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Home > Video Conferencing > GlobalMedia > GlobalMedia Scopes > GlobalMedia Littmann Electronic Stethoscope Model 3200

GlobalMedia Littmann Electronic Stethoscope Model 3200

The Littmann Electronic Stethoscope Model 3200 is a state of the art unit that easily fits into workflow and a practitioner's pocket. It vastly improves on sound assessment, especially when a body sound is faint.

GlobalMedia Littmann Electronic Stethoscope Model 3200 Overview:

Lightweight and ergonomically designed The Littmann Electronic Stethoscope model 3200 is designed to easily fit into workflow. The traditional tubing design drapes comfortably around the neck and folds easily into a pocket, and is similar to a cardiology-grade acoustic stethoscope in weight. With 3M Littmann patented softsealing eartips that come in two sizes for a custom fit, nonchill diaphragm for patient comfort, and digital audio technology, this stethoscope vastly improves on sound assessment. Hear it. State-of-the-art sound sensor with Proprietary Noise Reduction (PNR) technology reduces on average 85% of unwanted background noise and provides amplification capability when sounds are soft. Clinical evidence shows it's easier to detect difficult-to-hear heart sounds like S3 gallops, aortic regurgitation murmurs, as well as abnormal lung sounds. It all adds up to an exceptional listening experience, no matter the environment, compared to acoustic scopes. Record it. Capture a sound for later playback for consults or when recording patient notes. Send it. Bluetooth technology allows for transmitting sounds real-time to PCs, which can be further analyzed, attached to medical records or reviewed online with colleagues. Confirm it. Use available Zargis Cardioscan software to help detect and classify suspected heart murmurs while assessing a patient. Or, visualize heart and lung sounds using Zargis StethAssist software, included with every 3M Littmann Electronic Stethoscope Model 3200. These two great tools can further enhance the auscultation process.

GlobalMedia Littmann Electronic Stethoscope Model 3200 Benefits:

Faced with a noisy environment when conducting patient exams, the Littmann Electronic Stethoscope, with proprietary Ambient Noise Reduction(ANR) technology, reduces on average 85% of unwanted background sounds. Due to its user-adjusted sound amplification, clinical evidence demonstrates its easier to detect difficult-to-hear heart sounds, like S3 gallops, aortic regurgitation murmurs as well as abnormal lung sounds. Captured sounds can be shared real-time, saved to medical records or reviewed online with colleagues using the onboard Bluetooth technology.

GlobalMedia Littmann Electronic Stethoscope Model 3200 Key Features

Traditional tubing design to fit comfortably around the neck, or folds easily into a pocket. 3MLittmannSnap Tight Soft-Sealing Eartips come with two sizes for custom fit. Sound experience equivalent to Littmann cardiology-grade acoustic stethoscope. Non-chill diaphragm for patient comfort. Use available ZargisCardioscanSoftware to help detect and classify suspected heart murmurs while assessing a patient. Includes ZargisStethAssistSoftware for heart and lung sound visualization. GlobalMedia Littmann Electronic Stethoscope Model 3200 Data Sheet GlobalMedia Telemedicine Solutions Brochure GlobalMedia Telemedicine Solutions Company Brochure

For pricing or additional information regarding the GlobalMedia Littmann Electronic Stethoscope Model 3200 or any video conferencing and telepresence solution, call 1-800-224-7083, orclick here to have an IVCi Representative contact you.

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PRODUCT OVERVIEW
27" tubing, available in Black, Burgundy and Navy Blue. Powerful Capability. Incredible Simplicity. Redefining what a stethoscope can do for you. Hear it. State-of-the-art sound sensor. Proprietary Ambient Noise Reduction (ANR) technology reduces on average 85% of unwanted background noise. Amplification capability when sounds are soft. Clinical evidence shows it's easier to detect difficult-to-hear heart sounds like S3 gallops, aortic regurgitation murmurs, as well as abnormal lung sounds. It all adds up to an exceptional listening experience - compared to acoustic scopes. How Ambient Noise Reduction (ANR) Technology Works It cancels out, on average, 85% of ambient background noise that can interfere with the auscultation experience, without eliminating critical body sounds. So youre much less likely to miss the sounds you need to hear in noisy work environments. A full 13% better than previous models. The same ambient noise that travels through the air also travels through the body. 3Ms proprietary ANR technology cancels out both sources of ambient noise, leaving the critical body sounds you need to hear.

