US3797129A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heart sounds teaching and display apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-11-10
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Granted: 1974-03-19
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Expires: 1992-11-10
Abstract
Abstract A heart sound simulator for the teaching of cardiac auscultation and diagnosis procedures which utilizes a plurality of separate bands of sound related signals for combination in cyclic and timed sequence to simulate heart pulse cycles or arrhythmic combinations thereof. A program element having instructional and indexing material thereon for visual observation is placed in fixed position as a signal gating element to selectively and/or periodically intercept circuits inclusive of photosensitive elements for the control of said circuits as necessary to duplicate various normal and abnormal heart conditions. Some elements of said circuits are movable and at variable rates whereby various pulse cycles are simulated as the light transmission or signal gating patterns are correspondingly varied. Sound output, sound and electrocardiogram display means and recording and play-back components are provided. Patient derived heart sounds, phonocardiograms and electrocardiograms may be displayed and/or recorded for sound and visual comparisons.
Inventors
- 👤 G Schlatter
- 👤 A Ravin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:28
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B23/00; G09B23/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
Apparatus presenting sounds and visual materials for teaching auscultation procedures and techniques comprising a plurality of circuits with each said circuit providing a separate source of sound related signals and with the output of each said sound source being characteristic of a component of combined sounds that may be observed, a plurality of moving signal gating means with each said moving element being adapted for selectively receiving and transmitting signals derived from said sound source circuits, a program element having signal transmissive openings therein for interposition between said sound source circuits and said signal gating elements with said openings being positioned to regulate selective interconnection of said sound source circuits and said signal gating means, and a program element receptacle for receiving said program element in regulated position whereby selected sound source circuits will be interconnected with selected signal gating elements to provide a desired combined sound output
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
Apparatus presenting sounds and visual materials for teaching auscultation procedures and techniques comprising a plurality of circuits with each said circuit providing a separate source of sound related signals and with the output of each said sound source being characteristic of a component of combined sounds that may be observed, a plurality of moving signal gating means with each said moving element being adapted for selectively receiving and transmitting signals derived from said sound source circuits, a program element having signal transmissive openings therein for interposition between said sound source circuits and said signal gating elements with said openings being positioned to regulate selective interconnection of said sound source circuits and said signal gating means, and a program element receptacle for receiving said program element in regulated position whereby selected sound source circuits will be interconnected with selected signal gating elements to provide a desired combined sound output
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said signal gating elements operate intermittently to provide pulsed cycles of component sounds.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plurality of signal gating elements are constrained for movement along separate paths.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the movement patterns for said signal gating elements are curvilinear.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the movement patterns for said signal gating elements are non-concentric.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein a plurality of signal transmitting openings are provided in positions oriented with the movement patterns for said signal gating elements for regulation of the operation of said elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 and further comprising a moving table support for said apparatus with said moving table providing support for and carrying said signal gating elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said table is moved translationally in a defined curvilinear path.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said signal gating means and table move conjointly with the separate signal gating means being moved in adjacent circular paths.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said signal gating elements are photosensitively actuated by changes in impinged light.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 and further comprising a plurality of separate light sources for said apparatus with each said light source being disposed in position corresponding to the movement pattern for one of said signal gating elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the signal gating openings for said program card are light transmissive and are disposed along the movement pattern for said signal gating element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said signal gating elements comprise a main control for the release of selected component sounds and further comprising auxiliary controls for operator manipulation to further regulate the sounds that are otherwise passed by said signal gating elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said auxiliary controls provide On-Off and volume control for said apparatus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 and further comprising manual controls for the manual selection of the sound source circuits whereby thE signals of manually selected sound sources may be additionally interconnected to said signal gating elements.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising an indexing section on said program element for the presentation of visual instructions with said index section being exposed for operator viewing when the program element is in operative signal gating usage.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 and further comprising photosensitive elements permanently positioned for the control of said sound source circuits.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein photosensitive elements are additionally utilized for said signal gating means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein the signal gating openings for said program element are light transmissive and are disposed in position of registration with said photosensitive elements.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein photosensitive elements are used both for circuit selection and signal gating functions and some of said light transmissive openings are disposed along the movement path of said signal gating elements.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 and further comprising a display unit for said apparatus, and means providing an electrocardiogram signal on one circuit of said apparatus for selection and selective release by operation of said program and signal gating elements.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 and further comprising a moving table support for said apparatus with said moving table providing support for and carrying said signal gating elements, and motor drive means for moving said table.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 and further comprising speed change controls for said motor whereby the speed of movement of said signal gating means is changed.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 wherein a plurality of cyclic traces are provided on said program element in successive positions disposed about the movement pattern for said signal gating means whereby a plurality of heart sound cycles can be presented successively.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 24 wherein the spacing patterns for signal transmissive openings are irregular for the presentation of arrhythmic heart studies.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 24 wherein light transmissive openings are provided on said program element for changing the relative speed of said motor and moving table in keeping with the signal gating operations of the particular program element.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
107 words
In a heart sound simulator for the simulation of the component and combined sounds of the heart wherein said component sounds are derived from separate sound sources and being further inclusive of signal gating and program elements for regulating the cyclic presentation of said component sounds to provide a heart sound signal, a patient auscultation unit comprising a microphone pickup for receiving a signal related to the actual sounds of a patient''s heart, output means for the dissemination of said patient derived signal, and a variable high pass filter in the circuits intermediate said pickup and output whereby patient derived sounds above selected ranges may be eliminated.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
107 words
In a heart sound simulator for the simulation of the component and combined sounds of the heart wherein said component sounds are derived from separate sound sources and being further inclusive of signal gating and program elements for regulating the cyclic presentation of said component sounds to provide a heart sound signal, a patient auscultation unit comprising a microphone pickup for receiving a signal related to the actual sounds of a patient''s heart, output means for the dissemination of said patient derived signal, and a variable high pass filter in the circuits intermediate said pickup and output whereby patient derived sounds above selected ranges may be eliminated.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein the range for said variable high pass filter is 0 to 500 Hz.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 27 and further comprising means whereby the patient derived heart sound signal can be presented for comparison with a simulated heart sound signal released by said heart sound simulator.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 27 and further comprising signal trace display apparatus for interconnection with said auscultation unit circuits for the display of a patient derived phonocardiogram.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-18 | 1977-09-17 | 1978-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-18 | 1981-09-17 | 1982-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-18 | 1985-09-17 | 1986-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |