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: 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: 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: A device for terminating a hybrid electrical/fiber optic cable at a connector comprising a clamp assembly affecting a swage lock on a k-tube to prevent movement of the k-tube within the connector and resultant damage to the optical fibers. The clamp assembly comprises two clamp halves, at least one of which includes a k-tube groove, one or more optical fiber grooves, a fan out cavity, and means for joining the clamp halves. When the clamp halves are joined, the k-tube grooves form an enclosed k-tube channel that is slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the k-tube, thereby creating a swage lock to prevent movement of the k-tube. Similarly, the optical fiber grooves create a swage lock on protective plastic tubes that are placed over the optical fibers as they exit and fan out from the k-tube in the fan out cavity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a low-cost, disposable, flexure sensor with an active portion which includes first and second sensor elements formed from a piezoelectric polymer material. Each of the first and second sensor elements has a first surface and an opposed second surface. A first electrically conductive area is formed on the first surface of each sensor element and is connected to a second electrically conductive area on the second surface. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the electrical connection is formed by a plated hole which extends through the sensor element from the first surface to the second surface. Still further, each of the first and second sensor elements has a third electrically conductive area on the first surface, which electrically conductive area is electrically isolated from the first electrically conductive area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an acoustic sensor having utility in biomedical applications. The sensor is applied to the skin of a patient and is capable of measuring the flexure of the skin caused by acoustic sounds beneath the skin and converting the skin flexure into electrical signals representative of the acoustic sounds. The sensor is formed from a single piece of piezoelectric material having electrically conductive areas on two spaced apart and opposed surfaces. The electrically conductive areas are electrically connected to electrical contacts or connector pins which may be used to hook up the sensor to a measuring device. A method for forming the sensor is also described.