Inflatable Vest Stethoscope Layout for Remote Respiratory Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Challenges exist in performing accurate respiratory assessments during telehealth visits due to the lack of conventional stethoscope technology in remote diagnostic systems, making it difficult for physicians to listen to lung sounds and heart sounds of home patients.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable vest equipped with stethoscope listening devices and microphones that amplify sound, connected via tubing to a USB port or wireless transmission, allowing for remote respiratory assessments using a smartphone application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional stethoscope technology is used during telehealth visits, then physicians can accurately listen to lung sounds and heart sounds, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stethoscope bell is nested within a recess in the inflatable liner, allowing the listening device to be integrated into the vest structure. This nesting approach enables accurate sound collection while maintaining a compact, wearable design that reduces overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated vest system: the inflatable liner provides both patient comfort/positioning and houses the stethoscope recess, while the microphone captures sounds from the stethoscope. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components needed
2Measurement precision
If conventional stethoscope technology is used during telehealth visits, then physicians can perform accurate respiratory assessments, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable liner acts as a flexible shell that integrates the stethoscope recess and provides a compliant interface with the patient's back. This flexible membrane approach is simpler and more cost-effective to manufacture than rigid stethoscope mounting structures, while still enabling accurate sound transmission
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a simplified digital copy approach by capturing acoustic signals through microphones and transmitting them electronically to remote physicians. This digital signal copying eliminates the need for complex analog stethoscope mechanisms at the remote end, reducing manufacturing costs
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple stethoscopes are positioned at different locations on the vest, then comprehensive respiratory assessment is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vest is segmented into multiple zones with stethoscope recesses positioned at different locations (e.g., upper back, lower back, sides) to capture sounds from different lung and heart regions. This segmentation enables comprehensive assessment while keeping each individual recess simple in structure
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable liner serves multiple functions: it provides patient comfort through gentle inflation, positions the stethoscope bells correctly against the body, and houses the recesses for multiple listening positions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate positioning mechanisms
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 accurate respiratory assessments by pressing stethoscopes against the patient's back, amplifying sounds, and transmitting them remotely for diagnosis, facilitating easy use and low-cost manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
when the at least one stethoscope is recessed into the at least one stethoscope recess, and the inflatable vest is worn by a patient, and the inflatable bladder is inflated, the diaphragm of the at least one stethoscope is pressed against the back of the patient
Implementation Method 2
Tubing near the stethoscope device or devices can contain small microphones to amplify sound to conductor relays
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4A
AI summary
A lightweight inflatable vest is provided with embedded listening devices. Once inflated, the vest enables a physician to hear amplified lung sounds and heart beats and rhythms of a patient wearing the vest, via connection to a smart phone application, through a patient portal, or the like. By using the device on a patient, a physician is provided with an accurate way to perform a respiratory and heart health assessment of the patient during a telehealth visit.