Health-device adapter for handheld electronic devices

Abstract

A health-device adapter for handheld electronic devices comprises a holder (20) comprising a base (22), longitudinally extending so as to define broad front wall (24) and back wall (26) and a gripping assembly (30, 32) and connected to the base (22) to hold, in use, an electronic handheld device. The health-device adapter further comprises a health-device connector (50) comprising an acoustic (60) or optical (160) connector. The health-device connector (50) is slidably connected to the base (22) of the holder (20).

Description

[0001] Health-device adapter for handheld electronic devices

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of tele-health device, and it has been developed with particular reference to a health-device adapter for handheld electronic devices.

[0003] The developing of electronic and telecommunication technologies has increased the opportunity to transmit data, and in particular health-data, through long distances. When habitancy settings, lack of transport, lack of mobility, or exceptional conditions due to epidemics or pandemics, restrict access to care, tele-health may allow longdistance patient and clinician contact, care, advice, reminders, monitoring, and even intervention.

[0004] Handheld electronic devices, as smartphones or tablet, has further increased the ease with which such information can be exchanged. Therefore, acoustic, as heart and lung sounds, and visual information, as outer ear canal and eardrum, may be collected and transmitted from a patient to a clinician contacts through long distances.

[0005] There are several known apparatuses which combines medical devices, as stethoscope or otoscope, and smart devices in order to collect and transmit sounds and / or images. For example, US patent no. US8200277 discloses a mobile phone with a stethoscopic function, wherein a stethoscopic microphone and a stethoscopic system are embedded in the body of the mobile phone.

[0006] Other known solutions provides mounting systems or supports to allow the attachment of an acoustic collector to a handheld electronic device such that sound is conducted directly to the device's microphone. For example, EP3058754 discloses a detachable fitted casing for attaching to at least a portion of the handheld electronic device, a stethoscope chest piece incorporated with said casing, and a tube, incorporated as a channel within said casing, configured to carry sound waves through air from said stethoscope chest piece to a microphone on said handheld electronic device. WO2022051172 discloses an apparatus for use in combination with a telephone and comprising an auscultation piece to acquire sounds, a solid medium coupled at a first end to said auscultation piece and a mechanical structure to grip the telephone so that a second end of the solid medium proximal results positioned next to the microphone.

[0007] The Applicant has conducted several tests and surveys and has discovered that the known solutions still do not completely satisfies the patient’s need. For example, the patients are against purchasing a new and specific device to meet this need, or they cannot properly use the mounting systems or supports on their handheld devices, or the health-devices are too complicated in use, or they do not transfer sound and images to the handheld device in an efficient and properly manner.

[0008] For these reasons, a need arose to provide an “easy-to-use” and efficient adapter that could be used with most types of handheld device, and that could deliver to the inputs of a handheld device different type of acoustic and visual information.

[0009] The general purpose of the present invention is therefore to satisfy this need.

[0010] In view of this purpose, the Applicant has decided to create, according to the invention, a health-device adapter for handheld electronic devices comprising:

[0011] - a holder comprising a base, longitudinally extending so as to define broad front wall and back wall, a gripping assembly to hold, in use, a handheld device, and connected to the base,

[0012] - a health-device connector comprising an acoustic or optical connector,

[0013] - characterised in that the health-device connector is slidably connected to the base of the holder. The dependent claims outline preferred and / or particularly advantageous aspects of the invention.

[0014] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the following description, made by way of example with reference to the attached figures in which:

[0015] Figure 1 is a front view of a health-device adapter for handheld electronic devices, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, coupled to a stethoscope;

[0016] Figures 2a and 2b are a front and back perspective views respectively of a holder according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 3 is a perspective back view of a health-device connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 4 is a perspective front view of the health-device connector of Fig. 3;

[0019] Figure 5 is a perspective front view of the health-device adapter of Fig. 1 ;

[0020] Figure 6 is a perspective back view of the health-device adapter of Fig. 1 ;

[0021] Figure 7 is a perspective view of a health-device adapter for handheld electronic devices according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 8 is a see-through view of the gripping assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 9 is a perspective back view of the health-device adapter of Fig. 7 in an operative position;

[0024] Figure 10 is an exploded view of the health-device adapter of Fig. 7;

[0025] Figure 11 is a perspective view of the of the health-device adapter of Fig. 7 coupled to a stethoscope;

[0026] Figures 12 and 13 are perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention with the health-device adapter coupled to an otoscope; and Figure 14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention with the health-device adapter coupled both to a stethoscope and to an otoscope.