Up to 24X Sound Amplification Extra listening power for those times when you need it; may be helpful when a heart, lung or body sound is especially faint; when a patient is obese; or when a patients clothing restricts your listening experience. Power Management The LCD display depicts remaining battery life and starts blinking when approximately two days of use remain. Low-battery does not affect sound quality. Changing out the battery is an easy, tool-free process. Your stethoscope automatically enters sleep mode after a period of inactivity. The battery lasts for approximately 60 hours of continous active use. Heartbeat View your patient's heart rate on the LCD display. Record it. Capture a sound for later playback. Helpful when seeking a peer opinion or when you are writing up notes on your patient's condition, after your patient has left. Send it. Bluetooth technology lets you transmit sounds real-time to your PC, which can then be further analyzed, attached to medical records, or reviewed online with colleagues.

Confirm it. Use available Zargis Cardioscan software to help you detect and classify suspected heart murmurs while with your patient. Or visualize heart and lung sounds using Zargis StethAssist software, included free with every 3M Littmann Electronic Stethoscope Model 3200. Two great tools that can enhance the auscultation process and help you hone your skills.

Littmann 3200 Software

Included FREE - Zargis StethAssist Heart and Lung Sound Visualization Software. Designed to visualize what you are hearing, allow playback when and where convenient, facilitate storage of sounds in patient records or transfer to colleagues for further analysis.

Connects wirelessly to the Bluetooth-enabled Littmann Model 3200 stethoscope for easy, real-time analysis. Display and print sounds as phonocardiogram. Playback in bell, diaphragm or extended range. Play recordings at slow speed to listen even more closely. Save patient information for future comparison. Send as an e-mail attachment.

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Product Outline JABES is a state-of-the art Auscultation System with Electronic Stethoscope and JABES Analyzer software. JABES also includes Auscultation Sound Database that only the most experienced medical practitioners would recognize in the knowledge of medical practice. Now with JABES, physicians with limited medical practicing experience can easily shed light on their patients' illnesses at the first examination. JABES also allows the medical practitioners to record the body sound of their patients directly onto their PC for phonocardiogram view. With this capability, healthcare givers will have better understandings of the sound they hear for better quality medical services.

Note that products produced in 2011 have more faithful sensitivity of the sound. Doctors should be able to hear the turbulence noise of carotid arteries which is caused by atherosclerotic plague without a non-invasive equipment. AS you know, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease are major causes of death in the world. JABES stethoscope offers the revolution to doctors for patients care without expensive ultrasound cost and in only minutes. User Group

Medical practitioners mds working at university hospital and general hospital medical students, intern and residents nurses & home healthcare givers emergency workers/paramedics sports team doctors veterinarians doctors in remote area military medical personnel

