Abstract:
A mobile device-based stethoscope system that transmits, records, and analyzes sounds to generate a list of matching conditions and facilitates easy attachment across various electronic medical record platforms and other means of communication. The invention is configured to allow the use of either an integrated wireless stethoscope, or an in-line adapter for a conventional stethoscope. Patient sounds are sent from the selected stethoscope head to the mobile device having a software application that allows for the analysis, attachment, and further manipulation of the data.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to the expanded use of mobile devices for medical applications. More specifically, it relates to transmitting sound data from a stethoscope to a mobile device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Auscultation, the process of listening to the internal sounds of the body, has historically been performed with acoustic stethoscopes. Many different forms of such a device have existed, most notably those comprised with a two-sided chest piece linked with branched hollow tubing to two separate ear pieces. Such devices use a diaphragm to transmit high frequency sounds to a doctor&#39;s ears, and a bell to transmit the low frequency sounds. However, the common acoustic stethoscope lacks the ability to digitize sounds for further medical use. 
         [0003]    In recent years, many electronic stethoscope models have appeared in the art. Such devices largely resemble acoustic devices with the major difference being in the head. The electronic heads often have digital displays, and house components for noise amplification and recording. Signals can be sent wirelessly to a computer, and some models allow for the direct recording onto removable memory devices. Some models pair with a smartphone application to display images of recorded sounds that can later be edited and attached to medical records using proprietary software, but these models do not analyze patient sounds to provide decision support. Wireless versions present in the art, which comprise of a head physically removed from the hearing device, also lack this analysis capability. Furthermore, the computer-based medical record systems associated with these electronic stethoscopes also tend to be in competing, proprietary formats, reducing the abilities of doctors to collaborate over large distances. What is proposed then, is a mobile-based electronic stethoscope that can serve as a decision support tool based on an analysis of the sounds and the capability to interact with multiple electronic medical record platforms. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention comprises a process to use a mobile-based stethoscope to serve as a decision support tool for physicians and effectively document health conditions as facilitated through the use of hardware and software components. It features a stethoscope fitted internally with a system of microphones that can detect high and low frequency body sound. The stethoscope includes the ability to wirelessly transmit the detected sound data to a connected wireless mobile device such as a smartphone. The stethoscope itself may further include both analog and digital listening capabilities such that a doctor can choose from two modes in which to listen to the patient while data is collected to the mobile device. 
         [0005]    The chosen hardware piece transmits pertinent data to the mobile device. Our software within the phone converts the sounds into an image, which is then converted into data sets based on numbers. The software features a variety of options to aid the user, including the abilities to record the sound, save the sound, analyze the sound to come up with a list of potential conditions, edit the files to add notes, and send the sound out to services such as email and various types of electronic medical records. The sound is analyzed through a comparison with a database of pre-recorded health conditions, which is continually updated through a machine learning algorithm. The phone application is synced with a computer-based application through the cloud, facilitating ease of use and the collaboration of medical professionals across large distances. Patient data is stored in the cloud and accessible by means of a web interface through which each doctor can access their records anywhere with an Internet connection. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The invention is illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, which like references are intended to refer to like or corresponding parts, and in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  provides a perspective of a wireless stethoscope model according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram representing the components of the wireless stethoscope model of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an in-line stethoscope adapter according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the in-line stethoscope adapter of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for detecting and analyzing sounds according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a screenshot of a mobile device application according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]      FIG. 1  displays a wireless stethoscope  100 , which includes a stethoscope head  102  connected to a stethoscope body  110 . In the wireless stethoscope model  100 , the stethoscope head  102  may be an ordinary acoustic stethoscope with the addition of one or more microphones into the head housing, as described in  FIG. 2 . The diaphragm  104  is held up to the patient&#39;s chest to detect internal body sounds. These sounds are then picked up by the microphone in the head  102  and sent wirelessly to the mobile device for further analysis. 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the stethoscope body  110  includes a wireless transmission chip  112 , which in some implementations may be a printed circuit board (PCB). The transmission chip  112  may include a processor  114  which is configured to control signals received from one or more microphones  106  disposed in the stethoscope head  102 . The chip  112  may further include an antenna  116  which enables the device  100  to end and/or receive wireless signals. In some embodiments, the antenna  116  may be external to the chip  112 . 
         [0015]    The wireless chip  112  is also in electrical connection with a battery  118 , which in some implementations may also receive power from an outside source by means of an electrical connector  120  disposed along the outside of the body casing. A user may connect an electrical adapter to the connector  120  in order to charge the battery  118 . 
         [0016]    The wireless chip  112  may also be in connection with one or more user inputs  122 , such as buttons or switches, which in some implementations may be disposed along the outside of the body casing. Examples of inputs  122  include a power button, a button for establishing a wireless connection, and a volume control. The body  110  may also include one or more display outputs  124  such as indicator lights. In some implementations a display screen capable of showing words or images may also be included as display outputs  124 . 