[0027] It should be understood that elements and features of one embodiment can be conveniently incorporated into other embodiments without further clarification.

[0028] Reference will now be made in detail to the various embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are illustrated in the attached figures. Each example is provided purely by way of illustration of the invention and is not intended as a limitation thereof. For example, the technical features illustrated or described as forming part of an embodiment may be adopted on, or in association with, other embodiments to produce a further embodiment. It is understood that the present invention will include these modifications and variations.

[0029] A health-device adapter for handheld electronic devices according to the present invention, generally indicated as 10, comprises a holder 20 suitable to hold, in use an electronic handheld device 200. The holder 20 comprises a base 22, longitudinally extending so as to define a broad front 24 wall and a broad back 26 wall.

[0030] The holder 20 comprises a gripping assembly to hold, in use, the electronic handheld device 200.

[0031] According to a first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6, the gripping assembly may comprise two brackets 30, 32 connected to the base 22. The brackets 30, 32 and the broad front wall 24 define together a “U” shaped housing where a handheld device is suitable to be housed and gripped by the two brackets 30, 32, as it will become apparent by the following description.

[0032] The brackets 30, 32 in the first embodiment have a flat and elongated shape, but different shapes, as a “C” shape, could be envisaged as far as the gripping function could be maintained. The holder 20 may further comprise two bracket covers, one for each bracket 30, 32. The bracket covers may be shaped as the shape of the brackets 30, 32 and may be realized with a silicon material, so as not to damage, in use, the peripheral borders of a handheld device.

[0033] According to a particularly advantageous feature, at least one bracket 30 may be an adjustable bracket 30 in order to hold, in use, different types of handheld devices in term of lateral extension thereof. As shown in Figures 2a and 2b, the holder 20 further comprises two pins 34 for connecting at least one adjustable bracket 30 to the base 22. The pins 34 are inserted in two corresponding holes provided in the at least one bracket 30 and in two corresponding holes provided in the base 22. According to this configuration, the adjustable bracket 30 can be selectively moved, in use, towards and away from the lateral sides of the base 22 in order to widen or narrow the housing where a handheld device 200 is suitable to be housed.

[0034] The holder 20 may further comprise a couple of resilient elements, for example a couple of springs disposed inside the base 22 and each one connected to one of the pins 34 respectively, in order to pull the adjustable bracket 30 towards the base 22. At the same time, the springs may allow the adjustable bracket 30 to be pushed away from the base 22 in order to insert a handheld device into the holder 20, and, then, to pull back towards the base 22 the adjustable bracket 30 in order to hold the handheld device onto the holder 20.

[0035] The base 22 further comprises one or more connecting elements. In the first embodiment shown in the figures, the connecting elements are two slits 27, 29, in particular, an upper slit 27, longitudinally extending along the top portion of the base 22, and a lower slit 29, longitudinally extending along the bottom portion of the base The health-device adapter 10 further comprise a health-device connector 50 slidably connected to the base 22. The health-device connector 50 may comprise an arm 52 and a releasable connecting assembly to connect the arm 52 to the top portion and the bottom portion of the base 22 of the holder 20. The arm 52 and / or the releasable connecting assembly comprise one or more engaging elements releasable engageable in the one or more connecting elements 27, 29 of the base 22.

[0036] According to the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, the releasable connecting assembly may comprise an upper tooth 53 provided on the arm 52 and suitable to be inserted, in use, in the upper slit 27 of the base 22. The releasable connecting assembly may comprise a lower tooth 55, slidably connected to the arm 52, and suitable to be inserted, in use, in the lower slit 29 of the base 22.

