Abstract: A stethoscope is provided, comprising: a sound receiving member (12) for receiving sounds, the sound receiving member capable of transmitting sound received thereby; a head set coupled to the sound receiving member to receive sound transmitted by the sound receiving member; means for reducing frictional noise, said means associated with the sound receiving member to reduce noise caused by relative movement between a surface and the sound receiving member of the chestpiece in contact with the surface.

Abstract: A sensor for sensing bioacoustic energy includes a housing comprising an interfacing portion configured to establish coupling with a body part during use. The sensor includes a transducer element coupled to the interfacing portion of the housing and configured to sense sounds produced by matter of biological origin. One or more conductors are coupled to the transducer element. A mass element is compliantly coupled to a surface of the transducer element. Intervening material is disposed between the transducer element surface and the mass element, and allows for differential motion between the transducer element surface and the mass element during excitation of the transducer element.

Abstract: A sensor for sensing bioacoustic energy includes a housing comprising an interfacing portion configured to establish coupling with a body part during use of the sensor. An anchoring arrangement is defined on the housing. A transducer member has an anchoring end and at least one free end. The anchoring end of the transducer is coupled to the housing such that the transducer member is arranged to be preferentially sensitive to bioacoustic energy transferred to the transducer via the interfacing portion relative to other portions of the housing.

Abstract: A biomedical electrode is disclosed that distributes current over the entire surface of a conductive polymeric sheet using a current spreading layer located on the upper surface of the conductive polymeric sheet (i.e., the surface facing away from the patient). The conductive polymeric sheet includes a conductive undercoating on its lower surface (i.e., the surface facing the patient). An electrolyte layer (e.g., a hydrogel pressure sensitive adhesive) is located on the bottom of the biomedical electrode, with the conductive undercoating located between the electrolyte layer and the conductive polymeric sheet. The biomedical electrode is in electrical communication with the patient's skin through the electrolyte layer.