e.g., orange) to indicate a
detected possible anomaly such as wheezing, and to vibrate when a
detected possible anomaly exists.
[0136] In at least some embodiments, the systems, devices, and
methods for capturing and outputting data regarding a bodily
characteristic can include capturing data, processing the same, and
delivering output representative of body sounds. The systems,
devices, and methods can include a stethoscope configured to pair
to other devices to thus allow the sharing of immersive
three-dimensional feedback experiences with one or more users in
addition to a user of the stethoscope.
[0137] In at least some embodiments, the systems, devices, and
methods for capturing and outputting data regarding a bodily
characteristic can increase the accuracy of detection of heart
sounds, murmurs, and other body sounds, there thus may achieve a
reduction in unnecessary referrals and cardiac events. The systems,
devices, and methods can provide a manner to track representative
raw data and study the representative raw data over time. With
available machine learning and predictive modelling and
artificially intelligent search engines, clinical software and
electronic health record (EHR) platforms, a stethoscope of the
systems, devices, and methods can provide raw data and therefore
representative raw data for analysis for diagnosis and tracking,
sharing of information, teaching, as well as allow for a platform
for a network of health care professionals so that the health care
professionals can send and receive data as well as engage in
written and oral and visual communication with one another in real
time. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that "real time"
may involve some minor time delay due to any one or more factors,
such as network data transmission capability and minor limits to
processor processing speed. Not only are health care professionals
(for humans and for animals) capable of utilizing the stethoscope,
but non-health care individuals (e.g., patients, family members of
patients, pet owners, youth, etc.) may as well, with the
representative data being transmitted via a network to one or more
health care professionals at remote locations for evaluation.
[0138] In at least some embodiments, a stethoscope can be
configured to search and connect to other similar stethoscopes
located either locally or remotely. The stethoscope can be
configured to provide an immersive three-dimensional feedback
experiences with one or more users of the connected stethoscopes,
thus allowing users to simultaneously hear, feel, and share the
same detected body sounds, e.g., heartbeat, breathing, etc. In this
way, the stethoscope may provide bedside teaching capability where
students do not individually need to place their equipment on a
patient. This may provide for less intrusion on patients and/or
provide for better hygiene.
[0139] In at least some embodiments, a stethoscope and/or an
electronic device to which the stethoscope transmits sensed data
can be configured to compare previously recorded representative
data and/or to compare that data to family data. The data can be
utilized in studies, particularly since sensors of the stethoscope
can acquire other data, such as ambient conditions and location
data, as discussed herein. For athletes, for example, such
functionality may be beneficial since the stethoscope can monitor
heart valve performance, not just simple heart rate.
[0140] In at least some embodiments, a stethoscope can be
configured to provide an immersive three-dimensional feedback
experience for a user of the stethoscope as well as for remote
users not directly using the stethoscope. When the stethoscope's
one or more sensors are activated, for example, by pushing down on
a head or knob of the stethoscope, so that the one or more sensors
begin receiving input from a subject's body, the stethoscope can be
configured to vibrate to the heart beat input, light up to the
heart beat input, and transmit sound signals sensed by the one or
more sensors to one or more headsets in real-time synchronization
with the person's bodily sounds. When the stethoscope is paired to
one or more other stethoscopes either directly, or via, for
example, a mobile device, the other stethoscope(s) can be similarly
configured provide the immersive three-dimensional feedback
experience. The sensor data of the stethoscope can be transmitted
in real-time via telecommunications to a remote location, for
example, via a remote server in communication with the stethoscope
for the same three-dimensional feedback experience at a different
location.
[0141] In at least some embodiments, a stethoscope can be
configured to pair to a headset, and at least one of a mobile
device and a personal computer (PC). Either or both of the mobile
device and PC can be in communication with a remote server,
otherwise known as the cloud. The stethoscope can include memory
configured to store data for later transmission for analysis,
and/or on the mobile device and/or PC paired to the stethoscope, or
to any other suitable device. The stethoscope can be configured for
analytics as computing capability is available for such
analytics.
[0142] In at least some embodiments, a stethoscope can be
configured to receive raw data , including those of heart and lung
sounds of a subject, via one or more sensors. The stethoscope can
include sensors such as a gyroscope and accelerometer to provide
the subject's position information that can be noted and/or
recorded while the heart sound/lung sound sensors and/or other
sensors are receiving signals for diagnosis. The subject's position
while the data is taken may be useful in particular when comparing
previously recorded data to later recorded data. The position of
the subject, e.g., sitting up or lying down, may have an impact on
the resultant data. The one or more sensors can be configured to
sense any one or more of ECG signals, gyroscope signals,
temperature signals, infrared signals, and ultrasound signals, as
well as others. The signals can be processed so that a diagnosis
may be presented. The diagnosis can be delivered, for example, via
a graphical user interface on a display device of an electronic
device such as a mobile device or PC.
[0143] In at least some embodiments, a headset can be configured to
be paired to a stethoscope by wired connection or wireless
connection. The headset can include a behind-the-neck configuration
and can include light emitting diode (LED) indicators on earpieces
of the headset that can sync to sounds (e.g., heart sounds, lung
sounds, etc.) sensed by the paired stethoscope. The lights can
indicate to colleagues or other nearby persons when the user of the
headset is listening to sounds so that the user is not disturbed
and/or can provide information to the colleagues or other nearby
persons who may observe the synced lights. The headset can have an
LED indicator housed in the behind-the-neck member that can serve
to indicate to colleagues or other nearby persons when the user is
listening to body sounds. The LED indicator can have at least two
states of illumination. The illumination can be in a low state when
the stethoscope is not in use, and can be in a high state when the
stethoscope is in use. Any other color can be used for the LED
indicator, as can any combination of colors to create
indications.
[0144] In at least some embodiments, a stethoscope can be
configured for use with or without a paired electronic device
(mobile device, PC, etc.). A paired electronic device can be
configured to provide analytics of data for representation. If a
paired electronic device is not allowed to be used, for example in
an operating room or on an airplane, if the paired electronic
device must access a remote server to provide analytics, a PC or
other computer system can instead be used for analytics. This
disclosure is not intended to limit what type of device carries out
analytical functions.
[0145] In at least some embodiments, a stethoscope can include
controls to turn down or off features such as vibration and
illumination sync to sensed body sounds. Audio frequency can be
configured to be fine-tuned and enhanced to filter out unwanted
noise to isolate desired sounds, either in real time or later, such
as later via mobile app. The data collected by the stethoscope can
be stored on the stethoscope, and at a later time, the data may be
transmitted to an electronic device that can provide visual output
of the data. In other words, the electronic device can provide
output in real time with the stethoscope's sensing or not in real
time but instead at a subsequent time.
[0146] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate one embodiment of a stethoscope 10.
As in this illustrated embodiment, the stethoscope can include a
knob 11 (also shown in FIGS. 5-7), a hollow body 9 (also shown in
FIGS. 3, 5 and 6) having the knob 11 movably coupled to a proximal
end thereof, a rotary potentiometer 8 (also shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6,
and 7) disposed in the hollow body 9 and the knob 11, and a base 13
(also shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) having a distal end of the hollow
body 9 seated therein. The knob 11 can have a variety of
configurations. As shown the knob 11 can include a gripping feature
such as a plurality of milled edges 12 around a circumference
thereof configured to provide traction when being gripped by a hand
(not shown) of a user. Instead of or in addition to the plurality
of milled edges 12, the knob 11 can include another type of
gripping feature, such as one or more finger depressions, a tacky
surface, etc.
[0147] The knob 11 can include a central boss 44 extending distally
from a proximal inner surface thereof. The central boss 44 can have
a bottom or distal cavity 45 formed therein configured to receive
the rotary potentiometer 8 therein. The cavity 45 can include
longitudinal splines 21A formed on an inner surface thereof.
[0148] The hollow body 9 can have a variety of configurations. As
shown, the hollow body 9 can include a proximal upstanding body
portion 14 configured to movably engage the knob 11 and a distal
portion 17 configured to be seated in a hollow interior 18 of the
base 13. The hollow body 9 can include a universal serial bus (USB)
port 15, which may facilitate electronic connection of the
stethoscope 10 to an electronic device such as a computer, a mini
USB jack into a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack to allow any wired
headphone set to be attached to the stethoscope 10, or a portable
USB drive. Instead of or in addition to the USB port 15, the
stethoscope 10 can have any one or more other types of wired data
connection port, as will be appreciated by a person skilled in the
art. As will also be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, in
addition or in alternative to being configured to communicate via
wired connection with another electronic device via the USB port 15
and/or other port, the stethoscope 10 can be configured to
communicate wirelessly, such as via Bluetooth, with another
electronic device.
[0149] The proximal portion 14 of the hollow body 9 can have a
circular groove 16 (also referred to herein as an "annular recess"
or "recess") formed in an exterior surface thereof. The annular
recess 16 can be configured to engage a peripheral rib 45A formed
on and extending radially outward from an inner surface of the
rotatable knob 11 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). The recess 16 can be
configured to retain the knob 11 in non-removable engagement with
the hollow body 9. The rib 45A can be configured to slide within
the recess 16 during rotation of the knob 11 about a longitudinal
axis thereof, which is represented by line A-A in FIG. 5. The
longitudinal axis of the knob 11 can, as shown, be the same as a
longitudinal axis of the stethoscope 10 overall. The groove 16 can
have a height B (FIG. 6) that is greater than a height of the rib
45A. The rib 45A can thus be configured to move vertically (e.g.,
proximally and distally) within the groove 16 at a maximum distance
defined by the height B. The knob 11 can thus be configured to have
two distinct ranges of motion relative to the hollow body 9, the
rotation of the knob 11 being one range of motion and the vertical
movement of the knob 11 being another range of motion. The knob 11
can be biased to a proximal position within the groove 16, e.g.,
the rib 45A can be biased to abut a proximal surface of the rib
45A. The knob 11 is shown in this biased, or default, position in
FIGS. 6 and 7. The knob 11 can be so biased in a variety of ways,
such as by being biased upwards or proximally by a bias element
such as a spring disposed within the stethoscope 10, as discussed
further below.
[0150] As shown in FIG. 3, the distal portion of the hollow body 9
can have a hollow interior 29. One or more projections 30 can
extend radially inward from an inner surface of the hollow body 9
in the hollow interior 29. The hollow body 9 includes two
projections 30 in this illustrated embodiment. The one or more
projections 30 can be configured to engage corresponding one or
more recesses 31 formed in a perimeter of a circuit board 19 to
facilitate secure seating of the circuit board 19 within the hollow
body 9, e.g., within the hollow interior 29, and within the base
13, e.g., within the hollow interior 18.
[0151] The hollow body 9 can include a hollow recess 41 proximal to
the hollow interior 29. The hollow recess 41 can, as in tis
illustrated embodiment, have a rectangular shape. The hollow recess
41 can be configured to engage a top edge part 42 of the rotary
potentiometer 8 (e.g., a lower or distal portion 23 thereof), as
shown in FIG. 6. The hollow recess 41 can have a central opening 43
configured to engage with a connection post 22 of the rotary
potentiometer 8, as also shown in FIG. 6. The central opening 43
can have a peripheral surface 47 that defines a perimeter of the
central opening 43. The peripheral surface 47 can be configured to
contact a bearing surface 20 of the rotary potentiometer 8. The
hollow body 9 can include a transverse portion 46 integral with the
hollow recess 41 and defining an upper end thereof.
[0152] The stethoscope 10 can include an on-board power source,
which may facilitate portability of the stethoscope 10. The hollow
body 9 can include a cavity 53 configured to seat the power source,
such as a battery 54, therein. The battery 54 can be configured to
be rechargeable, such as via power connection via the USB port 15,
which may prolong the useful life of the stethoscope 10. In other
embodiments, the battery 54 can be non-rechargeable.
[0153] The circuit board 19 (also shown in FIG. 8) can have a
variety of configurations. In general, the circuit board 19 can
have electronic components of the stethoscope 10 mounted thereon or
otherwise attached thereto. The circuit board 19 can include an
amplifier chip 25 connected to the potentiometer 8 (e.g., the
distal portion 23 thereof) by first connection elements 24, which
include multiple connection elements in this illustrated embodiment
but can be a single connection element. The amplifier chip 25 can
be configured as a digital signal processor (DSP) or processing
chipset.
[0154] The circuit board 19 can include a processor chipset 27
(also referred to herein as a "processor") connected to the
potentiometer (e.g., the distal portion 23 thereof) by a second
connection element 26, which includes a single connection element
in this illustrated embodiment but can be multiple connection
elements.
[0155] The circuit board 19 can include a Bluetooth chip 28
configured to facilitate wireless communication with external
electronic devices (e.g., a Smart phone, a Smart watch, a tablet, a
laptop, a headset, etc.) via Bluetooth. The Bluetooth chip 28 can
be configured to be selectively activated, which may allow
Bluetooth to be active only when needed, which may help conserve
power and/or conserve processor resources. Bluetooth can be
configured to automatically turn off or disconnect after a certain
amount of time (e.g., one minute, two minutes, five minutes, etc.),
which may help conserve power and/or conserve processor resources.
When Bluetooth is active, the stethoscope 10 can be paired with an
external electronic device having Bluetooth capability, as
discussed further below. The knob 11 being rotated in a first
direction (e.g., clockwise) can be configured to activate the
Bluetooth chip 28 so as to turn on Bluetooth functionality. This
rotation can be configured to cause an audible sound such as a
click to indicate that Bluetooth is active, such as by the knob 11
and the hollow body 9 having corresponding engagement features that
engage one another after the knob 11 has been rotated a certain
amount in the first direction so as to produce the audible sound as
the engagement members pass during the rotation. The knob 11 being
rotated in a second, opposite direction (e.g., counterclockwise)
can be configured to de-activate the Bluetooth chip 28 so as to
turn off Bluetooth functionality. This rotation can be similarly
configured to cause an audible sound to indicate that Bluetooth is
inactive.