Features and Benefits A. Choice of Frequency Range With the JABES electronic stethoscope, healthcare professionals can choose from three different ranges of frequency Bell, Diaphragm, or Wide. This feature enables JABES users to hear clear and accurate body sounds, like never before. Doctors should be able to hear the turbulence noise of carotid arteries which is caused by atherosclerotic plague without a non-invasive equipment. JABES stethoscope offers the revolution to doctors for patients care without expensive ultrasound cost and in only minutes. B. Noise Reduction System The new JABES electronic stethoscope comes equipped with our patented noise reduction ring, which enables crystal clear sound quality. This unique system has been developed by the JABES R&D team, and is being implemented in all JABES products. C. Customizable Sound Levels The JABES electronic stethoscope is equipped with eight different sound levels; sound ranges from level 1 up to 20 times amplified sound at level 8. Users can choose the sound level that fits best for his or her ear, and JABES will remember custom sound level set by each user. D. Smart Power Management System JABES will run up to 100 hours with two AAA Alkaline batteries. This gives our product twice the current battery life over our competitorsproducts. Furthermore, JABES uses inexpensive and readily available Alkaline Batteries (AAA size), whereas the competitors'products use more expensive and less readily available lithium batteries. E. Auto Shut Off JABES electronic stethoscope turns off automatically when there is no activity for 3 minutes. Low Battery indicationlight lets JABES users to know when batteries need to be replaced. F. Easy Operation The JABES electronic stethoscope is easy to operate with the unique JABES' intelligent design allowing full operation of JABES with only your index finger. G. Convenient Use For your convenience, JABES has clearly marked and easily located function, battery indicator and mode buttons which are small, yet easily seen. JABES also remembers sound level and mode, which are set uniquely by each different user. H. Familiar Feel and weight JABES electronic stethoscope weighs 170g, which is the average weight of conventional stethoscope. JABES also feels like a traditional stethoscope. I. Easy to Wear, Comfortable Ear Piece JABES ear pieces are specially designed in size, angle and structurefor your comfort. J. Simple Maintenance Diaphragm and ear pieces are designed for easy cleaning and replacement. K. Rugged Structure For maximum durability, JABES Life Sound System electronic stethoscopes are built with the highest quality materials

L.

Monitor, Record and Play Patients body sounds can be monitored, recorded and saved for future reference. This information also can be sent to other JABES users via internet, email or MSN. M. Wave Reference Database Wave reference database, which contains sound and phonocardiogram of more than 55 heart and lung sounds, can be a valuable reference tool for JABES users. (The reference waveform list is for reference only. JABES accepts no responsibility for diagnosis or misdiagnosis of patient.) N. Patient Data Management The healthcare professionals can manage a virtually unlimited number of patient's information such as name, medical info & history, address, phone number, ID number, weight, blood pressure and so on. O. Great Counseling Tool A phonocardiogram can be printed and used during conferences with patients and other healthcare professionals. P. Great Teaching Tool Body sounds can be heard by many through speaker systems in real time or played back at a later time. Patents and Certificates

Patent: 2001-12321 Patent pending: 2002-0005744 International Patent Pending: PCT-KR02-02136 Design Registration: 2002-0030179 Trademark Registration: 2002-0051648 Software Registration: 2002-01-15-6055 CE Certification: CE 1020 Class II by ITC ISO Certification: ISO 13485 by ITC FDA Certification: FDA 510K Class II No. K031446

Currently, JABES electronic stethoscopes are sold in following countries: United States, Canada, Brazil, Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Czech Republic, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Greece, Macedonia, Korea, Japan, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East and Southeast Asia Countries. Specification Model: Golden Sound Classification Model Power Length Weight Battery Battery Life Frequency Mode Details GOLDEN SOUND DC 3.0V 29" 170g 1.5V AAAx2 OVER 100 HOURS BELL MODE DIAPHRAGM MODE WIDE MODE
Related Keywords: Stethoscope , Electronic stethoscope

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IN CONTINOUS USE 20 ~ 200HZ 200 ~ 500HZ 20 ~ 1,000HZ

Packaging Package Size Package Weight

12 units per box 44 x 40 x 39.5 Centimeters 9 Kilograms

Delivery lead time

15 days

What is Bluetooth Technology?

