Wearable stethoscope patch

A stethoscope system includes a wearable stethoscope patch to be worn by a user that includes a substrate, an accelerometer in the substrate, the accelerometer configured to sense acoustic pressure waves in the user's body to produce a first electrical signal, and an antenna over the substrate and in electric communication with the accelerometer, wherein the antenna is configured to wirelessly transmit measurement data based on the first electrical signal. The wearable stethoscope patch also includes a control device that receives the measurement data wirelessly from the antenna and produces stethoscopic data based on the measurement data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to wearable electronic devices, and in particular, to wearable stethoscope that can be worn by a user for picking up acoustic signals of vibration from user's body, such as heart and lung.

Stethoscope is an acoustic medical device for auscultation, or listening to the internal sounds of a user's body. A traditional acoustic stethoscope includes three main mechanical components: a chest piece, tubing, and earpieces. In operation, the chest piece picks up sound from a user's body, an air-filled hollow tube transmits the sound from the chest piece to the earpieces, and then to listener's ears. The chest piece usually consists of two parts that can be placed against the patient for sensing sound: a bell (hollow cup) for picking up lower frequency sounds, and a diaphragm (disc) for picking up higher frequency sounds. When the bell is placed on the patient, the vibrations of the skin directly produce acoustic pressure waves that travel to the listener's ear. When the diaphragm is placed against the patient's skin, body sounds vibrate the diaphragm, creating acoustic pressure waves, which then travel to the listener's ears. These two types of pressure waves allow the listener to examine acoustic vibrations over a wide acoustic frequency range in the user's body.

One drawback associated with the traditional acoustic stethoscopes is that the sound level is normally low. Electronic stethoscopes overcome this problem by electronically amplifying body sounds. Electronic stethoscopes convert acoustic sound waves obtained through the chest piece into electronic signals, which are then processed for optimal listening. The electronic signals can be filtered, digitized, encoded and decoded, to have the ambient noise reduced or eliminated, and sent through speakers or headphones.

An electronic stethoscope typically consists of a microphone, placed in a chest piece, comprising a diaphragm and a transducer. Sound detection can be achieved by placing the chest piece containing the microphone against a user's chest. In some other devices, piezoelectric material is used to convert pressure waves into electrical signals. A piezoelectric crystal can be placed at the head of a metal shaft with the bottom of the shaft making contact with a diaphragm. In another design, piezoelectric crystals are placed within a foam material behind a thick rubber-like diaphragm. In other devices, the sound waves are sensed by a capacitive diaphragm with a conductive inner surface. These methods, however, suffer from ambient noise interferences.

There is therefore still a need for convenient and accurate measurements of acoustic signals in human body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The presently disclosure relates to a wearable stethoscope patch that overcome drawbacks in traditional and conventional technologies. The wearable stethoscope patch can be worn on a person's skin comfortably for a long period of time while a person conducts his or her normal daily activities. The wearable stethoscope patch can accurately and continuously measure and detect acoustic signals in a person's body. The acoustic signals are converted into electrical signals and wirelessly communicated with an external control device. Another advantageous feature of the stethoscope system or wearable stethoscope patch is that it can significantly reduce or remove noise, and thus improve accuracy and usability of the stethoscopic data.

In one general aspect, the present invention relates to a stethoscope system that includes a wearable stethoscope patch adapted to be worn by a user, which includes a substrate, an accelerometer in the substrate, the accelerometer that can sense acoustic pressure waves in the user's body to produce a first electrical signal, and an antenna over the substrate and in electric communication with the accelerometer, wherein the antenna can wirelessly transmit measurement data based on the first electrical signal. The stethoscope system further includes a control device that can receive the measurement data wirelessly from the antenna and to produce stethoscopic data based on the measurement data.