[0037] The releasable connecting assembly may further comprise a resilient element, for example a spring 57, disposed inside the arm 52 and connected to the lower tooth 55, in order to push the lower tooth 55 towards the upper tooth 53.

[0038] In use, in order to connect the health-device connector 50 to the base 22, the upper tooth 53 is inserted in the upper slit 27, and the lower tooth 55 is pushed away from the upper tooth 53, i.e. lowered, by applying a force to overcome the spring 57 force. Thus, the lower tooth 55 is positioned under the lower portion of the base 22, in correspondence of the lower slit 29, allowing the health-device connector 50 to embrace the base 22. Then, interrupting the force applied on the spring 57, the lower tooth 55 is inserted inside the lower slit 29 of the base 22 connecting the arm 52 to the base 22.

[0039] According to a possible embodiment, a force applied on the spring 57 is needed and the lower tooth 55 must be lowered in order to laterally move the health-device connector 50 with respect to the base 22. Conversely, according to another possible embodiment, the force exerted by the spring 27 may be such that the upper 53 and lower 55 teeth can be anyway slidably movable inside the upper 27 and lower 29 slits of the base 22 respectively.

[0040] Several different configuration or assembly may be adopted in order to make the health-device connector 50 laterally slidably connected to the base 22.

[0041] According to the first embodiment, the lower tooth 55 of the releasable connecting assembly may be connected to a sled 59, slidably inserted in the arm 52 and easily accessible from outside the arm 52.

[0042] The health-device connector 50 further comprises an acoustic connector, suitable to gather acoustic information from a health-device and to provide them to an acoustic input of the handheld device, i.e. a microphone.

[0043] In the embodiments shown in the figures, the arm 52 has an “L” shape, and the upper tooth 53 is provided in the upper portion of the longer portion of the “L” shaped arm 52. The arm 52 further comprise an acoustic connector 60 in the shorter portion 51 of its “L” shape. The acoustic connector 60 may be a conduit having a first opening 62, for example an acoustic funnel, facing the internal surface of the shorter portion 53 of the “L” shaped arm 52 and a second opening facing away the external surface thereof.

[0044] The first opening 62 may favourably comprise a peripheral edge suitable to abut a microphone of a handheld device and to reduce unfavourable noises coming from outside the acoustic connector 60.

[0045] A skilled person would and could clearly provide different shapes of the arm 52, without exerting any inventive step, as far as such a shape allows to slidably connect the arm to the base 22 and allows the 62 of the acoustic connector 60 to be positioned facing the lower border of handheld device when said handheld device is connected to the health-device connector 10.

[0046] In use, and according to Fig. 1 , the acoustic connector 60 is suitable to be connected to a stethoscope 100, and, in particular, to an end of a tube 102 connected to a discshaped resonator 104.

[0047] It is well known that a stethoscope comprises a chestpiece usually consisting of two sides that can be placed against a patient for sensing sound: a diaphragm (plastic disc shaped resonator) or bell (hollow cup). Alternatively, the stethoscope might consist of only one side: a diaphragm or a bell. If the diaphragm is placed on the patient, body sounds vibrate the diaphragm, creating acoustic pressure waves which travel up the tubing to the listener's ears. If the bell is placed on the patient, the vibrations of the skin directly produce acoustic pressure waves traveling up to the listener's ears. Therefore, any embodiment of a known stethoscope - single sided or double sided - is considered suitable to be connected to the health-device adapter of the present invention.

[0048] According to a second embodiment of the present invention, shown in Figures 7 to 11 , a health-device adapter for handheld electronic devices, generally indicate as 10, comprises a holder 20 suitable to hold, in use a handheld device. The holder 20 comprises a base 22, longitudinally extending so as to define broad front 24 and back 26 walls. The holder 20 comprises a gripping assembly to hold, in use, a handheld device.

[0049] Many of the technical features illustrated or described as forming part of the first embodiment are adopted also in the second embodiment and therefore they may not be described in detail again for the sake of conciseness, but they are considered as incorporated by reference in the second embodiment. According to the second embodiment shown in the Figures 7 to 11 , the gripping assembly may comprise two independent brackets 30, 32 connected to the base 22. In the embodiment shown, the independent brackets 30, 32 are “C” shaped, but different shapes could be envisaged as far as the gripping function could be maintained.

