Systems, devices, and methods for capturing and outputting data regarding a bodily characteristic

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods are provided for capturing and outputting data regarding a bodily characteristic. In one embodiment, a hardware device can operate as a stethoscope with sensors to detect bodily characteristics such as heart sounds, lung sounds, abdominal sounds, and other bodily sounds and other characteristics such as temperature and ultrasound. The stethoscope can be configured to work independently with built solid state memory or SIM card. The stethoscope can be configured to pair via a wireless communication protocol with one or more electronic devices, and upon pairing with the electronic device(s), can be registered in a network resident in the cloud and can thereby create a network of users of like stethoscopes.

1 . A digital stethoscope system including (i) a body that is placed on a subject; (ii) a processing sub-system programmed to measure heart rate and also to analyse or classify heart sound data detected by the body and to identify anomalies from that heart sound data and also normal organ functioning from that heart sound data; and (iii) a visual display programmed to display a graphical representation of a single measured heart beat cycle, or an average of multiple sequential measured heart beat cycles, together with a graphical representation showing the timing of S1 and S2 events for that cycle or average of cycles, and to illuminate or display light of a specific colour when normal heart functioning is detected. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  in which the specific colour is displayed in real time during collection and analysis of data by the system. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  in which the visual display is programmed to illuminate or display light of a specific colour in time with the detection of normal heart function. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  in which the processing sub-system is programmed to classify a S1, S2, S3, S4 event or any other heart related event. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  in which each event is associated with a specific colour. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  in which the system includes a processing sub-system programmed to measure heart rate and also to analyse or classify ECG/EKG data detected by the body and to identify anomalies from that ECG/EKG data and also normal heart functioning from that ECG/EKG data. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  in which the specific colour is green. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  in which the body includes an integral ECG/EKG sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  in which the visual display is integral to the body. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  in which the visual display is separate from the body. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  in which the visual display is an application on a connected personal device, such as a smartphone or tablet or watch. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  in which the graphical representation of a single measured heart beat cycle, or an average of multiple sequential measured heart beat cycles is illuminated or displayed in light of a specific colour when normal heart functioning is detected. 
     
     
         13 . A method of analysing data measured by a digital stethoscope system including a body and a visual display, the method comprising the steps of:
 (i) placing the body on a subject;   (ii) at a processing sub-system, the steps of: measuring heart rate, analysing or classifying heart sound data detected by the body and identifying anomalies from that heart sound data and also normal organ functioning from that heart sound data; and   (iii) at the visual display: displaying a graphical representation of a single measured heart beat cycle, or an average of multiple sequential measured heart beat cycles, together with together with a graphical representation showing the timing of the timing of S1 and S2 events for that cycle or average of cycles, and illuminating or displaying light of a specific colour when normal heart functioning is detected.