JP2014180308A - Electronic stethoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic stethoscope suitable for examining a patient while wearing clothes, or for a veterinarian to examine a patient animal, and to obtain heart sounds and breathing sounds obtained from the electronic stethoscope from a speaker. To provide an electronic stethoscope that does not generate noise due to howling when it is used while flowing.
SOLUTION A column portion 32 of a chestpiece 30 is supported by a diaphragm 60. The diaphragm 60 bends downward when the chest piece 30 is pressed against the living body. The transmission member 20 is provided on the upper surface of the piezoelectric element 81, and vibration from the column part 32 is transmitted to the piezoelectric element 81 when the column part 32 contacts the transmission member 20. Therefore, only when the diaphragm 60 is pressed against the living body, the support column 32 comes into contact with the transmission member 20, and the vibration of the chest piece 30 is transmitted to the piezoelectric element 81 via the transmission member 20. When the chestpiece 30 is kept away from the living body, vibration is not transmitted.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic stethoscope, and more particularly to an electronic stethoscope having a structure suitable for examining a patient while wearing clothes or when a veterinarian examines a patient animal.

  In electronic stethoscopes, it is possible to reduce noise caused by vibrations caused by fingers of doctors and the like, noise due to surrounding mechanical sounds, voices, etc. One of the big challenges. The prior art examples that attempt to solve this problem will be described below.

  FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an electronic stethoscope according to the prior art. In FIG. 10, 100 is a body sound acquisition terminal, 101 is a sensor support unit, 102 is a metal plate, 103 is a piezoelectric element, 104 is an operation unit, and 105 is a noise absorbing member. FIG. 10 shows an example of the prior art disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-090909. The biological sound acquisition terminal 100 is provided with a metal plate 102 so as to close the opening of the sensor support unit 101, and further, a piezoelectric element 103 which is a sound sensor for acquiring heart sounds, breathing sounds, and the like is provided on the inner surface of the metal plate 102. Paste. In addition, the operation unit 104 is a part where a doctor or the like performs auscultation while holding the finger with a finger, and supports the sensor support unit 101 via the noise absorbing member 105.

  According to the above configuration, since the noise absorbing member 105 is provided between the operation unit 104 and the sensor support unit 101, it is possible to reduce noise caused by vibration caused by a finger of a doctor or the like. Furthermore, since the metal plate 102 is directly brought into contact with the living body, air does not intervene between the piezoelectric element 103 and the living body, and the frequency acquired by the piezoelectric element 103 is not limited.

  However, for example, when a patient is examined while wearing clothes, or when a veterinarian examines a patient animal, noise is generated when the metal plate 102 and the patient's clothes or the patient's body hair rub against each other. . In particular, when the body sound acquisition terminal 101 is moved from one part of the living body to another part, the noise generated by rubbing the metal plate 102 and the patient's clothes or the body hair of the patient animal becomes considerably annoying. There is. When conducting auscultation practice at a university or the like, a heart sound or a breathing sound acquired by an electronic stethoscope may be played from a speaker so that a large number of students can hear it. In the configuration of the above-described prior art, it is considered that howling occurs when the piezoelectric element 103 picks up the sound transmitted from the speaker when the metal plate 102 is separated from the living body. If howling occurs, very loud and annoying noise flows from the speaker, which hinders practical training.

JP2012-090909A

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has as its first object to provide an electronic stethoscope suitable for examining a patient while wearing clothes or when a veterinarian examines a patient animal. . It is a second object of the present invention to provide an electronic stethoscope that does not generate noise due to howling when heart sounds, breathing sounds, and the like acquired by an electronic stethoscope are used while flowing from a speaker.

