Acoustics – Anatomic or prosthetic relation – Ear and mouth
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-03
2001-03-20
Dang, Khanh (Department: 2837)
Acoustics
Anatomic or prosthetic relation
Ear and mouth
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202784
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to instruments used by physicians, nurses, paramedics, and the like, for examination of patients. More specifically, this invention relates to stethoscopes adapted to provide multiple examination functions in addition to the conventional use of listening to involuntary and voluntary body functions.
BACKGROUND
Persons in the health care or emergency care industries, such as physicians, nurses, paramedics and the like, use various devices for examination of patients during the course of the day. One such instrument is a stethoscope which a user may carry with himself, or herself, by draping the stethoscope around his or her neck. The stethoscope is used to detect and listen to vibrations and sounds created from voluntary or involuntary body functions. In addition to the stethoscope, persons may use an opthalomoscope to examine the eyes of a patient, or an otoscope to examine the inner ear of a patient. A handle having a light source may be used; the opthalomoscope and otoscope heads are interchangeable on the handle.
In the emergency room environment, several nurses and physicians may use common ophthalmoscopes or otoscopes. These instruments may be stored at various examination stations. Ideally, a physician or nurse entering a particular examination station will use these instruments on a patient and then return the instrument to its storage place. Unfortunately, doctors and nurses may leave an examination station without returning the instruments to the appropriate storage place. A physician or nurse following this person does not have available the instrument necessary to conduct a proper examination of a patient.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a single device or instrument that is adaptable to assist in several different patient examinations or tests. It is a further object of this invention to provide a stethoscope with a light source. Yet another object of this invention is to provide the light source on the stethoscope for throat examinations, and/or to have the light source capable of receiving an ophthalmoscope or otoscope head for eye and ear examinations.
These and other objects of the invention are achieved by mounting a light source on a stethoscope head, or on an area of the stethoscope so a user is capable of manipulating the light source to examine patients. A casing, for holding the light source may be fixed to the stethoscope head, and a notch is formed on each side of the casing intermediate the casing and stethoscope head. The notches provide a hand, or finger, receiving region for grasping the stethoscope head and casing. A first end of the casing is disposed toward a perimeter of the stethoscope head, and includes an aperture through which light from the light source is transmitted. The casing has a means, adjacent the first end of the casing, for receiving an otoscope and ophthalmoscope head. In addition, a switch is attached in communication with the light source to turn the light source on and off. In an alternative embodiment, the casing is detachably mounted to the tubing of the stethoscope by a uclamping means.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1913780 (1933-06-01), Wappler
patent: 2566687 (1951-09-01), Wehby
patent: 4147163 (1979-04-01), Newman et al.
patent: 4580198 (1986-04-01), Zinnanti, Jr.
patent: 4783813 (1988-11-01), Kempka
Dang Khanh
Holland & Knight LLP
Maire David G.
Wolter Robert L.
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