Optical fiber stethoscope probe

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of medical instruments, and relates to an optical fiber stethoscope probe which comprises an optical fiber, an optical fiber fixing sleeve, a film fixing tube, a film and a sound gathering clock cylinder. The optical fiber fixing sleeve sleeves the top end of the optical fiber and is arranged in the film fixing tube, and the top end of the optical fiber is located in the film fixing tube; the film is of a circular sheet structure and is fixed to the top end face of the film fixing pipe. The bottom end of the sound gathering clock cylinder is fixedly connected with the top end of the film fixing tube; and the optical fiber in the thin film fixing tube and the thin film form a Fabry-Perot interferometer. The sound gathering clock cylinder is attached to a diagnosis part to focus sound wave signals of the diagnosis part, the thin film generates vibration of the same rule, the cavity length of a Fabry-Perot interferometer formed by the optical fiber and the thin film is changed, the free spectrum range of an output interference spectrum type is changed, and then physiological sound signals of the diagnosis part can be obtained. The optical fiber stethoscope probe can be used for assisting disease diagnosis of the heart, the lung, the blood vessel, the abdomen and the like.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of medical devices, and particularly relates to a fiber optic stethoscope probe. Background Art

[0002] Physiological sound signals in parts such as the heart, lungs, blood vessels, and abdomen can reflect the physiological state of the body, and are one of the physiological signals for disease diagnosis that humans have understood and mastered earlier. At the same time, the detection of sound signals in different parts of the human body is a simple, non-invasive, and long-term continuous physiological signal detection method, which is of great significance for the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and prognosis of various diseases. Traditional stethoscopes play an important role in medical diagnosis, but there are problems such as limited auscultation range and susceptibility to environmental noise interference. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new type of sensing and measurement method with high sensitivity and strong anti-environmental interference ability.

[0003] Optical fiber sensors use optical fibers as the sensing and transmission media, realizing both "sensing" and "transmission" of signals simultaneously. In terms of "sensing", they have the characteristics of high sensitivity, strong anti-interference ability, small and flexible structure, and good biocompatibility. In terms of "transmission", they have the characteristics of fast transmission speed, large information capacity, easy networking, and remote access. Therefore, the fiber optic stethoscope probe utilizes these characteristics of optical fiber sensors to achieve accurate measurement and transmission of sound signals. This technology not only has high sensitivity and accuracy but also can achieve long-distance sound transmission and monitoring.

[0004] Fiber optic stethoscopes mainly use fiber optic sensing technology to collect and transmit sound signals. Through specific fiber optic stethoscope components and transmission mechanisms, fiber optic stethoscopes can achieve the capture and restoration of sounds. Fiber optic stethoscope technology can be used for auscultating various diseases such as the heart and lungs, improving the accuracy and efficiency of diagnosis. Its high sensitivity and accuracy enable doctors to more accurately capture subtle sound changes in patients' bodies, providing a strong basis for early disease diagnosis. Fiber optic stethoscope technology can also be used to detect gastrointestinal diseases such as gastric ulcers and gastric cancer, and can monitor the peristalsis and gas conditions of the digestive tract. In the field of obstetrics and gynecology, fiber optic stethoscope technology can achieve real-time monitoring of fetal heartbeats and diagnose and treat the female reproductive system. Therefore, developing a fiber optic stethoscope probe with high sensitivity and high precision is of great significance for disease diagnosis and treatment. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a new type of fiber optic stethoscope probe that can continuously and real-time measure human sound signals with high precision.

[0006] The present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions: A fiber optic stethoscope probe includes an optical fiber, an optical fiber fixing sleeve, a thin film fixing tube, a thin film, and a sound collecting bellows; The optical fiber serves as a sensing and transmission medium. An optical fiber fixing sleeve is sleeved on the top end of the optical fiber, and the optical fiber fixing sleeve is fixedly connected to the optical fiber; The optical fiber fixing sleeve is inserted into the thin film fixing tube, and the optical fiber fixing sleeve is fixed inside the thin film fixing tube. The top end of the optical fiber is located inside the thin film fixing tube, and the end face of the optical fiber inside the thin film fixing tube is a flat end face. The thin film fixing tube is coaxial with the optical fiber inside it. The top of the optical fiber can be fixed inside the thin film fixing tube through the optical fiber fixing sleeve; The thin film is a circular sheet structure, which is fixed on the top end face of the thin film fixing tube, and the end face of the optical fiber inside the thin film fixing tube is spaced from the thin film; The bottom end of the sound-collecting bell tube is fixedly connected to the top end of the thin film fixing tube, and the thin film is located inside the sound-collecting bell tube; The optical fiber in the thin film fixing tube and the thin film form a Fabry-Perot interferometer for acquiring the sound signal of the diagnosis site.

