Abstract: An electronic stethoscope head includes a head member having a contact surface for contact with a patient's body, a transducer in the head member, and an adhesive on the contact surface. A processing system for an electronic stethoscope includes a conditioning circuit configured to receive a transducer signal from a transducer and to be capable of amplifying and/or filtering the transducer signal, to yield a conditioned signal. There is also a signal processor system configured to subject the conditioned signal to an audio editing process. Bodily sounds are detected by applying an electronic stethoscope head a patient's body; generating a patient sonograph of the patient's bodily sounds; and comparing the patient sonograph to a reference sonograph. An electronic stethoscope system may include an accessory device and control circuitry to control the accessory device when abnormal bowel sounds are detected or no bowel sounds are detected for a predetermined interval.

Abstract: To provide a stethoscope apparatus that can contribute to medical cares that can eliminate anxieties of a patient as much as possible. A stethoscope apparatus 10 according to the embodiment integrally mounts a speaker 9 and a microphone 8; accordingly, the speaker 9 can reproduce sounds obtained with the microphone 8. For instance, when a physician explains the pathology and so on to a patient with the patient allowed hearing sounds from a speaker, the patient can be diagnosed at ease more than ever.

Abstract: A stethoscopic assembly includes a stethoscope having a chest piece interconnected to at least one earpiece, the chest piece having an acoustical sensor enabling patient sounds to be heard through the at least one earpiece. A microprocessor connected to the acoustical sensor of the stethoscope includes a buffer wherein sound data picked up from the microphone is stored in volatile memory for a predetermined time period. At least one user operable switch connected to the microprocessor enables selective capture of sound data for storage and playback, such as through at least one speaker. In some versions the acoustical sensor is releasable from the chest piece.

Abstract: An electronic stethoscope system that reduces cross-infection when examining a patient is provided. The electronic stethoscope system includes a handheld auscultation portion for picking up bodily sounds of a patient. The detected bodily sounds are transmitted to a base unit having a loudspeaker for broadcasting an audible representation of the detected bodily sounds. The sounds are transmitted to the base unit either by a wireless transmitter and receiver or by way of a disposable flexible tubing adapted for transmitting acoustic waves.

Abstract: In well-known electronic stethoscopic transducers the sensitive element is influenced by signals transmitted via the skin, and the rear side is enclosed in a housing to prevent airborne noise from reaching the sensitive element. According to the invention, an improved signal-to-noise ratio is obtained by letting the transducer be a piezoelectric transflexural diaphragm in contact with the skin, the rear side of the diaphragm communicating with the surrounding air via an acoustical network, thereby receiving airborne noise which acts to counteract the influence of noise coming from the skin.

Abstract: A dual-sensor stethoscope, or retrofit device for a stethoscope, promotes anti-sepsis and stereoscopy through use of a substantially rigid, generally T-shaped tube for support of dual stethoscope sensors, wherein at least one sensor is electronic. Each sensor may be rotated away from a body independently for use of a single head or rotated into the same general plane for dual-head stereoscopy. A clinician can create a spatial, three-dimensional (3D) antiseptic barrier and avoid the need to carry multiple stethoscopes. During stereoscopy, the use of a common tube or earphones allows the transmission of sound with constructive interference of sound waves. The substantially rigid, generally T-shaped support tube allows a clinician to auscultate with one hand and monitor two locations without transference of pathogens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stethoscope auscultation method, adapted for an improved stethoscope so as to be used for assisting a medical diagnosis according to visceral sounds.

Abstract: A method and device for detecting cardiac signals that includes a first plurality of electrodes that senses cardiac signals and delivers therapy, and a second plurality of electrodes that senses the cardiac signals. A microprocessor detects a cardiac event in response to the sensing by the first plurality of electrodes, and verifies the cardiac event in response to the sensing by the second plurality of electrodes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus by which deceases are identified uses computer analysis of sound signals that are picked up from various locations on the chest walls of a subject by a modified stethoscope. The modification includes a small microphone in one of the hoses of the stethoscope. Signals from the microphone are input to a computer such as a personal computer or PC for processing. The computer extracts from these signals features which are dominant for particular diseases. A classifier classifies these features, determines if the lungs are diseased, and identifies the disease.

Abstract: A cap composition that can mechanically attach to a stethoscope headpiece, the cap composition having a cap; a cap element having a design that includes a shape and characteristic dimensions that enable the cap to mechanically attach to a stethoscope headpiece; and a speaker attached to and positioned on or at least partially within the cap, such that when the cap is attached to the stethoscope headpiece, the speaker is either touching or proximate to the stethoscope diaphragm such that a sound or signal emitted by the speaker can cause the stethoscope diaphragm to vibrate.

Abstract: Generally, the present invention is directed to medical devices and more particularly to a patient-friendly stethoscope with interactive light emissions. An embodiment of the invention includes a stethoscope which has a pair of binaurals and a transparent acoustical tubing connecting the binaurals to the chestpiece. An optical fiber is located within the transparent acoustical tubing extending from the junction region of the tubing to and within the chestpiece, thereby illuminating the chestpiece, the rim of the diaphragm and bell, and attachments to the chestpiece. The optical fiber has a light source coupled at its proximal end thereby illuminating the transparent acoustical tubing, the chestpiece, and attachments thereto from within.

Abstract: The disclosure describes an electronic stethoscope system that automatically detects coronary artery disease in patients. The system uses an electronic stethoscope to record acoustic data from the fourth left intercostal space of a patient. A processing technique is then applied in order to filter the data and produce Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) data of magnitude versus frequency. If a bell curve is identified in the data between a predefined frequency range (e.g., 50 and 80 Hz) with a peak magnitude of greater than a predefined threshold (e.g., 2.5 units), the system automatically provides an output indicating that the patient is likely to have 50 to 99 percent stenosis of the coronary artery. If no bell curve is present, the patient may have artery stenosis of less than 50 percent. An interface module may be used to transfer diagnosis information to the stethoscope and data to a general purpose computer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved design for a stethoscope. The invention is a stethoscope with a built-in amplifier and a memory stick to digitally record sounds as well as patient information. The present invention will be able to digitally record the sounds from the stethoscope through the use of an electronic amplification system and a built in memory stick. This system will also have a USB Port that allows the invention to communicate with a computer system. The medical practitioner will also be able to digitally hear the patient sounds with a set of head-phones or through the use of a Bluetooth system.

Abstract: A method is provided for automatically determining the use status of an electronic medical device (e.g., an electronic stethoscope) and/or activating such a device. The method includes providing a patient portion of the device, i.e., one or more portions of the device that, in use, are brought into contact with a patient, with a contact or proximity detector. The detector provides an output signal when the patient portion is proximate to, or in contact with, a portion of a patient. This output signal, after signal processing, is used in determining the use status of the device.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic and communications apparatus with audio output comprises an electronic processor for processing stethoscope signals and secondary audio signals. An electronic stethoscope sensor is contained within a housing for transducing body sounds to electronic signals, and is operatively connected to the electronic processor. One or more secondary audio signal sources operatively connects to the electronic processor. A common audio output is connected to electronic processor to convert electronic stethoscope signals or secondary audio signals to acoustic output. These sounds may be produced separately or mixed.

Abstract: A tunable auscultation system includes a heart sound acquirer for sensing heart sounds from at least one chest location of the patient. An initial conditioner then conditions the heart sounds through pre-amplification and anti-aliasing. The heart sounds are transduced into electrical signals by a signal processor. The electric heart signals are then tuned by an analysis tool. The analysis tool includes an interaction tuner, a processing tuner and an output tuner. The interaction tuner includes a preset tuning selector and a dynamic range tuning selector. The processing tuner includes a band pass filter and an algorithmic extraction engine which applies extraction algorithms to the electric heart signals, segments them and extracts signals of interest. Signals of interest may be correlated to specific pathologies. The output tuner includes a signal strength indicator, a diagnosis indicator, an overlapping cardiac cycle display and a display configuration engine. A display module provides output.

Abstract: A method for cardio-acoustic signal analysis includes receiving a signal representative of heart sounds and displaying the signal in a time-perceptual frequency-perceptual loudness domain representation. The received signal is transformed to represent a time-perceptual frequency-amplitude domain. The method further includes applying a human auditory modeling algorithm to the time-perceptual frequency-amplitude domain representation to generate the time-perceptual frequency-perceptual loudness domain representation.

Abstract: Power management circuitry of a portable electronic biosensor implements conditional power management logic to control biosensor power usage and to discriminate between intended use and nonuse of the biosensor by a clinician. The biosensor is configured to sense a property of the human body, such as a manifestation of acoustic energy produced by matter of biological origin or an action potential of the human body. An output signal is produced that is representative of the sensed property. A sensor of the biosensor produces a signal having a plurality of sensor signal features that are received by a detector of the power management circuitry. The power management circuitry or a processor of the biosensor discriminates between intended use and nonuse of the biosensor by the clinician using the sensor signal features. Power supplied to biosensor components is controlled based on the sensor signal features.

