JPH0441612B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a stethoscope equipped with a plurality of chest pieces having different auscultation sound ranges, and in particular, the auscultation sound range can be further divided as necessary, and other chest pieces can be connected to each other. Highly analytical chest piece structure of the stethoscope that is used selectively to avoid interference from other sources, and that allows the trapezoidal protruding part of the resonance chamber to directly and independently contact the surface of the subject to hear accurate internal sounds. Regarding.

[Conventional technology]

As shown in FIG. 8, a conventional stethoscope includes a bell chestpiece 5 for listening to the subject's internal sounds in the low range, a diaphragm chestpiece 6 for listening to the internal sounds in the high range, and a rubber A Y-shaped tube 7 that is formed into a Y-shape by a tube or the like and transmits internal sounds such as heart sounds collected by these chest pieces 5 and 6, a pair of binaural tubes 8 and 8, and both of these tubes. Generally, it consisted of ear tips 9, 9 fixed to the ends of ear tubes 8, 8, respectively.

Although not shown, two types of diaphragm chestpieces 6 were provided, a wave-shaped diaphragm chestpiece and a flat diaphragm chestpiece, to further divide the high frequency range into two stages for auscultation.

In FIG. 8, the bell chest piece 5 is
Most of them are equipped with a bell-shaped bell body 5a molded from a soft metal material so that they can be easily brought into contact with the subject.

The diaphragm chest piece 6 has a flexible and elastic diaphragm 6a molded from a rubber material or the like, and is also molded from a metal or plastic material, with the upper end surface (the left end surface in the figure) slightly protruding from the outer surface of the diaphragm 6a. The peripheral edge portion of the diaphragm 6a is fixed by the protruding edge ring 6b. Therefore, even if the upper end surface of the flange ring 6b comes into contact with the surface of the subject, the diaphragm 6a
It is formed so as not to come into contact with the surface of the subject.

By the way, as a conventional electric stethoscope, there is a ``Multi-Functional Wireless Stethoscope'' which was filed by the present inventor and published as U.S. Patent No. 4723555.
-function radio／wire stethoscopic
However, the structure of the chest piece itself followed that of the prior art disclosed in FIG.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Traditional stethoscopes have an airtightly sealed resonance chamber to listen to low-frequency internal sounds such as right and left ventricular heart sounds and tricuspid and mitral heart murmurs. The bell chest piece 5 was pressed against a predetermined position of the subject and the listening was performed. However, the auscultation sound range of the bell chestpiece 5 is set on the assumption that it will be brought into direct contact with the subject, and it is necessary to adjust the bell chestpiece 5 to use different auscultation sound ranges depending on the situation of the contact position. Therefore, when the contact position was covered with a bandage or the like, it was not possible to hear internal sounds in a sufficiently clear low frequency range.

In addition, high-pitched internal sounds such as heart sounds in the right and left atria, blood ejection sounds and clicking sounds, heart murmurs caused by regurgitation of the pulmonary artery and vein valve, and internal murmurs caused by defects in the intervertebral membrane can be heard. In order to do this, a diaphragm chest piece 6 including a diaphragm was pressed against a predetermined position of the subject via the flange ring 6b. However, the diaphragm
If the surface of the subject to which the chest piece 6 is brought into contact is not flat, the wave ridges of the diaphragm 6a, which vibrate in resonance with high-frequency internal sounds, will easily touch the subject even if the edge ring 6b is present. Since it comes into contact with the surface, internal sounds cannot be heard accurately. Therefore, when using the conventional diaphragm chest piece 6, it was necessary to spread the listening area flat with the fingers.

Furthermore, since the conventional diaphragm chest piece 6 has the flange ring 6b as an indispensable component, the free vibration waves of the diaphragm 6a accompanying the vibrations of the internal organs and the body surface can Accurate auscultation was not possible due to interference from the internal sound transmitted through the tongue ring 6b, and in order to remove the diaphragm 6a, there was a gap between the main body of the diaphragm chest piece 6 and the tongue ring 6b. , a male thread, a female thread, or other connecting means must be provided, resulting in a disadvantage that the structure becomes complicated.