[0156] The circuit board 19 can include a USB unit 19u configured
to electronically communicate with a USB device inserted into the
USB port 15.
[0157] The circuit board 19 can include at least one audio sensor
(also referred to herein as a "microphone"), which includes first
and second microphones 19M, 19N in this illustrated embodiment.
Gain of the at least one microphone can be configured to be
adjusted so as to adjust volume. The knob 11 can be configured to
be pushed downwardly (distally), as shown by arrow B in FIG. 6, to
activate (e.g., turn on) the at least one microphone and thereby
allow the stethoscope 10 to collect sounds indicate a bodily
characteristic, e.g., a heartbeat or breathing. Rotating the
pushed-down knob 11 in a first direction (e.g., clockwise) while
being held down can be configured to cause a positive microphone
gain and rotating the pushed-down knob 11 in a second, opposite
direction (e.g., counterclockwise) can be configured to cause a
negative microphone gain. Movement of the knob 11 upward
(proximally), such as by release of the knob 11 to allow the knob
11 to move to its biased proximal position, can cause the at least
one microphone to be de-activated (e.g., turn off), which may
protect the user from auditory spikes. The at least one microphone
can thus be configured to be selectively activated and to have its
gain adjusted while activated. The proximal movement of the knob 11
can be configured to cause data transmission from the stethoscope
10 to an external electronic device, such as wireless transmission
of gathered data for off-board storage and/or analysis. Instead of
the knob 11 being configured to be pushed down and rotated to
adjust microphone gain and rotated without being pushed down to
adjust Bluetooth capability, the knob can be configured to be
pushed down and rotated to adjust Bluetooth capability and rotated
without being pushed down to adjust microphone gain. In at least
some embodiments, the at least one microphone can be configured to
be powered off so as to be unable to emit sound when the knob 11 is
in its proximal position, which can help conserve power.
[0158] The circuit board 19 can include a microphone pickup 51
configured to facilitate sound receipt by the at least one
microphone. The microphone pickup 51 can face the base 13, as shown
in FIG. 6, since the base 13 is positioned on a subject during use
of the stethoscope 10.
[0159] The circuit board 19 can include one or more lights, which
includes eight light emitting diodes (LEDs) 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38,
39 and 40 in this illustrated embodiment. In the case of a single
light, the light can be fitted to a center of the circuit board 19.
In the case of a plurality of lights, the plurality of lights can
be configured as a light ring or light pipe extending around a
perimeter of the stethoscope 10. The lights can be arranged
equidistantly around a perimeter of the circuit board 19, which may
facilitate even lighting around a perimeter of the stethoscope
10.
[0160] The one or more lights can be configured to illuminate in a
single color. The single color can be used to indicate a
characteristic of the stethoscope 10, such as the lights
illuminating for a brief period of tie in response to the
stethoscope 10 being powered on or off or the lights blinking
during data transmission and/or receipt via the USB port 15, and/or
to indicate a bodily characteristic of the subject with which the
stethoscope 10 is associated, such as the lights blinking in
conjunction with sensed heart beats or the lights illuminating at a
point in time corresponding to a detected abnormality such as a
heart murmur or a breath wheeze. Alternatively, the lights can be
configured to illuminate in a plurality of different colors, e.g.,
red, blue, green, orange, yellow, purple, white, etc. As will be
appreciated by a person skilled in the art, each of the lights can
be configured to illuminate in multiple colors to produce the
different colored lights, or different ones of the lights can be
configured to illuminate in different colors to produce the
different colored lights. The plurality of colors can be used to
indicate a characteristic of the stethoscope 10 and/or a bodily
characteristic of the subject with which the stethoscope 10 is
associated similar to that discussed above regarding the lights
being configured to illuminate in a single color. Each of the
plurality of colors in a steady (non-blinking) illuminated state
can be associated with a different characteristic, which may
facilitate fast user identification of the characteristic being
indicated by the lights. Similarly, each of the plurality of colors
in a blinking state can be associated with a different
characteristic, which may facilitate fast user identification of
the characteristic being indicated by the lights. For example,
steady light in a first color for a brief period of time can
indicate the stethoscope 10 being powered on/off, blinking in a
second color can indicate data transmission or receipt via the USB
port 15, blinking in a third color can indicate that the battery 54
needs recharging, steady light in a fourth color can indicate that
the stethoscope 10 has properly powered on and is now ready for
use, spinning light in a fifth color (e.g., successive ones of the
lights being illuminated in a track-like pattern) during
stethoscope 10 use on a subject with the spinning lights changing
to a sixth color at a point in time corresponding to a detected
abnormality and back to the fifth color when the detected
abnormality ceases, blinking light in the first color can indicate
that the stethoscope 10 has been properly synced with another
stethoscope, etc.
[0161] Brightness of the one or more lights can be configured to be
adjusted. The stethoscope 10 can include a light sensor (not shown)
built into the circuit board 19. The light sensor can be configured
to detect external lighting conditions and adjust the intensity of
the one or more lights to suit the intensity of the one or more
lights. For example, when a low level light setting is detected,
the light intensity can be automatically reduced so as to not cause
an extremely bright display. For another example, if the
stethoscope 10 is used outdoors, the light sensor can detects this
operation setting and result in the one or more lights emitting a
more intense setting. In addition to or in alternative to the
stethoscope 10 including a light sensor configured to facilitate
automatic brightness adjustment, the brightness can be adjusted
similar to that discussed above regarding adjustment of microphone
gain, e.g., pushing down the knob 11 and rotating the knob 11 in
the first direction to increase brightness and pushing down the
knob 11 and rotating the knob 11 in the second direction to reduce
brightness. Rotation of the knob 11 can thus be configured to
adjust any two of Bluetooth capability, microphone gain, and
brightness of the lights with one of these features being
adjustable when the knob 11 is rotated in its proximal position and
another one of these features being adjustable when the knob 11 is
rotated in its pushed-down, distal position. Alternatively, the
knob 11 can be configured to adjust all of Bluetooth capability,
microphone gain, and brightness of the lights with one of these
features (e.g., Bluetooth capability) being adjustable when the
knob 11 is rotated in its proximal position and the other two of
these features (e.g., microphone gain and brightness of the lights)
being adjustable when the knob 11 is rotated in its pushed-down,
distal position. In at least some embodiments, the lights can be
configured to be powered off so as to be unable to illuminate when
the knob 11 is in its proximal position, which can help conserve
power.
[0162] The circuit board 19 can include a central aperture 32. The
central aperture 32 can be configured to facilitate coupling of the
rotary potentiometer 8 to the circuit board 19 via a central
connection element 52 configured to extend through the central
aperture 32, as shown in FIG. 6. The central aperture 32 can be
configured to facilitate microphone pickup by helping sound from
outside the stethoscope 10, e.g., sound from a subject on which an
exterior distal surface of the stethoscope 10 (e.g., an exterior
distal surface of the base 13) is placed, be picked up by the first
and second microphones 19M, 19N.
[0163] The rotary potentiometer 8 can have a variety of
configurations. The rotary potentiometer 8 can include the distal
portion 23, an upper or proximal portion, and an intermediate
portion 20 between the upper and lower portions. The distal portion
23 can be positioned over the central aperture 32 of the circuit
board 19, to which the distal portion 23 can be attached. The upper
portion of the rotary potentiometer 8 can include a post 22
configured to be seated in the cavity 45 of the knob 11. The post
22 can have longitudinal splines 21 formed thereon configured to
operatively engage with the longitudinal splines 21A of the knob 11
such that rotation of the knob 11 can cause corresponding rotation
of the post 22 and hence of the distal portion 23 of the
potentiometer 8 attached thereto. The intermediate portion 20 of
the rotary potentiometer 8 can be configured as a bearing surface
for rotation of the hollow body 9 in conjunction with rotation of
knob 11.
[0164] The rotary potentiometer 8, e.g., the distal portion 23
thereof, can include a bias element (not shown), such as a spring.
The bias element can be configured to bias, e.g., spring-load, the
rotary potentiometer 8 to a proximal position. This biasing can
bias the post 22 upwards, which in turn can bias the knob 11 to be
in its default, proximal-most position within the groove 16 of the
hollow body 9.
[0165] The rotary potentiometer 8 can include one or more slots
formed therein, e.g., in a distal surface of the distal portion 23.
The stethoscope 10 includes first and second slots 55, 56 in this
illustrated embodiment. A height of the first and second slots 55,
56 can define an amount of vertical (proximal/distal) movement of
the potentiometer 8 (and the knob 11) relative to the base 13, as
shown by arrow C in FIG. 7, in response to pressing and release of
the knob 11 as shown by arrow B. A length of the engagement between
the splines 21A, 21 of the knob 11 and the post 22 can also define
the amount of vertical movement of the potentiometer 8 (and the
knob 11) relative to the base 13.
[0166] The rotary potentiometer 8 can generally be configured as a
variable resistor or rheostat and can thus generally function as a
voltage divider that can measure electric potential. The rotary
potentiometer 8 can be used to control adjustable microphone
output, such as to increase or decrease sounds provided by the
stethoscope's at least one microphone and/or to provide positive or
negative microphone gain.
[0167] The base 13 can have a variety of configurations. As
mentioned above, the hollow interior 18 of the base 13 can be
configured to seat the distal portion 17 of the hollow body 9
therein and configured to seat the circuit board 19 therein. The
base 13 can include a peripheral cavity 48 configured to retain the
distal portion 17 of the hollow body 9 therein. The base's cavity
48 can be defined by a flexible outer wall 49 and a flexible inner
wall 50.
[0168] The base 13 can have a central opening 13c formed in a
distal surface thereof. The central opening 13c can be configured
to facilitate microphone pickup and can be aligned with the central
aperture 32 of the circuit board 19 to further facilitate
microphone pickup.
[0169] The base 13 can include a viewing window 13w configured to
facilitate visualization of light emitting by the one or more
lights 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40. For example, the viewing
window 13w can be a transparent or translucent portion configured
to allow light to shine therethrough. The viewing window 13w can
extend fully around a perimeter of the base 13, which may
facilitate visualization of emitted light from nearly any angle of
viewing. In an exemplary embodiment, the viewing window 13w is at a
proximal end of the base 13 or is part of a distal portion of the
hollow body 9. Such positioning can facilitate visualization of the
one or more lights 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40 since the
illuminated display will be above (proximal to) the bottom of the
base 13 that is positioned on a subject. A user of the stethoscope
10, as well as the subject, can thus be able to see the body sound
pulse via light display.
[0170] The base 13 can be non-removably attached to the hollow body
9, which may help provide a waterproof device and/or a device
resistant to tampering or damage. Alternatively, the base 13 can be
a modular component configured to be removably and replaceably
coupled to the hollow body 9, which may facilitate cleaning of the
base 13 and/or may allow different bases having different
functionalities to be coupled to a remainder of the stethoscope 10.
The stethoscope 10 can be provided as part of a kit including a
plurality of different bases each configured to be removably and
replaceably attached to the hollow body 9, which may allow a user
to swap bases as desired for particular uses of the stethoscope 10.
Examples of modular bases include a base configured for heart sound
detection that includes ECG sensors, a base configured for
non-heart sound detection that does not include any ECG sensors, a
base configured for respiratory sound detection that includes one
or more oxygen saturation sensors, a base configured for infrared
sensing of temperature that includes one or more infrared sensors,
and a base configured for ultrasound sensing that includes one or
more ultrasound sensors.
[0171] The base 13 can include a wireless charging receiver (not
shown), such as a wireless charging copper plate, to allow for
wireless charging of the stethoscope 10. The wireless charging
receiver can be in addition to or instead of the USB port 15 that
can be configured to facilitate charging of the stethoscope 10.
[0172] The knob 11, the hollow body 9, and the base 13 can be
formed from any of a variety of materials. In an exemplary
embodiment, the knob 11 and the hollow body 9 can be formed from
one or more biocompatible rigid materials, such as stainless steel,
titanium, or any of a number of polymers. Rigid material may help
provide durability to the stethoscope 10. In an exemplary
embodiment, the base 13 can be formed from neoprene or other
flexible or resilient plastics material configured to resiliently
retain the distal portion 17 of the hollow body 9. The flexible
inner and outer walls 49, 50 of the base 13 can facilitate this
resilient retention.
[0173] As shown in FIG. 9, the stethoscope 10 can include a
vibration motor 61 (also referred to herein as a "vibration
generator") configured to vibrate in response to occurrence of a
trigger event. The vibration generator 61 can include any type of
vibration generator, as will be appreciated by a person skilled in
the art. The vibration motor 61 can, as shown in this illustrated
embodiment, be internal to the stethoscope 10, such as by being
attached to the circuit board 19, which may help protect the
vibration motor 61 from being damaged. The vibration of the
vibration motor 61 can cause a sound to be emitted, as represented
by sound lines 60 in FIG. 9. The sound can be heard by a user
handling the stethoscope 10 and any other nearby people, thereby
signaling that a trigger event occurred. The vibration of the
vibration motor 61 can be palpably felt by the user handling the
stethoscope 10, thereby signaling to the user that a trigger event
occurred. The vibration motor 61 can thus be configured to provide
two types of signal, audible (sound) and tactile (palpable
vibration), which may help ensure that the user handling the
stethoscope 10 realizes that a trigger event occurred because at
least one of the audible and tactile signals should be detectable
even if both types of signals are not detected for any reason and
may help ensure that interested parties not handling the
stethoscope 10, and thus unable to feel the vibration, can realize
that a trigger event occurred because the sound can be heard. As
discussed herein, the vibration can be felt by the user holding the
stethoscope 10 as well as by each of one or more other users who
each have a linked stethoscope to the stethoscope 10 and by each of
one or more users who has a mobile device or other electronic
device linked to the stethoscope 10 that uses its own internal
vibration mechanism to provide the vibration.
[0174] A variety of trigger events can be configured to cause the
vibration motor 61 to vibrate. For example, the vibration motor 61
can be configured to vibrate in conjunction with detected heart
sounds (e.g., as short and sharp vibrations) so as to provide a
sound and feel of the heartbeat. For another example, the vibration
motor 61 can be configured to vibrate in conjunction with detected
beginning of breathing inspiration and with detected beginning of
breathing expiration so as to provide a sound and feel of a
breathing cycle. For yet another example, the vibration motor 61
can be configured to vibrate once or in a short series of
vibrations in response to the stethoscope 10 being powered on or
off so as to provide confirmation of the stethoscope's power
status.
[0175] The stethoscope 10 can include a multi-axis accelerometer
(not shown) that can be used to determine an axis and position of
placement of the stethoscope 10 on a subject's body when a
measurement using the stethoscope 10 was taken. The multi-axis
accelerometer can include any type of multi-axis accelerometer, as
will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art. The
accelerometer can, similar to the vibration motor 61, be internal
to the stethoscope 10, such as by being attached to the circuit
board 19, which may help protect the accelerometer from being
damaged. Data regarding the axis and position determined using the
accelerometer may help to describe the subject's position (e.g.
lying down, sitting in a chair, etc.) when the stethoscope 10
reading was taken, and/or the amount of movement or force of the
heartbeat on the subject's chest wall. This data can be useful in
enabling the subject, a user handling the stethoscope 10, and/or
other person to determine an optimal seating position, angle, etc.
for the subject and/or an optimal area on the subject's chest to
pick-up the best sound (e.g., heart sound or lung sound) from the
subject using the stethoscope 10.
[0176] The accelerometer can be configured to help indicate when
the stethoscope 10 is being actively used on a subject, as opposed
to when it is being carried between locations. When, with the
assistance of the accelerometer, the stethoscope 10 (e.g., the
processor 27 thereof) determines that the stethoscope 10 is being
actively used, the stethoscope 10 can be configured to put itself
into a normal energy consumption state (e.g., the processor 27 can
cause the stethoscope 10 to move from an energy saving state to the
normal energy consumption state). Similarly, then the stethoscope
10 determines with the aid of the accelerometer that the
stethoscope is not being used and just being carried, the
stethoscope 10 can be configured to put itself into the energy
saving state.
[0177] The stethoscope 10 can include an audio filter (not shown)
configured to filter out noise from audio that is output from the
stethoscope 10. The audio filter can include any type of audio
filter, as will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art. The
audio filter can, similar to the vibration motor 61, be internal to
the stethoscope 10, such as by being attached to the circuit board
19, which may help protect the audio filter from being damaged. The
audio filter can be configured to remove unwanted surface movement
and scratch noises. If the accelerometer detects movement of the
stethoscope 10 (e.g., if the processor 27 interprets the
accelerometer's gathered data to indicate movement of the
stethoscope 10), the audio filter can be configured to
automatically turn on so that it can filters out any movement or
scratch noises from output audio. If the accelerometer detects that
the stethoscope 10 is stationary (e.g., if the processor 27
interprets the accelerometer's gathered data to indicate that the
stethoscope 10 is not moving), the audio filter can be configured
to automatically turn off since it is not needed to clean output
audio, thereby helping to conserve power and/or processor
resources.
[0178] The stethoscope 10 can include one or more sensors
configured to sense a body characteristic. The sensed data may
facilitate a medical professional's understanding of the bodily
sounds gathered by the stethoscope 10 and/or facilitate diagnosis
of the subject. The one or more sensors can be configured to be
activated in the same way and at the same time as the stethoscope's
at least one audio sensor, e.g., by pushing down the knob 11.
[0179] For example, the stethoscope 10 can include three
electrocardiogram (ECG) EPIC.TM.-type sensors (not shown) (e.g., a
sensor plate). In an exemplary embodiment, the ECG sensors can be
positioned on the exterior distal surface of the base 13 of the
stethoscope at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions (e.g.,
180.degree. apart from one another on opposite sides of the
stethoscope 10). Having ECG sensors can allow a two-lead ECG to be
taken using the stethoscope 10. For example, in use, a user can
grip the base 13 of the stethoscope 10 with the user's index finger
and thumb resting on the knob 11 of the stethoscope 10 and then
push the knob 11 of the stethoscope 10 down using the thumb so as
to activate the ECG sensors, e.g., to electronically connect the
ECG sensors. Electrical signals output from the ECG sensors can
then be used to develop a basic two-lead ECG by processor 27
analysis and/or by off-board processor analysis.
[0180] Electrical signals output by the ECG sensors can define a
trigger event that causes the one or more lights of the stethoscope
10 and/or the vibration motor of the stethoscope 10 to be
activated. More particularly, the one or more lights of the
stethoscope 10, e.g., the LEDs 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40
and/or the vibration motor can be controlled in response to the
electrical signals output by the ECG sensors to indicate any
anomalies detected by the ECG sensors as analyzed by the processor
27 and/or an off-board processor.
[0181] For another example, the stethoscope 10 can include at least
one non-contact thermometer sensor (not shown) configured to detect
body temperature. In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one
temperature sensor can be positioned on the exterior distal surface
of the base 13 so as to be configured to contact a subject's skin
surface during use of the stethoscope 10.
[0182] For yet another example, the stethoscope 10 can include at
least one oxygen saturation sensor (not shown) configured to detect
a percentage of oxygen (pO2) in vessels in the subject's blood when
the stethoscope's pO2 sensor is placed on a finger tip of the
subject. In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one oxygen
saturation sensor can be positioned on the exterior distal surface
of the base 13.
[0183] The stethoscope 10 can be configured to stream data from the
accelerometer and/or the ECG sensors to a software application
executing on an external electronic device (e.g., a Smart phone, a
laptop, a server, etc.). The data can be streamed via a wired
connection (e.g., a connection via the USB port 15) or wirelessly.
The processor 27 can be configured to control the streaming.
[0184] The stethoscope 10 can include a speech recognition facility
for enabling the operation of the stethoscope 10 to be controlled
using verbal commands. For example, the speech recognition facility
can be configured to, in response to a verbal command prompt such
as "OK Stethee" spoken to the stethoscope 10, allow the processor
27 to cause the stethoscope 10 to wake-up from the low energy
consumption state to the normal energy consumption state. For
another example, the speech recognition facility can be configured
to, in response to a verbal command prompt such as "volume up"
spoken to the stethoscope 10, allow the processor 27 to cause the
at least one microphone to increase in gain.
[0185] The stethoscope 10 can include a touch button (not shown)
configured to keep the at least one microphone active and to keep
Bluetooth active. The touch button can thus allow the at least one
microphone and Bluetooth active without the knob 11 having to be
pushed and held down, which may not be appropriate in all
circumstances, such as when pressure placed on a subject's abdomen
is not appropriate, the subject is particularly sensitive to
pressure, etc. The touch button can be configured to be pressed
instead of the knob 11 being pressed and held during sound
detection. Pressing and holding the touch button for a
predetermined amount of time (e.g., one second) can be configured
to keep the stethoscope 10 in the energy saving state, and pressing
the touch button again can be configured to turn off the energy
saving state. The touch button can be configured to illuminate,
e.g., flash green or another color, to indicate this power state
change. Pressing and holding the touch button for a longer
predetermined amount of time (e.g., five seconds) can be configured
to place the stethoscope 10 into Bluetooth connect mode, e.g., to
allow Bluetooth connection. The touch button can be configured to
illuminate in a different wat than is indicate of the energy state
change, e.g., by flashing blue or other color. In addition to or
instead of the stethoscope 10 including the touch button, an
electronic device linked to the stethoscope 10 can provide the
touch button via an APP installed on the electronic device so as to
allow the stethoscope 10 to be activated by remote control. All
functions of the stethoscope 10 can be configured to be accessed
via the APP and controlled like a remote control device.
[0186] The stethoscope 10 can include a display (not shown) such as
an LED display, Smart watch type organic light-emitting diode
(OLED) display, etc. In an exemplary embodiment, the display can be
on the knob 11, which may facilitate visualization of the display
when the stethoscope 10 is in use, e.g., when the base 13 contacts
a subject. The display can include a screen that allows a user of
the stethoscope 10 to see information that would be normally
visualized on a computer or other electronic device, such as via an
APP installed thereon. The stethoscope 10 including the built in
display can allow the stethoscope 10 to function as a standalone
device without needing to be linked to a mobile device or other
electronic device to view information on a graphical user interface
(GUI), such as GUIs discussed further below. The display can be
configured as a touch screen that allows the user to change various
settings on the stethoscope 10 from a settings menu, such as the
settings discussed further below with respect to various GUIs.
[0187] The stethoscope 10 can have a variety of sizes and weights.
The stethoscope 10 can be portable and can consequently have a size
and weight that facilitates easy portability of the stethoscope 10.
In one embodiment, the stethoscope 10 can have a maximum height
(measured vertically) of about 38 mm, a maximum width (measured
horizontally) of about 55 mm, and a weight of about 110 grams.
[0188] FIGS. 10-12B illustrate another embodiment of a stethoscope
10'. The stethoscope 10' can generally be configured and used
similar to the stethoscope 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2, e.g., can include a
knob 11', a hollow body 9', a rotary potentiometer (not shown), a
base 13', a USB port 15', and a circuit board (not shown) having
electronic components (not shown) (e.g., an amplifier chip, a
processor, a Bluetooth chip, a USB unit, one or more microphones,
one or more lights, a vibration motor, etc.), a voltage regulator,
etc.
[0189] FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate another embodiment of a
stethoscope 800. The stethoscope 800 can generally be configured
and used similar to the stethoscope 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2, e.g., can
include a knob 802, a hollow body 804, a rotary potentiometer (not
shown), a base 806, a USB port 808, and a circuit board (not shown)
having electronic components mounted thereon or otherwise attached
thereto, etc. The stethoscope 800 in this illustrated embodiment is
configured to be wirelessly charged using a charging dock 810. The
charging dock 810 can have any of a variety of configurations, as
will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art. As in this
illustrated embodiment, the charging dock 810 can include a
wireless transmitter therein (obscured in FIG. 13A) and can include
a USB charging cord 812 extending therefrom.
[0190] As shown in FIGS. 13B-13D, the base 806 can include a
wireless charging receiver 814, in the form of a wireless charging
coil, coupled to a diaphragm 816 on a bottom (distal) surface of
the base 806. The wireless charging receiver 814 can, for example,
be embedded into the material that forms the diaphragm 816. The
wireless charging receiver 814 can be configured to facilitate
wireless charging of the stethoscope 800 via the charging dock 810
when the stethoscope 800 is sufficiently within transmission range
of the charging dock's wireless transmitter, such as by using the
Qi interface standard. As will be appreciated by a person skilled
in the art, the Qi interface standard facilitates inductive
electrical power transfer from a distance of up to about 4 cm. In
use, the bottom surface of the base 806 that includes the wireless
charging receiver 814 can be placed directly on or within an
effective range of a top (proximal) surface of the dock 810, which
can allow wireless charging of the stethoscope 800 via resonant
inductive coupling.
[0191] The diaphragm 816 can include a first portion that includes
the wireless charging receiver 814 and a second, free portion that
is free of the wireless charging receiver 814. The diaphragm 816
having a free portion may facilitate sound transmission
therethrough. As in this illustrated embodiment, the first portion
can be an outer ring of the diaphragm 816, and the second portion
can be an inner area of the diaphragm 816 within the outer
ring.
[0192] As shown in FIG. 13D, the stethoscope 800 can be configured
to couple to a charging cable 818, e.g., via the stethoscope's USB
port, to allow wired charging of the stethoscope 800. A user can
thus selectively charge the stethoscope wirelessly or by wired
connection.
[0193] FIG. 14 illustrates yet another embodiment of a stethoscope
200. The stethoscope 200 can generally be configured and used
similar to the stethoscope 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2, e.g., can include a
knob 202, a hollow body 204, a rotary potentiometer (not shown), a
base 206, a USB port 208, and a circuit board (not shown) having
electronic components mounted thereon or otherwise attached
thereto, etc. FIG. 14 shows a USB cord 210 inserted in the USB port
208 and a blue light illuminating through a viewing window 211 of
the base 206 indicating the active USB connection. The knob 202 and
the hollow body 204 in this illustrated embodiment are formed from
stainless steel. The knob 202 in this illustrated embodiment has a
gripping feature 212 in the form of a rubber ring.
[0194] FIG. 15 illustrates electronic components mounted on or
otherwise attached to the circuit board of the stethoscope 200. As
shown, the electronic components can include a processor 214, one
or more lights 215 (at least one RGB LED in this illustrated
embodiment) configured to be controlled by the processor 214, a
vibrator (vibration motor) 216 configured to be controlled by the
processor 214 via a driver 217, one or more microphones 218
configured to provide output to the processor 214, an RF unit 220
configured to provide Bluetooth functionality and to electronically
communicate with the processor 214, an amplifier 222 configured to
provide amplified data to the processor 214 from ECG sensors 224
(ECG pads in this illustrated embodiment) on the base 206, an
accelerometer (motion detector) 226 configured to provide data to
the processor 214, a battery manager (battery management) 228
configured to communicate with a battery unit (power source) 230
and the processor 214 and to receive charge via a micro USB 232 in
electronic communication with an induction pad 234 of the USB port
208, and a shaft encoder and switch 236 configured to provide
output to the processor 214.
