Stethoscope chest piece holder

A stethoscope chest piece holder for use with a medical attachment device, the stethoscope chest piece holder including a clamp defining an adjustable aperture sized to receive a stethoscope chest piece therein and being configured to secure the stethoscope chest piece proximate the medical attachment device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to auscultation training, and, more particularly, to a stethoscope chest piece holder for coupling a stethoscope chest piece to a medical device configured to emit body sounds.

BACKGROUND

Auscultation training is often conducted as part of medical education. Auscultation is the act of listening to sounds from the heart, lungs, or other body parts, typically with a stethoscope, as a part of medical diagnosis. During auscultation training, standardized patients are often used to mimic symptoms of a real patient. As a drawback, standardized patients are typically unable to simulate pathologies involving findings such as heart murmurs, abnormal lung, or abnormal abdominal sounds. Therefore, systems that improve upon auscultation training have been developed. For example, known systems which couple to a stethoscope may include an embedded speaker which plays pre-recorded digital audio files at the command of an instructor to mimic real patient symptoms. Such systems typically do not include a stethoscope chest piece holder that allows a user, such as a medical student, to easily and conveniently couple the system to variously sized stethoscopes. Known stethoscope chest piece holders are size specific, difficult to use, or involve numerous moving parts which increase the expense and complexity of manufacturing.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments advantageously provide a stethoscope chest piece holder for use with a medical attachment device, the stethoscope chest piece holder including a clamp defining an adjustable aperture sized to receive a stethoscope chest piece therein and being configured to secure the stethoscope chest piece proximate the medical attachment device.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the clamp includes a wall defining the adjustable aperture.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the clamp includes a first movable member and a second movable member opposite the first movable member, the first movable member and the second movable member defining a clamp axis extending therethrough along the adjustable aperture.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the first movable member and the second movable member are push-buttons.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the first movable member and the second movable member are movable relative to each other to define the adjustable aperture.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the stethoscope chest piece holder includes a first retaining member and a second retaining member opposite the first retaining member, the first retaining member and the second retaining member at least partially defining the adjustable aperture.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the first retaining member and the second retaining member are made of a friction material and are sized to contact the stethoscope chest piece.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the stethoscope chest piece holder includes one or more handles each defining a slit for receiving a portion of the clamp therein.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the clamp includes a first movable member and a second movable member opposite the first movable member, the first movable member and the second movable member being larger than the slit of the handles.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the handles are configured to couple to a medical attachment device.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the handles face each other and at least partially surround the adjustable aperture.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the clamp includes one or more walls including one or more outer walls, one or more side walls coupled to the outer walls, and one or more main walls coupling the side walls to each other.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the main walls define an adjustable distance therebetween, the adjustable distance corresponding to a size of the adjustable aperture.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the clamp includes a resting state and an active state, the adjustable distance being a first distance in the resting state and a second distance in the active state, the second distance being smaller than the first distance.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the active state includes the stethoscope chest piece being coupled to the stethoscope chest piece holder.

In another aspect of this embodiment, a size of the adjustable aperture is between 32 mm to 50 mm.

In another embodiment, an assembly for holding a stethoscope chest piece is provided, the assembly including a stethoscope chest piece holder having a clamp defining an adjustable aperture sized to receive the stethoscope chest piece therein and a handle defining a slit for receiving a portion of the clamp therein. The assembly may also include a stethoscope sized to be held within the clamp.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the clamp includes a wall, a first movable member, and a second movable member defining a size of the adjustable aperture.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the handle is configured to be coupled to a medical attachment device having a memory for storing one or more body sounds.

