The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 14, 2015
Filed:
Aug. 08, 2012
Keith Bridger, Washington, DC (US);
Arthur V. Cooke, Baltimore, MD (US);
Dennis J. Kohlhafer, Ellicott City, MD (US);
Joseph J. Lutian, Arnold, MD (US);
John M. Sewell, Glen Rock, PA (US);
Richard E. Strite, Germantown, MD (US);
Keith Bridger, Washington, DC (US);
Arthur V. Cooke, Baltimore, MD (US);
Dennis J. Kohlhafer, Ellicott City, MD (US);
Joseph J. Lutian, Arnold, MD (US);
John M. Sewell, Glen Rock, PA (US);
Richard E. Strite, Germantown, MD (US);
Active Signal Technologies, Inc., Linthicum, MD (US);
Abstract
A physiological sensing stethoscope suitable for use in high-noise environments is disclosed. The stethoscope is designed to be substantially matched to the mechanical impedance of monitored physiological activity and substantially mismatched to the mechanical impedance of air-coupled acoustic activity. One embodiment of the stethoscope utilizes a passive acoustic system. Another embodiment utilizes an active Doppler system. The passive and active systems can be combined in one stethoscope enabling switching from a passive mode to an active mode suitable for use in very high-noise environments. The stethoscope is suitable for use in environments having an ambient background noise of 100 dBA and higher. The passive includes a head having a housing, a flexural disc mounted with the housing, and an electromechanical stack positioned between the housing and the flexural disc in contact with the skin of a patient. The active system detects Doppler shifts using a high-frequency transmitter and receiver.