         [0017]    The chip  112  may also be in communication with one or more audio outputs  126 . Examples of audio outputs  126  include a speaker built into the body  110  or an audio jack for receiving an audio device. The audio output  126  may be configured to receive signals from the chip  112  and output those signals to a user. Audio signals may include device operation indicators such as beeps indicating operation, and may also include the data associated with sounds received by the microphone  106 . If user inputs  122  include a volume control, the volume of the audio output  126  may be adjusted in accordance to signals received from the volume control. 
         [0018]    The diaphragm  104  of the stethoscope head  102  aids in auscultation. The patient&#39;s internal body sounds are transmitted through the diaphragm  104 , picked up by the microphone  106 , and wirelessly sent to a mobile device by means of the wireless transmission chip  112 . In addition to digitizing the signal for transmission, the microphone  106  may allow for the patient&#39;s internal body sounds to be amplified for better auscultation. 
         [0019]    The chip  112  is capable of wirelessly transmitting an audio signal to the mobile device. The wireless stethoscope model  100  can use any appropriate communication means and protocol, such as Bluetooth short-range microwave signals or IEEE 802.11 compliant radio signals. In some implementations, the wireless stethoscope model  100  may be configured to pair directly to the mobile device. Alternatively, the wireless stethoscope  100  may communicate data to the mobile device through an intermediary device such as a wireless router maintaining a local area network (WLAN). 
         [0020]    The stethoscope head  102  may be of any size or shape sufficient to detect the patient&#39;s internal body sounds. It may be comprised of metal, rubber, plastic, or another suitable polymer. The stethoscope head  102  is customarily around three to five inches in width and length. Although the head  102  and the diaphragm  104  are usually circular, other shapes may be used. 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  shows an adapter  300  which may be used with a conventional acoustic stethoscope in order to perform the functions described herein with respect to the invention. The adapter  300  includes an air input tube  302  and an air output tube  304 . The air input tube  302  can be connected to a conventional acoustic stethoscope head, such as the head  102  shown in  FIG. 1 . A stethoscope body with earpieces can be connected to the air output tube  304 . The stethoscope user can place the stethoscope head on a patient&#39;s body and listen by means of the stethoscope earpieces as normal, but with additional features as described below. The adapter  300  may also include a switching valve  306  and volume controls  308 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of the adapter  300  in acoustic mode. Air input tube  302  is in fluid communication with a microphone chamber  310  which conducts sound from the tube  302 . Similarly, the air output tube  304  is in fluid communication with a speaker chamber  312 . The switching valve  306  can be positioned in either of two positions in order to alternate the adapter  300  between digital and acoustic modes. When in position for the acoustic mode, as shown in  FIG. 4 , an airway  306   a  disposed within the switching valve  306  connects the chambers  310 , 312 . This allows sounds which are gathered by the stethoscope head and conducted into the air input tube  302  to move through the microphone chamber  310 , through the airway  306   a , through the speaker chamber  312 , and through the air output tube  306  into a stethoscope body and earpieces. 
         [0023]    Outline  314  represents the position of a microphone which is positioned within the microphone chamber  310  such that it can detect sounds within the chamber  310  without disrupting the further conduction of those sounds within the airways of the adapter  300 . The microphone  314  is within electrical communication with a PCB, represented by outline  316 , which in turn includes a processor and antenna for wirelessly transmitting the microphone signals to a mobile device as described herein. Other than the location of the microphone, the PCB  316  and how it interacts with other electrical components of the adapter  300  may generally match the descriptions of the wireless transmission chip  112  described with respect to  FIG. 2 . Outline  318  represents the location of a rechargeable battery. 
         [0024]    Outline  320  represents a speaker, which in some implementations may only be used when the switching valve  306  is moved into a digital mode. Moving the switching valve  306  into a digital mode may involve moving the airway  306   a  out of position from between the chambers  310 , 312  such that the two chambers are no longer in fluid communication, disrupting the acoustic flow along the adapter  300 . 
         [0025]    While in digital mode, in addition to wirelessly transmitting the sound data sent from the microphone  302  to a connected mobile device, the PCB  316  also outputs the sounds data to the speaker  320 , which is positioned within the speaker chamber  312  to direct sounds into the air output tube  304  without disrupting the acoustic flow through the chamber  312 . In some implementations, the sound data sent to the speaker  320  may be adjusted by the PCB  316 ; for example, the sounds may be amplified or noise-reduced. A listener may be able to use the volume controls  308  to control the level of amplification by the PCB  316 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  illustrates a method  500  for analyzing heart sound data received from a wireless stethoscope. The steps described herein may be carried out by a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet used by a medical professional such as a doctor. It should be understood that, although the software carrying out many of the steps of this method  500  may provide useful data to the medical professional, a professional with appropriate training and certification should make any medical diagnosis. 