  The invention described in claim 1 includes: a chest piece that collects a body sound; an electrical signal conversion unit that converts vibration transmitted from the chest piece into an electrical signal; and the chest piece and the electrical signal conversion unit. Transmission which is provided integrally with one of them, is provided so as to be able to contact and separate with respect to the other, and transmits vibration of the chest piece to the electric signal converting means when in contact with the other. And an electronic stethoscope.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the casing further accommodates the electrical signal conversion means, and is supported by the casing, and the transmission member and the chest piece or the An electronic stethoscope comprising: an elastic member that presses the chest piece or the transmission member toward a direction away from the electrical signal conversion means.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic stethoscope according to the first or second aspect of the invention, wherein the electrical signal converting means is a piezoelectric element or a vibration sensor using the piezoelectric element. is there.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the second or third aspect, the chest piece includes a column portion extending downward, and the column portion is fitted in a peripheral portion of the opening portion of the diaphragm. An electronic stethoscope is characterized in that an annular groove is formed.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the diaphragm is fixed to the casing, and the diaphragm is clamped by holding an edge portion of the diaphragm together with the casing. An electronic stethoscope having an exterior member to be supported.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the transmission member can be brought into contact with or separated from either the chest piece or the electric signal converting means, both of them are brought into contact with each other when acquiring heart sounds, breathing sounds, and the like. If it is in a state where both are separated at other times, the electrical signal conversion means will not convert the vibration when the patient's clothes or patient animal's body hair and the chest piece rub against each other, Noise can be reduced. Further, howling does not occur when the chest piece is separated from the living body.

  According to invention of Claim 2, the state which contacted both by applying the force exceeding the pressing force of an elastic member from the hand etc. in the direction which a transmission member and a chest piece or an electric signal conversion means contact. Therefore, the electric signal converting means can be made to function only when it is desired to acquire heart sounds, breathing sounds, and the like. In addition, when vibration is generated when the patient's clothes or patient's body hair and the chest piece rub against each other, it is not necessary to apply force, so noise other than noise originating from the electric circuit can be completely cut.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the piezoelectric element or the vibration sensor using the piezoelectric element is plate-shaped and often small, and a configuration in which the transmission member contacts and separates can be easily realized.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, it is possible to easily realize that the chest piece is supported by the diaphragm. Further, since the chest piece is supported at the center of the diaphragm, the collected sound wave can be converted into vibration most efficiently.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the casing and the exterior member which are necessary for the structure are used as the support material for the diaphragm, it is not necessary to separately provide the support material.

It is sectional drawing which shows the electronic stethoscope which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) is the state at the time of non-sound collection, (b) shows the state at the time of sound collection. It is sectional drawing which shows the electronic stethoscope which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, (a) shows the state at the time of non-sound collection, (b) shows the state at the time of sound collection. It is sectional drawing which shows the electronic stethoscope which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, (a) shows the state at the time of non-sound collection, (b) shows the state at the time of sound collection. It is sectional drawing which shows the electronic stethoscope which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention, (a) is the state at the time of non-sound collection, (b) shows the state at the time of sound collection. It is sectional drawing which shows the electronic stethoscope which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention, (a) shows the state at the time of non-sound collection, (b) shows the state at the time of sound collection. It is sectional drawing which shows the electronic stethoscope which concerns on the 6th Embodiment of this invention, (a) is the state at the time of non-sound collection, (b) shows the state at the time of sound collection. It is sectional drawing which shows the electronic stethoscope which concerns on the 7th Embodiment of this invention, (a) is the state at the time of non-sound collection, (b) shows the state at the time of sound collection. It is sectional drawing which shows the electronic stethoscope which concerns on the 8th Embodiment of this invention, (a) shows the state at the time of non-sound collection, (b) shows the state at the time of sound collection. It is a figure which shows the experimental result based on an Example, (a) is sectional drawing of the state at the time of non-sound collection of the electronic stethoscope which concerns on an Example, (b) is a sensitivity difference at the time of sound collection and non-sound collection. (C) is a list showing sensitivity differences in examples having different diaphragm diameters. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the electronic stethoscope which concerns on a prior art.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an electronic stethoscope according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, 10 is an electronic stethoscope body, 20 and 21 are transmission members, 30 is a chest piece, 31 is a bottom plate portion, 32 is a support column portion, 60 is a diaphragm, 70 is a cap, 71 is a peripheral side plate portion, and 72 is An upper surface plate portion, 80 is a case, 81 is a piezoelectric element, 82 is an internal structural member, and 83 is a clamping portion. In addition, description of wiring, a battery, etc. is abbreviate | omitted in each figure after FIG.

