Method and apparatus for locating the origin of intrathoracic sounds

摘要

A system and method for localizing intrathoracic sounds in a patient. The system utilizes a plurality of microphones placed around the patient. The outputs of the microphones are amplified and filtered by a signal conditioner and converted into digital data streams. The digital data is then analyzed to determine the arrival of a subject at each microphone relative to the arrival time at the first microphone to sense the subject sound. Using equations of motion and the three-dimensional coordinates of the microphones, the system solves for the point of origin of the subject sounds and its speed.