Systems and methods for electronic stethoscope wireless auscultation
The present description relates generally to methods and systems for wireless communication between a digital (e.g., electronic) stethoscope and other electronic devices (e.g., computing and listening devices). In one example, a method comprises operating an electronic stethoscope in one of an internal digital mode and a wireless digital mode based on a detected user action. In this way, the electronic stethoscope may be quickly adjusted between projecting sound via integrated speakers and transmitting sound to an external electronic device, enabling efficient remote monitoring of a patient.
1. A method, comprising:
operating an electronic stethoscope device in one of an internal digital mode and a wireless digital mode based on a detected user action, wherein:
operating the electronic stethoscope device in the internal digital mode comprises powering speakers electrically connected to the electronic stethoscope device; and
operating the electronic stethoscope device in the wireless digital mode comprises not powering the speakers electrically connected to the electronic stethoscope device, generating audio data, and wirelessly transmitting the generated audio data to at least one external device in real-time, the at least one external device configured to wirelessly capture or play the generated audio data in real-time via at least one listening device that is not physically or electronically connected to the electronic stethoscope device, wherein the detected user action is a mechanical configuration change of an output of the electronic stethoscope device, and wherein the mechanical configuration change of the output of the electronic stethoscope device is a mechanical and acoustic disconnection of earpieces of the electronic stethoscope device from a body of the electronic stethoscope device at the output;
operating in the internal digital mode, including powering the speakers electrically connected to the electronic stethoscope device and playing first audio data via the speakers electrically connected to the electronic stethoscope device;
in response to the mechanical and acoustic disconnection of the earpieces, automatically covering and sealing the output via a spring-loaded cap and switching from operating in the internal digital mode to operating the electronic stethoscope device in the wireless digital mode, wherein switching from operating the electronic stethoscope device in the internal digital mode to operating the electronic stethoscope device in the wireless digital mode comprises powering off the speakers electrically connected to the electronic stethoscope device in response to the mechanical and acoustic disconnection of the earpieces, generating the audio data via a microphone of the electronic stethoscope device, and initiating the wirelessly transmitting of the generated audio data to the at least one external device in real-time; and
playing the generated audio data at the at least one listening device that is not physically or electronically connected to the electronic stethoscope device.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detected user action is received via a user interface.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the user interface is one of a button, a switch, and a toggle positioned on the body of the electronic stethoscope device.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one external device includes a computing device, wherein the user interface is included in the computing device, and wherein the detected user action is input into a software application running on the computing device.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
wirelessly transmitting the generated audio data from the electronic stethoscope device to the computing device while operating the electronic stethoscope device in the wireless digital mode; and
further transmitting the data from the computing device to at least one listening device in electronic or wireless communication with the computing device.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the software application running on the computing device is running in a background mode on the computing device, and wherein the software application receives the generated audio data from the electronic stethoscope device and transmits the generated audio data to the at least one listening device while running in the background mode.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one external device comprises one or more of a laptop computer, a smartphone, a tablet, headphones, and earbuds, and the method further comprises:
analyzing the audio data via an analysis algorithm; and
outputting analysis results from the analysis algorithm to the at least one external device.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising operating the electronic stethoscope device in the internal digital mode in response to a mechanical and acoustic connection of the earpieces.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting the mechanical and acoustic disconnection of the earpieces of the electronic stethoscope device from the body of the electronic stethoscope device based on at least one of:
signals analyzed from the microphone of the electronic stethoscope device; and
a distance of the earpieces from the electronic stethoscope device measured by a proximity sensor.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising operating the electronic stethoscope device in the wireless digital mode in response to the mechanical and acoustic disconnection of the earpieces, and wirelessly playing the generated audio data in real-time at the least one listening device, wherein sound is no longer transmitted at the speaker.