Abstract: The invention disclosed herein simplifies application of physiological sensors to the body. In the preferred embodiment the plurality of physiological sensors are physically attached to the back of a personal digital assistant (PDA). An operator presses the PDA single-handedly against patient's chest in such a manner that sensors are in contact with patient's skin and the PDA display faces the operator. Physiological signals are then visualized on the PDA screen. The sensors include EKG electrodes and acoustic sensors. The “EKG Stethoscope” is used to simultaneously record the audio signal from an acoustic sensor and the corresponding electrical EKG signal from EKG electrodes. The PDA analyzes EKG and acoustic signals. Further, sound from one acoustic sensor is amplified and transmitted to operator's headphones for simultaneous auscultation. Concurrent audio and visual experience greatly enhances the operator's ability to diagnose lung and heart disease.

Abstract: A sound input port is ubiquitously present in many types of devices including PCs, PDAs, cell phones, land line phones, and voice recorders thereafter referred to as “computing devices”. A sound port allows data input into a computing device for further computation, visualization and data transmission. Unfortunately most computing devices only allow one channel of data acquisition via the sound port. Further, the acquired data are highpass filtered. A method of extending the signal range to very low frequencies and recording a plurality of data channels via a single sound port is disclosed here. This method uses amplitude modulation of carrier frequencies to create a composite signal. The composite signal is then transmitted into the computing device either via wire or wirelessly. Demodulation occurs in the computing device. In the preferred embodiment the audio signal from an electronic stethoscope and the amplitude modulated EKG are transmitted into a computer via a single microphone port.

Abstract: A sound input port is ubiquitously present in many types of devices including PCs, PDAs, cell phones, land line phones, and voice recorders thereafter referred to as “computing devices”. A sound port allows data input into a computing device for further computation, visualization and data transmission. Unfortunately most computing devices only allow one channel of data acquisition via the sound port. Further, the acquired data are highpass filtered. A method of extending the signal range to very low frequencies and recording a plurality of data channels via a single sound port is disclosed here. This method uses amplitude modulation of carrier frequencies to create a composite signal. The composite signal is then transmitted into the computing device either via wire or wirelessly. Demodulation occurs in the computing device. In the preferred embodiment the audio signal from an electronic stethoscope and the amplitude modulated EKG are transmitted into a computer via a single microphone port.

Abstract: The invention herein discloses a multimedia acoustic stethoscope that has look and feel of a conventional acoustic stethoscope but allows a medical practitioner to transmit sounds from stethoscope to a recording device, and to transmit recorded sound back to the stethoscope for playback. The recording device could be a tape recorder, a digital recorder, a personal computer, a pocket PC, a handheld PC, a tablet PC, or a PDA. The data can be transmitted via a wire or wirelessly, for example using Bluetooth wireless technology.

Abstract: Techniques consistent with this invention process handwritten or hand-drawn input and speech input. Method steps include recognizing received handwritten or hand-drawn input, recognizing received speech input, and creating or modifying an electronic document according to the speech or handwritten or hand-drawn input. An apparatus includes structure for recognizing handwritten or hand-drawn input, structure for recognizing speech input, and structure for activating modes for processing the handwritten or hand-drawn input and the speech input responsive to commands in the handwritten or hand-drawn input and the speech input.