Abstract: An embodiment of an auscultation device can be constructed using, at least in part, electronic components to provide improved acquisition, processing, and communication of sound signals. An input device can be used for detecting sounds, and electrical signals representing the sounds can be processed and transmitted via one or more of a plurality of substantially contemporaneously available wired and/or wireless communications interfaces. Bluetooth and/or another form of wireless communication can be employed. Such embodiments can employ, at least in part, one or more of several commercially available wired and/or wireless receiver devices, such as, without limitation, headsets and headphones, mobile phones, PDAs and/or other handheld devices, desktop, laptop, palmtop, and/or tablet computers, speakers and/or other conventional and/or specifically configured computer devices and/or electronic devices.

Abstract: A transducer system is disclosed for detecting actual or simulated body sounds. An audio signal generation and detection system is disclosed for the purposes of simulating the medical examination of a patient or simulating the listening of sounds seeming to emanate from a live or inanimate body. A signal generator sets up a voltage potential at an electrode physically attached to the body, or electrically connected to a body, thereby setting up a voltage potential on a surface area of the body. An electric field potential sensor or a capacitive electrical sensor placed in proximity to the electrode or body surface then detects the voltage potential. The signals produced by the signal generator can represent heart, lung, bowel or other sounds and the electrical sensor can take the physical form of a listening device such as a stethoscope, thereby creating a simulation of listening to body sounds for medical diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for early screening of cardiovascular diseases through dual stethoscopic and Doppler detection with means ensuring coherence between the two types of detection. According the invention, the medical screening and diagnosis apparatus comprises a sound transmitting linking conduit (3, 33) connected, on one end, to a housing (100) forming at least partly an ear trumpet (1?) provided with a membrane (2), and, on the other end, at least an earphone (4) for listening to a stethoscopic signal from the ear trumpet (1?). The invention is characterized in that the housing (100) of the apparatus contains at least an ultrasound probe (8) designed to enable convergence of reception of the ultrasonic and stethoscopic signals.

Abstract: An acoustic-electronic stethoscope that filters aberrant environmental background noise. The chest piece employs acoustic vents to inhibit resonant amplification of noise and contains a diaphragm design that focuses vibrational energy to a raised ring, which transfers and further focuses the energy to a piezoelectric polymer sensor with dual elements. The ensuing electrical signal is then preamplified with the low frequency sound, comprising predominantly background noise, filtered out. The stethoscope contains a binaural head set and output jack for down loading of data. Furthermore, areas normally subject to exposure and damage to water, such as the chest piece and headset, are water-tight.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for simulating medical conditions to facilitate medical training, that utilizes a stethoscope comprising an earpiece and a headpiece and configured to transmit information indicative of a medical condition, and a triggering device configured to activate the transmission of the information.

Abstract: By individuals in an organization possessing a portable node and acquiring sound information, an electronic device and a system that analyze human behavior, group formation, and an activity level of the organization and a system is provided. In an electronic device that has a radio communication unit and a microcomputer, sound is converted into an electrical signal by a microphone, and sound waveform information and characteristic information of sound are obtained using an amplifier, a filter, and an envelope generating circuit. An envelope signal being characteristic information of sound is compared with a reference value by a comparator. Characteristic information of sound when the signal does not reach the reference value, and sound waveform information when greater than the reference value are transmitted from the radio communication unit. The server learns human behavior, group formation; and an activity level of an organization by receiving and analyzing these pieces of information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a condenser microphone capable of detecting small sounds (e.g., Korotkoff sounds) with high sensitivity even in environments with variations in pressure, such as cuff pressure. A condenser microphone (10) is disposed as an acoustic sensor for detecting Korotkoff sounds in a communication space reachable by the internal pressure of the cuff of a blood pressure gauge. In the condenser microphone, a diaphragm (13) and a backplate 14) are disposed in the interior of a housing (11), an aeration hole (30) is formed in a wall (11B) that blocks off the housing back surface, and a sound-absorbing element (20) having sound absorption characteristics with respect to a frequency band targeted for detection is disposed on the front surface of a housing (11).

Abstract: A medical diagnostic and communications apparatus with audio output comprises an electronic processor for processing stethoscope signals and secondary audio signals. An electronic stethoscope sensor is contained within a housing for transducing body sounds to electronic signals, and is operatively connected to the electronic processor. One or more secondary audio signal sources operatively connects to the electronic processor. A common audio output is connected to electronic processor to convert electronic stethoscope signals or secondary audio signals to acoustic output. These sounds may be produced separately or mixed.

