Wireless stethoscope and method of use thereof

Abstract

A wireless stethoscope is described, having wireless sensors that are enclosed in disposable pads so that the same pads are not used on more than one patient, preventing cross-infection of patients associated with conventional stethoscopes. The present wireless stethoscope also detects pulmonary sounds and cardiac sounds, allowing the user to monitor one or the other without interference. Also described is a method for diagnosing a pulmonary condition using the wireless stethoscope.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wireless stethoscope comprising at least one wireless sensor for monitoring at least one bodily sound and a receiver unit, wherein said wireless sensor detects one or more bodily sounds, converts said one or more bodily sounds into sound signals, and transmits said sound signals wirelessly to said receiver unit, wherein said receiver receives and processes said sound signals and transmits said sound signals to a user-end listening and displaying device. 
     
     
         2 . The wireless stethoscope of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless sensor is enclosed in or attaches to a disposable pad. 
     
     
         3 . The wireless stethoscope of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless sensor comprises at least one microphone that detects bodily sounds. 
     
     
         4 . The wireless stethoscope of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless stethoscope comprises more than one wireless sensor programmed to said receiver unit. 
     
     
         5 . The wireless stethoscope of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless sensor comprises a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         6 . The wireless stethoscope of  claim 1 , wherein said bodily sound is selected from the group consisting of a pulmonary sound, a cardiac sound, and a digestive sound. 
     
     
         7 . The wireless stethoscope of  claim 1 , wherein said receiver unit is an electronic device selected from the group consisting of a cell phone, smart phone, PDA and tablet computer. 
     
     
         8 . The wireless stethoscope of  claim 7 , wherein said electronic device comprises an application for monitoring said at least one bodily sound. 
     
     
         9 . The wireless stethoscope of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless sensor comprises a preamplifier that amplifies bodily sounds within a specific wavelength range. 
     
     
         10 . The wireless stethoscope of  claim 1 , wherein said specific wavelength range corresponds to the wavelength of sounds typical of pulmonary sounds or the wavelength of sounds typical of cardiac sounds. 
     
     
         11 . The wireless stethoscope of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless sensor comprises a filter circuit that removes or reduces bodily noises that are outside a specific wavelength range. 
     
     
         12 . The wireless stethoscope of  claim 11 , wherein said specific wavelength range corresponds to the wavelength of sounds typical of pulmonary sounds or the wavelength of sounds typical of cardiac sounds. 
     
     
         13 . The wireless stethoscope of  claim 11 , wherein said filter circuit further removes or reduces background noises selected from the group consisting of ambient noises, voices and metallic sounds. 
     
     
         14 . The wireless stethoscope of  claim 11 , wherein said filter circuit is interfaced with a power amplifier that amplifies bodily sounds that are within said specific wavelength range. 
     
     
         15 . The wireless stethoscope of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless sensor comprises an analog to digital converter interfaced to a microcontroller that digitizes bodily sounds that are within said specific wavelength range. 
     
     
         16 . The wireless stethoscope of  claim 15 , wherein said wireless sensor comprises a transmitter unit for wireless transmission of digitized bodily sounds within a specific wavelength range to said receiver unit. 
     
     
         17 . The wireless stethoscope of  claim 16 , wherein said wireless transmission is selected from the group consisting of radio frequency communication signals, infrared communication signals, short-wavelength radio transmissions and IEEE 802.15.1 signals. 
     
     
         18 . The wireless stethoscope of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless sensor comprises:
 at least one microphone that detects bodily sounds,   a preamplifier that amplifies bodily sounds within a specific wavelength range,   a filter that removes or reduces noises that are outside a specific wavelength range, wherein the filter is interfaced with a power amplifier that amplifies bodily sounds that are within said specific wavelength range,   an analog to digital converter interfaced to a microcontroller that digitizes bodily sounds that are within said specific wavelength range, and   a transmitter unit for wireless transmission of digitized bodily sounds within a specific wavelength range to said receiver unit.   
     
     
         19 . A wireless stethoscope system, comprising at least one wireless sensor for monitoring at least one bodily sound, a receiver unit and a central transmitting unit, wherein said wireless sensor transmits said at least one bodily sound to said receiver unit by wireless transmission, and wherein said receiver unit is interfaced with said central transmitting unit and further transmits said at least one bodily sound to said central transmitting unit. 
     
     
         20 . The wireless stethoscope system of  claim 19 , wherein the interface between said receiver unit and said central transmitting unit is wired or wireless. 
     
     
         21 . The wireless stethoscope system of  claim 19 , wherein said central transmitting unit is interfaced with more than one receiver unit. 
     
     
         22 . The wireless stethoscope system of  claim 19 , wherein said central transmitting unit is further interfaced with at least one storage device. 
     
     
         23 . The wireless stethoscope system of  claim 22 , wherein said at least one bodily sound is recorded on said at least one storage device. 
     
     
         24 . The wireless stethoscope system of  claim 19 , wherein said central transmitting unit is further interfaced with at least one listening device. 
     
     
         25 . The wireless stethoscope system of  claim 24 , wherein said at least one listening device is an electronic device selected from the group consisting of a cell phone, smart phone, PDA, tablet computer and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The wireless stethoscope system of  claim 24 , wherein said central transmitting unit or said at least one listening device comprises an application that allows a practitioner to monitor at least one bodily sound from more than one patient. 
     
     
         27 . The wireless stethoscope system of  claim 26 , wherein said application analyzes said at least one bodily sound and provides or suggests a preliminary diagnosis based upon said at least one bodily sound. 
     
     
         28 . A method for monitoring at least one bodily sound of a patient, comprising:
 contacting a wireless sensor with the body of the patient, wherein the wireless sensor detects and wirelessly transmits a bodily sound;   receiving said bodily sound with a receiver unit in the vicinity of said patient; wherein said receiver unit is an electronic device selected from the group consisting of cell phones, smart phones, PDAs and tablet computers.   
     
     
         29 . A method for monitoring at least one bodily sound of a patient, comprising:
 contacting a wireless sensor with the body of said patient, wherein said wireless sensor detects and wirelessly transmits a bodily sound;   receiving said bodily sound with a receiver unit in the vicinity of said patient; wherein said receiver unit transmits said bodily sound to a listening device, wherein said listening device selected from the group consisting of cell phones, smart phones, PDAs and tablet computers.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said central transmitting unit transmits said bodily sound to an additional listening device. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said additional listening device is selected from the group consisting of cell phones, smart phones, PDAs and tablet computers. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said wireless sensor amplifies detected bodily sound and filters amplified sound to reduce background noise. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said receiver unit filters received bodily sound to reduce back ground noise prior to transmission.