Abstract:
Provided is an auscultation training device having a stethoscope with a headpiece; at least one earpiece; tubing, wherein the tubing has a generally hollow interior and an opening in the wall of the tubing; a speaker inserted into the hollow interior of the tubing, further having a 3.5 mm audio jack wherein the insertion points of the speaker forms an airtight seal with the tubing, and wherein the speaker does not obstruct the hollow interior of the tubing. Further provided is a method for auscultation training using the disclosed device.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/429,957 filed Feb. 10, 2017, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/296,855, filed Feb. 18, 2016, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/308,254, filed Mar. 15, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to medical training devices for use in instructing medical students. More particularly, the present invention relates to an auscultation training device and a method of use therefor. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Auscultation is the act of listening to sounds within the body as a method of diagnosis. A stethoscope is an example of an auscultation device that is used in the medical field to listen to internal sounds in the human body, such as heart sounds, breathing (breath sounds), intestinal noises, blood flow through the arteries and veins, and externally produced sounds, such as percussion. Acoustic stethoscopes operate on the transmission of sound from a headpiece, via air filled tubes, to the listener&#39;s ears. The headpiece may include a diaphragm that can be placed against a human body for sensing sound. These body sounds then cause the diaphragm to vibrate, in turn creating acoustic pressure waves that travel up the hollow tubes to the listener&#39;s ears. 
         [0004]    Forming a diagnosis of a patient using an auscultation device such as a stethoscope requires training in proper placement of the headpiece, detecting bodily sounds, and identifying abnormalities as compared to normal body sounds. Often this type of training takes advantage of simulated, or standardized, patients such as mannequins with recorded sounds being presented to the student. Other times, real human patients presenting with certain known ailments are used to train students to detect and identify body sounds in a real-time “live” environment. 
         [0005]    In situations where a student is being trained using simulated sounds and patients, it is beneficial to use a stethoscope training aid that can recreate these simulated sounds through the earpiece of the stethoscope so the student can experience these sounds in as close to a natural condition as possible. One such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,645,141 to Lecat, the entire disclosure of which is fully incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0006]    In live environments, students typically use a standard practice stethoscope to detect and identify body sounds, however, when teaching in groups, this type of environment tends to result in differing exposure between students. For example, student A may hear a body sound that is slightly different than what student B hears based on differences in placement of the stethoscope headpiece to changes in the sounds the human body makes at different times. This problem is compounded as the size of the student group increases. What is needed is a tool that allows for a blending of the live and simulated environments wherein the experience can be shared among multiple students simultaneously in order to standardize the learning experience. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Provided is an auscultation training device having a stethoscope with a headpiece; at least one earpiece; tubing, wherein the tubing has a generally hollow interior and an opening in the wall of the tubing; a speaker inserted into the hollow interior of the tubing, further having a 3.5 mm audio jack wherein the insertion points of the speaker forms an airtight seal with the tubing, and wherein the speaker does not obstruct the hollow interior of the tubing. 
         [0008]    Further provided is a method of auscultation training comprising the steps of (a) providing at least one auscultation training device having a stethoscope with a headpiece; at least one earpiece; tubing, wherein the tubing has a generally hollow interior and an opening in the wall of the tubing; a speaker inserted into the hollow interior of the tubing, further having a 3.5 mm audio jack; wherein the insertion points of the speaker forms an airtight seal with the tubing, and wherein the speaker does not obstruct the hollow interior of the tubing; (b) connecting the at least one auscultation training device to a remote transmitter; (c) broadcasting an audio signal from the remote transmitter to the at least one auscultation training device; and (d) playing the audio signal from the speaker. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of an auscultation training device; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of an embodiment of the training environment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of a second embodiment of the training environment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of a third embodiment of the training environment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of a separate embodiment of an auscultation training device; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a diagram of a separate embodiment of an auscultation training device. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of an auscultation training device  10  is shown having a headpiece  12 , which may be connected to a pair of earpieces  14 ,  16 , and tubing  18 , which can have a generally hollow interior. The training device  10  can also have a speaker  20  that extends into the hollow interior of the tubing  18  without fully obstructing the hollow interior of the tubing  18 . The insertion point of the speaker  20  can form an airtight seal with the tubing  18  as to allow normal and natural function of the stethoscope. The training device can also have a solenoid  22  inserted within the hollow interior of the tubing  18  between the headpiece  12  and the speaker  20 . The insertion point of the solenoid  22  can also form an airtight seal with the tubing  18  as to allow normal and natural function of the stethoscope. The speaker  20  can have a standard 3.5 mm audio jack  24  to allow the speaker  20  to be connected to an audio output device, including simulated patients, training mannequins, body sound simulators, mp3 players, smartphones, tablets, CD players, DVD players, or any other device capable of transmitting audio signals through a standard 3.5 mm audio connection. 