         [0027]    Although the present example is specific to heart sound data, one of ordinary skill will recognize that condition matching is also possible for other internal patient sounds, such as respiratory or digestive sounds captured by a stethoscope. 
         [0028]    Sound data is transmitted from the wireless stethoscope and received by the mobile device ( 502 ). The sound data may be in any format for storing audio data, and in some implementations may be immediately converted and displayed visually on the screen of the mobile device. 
         [0029]    The received sounds may be split into segments each representing a heartbeat ( 504 ). Heartbeats may be recognized by short, distinct maxima in amplitudes accompanying the rapid closing of the valves of the heart. Each segment may be further divided into sections ( 506 ), which in some implementations may match sound sections typically recognized as part of the heart sound cycle (S1-S4). 
         [0030]    Once the sound data is split up into segments and each segment further divided into sections, the sound data may then be compared to profiles in a database  510  of prerecorded heart sounds ( 508 ). The database  510  may include genuine recordings of heart sounds as well as simulated “model” heart sounds, and each may be associated with one or more conditions. Profiles may also include demographic data that may be relevant to matching, such as age, gender, and weight range of the patient associated with a particular set of heart sounds. 
         [0031]    In some implementations, the comparison may be carried out by converting the sound data in each section into a matrix of values, which may then be graphed as a spectrogram using a short-time Fourier transform. Important locations of interest signified by the local minima and maxima are compared with the database  510  of previously recorded and analyzed samples, which have received similar treatment. Statistical techniques such as linear regressions, Bayesian analysis, and machine learning algorithms may be used to match the input sound with the database  510   
         [0032]    In some implementations, at least some of the computer processing involved in converting and comparing the data may not occur within the mobile device itself. For example, the mobile device may transmit the data to a remote application server which is in communication with the mobile device through a network such as the Internet. The application server may provide some or all of the analysis of the data, including accessing the database, and transmit the results of its operations back to the mobile device. That way, much of the analysis may be performed remotely and less data transfer and processing power is needed by the mobile device itself. In other implementations, some or all of the processing may be performed locally by the mobile device itself. 
         [0033]    Based on comparing the sound data to the sample data in the database, the system determines one or more matching conditions ( 512 ). As some of the database samples may involve regular heartbeats, “regular” may be one of the matched conditions. 
         [0034]    The conditions are presented on the mobile device to the doctor or other medical professional in order of likelihood based on the analysis ( 514 ). In some implementations, additional data may be made available to the doctor on the mobile device, such as a visual graph showing the analyzed sound data against the relevant match among the prerecorded data, or one or more values representing the strength of the match (the r-value of a linear regression, for example). 
         [0035]    A doctor reviews the results and makes a diagnosis ( 516 ), which may then be used to modify database values ( 518 ). For example, if the database engages in machine learning for various parameters of prerecorded data, the parameters may be adjusted based on the conditions that the doctor has concluded should be associated with the sound data. In some implementations, one or more segments of the patient&#39;s sample may be added to the database associated with the diagnosed conditions. 
         [0036]    Once the analysis is performed, the doctor may later display, save, discard, share, remotely access, and export the results ( 520 - 528 ). These functions may be carried out by means of an application installed on the mobile device, which may in turn communicate with a mobile server capable of receiving results and storing them to a remote accessible location. The results may be associated with a particular patient and doctor within the system, and may be accessed by that doctor and exported to other medical systems with explicit authorization by that doctor. The doctor may later pull the patient data as part of a medical assessment of the patient or when reviewing the patient&#39;s records. 
         [0037]      FIG. 6  shows an example of a screenshot  600  from a mobile device application for analyzing sound data. The mobile device application may include a variety of features, such as the ability to start and stop a new recording of patient sound data received from the wireless stethoscope. The mobile device may be able to associate data with particular patients and to play back previously-recorded sound data. Charts of sound data and of analysis may also be displayed on the mobile device as described above. From the mobile device, a doctor may be able to save recorded sound data to a remote server or to send sound data to a particular system or to another doctor. 
         [0038]    Embodiments of the invention may be performed by means of software, which may in turn involve the processing of input data and the generation of output data to some extent. For example, specific electronic components may be employed in a mobile device processor or similar or related circuitry for implementing the functions associated with receiving and analyzing patient sound data in accordance with the present disclosure described above. Alternatively, one or more processors operating in accordance with instructions may implement the functions associated with receiving and analyzing patient sound data in accordance with the present disclosure as described above. If such is the case, it is within the scope of the present disclosure that such instructions may be stored on one or more non-transitory processor readable storage media (e.g., a magnetic disk or other storage medium), or transmitted to one or more processors via one or more signals embodied in one or more carrier waves. 
         [0039]    Although the invention has been described and illustrated in the foregoing illustrative embodiments, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example, and that numerous changes in the details of implementation of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Features of the disclosed embodiments can be combined and rearranged in various ways.