Abstract: An electronic stethoscope includes a microphone; an accelerometer to detect stethoscope movement; a processor coupled to the microphone and the accelerometer; and a speaker coupled to the processor to reproduce a biological sound.

Abstract: A headphone system is provided with two earbud headphones and a control module, each fitted with a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The LEDs may be of many different colors and flash to the beat of the music. Patterns, colors, and intensity may be adjusted based on a user's preferences. The intensity, frequency, and light patterns of the LEDs may change when a threshold level is reached.

Abstract: Techniques are described for analyzing auscultatory sounds to aid a medical professional in diagnosing physiological conditions of a patient. A data analysis system, for example, applies singular value decomposition to auscultatory sounds associated known physiological conditions to define a set of one or more disease regions within a multidimensional space. A diagnostic device, such as an electronic stethoscope or personal digital assistant, applies configuration data from the data analysis system to generate a set of one or more vectors within the multidimensional space representative of auscultatory sounds associated with a patient. The diagnostic device outputs a diagnostic message associated with a physiological condition of the patient based on the orientation of the vectors relative to the disease regions within the multidimensional space.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methodology for monitoring correlatable anatomical electrical and sound signals, such as electrical and audio signals produced by human heart activity, including (a) attaching to a selected, common anatomical site ECG (or other) electrode structure, and a multi-axial sound sensor, and (b) simultaneously collecting from adjacent that site both ECG(or other)-electrical and sound signals, where such sound signals arrive adjacent the site along multiple, angularly intersecting axes.

Abstract: An apparatus to enable health care providers to perform a number of diagnostic procedures, including listening to the heart, obtaining electrocardiograms and sonograms. A pocket size instrument displays an EKG tracing on its screen simultaneously upon auscultation of the heart. The abdomen may also be investigated by displaying a sonogram. Wireless broadband technology may provide a closed circuit interface for real-time wireless transmission of acquired data. Examination requires none of a multiplicity of wires to untangle, bulky machines or a technician to be summoned. Regurgitation, heart size, ischemia and heart murmurs can all be evaluated by a visual and auditory methods.

Abstract: A number of improved structures and methods to a condenser microphone device are provided so that the condenser microphone device can be used in a skin-contact manner satisfactorily. According to the proposed methods, the sensitivity of the condenser microphone device is lowered appropriately by reducing the aperture of the through hole on the enclosure of the condenser microphone device's sensing member, or by reducing the amount of electrical charge carried by the thin film inside the sensing member. According to the proposed structures, the sensing member is wrapped inside a plastic jacket or film, covering up the through hole on the sensing member's enclosure, or providing another through hole of very small aperture. The plastic jacket could also form a buffer space between the jacket and the sensing member.

Abstract: A patient registers his audible sound when he is in good health. When he is not feeling well, and even when he is in good health, he may contact regularly with a medical institution. Once he pronounces words to his mobile phone, the audible sound will be stored in a storing portion for storing audible sound information of the patient and will be processed by a computer that gives diagnosis to the patient and the patient will be informed of the diagnosis through a public line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for characterizing the response of an electronic stethoscope. The sensor of the electronic stethoscope is held in contact with a test surface of a phantom. A shaker, which is coupled to a stinger rod that extends inside the phantom, is driven to produce internal vibrations in the phantom. Surface motion of the test surface of the phantom is measured using a surface accelerometer coupled to the test surface. Vibrations from the phantom are detected and an electric signal based on the detected vibrations is generated with the electronic stethoscope. A surface transfer function is calculated based on the measured surface motion and the electric signal to characterize the response of the electronic stethoscope.

Abstract: A stethoscope capable of eliminating unwanted sounds and method thereof, the stethoscope and method thereof mainly use a stethoscope head containing a sensor and a signal processing circuit. By way of detecting and judging whether the stethoscope head arrives on correct stethoscopic position by the sensor, unwanted sounds generating by frictions, translations, or collisions during the stethoscopic process can be effectively eliminated such that the stethoscopic quality can be improved. Thus, a doctor can use less time and spirit to make a correct diagnosis for a patient with least unwanted interference sounds.

