On stethoscope design: a challenge for biomedical circuit designers.
Most clinicians learned the art and science of auscultation using an acoustic stethoscope. While many models of electronic stethoscopes have been marketed over the years, none of them seem to do a very good job of emulating the most common forms of acoustic stethoscopes available. This paper is an appeal to biomedical circuit designers to learn more about the acoustics of commonly used stethoscopes and to develop an appropriate group of circuits which would emulate them much like music synthesizers can emulate almost any musical instrument. The implications are for creative designers to move toward a rational and acceptable design for both personal physician use and for telemedicine.
Hahn
A W
AW
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. hahn@missouri.edu
D004867:Equipment Design; D006326:Heart Auscultation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D019023:Stethoscopes