  The electronic stethoscope main body 10 includes an exterior made up of a case 80 and a cap 70, and the chest piece 30 is disposed outside the exterior of these. The chest piece 30 is made of resin and collects sound waves such as heart sounds and breathing sounds of patients and patient animals and converts them into mechanical vibrations. The chest piece 30 has a shape like a parabolic antenna to enhance the sound collection, but is not limited to this shape, and may be a flat plate shape or a cylindrical shape depending on the use such as a medical department or a veterinary department. Good. A column portion 32 extending downward from the bottom plate portion 31 of the chest piece 30 is supported by a diaphragm 60 which is an elastic member. In other words, an annular groove is formed on the lower peripheral side surface of the support column 32, and the diaphragm 60 is fitted in the annular groove. Further, the support column 32 has a role of supporting the entire chest piece 30 and also has a role of the transmission member 21 that transmits vibration to the piezoelectric element 81. The diaphragm 60 is formed in a substantially disk shape with a relatively flexible resin, and an opening is formed at the center. The support column 32 is pushed into the opening, and the periphery of the opening is fitted in the annular groove. Moreover, the edge part of the diaphragm 60 is pinched | interposed into the clamping part 83 of the internal structural material 82, and the upper surface board part 72 of the cap 70, and is supported in the state shown in FIG. Further, when the chest piece 30 is pressed against the living body, the diaphragm 60 bends downward as shown in FIG. When the diaphragm 60 is bent downward, the lower end portion of the support column portion 32 is in contact with the upper end portion of the transmission member 20. Furthermore, when the chest piece 30 is separated from the living body, it has such a rigidity that it can be restored to the state shown in FIG.

  The transmission member 20 is provided on the upper surface of the piezoelectric element 81 with a cylindrical outer shape, and stands upright toward the lower end surface of the support column 32 (transmission member 21). Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, when the lower end portion of the column portion 32 comes into contact with the upper end portion of the transmission member 20, vibration from the column portion 32 is transmitted to the piezoelectric element 81. Note that the transmission member 20 may be formed such that a part of the upper surface of the exterior member of the piezoelectric element 81 stands upright toward the lower end surface of the support column 32. Further, the outer shape of the transmission member 20 can be appropriately changed according to the configuration such as a prismatic shape. The piezoelectric element 81 is an electric signal conversion unit that converts vibration transmitted from the chest piece 30 and the transmission member 20 into an electric signal, and is surrounded by an internal structural member 82 that forms a predetermined storage space in the case 80. It is provided in the state. In addition, as an electric signal conversion means, you may use the vibration sensor using a piezoelectric element, a strain gauge, a pressure sensitive element, etc. according to the use of an electronic stethoscope. The internal structural member 82 is made of a relatively hard resin and has a role of supporting the components of the electronic stethoscope main body 10. The case 80 constitutes a lower portion of the exterior that houses and protects the piezoelectric element 81 and the like. The cap 70 constitutes a lower part of the exterior and is provided so as to be detachable from the case 80. The peripheral side plate portion 71 of the cap 70 is a portion into which the clamping portion 83 of the internal structural member 82 is inserted. Further, the upper surface plate portion 72 holds the edge portion of the diaphragm 60 together with the holding portion 83 so as to press the edge portion of the diaphragm 60 from above.

  According to the above configuration, only when the chest piece 30 is pressed against the living body, the support column 32 is in contact with the transmission member 20, and the vibration of the chest piece 30 is transmitted to the piezoelectric element 81 via the transmission member 20. . In other words, when the chest piece 30 is moved away from the living body or when the chest piece 30 is moved from one part of the living body to another part near the surface of the living body, the support column 32 and the transmission member 20 are separated. Therefore, the piezoelectric element 81 is not substantially functioning. Therefore, doctors and veterinarians who use stethoscopes can hear sounds only when they want to hear heart sounds and breathing sounds, otherwise they can hear the sound of the chestpiece 30 and the patient's clothes or patient animal's body hair rubbing at all. There is an advantage that it is not necessary. Further, the resin diaphragm 60 has a greater energy loss due to the sound wave than the metal diaphragm. Therefore, there is an advantage that noise due to howling hardly occurs even when the electronic stethoscope main body 10 is brought close to the speaker when the heart sound or breathing sound obtained by the electronic stethoscope is used while flowing from the speaker. In addition, since the chest piece 30 is made of resin, the patient hardly feels cold like a metal chest piece. Furthermore, since the cap 70 is detachable, it can be easily replaced when the chest piece 30 or the diaphragm 60 deteriorates.