[0007] Further, a light reflection coating is provided on the inner surface of the thin film, which can enhance the light reflection on the inner surface of the thin film in the Fabry-Perot cavity.

[0008] Further, the sound-collecting bell tube is of a bell-shaped structure, which can also be called a horn-shaped structure, which helps to converge the sound wave signal to the thin film at the bottom end of the sound-collecting bell tube, causing the thin film to vibrate and forming a gain effect on the sound signal.

[0009] Further, the top end of the thin film fixing tube is threadedly connected to the bottom end of the sound-collecting bell tube, which is convenient for disassembly and assembly.

[0010] Further, an adjusting sleeve is sleeved on the top of the optical fiber. The top end of the adjusting sleeve is fixedly connected to the bottom end of the optical fiber fixing sleeve. The adjusting sleeve is threadedly connected to the bottom end of the thin film fixing tube. The adjusting sleeve is used to adjust the distance between the end face of the optical fiber in the thin film fixing tube and the thin film, and can flexibly adjust the cavity length of the Fabry-Perot cavity. For different-intensity physiological sound signals in different parts of the human heart, lungs, blood vessels and abdomen, the detection accuracy can be improved by adjusting the cavity length of the Fabry-Perot cavity.

[0011] As can be seen from the above technical solutions, a fiber optic stethoscope probe provided by the present invention has the following beneficial effects: This fiber optic stethoscope probe is based on a Fabry-Perot interferometer formed by an optical fiber and a thin film in a thin film fixing tube for acquiring the sound signal of the diagnosis site. The optical fiber is used to collect and transmit the signal, so that the fiber optic stethoscope probe has high sensitivity and strong anti-interference ability. The sound-collecting bell tube is attached to the diagnosis site to focus the sound wave signal of the diagnosis site. This fiber optic stethoscope probe can be used for continuous real-time auscultation detection, and can be used for high-precision real-time detection of physiological sound signals of the heart, lungs, blood vessels and abdomen, providing a reference for disease diagnosis. Its operation is simple, the environmental requirements are low, and its practicability is strong. Its preparation method is simple, the cost is low, and it is easy to industrialize. Description of the Drawings

[0012] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art. In all the drawings, similar elements or parts are generally identified by similar reference numerals. In the drawings, the elements or parts are not necessarily drawn to actual scale.

[0013] Figure 1 It is a schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 2 It is a schematic three-dimensional structure diagram of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 3 It is a schematic exploded structure diagram of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 4 It is a schematic optical principle diagram of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 5 It is a schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 6 It is a schematic exploded structure diagram of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0019] Names of each mark in the figure: 1 - optical fiber, 2 - optical fiber fixing sleeve, 3 - thin film fixing tube, 4 - thin film, 5 - sound collecting bellows, 6 - light reflection coating, 7 - adjusting sleeve. Specific Embodiments

[0020] The following will describe in detail the embodiments of the technical solutions of the present invention with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, so they are only examples and cannot be used to limit the protection scope of the present invention.

[0021] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation of the present invention. Embodiment 1

