IP Library Granted Patent US 12,533,103
Granted Patent B2
US 12,533,103 · App. 17/848,973 · Granted Jan 27, 2026

Sound detection system and information processing device

Inventors: Kazuhiro Yamada (Hadano, JP); Yoshiyuki Habu (Hadano, JP)
Assignee: TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
A61B7/026A61B2562/0204A61B2562/046
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,533,103
App. No.
17/848,973
Granted
Jan 27, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sound detection system includes a plurality of microphones each configured to detect a sound inside a living body and output a sound signal generated based on the detected sound; and an information processing device that includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire the sound signal from each of the plurality of microphones, a control unit, and an output unit, the control unit specifies a first position that is a position of a prescribed living body site based on the sound signals acquired by the acquisition unit, estimates a second position that is in a prescribed relative positional relation with the first position, and controls directivities of the plurality of microphones to increase a sensitivity with respect to the second position, and the output unit outputs information generated based on the sound signals acquired by the acquisition unit in which the directivities of the plurality of microphones are controlled.

Claims (62)

1 . A sound detection system comprising:

a plurality of microphones, each of the plurality of microphones configured to detect a sound inside a living body and output a sound signal generated based on the detected sound; and

an information processing device, wherein the information processing device:

acquires the sound signals from the plurality of microphones;

specifies a first position that is a position of a prescribed living body site based on the acquired sound signals;

estimates a second position in the living body site, the second position being different than the first position and in a prescribed positional relation with the first position, and wherein the second position in the living body produces a sound that is relatively weaker than a sound being produced by the first position;

controls directivities of the plurality of microphones to increase a sensitivity with respect to the second position; and

outputs information generated based on the acquired sound signals in a state in which the directivities of the plurality of microphones are controlled to increase the sensitivity with respect to the second position.

2 . The sound detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the information processing device further includes a memory configured to store information on the prescribed positional relation between the first position and the second position.

3 . The sound detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the information processing device:

specifies the first position based on an amplitude and a phase of the sound signal, which is generated based on a sound whose sound source is the prescribed living body site and acquired from each of the microphones, and positions of the plurality of microphones.

4 . The sound detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the information processing device:

controls the directivities of the plurality of microphones by adjusting a delay amount of the sound signal acquired from each of the microphones and combining the adjusted delay amounts.

5 . The sound detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the information processing device:

determines an intensity of a sound signal acquired from the second position, and to output an index generated based on the determination result.

6 . The sound detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the information processing device:

controls the directivities of at least two microphones among the plurality of microphones to increase the sensitivity with respect to the second position.

7 . The sound detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the information processing device:

outputs, when the first position is away from positions of the plurality of microphones by a prescribed distance or farther, notification information for recommending movement of the positions of the plurality of microphones.

8 . The sound detection system according to claim 1 , wherein positions of the plurality of microphones are fixed.

9 . The sound detection system according to claim 1 , wherein positions of the plurality of microphones are variable; and

the to information processing device:

measures the position of each of the plurality of microphones; and

calculates the positions of the plurality of microphones based on the measured position of each of the plurality of microphones.

10 . The sound detection system according to claim 1 further comprising:

an imaging apparatus;

positions of the plurality of microphones are variable;

the information processing device calculates the positions of the plurality of microphones based on an image of the plurality of microphones captured by the imaging apparatus; and

wherein the first position is one of a position of a mitral valve, a position of a tricuspid valve, a position of a pulmonary valve, or a position of an aortic valve, and the second position is a position of a coronary artery.

11 . A sound detection system comprising:

a plurality of microphones, each of the plurality of microphones configured to detect a sound inside a living body and output a sound signal generated based on the detected sound; and

a computer that:

acquires the sound signals from the plurality of microphones;

specifies a first position that is a position of a prescribed living body site based on the acquired sound signals;

estimates a second position in the living body site, the second position being different than the first position and in a prescribed positional relation with the first position, and wherein the second position in the living body produces a sound that is relatively weaker than a sound being produced by the first position;

controls directivities of the plurality of microphones to increase a sensitivity with respect to the second position; and

outputs information generated based on the acquired sound signals in a state in which the directivities of the plurality of microphones are controlled to increase the sensitivity with respect to the second position.