[0195] As shown in FIG. 16A, the stethoscope 200 can have three
modes of operation: an OFF mode 238 in which the stethoscope 200 is
powered off, an ON mode 240 in which the stethoscope 200 is powered
on and is in a normal energy consumption state, and a STANDBY mode
242 in which the stethoscope 200 is powered on and is in an energy
saving state. Other stethoscopes described herein can be configured
to similarly have three modes of operation.
[0196] In the OFF mode 238, the knob 202 can be pushed down
(distally) 244 relative to the hollow body 204 and the base 206 and
held 244 down for a predetermined amount of time (three seconds in
this illustrated example) to turn 246 on Bluetooth (e.g., to
activate the RF unit 220) and transition the stethoscope 200 from
the OFF mode 238 to the ON mode 240. When the stethoscope 200
enters the ON mode 240, the stethoscope 200 (e.g., the processor
214 thereof) can be configured to check 248 connectivity of the
stethoscope 200 with a network and/or with an external electronic
device. If connectivity exists, the one or more lights can flash
(blink) 250 a number of times in a first color (blue in this
illustrated embodiment) to signal the connectivity to a user of the
stethoscope 200. If connectivity does not exist, the one or more
lights can flash (blink) 252 a number of times in a second color
(red in this illustrated embodiment) to signal the lack of
connectivity to the user of the stethoscope 200, who may then
troubleshoot to establish a connection.
[0197] In the ON mode 240, the stethoscope 200 can be operated 268
to detect a bodily characteristic, e.g., a heartbeat or breathing
The knob 202 can be configured to be pushed down and held 270 to
activate 271 the at least one microphone 218 and thereby allowing
the streaming 272 of sound received by the at least one microphone
218. The knob 202 can be configured to be rotated 274 in a first
direction (clockwise in this illustrated embodiment) to increase
276 gain of the at least one microphone 218 and to be rotated 278
in a second, opposite direction (counterclockwise in this
illustrated embodiment) to decrease 280 gain of the at least one
microphone 218. In response to detected 282 heart beats (or
breathing sounds), the one or more lights 215 can be configured to
illuminate (e.g., flash 284). The stethoscope 200 can be configured
to be moved from operation 268 to suspend 286 the streaming 272 by,
e.g., releasing 288 the knob 202 from its held down position.
[0198] In the ON mode 240, the stethoscope 200 can be configured to
be manually moved 266 by the user to the OFF mode 238, e.g., when
the user knows that use of the stethoscope 200 on the subject is
over or will not be resumed until after a break of time. The
movement in this illustrated embodiment includes the user giving
the knob 202 four or five quick downward taps.
[0199] In the ON mode 240, the stethoscope 200 can be configured to
be manually moved by the user to the STANDBY mode 242, e.g., to
conserve power and/or processor resources when the user knows the
stethoscope 200 will not be immediately used on a subject. The
movement 254 in this illustrated embodiment is caused by the user
giving the knob 202 two quick downward taps. In addition to being
manually movable to the STANDBY mode 242, the stethoscope 200 can
be configured to automatically move from the ON mode 240 to the
STANDBY mode 242 in response to a sleep timer 256 counting passage
of a predetermined amount of time (e.g., an amount of time
preprogrammed into the processor 214 as triggering STANDBY mode
242). In some embodiments, the stethoscope 200 can be configured to
be only manually movable to the STANDBY mode 242 or to be only
automatically movable to the STANDBY mode 242. Whether the STANDBY
mode 242 is reached manually or automatically, the one or more
lights 215 can be configured to flash 258 in a third color (orange
in this illustrated embodiment) to indicate the mode change from ON
to STANDBY.
[0200] The stethoscope 200 can be configured to move from the
STANDBY mode 242 to the ON mode 240 or to the OFF mode 238. The
stethoscope 200 can be configured to be manually moved 260 by the
user from the STANDBY mode 242 to the ON mode 240, e.g., by the
user giving the knob 202 two quick downward taps. The user can thus
prepare the stethoscope 200 for use when the user is ready. The
stethoscope 200 can be configured to be manually moved 262 by the
user from the STANDBY mode 242 to the OFF mode 240, e.g., by the
user giving the knob 202 four or five quick downward taps. In
addition, the stethoscope 200 can be configured to automatically
move 264 to the OFF mode 238 from the STANDBY mode 242, which may
help conserve power and/or processor resources during lack of
stethoscope 200 use. In some embodiments, the stethoscope 200 can
be configured to be only manually movable from the STANDBY mode 242
to the OFF mode 238 or to be only automatically movable from the
STANDBY mode 242 to the OFF mode 238.
[0201] Gathered cardiac body sounds can be analyzed in a variety of
ways. FIG. 16B illustrates an embodiment of cardiac sound analysis
that the processor 214 can perform with respect to audio gathered
by the at least one microphone 218. Other stethoscopes described
herein can have their gathered audio subjected to similar cardiac
sound analysis. In general, the processor 214 can be configured to
process sound in real time with its gathering for detection of a
heart murmur and for detection of S1 (first heart sound), S2
(second heart sound), S3 (third heart sound or protodiastolic
gallop), and S4 (fourth heart sound or presystolic gallop) heart
sound events. The vibrator 216 and the one or more lights 215 can
be configured to provide output in response to the detected murmur
and/or the detected S1, S2, S3, and S4 events, as discussed herein,
such as by the one or more lights 215 pulsing in accordance with
the detected heart rate. Other stethoscopes described herein can be
configured to similarly process sound.
[0202] The at least one microphone 218 can be configured to gather
sound samples 290 at 16 kHz and provide the gathered data to the
processor 214. The stethoscope 200 can include an analog/digital
(A/D) converter, which alone or with a pick-up of the at least one
microphone 218, to convert the gathered audio sounds to a digital
signal that the processor 214 can process. To detect a heart
murmur, the processor 214 can be configured to process the received
data through 291 a high-pass infinite impulse response (IIR) filter
(e.g., a high-pass Butterworth IIR filter) with a cutoff frequency
set at 1000 Hz, through 292 an SNR normalizer to normalize the
filtered sound, through 293 a sound detector to combine the sample
SNR values previously calculated 291, 292 into isolated sounds
(e.g., to combine two sounds within a predetermined time period
into a single sound), and through 294 a murmur sound classifier to
determine whether any of the isolated sounds are indicative of a
murmur based on, e.g., any combination of historical data for the
subject, historical data for a plurality of subjects, length of the
sound, amplitude of the sound, relation between detected individual
sounds such as distance in time between the currently analyzed
sound and one or more previous sounds, etc. To detect S-sounds, the
processor 214 can be configured to process the received data
through 295 a high-pass IIR filter with a cutoff frequency set at
100 Hz to eliminate at least some of the low frequency noise and to
bring out S-sounds of the heart by increasing their signal to noise
ratio (SNR), through 296 an SNR normalizer to normalize the
filtered sound, through 297 a sound detector to combine the sample
SNR values previously calculated 295, 296 into isolated sounds, and
through 298 a sound classifier to determine whether any of the
isolated sounds are indicative of any of an S1, S2, S3, or S4 event
based on, e.g., any combination of historical data for the subject,
historical data for a plurality of subjects, length of the sound,
amplitude of the sound, relation between detected individual sounds
such as distance in time between the currently analyzed sound and
one or more previous sounds, etc.
[0203] Also or instead of processing sound in real time, the sound
can be processed later (e.g., not in real time), which may allow
for more robust analysis and/or for comparison with data not
available to the processor 214 in real time. A sampling rate of the
gathered data can be used as a time reference for the gathered
sound, which may facilitate analysis of the data in real time with
the gathering and after the gathering since it can be known at
which time the sound was gathered.
[0204] Gathered respiratory sounds can be analyzed in a variety of
ways. As will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, heart
rate is related to breathing rate, with heart rate naturally
varying during a breathing cycle (respiratory sinus arrhythmia
(RSA)). The stethoscope 200 can gather cardiac sounds, as discussed
herein, and the gathered cardiac sounds can be used to determine
respiratory rate since a correlation exists between heart rate
variability in the heart beat and heart rate. In other words, heart
rate can be used to determine inspiration and expiration, the
phases of respiration, which can then be used to determine
respiratory rate. Other stethoscopes described herein can have
their gathered audio subjected to similar respiratory sound
analysis.
[0205] Respiratory sounds can be initially processed similar to
that discussed above regarding FIG. 16B and the processing of
cardiac sounds. Namely, sound samples 290 can be sampled at 16 kHz,
the received data can be processed through 295 a high-pass IIR
filter with a cutoff frequency set at 100 Hz to eliminate at least
some of the low frequency noise and to bring out breathing sounds
of the lungs by increasing their SNR, processed through 296 an SNR
normalizer to normalize the filtered sound, processed through 297 a
sound detector to combine the sample SNR values previously
calculated 295, 296 into isolated sounds, and through 298 a sound
classifier to determine whether any of the isolated sounds are
indicative of inspiration and expiration via S1 and S2 patterns in
the gathered sound. An interval (Ti) can be measured between peaks
in the S1/S2 heart rate cycle, and the respiration rate can be
defined as 60/Ti.
[0206] The stethoscope 200 can be configured to confirm the
respiratory rate determined using cardiac sounds in any of one or
more additional ways. The respiratory rate, confirmed through
multiple methods, may therefore be more accurate. Additional ways
in which respiratory rate can be determined include using data
gathered from a spirometer such as a peak flow spirometer, using
body sound data gathered by the stethoscope's one or more
microphones to identify sounds of inspiration, exhalation, and
possible breathing anomalies, and using a gyroscope and
accelerometer. The spirometer may also allow estimation of lung
volume for each of the inspiration and expiation phases.
[0207] FIG. 17A illustrates yet another embodiment of a stethoscope
700. The stethoscope 700 can generally be configured and used
similar to the stethoscope 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2, e.g., can include a
knob 702, a hollow body 704, a rotary potentiometer (not shown), a
base 706, a USB port (not shown), and a circuit board (not shown)
having electronic components mounted thereon or otherwise attached
thereto, etc. The stethoscope 700 in this illustrated embodiment
includes a display 708 thereon. The display 708 can, as discussed
above with respect to the stethoscope 10 of FIG. 1, include any
type of display, such as an LED display, Smart watch type OLED
display, etc. As in this illustrated embodiment, the display 708
can be on a top (proximal) surface of the knob 702, which may
facilitate visualization of the display 708 when the stethoscope
700 is in use, e.g., when the base 706 contacts a subject.
[0208] FIG. 17A shows the display 708 displaying information
indicative of gathered heart sounds via one embodiment of an
interface. The stethoscope 700 can be configured to gather heart
sounds and/or other types of body sounds, as discussed herein. The
information in this illustrated embodiment includes a heart rate
710 of the subject and a "circle display" 712 providing real time
cardiac data, which in this illustrated embodiment includes an
indication of a systolic murmur between S1 and S2. Configurations
of the circle display 712 are discussed further below, e.g., with
respect to the embodiment of FIG. 79. FIG. 17B shows the display
708 displaying information indicative of gathered heart sounds via
another embodiment of an interface.
[0209] A head of a stethoscope can be configured to be removably
and replaceably coupled to a distal remainder of the stethoscope.
Such removability and replaceability may facilitate repair of the
stethoscope, may facilitate cleaning of the stethoscope, and/or may
allow the head to be coupled to another stethoscope (e.g., a distal
portion of another stethoscope) or to an external electronic
device, which may allow for more versatile use of the head. In an
exemplary embodiment, the external electronic device configured to
removably and replaceably couple to the head can include a wearable
electronic device such as a Smart watch or a belt configured
similar to a Smart watch.
[0210] The head 702 of the stethoscope 700 of FIG. 17A, which is
also shown in FIGS. 17C-17E, is one example of a head configured to
be removably and replaceably coupled to a distal portion of the
stethoscope, e.g., to the body 704 and the base 706 of the
stethoscope 700. The head 702 can be configured to be released from
the distal portion of the stethoscope 700 in a variety of ways. As
in this illustrated embodiment, the head 702 can include a push
button 714 configured to be depressed to release the head 702 from
the distal portion of the stethoscope 700, e.g., to release the
head 702 from the body 704 to which the head 702 can be directly
attached.
[0211] The head 702 can be configured to be removably and
replaceably coupled to the distal portion of the stethoscope 700
via a release mechanism. As in this illustrated embodiment, the
release mechanism can include a magnetic connector. The head 702
can include one or more magnetic elements 716 (four magnetic
elements 716 in this illustrated embodiment) configured to
magnetically engage one or more corresponding magnetic contacts 718
(four magnetic contacts 718 in this illustrated embodiment) on the
distal portion of the stethoscope 700, e.g., on the body 704, and
the head 702 can include one or more magnetic contacts 720 (one
magnetic contact 720 in this illustrated embodiment) configured to
magnetically engage one or more corresponding magnetic elements 722
(one magnetic element 722 in this illustrated embodiment) on the
distal portion of the stethoscope 700, e.g., on the body 704. The
magnetic elements 716, 722 can be configured to attract their
respective magnetic contacts 718, 720 thereto to keep the head 702
coupled to the distal portion of the stethoscope 700 until
actuation of the release mechanism (e.g., until the push button 714
is pushed). The actuation of the release mechanism can be
configured to "break" the magnetic force to allow release of the
head 702 from the stethoscope's distal portion.