  Subsequently, an electronic stethoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views showing an electronic stethoscope according to a second embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 2A shows a state during non-sound collection, and FIG. 2B shows a state during sound collection. In FIG. 2, 11 is an electronic stethoscope body, 22 is a transmission member, 23 is a large diameter portion, 24 is a small diameter portion, 33 is a chest piece, 34 is a bottom plate portion, and 35 is a support portion. The same thing as 1 is shown.

  The electronic stethoscope main body 11 in this embodiment is configured such that a small diameter portion 24 is provided with respect to a column portion 35 extending downward from the bottom plate portion 34 of the chest piece 33. That is, the column portion 35 is a member that supports the entire chest piece 33 and at the same time is a transmission member 22 that transmits vibration, and the small diameter portion 24 extends further downward from the lower end surface of the large diameter portion 23. Yes. In the electronic stethoscope main body 10 according to the first embodiment, the transmission member 20 is provided on the surface of the piezoelectric element 81. However, in this embodiment, nothing is provided on the surface of the piezoelectric element 81, which corresponds to the transmission member 20. Everything to do is provided on the chestpiece 33 side. Since other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. The configuration in this embodiment can be said to be a particularly useful configuration when the surface of the electric signal conversion means such as the piezoelectric element 81 is not suitable for providing a transmission member.

  Furthermore, an electronic stethoscope according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views showing an electronic stethoscope according to a third embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 3A shows a state during non-sound collection, and FIG. 3B shows a state during sound collection. In FIG. 3, 12 is an electronic stethoscope body, 25 is a transmission member, 36 is a chest piece, 37 is a bottom plate portion, 38 is a column portion, 39 is a diaphragm portion, 73 is a cap, 74 is a peripheral side plate portion, and 75 is an upper portion. The face plate portion, 84 is an internal structural member, 85 is a clamping portion, and other reference numerals are the same as those in FIG.

  The electronic stethoscope main body 12 in this embodiment has a configuration in which a diaphragm portion 39 is directly provided on the lower end portion of the column portion 38 extending downward from the bottom plate portion 37 of the chest piece 36. As shown in FIG. 3A, the diaphragm portion 39 is sandwiched between the sandwiching portion 85 of the internal structural member 84 and the upper surface plate portion 75 of the cap 73 in the same manner as the diaphragm 60 in the first embodiment. It is supported by this. Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the chest piece 36 is pressed against the living body, the chest piece 36 is bent downward so that the lower surface of the diaphragm portion 39 is in contact with the upper end portion of the transmission member 25. When the chest piece 36 is separated from the living body, it is restored to the state shown in FIG. In addition, in this embodiment, the lower end portion of the column portion 38 protrudes below the diaphragm, like the column portion 32 in the first embodiment, so that the sandwiching portion 85 of the internal structural member 84 is The height is made lower than the clamping portion 83 in the first embodiment, and the diaphragm portion 39 is brought closer to the transmission member 25. In addition, the length in the height direction of the peripheral side surface plate portion 74 of the cap 73 is also shortened. Since other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. According to the above configuration, it is not necessary to provide a diaphragm separately from the chest piece 36. Moreover, height can be restrained rather than the electronic stethoscope main body 10 in 1st Embodiment.

  Subsequently, an electronic stethoscope according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views showing an electronic stethoscope according to a third embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 4A shows a state during non-sound collection, and FIG. 4B shows a state during sound collection. In FIG. 4, 13 is an electronic stethoscope main body, 40 is a chest piece, 41 is a bottom plate part, 42 is a column part, 43 is a diaphragm part, 61 is a coil spring, 86 is an internal structural material, and other symbols are shown in FIG. And the same thing as FIG. 3 is shown.