[0022] An optical fiber stethoscope probe, as Figures 1 to 3 shown, mainly consists of an optical fiber 1, an optical fiber fixing sleeve 2, a thin film fixing tube 3, a thin film 4 and a sound collecting bellows 5; As Figure 1As shown, the optical fiber fixing sleeve 2 is sleeved on the top end of the optical fiber 1, and the optical fiber fixing sleeve 2 is fixedly connected to the optical fiber 1. Specifically, it is fixed by gluing or clamping (the clamping fixation is achieved by the interference fit between the outer sidewall of the optical fiber 1 and the inner sidewall of the optical fiber fixing sleeve 2), both of which are conventional fixed connection methods; As Figure 1 shown, the optical fiber fixing sleeve 2 is inserted into the inside of the thin film fixing tube 3, and the optical fiber fixing sleeve 2 is fixed inside the thin film fixing tube 3. The top end of the optical fiber 1 is located inside the thin film fixing tube 3, and the end face of the optical fiber 1 inside the thin film fixing tube 3 is a flat end face. The thin film fixing tube 3 is coaxial with the optical fiber 1 inside it; As Figure 1 and Figure 3 shown, the thin film 4 is a circular sheet structure, which is fixed on the top end face of the thin film fixing tube 3, and the end face of the optical fiber 1 inside the thin film fixing tube 3 is spaced from the thin film 4; specifically, the thin film 4 is adhesively fixed on the top end face of the thin film fixing tube 3. The circular sheet-shaped thin film 4 is coaxial with the thin film fixing tube 3, so that in the initial state, the flat end face of the optical fiber 1 in the thin film fixing tube 3 is parallel to the surface of the thin film 4. The structure of the thin film 4 is flat and the material is uniform, having good sound transmission characteristics; As Figure 1 shown, the bottom end of the sound-collecting bellows 5 is fixedly connected to the top end of the thin film fixing tube 3, and the thin film 4 is located inside the sound-collecting bellows 5; the optical fiber 1 in the thin film fixing tube 3 and the thin film 4 form a Fabry - Perot interferometer for obtaining the sound signal of the diagnostic site. Specifically, a part of the optical signal input by the optical fiber 1 is reflected at the end face of the optical fiber 1 in the thin film fixing tube 3, and the other part of the optical signal is transmitted and then reflected on the thin film 4 and then re-incident into the optical fiber 1 to interfere with the optical signal reflected at the end face of the optical fiber 1, forming a Fabry - Perot interferometer; As Figure 1 shown, a light reflection coating 6 is provided on the inner surface of the thin film 4, which can enhance the light reflection on the inner surface of the thin film 4 in the Fabry - Perot cavity; specifically, the light reflection coating 6 is formed by coating or sputtering a light reflection material on the inner surface of the thin film 4. The inner surface of the thin film 4 refers to the surface on its side close to the end face of the optical fiber 1 in the thin film fixing tube 3; As Figure 1 and Figure 4As shown, there is a certain distance between the end face of the optical fiber 1 in the thin-film fixed tube 3 and the thin film 4 on the top face of the thin-film fixed tube 3, so as to form a Fabry-Perot cavity between the optical fiber 1 and the thin film 4 in the thin-film fixed tube 3. The end face of the optical fiber 1 in the thin-film fixed tube 3 and the inner surface of the thin film 4 constitute the two reflecting surfaces of the Fabry-Perot cavity. When the optical signal enters the Fabry-Perot cavity along the optical fiber 1, the optical signal is reflected between the end face of the optical fiber 1 and the thin film 4. When the phase difference of the two optical signals that meet satisfies certain conditions, interference will occur. The output of the interference signal is related to the cavity length of the Fabry-Perot cavity. When the sound wave enters the sound-collecting bellows 5, the thin film 4 will vibrate with the sound wave, resulting in the vibration of the cavity length of the Fabry-Perot cavity. The interference signal changes due to the change of the cavity length, resulting in the change of the intensity of the optical signal transmitted to the receiving optical fiber 1. The sound signal is restored by monitoring the change of the intensity of the optical signal transmitted by the optical fiber 1. The working principle of the above Fabry-Perot interferometer is a well-known technology and will not be elaborated here.

[0023] As a preferred embodiment, in this embodiment, as Figures 1 to 4 shown, the sound-collecting bellows 5 is of a bell-shaped structure, which can also be called a horn-shaped structure, and is helpful to converge the sound wave signal to the thin film 4 at the bottom end of the sound-collecting bellows 5, so that the thin film 4 vibrates and can form a gain effect on the sound signal.

[0024] As a preferred embodiment, in this embodiment, as Figure 1 and Figure 3 shown, the top end of the thin-film fixed tube 3 is threadedly connected to the bottom end of the sound-collecting bellows 5, which is convenient for disassembly and assembly; specifically, an internal thread is provided on the inner side wall of the bottom end of the sound-collecting bellows 5, and an external thread that can be threadedly connected to the internal thread on the inner side wall of the bottom end of the sound-collecting bellows 5 is provided on the outer side wall of the top end of the thin-film fixed tube 3.

