阅读说明：本技术 听诊辅助设备以及听诊器 (Auscultation auxiliary equipment and stethoscope ) 是由 石北直之 森岛敏之 于 2020-04-03 设计创作，主要内容包括：提供一种能够提高听诊音的听取性能的听诊辅助设备以及听诊器。听诊辅助设备(6)具有中空片(7),中空片(7)以能够装卸的方式安装在听胸器(3)上所配设的隔膜(30)上。中空片(7)具有：第一膜部(7a),以能够装卸的方式安装在听胸器(3)上所配设的隔膜(30)上,第二膜部(7b),与诊察对象部位(2)抵接,能够沿着诊察对象部位(2)的凹凸变形,以及中空部(7c),在第一膜部(7a)与第二膜部(7b)之间形成为密闭状；在中空部(7c)中封入有传递声音的传递介质。(Provided are an auscultation assisting device and an auscultation device, which can improve the listening performance of auscultation sound. The auscultation assisting device (6) is provided with a hollow sheet (7), and the hollow sheet (7) is detachably mounted on a diaphragm (30) arranged on the chest piece (3). The hollow sheet (7) has: a first membrane section (7a) which is detachably attached to a diaphragm (30) provided on the chest-hearing instrument (3), a second membrane section (7b) which is in contact with the site to be examined (2) and is deformable along the irregularities of the site to be examined (2), and a hollow section (7c) which is formed in a sealed state between the first membrane section (7a) and the second membrane section (7 b); a transmission medium for transmitting sound is sealed in the hollow portion (7 c).)

1. An auscultation assistance device to be used by being attached to a stethoscope, the stethoscope including a chest piece for picking up sounds of a part to be examined, the chest piece having an abutting portion abutting against the part to be examined,

has a hollow sheet detachably attached to a diaphragm provided on the chest piece,

the hollow sheet has:

a first film part detachably attached to the diaphragm,

a second film portion which is brought into contact with the part to be examined and is deformable along the irregularities of the part to be examined, and

a hollow portion formed in a sealed state between the first film portion and the second film portion;

a transmission medium for transmitting sound is sealed in the hollow portion.

2. The auscultation aid of claim 1, wherein the transfer medium is air or carbon dioxide.

3. The auscultation aid of claim 1, wherein the transfer medium is a liquid or gel.

4. The auscultation aid of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the first membrane portion has an adhesive layer via which it is affixed to the diaphragm.

5. The auscultation aid of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein sterile cotton is enclosed in the hollow along with the transmission medium.

6. The auscultation aid of any one of claims 1-3, wherein an auscultation sound filter comprised of a rubber-like elastic body is disposed between the diaphragm and the hollow sheet.

7. The auscultation aid of claim 6, wherein the auscultation sound filter further comprises an adhesive layer capable of adhering to the hollow sheet.

8. The auscultation assistance device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a sealing tube for sealing a transmission medium in the hollow portion is further provided in the second membrane portion, and a volume of the hollow portion can be changed.

9. The auscultation aid of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein an auscultation sound amplification portion that amplifies auscultation sounds is provided between the diaphragm and the hollow sheet.

10. The auscultation aid of claim 9,

the auscultation sound amplification unit includes:

an annular member that abuts against an outer edge portion of the diaphragm;

a convex member configured to have a projection in contact with a central portion of the diaphragm at a base portion; and

a plate-shaped member disposed between the base of the protrusion member and the hollow sheet.

11. A stethoscope, having:

a chest listening device having a contact part contacting with the part to be examined and picking up the sound of the part to be examined,

an earplug to be worn over the ear of a clinician, an

A tube communicating the chest listening device with the ear plugs to transmit the sound of the examined part to the examiner; it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

an auscultation aid according to any one of claims 1 to 10 mounted on a diaphragm provided on the chest piece.

Technical Field

The invention relates to an auxiliary auscultation device arranged on a stethoscope for use and the stethoscope.

Background

A stethoscope used in medical treatment or the like has a chest piece for picking up sounds of a part to be examined, earplugs to be worn on ears of a patient, and a tube for communicating the chest piece and the earplugs to transmit the sounds of the part to be examined to the patient.

For example, patent document 1 proposes a technique for improving the listening performance of auscultatory sounds by reducing frictional sounds between the chest piece and the part to be examined.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese Kokai publication 2008-526310

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, in the conventional stethoscope, when the adhesion between the chest piece and the part to be examined is insufficient due to, for example, unevenness of the part to be examined, the entire surface of the diaphragm disposed on the chest piece may not be vibrated or noise may enter the gap between the chest piece and the part to be examined, and the listening performance of the auscultatory sound may be deteriorated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an auscultation assistance device and a stethoscope capable of improving the performance of listening to auscultation sounds.

