Audio Targeting for Optimal Microphone Location in Telemedicine

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In telemedicine, non-clinical users face challenges in placing listening devices at optimal locations on the body to record high-quality lung or heart sounds due to lack of real-time feedback, which can lead to incorrect attributions of sound changes to listening site variations rather than anatomical changes.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising processors and memory that generates listening vectors based on biometric recording data structures from different sites, initiating guidance actions to direct the recording device to the optimal site, ensuring consistent listening site placement and accurate attribution of sound changes to anatomical conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a non-clinical user places a listening device on the patient body without guidance, then the operation is simple and quick, but the listening site location is inaccurate and audio quality is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of device placementVSAvoidlistening site location accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides real-time feedback to the non-clinical user by comparing audio characteristics from the current listening site with reference audio characteristics obtained by a medical professional. When the audio characteristics match within a threshold, the system confirms correct placement. This feedback loop enables users without medical training to achieve accurate listening site placement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary processing layer that automatically analyzes audio characteristics and determines whether the listening site is correct. This intermediary computation mediates between the user's simple device placement action and the complex requirement for accurate anatomical positioning, translating audio signal analysis into placement guidance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the listening device is placed at different locations on the body, then the system can explore different audio signals, but it becomes difficult to determine whether sound changes are due to anatomical conditions or listening site variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to record from multiple sitesVSAvoidaccuracy of anatomical condition diagnosis

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors audio characteristics and provides feedback to confirm when the listening site matches the reference location. This feedback mechanism ensures that audio recordings are obtained from consistent anatomical positions, allowing reliable comparison of sound changes over time to detect anatomical conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a reference copy of audio characteristics obtained by a medical professional at the correct listening site. Subsequent recordings are compared against this reference copy to verify listening site accuracy. This copying approach preserves the gold standard measurement for ongoing verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Measurement precision

If real-time feedback is provided to guide listening device placement, then the listening site accuracy is improved, but the system complexity and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelistening site location accuracyVSAvoidsystem processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-verification by automatically analyzing its own audio recordings and comparing them against reference characteristics. The computation device autonomously determines whether placement is correct and provides feedback without requiring external medical professional intervention for each measurement, reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical expertise required for manual listening site identification with automated audio signal processing and pattern recognition algorithms. This substitution transforms a skill-based manual task into an automated computational process that provides consistent, objective feedback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20240329181A1Audio targeting for optimal location of microphone to record biometric signals for telemedicine

Publication Date: 2024.10.03 OPTUM INC

AI summary

Embodiments provide for confirming whether biometric recording data structures that are obtained at a same target listening site relative to a patient body as measurements previously obtained by a medical professional or other first or previous listener. Accordingly, embodiments herein ensure that detected changes in biometric recording data structures are a result of changes in anatomic conditions and not due to variations in listening sites.