Implementations of the system may include one or more of the following. The control device can include a measurement controller that can transmit a measurement control signal wirelessly to the antenna, wherein the accelerometer can produce the first electrical signal in response to acoustic pressure waves under control of the measurement control signal. The measurement controller can control the accelerometer to vary a type, timing, a frequency, or duration of the first measurement of the user based on the first treatment field applied across the user's body. The wearable stethoscope patch can include multiple accelerometers, each of which can sense acoustic pressure waves in the user's body to produce the first electrical signal, wherein the measurement data can be based on the first electrical signals from the multiple accelerometers. The control device can include a stethoscopic analyzer that can reduce noise in the stethoscopic data by cancelling out uncorrelated signals in the measurement data from the multiple accelerometers. The stethoscopic analyzer can add the measurement data from the multiple accelerometers to cancel out uncorrelated noise signals in the measurement data to reduce noise in the stethoscopic data. The wearable stethoscope patch can include a plurality of circuit modules each comprising a support substrate and a first conductive circuit, wherein at least some of the plurality of circuit modules can include accelerometers on their respective support substrates; and flexible ribbons that connect the plurality of circuit modules, wherein the flexible ribbons and the plurality of circuit modules define one or more openings, wherein the flexible ribbons include second conductive circuits connected to the first conductive circuit. The substrate can include a circuit in electrical communication with the accelerometer and the antenna. The wearable stethoscope patch can further include a semiconductor chip mounted on the substrate and in electrical communication with the circuit. The semiconductor chip can receive the first electrical signal from the accelerometer and convert the first electrical signal to a second electrical signal. The first electrical signal can be analog and the second electrical signal can be digital. The semiconductor chip can enable the antenna to transmit the measurement data based on the second electrical signal.

In another general aspect, the present invention relates to a method for stethoscopic measurement. The method includes sensing acoustic pressure waves in a user's body by an accelerometer in a wearable stethoscope patch attached to the user's body, producing a first electrical signal by the accelerometer in response to acoustic pressure waves, the accelerometer in electric communication with an antenna, wirelessly transmitting measurement data based on the first electrical signal from the antenna to a control device, and producing stethoscopic data by the control device based on the measurement data.

Implementations of the system may include one or more of the following. The method can further include receiving a measurement control signal by the antenna from the control device, and producing the first electrical signal by the accelerometer in response to acoustic pressure waves under control of the measurement control signal. The method can further include sensing acoustic pressure waves in the user's body by multiple accelerometers to produce multiple first electrical signals, wherein the measurement data can be based on the multiple first electrical signals from the multiple accelerometers; and reducing noise in the stethoscopic data by cancelling out uncorrelated signals in the measurement data from the multiple accelerometers. The multiple accelerometers can be mounted on the wearable stethoscope patch. The multiple accelerometers are mounted on a plurality of wearable stethoscope patches. The method can further include amplifying measurement data in a predetermined acoustic spectral range before the step of producing stethoscopic data. The first electrical signal can be analog, wherein the first electrical signal is converted to a second electrical signal by a semiconductor chip, wherein the second electrical signal can be digital, wherein the measurement data is based on the second electrical signal. The method can further include producing an audio signal or a visual display based on the stethoscopic data for diagnostic examination. The wearable stethoscope patch can be attached to a first area of the user's body. The method can further include producing a calibration electrical signal by a calibration accelerometer on a calibration wearable stethoscope patch that is attached to a second area of the user's body away the first area of the user's body; producing calibration data based on the calibration electrical signal; and reducing noise in the stethoscopic data using the calibration data.

These and other aspects, their implementations and other features are described in detail in the drawings, the description and the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 1, a stethoscope system100includes one or more wearable stethoscope patches110and a control device130. The one or more wearable stethoscope patches110can be attached to the body of a user120and sense accelerations or movements in user's skin or tissues caused by acoustic pressure waves in the body of the user120. The one or more wearable stethoscope patches110each can convert the accelerations or movements into electronic signals, and can wirelessly exchange measurement data with the control device130. The control device130can process and analyze measurement data to produce stethoscopic data.

In the present disclosure, the term “wearable patch” can also be referred as “wearable sticker”, “wearable tag”, or “wearable band”, etc. The term “stethoscopic data” refers to internal sounds in human or animal bodies, which can include acoustic (or sound) waves produced in lungs, hearts, intestines, and blood flows in arteries and veins. In some other cases, the vibrations produced by can be directly analyzed to correlate to movement of organs or any physical changes inside the user's body. The acoustic waves produce mechanical vibrations in a user's body comprising internal organs, bones, body fluids, tissues, and the skin.

In the present disclosure, the phrase “acoustic wave” refers to propagating vibrations within the scope of bioacoustics, which includes both human audible and inaudible frequencies. Moreover, “acoustic waves” in the present disclosure can have intensities above and below human hearing discernible levels. The weak acoustic signals from users' bodies can be amplified, and the results can be audibly played or visually displayed for diagnostic examinations.

