Patent ID: 8333718

Claim:
A bioacoustic sensor, comprising: a housing comprising an interfacing portion configured to establish coupling with a body part during use; a transducer assembly comprising; a transducer element coupled to the interfacing portion of the housing and configured to sense sounds produced by matter of biological origin, the transducer element configured to modulate or generate a signal in response to deformation of the transducer element; one or more conductors coupled to the transducer element; a mass element compliantly coupled to a surface of the transducer element; and intervening material disposed between the transducer element surface and the mass element, the intervening material allowing for differential motion between the transducer element surface and the mass element during excitation of the transducer element, wherein the mass element comprises a mass and a stiff sheet, film or membrane having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface arranged to contact the intervening material and the mass disposed adjacent the second surface, and wherein the transducer assembly is mounted on an inner surface of the interfacing portion within the housing so that the transducer element is preferentially sensitive to bioacoustic energy transmitted to the transducer element via the interfacing portion.