Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensing device for capturing acoustic heart sounds. The sensing device has a diaphragm formed from a piezoelectric transducer material which generates excitation signals in response to acoustic and vibratory energy outputs. The sensing device includes metallization layers on the diaphragm for receiving and transmitting the excitation signals to an output display device via associated electrical contacts and electrical leads and also includes a layer of adhesive material for coupling the sensing device to the subject. The sensing device further includes snap connectors for allowing the device to be quickly disengaged from electrical leads and discarded. A patch sensor device is disclosed which enables acoustic outputs to be triangulated and pinpointed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a process for detecting, assessing, grading and diagnosing heart conditions in human beings. The system includes a device for providing or generating an acoustic blood flow signal and a signal representative of the electrical activity of a subject's heart. The device for providing the acoustic blood flow (MCG) signal may be a transducer or microphone attached to the patient, or in the alternative, an acoustic signal stored in a storage device. The device for providing the electrical activity (ECG) signal may be an electrocardiogram device attached to the subject or a stored ECG signal. The ECG signal is conditioned in a conditioning circuit to provide a timing or calibration signal having QRS spikes at the onset of each systolic portion of a heart cycle. The MCG signal passes through its own conditioning circuit to filter out unwanted noise and to amplify low frequency sounds.