The control device130can be a portable mobile device, which the user120can carry with him or her. The control device130can also be a stationary device that can be placed at home or office where the user120may stay for an extended period. The portable mobile device can be implemented with specialized hardware and software units built in a smart phone, a tablet computer (including devices such as iPod), or a dedicated health or sport monitoring device. The wireless communications can be conducted using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), and other wireless technologies. The control device130can be in communication with a network server in which a user account is stored for the user.

FIG. 2shows an exemplified wearable stethoscope patch200suitable for the stethoscope system100inFIG. 1. The wearable stethoscope patch200includes an elastic layer210, a shearable circuit layer220, and an adhesive layer260. The shearable circuit layer220includes a support substrate225, a conductive circuit (not shown), semiconductor chips241-243, an accelerometer250, electronic components255, and an antenna257, which are electrically connected by the conductive circuit.

The electronic components255can include a battery, capacitors, inductors, resistors, metal pads, diodes, transistors, amplifiers, etc. The electronic components255can also include other sensors for measuring sensors for measuring temperature, blood pressure, voltage, moisture, and pulse measurements, movements, and chemical or biological substances. Through the conductive circuit, the battery powers the semiconductor chips241-243, the accelerometer250, other electronic components255, and the antenna257.

In some embodiments, the electronic components255include electrodes for measuring ECG signals. The electrodes can be formed by electrically conductive pads that are in contact with the user's skin. The ECG signal (voltage) can be measured across two of the electrodes. In particular, the ECG signals can be measured while the stethoscopic measurements are conducted, although the collected ECG signal may be processed differently from stethoscopic information.

The elastic layer210can include recesses211-213that enclose the semiconductor chips241-243, which allow the elastic layer210to form a substantially flat upper surface. In some embodiments, the elastic layers210can be formed on the shearable circuit layer220and its associated components thereon by a fluid delivery device such as an ink jet print head, screen printing process, or flexographic process, other layer formation methods known in the art of the field. When the elastic layer210is formed on the shearable circuit layer220using a fluid delivery device, a polymeric elastic material can be deposited along the contours of the semiconductor chips241-243, the accelerometer250, the electronic components255, and the antenna257. The elastic layer210can be made of soft foam materials such as EVA, PE, CR, PORON, EPD, SCF or fabric textile, to provide stretchability and breathability.

In usage, the adhesive layer260is tightly attached the user's check (as shown inFIG. 1) so that the wearable stethoscope patch200can pick up acoustic pressure waves associated with sounds in the heart and lung of the user. The accelerometer250senses movements created by these acoustic pressure waves and produces a first electrical signal. The accelerometer250can be implemented by a micro-electric-mechanical system device (MEMS), wherein the first electrical signal is typical an analog signal. The accelerometer250can generate a voltage signal in response to mechanical stress induced by movements, or sense a capacitive change caused by movements. The accelerometer250can measure vibrations along one or multiple axes in the bioacoustics range. In some embodiments, the accelerometer250can cover the frequency range between 0.2 Hz and 50 KHz for stethoscopic interest.

One of the semiconductor chips241-243receives the first electrical signal from the accelerometer250via the conductive circuit, and can filter and then digitize the first electrical signal to produce a second digital electrical signal. The first electrical signal and the second digital electrical signal are produced in response to movements created by the acoustic pressure waves, which thus carry information about the sounds in the user's body (e.g. heart and lung).

The semiconductor chips241-243can conduct pre-processing of the second digital electrical signal. The semiconductor chips241-243produces measurement data based on the second digital electrical signal, and enables the antenna257to wirelessly communicate measurement data with the control device130(FIG. 1). The wireless signals can be boosted by a wireless boosting station. The wireless signal can be based on using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), and other wireless standards.

In addition to analog-to-digital conversion and communications, the semiconductor chips241-243can also perform logics, signal or data processing, control, calibration, status report, diagnostics, and other functions. In some embodiments, as described below, the semiconductor chips241-243can receive measurement control signals from a measurement controller (150inFIG. 4) to control the measurements conducted by the accelerometer250in the wearable stethoscope patch200.