[0212] As mentioned above, a head of a stethoscope can be
configured to be removably and replaceably coupled to an external
electronic device. FIG. 17F illustrates one embodiment of such an
external electronic device, a Smart watch 724 configured to have a
head of a stethoscope, e.g., the head 702 of the stethoscope 700 of
FIG. 17A, removably and replaceably coupled to a face 726 thereof.
The face 726 can, similar to the distal portion of the stethoscope
700, include one or more magnetic contacts configured to
magnetically engage the head's one or more magnetic elements 716
and one or more magnetic elements configured to magnetically engage
the head's one or more magnetic contacts 722.
[0213] The stethoscopes described herein can be made from any one
or more of a variety of materials. In at least some embodiments,
all or a substantial portion of a stethoscope can be made from
stainless steel, which may provide durability to the stethoscope
and/or facilitate its cleaning. In at least some embodiments, all
or a substantial portion of a stethoscope can be made from aluminum
anodised or plastic, which may allow the stethoscope to be
manufactured at a lower cost than a metallic (e.g., stainless
steel, etc.) stethoscope and thus be more easily obtainable by
doctors and/or other users in particularly cost-conscious
markets.
[0214] The stethoscopes described herein can be configured to
electronically connect to one or more additional devices via a
wired communication link, such as via a wired USB connection,
and/or via a wireless communication link, such as via Bluetooth.
FIG. 18 illustrates an embodiment of a wireless communication link
between the stethoscope 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 with a cell phone 10C
via Bluetooth 10B. FIG. 18 also illustrates a heart 10A of a
subject (not shown) whose sounds the stethoscope 10 can be
configured to detect. Although FIG. 18 shows the stethoscope 10 of
FIGS. 1 and 2, other stethoscopes described herein can be similarly
linked. The cell phone 10C can have an APP installed thereon
configured to, as discussed further below, display a waveform of
the audio signal gathered and processed by the stethoscope 10 and
to display other data analytics sent from the stethoscope 10. The
APP can be configured to control the configuration and set up of
the stethoscope 10. By accessing the settings on the APP these
changes can be passed on to hardware associated with stethoscope
10, e.g., to the processor 27 that can cause the requested changes
to occur. The APP can be configured to allow the user to change
settings of the stethoscope's hardware. For example, the APP can be
configured to allow the user to change the rate of the heart rate
that triggers colors of the at least one light. The APP can be
configured to allow the user to turn off the one or more lights if
required, turn off vibration, or turn off audio signals.
Alternatively, instead of having the APP installed thereon, the
cell phone 10C can access a web page through which similar
functionality can be achieved.
[0215] In the case of a wireless communication link, a stethoscope
can be configured to automatically detect a device once the device
moves in close enough proximity to the stethoscope. For example,
the stethoscope can be configured to read a chip (e.g., an
identification microchip implanted in an animal, a radio frequency
identification (RFID) tag storing patient information, etc.) when
the stethoscope is moved into proximity of the device. The
stethoscope can thus be configured to identify the subject on which
the stethoscope is to be used, which may facilitate comparison of
newly gathered data with historical data for the subject and/or may
allow the stethoscope to provide more accurate output regarding
abnormality of detected sounds since currently gathered data for
the patient can be compared with historical data for the patient.
For another example, the stethoscope can be configured to
automatically connect to the most recently connected device when
the most recently connected device moves into range of the
stethoscope. For yet another example, the stethoscope can be
configured to automatically connect to any device to which the
stethoscope was previously connected when the previously connected
device moves into range of the stethoscope.
[0216] The stethoscopes described herein can be configured for use
on human subjects and on animal subjects. For example, in the case
of an animal, a user can use a stethoscope directly on the animal
in the same way the stethoscope would be used directly by the user
on a human. For another example, a user ca use a stethoscope on a
pregnant woman to detect heart sounds and/or respiratory sounds of
the fetus. For still another example, a non-medically trained user
can use a first stethoscope on a subject at a home of the subject,
and a medically trained user can use a second stethoscope linked to
the first stethoscope. The medically trained user may thus be able
to interpret detected bodily sounds without the medically trained
user being physically proximate to the subject. For yet another
example, in the case of an animal, a handler of the animal (e.g., a
zookeeper, an animal trainer, etc.) can use a first stethoscope on
the animal. A second stethoscope can be linked (e.g.,
electronically connected) to the first stethoscope such that in
real time the first and second stethoscopes can generate the same
output, e.g., same haptic response to representative raw data
signals, same illuminated response to the representative raw data
signals, and/or same audio response to the representative raw data
signals. The animal may thus be approached by the handler, who is
typically a person known to the animal, and accordingly be more
likely to be calm and/or allow use of the stethoscope thereon. The
handler using the first stethoscope need not be able to interpret
the output of the first stethoscope at all and/or in real time with
the output since the user of the second stethoscope, e.g., a
medically trained person, can receive the same output and interpret
the output as needed. The user of the second stethoscope need not
be in proximity of the animal to receive the output via the second
stethoscope, which may help provide user safety, particularly in
the case of more dangerous and/or unpredictable animals and/or in
the case of nervous users.
[0217] The stethoscopes described herein can be configured to
facilitate medical education. For example, in the case of either a
human subject or an animal subject, a teacher, professor, or other
educator can use a first stethoscope on a subject. Each of one or
more students can have a stethoscope linked to the first
stethoscope. Each of the student(s) can thus receive the same
real-time output from their individual stethoscopes as the
real-time output from the first stethoscope. The student(s) may
thus learn how to properly interpret the output of the stethoscope
based on commentary and instruction from the educator and thus be
better able to treat future subjects. The student(s) may be in the
same classroom as the educator, but any one or more of the students
can be remotely located from the educator since the linked
stethoscopes need not be physically near each other to provide the
same outputs as one another, which may allow more students to have
access to and receive education.
[0218] The stethoscopes described herein can be configured to
facilitate analysis of an effect of a subject's location on the
subject's breathing As discussed herein, a stethoscope can be
configured to facilitate determination of respiratory rate and
detection of possible breathing anomalies. Using this information
with one or more location-specific factors of the subject at the
time the stethoscope gathers information, the effect of a subject's
location on the subject's breathing can be evaluated. For example,
a subject may be with a Smart phone or other portable electronic
device configured to detect one or more factors specific to the
subject's current location, such as geo-location (e.g., using a
mobile phone's GPS functionality, etc.), ambient temperature,
pollen count, UV index, wind speed, wind direction, humidity,
pollution index, and altitude. The data gathered for these factors
can be time-stamped such that the gathered factor data can be
time-matched to gathered respiratory sound data to facilitate
evaluation of the effect of the subject's location on breathing.
The stethoscope can be configured to receive the data gathered for
these factors, e.g., via a wired or wireless communication link,
and be configured to perform this analysis. Additionally or
alternatively, an off-board processor can be configured to perform
this analysis.
[0219] The stethoscopes described herein can be configured to
facilitate determining the severity of a subject's asthma attacks
or pneumonia infection. A baseline of the patient's breathing can
be established over time can be established using data gathered
from a stethoscope so as to allow comparison of data thereto in the
event of anomalies subject conditions such as asthma attacks or
pneumonia.
[0220] The stethoscopes described herein can be used in a variety
of ways. FIGS. 19-22 illustrate embodiments of using the
stethoscope 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2. Although these uses are described
with respect to the stethoscope 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2, other
stethoscopes described herein can be similarly used.
[0221] As shown in FIG. 19, the knob 11 (also referred to herein as
a "head") can be rotated 300 (e.g., spun) in a first direction
(e.g., clockwise) to turn the stethoscope 10 on, e.g., move the
stethoscope 10 from an OFF mode to an ON mode, and to turn on 302
Bluetooth, e.g., to activate the Bluetooth chip 28. With Bluetooth
on, the stethoscope 10 can pair for a predetermined amount of time
(e.g., two minutes) with an external electronic device, such as by
automatically pairing 304 with the external electronic device most
recently linked to the stethoscope 10, by manually pairing 306 with
a Bluetooth headset upon actuation (e.g., pushing) of a pairing
button on the headset or the stethoscope 10, and/or by manually or
automatically pairing 308 with multiple Bluetooth headsets.
Automatic pairing such as the pairing 304 with the most recent
device can be automatically terminated 310 after elapse of a
predetermined amount of time (e.g., two minutes) and thereby turn
off 312 Bluetooth, e.g., de-activate the Bluetooth chip 28.
[0222] With the stethoscope 10 on, the knob 11 can be pushed down
to activate the at least one microphone and the at least one light.
With the knob 11 held down, the knob 11 can be selectively rotated
314 in a first direction (e.g., clockwise) to increase microphone
gain and rotated 316 in a second, opposite direction (e.g.,
counterclockwise) to decrease microphone gain. Releasing 318 the
knob 11 can cause the knob 11 to move up (proximally), due to its
biased nature, and thereby de-activate the at least one microphone
and the at least one light. The release 318 can be configured to
trigger the processor 27 to transmit to an external electronic
device data generated and/or gathered by the at least one
microphone during the immediately preceding listening session. At
least some of the data transmitted, such as the gain(s), can be
processed by a DSP, e.g., the amplifier 25, before being
transmitted.
[0223] The knob 11 can be pushed down with the exterior distal
surface base 13 of the stethoscope 10 positioned on a target skin
surface area of a subject, e.g., an area adjacent a heart of the
subject or an area adjacent a lung of the patient. As shown in FIG.
20, sound from within the subject at the target area at which the
stethoscope 10 is positioned can be picked up via the at least one
microphone and microphone pick up 51. The gathered sounds can be
transmitted to and processed under instruction of the processor 27,
e.g., to remove noise, to combine sounds as needed, etc. The
processor 27 can cause the LEDs 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40
to pulse (spin) 320 in sync with the gathered sounds, which include
heart sounds S1, S2, etc. in this illustrated embodiment in which
the stethoscope 10 is positioned adjacent (e.g., above) the
subject's heart. As shown in FIG. 21, the LEDs 33, 34, 35, 36, 37,
38, 39 and 40 can illuminate 326 in a spin pattern 328 (e.g.,
successive ones of the lights being illuminated in a track-like
pattern) in a first color (e.g., green) 330 for a heart rate of
40-70 bpm, a second color (e.g., amber) 332 for a heart rate of
70-120 bpm, a third color (e.g., red) 334 for a heart rate of
120-180 bpm, and a fourth color (e.g., purple) 336 for a possible
heart murmur. FIG. 21 also illustrates the vibration of the knob
11, as indicated by the sound lines 60, in sync with the gathered
sounds and hence also in sync with the at least one light.
[0224] FIG. 21 also shows that, prior to the at least one light's
synced illumination, the LEDs 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40 can
illuminate 338 (e.g., blink, spin, or be steady) in a fifth color
(e.g., blue) to indicate that the processor 27 is on and paired
with the external electronic device 322 and is transmitting data
thereto. In an exemplary embodiment, the LEDs 33, 34, 35, 36, 37,
38, 39 and 40 can illuminate 338 spin in the fifth color during
pairing to indicate a search mode until a connection is
established, at which time the synced illumination 326 may
begin.
[0225] The processor 27 can be configured to cause the gathered
sound data (raw and/or as processed by the processor 27) and/or the
synced light color pattern to an external electronic device 322,
which includes a mobile phone in this illustrated embodiment, via
Bluetooth using the Bluetooth chip 28. In an exemplary embodiment,
the data is transmitted after the current session of the
stethoscope's use is completed, e.g., after the knob 11 is released
to turn off the at least one microphone, which may help maximize
and amount of capabilities available on board the stethoscope 10 to
handle the gathering and analyzing of sound data. In other
embodiments, the data can be transmitted in real time with its
gathering and analysis or in batches during the current session of
stethoscope 10 use. The external electronic device 322 can cause
the received sound data to be stored 324 in a cloud based system,
website, and/or other storage system for archiving and/or for
further analysis.
[0226] As shown in FIG. 22, the stethoscope 10 can include a color
selector pulse switch 340 and an ON/OFF pulse selector switch 342
that can be coupled to the color selector pulse switch 340. The
color selector pulse switch 340 and the ON/OFF pulse selector
switch 342 can be configured to allow color selection by a user of
the colors used to indicate various statuses related to the
gathered sounds. The colors can be set to an initial default that
can be changed as desired by the user. The at least one light
indicating ON/OFF and pairing status of the stethoscope 10 can be
controlled via the ON/OFF pulse selector switch 342. The ON/OFF
pulse selector switch 342 can be configured to be controlled by the
external electronic device 322 paired with the stethoscope 10,
e.g., with an APP installed on the external electronic device 322
or via web page accessed by the external electronic device 322,
and/or controlled by the processor 27, e.g., via a software
application installed on the stethoscope 10. The at least one light
indicating gathered sounds can be controlled via the color selector
pulse switch 340. The color selector pulse switch 340 can allow a
user to select the ranges for various conditions that may be
indicated by the gathered sounds (e.g., heart bpm ranges for each
of a plurality of light colors or number of breaths per minute for
each of a plurality of light colors).
[0227] The processor 27 can be configured to compute 344 a pulse
indicated by the gathered sounds (which as mentioned above include
heart sounds in this illustrated embodiment) and assign a light
pulse that matches subject's heart rate. The computed pulse and the
gathered sounds 350 (e.g., gathered heart sounds S1, S2, murmur,
etc.) determines 346 heart rate, which controls 348 the pulse rate
of the at least one light. The processor 27 can also be configured
to analyze 352 the gathered sounds 354, in addition to the external
electronic device 322 being configured to analyze the gathered
sounds received from the stethoscope 10.
