Patent ID: 6454045
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A stethoscope having an optical fiber light, comprising;a pair of binaurals for inserting into the user's ears; acoustical tubing connected to the binaurals at a junction; a chestpiece attached to an end of the acoustical tubing opposite the binaurals, said chestpiece being capable of receiving internal sounds from a patient; an optical fiber for transmitting light positioned adjacent the acoustical tubing and extending along said tubing from about the tubing junction to the interior of the chestpiece, wherein a distal end of the optical fiber extends through the chestpiece and terminates at an opening in said chestpiece; a source of light at a proximal end of the optical fiber, wherein light from the light source is transmitted through the optical fiber to exit the optical fiber at the distal end, providing a beam of light suitable for medical examination purposes.