  In the electronic stethoscope body 13 in this embodiment, the chest piece 40 is formed of a relatively hard resin. About the point which provided the diaphragm part 43 with respect to the lower end part of the support | pillar part 42 extended below from the baseplate part 41 of the chest piece 40, it is the same as the electronic stethoscope main body 12 in 3rd Embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the edge portion is supported by the coil spring 61 without sandwiching the diaphragm portion 43. That is, the internal structural member 86 is formed flat, and the coil spring 61 is supported by the edge region of the internal structural member 86. As shown in FIG. 4A, the upper end portion of the coil spring 61 is in contact with the lower surface of the diaphragm portion 43, and the edge of the upper surface of the diaphragm portion 43 is the upper plate portion of the cap 73 by the elastic force of the coil spring 61. It is pressed against 75. When the chest piece 40 is pressed against the living body, the diaphragm 43 compresses the coil spring 61 downward with little bending. When the coil spring 61 is compressed, the chest piece 40 is lowered as shown in FIG. 4B, and the lower surface of the diaphragm portion 43 is in contact with the upper end portion of the transmission member 25. Other configurations are the same as those in the third embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted. According to the above configuration, when the chest piece is formed of a relatively hard resin from the viewpoint of durability or the like, it can be brought into contact with the transmission member without bending the diaphragm portion. There is an advantage that there is no need to hit.

  Furthermore, an electronic stethoscope according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an electronic stethoscope according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) shows a state during non-sound collection, and (b) shows a state during sound collection. In FIG. 5, 14 is an electronic stethoscope main body, 44 is a chest piece, 45 is a bottom plate part, 46 is a support part, 62 is a resin support member, 63 is a base part, 64 is a cylindrical part, 65 is a flange part, Other reference numerals are the same as those in FIGS.

  The electronic stethoscope main body 14 in this embodiment has a structure in which a column portion 46 extending downward from the bottom plate portion 45 of the chest piece 44 is inserted into the resin support member 62. As shown in FIG. 5 (a), the resin support member 62 is formed in a substantially truncated cone shape with a relatively soft resin. Further, the lower base portion 63 extends like a skirt and covers the surface of the flat internal structural member 86. Further, the columnar column portion 46 is inserted into the upper cylindrical portion 64. Further, a flange portion 65 is formed at the upper end portion of the cylindrical portion 64, and the flange portion 65 is in contact with the bottom plate portion 45. The chest piece 44 is held at substantially the same height as the chest piece 30 in the first embodiment by the cylindrical portion 64 and the flange portion 65 with respect to the case 80. When the chest piece 44 is pressed against the living body. As shown in FIG. 5 (b), the intermediate region between the cylindrical portion 64 and the base portion 63 of the resin support member 62 is bent and the chest piece 44 is lowered, and the lower surface of the column portion 46 is placed on the upper end portion of the transmission member 25. It will be in contact. Other configurations are the same as those in the third embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted. According to the above configuration, when the chest piece 44 is pressed against the living body, a feel different from that of the coil spring or the like is obtained, and there is an advantage that it can meet various needs of doctors and veterinarians.

  In addition, an electronic stethoscope according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. 6A and 6B are cross-sectional views showing an electronic stethoscope according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 6A shows a state during non-sound collection, and FIG. 6B shows a state during sound collection. In FIG. 6, 15 is an electronic stethoscope main body, 26 is a transmission member, 47 is a chest piece, 48 is a dome-shaped portion, 49 is a flange portion, and other reference numerals are the same as those in FIGS.

  In the electronic stethoscope main body 15 in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6A, a flange portion 49 is provided on the edge of the dome-shaped portion 48 in which the resin chest piece 47 is bulged from the opening of the cap 73. The shape is provided. In the flange portion 49, like the edge portion of the diaphragm portion 39 in the third embodiment, the transmission member 26 is sandwiched between the sandwiching portion 85 of the internal structural member 84 and the upper surface plate portion 75 of the cap 73. Is supported by. The transmission member 26 is provided so as to extend downward from the center of the lower surface of the dome-shaped portion 48, and is integrated with the chest piece 47. Nothing is provided on the surface of the piezoelectric element 81. When the dome-shaped portion 48 is pressed against the living body, as shown in FIG. 6B, the dome-shaped portion 48 bends downward, the transmission member 26 moves downward, and the lower end is in contact with the surface of the piezoelectric element 81. It becomes a state. Since other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. According to the above configuration, since the dome-shaped portion 48 only bulges from the opening of the cap 73, there is an advantage that animal hair is not easily caught on the chest piece or the cap.

  Furthermore, an electronic stethoscope according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views showing an electronic stethoscope according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 7A shows a state during non-sound collection, and FIG. 7B shows a state during sound collection. In FIG. 7, 16 is an electronic stethoscope main body, 27 is a transmission member, 50 is a chest piece, 51 is a dome-shaped portion, 52 is a flange portion, and other reference numerals are the same as those in FIGS.