[0228] FIG. 23 illustrates an embodiment of pairing (linking)
arrangements and network configuration of a stethoscope (e.g., any
of the stethoscopes described herein) and an electronic device
external to the stethoscope. Stethoscopes are referred to "hardware
devices" 101, 111, 115, 123 in FIG. 23, and the terms are used
interchangeably herein. External electronic devices in FIG. 23
include Bluetooth headsets 109, 113, 117, 125 and mobile devices
107, 121, such as Smart phones, Smart watches, tablets, and
laptops, but as mentioned above, external electronic devices paired
with stethoscopes can be other types of electronic devices, such as
non-mobile servers and non-mobile desktop computers. As shown in
FIG. 23, a first hardware device 101 can be paired to a first
headset 109, a second headset 113, a first mobile device 107, and a
second hardware device 111; the second hardware device 111 can also
be paired to the second headset 113 and to the first mobile device
107, a third hardware device 115 can be paired to a third headset
117 and to the first mobile device 107, and a fourth hardware
device 123 can be paired to a fourth headset 125 and to a second
mobile device 121. Thus, a stethoscope can be configured to be
simultaneously paired with one or more external electronic devices
(e.g., the first hardware device 101 being paired with both the
first headset 109 and the first mobile device 107), and an
electronic device can be configured to be simultaneously paired
with one or more stethoscopes (e.g., the first mobile device 107
being paired with the first, second, and third hardware devices
101, 111, 115).
[0229] A stethoscope can be configured to pair (link) with one or
more other stethoscopes. In this way, when one of the linked
stethoscopes gathers data, the one or more others of the linked
stethoscopes can receive the gathered data directly from the
stethoscope that gathered the data, thereby allowing all of the
stethoscopes to output the same sound, light, and/or vibration
indicative of the sounds gathered by just one of the stethoscopes.
For example, as shown in FIG. 23, the first hardware device 101 is
paired with the second hardware device 111. Therefore, when the
first hardware device 101 receives raw data signals representative
of bodily characteristic (e.g., heart sounds, lung sounds, or other
body sounds), and trans representative raw data signals, the second
hardware device 111 can receive the representative raw data signals
from the first hardware device 101. Therefore, the first hardware
device 101 and the second hardware device 111 in real-time can
generate the same output that can include a haptic response to the
representative raw data signals, an illuminated response to the
representative raw data signals, and/or an audio response to the
representative raw data signals.
[0230] FIG. 23 also illustrates a remote server 119 that can be
configured to be in electronic communication with an electronic
device paired with a stethoscope, which may facilitate storage of
historical data and/or secure backup of data. In this illustrated
embodiment, the mobile devices 107, 121 are in electronic
communication with the remote server 119. Thus, a remote server can
be configured to electronically communicate with a plurality of
electronic devices and thus be configured to receive data relating
to a plurality of stethoscopes.
[0231] From a remote location, the first mobile device 107 and the
second mobile device 121 can each be configured to download an
application (APP) from the remote server 119, which can then be
installed on the first mobile device 107 and the second mobile
device 121, as will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art.
The APP can facilitate the pairing of the mobile devices 107, 121
with one or more of the stethoscopes 101, 111, 115, 123. The first
hardware device 101 can have associated therewith a first unique
identifier, and the second hardware device 123 can have associated
therewith a second unique identifier. The first mobile device 101
and the second mobile device 121 can be configured to transmit to
the remote server 119 the first unique identifier and the second
unique identifier, respectively. The APP can facilitate the
establishment of links between the first hardware device 101 and
the second hardware device 121 in a network according to the first
unique identifier and the second unique identifier, respectively.
According, data transfer can be provided via the network between
the hardware devices 101, 111, 115 linked to the first mobile
device 107 and the hardware device 123 linked to the second mobile
device 121. Other forms of communication such as messaging
(texting, emailing, etc.), voice, and video can also be enabled via
the network. Thus, as discussed above, in a remote location, in
real-time, the same immersive three-dimensional user experience of,
for example, the first hardware device 101 and its paired headset
109 can be experienced via the fourth hardware device 123 and its
paired headset 125.
[0232] In use, the first hardware device 101 can monitor at least
one of heart sounds and lung sounds to generate raw data signals
103 that can include at least one of heart sound raw data signals
and lung sound or other body sounds raw data signals. The sounds
can be heard by first and second users via the first headset 109
and the second headset 113, respectively, and can be similarly
output by sound, vibration, and/or light at the first hardware
device 101 and the second hardware device 111 linked thereto. The
second hardware device 111 can be remote from the first hardware
device 101 since the pairing is electronic and can be remote via
network connection. The first hardware device 101 can transmit at
least one of the heart sound representative raw data signals and
the lung sound representative raw data signals or other body sound
signals via Bluetooth 105 to the first mobile device 107 linked to
the first hardware device 101. The raw data signals can further
include at least one of ECG signal, gyroscope signals, temperature
signals, infrared signals and ultrasound signals and others as
included. For example, accelerometer signals can provide patient
positional information gained from the gyroscope signals.
[0233] As shown in FIG. 23, the first mobile device 107 can have a
display device for generating an indicia of at least one of the
representative raw data signals 105, an interpolation in a graphic
form of the representative raw data signals 105 indicating
characteristics determined from the representative raw data
signals, and a diagnosis presented by the representative raw data
105 provided by subjecting the representative raw data 105 to a
diagnosis model. Below are discussed various manners in which the
representative data can be displayed on the first mobile device 107
(and on any other electronic device linked to a stethoscope
providing representative data thereto). For example, below are
shown an interpolation in a graphic form of representative raw data
signals indicating characteristics determined from the
representative raw data signals comprises color coded indicia of
systole and a diastole events on a time line representative of
timing of the systole and diastole events.
[0234] The headsets 109, 113, 117, 125 of FIG. 23 can have a
variety of configurations, as will be appreciated by a person
skilled in the art. FIGS. 23A-23C illustrate one embodiment of a
headset 181 that can be used as any one or more of the headsets
109, 113, 117, 125. The headset 181 of this illustrated embodiment
is configured as a behind-the-neck headset 181 configured to
receive data. The headset 181 can include a plurality of ear phones
182a, 182b, a behind-the-neck member 183 for supporting the ear
phones 182a, 182b, and an outward facing LED 185 housed in the
behind-the-neck member 183. When illuminated, the light of the LED
185 can be directed in an outward direction away from a user's neck
when the headset 181 is worn by a user. The outward facing LED 185
can be in a low illumination mode when the headset 181 is not
receiving data. The outward facing LED 185 can be in a high
illumination mode when the headset 181 is receiving data. The
headset 181 can include LEDs 187 housed on the ear phone's support
housings 187a, 187b that can be in a low illumination mode when the
headset 181 is not receiving data and that can be in a high
illumination mode when the headset 181 is receiving data.
[0235] FIG. 24 illustrates an embodiment of processing data
collected from a hardware device. Using the first hardware device
101 and the system of FIG. 23 by way of example, the hardware
device 101 can be configured to sense body and other signals,
collect raw data and transmit representative raw data signals 131
to a diagnosis model 133 stored in any number of possible
locations. The raw data signals 131 can include any one or more of
heart sound signals (e.g., sounds gathered by an audio sensor of
the device 101), ECG signals (e.g., ECG data gathered by ECG
sensors of the device 101), lung sound signals (e.g., sounds
gathered by an audio sensor of the device 101), gyroscope signals
(e.g., directional data indicative of a directional position of the
device 101 gathered by an accelerometer or other directional sensor
of the device 101), temperature signals (e.g., a temperature sensed
by a temperature sensor of the device 101), infrared signals (e.g.,
infrared data gathered by an infrared sensor of the device 101),
and ultrasound signals (e.g., ultrasound data gathered by an
ultrasound senor of the device 101). For example, the diagnosis
model 133 can be store on the first mobile device 107, an
electronic device in the form of a personal computer (PC) 135, or
at the remote server 119. Where the diagnosis takes place can be
dependent upon the resources available. The diagnosis model 133 can
include access to a data library 137 where disease data indicative
of symptoms of diseases can be stored. The diagnosis model 133 can
be configured to correlate the representative raw data signals 131
of an anomaly with the disease data.
[0236] The diagnosis model 131 can include known algorithms, and
can include algorithms developed specifically for the purpose of
processing the collected information from the first hardware device
101. As data is collected with respect to, for example, location
which may be determined based on GPS signals routinely available in
a mobile device such as the first mobile device 107, models for
study of effects of, for example, location can be established.
Comparative modelling can be performed by the diagnosis model 131
based on data of ambient conditions such as humidity, temperature,
and barometric pressure. Altitude may be recorded. Any type of data
collection can be performed to assist in understanding heart
conditions and/or respiratory conditions. New discoveries on types
and causes of heart and other conditions are therefore possible
based upon the types of data that can be collected and the
analytics used to process the data. Furthermore, other attributes
such as age, race, weight, height, gender, and the like, as well as
any changes to that data, may provide further opportunity to model
output based on the collected data by the first hardware device 101
that may be supplemented with additional data collected at the same
time, or at a different time.
[0237] For example, an algorithm of the diagnosis model 133 can be
configured to use wavelet transformations as a method of pattern
detection, which is a very efficient method in medical signal
processing. Such has also been applied to speech signal and
performed reasonably well in speech and speaker recognition. For
gathered heart-related data, the incoming heart beat can be
stripped down to basic waveforms, and each waveform can be given a
unique identifier. The timing and amplitude as well as the spatial
position in the context of the entire sample can be included in the
information relating to the unique waveform identifier. Each
subject's heart beat can be given a code (e.g., a string of
numbers, etc.) composed of a collection of S1 S2 markers and an
additional S3 S4 or S5 sounds. Other anomalies can be given S6 S7
S8 S9 and so on. Amplitude can be given a reference range A1-A10.
Timing can be given a reference T in + and -. In an at least some
embodiments, three axes of timing can be provided. Clock Sync
information in relation to the vibration force can be included.
[0238] The library 137 can contain, heart, lung, abdominal, and
other body sounds having had the same algorithm of the diagnosis
model 133 applied to the sample sounds. All major and minor heart
sounds relating to medical conditions as well as lung and abdominal
sounds can be assigned this S and A code along with minimum and
maximum timing between intervals. The identifiers can then best
matched up with the incoming audio signal (gathered by the first
hardware device 101) and the patterns in the library 137 to produce
a match based on the subject's profile (e.g., age, eight, height,
sex, previous medical history, medication and family history of
disease) to help provide clinically accurate diagnostic advice. As
mentioned above, a display device of, for example, the first mobile
device 107 or the PC 135, can be configured to provide an
interpolation in a graphic form of the representative raw data
signals indicating characteristics determined from the
representative raw data signals including, for heart-related data,
color coded indicia of systole and a diastole events and an anomaly
event on a time line representative of timing of the systole,
diastole, and anomaly events as a result of the output of the
diagnostic model 133.
[0239] FIG. 25 illustrates an embodiment of a method of an
establishment of at least two hardware devices forming a network in
which data and communication can be provided therebetween. The
method of FIG. 25 is described with reference to elements of FIG.
23, an excerpt of which is shown in FIG. 26 for clarity of
discussion, but any of the stethoscopes and electronic devices
discussed herein can similarly function. The first mobile device
107 can download 141 an APP from the remote server 119 (e.g., in
response to first user instruction), and the second mobile device
121 can download 143 the APP from the remote server 119 (e.g., in
response to second user instruction). The first hardware device 101
can provide an opportunity to establish a network with the first
hardware device 101 linked to the first mobile device 107 that is
in communication with the remote server 119. Similarly, the fourth
hardware device 123 can provide an opportunity to establish the
network with the fourth hardware device 123 linked to the second
mobile device 121 that is in communication with the remote server
119.
[0240] The first and fourth mobile devices 101, 123 can, via the
APP downloaded thereto and installed thereon, pair 145, 147 with
the first and fourth hardware devices 105, 123, respectively, which
can each have a unique identifier transmitted 149, 151 to the
remote server 119. The first fourth second hardware devices 101,
123 can each be linked 153 to the network according to their
respective unique identifiers. Users of the hardware devices 101,
123 can establish 155, 157 profiles on their associated one of the
devices 101, 123, and the users' credentials can be determined 159,
161. Credentials cab help establish which users are health care
professionals so that a network can be established 163 between
health care professionals. Depending upon the links established
between users, data can be transferred 167 and other forms of
communication such as messaging can occur 169.
[0241] FIG. 27 shows types of communication links that can be
established between users of the stethoscopes described herein once
the stethoscopes are established in a network. As mentioned above,
credentials as part of a profile can be determined. In this
illustrated example, users such as patients, assistants, and
consultants 171a, 171b, 171c may not be provided direct access to
one another, as in this illustrated embodiment. However, peers
(Peer #1, Peer #2 and Peer #3) 173 can be configured to provide
access to the network. The peers 173 can, for example, be doctors.
Doctors may further be administered by the clinics or hospitals for
which they work. The network can be configured to provide data
transfer and communication via, for example, messaging, voice, and
video between peers 173 at one level, and between other users 171a,
171b, 171c at another level.