Abstract: According to a disclosed embodiment, an auscultatory training apparatus includes a database of pre-recorded physiological sounds stored on a computer for playing on a playback system. A user-friendly, graphical user interface software program is stored on the computer for use with a conventional computer mouse. The program allows a user to select one of the pre-recorded sounds for playback. In addition, the program is operable to generate an inverse model of the playback system in the form of a digital filter. If employed by the user, the inverse model processes the selected sound to cancel the distortions of the playback system so that the sound is accurately reproduced in the playback system. The program also permits the extraction of a specific sound component from a pre-recorded sound so that only the extracted sound component is audible during playback.

Abstract: An acoustic detector that includes active noise cancellation is presented. An acoustic detector converts sound waves, which include sound waves of interest as well as noise, to an electronic signal. An operator listens for a characteristic sound, for example the sound characteristic of fluid leaking from a pipe, as she varies the position of the transducer. At least one other acoustic detector is positioned in order to monitor noise. The electronic signal from the noise monitoring acoustic detector and the electronic signal from the acoustic detector are combined in a processor in order to cancel the noise. In some embodiments, the operator may adjust a cancellation band so that some frequencies are not cancelled. For example, the operator may adjust the cancellation band so that a co-worker's voice may be heard.

Abstract: A cordless stethoscope for use in hazardous material environments comprising a fluid tight hand held sound sensing device having a stethoscope head for sensing auscultatory sounds, a transmitter for transmitting sounds sensed by the device, a receiver for receiving transmissions from the transmitter and an ear piece for converting the received transmissions into audible sound. The housing is sized and shaped for being grasped by a gloved hand and is fluid tight for decontamination purposes. The sound sensing device may further comprise a microphone for sensing otherwise inaudible voice communications from a patient. The transmitter and receiver preferably uses magnetic induction transmissions to transmit sounds through barriers such as hazardous material suits that may be worn by clinicians during treatment of patients in possible hazardous material situations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a noise barrier apparatus for inhibiting external noise from causing the presence of noise in an audio chamber defined by a noise barrier device and including the user's ear canal. The noise barrier apparatus may be constituted by an in-ear noise barrier device or devices or an over-the-ear device or devices. An in-ear application of the present invention provides an in-ear-canal audio receiver comprising an in-ear-canal adapter body having a tapered ear plug portion that is inserted into the user's ear canal. The adapter body further has an opening in the plug portion, an exterior annular indent, and an inner chamber coupled to the opening of the plug portion. The inner chamber of the in-ear-canal adapter body holds a transducer assembly comprising a transducer housing and a transducer or speaker. The transducer is positioned in a passage extending through the transducer housing. A torus-shaped cushion is positioned in the annular indent of the in-ear-canal adapter body.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing auscultation signals, e.g. embedded in an electronic stethoscope with a digital readout of an estimated heart rate. The apparatus comprises a bias processor for receiving an auscultation signal and providing a biased auscultation signal; said bias processor comprising an envelope detector and an estimator for calculating a signal representative of the beat frequency of the auscultation signal. In one aspect the information in the biased auscultation signal that is in conformity with the repeated information in the auscultation signal is enhanced. This may e.g. be done by calculating the conformity between the biased auscultation and at least a part of the biased auscultation signal. In another aspect of the invention the auscultation signal is biased by means of A-weighing. Preferably the two aspects of the invention are combined.

Abstract: A sensor (10) preferably for use in an electronic stethoscope (15) comprises a substantially cylindrically shaped viscoelastic contact and transfer body (2) engaging tightly a hard back piece (1) and being tightly surrounded by a piezoelectric member, e.g. one or two piezoelectric foils (4, 7) that convert sound pressure to electrical signals.

Abstract: A simple always-portable stethoscope for enabling accurate diagnosis. A radiation/light-receiving fiber (11) serving as a probe part for noninvasively irradiating a diseased part with near-infrared light is applied to the diseased part so as to measure, e.g., a change of the cerebral circulation blood flow. The change is hard as sound pulse modulation to examine the change of the cerebral function. For example, a light beam of three wavelengths ?=760, 800, 830 nm from a semiconductor laser light source (22) is applied to the diseased part, the reflection data from the diseased part is processed by a control device (21), and the doctor can make a diagnosis with the doctor's ears by hearing with a receiver (32) the change as the change of the frequency of the sound the pitch and volume of which are constant.

Abstract: An electronic stethoscope having a vibration transducer, an amplifier, a headphone arrangement, and at least one digital filter for establishing at least one impulse transfer function corresponding to at least one acoustic stethoscope type. Thus, the signals heard will correspond to those learned, and thereby the advantages of greater amplification and elimination of noise sources may be fully utilized. The ability to compensate for an individual doctor's hearing loss is enabled. Furthermore, with stereoscopic embodiments, sound frequency distributions can be transformed to spatial or temporal sound distributions perceivable by the user facilitating, for example, the detection of heart murmurs and the taking of blood pressure.