Bluetooth wireless technology is a short-range communications technology intended to replace the cables connecting portable and/or fixed devices while maintaining high levels of security. The key features of Bluetooth technology are robustness, low power, and low cost. The Bluetooth specification defines a uniform structure for a wide range of devices to connect and communicate with each other. What is Bluetooth technology?* Bluetooth wireless technology is a short-range communications technology intended to replace the cables connecting portable and/or fixed devices while maintaining high levels of security. The key features of Bluetooth technology are robustness, low power, and low cost. The Bluetooth specification defines a uniform structure for a wide range of devices to connect and communicate with each other. Does My Computer Need Bluetooth? No. Included with the purchase of the Littmann Model 3200 is a USB Bluetooth adaptor (dongle). Simply connect the Bluetooth dongle to your PC using the USB port and your computer will be Bluetooth equiped. For optimum performance, it is recommended that you use a wireless dongle which was included with the Littmann Model 3200. What is the range of the Bluetooth i.e. how far away can the Littmann Model 3200 be from the PC and still communicate via Bluetooth? The Littmann Model 3200 uses a Class 2 Bluetooth link, with a maximum range of 10 meters (about 30 feet). The Bluetooth range will be reduced when objects (walls, furniture, people, etc) are in-between the Littmann Model 3200 and the PC. To improve Bluetooth communication, reduce the distance and/or allow a line of sight between the Littmann Model 3200 and the external device. How can I optimize Bluetooth wireless performance? For optimum wireless connection performance, it is important that the stethoscope chest piece and wireless dongle are in close proximity and that the path between them is free of any obstructions. Walls, furniture, and bodies will degrade the wireless signal. The positioning of the stethoscope and wireless adapter is crucial to good wireless performance. In some cases, the use of a USB extension cable which elevates the adapter and/or changes its orientation can result in a marked improvement. Littmann recommends using the StarTech Desktop USB Extension Cable, or similar device, that can be found online at many retailers or at your local electronics store. During recording, it may help for the PC to be located next to the patient (rather than behind them) so that the patient's body does not block the signal path. Hold the chest piece firmly with fingertips (rather than a cupped hand) to allow the wireless antenna to function properly. Minimize the distance between stethoscope and PC. Under typical conditions, a distance of 10 feet should be readily achievable. Operating environment also plays a role in connection performance. Cordless phones, cellular phone accessories, microwave ovens, and computer WiFi equipment may all degrade connection performance and should be considered if connection performance is less than desirable. Is Bluetooth safe to use in a hospital environment? The Bluetooth system employed by the Littmann Model 3200 stethoscope and software is a Bluetooth Class 2 wireless data link that operates at a frequency of 2.4GHz and with a maximum transmit power of 2.5mW. The maximum radio frequency field strength generated by the stethoscope is below three volts per meter, a level that is considered safe to use with other medical devices. Many scientific Bluetooth coexistence studies performed by 3M and other institutions and have shown that Bluetooth does not interfere with other wireless devices/technologies. In addition, Bluetooth is strongly supported by Continua (SIG group for Telemedicine) and a new Bluetooth Health Device Profile (plug-and-play BT communication protocol for medical apps) was just recently established and the first compliant products are now available. Further, devices with similar technology to ours have been approved in other critical-care settings, including OR suites and ICU floors. I can't hear any sound when playing a previous recording on my PC? By default, the sound will be played directly back to the Model 3200 via Bluetooth. Listening to previously recorded

sounds using the Littmann Model 3200 is recommended, as the sound quality will be identical to what you heard while recording. If the connection icon is green (on StethAssist or Cardioscan), try increasing the audio volume by pressing the "+" on the stethoscope. If the "play to PC" checkbox is checked, then the sound will be played via the PC speakers instead of the stethoscope. Because of the low frequenciy sounds involved in auscultation, computer speakers (especially native laptop speakers) may have very poor audio response to recordings giving the impression that is not working. If "play to PC" is selected, use of headphones or external speakers is recommended; try increasing the volume on your PC.

