Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02575075 2007-04-23
Specification:
The invention relates to a medical instrument, which exams the heart and
other vital organs of the body by use of the principle used by the stethoscope
and the ultrasound machine.
It is common in other devices, in order to exam the heart, one must do it
solely by the ultrasound, stethoscope or by a Tran esophageal echogram. In
respect to the later procedure, it is invasive and very discomforting to
patient. The procedure is known to cause temporary dementia and
confusion, especially in elderly patients. Other dangerous side effects are
also related to this invasive procedure. This would include the use of
anesthetics to numb the throat as the transducer of the device must be
swallowed and be positioned behind the heart. After the procedures the
patient is not allowed to drive for l2hours, or eat after 2hrs as the throat
is
sore and still numb which may allow the aspiration of food in the lungs. In
addition, these instruments are large and expensive and are own mainly by
hospitals which has the ability to finance these machines.
I have found that these disadvantages may be overcome by providing a
combination of the function of a stethoscope and a miniature ultrasound like
device. This device will be non-invasive and still have the ability to detect
proper function of the heart values, measure the size of the valves, check for
prolapsed valves, detect murmur and regurgitation, check liver enlargement
and dysfunction, abdominal masses etc. In addition, this machine will be
light weight and will become useful in both remote and inner city areas.
This device is also less expensive and will be highly appreciated by doctors
in impoverished countries and even in the medical arena of war. In general,
all family doctors and heart specialist and other health professionals will
find
the device to be very important and useful in their practice.
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CA 02575075 2007-04-23
Description:
The Stethoscope:
The stethoscope is generally used to listen to heart sound, bowel sounds and
vascular flow, by skilled medical personnel. In this device a miniature-like-
ultrasound machine will be physically attached just proximal to the bell of
the stethoscope as seen in Fig: S (system).
There will be a circuit connection from the cords of the stethoscope, which
will transmit information to the ultrasound machine. That sound will be
dissected and will be transmitted to both the earpiece of the stethoscope and
to the ultrasound machine at the same time. The sound that is transmitted to
the ultrasound portion of the device will be analyzed. The quality of sounds
will generally depict whether the organ under examination is healthy or
unhealthy.
Fig: 4 shows the bell of the stethoscope where the cords al and a2 leaves to
enter the ear-piece of the stethoscope. Structure a3 and a4 is the circuit
which will transmit the sound to the ultrasound machine where it will
analyzed.
Structure a3 and a4 will communicate with "heart sound" switch from the
interface of the instrument as seen in Structure C. This connection will be
able to communicate with the circuit S 1, S2, S3, and S4, which in fact has
the information of the respective sounds of the heart, that is; S 1, S2, S3,
and
S4.
Structure a3 and a4 will also carry information from the mitral valve,
tricuspid valve, aortic valve and the pulmonary valve, using the sound
waves. These sound waves will be transmitted to the screen of the
ultrasound machine, where each valve will be represented by different
colors. See below:
Mitral valve--------------Green
Tricuspid V alve---------yel low
Aortic V alve-------------orange
Pulmonary-----------------blue
If there is damage to any of the mentioned valves, the color red will indicate
the problem. This damaged valve can then be studied further, checking for
calcification or valve prolapsed.
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CA 02575075 2007-04-23
Ultrasound effect:
The Ultrasound machine is one which transmits sounds that has a higher
pitch or frequency, than that of the human ear. Now because ultrasound is at
that range, electronic equipment is used to detect it.
In my device the ultrasound probe, structure A, is detachable and is located
at the bell, structure B, of the stethoscope. It can also be attached directly
to
the ultrasound machine as seen in the photograph. However, in either case,
the probe will have a 10" to 16" cord in order to allow better movement of
the instrument on the body surface of the patient.
The ultrasound machine 'C' transmits high frequency (1 to 5 MHz) sound
pulses into the body using the probe (transducer). The sound waves will
travel into body and hits a boundary between tissues of the body, e.g. the
heart. The probe 'A' will then transmit this sound into the ultrasound
machine 'C', which is attached to the anterior part of the stethoscope system
'S'. The CPU of the device will then calculate the distance from the probe
'A' to the tissue or organ (boundaries) using the speed of sound in tissue
( 5,005 ft/s or 1,540m/s), and the time of each echo's return (usually on the
order of millionth of a second). The machine then display the distances and
intensities of the echoes on the screen 'C' forming a two or three
dimensioned image, like the one seen on the screen 'C'.
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CA 02575075 2007-04-23
Doppler Effect:
The Doppler is a special part of the ultrasound that will check the velocity
or
speed of blood moving to or away from the receiver. This will determine
the rate of blood flow in the heart. In contrast, the M-mode and 2-D
evaluate the size, thickness and movement of the heart structure, i.e. heart
chambers, valves, and muscles of the heart.
During the examination, the ultrasound beams will evaluate the flow of
blood which makes it way in and out of the heart. This information will
evaluate the flow of blood and present it visually on the monitor as color
images or grayscale tracings. It will also present a series of audible
swishing
or pulsating sound (references; patent # 5798489, # 5960089, # 6126608.)
Structure 'A' the probe will transmit sound waves to the CPU of the
ultrasound machine, structure 'C', where all the information will be
analyzed and be converted to a image on the screen.
As seen in figure 2, each organ or structure of the body has its own micro
CPU. Thus once information of the heart is needed the button on the
interface of the machine is pressed, which then communicates with the probe
and the micro cpu-1, which then communicate with 1a, which has both
normal and abnormal information of the body organ that the probe 'A' is
examining.
1 a then has further communication with Figure 3, where more information
of the heart can be access.
Function 2; represent the kidney information, and will communicate with 2a.
Function 3; represent the Liver information, and will communicate with 3a.
Function 4; represent the Spleen information, and will communicate 4.
Function 5; represent the Lungs and communicate with 5a.
Function 6; represent the Jugular vein and communicates with 6a.
Function 7 represents the femoral vein and communicates with 7a.
