摘要 |
<p>An anatomy-contact sensor and related methodology for collecting at least heart-sound data. The sensor includes (a) a sensor body with an internal acoustic chamber having a mouth which is placeable adjacent, and preferably in contact with, a subject's anatomy, (b) a deflectible, preferably anatomy-contacting, preferably gas-permeable membrane spanning this mouth, and effectively sealing the chamber against through-passage in the mouth of all essentially but gas, (c) an acoustic-to-electrical-signal transducer mounted on the body and exposed to acoustic events occurring in the chamber, and (d) vacuumizing structure which is effective to hold the body in gripping contact with a subject's anatomy. From a methodological point of view, the invention involves the steps of (a) drawing a gas-permeable-membrane-sided acoustic chamber against, or adjacent, the anatomy of a subject utilizing a vacuum condition, and (b) following such drawing, collecting from the chamber anatomy-generated acoustic information which is based upon anatomy-induced acoustic events occurring in the chamber.</p> |