         [0016]    According to one embodiment, the training device  10  can be used as a standard stethoscope wherein a student places the headpiece  12  on a patient to receive body sounds through normal stethoscope operation. According to this embodiment, the speaker  20  and solenoid  22  are not activated and acoustic pressure waves are free to travel through the hollow interior of the tubing  18  to the earpieces  14 ,  16 . This arrangement allows the student to operate the training device  10  in a manner that is consistent with a live diagnosis, thereby teaching the student proper placement of the headpiece  12  and encouraging development of the student&#39;s muscle memory to aid in learning and retention of proper placement techniques. 
         [0017]    According to one embodiment, the speaker  20  can be connected to an external audio output device and activated in a manner that would allow the student to hear body sounds generated by either the placement of the headpiece  12 , the speaker  20 , or both. The external audio output device can be coordinated with the placement of the headpiece  12  such that a desired body sound can be broadcast simultaneously with the placement of the headpiece  12 , thereby amplifying and enhancing the live sounds detected by the headpiece  12 . Alternatively, the audio output device can play audio files through the speaker  20  at a separate time, thereby allowing the student to hear a live sound separate from a simulated sound for purposes of comparison and learning. 
         [0018]    According to one embodiment, the solenoid  22  can be activated and can mechanically block the hollow interior of the tubing  18  between the headpiece  12  and the speaker  20 . This mechanical block can function to dampen or silence the transmission of sound waves from the headpiece  12 . The student can then exclusively use the external audio output device and speaker  20  to generate simulated sounds without interference from live sounds generated through the headpiece  12 . 
         [0019]    According to one embodiment, the solenoid  22  can be replaced with any physical means for temporarily or permanently blocking the hollow interior of the tubes  18  to allow exclusive use of the external audio output device and speaker  20  to generate simulated sounds without interference from live sounds generated through the headpiece  12 . 
         [0020]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , in lieu of the solenoid, the wall of the tubing  18  can contain a small opening  60  or puncture to vent the tubing  18  and thereby dampen or lessen any live sounds generated through the headpiece  12 . The opening  60  can be located below the speaker  20  which can allow the speaker  20  to function normally to transmit sounds. The presence of the opening  60  can disrupt or dampen the live sounds, but may not eliminate them completely. In some applications a user may find it useful to be able to faintly detect live sounds, for example, for comparison purposes with the recorded sounds. 
         [0021]    According to one embodiment, the size and presence of the opening  60  can be controlled through an eternal control device (not shown) that may allow a user to selectively open or close the opening  60 , or to change the size of the opening  60 . Further, the opening  60  can include a manual cap or cover which can function to cover the opening  60  and allow the transmission of live sounds according to the user&#39;s desired mode of operation. 
         [0022]    According to another embodiment, the insertion point of the speaker  20  into the tubing  18  can intentionally be permitted to “leak,” i.e. not be air-tight. This “leaky” insertion can serve to vent the tubing similar to opening  60  which can cause live sounds from the headpiece  12  to be dampened or reduced. 
         [0023]    According to one embodiment, the stethoscope  10  can include both the solenoid  22  and opening  60 . This embodiment may be useful in applications in which it might selectively be desirable to detect faint live sounds and in others it may be desirable to have live sounds completely blocked from reaching the earpieces  14 ,  16 . 
         [0024]    According to one embodiment, the speaker  20  can be connected to a wireless receiver by way of the 3.5 mm audio jack  24 . The wireless receiver can be configured to receive a wireless signal that has been broadcasted from a separate device and relay the wireless signal to the speaker  20  as an audio file for playback to the student. The wireless receiver can be configured to communicate via any suitable wireless technology, including, but not limited to, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR), ZigBee, etc. 