battery What type of battery does the stethoscope use? The stethoscope was designed to accommodate three battery types to fit your needs. Use one AA Alkaline, Lithium, or NiMH battery to operate your electronic stethoscope. The default battery type is Alkaline. Therefore, if using either a Lithium or NiMH battery, you must change the battery type within the setup menu of the electronic stethoscope for a reliable battery life indication on the display screen. The Lithium battery is a non-rechargeable cell that is recommended for low-temperature operation of the stethoscope and generally has a longer life than an Alkaline battery. The NIMH battery is a rechargeable battery (external charger required). How long is the battery life? Can I do anything to extend it? The Littmann Model 3100 and Littmann Model 3200 battery will last for approximately 60 hours of continuous use. Before the battery is depleted completely, you will hear a warning tone that the battery has only two more hours of continuous use. The life of the battery is being conserved if you are seeing the Littmann logo. You are in standby mode. To enter active mode, tap on the diaphragm or push a button. To turn off the stethoscope, either do nothing (to enter standby mode after a length of time based on POWER setting) or push the power button for two seconds (preferred). There are several options to maximize battery life. 1) Minimizing backlight display time will conserve battery life. Select Menu > BACKLITE and then select either DISABLE or ON DMND (on demand). DISABLE will completely disable the backlight at all times. With ON DMND, the backlight will only activate after pressing the power button. If you feel the backlight is necessary in order to read the display screen, simply select Menu > BACKLITE > ALWAYS. This will activate the backlight at half power to provide visual assistance, yet minmize power consumption. 2) Ensuring the Auto On / Auto Off feature is enabled (should be by default) will preserve battery life. This feature can be customized to allow for different periods of time before entering standby mode. To optimize the battery life, select Menu > POWER > LOW. This will program the stethoscope to enter standby after 10 seconds of inactivity. Sound quality remains constant even on low battery. The electronic stethoscope will not work without a battery.

Durability
I am having trouble hearing anything when using the stethoscope? It is important that you are wearing the stethoscope in the proper orientation. All Littmann stethoscopes have headsets that are angled and are designed to fit properly with your ear canals.. When holding the stethoscope, be sure that the headset is pointed towards the ceiling and then when placing in your ears, be sure that the headset is pointed towards your nose. If the stethoscope is in its correct orientation, you can adjust the sound amplification by pressing the "+" and "-" buttons on the keypad. Also, it is important that the very center of the chestpiece is making good contact with the patient, as this is the location of the sound sensor. If you still cannot hear any sound, contact 3M Technical Support.

Everytime I turn on the stethoscope, I have to change the amplification. Can I set a different default amplification level? Yes. Select the amplification level you would like to set as default. Press the M button, then press the "-" button until SET VOL is selected, and then press the M button again. The default amplification has now been changed to the new level and is indicated by a small mark in the vertical line next to the volume bars. Everytime I turn on the stethoscope, I have to change the filter type (Bell or Diaphragm). Can I set a different default filter type? Yes. Select the filter type you would like to set as default. Press the M button, then press the "-" button until SET FLTR is selected, and then press the M button again. The default filter type has now been changed to the new selection. Will the Littmann Model 3100 and Littmann Model 3200 work on Infants and small children? The Littmann Model 3100 and Littmann Model 3200 were designed to auscultate people of all sizes, including infants and small children. The acoustic sensor is only the size of a small button or dime located in center of the chestpiece. Therefore, when auscultating a patient, you only need to be concerned about making contact with the exact center of the chestpiece to achieve optimal sound quality. The heart rate display is intermittent? When trying to obtain the heart rate of a patient, it is important that the very center of the chestpiece is making good contact with the patient, as this is the location of the sound sensor. It takes five seconds of consistent heart sounds to compute the initial heart rate and updates are provided every two seconds. The heart rate will then be displayed for 10 seconds after removal of the chestpiece from the patient. Prior to the initial reading, the display shows two dashes (--). For heart rates outside a range of 30-199 bpm, the display will also show two dashes (--). The acoustic-based heart rate display functions best when the Littmann Model 3100 and Littmann Model 3200 is placed near the apex of the patients heart and can be monitored while using any filter mode and/or volume level. If the heart rate changes from consistent to inconsistent or if there is excessive ambient noise, patient movement or lung sounds during auscultation, the heart rate will display two dashes (--). With practice, your ability to obtain a heart rate from your patient will improve. Transfer sounds How do I transfer sounds to a PC and can I transmit and receive sounds securely? The sound files are transferred via Bluetooth communication. Bluetooth is a secure method of file transfer. Files transferred via Bluetooth are encrypted and can only be read by the device a PC that has been paired and connected to the Littmann Model 3200 stethoscope. How Do I Connect my Littmann Model 3200 to StethAssist using Bluetooth? In order to transfer data between two Bluetooth devices, they must first be "paired" electronically. Pairing is a discovery and authentication process that allows your Bluetooth equipped Littmann Model 3200 stethoscope to communicate with another Bluetooth equipped device and establishes the link between these two devices as a trusted pair. While the Littmann Model 3200 can remember trusted pairing with up to eight different Bluetooth devices, it will only communicate with one paired device at a time. In addition, you cannot pair a Littmann Model 3200 with a second Littmann Model 3200. Once paired, the Littmann Model 3200 can connect to the PC. Select the CONNECT option by pressing and releasing the (M) button. The LCD screen will signal that the Bluetooth link is active. The stethoscope will automatically return to operational status.

Software
How do I install the 3M Littmann StethAssist Software**? First, insert the USB Bluetooth adaptor (dongle) into your PC. Next, place the StethAssist CD in the CD-ROM of your PC and follow on-screen instructions for installation and stethoscope connection. If the installation process does not start automatically, click on the Setup.exe file on the CD. If using a work computer, contact your IT Department to install the software on your computer. Once installed, the software will guide you through the pairing and connecting process. What is with 3M Littmann StethAssist Software? 3M Littmann StethAssist is software intended to be used in electronic stethoscope for the recording and display

of heart sounds and other physiological acoustic signals. StethAssist works with the Littmann Model 3200, and runs on a PC meeting the specified requirements. What is 3M Littmann Cardioscan Software? 3M Littmann Cardioscan is a computer-assisted medical device designed to support physicians in analyzing cardiac sounds for the identification and classification of suspected murmurs. Using the Littmann Model 3200 connected to a portable computer, 3M Littmann Cardioscan software records and analyzes heart sounds, identifying suspected systolic and diastolic murmurs, S1 and S2 sounds and provides visual representations of the heart sound characteristics. Sound Why can't I hear the recorded sounds playing from my PC? To ensure adequate sound reproduction quality necessary for diagnostic use, we only recommend playback through the Littmann 3200 ear tips. However, in certain situations (eg, education) an alternate audio output mechanism may be desirable. In these circumstances, the quality of audio reproduction will be dependent upon several components:

sound card audio amplifier headphones or speakers

In general, higher-quality components will reproduce the signal more faithfully resulting in better fidelity. Cardiac recordings contain very low frequencies compared with the range for which computer multimedia audio systems are typically designed. In fact, most laptop audio systems have such inadequate bass response that audio playback may appear to be broken because the sound reproduction is so muted at the frequencies of the cardiac recording. Headphones typically reproduce bass frequencies more accurately than speakers due to the substantial energy present in the low frequency waves. If you need to construct an alternate system for audio playback, we suggest you assess each of the systems listed above with respect to your requirements for accurate sound reproduction and replace the necessary components until the sound playback is adequate for your purposes. Because the computer sound card originates the audio signal, it is essential that it is functioning properly and of adequate quality. Sound enhancements like surround sound and filtering effects should be turned off. Many built-in sound-cards have an inadequate frequency response for the purposes of playing back cardiac auscultation, so if you cannot achieve acceptable PC playback despite a high-quality output device, consider upgrading this component or using an external device like a USB sound card. For headphones, a medium to high quality set with a frequency response which begins at 15 Hz is desirable. Because of the dependence on low-frequency sounds, occasionally even some higher-quality headphones may exhibit rattles or distortion. Both open and closed headphone designs may yield good fidelity. Note that the sharp transients present in heart sound recordings may lead to premature speaker failure with the introduction of rattles and other artifacts, so be aware that sound quality may degrade over time. A headphone amplifier may be used to boost the volume, and is often particularly useful for listening to cardiac auscultations. If using speakers, it is essential that a speaker system be of the 2.1 variety. This means that a subwoofer component supplements the sound produced on two midsize speakers. As with headphones, higher quality components will usually reproduce the sound more accurately. There are a number of alternatives for audio output, but because multiple components are involved in sound generation, you will need to check the reproduction to ensure it is of adequate quality for your purposes. "

