Electronic stethoscope

Abstract

An electronic stethoscope having several modes of operation to process acoustic signals to provide filtered signals useful for diagnosis. In one mode of operation the stethoscope substantially provides only acoustic signals generated by biological activity of the heart. In another mode of operation, the acoustic stethoscope substantially provides only acoustic signals generated by biological activity of the lungs. In another mode of operation, the electronic stethoscope disproportionately amplifies abnormal heart sounds and normal heart sounds to enhance diagnosis of heart abnormalities. The electronic stethoscope is operated in a manner similar to a conventional acoustic stethoscope and has similar spectral characteristics, thus allowing a user with acoustic stethoscope experience to easily use the electronic stethoscope.

1 . An electronic stethoscope, comprising: 
 a first transducer for converting acoustic signals into electronic signals;    a processing section, having an input coupled to an output of the first transducer, for processing the electronic signals to provide selected electronic signals representative of only selected ones of the acoustic signals; and    a second transducer, coupled to an output of the processing section, for converting the selected electronic signals into acoustic signals.