         [0025]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , the external audio output device can consist of a transmitter  26  and a splitter  28  which can allow two of the training devices  10  to be connected simultaneously. According to one embodiment, two students can connect a training device  10  to the same audio output device allowing each student to hear the same sounds at the same time. 
         [0026]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , the splitter  28  can be a multi-way splitter  30  having two or more connections. According to the embodiment shown, the multi-way splitter  30  can have six connections allowing up to five training devices  10  to connect to a single audio output device. According to one embodiment, the multi-way splitter  30  can be connected to four training devices  10 , an audio output device, and an electronic stethoscope and transmitter, such as the Ventriloscope®, trademarked and owned by the present applicant and the subject matter of the &#39;141 patent referenced herein. According to this embodiment, the training devices  10  can receive signals from either the audio output device, the electronic stethoscope, or both. This arrangement can allow multiple students to simultaneously hear sounds generated from a patient that is located remote from the students, such as in a bed in another room or in a classroom. 
         [0027]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , a multitude of training devices  10  can each be connected to a wireless receiver via the 3.5 mm audio jack  24 . The external audio output device can be connected to a remote transmitter  32  that is capable of receiving an audio signal from the audio device and broadcasting the signal to the multitude of training devices  10  via wireless technology. According to one embodiment, the wireless technology can be RF transmission. The remote transmitter  32  can also accept input from a lecturer, a microphone, a computer, or any other input capable of generating an audio signal. The remote transmitter  32  can also be connected to an electronic stethoscope for transmission of simulated or live patient sounds. 
         [0028]    According to one embodiment, a patient or instructor can control which sounds the students are hearing according to the placement of a stethoscope on a patient or training simulator. 
         [0029]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , the training device  10  can include an output  40 , thereby allowing the training device  10  to broadcast or record live body sounds to other training devices  10 , to an external storage device such as a computer or memory card, to an external audio device, or to any other device capable of receiving and or storing an audio signal. The output  40  can be integrated into the speaker  20  or can be a separate component disposed in line with the speaker  20  and the headpiece  12 . The output  40  can consist of a microphone, a recording device, a transmitter, or an audio output jack, or a combination thereof. This embodiment would allow for a training device  10  to be used as the external audio output device for other training devices  10 . This would allow students to share live body sounds in real time, or to store live body sounds for future playback. 
         [0030]    According to one embodiment, an amplification device can be connected to the training device  10  to allow for amplification of live or simulated body sounds to assist the hearing impaired. 
         [0031]    With continued reference to  FIG. 5 , a light, LED, or other visual signal can be connected and synchronized to the live or simulated body sounds. By way of one example, an LED  42  and controller  44  can be connected to the output  40  of the training device  10  and synchronized so that the LED  42  illuminates simultaneously with the pulse or breathing sounds being heard through the earpieces  14 ,  16 . This embodiment can provide visual feedback to observers who are not connected to one of the training devices  10  and can be helpful in learning to diagnose conditions where the live or simulated body sounds correlate with the timing of the pulse or breathing sounds. 
         [0032]    According to another embodiment, the light, LED, or other visual signal can be connected to a sensor separate from the training device  10  to detect the live or simulated body sounds. By way of one example, the sensor could be an EKG lead. Other methods of detecting live or simulated body sounds, such as changing impedance, resistance, or physical movement could also be used in conjunction with or separate from the training device  10 . 
         [0033]    According to another embodiment, the controller  44  can be integrated with an external control for opening  60  such that the controller  44  can separately, but simultaneously, control both the visual signal and the opening  60   
         [0034]    Although described as a medical training device, the present invention can have applicability outside the medical field in any situation where teaching using a stethoscope or listening device is used. One such example could be in the automotive industry. Thus, while the present invention has been described in connection with various illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiments for performing the same function disclosed herein without deviating therefrom. Further, all embodiments disclosed are not necessarily in the alternative, as various embodiments may be combined or subtracted to provide the desired characteristics. Variations can be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope hereof. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitations of the appended claims. 
         [0035]    Having thus described the invention, it is now claimed: