This invention relates generally to stethoscopes and, more particularly, to a two-piece stethoscope having transmitter and receiver portions and a holder therefor.
The use of a stethoscope for listening to the sound of a patient""s heart, lungs, or other internal organs is a routine medical practice. Therefore, doctors and nurses typically carry a stethoscope with them most of the time. A standard stethoscope, however, is inconvenient to carry in that it includes a chestpiece for placement on a patient""s body, a pair of earpieces, and tubes connecting the chestpiece to the earpiece. Such a stethoscope is often carried about one""s neck and dangles therefrom. A dangling chestpiece often gets in the way and interferes with other medical procedures.
Various medical devices have been proposed in the art for transmitting a signal corresponding to an auscultatory sound to a remote receiving device, such as the devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,248,241, 4,705,048, and 5,027,825. Although presumably effective for their intended purposes, these devices do not provide a stethoscope that can be carried comfortably throughout the day by medical personnel and used repeatedly on different patients.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a two-piece stethoscope which includes a chestpiece for sensing and transmitting auscultatory sounds and an earpiece for receiving such sounds. It is further desirable to have a stethoscope which can be carried comfortably by medical personnel and which does not interfere with other medical procedures. In addition, it is desirable to have a stethoscope in which the chestpiece is economically configured for use by medical personnel.
A two-piece electronic stethoscope according to the present invention includes a chestpiece and an earpiece that are not connected by traditional tubes. The chestpiece includes a bell housing with a diaphragm for sensing auscultatory sounds within the chest cavity of a patient. The chestpiece also includes a transducer for converting the auscultatory sounds into an electrical signal. A transmitter coupled to the transducer transmits the electrical signal in radio wave form. The earpiece includes a housing having a configuration suitable for insertion into a user""s ear. The earpiece includes a receiver for receiving a transmitted electrical signal and converting the signal into audible form. A speaker mounted within the earpiece is coupled to the receiver for providing the audible signal to the user.
The chestpiece and earpiece of the present stethoscope can be stored in a holder between uses. The holder comprises a box-like casing having a channel recessed in a front wall thereof. The channel includes a pair of slots for capturing the bell portion of the chestpiece when it is inserted into the channel. The casing also includes a chamber for holding one or more earpieces when not in use. The chamber is in communication with an aperture extending through the top wall of the casing and with an aperture at the lower end of the chamber for receiving and releasing earpieces, respectfully.
Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a stethoscope which includes a chestpiece for sensing and transmitting auscultatory sounds of a patient to an to earpiece insertable in a user""s ear.
Another object of this invention is to provide a stethoscope, as aforesaid, in which the chestpiece is economically configured to be held and manipulated comfortably by a user.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a stethoscope, as aforesaid, in which the chestpiece and earpiece can be stored conveniently in a holder.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a stethoscope, as aforesaid, in which the holder may be clipped to a user""s belt or pocket.
A further object of this invention is to provide a stethoscope, as aforesaid, wherein no tubes connect the chestpiece with the earpiece.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.