In some embodiments,FIG. 3shows another exemplified wearable stethoscope patch300suitable for the stethoscope system100inFIG. 1. The wearable stethoscope patch300includes an elastic layer310, a shearable circuit layer320, and an adhesive layer350. The shearable circuit layer320includes a network of circuit modules330connected by flexible ribbons332embedded with conductive lines. The support substrate325is flexible and capable of supporting individual IC components in the circuit modules330. The flexible ribbon332can be in curly or serpentine shapes, which allow stretchability when the wearable stethoscope patch300is stretched during wearing. As described above, the elastic layers310can be made breathable to allow aspiration and moisture from the skin to be released to the environment. The network of individual IC components and/or circuit modules330and the flexible ribbons332with conductive lines define openings335in between to provide additional breathability to the wearable stethoscope patch300. Furthermore, opening holes or voids can be made on the circuit modules330to increase its breathability and the effective elasticity. The support substrate325can be contiguous to support the circuit modules330and the flexible ribbons332with conductive lines. In manufacturing, the support substrate325can be formed in a single manufacturing step from a continuous sheet of material. The openings335and the connection portions between the circuit modules330can be formed by removing material from the continuous sheet by techniques such as laser cutting and/or die cutting. The modules and ribbons in the shearable circuit layer320can be made on one single continuous substrate, in which different rigid boards/modules are connected with flexible ribbons via connectors. In the wearable stethoscope patch300, openings or voids are created on the substrate to provide high effective elasticity and breathability.

At least some circuit modules330can each include one or more semiconductor chips340, an accelerometer345, and/or electronic components on their respective portions of the support substrates325, which are connected by a conductive circuit (not shown) within each of the circuit modules330. The semiconductor chips340can perform communications, logic, signal or data processing, control, calibration, status report, diagnostics, and other functions. The electronic components can include an antenna, a battery, capacitors, inductors, resistors, metal pads, diodes, transistors, amplifiers, etc. The electronic components can also include sensors for measuring temperature, blood pressure, voltage, moisture, and pulse measurements, movements, and chemical or biological substances.

In usage, the adhesive layer350is tightly attached the user's check (as shown inFIG. 1) so that the wearable stethoscope patch300can pick up acoustic pressure waves associated with sounds in the heart and lung of the user. The accelerometer345detects the movements created by these acoustic pressure waves and produces a first electrical signal. The accelerometer345can be implemented by a micro-electric-mechanical system device (MEMS), wherein the first electrical signal is typical an analog signal. One of the semiconductor chips340receives the first electrical signal from the accelerometer345via the conductive circuit, and can digitize the first electrical signal to produce a second digital electrical signal. The first electrical signal and the second digital electrical signal are produced in response to movements created by the acoustic pressure waves, which thus carry information about the sounds in the user's body (e.g. heart and lung).

The semiconductor chips340can conduct pre-processing of the second digital electrical signal. The semiconductor chips340produces measurement data based on the second digital electrical signal, and enables the antenna to wirelessly communicate measurement data with the control device130(FIG. 1). The wireless signals can be boosted by a wireless boosting station. The wireless signal can be based on using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), and other wireless standards.

In addition to analog-to-digital conversion and communications, the semiconductor chips340can also perform logics, signal or data processing, control, calibration, status report, diagnostics, and other functions. In some embodiments, as described below, the semiconductor chips340can receive measurement control signals from a measurement controller (150inFIG. 4) to control the measurements conducted by the accelerometer345in the wearable stethoscope patch300.

An advantage of the wearable stethoscope patch300is that it includes a plurality of circuit modules330, which together can hold multiple accelerometers345that each can sense movements caused by acoustic pressure waves in the wearing user's body. The flexible ribbons332isolate the multiple accelerometers345and allow independent measurements of the acoustic waves. As discussed below, such collection of measurements allow noise reduction or cancellation between measurement data obtained from different accelerometers345, which increase accuracies by the stethoscopic measurements over traditional or conventional techniques.

The control device130, referring toFIG. 4, includes a wireless communication module140that can wirelessly communicate with a wearable stethoscope patch (200,300FIGS. 2-3) using above described wireless technologies. The control device130includes a measurement controller150that controls the wireless communication module140to transmit measurement control signals to the wearable stethoscope patches (200,300FIGS. 2-3). The measurement controller150can vary parameters of the measurements by the wearable stethoscope patches. Such measurement parameters can include types, timing, frequencies, durations of measurements, and coordination between measurements of the same of different accelerometers.

One advantage of the disclosed stethoscope system and wearable stethoscope patches is that stethoscopic measurements can be conducted continuously or in a desired period and at a desired frequency without interfering wearing user's daily activities.