Abstract: A portable audio device includes an audio signal generating device for generating an audio signal, a body/motion signal detecting device for detecting and generating a body/motion signal, a signal loop selecting circuit which is coupled to the body/motion signal detecting device, a timer control circuit which generates a loop selection controlling signal at a predetermined time interval, a control device and an audio signal output device which outputs the audio signal vocally. The audio signal generated by the audio signal output device is transmitted to the audio signal output device, and the body signal is transmitted to the audio signal output device under control of the loop selection controlling signal generated by the timer control circuit at the predetermined time interval.

Abstract: A method of processing a signal representing an input sound signal is disclosed. The signal is divided in time into a plurality of signal segments, each having an individual duration of time. The signal segments are processed into an output signal of successive signal segments in such a way that at least one, preferably all, of the signal segments are repeated immediately and successively at least once in the output signal. Each signal segment is established in such a way that the duration of time of a majority, preferably all, of the signal segments is less than 60 ms. Thus, a sound signal can be reduced in speed by doubling the number of short cycles.

Abstract: A temporally and frequency controlled amplified cardiac stethoscope device is provided wherein frequency response selection is carried out by manually tuning two active filters thereby permitting user pass band (high and low frequency cutoff) selection. Simultaneously, the user is able to select a time window, or interval, of the audio output of the device for specific aural observation, to the exclusion of the remainder of cardiac cycle sounds. The device is miniaturized to permit transport in a clothing pocket and use in the clinic or at the bedside. The device is based upon electrocardiographic QRS complex/electronic Schmitt trigger synchronization of a sweep generator and comparator. The synchronization signal, in combination with manual user inputs, permits the control of digital/analog switching of on/off time intervals of a variable frequency response electronic stethoscope.

Abstract: Physiological condition monitors utilizing very low frequency acoustic signals and signals indicative of body orientation are disclosed. The physiological condition monitors comprise a sensor that is capable of detecting low frequency acoustic signals in the frequency range of one tenth Hertz to thirty Hertz. The sensor comprises a chamber having portions that form a cavity and a low frequency microphone placed within the cavity. An alternate embodiment of the invention comprises a chamber having portions that form a resonant cavity, a microphone mounted in the resonant cavity, and a membrane that covers the resonant cavity. Low frequency acoustic signals that are incident on the membrane cause the membrane to move and amplify the acoustic signals within the resonant cavity. The sensor provides information concerning physiological conditions, such as respiration and cardiac activity. The sensor in a physiological condition monitor does not need to be directly coupled to the skin of the person being monitored.

Abstract: A device and a method of sensing and transmitting physiological pressures and body temperatures are disclosed. The device includes a transducer and a transmitter. The transmitter is adapted to broadcast a signal which is modulated by the output of a transducer. The transmitter is also adapted to limit the power of the output signal. The method includes transducing a physiological parameter and broadcasting a signal which is modulated by the transduced parameter. The power of the output signal is limited so that the signal will attenuate within a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A quick-updating stethoscope receiver comprises a receiver, a listening disk at a lower end of the receiver, the listening disk can be embedded into a lower end of the receiver; an upper cover at a top end of the receiver; and a transducer combining at a lateral wall of the receiver and a connector at a rear end of the transducer. A lower end of the receiver has an axial extended shaft. The shaft is formed with an annular trench. An elastic tightening ring is embedded into the trench. A diameter of a cross section of the tightening ring is larger than a depth of the trench so that part of the tightening ring protrudes out of the trench. A center of the round disk has an opening. By the elastic expanding force of the tightening ring, the round disk is tightly engaged to the shaft so that the round disk can not drop out.

Abstract: An acoustic-to-electrical transducer for sensing body sounds is disclosed. The transducer comprises a diaphragm that can be placed in direct contact with a body, whereby the diaphragm motion directly affects an electromagnetic sensing signal, which is then converted to an electrical signal representation of the diaphragm motion. Such sensing means allows the diaphragm to move freely without mechanical coupling to a secondary transducer, while providing a direct and efficient acoustic to electrical conversion means. The transducer further provides a means for using static diaphragm pressure to control gain and frequency characteristics of the electrical signal. The transducer provides methods for ambient noise reduction or cancellation, as well as means for simulating sound detection for applications such as medical education and testing. The sensor, circuitry, manufacturing methods and improvements are disclosed.