DIGITAL STETHOSCOPE USING MECHANO-ACOUSTIC SENSOR SUITE
A system and method for sensing acoustic data generated by a user is disclosed. The system includes a wearable sensor including an accelerometer sensor in contact with the skin of the patient to measure mechano-acoustic signals generated from a bodily function and generate an accelerometer waveform. A controller receives the accelerometer waveform from the accelerometer sensor to determine a measurement of the bodily function. The wearable sensor includes features to directly contact the skin and isolate the accelerometer sensor to produce more accurate output signals.
1 . A sensor system for sensing sound associated with a bodily function of a user, the system comprising:
a wearable sensor including a planar mechano-acoustic conductor in direct contact with the skin of the user to measure mechano-acoustic vibration signals generated from a bodily function and generate a vibration waveform; and
a controller that receives the mechano-acoustic vibration waveform from the wearable sensor to determine a measurement of the bodily function.
2 . The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the bodily function is one of a heart function, a respiratory function or a digestive function.
3 . The sensor system of claim 2 , further comprising a heartbeat sensor in contact with the skin of a user to measure a heartbeat waveform, wherein the controller receives the heartbeat waveform from the heartbeat sensor and determines a heartbeat measurement from the mechano-acoustic vibration waveform and the heartbeat waveform.
4 . The sensor system of claim 3 , wherein the heartbeat sensor is one of an ECG sensor, a SCG sensor or a PPG sensor.
5 . The sensor system of claim 3 , wherein the controller is operative to detect an abnormality in heart function based on the mechano-acoustic vibration waveform.
6 . The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the wearable sensor includes an accelerometer to measure the mechano-acoustic vibration signals.
7 . The sensor system of claim 6 , wherein another accelerometer sensor is attached in another area on the body to sense an accelerometer waveform based on an acoustic signal from the another area of the user.
8 . The sensor system of claim 1 , further comprising an external device in communication with the controller.
9 . The sensor system of claim 1 , further comprising a memory for storing the mechano-acoustic vibration waveform.
10 . The sensor system of claim 1 , further comprising a transceiver to transmit the mechano-acoustic vibration waveform.
11 . The sensor system of claim 10 , further comprising a user device in communication with the transceiver to receive the mechano-acoustic vibration waveform, the user device operative to determine an abnormality in the monitored bodily function.
12 . The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the wearable sensor has a plurality of islands in a planar configuration, wherein the mechano-acoustic conductor is attached to an island isolated from the other islands in the plurality of islands via stretchable interconnects.
13 . The sensor system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of islands is encapsulated in an elastomer material.
14 . The sensor system of claim 11 , wherein the wearable sensor has a rectangular planar shape, wherein the island attached to the mechano-acoustic conductor is in one corner of the rectangular planar shape.
15 . The sensor system of claim 14 , wherein the sensor includes is an accelerometer integrated circuit and wherein the island attached to the mechano-acoustic conductor includes a first surface mounting the accelerometer integrated circuit and an opposite second surface supporting the planar mechano-acoustic conductor.
16 . The sensor system of claim 14 , wherein the planar mechano-acoustic conductor also functions as an ECG electrode.
17 . A wearable sensor for detecting a mechano-accoustical signal from a user, the sensor comprising:
a rectangular planar body composed of encapsulation material;
a first island in the middle of the rectangular planar body; and
a second island including an accelerometer, the second island being isolated from the first island using flexible interconnections to buffer vibrations, wherein the second island is located in proximity to a corner of the rectangular planar body.
18 . The sensor of claim 17 , wherein the first island includes a battery.
19 . The sensor of claim 17 , wherein the second island has a top surface and an opposite bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface includes a contact in direct contact with the skin and the top surface holds the accelerometer.
20 . The sensor of claim 17 , wherein the first island includes a heart rate monitor and the contact is an electrode coupled to the heart rate monitor.
21 . A method of detecting an acoustic signal from a user, the method comprising:
attaching a wearable sensor including a planar mechano-acoustic conductor in direct contact with the skin of the user to measure mechano-acoustic vibration signals generated from a bodily function and generate a vibration waveform; and
determining a measurement of the bodily function from the mechano-acoustic vibration waveform via a controller.
22 - 36 . (canceled)