  In the electronic stethoscope main body 16 in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7A, the dome-shaped portion 51 and the flange portion 52 of the chest piece 50 have the same shape as the chest piece 47 in the sixth embodiment. However, the point that the transmission member 27 is provided on the surface of the piezoelectric element 81 is different from the sixth embodiment. Therefore, when the dome-shaped portion 51 is pressed against the living body, the dome-shaped portion 51 bent downward is brought into contact with the upper end portion of the transmission member 27 as shown in FIG. Vibration is transmitted from the piece 50 to the piezoelectric element 81. Since other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. According to the above configuration, there is an advantage that the shape of the chest piece 50 becomes simple and the molding becomes easy.

  Subsequently, an electronic stethoscope according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an electronic stethoscope according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) shows a state during non-sound collection and (b) shows a state during sound collection. In FIG. 8, 17 is an electronic stethoscope main body, 28 is a transmission member, 53 is a chest piece, 54 is a dome-shaped portion, 55 is a flange portion, and other reference numerals are the same as those in FIGS.

  In the electronic stethoscope main body 16 in this embodiment, the chest piece 53 is formed of a resin harder than the chest piece 47 in the sixth embodiment. 8A, the dome-shaped portion 54 and the flange portion 55 of the chest piece 53 have the same shape as the chest piece 47. However, the coil spring 61 does not hold the flange portion 55 from the lower side. The supporting point is also different from the sixth embodiment. Since other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted. According to the above configuration, when the chest piece 53 is formed of a relatively hard resin in consideration of durability, the chest piece 53 is hardly bent. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8B, the entire chest piece 53 is configured to be movable downward so that the lower end portion of the transmission member 28 is surely in contact with the piezoelectric element 81. Since other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  Next, the experimental result based on the Example of this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing experimental results based on the example, (a) is a cross-sectional view of the electronic stethoscope according to the example when not collecting sound, and (b) is when collecting sound and when not collecting sound. (C) is a list showing sensitivity differences in examples having different diaphragm diameters. In FIG. 9, 18 is an electronic stethoscope main body of the embodiment, 56 is a chest piece, 57 is a flat plate portion, 58 is a support portion, and other reference numerals are the same as those in FIGS.

  In the embodiment described above, for example, when the diaphragm 60 in the first embodiment does not press the chest piece 30 against the living body, the voice or mechanical sound generated in the vicinity, or a nearby speaker Experiments were conducted to collect noise from the sound source and generate noise. FIG. 9A shows an example used in the experiment. The chest piece 56 of the electronic stethoscope main body 18 of the embodiment is simplified to be a flat plate portion 57 instead of a parabolic antenna shape. The support column 58 is the same as the support column 32 in the first embodiment. Diaphragm 60 has a length L of 9 mm obtained by subtracting the radius of support column 58 from the radius of the region not sandwiched between clamping portion 83 and upper surface plate portion 72.

  In the above embodiment, 50, 63, 80, 100, 125, 160, 200, 250, 315, and 400 Hz of the sound are in contact with the transmission member 28 when the support 58 is in contact with the sound. The table of FIG. 9B compares the difference in output from the piezoelectric element 81 with the absence. As can be seen from FIG. 9B, the sensitivity difference is extremely large in any frequency band, and it can be said that there is almost no problem with sounds generated in the vicinity.

  Further, the sensitivity difference between the embodiment in which the length L obtained by subtracting the radius of the support column 58 from the radius of the region not sandwiched between the sandwiching portion 83 and the upper surface plate portion 72 of the diaphragm 60 is 3 mm and the above-mentioned 9 mm. The experiment was conducted on the sound of each frequency of 50, 63, 80, 100, 125, 160, 200, 250, 315, 400, and 500 Hz. The table in FIG. 9C is a table regarding these sensitivity differences. As a result, it was found that the sensitivity difference was relatively small at 100, 125, 160, and 200 Hz, and the sensitivity difference was relatively large at a frequency that was smaller or larger. In particular, since the difference in sensitivity is large at 250 Hz or higher, it can be said that it is better to increase L when the sound to be examined includes a frequency of 250 Hz or higher. Further, when the chest piece is supported using a diaphragm, the configuration in which the opening supporting the support column is formed at the center of the diaphragm provides a greater vibration than the configuration in which the opening is eccentric, that is, the same magnitude. It can be said that it is advantageous because a larger vibration with respect to the sound can be transmitted to an electric signal converting means such as a piezoelectric element.

