Digital Stethoscope Sensing for Infrasonic Auscultation Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stethoscopes are limited to detecting sounds within the human hearing range (20-20,000 Hz) and fail to capture infrasonic sounds, which can provide valuable diagnostic information.
Innovation Solution
A digital stethoscope system that includes a membrane to detect both sonic and infrasonic sounds using optical or piezoelectric sensors, with a processor to analyze and reconstruct sound waves, and a garment with sound detectors to locate sound sources and construct body images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional stethoscopes are used to detect sounds, then the device structure remains simple and easy to operate, but the detection frequency range is limited to human hearing (20-20,000 Hz) and infrasonic sounds cannot be captured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional acoustic detection mechanisms with electronic sensors (microphones, piezoelectric sensors, or optical sensors) that can detect a broader frequency range including infrasonic sounds. This substitution enables the stethoscope to capture frequencies below 20 Hz while maintaining ease of use through electronic signal processing and digital display interfaces.
2Loss of information
If sound detectors are added to detect both transmitted sound and body sound, then the diagnostic information increases, but the device complexity and signal processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detection function into specialized detector types: some detectors are optimized for transmitting sound frequencies (higher frequency range) while others are optimized for body sound frequencies (lower frequency range including infrasonic). This segmentation allows each detector type to be tuned for its specific frequency range, improving detection accuracy while enabling the processor to handle signals more efficiently through frequency-based separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs multiple detectors beyond the minimum single detector, using an array of sensors that provides redundant and complementary measurement capabilities. This excessive detection capacity ensures comprehensive capture of both transmitted and body sounds across the full frequency spectrum, with the processor selectively processing only the relevant frequency components for each diagnostic purpose.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the detection and analysis of infrasonic sounds, facilitating accurate diagnosis by identifying sound sources and providing images of the body's interior.
Implementation Method 1
A digital stethoscope system that includes a membrane to detect both sonic and infrasonic sounds using optical or piezoelectric sensors
Implementation Method 2
A digital stethoscope system that includes a membrane to detect both sonic and infrasonic sounds using optical or piezoelectric sensors
Data Source
AI summary
Described embodiments include a system, including a garment, configured to cover at least a portion of a body of a subject, one or more sound transmitters coupled to the garment, configured to transmit sound through the body of the subject, and a plurality of sound detectors coupled to the garment. The sound detectors are configured to detect the transmitted sound following passage of the transmitted sound through the body of the subject, to detect body sound emanating from the body of the subject, and to generate a plurality of sound-detector outputs in response to detecting the transmitted sound and the body sound. The system further includes a processor, configured to process the sound-detector outputs, and to generate a processor output in response thereto. Other embodiments are also described.