APPLICATION NOTE 4694

Introduction to Digital Stethoscopes and Electrical Component Selection Criteria

By: John DiCristina Abstract: This application note provides an overview of the basic operation and design considerations for a digital stethoscope. The similarities between a digital stethoscope and an acoustic stethoscope, which is the older generation of the instrument, are explained. The article then outlines the more sophisticated

features of the newer digital designs, including audio recording and playback. When discussing design considerations for a digital stethoscope, it details the importance of the audio signal path, presents considerations for audio codec electronics, and outlines the audio frequency requirements for cardiac and pulmonary sound. The article also addresses the system's subfunctions which include data storage and transfer, display and backlighting, power management, and battery management.

Overview
A stethoscope, whether acoustic or digital, is used mainly to listen to heart and lung sounds in the body as an aid to diagnosis. Listening, or auscultation, has been done with acoustic stethoscopes for almost two hundred years; recently, electronic digital stethoscopes have been developed. The goal of a basic digital stethoscope is to have it retain the look and feel of an acoustic stethoscope but to improve listening performance. In addition, high-end digital stethoscopes offer sophisticated capabilities such as audio recording and playback. They also provide data to visually chart results by connecting to an off-instrument display such as a computer monitor. This advanced functionality increases the physician's diagnostic capability. Maintaining the existing acoustic stethoscope form (i.e., that "look and feel") while improving the performance digitally requires the use of small, low-power solutions.

Audio Signal Path

The essential elements of a digital stethoscope are the sound transducer, the audio codec electronics, and the speakers. The sound transducer, which converts sound into an analog voltage, is the most critical piece in the chain. It determines the diagnostic quality of the digital stethoscope and ensures a familiar user experience to those accustomed to acoustic stethoscopes. The analog voltage needs to be conditioned and then converted into a digital signal using an audio analog-to-digital converter (ADC) or audio codec. Some digital stethoscopes have noise cancellation that requires a secondary sound transducer or microphone to record the ambient noise so that it can be removed digitally. In this approach, two audio ADCs are required.

Functional block diagram of a digital stethoscope. For a list of Maxim's recommended digital-stethoscope solutions, please go to:www.maxim-ic.com/stethoscope. Once in the digital domain, a microcontroller unit (MCU) or digital signal processor (DSP) performs signal processing, including ambient noise reduction and filtering, to limit the bandwidth to the range for cardiac or pulmonary listening. The processed digital signal is then converted back to analog by an audio digitalto-analog converter (DAC) or audio codec. A headphone or speaker amplifier conditions the audio signal before outputting to a speaker. A single speaker can be used below where the stethoscope tube bifurcates, with the amplified sound traveling through the binaural tubes to the ears. Alternatively, two speakers can be used, with one speaker at the end of each earpiece. The frequency response of the speaker is similar to that of a bass speaker because of the low-frequency sound production needed. Depending on the implementation, one or two speaker amplifiers are used. A stethoscope must be most sensitive to cardiac sound in the 20Hz to 400Hz range and to pulmonary sound in the 100Hz to 1200Hz range. Note that the frequency ranges vary by manufacturer, and the DSP algorithms filter out sound beyond these optimal ranges.

Data Storage and Transfer

Once the captured sound is converted to an analog voltage, it can be sent out through an audio jack and played back on either a computer or through the digital stethoscope. The captured sound can also be

manipulated digitally. It can be stored in the stethoscope using internal or removable nonvolatile (NV) memory like EEPROM or flash, and then played back through the stethoscope's speakers; or it can be transferred to a computer for further analysis. Adding a real-time clock (RTC) facilitates tagging the recording with time and date. The sound is commonly transferred with a wired interface, such as USB, or with a wireless interface like Bluetooth or another proprietary wireless interface.