The present invention was made against the background of the above-mentioned circumstances, and the resonance chamber protruding from the chest piece can be brought into direct contact with the auscultation area, and by providing a plurality of chest pieces with different auscultation sound ranges, the present invention can improve the auscultation sound range. Can be used selectively. The purpose is to provide a highly analytical chest piece structure for a stethoscope.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the high-analysis chest piece structure of the stethoscope according to the present invention is provided with a chest piece section that is equipped with a rotating outer tube that fixes a plurality of chest pieces, each having a different auscultation sound range, at appropriate intervals so that they do not come into contact with each other. and a support inner tube which rotatably supports the chest piece part and has a three-way listening hole that selectively matches the communication hole opened in the chest piece for auscultation, and the inner support tube is in communication with the inner support tube. In the stethoscope, the stethoscope is formed of a joint tube that is fixed to the housing, and a housing that supports the chest piece and can be held by hand, wherein the chest piece is fixed to each of the plurality of fixing holes formed in the rotating outer tube. A flat funnel-shaped base, a cap-shaped trapezoidal thin film resonator with an extended tight flange, and a close rim part that airtightly connects the base and the close flange of the trapezoidal thin film resonator at each peripheral portion. configured.

Similarly, in order to achieve the above object, if the base of the chest piece is formed into a bell shape, it is convenient for auscultation in the low frequency range.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is convenient for the chest piece to have its trapezoidal thin-film resonant portion formed by thin-film molding of a polymeric material such as synthetic resin into a hat-like shape with appropriate elasticity.

[Effect]

In the high-analysis chest piece structure of the stethoscope configured as described above, the chest piece is
It is composed of a funnel-shaped base, a cap-shaped trapezoidal thin film resonator with an extended close flange, and a close rim part that airtightly connects the base and the close flange of the trapezoidal thin film resonator at each peripheral portion. Therefore, the trapezoidal portion of the trapezoidal thin film resonator can be brought into direct contact with the auscultation site of the subject. Therefore, the three-way hole of the inner support tube and the communication hole of the chest piece have a one-to-one correspondence and, together with the structure of closing other communication holes, it is possible to obtain pure internal sound that is not interfered with by other sounds. can.

In addition, by making the base shaped like a flat funnel, a chest piece for high frequency range with a small resonance chamber is formed, and by making the base shaped like a bell, a chest piece for low frequency range with a large resonance chamber is formed. At the same time, the trapezoidal part of the trapezoidal thin film resonator, which is thermoformed with a polymeric material, can be formed to have various diameters and heights, and each auscultation sound range can be divided into sound ranges that allow for more detailed auscultation. Therefore, even minute internal sounds can be auscultated accurately.

Note that the present invention can be applied not only to electric stethoscopes but also to conventional stethoscopes in terms of its structure.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

First, the high-analysis chest piece structure of the stethoscope according to the present invention is disclosed in the above-mentioned US Patent No.
4723555 "Multi-function wireless stethoscope" (The Japanese patent application for this case is called "Electric stethoscope",
Application date: July 20, 1985, application number: Patent application 1988-
179247), so please refer to them for the structure and electric circuit of the electric stethoscope. However, it should be noted in advance that the high-analysis chest piece structure of the stethoscope according to the present invention is not limited to electric stethoscopes, but can also be implemented in ordinary stethoscopes. .

In FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the high-analysis chest piece structure of the stethoscope according to the present invention is as follows:
Chest piece part 1 and this chest piece part 1
An electric stethoscope is disclosed, which includes a housing 2 that supports the stethoscope from below in the figure.

The chest piece part 1 has a plurality of chest pieces 10, 10, 10... (in this embodiment, three chest pieces 10 are provided), and these plural chest pieces 10 are fixed to a circumferential surface.
It is formed from a rotatable outer tube 12 that rotatably supports it.

Each chest piece 10 is made of a polymeric material such as a synthetic resin and is molded into a hat-like thin film having appropriate elasticity and size, but in this embodiment, it is further molded from a transparent material. Illustrated.

