Wireless Stethoscope Chest Piece Sleep Control and Noise Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic stethoscopes lack the capability to provide separate auscultation and audible information streams while effectively canceling out ambient sounds, and they often require wired connections, which limits their usability and functionality.
Innovation Solution
The development of an electronic stethoscope system with a chest piece that includes a housing assembly with an accelerometer, transducer, and transceiver, allowing for wireless communication and power management, enabling separate auscultation and audible streams to be transmitted securely and efficiently, with features like a cable retention assembly and power swapping for extended use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wired connection is used for transmitting auscultation signals, then connection stability is improved, but device portability and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wired connection system with a wireless transmission system using electromagnetic fields. The electronic stethoscope transmits auscultation signals wirelessly to external devices, eliminating the need for physical cables while maintaining reliable communication through standardized wireless protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a wireless communication module as an intermediary between the stethoscope and external devices. This intermediary component enables signal transmission without direct physical contact, resolving the contradiction between connection stability and portability by providing a reliable wireless link that doesn't require cables.
2Device complexity
If ambient sounds are not canceled, then device simplicity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces active noise cancellation technology as an intermediary processing layer that selectively removes ambient sounds from the auscultation signal. This mediator component analyzes the audio spectrum and filters out unwanted environmental noises while preserving the patient's physiological sounds, thereby improving measurement precision without significantly complicating the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes ambient noise components from the recorded audio signal using digital signal processing. By separating and eliminating the harmful ambient sound elements from the mixed audio stream, the system improves the clarity and precision of the medical auscultation signals without requiring complex hardware modifications.
3Device complexity
If single auditory stream is provided, then device complexity is improved, but information completeness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the audio signal processing into multiple independent auditory streams, each handling different frequency ranges or signal characteristics. This segmentation allows simultaneous transmission of multiple types of auscultation information (e.g., heart sounds, lung sounds, bowel sounds) through separate channels, preserving complete auditory information while managing complexity through modular signal processing pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a multi-functional audio transmission system that can simultaneously provide multiple auditory streams to different users or devices. The system is designed to handle diverse auscultation information types through a unified platform, enabling one device to serve multiple diagnostic functions and information delivery channels without proportionally increasing complexity.
4Duration of action of moving object
If continuous power supply is maintained, then operational duration is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action through sleep mode functionality that alternates between active and low-power states. The electronic stethoscope periodically enters sleep mode when not actively being used, reducing energy consumption during idle periods while maintaining the ability to quickly resume full operation when needed, thereby extending operational duration without continuous high energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service power management where the device automatically monitors its own usage patterns and power levels, making decisions about when to enter sleep mode or activate components without user intervention. This self-service approach optimizes the balance between operational duration and energy consumption by having the device autonomously manage its power state based on actual usage conditions.
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
The system enables secure, wireless transmission of auscultation signals, reducing ambient noise interference and allowing for multiple auditory streams, enhancing clinical efficiency and convenience by providing real-time monitoring and easy power management.
Implementation Method 1
the chest piece configured to convert auscultation signals to digital signals for wireless transmission
Implementation Method 2
an accelerometer disposed in the housing assembly; the controller configured to: receive, from the accelerometer, motion data
Implementation Method 3
a transceiver disposed in the housing assembly; the controller configured to transmit data wirelessly through the transceiver
Data Source
AI summary
A chest piece for a wireless stethoscope system can be configured to receive, from the accelerometer, motion data; determine, based on the motion data, that the chest piece has experienced no moment for a time threshold; and command the chest piece to enter a sleep mode that consumes less power in response to determining that no moment has occurred for the time threshold.