[0025] The working principle and technical effect of this embodiment are as follows: This optical fiber stethoscope probe can be used for auscultation detection of physiological sound signals of the heart, lungs, blood vessels and abdomen, aiming to provide reference for disease diagnosis. When in use, the sound-collecting bellows 5 is attached to the diagnosis site. As Figure 4 shown, the sound-collecting bellows 5 focuses the sound wave signal of the diagnosis site on the thin film 4, so that the thin film 4 generates regular vibrations, causing the cavity length of the Fabry-Perot interferometer formed by the optical fiber 1 and the thin film 4 in the thin-film fixed tube 3 to change, thereby changing the free spectral range of the output interference spectrum. The optical fiber 1 is used to collect and transmit signals, and thus the sound signal of the diagnosis site can be obtained in real time; this optical fiber stethoscope probe can be used for continuous real-time auscultation detection, has simple operation, low environmental requirements and strong practicability, and its preparation method is simple, low in cost and easy to industrialize. Embodiment 2

[0026] An optical fiber stethoscope probe, as Figure 5and Figure 6 As shown, the difference from Embodiment 1 is that an adjusting sleeve 7 is sleeved on the top of the optical fiber 1. The top end of the adjusting sleeve 7 is fixedly connected to the bottom end of the optical fiber fixing sleeve 2. Specifically, it can be integrally formed or adhesively fixed. The adjusting sleeve 7 is threadedly connected to the bottom end of the thin film fixing tube 3. The adjusting sleeve 7 is used to adjust the distance between the end face of the optical fiber 1 in the thin film fixing tube 3 and the thin film 4; When using the optical fiber stethoscope probe, by turning the adjusting sleeve 7, the length of the threaded connection section between it and the thin film fixing tube 3 can be adjusted, so as to drive the optical fiber fixing sleeve 2 to move in the thin film fixing tube 3, thereby adjusting the distance between the top end face of the optical fiber 1 and the thin film 4, and the cavity length of the Fabry - Perot cavity can be flexibly adjusted.

[0027] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or perform equivalent replacements for some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, and they should all be covered by the scope of the claims and the description of the present invention.

Claims

1. An optical fiber stethoscope probe, comprising an optical fiber (1), characterized in that, Further comprising: An optical fiber fixing sleeve (2), the optical fiber fixing sleeve (2) is sleeved on the top end of the optical fiber (1), and the optical fiber fixing sleeve (2) is fixedly connected to the optical fiber (1); A film fixing tube (3), the optical fiber fixing sleeve (2) is inserted into the inside of the film fixing tube (3), and the optical fiber fixing sleeve (2) is fixed inside the film fixing tube (3), the top end of the optical fiber (1) is located inside the film fixing tube (3), and the end face of the optical fiber (1) inside the film fixing tube (3) is a flat end face, and the film fixing tube (3) is coaxial with the optical fiber (1) inside it; A film (4), the film (4) is a circular sheet structure, which is fixed on the top end face of the film fixing tube (3), and the end face of the optical fiber (1) inside the film fixing tube (3) is spaced from the film (4); A sound collecting bellows (5), the bottom end of the sound collecting bellows (5) is fixedly connected to the top end of the film fixing tube (3), and the film (4) is located inside the sound collecting bellows (5); the optical fiber (1) in the film fixing tube (3) and the film (4) form a Fabry - Perot interferometer.

2. The fiber optic stethoscope probe according to claim 1, characterized in that: A light reflection coating (6) is provided on the inner surface of the film (4).

3. The fiber optic stethoscope probe according to claim 1, wherein: The sound collecting bellows (5) is of a bell - shaped structure.

4. The optical fiber stethoscope probe according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that: The top end of the film fixing tube (3) is threadedly connected to the bottom end of the sound collecting bellows (5).

5. The fiber optic stethoscope probe according to claim 1, wherein: An adjusting sleeve (7) is sleeved on the top of the optical fiber (1), the top end of the adjusting sleeve (7) is fixedly connected to the bottom end of the optical fiber fixing sleeve (2), the adjusting sleeve (7) is threadedly connected to the bottom end of the film fixing tube (3), and the adjusting sleeve (7) is used to adjust the distance between the end face of the optical fiber (1) inside the film fixing tube (3) and the film (4).

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