The housing 2 is formed so as to rotatably support the rotatable outer tube 12 of the chest piece part 1 by having a small-diameter neck part 20 at the upper end part that connects with the chest piece part 1. A power switch 22 and a volume control dial 24 are provided on each side, and an antenna 26 for wireless transmission is provided on the lower end surface of the housing 2.

In FIG. 2, the chest piece part 1 includes chest pieces 10, 10, 10... and a rotating outer tube 12.
It is formed from. In addition, chest piece 1
0, 10, 10... are shown in cross section with a single thick solid line to emphasize that they are thin film molded, and the close rim portions described below are also shown in cross section with only a thick solid line (see below) Figures 3 and 6
(The same applies to Fig. 7).

Although one of the chest pieces 10, 10, 10, .

The rotating outer tube 12 has fixing holes 12 for fixing the chest pieces 10, 10, 10 on its large diameter outer peripheral surface.
a, 12a, 12a (only two are shown), and the chest piece 10,
10, 10 are fixed to the fixing holes 12a, 12a, 12a. The rotary outer tube 12 has a hollow interior as a rotary chamber 12b, and the rotary outer tube 12 has a rotary chamber 12b.
A supporting inner tube 3 (only half of which is shown in broken view), which is a voice amplifying means equipped with a microphone, is inserted into the inner supporting tube 2b, and is formed to be rotatable around the supporting inner tube 3.

Although only half of the inner support tube 3 is shown in the cutaway diagram, it is for rotatably supporting the rotary outer tube 12 of the chest piece portion 1 from inside, and has an outer diameter approximately equal to the inner diameter of the rotary chamber 12b. Microphones 30, 3 are installed inside the hollow upper and lower ends (near the left and right ends in the figure).
0 is set internally. A T-shaped three-way hole 31 is formed between the two microphones 30, 30 so that they communicate with each other and at the same time communicate with the outside. Further, a screwing means 33 is carved on the inner circumferential surface of the lower end, and at the same time, a positioning device consisting of a positioning pin, a coil spring, a steel ball, etc. is provided in order to control the angle and position at which the rotary outer tube 12 rotates. The means 34 are configured to be inserted radially. Note that the microphone 30 is drilled horizontally at the bottom of the three-way hole 31 in the figure.
Electric cord hole 3 for passing electric cord 35 for
6, and a connecting C ring 38 is fitted into the rotation groove 37 recessed in the outer peripheral surface and is provided to hold the rotation outer tube 12 so that it does not come off from the support inner tube 3. It is.

Joint pipe 4 (only half of this is shown in the cutaway diagram)
As shown in Figures 4 and 5,
Since the screwing means 40 provided on the outer peripheral surface is fixed to the upper end of the neck portion 20 of the housing 2, the screwing means 33 of the inner support tube 3 and the screwing means provided on the outer peripheral surface near the inner support tube 3 are fixed. 40a are integrally screwed together, the support inner tube 3 can be fixed to the housing 2.

By the way, the structure of the inner support tube 3 and the joint tube 4 that rotatably support the rotatable outer tube 12 is based on the second embodiment (No. 7 8), for further details please refer thereto.

Now, referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the chest pieces 10, 10, 10 in the high-analysis chest piece structure of the stethoscope according to the present invention will be explained.

Chest piece 10, 1 of chest piece part 1
Reference numerals 0 and 10 denote a base 1 which is screwed into fixing holes 12a, 12a, 12a of the rotary outer tube 12 by screw means 10a.
0b, 10b, 10b (see FIG. 3), and a trapezoidal thin film resonator 10 placed on the top surface of each base 10b.
c, and a close-contact rim portion (not given a reference numeral, but the outer peripheral edge portion of the close-contact flange 100c) that brings each base 10b and the close-contact flange 100c of the trapezoidal thin film resonance part 10c into close contact at the peripheral edge portion. .

The base 10b is formed into a flat funnel shape, has a communication hole 10e in the center, and has a hole engraved on the outer circumferential surface of the portion corresponding to the mouth of the funnel.
It is fixed to the rotating outer tube 12 by screw means 10a.