In another embodiment, a stethoscope holder is provided including a clamp having one or more walls defining an adjustable aperture for receiving a stethoscope chest piece therein, the walls including one or more outer walls facing each other and defining a clamp axis extending therethrough, one or more side walls proximate the outer walls, and one or more main walls coupling the side walls to each other. The clamp may also include one or more movable members coupled to the outer walls and one or more handles defining a slit shaped to be disposed between the movable members and the side walls of the clamp.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference designators refer to like elements, there is shown inFIG. 1an exemplary stethoscope chest piece holder in accordance with the present invention and designated generally as “100.” The stethoscope chest piece holder100may be referred to herein as “the holder” and may include a clamp102or the clamp102and one or more handles, such as a pair of handles104. The holder100is configured to hold a portion of a medical device, such as a stethoscope105including a stethoscope chest piece106, proximate to a medical attachment device108to simulate a medical diagnostic situation. The term “proximate” includes the chest piece106being in direct contact with the medical attachment device108or within 0.5 inches of the medical attachment device108. The chest piece106may be single-sided including a diaphragm or may be dual-sided including the diaphragm and a bell. The stethoscope105and the holder100may be provided as an assembly.

The medical attachment device108may be a device or system having a speaker, a memory for storing body sounds, and a processor. The processor may be configured to cause the speaker to emit the body sounds from the memory, such as during auscultation training, to mimic the practice of medical diagnosis. For example, and without limitation, the medical attachment device108may be that which is disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,552,745 and 9,601,031 incorporated by reference herein in the entirety. The body sounds may be associated with the lungs, heartbeat, blood flow, and the like. In one example, the chest piece106may be held proximate to a simulated patient or manikin's heart and the medical attachment device108may emit heart sounds from the speaker embedded within the medical attachment device108.

With reference toFIG. 2, the clamp102defines an adjustable aperture116sized to receive the stethoscope chest piece106(FIG. 1) or another medical device therein. In particular, the clamp102may include one or more walls defining the aperture116with the walls being a single unit or multiple units coupled together. The single and multiple unit configurations may provide the same or a similar visual appearance relative to each other.

In one example, the clamp102may include a pair of outer walls110facing each other and defining a clamp axis “A” extending therethrough. One or more side walls112, such as four side walls112, may each be proximate or coupled to one of the outer walls110and a pair of main walls114may couple each of the side walls112to each other. More or less walls may be included and the single or multiple configurations may define the adjustable aperture in a number of various shapes such as octagon, round, oval, etc.

In one exemplary configuration, the outer walls110includes a length generally designated as “OL”, between 0.2 inches to 0.4 inches, such as 0.3 inches. In such a configuration, the side walls112include a length, generally designated as “SL”, between 1.0 inch to 1.2 inches, such as 1.1 inches, and the main walls114include a length generally designated as “ML”, between 0.6 inches to 0.8 inches, such as 0.78 inches. In other configurations, the length of the walls may vary outside of these ranges. In one configuration, the outer walls110and the side walls112may define a 115-degree to 125-degree angle therebetween, such as a 120-degree angle, generally designated as “AG1.” In such configuration, the side walls112and the main walls114may define a 145-degree to 155-degree angle therebetween, such as a 150-degree angle, generally designated as “AG2.” In other configurations, the angles may vary outside of these ranges.

Referring still toFIG. 2, the size of the aperture116may be at least partially defined by a distance120which separates the main walls114from each other. The clamp102may be made of an elastic material, such as stainless-steel, which is configured to contract and resume an original shape after contraction. In other words, the material is configured to flex and retract to increase and decrease the distance120between the main walls114to accommodate variously sized stethoscope chest pieces or other medical devices held therein. In other configurations, the clamp102may be made of another material, such as a polymeric material, rubber, or the like, in the form of a fastener and strap or another mechanical assembly suitable for positioning the holder100proximate the medical attachment device108.

In one example, and without limitation, the aperture116may be between 32 mm to 50 mm taking into account a first retaining member124and a second retaining member126which may be coupled to the main walls114. As such, the holder100may accommodate stethoscope diaphragms having dimensions between 35 mm to 48 mm and stethoscope bells having dimensions between 22 mm to 27 mm for use in examining a human child, adult, and/or an animal. The holder100may be also be pliable and relatively inexpensive and simple to manufacture as a result of the minimal moving parts and materials.

