Acoustic sensor assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9028429-B2
Application number	US-201414259527-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 23, 2014
Priority date	Dec 30, 2008
Publication date	May 12, 2015
Grant date	May 12, 2015

Abstract

An acoustic sensor is configured to provide accurate and robust measurement of bodily sounds under a variety of conditions, such as in noisy environments or in situations in which stress, strain, or movement may be imparted onto a sensor with respect to a patient. Embodiments of the sensor provide a conformable electrical shielding, as well as improved acoustic and mechanical coupling between the sensor and the measurement site.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An acoustic sensor assembly comprising:
a frame at least partially defining an open cavity; a sensing element configured to output a signal responsive to acoustic vibrations, the sensing element supported by the frame, at least a portion of the sensing element comprising a piezoelectric material that is stretched in tension across the open cavity; electrical contacts electrically coupled with the sensing element and configured to convey an electrical signal corresponding to the signal responsive to the acoustic vibrations, the electrical contacts isolated from the open cavity by a physical barrier; an acoustic coupler supported by the frame and including an inner protrusion that extends into the open cavity and is positioned to apply pressure to at least the portion of the sensing element that is stretched in tension across the open cavity to push a section of the sensing element into the open cavity both when the acoustic sensor assembly is attached to a medical patient and when the acoustic sensor assembly is not attached to the medical patient, the acoustic coupler configured to transmit acoustic vibrations to the sensing element through the acoustic coupler when the acoustic sensor assembly is attached to the medical patient; and an elongate member supported by the frame, the elongate member comprising a spring portion extending at least partially beyond opposite sides of the frame, wherein the elongate member is configured to apply a predetermined force to the frame with the spring portion, wherein the acoustic sensor assembly is pressed against a measurement site of the medical patient when the acoustic sensor assembly is attached to the medical patient.

2. The acoustic sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic coupler further includes an outer protrusion disposed on an outside surface of the acoustic coupler.

3. The acoustic sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic coupler electrically isolates the sensing element from the medical patient when the acoustic sensor assembly is attached to the medical patient.

4. The acoustic sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic coupler comprises an elastomer.

5. The acoustic sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic coupler is configured to evenly distribute pressure on the sensing element.

6. The acoustic sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined force is determined at least in part based upon a stiffness of the spring portion.

7. The acoustic sensor assembly of claim 1 further comprising an information element supported by the frame.

8. The acoustic sensor assembly of claim 7 , wherein the information element is configured to store sensor use information.

9. The acoustic sensor assembly of claim 7 , wherein the information element is configured to store sensor compatibility information.

10. The acoustic sensor assembly of claim 7 , wherein the information element is configured to store sensor calibration information.

11. The acoustic sensor assembly of claim 7 further comprising a cable in communication with the sensing element and a connector attached to the cable, wherein the information element is supported by the connector.

12. The acoustic sensor assembly of claim 7 , wherein the information element comprises one or more memory devices.

13. An acoustic sensor assembly comprising:
a frame at least partially defining an open cavity; a sensing element configured to output a signal responsive to acoustic vibrations, the sensing element supported by the frame, at least a portion of the sensing element comprising a piezoelectric material that is stretched in tension across the open cavity; electrical contacts electrically coupled with the sensing element and configured to convey an electrical signal corresponding to the signal responsive to the acoustic vibrations, the electrical contacts isolated from the open cavity by a physical barrier; an acoustic coupler supported by the frame and including an inner protrusion that extends into the open cavity and is positioned to apply pressure to at least the portion of the sensing element that is stretched in tension across the open cavity to push a section of the sensing element into the open cavity both when the acoustic sensor assembly is attached to a medical patient and when the acoustic sensor assembly is not attached to the medical patient, the acoustic coupler configured to transmit acoustic vibrations to the sensing element through the acoustic coupler when the acoustic sensor assembly is attached to the medical patient; a resilient backbone extending across and beyond opposite sides of the frame; and attachment elements provided at outside ends of said backbone, the attachment elements comprising top and bottom portions, wherein the top portion is attached to said backbone, the bottom portion is configured to attach to a medical patient, and wherein the top portion is configured to be inclined with respect to said bottom portion when attached to said medical patient.

14. The acoustic sensor assembly of claim 13 , wherein the acoustic sensor assembly is attached to the medical patient by attaching the attachment elements to the medical patient's skin, wherein said attaching the attachment elements comprises moving a portion of the backbone from a first position in which the portion of the backbone is substantially parallel to the attachment elements to a second position in which the portion of the backbone is inclined at an angle with respect to the attachment elements,
wherein the backbone is attached to the top portions of the attachment elements at a position near the attachment elements centers.

15. The acoustic sensor assembly of claim 13 , wherein the acoustic coupler further includes an outer protrusion disposed on an outside surface of the acoustic coupler.

16. The acoustic sensor assembly of claim 13 , wherein the acoustic coupler comprises an elastomer.

17. A method comprising:
using an acoustic sensor according to claim 1 , attached to a medical patient, to provide a signal responsive to acoustic vibrations indicative of one or more physiological parameters of the medical patient, the acoustic coupler being in contact with the medical patient; and
outputting the signal based on acoustic vibrations transmitted through the acoustic coupler and detected by the sensing element.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising using the elongate member of the acoustic sensor configured to apply a predetermined force to the frame, wherein the acoustic sensor is pressed against the medical patient.

19. A method of using an acoustic sensor according to claim 1 , the acoustic sensor attached to a medical patient such that the acoustic coupler is pressed against the medical patient, the method comprising:
receiving, via the acoustic coupler, acoustic vibrations;
transmitting, via the acoustic coupler, the received acoustic vibrations to the sensing element;
converting, via the sensing element, the transmitted acoustic vibrations into electrical signals; and
providing the electrical signals to the electrical contacts of the acoustic sensor.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein attaching the acoustic sensor to the medical patient causes the acoustic coupler to further push the section of the sensing element into the open cavity.

21. A method comprising: using an acoustic sensor according to claim 13 , attached to a medical patient, to provide a signal responsive to acoustic vibrations indicative of one or more physiological parameters of t

Assignees

• Masimo Corp

Inventors

• Telfort Valery G
• Pudar Predrag
• Dimitrov Dimitar
• Trang Phi
• Al-Ali Ammar

Classifications

• H04R17/025

  using a piezoelectric polymer · CPC title

• A61B5/7203

  for noise prevention, reduction or removal · CPC title

• A61B7/003 Primary

  Detecting lung or respiration noise · CPC title

• Y10T29/49005

  Acoustic transducer · CPC title

• A61B7/00

  Instruments for auscultation · CPC title