[0050] The holder may further comprise two bracket covers 40, 42, one for each bracket 30, 32. The bracket covers 40, 42 may be shaped as the shape of the brackets 30, 32 and may be realized with a silicon material, so as not to damage, in use, the peripheral borders of a handheld device.

[0051] As shown in Figures 8 and 10, the holder 20 further comprises two pins 34 and two lock bolts 36 for connecting the brackets 30, 32 to the base 22. The pins 34 are inserted in two corresponding holes provided in the brackets 30, 32 and in two corresponding holes provided in the base 22. The lock bolts 36 are used to lock the ends 38 of the pins 34 and, thus, to connect the brackets 30, 32 to the base 22.

[0052] According to a particularly advantageous feature, the brackets 30, 32 may be adjustable brackets in order to hold, in use, different types of handheld devices in term of lateral extension thereof. To this regard, the holder may further comprise a couple of resilient elements, for example a couple of springs 44 connected from one side to the lock bolts 36 and from the other side to the pins 34. In use, the springs 44 pull the brackets 30, 32 towards the base 22 and, at the same time, may allow the brackets 30, 32 to be pushed away from the base 22 in order to insert a handheld device into the holder 20, and, then, to pull back towards the base 22 the brackets 30, 32 in order to hold the handheld device onto the holder 20. The health-device adapter 10 further comprise a health-device connector 50 slidably connected to the base 22. The health-device connector 50 may comprise an arm 52 and a releasable connecting assembly to connect the arm 52 to the base 22.

[0053] According to the embodiments shown in Figures 8 and 9, the arm 52 comprises a slit 54, and the releasable connecting assembly may comprise a bolt 56 inserted through the slit 54 and a nut 58 provided in a hole 28 on the back wall 26 of the base 22. In use, the bolt 56 may be loosen in order to unfasten the arm 52 from the base 22 and to laterally move the arm 52 with respect to the base 22.

[0054] Several different configuration may be adopted on order to make the arm 52 laterally slidably connected to the base 22. For example, the back wall 26 of the base 22 may comprise a track and the bolt 56 may comprise an engaging element inserted in the track. In use, loosening the bolt 56 allows the engaging element, and thus the arm 52, to slide inside the track, while fastening the bolt 56 allows to engage the track, and thus to fix the arm 52 with respect to base 22.

[0055] The health-device connector 50 further comprises an acoustic connector, suitable to gather acoustic information from a health-device and to provide them to an acoustic input of the handheld device, i.e. a microphone. In the second embodiment, the arm 52 has an “L” shape, the slit 54 been provided in the upper portion of the longer portion of the “L” shaped arm 52. The arm 52 further comprise an acoustic connector 60 in the shorter portion 53 of its “L” shape. The acoustic connector 60 may be a conduit having a first opening 62, for example an acoustic funnel, facing the internal surface of the shorter portion 53 of the “L” shaped arm 52 and a second opening facing away the external surface thereof. In use, and according to Fig. 11 , the acoustic connector 60 is suitable to be connected to a stethoscope 100, and, in particular, to an end of a tube 102 connected to a disc-shaped resonator 104.

[0056] According to both the embodiments above described, the health-device adapter 10 of the present invention may be easily, quickly and efficiently connected to handheld devices 200 of any type in term of dimensions, thanks to the at least one adjustable bracket 30, and correctly positioned with reference to the relative position of a microphone of the handheld device, thanks to the slidably health-device connector 50.

[0057] It is well known that the handheld devices differ from each other also for the relative position of their microphones. Even handheld devices of the same manufactures comprise microphones in different positions according to the specific model or release. A microphone of a handheld device is usually provided in a bottom border or side of a handheld device. Thus, when a handheld device is positioned on the healthdevice adapter 10 of the present invention, the 62 of the acoustic connector 60, provided on the internal surface of the shorter portion of the “L” shaped arm 52, faces the bottom side of the handheld device but, not necessarily, the microphones of the handheld device. Thanks to releasable connecting assembly the arm 52 can be laterally moved with respect to the base 20 and the 62 of the acoustic connector 60 on the internal surface of the shorter portion of the “L” shaped arm 52 can be exactly positioned on the microphone of the handheld device.