12 . A method for detecting sound inside a living body, the method comprising:

affixing a plurality of microphones to the living body, each of the plurality of microphones configured to detect a sound inside the living body and output a sound signal generated based on the detected sound;

acquiring, by an information processing device, the sound signals from the plurality of microphones;

specifying, by the information processing device, a first position that is a position of a prescribed living body site based on the acquired sound signals output;

estimating, by the information processing device, a second position in the living body site, the second position being different than the first position and in a prescribed positional relation with the first position, and wherein the second position in the living body produces a sound that is relatively weaker than a sound being produced by the first position;

controlling, by the information processing device, directivities of the plurality of microphones to increase a sensitivity with respect to the second position; and

outputting, by the information processing device, information generated based on the acquired sound signals in a state in which the directivities of the plurality of microphones are controlled to increase the sensitivity with respect to the second position to an output unit.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:

storing, by the information processing device, information on the prescribed relative positional relation between the first position and the second position in a memory.

14 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:

specifying, by the information processing device, the first position based on an amplitude and a phase of the sound signal, which is generated based on a sound whose sound source is the prescribed living body site and acquired from each of the microphones, and relative positions of the plurality of microphones.

15 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:

controlling, by the information processing device, the directivities of the plurality of microphones by adjusting a delay amount of the sound signal acquired from each of the microphones and combining the adjusted delay amounts.

16 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:

determining, by the information processing device, an intensity of a sound signal acquired from the second position; and

causing, by the information processing device, the output unit to output an index generated based on the determination result.

17 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:

controlling, by the information processing device, the directivities of at least two microphones among the plurality of microphones to increase the sensitivity with respect to the second position.

18 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:

causing, by the information processing device, the output unit to output, when the first position is away from positions of the plurality of microphones by a prescribed distance or farther, notification information for recommending movement of the positions of the plurality of microphones.

19 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:

measuring, by the information processing device, the relative position of each of the plurality of microphones; and

calculating, by the information processing device, the relative positions of the plurality of microphones based on the relative position of each of the plurality of microphones measured by the relative position measurement unit.

20 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:

calculating, by the information processing device, the relative positions of the plurality of microphones based on an image of the plurality of microphones captured by an imaging apparatus.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 31, 2023
From: YAMADA, KAZUHIRO; HABU, YOSHIYUKI
To: TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 063804/0773 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2019-239343 · Dec 27, 2019 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2020045125 · Dec 3, 2020
Related Publication 20220354450A1 · Nov 10, 2022
References Cited (25)
US 10820857B2 · Nasry · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 11045144B2 · Zhou · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 11678844B2 · Nasry · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 11717253B2 · Jones · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20070055151A1 · Shertukde et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20110009759A1 · Rajamani et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110137209A1 · Lahiji et al. · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20120209132A1 · Jones et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20170209115A1 · Lönnroth et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180137876A1 · Sun et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180295443A1 · Takada et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190125196A1 · Kline et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
CN 108074583A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
CN 108141663A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 2008528112A · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009188617A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2011514199A · 2011 [cited by applicant]
JP 2015130904A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018044774A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019010436A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019521756A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2011056856A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report (PCT/ISA/210) with translation and Written Opinion (PCT/ISA/237) mailed on Feb. 22, 2021, by the Japanese Patent Office as the International Searching Authority for International Application … [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report issued on Dec. 22, 2022, in corresponding European Patent Application No. 20907173.7. (5 pages). [cited by applicant]
Office Action/Search Report (The First Office Action) issued on Dec. 20, 2024, in corresponding Chinese Patent Application No. 202080090349.2 and English translation of the Office Action. (9 pages). [cited by applicant]