[0242] FIG. 28 illustrates another embodiment of pairing (linking)
arrangements and network configuration of a stethoscope (e.g., any
of the stethoscopes described herein) and an electronic device
external to the stethoscope. Stethoscopes are referred to "Stethee"
190, 191, 192, 193, 194 in FIG. 28. An external electronic device
in FIG. 28 includes a remote server 195. As shown, the stethoscopes
190, 191, 192, 193, 194 can be located in multiple different
countries and can be configured to share information with one
another via the server 195. Thus, data (referred to as "packets" in
FIG. 28) can be shared between remote locations, which may
facilitate collaboration and community in a professional network
196, and/or may facilitate learning by allowing one of the
stethoscopes 190, 191, 192, 193, 194 to be used on a subject while
any one or more of the other stethoscopes 190, 191, 192, 193, 194
can output the same audio, vibration, and/or light as the
stethoscope being used on the subject. The countries in FIG. 28 are
examples only.
[0243] As mentioned above, data related to bodily characteristics
can be displayed in a variety of ways. The data can be displayed
via a GUI or screen on an electronic device. The screen can show a
variety of different types of information, and the information can
be displayed in any of a variety of ways.
[0244] FIGS. 29-80 and 82-84 illustrate embodiments of screens
including data related to use of a stethoscope that can each be
configured to be provided by a system. The information shown on
these screens are examples only, and any of the screens can include
more information or less information. The screens discussed below
with respect to FIGS. 29-80 and 82-84 are touchscreens, but similar
screens can be provided on other types of displays.
[0245] FIGS. 29-31 illustrate embodiments of screens displaying
information related to data gathered by a stethoscope (identified
as "Adrian's Stethee" in FIGS. 29-31). Raw data can be collected by
the stethoscope, processed by the diagnostic model, and provided on
the screen as a user friendly GUI to show representative raw data.
The screens can each include a menu 400 that allows a user to
select cardiology data (e.g., heart data), respiratory data (e.g.,
lung data), or general data (e.g., abdominal data that is specific
to either the heart or the lung). The one of the menu items
selected can determine which algorithms are used to analyze the
gathered data to help ensure that accurate information is gathered,
is displayed on the screen, and is properly vetted for possible
anomalies.
[0246] The screens of FIGS. 29-31 can each include a configuration
icon 402 that allows a user to view and/or adjust settings such as
stethoscope settings information (e.g., colors, sounds, etc.) and
information regarding the subject on which the stethoscope is being
used.
[0247] FIGS. 29 and 30 have "cardiology" selected and display heart
information. The screens can include an indication 404 of a
detected possible anomaly, which includes a systolic murmur in this
illustrated example. FIG. 30 also shows details regarding the
detected possible anomaly, namely that it is occurring 0.02 ms
after S1 and 0.34 ms before S2. The screens can show a current
heart rate 406. The screens can include a timeline 408 that allows
the user to select an amount of sample data to analyze by
shortening or lengthening the currently highlighted period of time
in the timeline 408. Portions of the timeline 408 can be identified
as "Systole" or "Diastole" to facilitate the user's quick
identification of which phase of the heartbeat cycle any detected
possible anomalies exist. In this illustrated embodiment, this
identification is in a bar below the timeline 408 and above a grid
410.
[0248] The screens can include the grid 410 that identifies and
represents S1 and S2 heart sounds in different colors from one
another (e.g., S1 in blue and S2 in green) to facilitate easy
identification of the heart sounds. The grid 410 can also identify
and represent any possible anomalies such as extra or abnormal
heart sounds. The possible anomalies can be on the grid 410 in a
different color (e.g., red) than the S1 and S2 heart sounds to
facilitate their easy identification. The grid 410 in this
illustrated embodiment is split into ten bars between S1 and S2,
with each of the bars representing location of an "extra" sound in
relation to S1 and S2 sounds and an amplitude of each of the
"extra" sound bars sound in relation to S1 and S2 sounds (with the
Y axis being amplitude and the X axis being time in seconds and
milliseconds, as shown in FIG. 30). The "extra" sound represents a
detected possible anomaly. Selection of the "extra" bar can cause
the details regarding the detected possible anomaly to appear. A
number of bars between S1 and S2 in the grid 410 can be determined
by the algorithm of the diagnosis model and sample data for normal
heart sounds at the current heart rate. Bar sensitivity can be
adjusted up to, e.g., one hundred bars between S1 and S2 and
between S2 and S1. In general, the grid 410 can allow the user to
quickly determine and classify heart sound anomalies and diagnosis
based on pattern recognition and colors of the bars.
[0249] The screens can include a waveform 412 representative of the
audio incoming from the stethoscope. The timeline 408, the grid
410, and the waveform 412 can all be on the same time scale and
aligned with one another to facilitate clear, consistent display
and interpretation of data.
[0250] The screens can include a selectable "Share" icon that
allows the user to send the gathered data to another person, such
as the subject's general practitioner, to one or more of the user's
medical colleagues, etc. The screens can include a selectable
"History" icon that allows the user to view historical data for the
subject on which the stethoscope is being used. The screens can
include a selectable "Process Audio" icon that allows the user to
analyze the most recently gathered sounds. The screens can include
a selectable "Delete Sample" icon that allows the user to delete
the most recently gathered sounds, such as if the user believes
that the data was not accurately collected due to any one or more
factors such as improper or irregular placement of the stethoscope
on the subject's chest.
[0251] FIG. 31 has "respiratory" selected and displays breathing
information. The screen can show a current respiratory rate, which
in this illustrated embodiment is nineteen breaths per minute. The
screen can include a grid 414 that can generally be configured
similar to the grid 410 for heart sounds, and can include a
waveform 416 that can generally be configured similar to the
waveform 412 for heart sounds. Inspiration ("Insp") and expiration
("Exp") can be identified on the screen along the time (X) axis
similar to the "Systole" or "Diastole" labels on the heart
information screens.
[0252] FIGS. 32-35 illustrate embodiments of screens that may
facilitate team building with respect to information related to
data gathered by a stethoscope. Members of a team can automatically
have the information shared therebetween, which may facilitate
community, accurate patient diagnoses, and/or learning. FIG. 32
shows a login screen for a user. FIG. 33 shows a team screen for
the logged-in user that includes the user's identity, the team's
name, and an ability to add additional team members. FIG. 34 shows
a team add screen that allows team members to be added to the team
and for other settings related to the team to be edited, such as
team moto, team flag or logo, and team name. FIG. 35 shows the team
page of FIG. 33 after team members have been added to the team via
the add screen of FIG. 34.
[0253] FIGS. 36-45 illustrate embodiments of screens to facilitate
the sharing of information related to data gathered by a
stethoscope with one or more peers (e.g., among team members, with
the subject on whom the stethoscope was used, with a doctor of the
subject on whom the stethoscope was used, with students, etc.).
FIG. 36 shows a share selection screen that allows a user of a
stethoscope to share gathered data with a peer, "Dr. D. Wiseman" in
this illustrated embodiment. The user can select a type of
information to share (e.g., heartbeat, lung sounds, or abdominal)
and can add a message to be delivered to the peer with the shared
information. FIGS. 37 and 38 show cardiac share screens that allow
the user to select which gathered cardiac data to share with a
selected peer (or peers). FIG. 39 show a referral received screen
that indicates receipt of a referral (from Dr. D. Wiseman to Dr.
Adrians in this illustrated embodiment), which includes information
selected to be transmitted to the selected peer, which is Dr.
Adrians in this illustrated embodiment. FIG. 40 shows a referral
center screen that shows received referrals and allows the user to
share information with other peers. FIG. 41 shows a referred
information screen that shows the information received, which in
this illustrated embodiment is information that Dr. Adrians
received from Dr. D. Wiseman. FIG. 42 shows a map screen that
indicates a location of the user's stethoscope, which can be
determined based on, for example, GPS information for the
stethoscope. FIG. 43 shows a referrals list screen that indicates
all referrals received from a specific peer, Dr. D. Wiseman in this
illustrated embodiment. FIG. 44 shows a team screen that identifies
the user's (Dr. Adrians's) team members and communication options
for communication with any one or more of the team members. FIG. 45
shows a communication screen between the user and one of the team
members.
[0254] FIG. 46 illustrates another embodiment of a login
screen.
[0255] FIG. 47 illustrates an embodiment of a library screen that
indicates a mode of library selected in the GUI. The library can be
stored data of particular persons or generic data that may be used
by the diagnostic model.
[0256] FIGS. 48-64 illustrate embodiments of screens showing
various features of the stethoscopes described herein that can be
viewable in conjunction with the systems and methods of the
stethoscope as they are configurable and useable via a paired
electronic device's GUI. FIG. 48 shows a library screen identifying
previously recorded sounds, including subject name, date and time
the sound data was gathered, and a length of the recorded sound.
FIG. 49 shows a library detail screen that is similar to the
library screen but also includes an option to play each of the
recorded sounds. FIG. 50 shows a recording confirmation screen
indicating that a recording session has ended (e.g., the
stethoscope's microphone(s) have been turned off) and that the
recorded data has been saved locally at the stethoscope and
remotely at a server. FIG. 51 shows a subject detail screen listing
all recordings for a selected subject, which may be accessed by
selecting the subject's name from the library screen or the library
detail screen. FIG. 52 shows a recording detail screen providing a
recording of a session, including a playback feature and a remote
upload on/off feature. FIG. 53 shows a recording control screen
that allows the user to select whether the recording is controlled
locally by the stethoscope or remotely via electronic device APP.
The recording control screen also includes the playback feature and
the remote upload on/off feature. FIG. 54 shows a local control
screen. FIG. 55 shows a remote control screen. FIG. 56 shows a
start screen that allows a recording to be started. FIG. 57 shows a
recording progress screen after the recording has been started via
the start screen of FIG. 56. FIG. 58 shows a stop screen that shows
the recording after it has been stopped via the recording progress
screen of FIG. 57. FIG. 59 shows a playback screen that allows the
playing of the recording stopped via the stop screen of FIG. 58.
FIG. 60 shows an expanded playback screen that shows the recording
of FIG. 58 on a larger timescale than the recording is shown in
FIG. 59 to help make the displayed waveform easier to interpret.
The playback screen that allows the playing of the expanded
recording of FIG. 60, which is paused in FIG. 60. FIG. 61 shows
another playback screen that allows the pausing of the expanded
recording of FIG. 60, which is playing in FIG. 61. FIG. 62 shows an
editing screen that allows the recording to be trimmed to a subset
of the recorded time. FIG. 63 shows another start screen. FIG. 64
shows a recording progress screen after the recording has been
started via the start screen of FIG. 63.
[0257] FIG. 65 illustrates an embodiment of a subject (patient)
select screen that allows a subject to be chosen for use with the
stethoscope. FIG. 66 illustrates an embodiment of a recording
progress screen for the patient selected via the subject select
screen of FIG. 65.
[0258] FIGS. 67-78 illustrate embodiments of screens for setting
various electronic device settings. FIG. 67 shows a device settings
screen for a professional mode of operation. The device settings
screen identifies current settings of the electronic device,
including identity of the stethoscope to which the electronic
device is paired, a mode of operation (which is "professional"), a
gain, an automatic sleep time after which the stethoscope will go
into a sleep mode or energy saving state, and an automatic shutdown
time after which the stethoscope will turn off or go into OFF mode.
FIG. 68 shows a device settings screen for a general mode of
operation. The device settings screen identifies current settings
of the electronic device, including identity of the stethoscope to
which the electronic device is paired, a mode of operation (which
is "general"), a gain, and an automatic sleep time after which the
stethoscope will go into a sleep mode or energy saving state. FIG.
69 shows a device settings screen for a teacher mode of operation.
The device settings screen identifies current settings of the
electronic device, including identity of the stethoscope to which
the electronic device is paired and whether automatic linking to
student stethoscopes is allowed. FIG. 70 shows the device settings
screen of FIG. 69 after six student stethoscopes have been linked
to the stethoscope. FIG. 71 shows a device settings screen for a
student mode of operation. The device settings screen identifies
current settings of the electronic device, including identity of
the stethoscope to which the electronic device is paired, identity
of the teacher stethoscope to which the electronic device is
paired, and whether the teacher's stethoscope is set as a favorite.
FIG. 72 shows a stethoscope settings screen that allows the
stethoscope linked to the electronic device to be unlinked
(disconnected), to be turned off, to go to sleep, and to be
renamed. FIG. 73 shows a mode selection screen that allows
selection of whether to run the app in general, professional,
teacher, or student mode. FIG. 74 shows the mode selection screen
of FIG. 73 with professional mode selected. FIG. 75 shows a linked
devices screen that identifies all stethoscopes linked with the
electronic device. FIG. 76 shows another linked devices screen that
indicates which of the linked stethoscopes of FIG. 75 are linked to
one another, e.g., "my stethoscope" and "Nano stethoscope" being
linked together and "Teacher stethoscope" and "Student" being
linked together. FIG. 77 shows a sleep selection screen that allows
the user to select the amount of time that elapses before the
stethoscope sleeps. FIG. 78 shows a shutoff selection screen that
allows the user to select the amount of time that elapses before
the stethoscope shuts off.
[0259] FIG. 79 shows one embodiment of a screen including
cardiovascular information that can be gathered using a stethoscope
(e.g., one of the stethoscopes described herein). The screen in
this illustrated embodiment includes a "circle display" 500
providing real time cardiac data. A top hemisphere 502 of the
circle display 500 can represent diastole cardiovascular
information, and a bottom hemisphere 504 of the circle display 500
can represent systole cardiovascular information.