[0058] These technical features have a further advantage. As for the embodiment described above, the health-device adapter is used to provide acoustic information, i.e. sounds, deriving from the disc-shaped resonator 104. In order to be useful as much as possible, the acoustic information must be very precise, i.e. they must be free of noise and interference. It is therefore very clear that an extremely precise alignment between the position of the acoustic connector and the position of the speaker reduces such noise and interference.

[0059] In other words, it is not sufficient that the acoustic connector is positioned on the left / right side of the handheld device if the microphone of the handheld device is on its left / right side. It is necessary that the position of the two elements, acoustic connector and microphone, coincide precisely, as the present invention allows to do. According to a further embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 12 and 13, the health-device connector 50, above described, may further comprise an arm 152 slidably connected to the base 22. The arm 152 may be laterally slidably connected to the base 22 according to any of the technical features above described for the other embodiment, or according any know type of slidably connection.

[0060] According to a particular advantageous feature, the arm 152 further comprise a slit where the bolt 56 is inserted, so that the arm 152 may be unfasten from the base 22 by loosening the bolt 56 and it may be laterally moved with respect to the base 22.

[0061] The health-device connector 50 may comprise an optical connector 160, suitable in use to gather visual information from a patient and to provide them to an image input of the handheld device, i.e. a camera.

[0062] According to a further embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 14, the health-device connector 50 may comprise both the first arm 52 and the second arm 152, both slidably connected to the base 22.

Claims

Claims1 . A health-device adapter for handheld electronic devices comprising:- a holder (20) comprising- a base (22), longitudinally extending so as to define broad front wall (24) and back wall (26),- a gripping assembly (30, 32) to hold, in use, a handheld device, and connected to the base (22),- a health-device connector (50) comprising an acoustic (60) or optical (160) connector, characterised in that the health-device connector (50) is slidably connected to the base (22) of the holder (20).

2. A health-device adapter according to claim 1 , characterised in that the gripping assembly comprises two independent brackets (30, 32), and two pins (34) connecting at least one (30) of the two brackets (30, 32) to the base (22).

3. A health-device adapter according to claim 2, characterised in that the gripping assembly further comprises a couple of springs disposed inside the base (22) and connected to the pins (34).

4. A health-device adapter according to claim 1 , characterised in that the healthdevice connector (50) comprises an arm (52) slidably connected to the base (22) of the holder (20) and a releasable fastening assembly.

5. A health-device adapter according to claim 4, characterised in that the base (22) further comprises one or more connecting elements (27, 29), the arm (52) and the releasable fastening assembly comprises one or more engaging elements (53, 55) releasable engageable in the one or more connecting elements (27, 29) of the base (22).

6. A health-device adapter according to claim 5, characterised in that the one or more connecting elements comprise an upper slit (27), longitudinally extending along the top portion of the base (22), and a lower slit (29), longitudinally extending along the bottom portion of the base (22).

7. A health-device adapter according to claim 6, characterised in that the arm (52) comprises an upper tooth (53) suitable to be connected to the upper slit (27) of the base (22).

8. A health-device adapter according to claim 6, characterised in that and the releasable fastening assembly comprises a lower tooth (55) suitable to be connected to the lower slit (27) of the base (22).

9. A health-device adapter according to claim 8, characterised in that the releasable fastening assembly comprises a resilient element (57) connected to the lower tooth (55).

10. A health-device adapter according to claim 4, characterised in that the arm(52) has an “L” shape, the acoustic connector (60) being provided in a shorter portion(53) of the arm (52).

11. A health-device adapter according to claim 4, characterised in that the acoustic connector (60) is a conduit having an acoustic funnel (62) facing the internal surface of the shorter portion (53) of the “L” shaped arm (52) and a second opening facing away the external surface thereof.

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