The trapezoidal thin film resonance part 10c is made of a polymeric material such as a thermoplastic synthetic resin and is formed into a thin film in the shape of a hat with a hollow interior, so that the interior serves as a resonance chamber and is provided with a close contact flange 100c that corresponds to the edge of the hat. Therefore, the sound generated by the subject is acquired, and the acquired sound is transferred from the communication hole 10e to the fixed hole 1 of the rotary outer tube 12 as a conduction medium of the internal air.
2a, and further to the three-way hole 31 of the inner support tube 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the three-way hole 31 of the inner support tube 3 communicates with the left and right microphones 30, 30, so as shown in FIG. The communication hole 10e of a certain chest piece 10 is precisely aligned with the three-way hole 31 of the inner support tube 3 due to the action of the positioning means 34 (see FIG. 2) of the inner support tube 3, and the communication hole 10e of a certain chest piece 10 is aligned exactly with the three-way hole 31 of the inner support tube 3. When the chest piece 10 is closed, one chest piece 10 can be selected for auscultation.

In FIG. 3, the close rim portion is formed by integrally forming the peripheral edge of the close flange 100c of the trapezoidal thin film resonator 10c into a square-shaped cross section, so that the peripheral edge of the base 10b can be covered and brought into close contact. (It is easy to understand by looking at Figures 6 and 7). However, a ring-shaped close rim portion (not shown) with a square cross section may be provided for edging.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, the joint pipe 4 is
The interior is hollow to allow the electric cords 35, 35 to pass through, but in the case of an ordinary stethoscope that is not an electric stethoscope, the interior space of the joint tube 4 is used as a sound hole 42 and It is preferable to connect a known Y-tube 7 (see FIG. 8) to the lower end of the joint pipe 4. A positioning hole 44 is formed in the joint tube 4, and a positioning means 34 for temporarily fixing the rotation angle of the inner support tube 3 at a predetermined rotation position is attached thereto.

Therefore, according to FIGS. 6 and 7, it will be explained that the high-analysis chest piece structure of the stethoscope according to the present invention differs depending on the auscultation sound range.
The chest piece 10 shown in the figure is for the high range, and the chest piece 10 shown in FIG. 7 is for the low range.

In Figure 6, chest piece 1 for the high range
0 is the conventional diaphragm chest piece 6
(see Fig. 8), it is equipped with flat funnel-shaped bases 10b, 10b, 10b, and the resonance chamber formed between it and the trapezoidal thin film resonance part 10c is for the bass range. (see Figure 7 below). As can be understood from this figure, the shape and volume of the resonance chamber formed by the bases 10b, 10b, 10b and the trapezoidal thin film resonator 10c are different from the trapezoidal thin film resonator 10 that is thermoformed.
It can be easily changed by changing the size of c. That is, although this figure only shows three types of chest pieces 10A, 10B, 10C, in each desirable embodiment of the high-analysis chest piece structure of the stethoscope according to the present invention, the trapezoidal thin film of the chest pieces 10A, 10B, 10C... Resonance part 1
The diameter D of the trapezoidal portion of 0c can be varied within the range of 3.2 mm to 40 mm. The height H of the trapezoidal part of the trapezoidal thin film resonance part 10c is also
Communication holes 10e, 10 in b, 10b, 10b
It can be varied in the range of 1.2 mm to 6.4 mm, which is 1 to 2 times e, 10e. Therefore, the volume of the resonance chamber formed inside the trapezoidal thin film resonance part 10c can be changed to an almost infinite size, and fine internal sounds in the high frequency range that could not be heard with the conventional diaphragm chest piece 6 can be heard. can also be identified. In other words, it becomes possible to distinguish even minute internal sounds that indicate signs of heart disease or lung disease, for example.

In Figure 7, chest piece 1 for the low range
0 is the prior art bell chest piece 5 (8th
(see figure), chest piece 1
Base 10b, 10b, 1 of 0A, 10B, 10C
It has the same structure as the chest piece 10 for the treble range (see FIG. 6), except that 0b is shaped like a bell to form a large resonance chamber.
Therefore, it becomes possible to identify minute internal sounds in the low frequency range, so for example, it is possible to distinguish between the minute heart murmurs in the low frequency range generated from the right and left ventricles of the heart, the tricuspid valve, and the mitral valve, and to identify defects. It will be possible to determine whether there is

Next, referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the operation of the high-analysis chest piece structure of the stethoscope according to the present invention will be briefly explained.
Depending on whether you are auscultating in the low range or not, the high range (6th
Chest piece 1 in the lower register (Fig. 7)
Select 0A, 10B, 10C. Each chest piece 10A, 10B, 10C is attached to the fixing hole 12a, 12a, 12a of the rotating outer tube 12, so one of the chest pieces 10A, 10B, 10C is attached to the communicating hole 10e by the positioning means 34. When aligned with the three-way hole 31 of the inner support tube 3, the internal sound acquired by resonance is received by the microphones 30, 30 and input to the electrical circuit of the housing via the electrical cord 35 (both are not shown). figure). When you want to further adjust the auscultation sound range in the high or low range, rotate the rotary outer tube 12 to adjust the chest pieces 10A, 10B, 10.
It is better to replace C....

In addition, chest pieces 10A, 10B, 10C
The number of... may be 2 or less or 3 or more, and the external shape of the rotating outer tube 12 may also be a square prism, a pentagonal prism, or a hexagonal prism.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the effects described below.

Since the trapezoidal part of the trapezoidal thin film resonance part can be directly brought into contact with the part of the subject to be auscultated, and chest pieces for different auscultation sound ranges can be selectively used, accurate and detailed auscultation is possible.

Also, the auscultation sound range has been expanded wider, making it easier to use, and the chest piece can be changed to the corresponding sound range with just one touch without the need to attach or remove it.It has good sensitivity even in high and low sound ranges, and interferes with other sounds. It is possible to provide a high-analysis stethoscope that is not available.

Further, by making the shape of the base of the chest piece into a bell shape, the volume of the resonance chamber formed between the chest piece and the trapezoidal thin film resonance part can be increased, and a chest piece for a low frequency range can be formed. Of course, if the base is made into a flat funnel shape and the volume of the resonance chamber is reduced, a chest piece for the high range can be formed.

Furthermore, if the trapezoidal thin film resonance part of the chest piece is formed into a thin film using a polymeric material, not only excellent resonance properties will be obtained, but also manufacturing and structure will be extremely simple. Furthermore, by varying the diameter and height of the hat-shaped trapezoidal portion of the trapezoidal thin film resonator, the auscultation sound range can be further finely divided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a main part showing a cross section, and FIG. 3 is taken along line X-X in FIG. 1. 4 is a plan view showing the joint pipe, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line Z-Z in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the joint pipe. FIG. 7 is an exploded sectional view showing the chest piece structure for the low frequency range, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a stethoscope according to the prior art. Main symbols in the drawing: 1... Chest piece part, 2
...housing, 3...support inner pipe, 4...coupling pipe, 10
...Chest piece, 10a...Screw means, 10b...
Base, 10c...Trapezoidal thin film resonance part, 10e...Communication hole, 100c...Close flange, 12...Rotating outer tube,
12a...Fixing hole, 12b...Rotation chamber, 20...Network portion.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A chest piece portion including a rotatable outer tube to which a plurality of chest pieces each having a different auscultation sound range are fixed at appropriate intervals so as not to touch each other; A supporting inner tube provided with a three-way listening hole that selectively matches the communication hole opened for auscultation, a joint tube fixed to the housing so that the inner supporting tube is communicated internally, and supporting the chest piece portion, and a housing that can be held by hand, wherein the chest piece includes a flat funnel-shaped base fixed to each of a plurality of fixing holes opened in the rotating outer tube, and a close flange. A highly analytical chest piece structure for a stethoscope, which is composed of an extended cap-shaped trapezoidal thin film resonator, and a close rim portion that airtightly connects the base and the close flanges of the trapezoidal thin film resonator at each peripheral portion. 2. The highly analytical chest piece structure of a stethoscope according to claim 1, wherein the chest piece has a base shaped like a bell. 3. The high-analysis chest piece structure of a stethoscope according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the chest piece has a trapezoidal thin film resonance part formed of a polymeric material such as synthetic resin as a thin film in the shape of a hat having appropriate elasticity and size.