Medical device with communication, measurement and data functions

Abstract

A medical diagnostic and communications apparatus with audio output comprises an electronic processor for processing stethoscope signals and secondary audio signals. An electronic stethoscope sensor is contained within a housing for transducing body sounds to electronic signals, and is operatively connected to the electronic processor. One or more secondary audio signal sources operatively connects to the electronic processor. A common audio output is connected to electronic processor to convert electronic stethoscope signals or secondary audio signals to acoustic output. These sounds may be produced separately or mixed.

1 . A medical diagnostic and communications apparatus with audio output comprising:
 electronic processing means for processing stethoscope signals and secondary audio signals;   an electronic stethoscope sensing means contained within a housing for transducing body sounds to electronic signals, operatively connected to the electronic processing means;   one or more secondary audio signal sources operatively connected to electronic processing means;   common audio output means connected to electronic processing means to convert electronic stethoscope signals or secondary audio signals to acoustic output, said sounds being produced separately or mixed.   
     
     
         2 . A medical diagnostic and communications apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein secondary audio signals are generated by one or more audio signal sources selected from the following: microphone connected to the electronic processing means; digital voice recorder and playback means; speech recognition recorder and playback means; audio signals converted from the receiver of a wireless digital communications means; audio signals converted from cellular telephone communications means; data-to-speech conversion means wherein physiological measurements are converted to speech; data-to-speech conversion means wherein diagnostic analysis results are converted to speech; data-to-speech conversion means wherein medical information is converted to speech; auscultation signal reference recording memory comprising a multitude of medical conditions and associated auscultation sounds; 
     
     
         3 . A medical diagnostic and communications apparatus as in  claim 2 , wherein secondary audio sources are contained within the same housing as the stethoscope sensing means. 
     
     
         4 . A medical diagnostic and communications apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising physiological measurement means which produce physiological measurement results, the results being converted to speech for output via the common audio output means. 
     
     
         5 . A medical diagnostic and communications apparatus as in  claim 4  wherein the physiological measurement means perform physiological measurements selected from one or more of the following: blood oxygen level; blood glucose level; blood pressure; body temperature; heart rate as derived from electronic stethoscope sensor signal; EKG measurement; ultrasonic measurement. 
     
     
         6 . A medical diagnostic and communications apparatus as in  claim 2  further comprising means for selecting one of a multitude of languages to be used for generated speech output. 
     
     
         7 . A medical diagnostic and communications apparatus as in  claim 2  wherein the medical information comprises pharmaceutical dosage and drug interaction data. 
     
     
         8 . A medical diagnostic and communications apparatus as in  claim 1  further including a wireless pager means. 
     
     
         9 . A medical diagnostic and communications apparatus as in  claim 1  further including a microphone and speech recognition means. 
     
     
         10 . A medical diagnostic and communications apparatus as in  claim 1  further including radio frequency wireless digital communications means. 
     
     
         11 . A medical diagnostic and communications apparatus as in  claim 1  further containing image sensor means. 
     
     
         12 . A medical diagnostic and communications apparatus as in  claim 1  further including display means. 
     
     
         13 . A medical diagnostic and communications apparatus as in  claim 12  further including magnifying means for magnifying the display means 
     
     
         14 . A medical diagnostic and communications apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the electronic processing means includes digital memory means for storing software programs downloaded via digital communications means. 
     
     
         15 . A medical diagnostic and communications apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the electronic processing means comprises a handheld digital computer. 
     
     
         16 . A medical diagnostic and communications apparatus as in  claim 15 , further containing wireless digital communications means to access remote medical information storage and retrieval means. 
     
     
         17 . A medical diagnostic and communications apparatus comprising an electronic stethoscope sensor physically attached via mounting means to, and operatively connected to, electronic processing means comprising a handheld computer containing audio driver means for processing and producing stethoscope sounds from said sensor. 
     
     
         18 . A medical measurement and communications apparatus comprising an ultrasonic measurement sensor operatively connected to electronic processing means comprising a handheld computer containing display means for displaying images processed from said sensor.