  As described above, in each embodiment of the present invention, since the transmission member can be brought into contact with or separated from either the chest piece and the electric signal conversion means such as a piezoelectric element, heart sounds, breathing sounds, etc. It can be very easily realized that the two are in contact with each other when they are acquired, and that they are separated at other times. Therefore, the electric signal conversion means does not convert the vibration when the patient's clothes or the patient's body hair rubs against each other, and noise can be reduced. Further, howling does not occur when the chest piece is separated from the living body. A state in which the doctor or veterinarian is in contact with the transmission member and the chest piece or the electric signal conversion means by applying a force exceeding the pressing force of the elastic member such as a diaphragm or a coil spring from the hand or the like. Therefore, the electric signal converting means can be made to function only when it is desired to acquire heart sounds, breathing sounds, and the like. In addition, when there is vibration when the patient's clothes or patient's body hair and the chestpiece rub against each other, it is not necessary to press the chestpiece against the living body. Can be cut.

  The present invention is not limited to the description of each embodiment described above. For example, a leaf spring is used instead of a diaphragm, and the cap is integrated with the case without being detachable. Etc. Furthermore, the configurations of the two embodiments may be combined. As in this case, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope described in each claim.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electronic stethoscope main body 11 Electronic stethoscope main body 12 Electronic stethoscope main body 13 Electronic stethoscope main body 14 Electronic stethoscope main body 15 Electronic stethoscope main body 16 Electronic stethoscope main body 17 Electronic stethoscope main body 18 Electronic stethoscope main body 20 of the embodiment Transmission Member 21 Transmission member 22 Transmission member 23 Large diameter portion 24 Small diameter portion 25 Transmission member 26 Transmission member 27 Transmission member 28 Transmission member 30 Chest piece 31 Bottom plate portion 32 Column portion 33 Chest piece 34 Bottom plate portion 35 Column portion 36 Chest piece 37 Bottom plate Part 38 Supporting part 39 Diaphragm part 40 Chest piece 41 Bottom plate part 42 Supporting part 43 Diaphragm part 44 Chest piece 45 Bottom plate part 46 Supporting part 47 Chest piece 48 Domed part 49 Flange part 50 Chest piece 51 Domed part 52 Flange part 53 Chest Piece 54 Dome-shaped part 55 Flange 56 Chest piece 57 Flat plate portion 58 Strut portion 60 Diaphragm 61 Coil spring 62 Resin support member 63 Base portion 64 Cylindrical portion 65 Flange portion 70 Cap 71 Peripheral side surface plate portion 72 Upper surface plate portion 73 Cap 74 Peripheral side surface plate portion 75 Upper surface plate portion 80 Case 81 Piezoelectric element 82 Internal structure material 83 Holding part 84 Internal structure material 85 Holding part 86 Internal structure material 100 Body sound acquisition terminal 101 Sensor support part 102 Metal plate 103 Piezoelectric element 104 Operation part 105 Noise absorbing member

Claims (5)

A chestpiece for collecting biological sounds;
An electric signal converting means for converting the vibration transmitted from the chest piece into an electric signal;
The chest piece and the electrical signal converting means are provided integrally with one of the chest pieces and are provided so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the other, and when the chest piece is in contact with the other, An electronic stethoscope comprising a transmission member for transmitting vibration to the electric signal converting means. Further, a housing for storing the electric signal conversion means,
An elastic member that is supported by the casing and that presses the chest piece or the transmission member toward a direction in which the transmission member and the chest piece or the electric signal conversion means are separated from each other. The electronic stethoscope according to claim 1.   The electronic stethoscope according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electric signal conversion means is a piezoelectric element or a vibration sensor using a piezoelectric element. The elastic member is a diaphragm, and the diaphragm has an opening at the center thereof.
The said chest piece is provided with the support | pillar part extended below, The said support | pillar part is formed with the annular groove which fitted the peripheral part of the opening part of the said diaphragm, The Claim 2 or Claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Electronic stethoscope.   The electronic device according to claim 2, further comprising an exterior member that is fixed to the housing and supports the diaphragm by sandwiching an edge portion of the diaphragm together with the housing. Stethoscope.

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