Inventors:
Frank A. Baffoni - East Greenwich RI
International Classification:
A61B 702
Abstract:
A multiple phase stethoscope has a chest piece with a plurality of diaphragms and an equal plurality of sound compartments. Sound is carried from each of these compartments through a separate lumen, the plurality of lumens making up a tube assembly. The lumens are at least partially separated from each other by a flexible membrane which serves as a transducer to convert acoustic energy into mechanical motion, thus allowing the sound in the lumens to be combined. One of the lumens is open to the atmosphere through ear pieces, while the other lumen is sealed with a material and/or pressure different from the ambient environment. The geometry of the diaphragms, the compartments, and the lumens; the materials used for the flexible membrane in the lumens; and the pressure of the material in the lumens are all selected to enhance and/or attenuate at least a part of a frequency spectrum of the sounds. If two outer lumens are provided and are different around branches leading to the separate ear pieces, a stereophonic effect is created. This effect can be obtained by altering materials or geometry, e. g.