Display and Backlighting

Some digital stethoscopes have a small, simple display due to the limited space available; others have only buttons and LED indicators. Backlighting for the display is required because the ambient lighting during the procedure is often at a low level. The small display requires just one or two white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) controlled by an LED driver or an electroluminescent (EL) panel controlled by an EL driver. Most of the user-interface buttons can be eliminated by adding a touch-screen display and controller.

Power Management
Most digital stethoscopes use either one or two AAA 1.5V primary batteries. This design requires a stepup, or boost, switching regulatorto increase the voltage to 3.0V or 5.0V, depending on the circuitry utilized. If a single 1.5V battery is installed, the switching regulator will probably be on all the time, making low quiescent current a critical factor for long battery life. The longer the battery life, the more convenient the digital stethoscope is to use and the closer the experience will be to an acoustic stethoscope. When using two 1.5V batteries in series, the switching regulator can be left on all the time or shut down when not in use. If the circuit operates from 3.6V down to 1.8V, then a switching regulator may not be needed. Cost will be reduced and space saved. A low-battery warning is required so that a patient's examination need not be interrupted to replace the battery.

Battery Management
Rechargeable batteries can be used; the best choice is a single-cell Li+ battery. If a rechargeable battery is used, a battery charger is required either in the digital stethoscope or in a charging cradle. A fuel gauge is the best solution to accurately determine the remaining battery life. If the battery is removable, then authentication is also required for safety and aftermarket management. The Bluetooth word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Maxim is under license.

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mhtml:file://J:\stestescope\Image Detail for - http--www_diy-electronic-projects_com-projects-240electronic_stethoscope_2_jpg.mht!http://alectronics.blogspot.com/2010/07/electronicstethoscope-circuit.html

Programmable Bluetooth PIC-based Controller quickly implements a wireless serial controller.

Pittsford, NY: microIceBlue is a 2 x 1 DIL-packaged embeddable control module based on Microchips PIC16F877 which implements Bluetooth communication capabilities.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) - Feb 22, 2007 - Pittsford, NY: microIceBlue is a 2 x 1 DIL-packaged embeddable control module based on Microchips PIC16F877 which implements Bluetooth communication capabilities directly from the UART pins of the PIC microcontroller without any need to know Bluetooth protocol. microIceBlue provides PIC16F877s pin-out on a double row pin connector to enable almost any application intended previously for a wireless PIC16F877 application, with the advantage now of having Bluetooth serial communications included. No additional glue-code or electronics is required. The result is a transparent, hardware and OS independent solution to embed Wireless Bluetooth communications in any equipment or electronic device with minimum effort and investment. microIceBlue comes with a complete set of development tools, programming environment, and related documentation to help you build a device that connects to BlueTooth devices such as Smart Phones, PDAs (PocketPC & Palm), and Personal Computers. Applications include embedded instruments, industrial control, HVAC & home automation, medical instruments, etc. microIceBlue implements a Serial Port Profile and allows simple point to point wireless communication of devices that incorporate this profile over Bluetooth. microIceblue is a Class 1 (up to 100m range) intelligent Bluetooth module that implements a transparent UART-to-Bluetooth interface bridge per vendors suggestion in master or slave mode, offering a fast wireless solution for embedded applications. Bluetooth wireless protocol enables high-speed data transfer with portable devices such as handheld computers, phones, data-collection devices, etc. at low cost for up to 100 meters at 200kbaud or more. Radio power is 14dBm at a carrier frequency of 2.4GHz. Power supply is 5V at 150mA maximum. Designed in Spain by emxys, microIceblue is available now at $139 (qty 1) from stock at Saelig Co. Inc. www.saelig.com 1-888-7SAELIG from stock info@saelig.com.

http://www.prlog.org/10009055-programmable-bluetooth-pic-based-controller-quickly-implementswireless-serial-controller.html