A stethoscopic data storage155stores the measurement data obtained by the wearable stethoscope patches (200,300FIGS. 2-3). A user data storage175stores user data such as user's weight, height, bone density, historic range for blood pressure, heart beat, body temperature, daily patterns of exercises and rests by the user, sickness or symptoms suffered by the user, etc. In some embodiments, as described below, personalized medical treatment can be applied, sometimes dynamically, based on such user data.

A stethoscopic analyzer180can process and analyze the measurement data from different wearable stethoscope patches in reference to the user data and the measurement plan (in150) for the user. The stethoscopic analyzer180can pre-store a model that translates user body movements detected by the accelerometers in the wearable stethoscope patches to acoustic pressure values. Using the model, the stethoscopic analyzer180generates stethoscopic data based on the measurement data and optionally historic user data. An audio signal can be produced based on the stethoscopic data for diagnostic examination by healthcare personnel. Similarly, a visual display can be produced based on the stethoscopic data for diagnostics. The stethoscopic data can be reported, for example by the wireless communication module140, to the user, healthcare personnel, or a central server.

As described above, the measurement data can be produced by multiple accelerometers, each of which independently measures movement signal caused by acoustic pressure waves in the wearing user's body. The different accelerometers can be carried by different wearable stethoscope patches (e.g.110inFIG. 1). The multiple accelerometers can also be respectively mounted in a same wearable stethoscope patch (e.g.300inFIG. 3). The measurement data obtained from different accelerometers can be used to reduce or cancel noise in the measurement data. In one implementation, the measured directional movement data can be added to allow the uncorrelated noise signals to cancel out each other (at least partially), which results in increased accuracies of the stethoscopic data.

In some embodiments, one or more wearable stethoscope patches can be used to calibrate the model and the stethoscopic analyzer180. For example, the one or more wearable stethoscope patches can be attached to the arms or the legs of a user, away from the user's chest, where the sounds from the lung or the heart of the user are weak. The movements are measured by the accelerometers to produce calibration electrical signals. Calibration data based on the calibration electrical signals are analyzed to obtain patterns in the background noise caused by the ambient environment, the movements of the user, etc. Such noise patterns can be used to remove noise from the stethoscopic data obtained when the wearable stethoscope patches are attached to the chest of a user.

After noise reduction, the measurement data can be amplified by stethoscopic analyzer180at specific frequency spectral ranges (e.g. mid-frequency sound) for optimal listening or display.

Operation of the disclosed stethoscope system and the disclosed wearable stethoscope patch can include one or more of the following steps. Referring toFIG. 5, acoustic pressure waves in a user's body are sensed by an accelerometer (step510). A first electrical signal is produced by the accelerometer in response to acoustic pressure waves (step520), Wireless transmitting measurement data based on the first electrical signal to a control device (step530). Optionally, noise can be reduced by cancelling out uncorrelated signals in the measurement data from the multiple accelerometers (step540). Noise can also be reduced by spectral filtering (step540). The multiple accelerometers can be mounted on the wearable stethoscope patch. Alternatively, the multiple accelerometers can be mounted on a plurality of wearable stethoscope patches. Optionally, the measurement data can be amplified in a predetermined acoustic spectral range (step550). Stethoscopic data is produced by the control device based on the measurement data (step560). The wearable stethoscope patch is attached to a first area of the user's body, which is often on the chest or the stomach of the user. An audio signal or a visual display can be produced based on the stethoscopic data for diagnostic examination by healthcare personnel (step570).

Optionally, stethoscopic measurement by the disclosed stethoscope system and the disclosed wearable stethoscope patch can further include producing a calibration electrical signal by a calibration accelerometer on a calibration wearable stethoscope patch that is attached to a second area of the user's body away the first area of the user's body, producing calibration data based on the calibration electrical signal, and reducing noise in the stethoscopic data using the calibration data.

The disclosed wearable stethoscope patch is stretchable, compliant, durable, and comfortable to wear by users. The disclosed wearable thermometer patch includes a flexible substrate covered and protected by an elastic layer that increases the flexibility and stretchability. Another advantage of the stethoscope system and wearable stethoscope patch is that it can significantly reduce or remove noise, and thus improve accuracy and usability of the stethoscopic data.

Only a few examples and implementations are described. Other implementations, variations, modifications and enhancements to the described examples and implementations may be made without deviating from the spirit of the present invention.