[0260] The circle display 500 can have statically displayed thereon
S1 and S2 marks 506, 508 that represent a start of S1 and S2,
respectively. Distance along the circle display 500 between the S1
and S2 marks 506, 508 can define the top and bottom hemispheres
502, 504. The S1 and S2 marks 506, 508 can be in a color that is
different from a color of the line defining the circle display 500,
which may facilitate quick visualization of the marks 506, 508. The
S1 and S2 marks 506, 508 are each a same color in this illustrated
embodiment.
[0261] A playhead (also referred to herein as a "marker") 510 can
be configured to traverse around the circle display 500 in sync
with the heart beat sound being detected by the stethoscope. This
traversal can be similar to the spinning one or more lights that
can spin around the stethoscope in a track-like pattern. The
playhead 510 moves clockwise in this illustrated embodiment, but
the playhead 510 can move counterclockwise in other embodiments.
The playhead 510 includes a dot in this illustrated embodiment but
can have other configurations, e.g., a square, an "x," a heart
shape, etc. A one of the S1 and S2 marks 506, 508 to which the
playhead 510 is currently closest can be focused, which may help
facilitate quick visual identification of where the sound being
gathered is in the patient's heart beat cycle. The S2 mark 508 is
focuses in the form of a flared point in FIG. 79 since the playhead
510 is closer to S2 than S1. The playhead 510 can be in a color
that is different from a color of the S1 and S2 marks 506, 508 and
from a color of the line defining the circumference of the circle
display 500, which may facilitate quick visualization of the
playhead 510.
[0262] Each detected possible anomaly can be reflected with a
symbol, mark, line, etc. (generally referred to herein as a "mark")
on the circle display 500 at a point in time during a heartbeat
cycle the abnormally detected sound was detected by where the mark
is located around the circle display 500, e.g., at which point(s)
during diastole and/or at which point(s) during systole the
detected possible anomaly occurred. The timing of the abnormally
detected sound may thus be easily identified through simple visual
inspection of the screen. The mark can be configured to reflect a
duration of the abnormally detected sound, for example by how long
the mark extends around the line defining the circle display 500.
By reflecting the length of the possible anomaly, the mark can
indicate whether the abnormal sound was detected during diastole,
during systole, or during both diastole and systole such that
length of the abnormally detected sound can be easily identified
through simple visual inspection of the screen. The mark can be
configured to reflect a force or grade of the abnormally detected
sound, for example by the thickness or darkness of the mark, with
thicker marks indicating a higher force or grade and darker marks
indicating a higher force or grade. The mark can be in a color that
is different from a color of the playhead 510, from a color of the
S1 and S2 marks 506, 508, and from a color of the line defining the
circumference of the circle display 500, which may facilitate quick
visualization of the mark and, thus, the potential anomaly. In this
illustrated embodiment, the circle display 500 has a first mark 512
thereon indicating a first possible anomaly and a second mark 514
thereon indicating a second possible anomaly. The first mark 512 is
in the form of a line extending along the line that defines the
circle display 500, with a length of the first mark 512 indicating
a duration of the anomaly. If the first mark 512 repeatedly shows
as the playhead 510 traverses over this portion of the circle
display's line, the first mark 512 is more likely to indicate an
actual anomaly such as a murmur. The second mark 514 is in the form
of a dot at a discrete point around the circle display 500
indicating that possible anomaly was detected at a specific point
in time during the heart beat and is thus likely an additionally
detected heart sound or S3, S4, etc. sound.
[0263] The circle display 500 can include thereon known pathologies
of the subject. For example, if the subject is known to have a
murmur or additional heart sound, the murmur or additional heart
sound can be represented on the circle display 500 with a mark. If
a mark appears on the circle display 500 indicative of a detected
possible anomaly at the same location as the known pathology mark,
this information may help a medical professional understand that
the detected possible anomaly is likely real and is likely already
considered in the subject's treatment plan.
[0264] The screen can include a baseline 516 that separates
systolic and diastolic murmurs. A murmur below the line 516 can
indicate a systole murmur, and a murmur above the line 516 can
indicate a diastolic murmur.
[0265] The screen can provide an indication of a length of detected
diastolic action (0.15 ms in this illustrated embodiment) and an
indication of a length of detected systolic action (0.21 ms in this
illustrated embodiment). The screen can provide other current
status information, such as current heart rate (120 bpm in this
illustrated embodiment), breaths per minute (35 breaths/minute in
this illustrated embodiment), date, time, subject name and/or other
identification, etc. The screen can provide historical data for the
subject, directly or via selection icon, such as vital sign history
for one or more vital signs, etc.
[0266] The screen displaying cardiovascular information can
similarly display respiratory information that can be gathered
using the stethoscope. The diastole cardiovascular information in
the top hemisphere 502 of the circle display 500 can be replaced by
inspiration respiratory information and the systole cardiovascular
information in the bottom hemisphere 504 of the circle display 500
can be replaced by expiration respiratory information. Detected
anomalies in respiration (e.g., wheezes, crackles, consolidation,
fluid build-up, etc.) and known respiratory pathologies can be
marked on the circle display 500 similar to that discussed above
regarding the marks for the cardiac anomalies.
[0267] FIG. 80 shows another embodiment of a screen including
cardiovascular information that can be gathered using a stethoscope
and provided in real time. The screen of FIG. 80 can generally be
configured and used similar to that of the screen of FIG. 79, e.g.,
can include a "circle display" 518, a playhead (not shown), an S1
mark 520, an S2 mark 522, a possible anomaly mark 524, a known
pathology mark 526, a baseline 528, current status information, and
historical data. The historical data in this illustrated embodiment
includes vital sign history for the subject for each of a plurality
of previously recorded sounds. The vital sign history can provide
coded information that may facilitate easy identification of past
subject conditions. For example, as in this illustrated embodiment,
a circle symbol representative of the circle display 518 can
indicate with a solid circle that anomalies were detected in both
of the systolic and diastolic phases, with a circle outline that no
anomalies were detected in either of the systolic and diastolic
phases, and with a circle 532 with one hemisphere shaded that an
anomaly was detected in that shaded hemisphere phase (systolic in
this illustrated embodiment). For another example, a color of a
heart symbol representative of heart rate can indicate a range of
the heart rate, e.g., a first color for a heart rate of 40-70 bpm,
a second color for a heart rate of 70-120 bpm, and a third color
for a heart rate of 120-180 bpm. For yet another example, a color
of a lung symbol representative of breathing rate can indicate a
range of the breathing rate.
[0268] As shown in this illustrated embodiment, the screen
including cardiovascular information can include text summarizing
the heart cycle status, which may help facilitate interpretation of
the display. The text in this illustrated embodiment indicates
rhythm status (normal) and abnormality detection status (murmur
detected).
[0269] FIG. 81 shows a grid 530 representative of the possible
anomaly mark 524 of FIG. 80 and representative of the known
pathology mark 526 of FIG. 80. The grid 530 can be displayed on a
screen, as discussed above, either the same screen as the circle
display 518 or a different screen.
[0270] FIG. 82 shows one embodiment of a screen including
respiratory information that can be gathered using a stethoscope
and provided in real time. The screen of FIG. 82 can generally be
configured and used similar to that of the screen of FIG. 79, e.g.,
can include a "circle display" 536, a playhead (not shown), a
possible anomaly mark 538, a known pathology mark 540, a baseline
542, summarizing text 548, current status information, and
historical data (which in this illustrated embodiment includes
vital sign history similar to that of FIG. 80). In this illustrated
embodiment, the vital sign history includes a circle 550 with one
hemisphere shaded that an anomaly was detected in that shaded
hemisphere phase (inspiration in this illustrated embodiment).
Instead of including S1 and S2 marks, the circle display 536 can
include a beginning of inspiration mark 544 and a beginning of
expiation mark 546. The mark for possible anomalies and known
pathologies can be configured to reflect a timing or strength of
the detected respiration sound, for example by the thickness or
darkness of the mark, with thicker marks indicating a higher timing
or strength and darker marks indicating a higher timing or
strength. The marks can be configured to reflect a duration of the
abnormally detected sound, as discussed above.
[0271] FIG. 83 shows one embodiment of a screen including
historical data 552, which in this illustrated embodiment includes
vital sign history for a subject for each of a plurality of
previously recorded sounds. The vital sign history can include
information similar to that discussed above regarding the screen of
FIG. 80, e.g., with circle symbols, heart symbols, and lung
symbols.
[0272] As shown in this illustrated embodiment, the screen
including historical data 552, or any other screen described
herein, can include a data selection menu 554. The data selection
menu 554 can be configured to allow a user to select which type of
data to currently show on the electronic device including the
display showing the screen. The data selection menu 554 can be
present on or available through any screen, which may facilitate a
user's selection of different data to view at any time during or
after use of a stethoscope. For example, enabling the user to
quickly access the user's vital sign history may help a medical
professional easily and quickly identify trends and/or anomalies.
The data selection menu 554 can include any number of data view
options, which in this illustrated embodiment include selectable
icons with identifying text. As in this illustrated embodiment, the
data selection menu 554 can include an option 556 to view the
historical data 552, an option 558 to view doctor profiles of one
or more doctors, an option 560 to view information about the
subject, and an option 562 to provide feedback.
[0273] FIG. 84 shows another embodiment of a recording detail
screen. The recording detail screen of FIG. 84 can generally be
configured and used similar to the recording detail screen
discussed above with respect to FIG. 52. In this illustrated
embodiment, the recording detail screen shows cardiovascular
information similar to that discussed above regarding the screen of
FIG. 80, e.g., can include a "circle display" 564, an S1 mark 566,
an S2 mark 568, a known pathology mark (not shown), a baseline 570,
and current status information. The recording detail screen of FIG.
84 is shown before recording has begun, e.g., before a start button
572 has been selected, so the screen does not yet include a
playhead or any possible anomaly marks.
[0274] The stethoscopes described herein can have an on-board
computer system. The external electronic devices described herein
as being configured to link to a stethoscope can each include a
computer system.
[0275] FIG. 85 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of a computer
system 600. As shown, the computer system 600 can include one or
more processors 602 which can control the operation of the computer
system 600. The processor(s) 602 can include any type of
microprocessor or central processing unit (CPU), including
programmable general-purpose or special-purpose microprocessors
and/or any one of a variety of proprietary or commercially
available single or multi-processor systems. The computer system
600 can also include one or more memories 604, which can provide
temporary storage for code to be executed by the processor(s) 602
or for data acquired from one or more users, storage devices,
and/or databases. The memory 604 can include read-only memory
(ROM), flash memory, one or more varieties of random access memory
(RAM) (e.g., static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), or synchronous
DRAM (SDRAM)), and/or a combination of memory technologies.
[0276] The various elements of the computer system 600 can be
coupled to a bus system 606. The illustrated bus system 606 is an
abstraction that represents any one or more separate physical
busses, communication lines/interfaces, and/or multi-drop or
point-to-point connections, connected by appropriate bridges,
adapters, and/or controllers. The computer system 600 can also
include one or more network interface(s) 608, one or more
input/output (I/O) interface(s) 610, and one or more storage
device(s) 612.
[0277] The network interface(s) 608 can enable the computer system
600 to communicate with remote devices, e.g., other computer
systems, over a network, and can be, for example, remote desktop
connection interfaces, Ethernet adapters, and/or other local area
network (LAN) adapters. The I/O interface(s) 610 can include one or
more interface components to connect the computer system 600 with
other electronic equipment. For example, the I/O interface(s) 610
can include high speed data ports, such as USB ports, 1394 ports,
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc. Additionally, the computer system 600 can be
accessible to a human user, and thus the I/O interface(s) 610 can
include displays, speakers, keyboards, pointing devices, and/or
various other video, audio, or alphanumeric interfaces. The storage
device(s) 612 can include any conventional medium for storing data
in a non-volatile and/or non-transient manner. The storage
device(s) 612 can thus include a memory that holds data and/or
instructions in a persistent state, i.e., the value is retained
despite interruption of power to the computer system 600. The
storage device(s) 612 can include one or more hard disk drives,
flash drives, USB drives, optical drives, various media cards,
diskettes, compact discs, and/or any combination thereof and can be
directly connected to the computer system 600 or remotely connected
thereto, such as over a network. In an exemplary embodiment, the
storage device(s) can include a tangible or non-transitory computer
readable medium configured to store data, e.g., a hard disk drive,
a flash drive, a USB drive, an optical drive, a media card, a
diskette, a compact disc, etc.
[0278] The elements illustrated in FIG. 85 can be some or all of
the elements of a single physical machine. In addition, not all of
the illustrated elements need to be located on or in the same
physical machine, at least in the case of external electronic
devices. Exemplary computer systems include conventional desktop
computers, workstations, minicomputers, laptop computers, tablet
computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, and
the like.
[0279] In an exemplary embodiment, the computer system 600 can be
provided as a single unit, e.g., as a single server, as a single
tower, contained within a single housing, etc. Systems and methods
can thus be provided as a singular unit configured to display the
various user interfaces and capture the data described herein. The
singular unit can be modular such that various aspects thereof can
be swapped in and out as needed for, e.g., upgrade, replacement,
maintenance, etc., without interrupting functionality of any other
aspects of the system. The singular unit can thus also be scalable
with the ability to be added to as additional functionality is
desired and/or improved upon.
[0280] A computer system can also include any of a variety of other
software and/or hardware components, including by way of example,
operating systems and database management systems. Although an
exemplary computer system is depicted and described herein, it will
be appreciated that this is for sake of generality and convenience.
In other embodiments, the computer system may differ in
architecture and operation from that shown and described here.
[0281] One skilled in the art will appreciate further features and
advantages of the invention based on the above-described
embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited by
what has been particularly shown and described, except as indicated
by the appended claims. All publications and references cited
herein are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their
entirety.
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