The clamp102may be configured to secure the chest piece holder106proximate to the medical attachment device108by surrounding the medical attachment device108. In the alternative, with reference toFIGS. 3 and 4, the holder100may include one or more handles104, such as a pair of handles104, configured to be coupled to the medical attachment device108. The handles104may include a length, generally designated as “HL,” between 1.2 inches to 1.4 inches, such as 1.3 inches, and a height, generally designated as “HH,” between 0.5 inches to 0.60 inches, such as 0.55 inches. Such dimensions are provided for exemplary purposes as the handles104may vary in length and height.

The handles104may include a retention member122, such as a rubber stopper, to secure the chest piece106between the handles104in a stationary position. Although two handles104are shown, the holder100may include more or less handles104made of a rigid material, such as steel, that is not prone to easily bending or flexing. The handles104may be fixedly or removably coupled to the medical attachment device108using welding, adhesive, or another suitable fastening mechanism.

The handles104define a slit128for receiving a portion of the clamp102therein. For example,FIG. 5depicts a perspective view of the clamp102including the outer walls110and the side walls112inserted into the slit128during use of the holder100. The main walls114include the first retaining member124and the second retaining member126coupled to the inner surface118to retain the chest piece106within the clamp102(FIG. 10). In one configuration, the first retaining member124and the second retaining member126are made of a friction material, such as that in the form of neoprene rubber pads, which have relatively high friction properties to provide resistance and limit movement of the chest piece106when within the clamp102. In other configurations, the retaining members124and126may be clips, hooks, or another type of retaining member suitable for retaining the chest piece106within the clamp102.

In one configuration, a first movable member130and a second movable member132may be coupled to an outer surface134of the clamp102, such as by welding or adhesive, to form an outermost portion of the clamp102. During manufacturing of the clamp102, the outer walls110may be inserted through the slit128and the first and second movable members130and132may thereafter be coupled to the outer walls110. In other configurations, the first movable member130and the second movable member132may be coupled to the inner surface118or another portion of the clamp102. The first and second movable members130and132may be push-buttons having dimensions larger than a width of the slit128to prevent the first and second movable members130and132from sliding through the slit128. As such, the handles104are shaped to be disposed between the movable members130and132and the main walls114. Alternatively, the first and the second movable members130and132may be knobs, handles or the like.

The first and second movable members130and132may be pushed toward each other to transition the clamp102from a resting state, as shown inFIGS. 5-7, to an active state, as shown inFIGS. 8-10. In the resting state, the chest piece106is unattached to the holder100and in the active state, the chest piece106is held within the clamp102. By pressing the first and second movable members130and132toward each other, the user increases the distance120between the main walls114to insert the chest piece106between the main walls114. In other words, the first and second movable members130and132are movable relative to each other to adjust the size of the aperture116.

For example,FIG. 5depicts the distance120between the main walls114in the resting state as a first distance that is shorter than, as shown inFIG. 8, a second distance136between the main walls114in the active state. The clamp102can be transitioned from the resting state to the active state in a relatively quick and simple manner which may be desirable during specified events, such as auscultation training, that mimic emergency medical situations. As such, the simulation is not disrupted and a user of the holder100can focus on treating a simulated patient or ill manikin. In other words, the user may spend an increasing amount of time assessing the manikin or simulated patient than that which would be allotted using a stethoscope or other medical device holder that is difficult to assemble and attach to the stethoscope.

With reference toFIG. 9, the holder100is depicted as being coupled to the medical attachment device108, whereasFIG. 10depicts the chest piece106positioned within the clamp102, such as that which occurs when the movable members130and132are released by the user. In the active state, the retaining members124and126press firmly against the chest piece106and the friction between the retaining members124and126and the chest piece106maintains the chest piece106stationary and proximate to the medical attachment device108. The holder100may be configured to position the medical attachment device108in direct contact with the chest piece106or within 0.5 inches of the chest piece106in a parallel manner or the medical attachment device108may be angled relative to the chest piece106. In order to release the chest piece106from the clamp102, the user may press the movable members130and132to increase the size of the aperture116and pull the chest piece away from the medical attachment device108. Upon releasing the movable members130and132, the clamp102returns to the resting state.

Although applications have been discussed herein that relate to auscultation training, it will be understood that the principles and devices disclosed herein may also be used in other industries as well. Further, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope the invention.