Means for solving the problems

An auscultation assistance device according to an aspect of the present invention is used by being attached to a stethoscope including a chest piece that picks up a sound of a portion to be examined, the chest piece including a contact portion that contacts the portion to be examined, the auscultation assistance device including a hollow sheet that is detachably attached to a diaphragm provided on the chest piece, the hollow sheet including: a first membrane section detachably attached to the diaphragm, a second membrane section that is in contact with the site to be examined and is deformable along the irregularities of the site to be examined, and a hollow section that is formed in a sealed state between the first membrane section and the second membrane section; a transmission medium for transmitting sound is sealed in the hollow portion.

A stethoscope according to one aspect of the present invention includes a chest piece having a contact portion that contacts a portion to be examined and picks up sound from the portion to be examined, an ear plug that is worn on an ear of a person to be examined, and a tube that communicates the chest piece with the ear plug and transmits the sound from the portion to be examined to the person to be examined; the auscultation auxiliary equipment is arranged on a diaphragm arranged on the chest listening device.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an auscultation assistance device and a stethoscope capable of improving the listening performance of auscultation sounds.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stethoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an auscultation aid according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) of fig. 2 is a top view of the auscultation aid, (b) of fig. 2 is a side view of the auscultation aid, and (c) of fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view a-a of the auscultation aid.

Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the auscultation aid of an embodiment of the present invention, and (a) in fig. 3 is a side view showing the main part of the stethoscope in a case where the auscultation aid is not used, and (b) in fig. 3 is a side view showing the main part of the stethoscope in a case where the auscultation aid is used.

Fig. 4 is a side view showing the main part of the stethoscope with a vibration-damping sheet interposed therebetween when the auscultation aid of an embodiment of the present invention is used.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an auscultation aid according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) of fig. 5 is a side view showing a state where a hollow portion of the auscultation aid is contracted, and (b) of fig. 5 is a side view showing a case where the hollow portion of the auscultation aid is used while being expanded.

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of an auscultation aid in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing an auscultation sound amplification part in a case where the auscultation sound amplification part is interposed when the auscultation assistance apparatus of another other embodiment of the present invention is used.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below are not unreasonably restrictive to the contents of the present invention described in the claims, and not all of the configurations described in the embodiments are indispensable as solutions of the present invention.

[ stethoscopes ]

As shown in fig. 1, the stethoscope 1 has: a chest hearing device 3 having contact portions 3a and 3b that come into contact with a part to be examined 2 (see fig. 3) such as a human body, and picking up a sound of the part to be examined 2; a pair of earplugs 4 worn over the ears of the examiner; a tube 5 for communicating the chest-hearing device 3 and the ear plug 4 to transmit the sound of the part 2 to be examined to the examiner; and an auscultation aid 6 mounted on the chest listening device 3.

The chest hearing instrument 3 of the present embodiment has 2 contact portions 3a and 3b on the front and back surfaces, and a diaphragm 30 is disposed on one contact portion 3a and used when picking up high-frequency sounds among sounds of the examination target portion 2, and an Open Bell (Open Bell) is disposed on the other contact portion 3b and used when picking up low-frequency sounds among sounds of the examination target portion 2.

Further, the tube 5 of the present embodiment has: one end side of the rubber tube 5a is connected with the chest listening device 3, and the other end side is branched into 2; and a pair of metal tubes 5b for connecting the rubber tubes 5a branched into 2 pieces to the earplugs 4, respectively.

[ auscultation auxiliary device ]

As shown in fig. 2, the auscultation aid 6 has a hollow sheet 7, the hollow sheet 7 is detachable from a diaphragm 30, and the diaphragm 30 is disposed on the contact portion 3a of the chest piece 3. The hollow sheet 7 has: a first film part 7a detachably attached to a diaphragm 30, the diaphragm 30 being disposed in the contact part 3a of the chest piece 3; a second film portion 7b that is in contact with the site 2 to be examined and is deformable along the irregularities of the site 2 to be examined; and a hollow portion 7c that is sealed between the first membrane portion 7a and the second membrane portion 7b, and in which a transmission medium for transmitting sound is sealed in the hollow portion 7 c.

According to the auscultation assistance device 6, the second membrane portion 7b can be brought into close contact with the irregularities of the site to be examined 2, and the sound picked up from the site to be examined 2 can be transmitted to the diaphragm 30 disposed on the contact portion 3a of the chest piece 3 via the transmission medium sealed in the hollow portion 7 c. This can vibrate the entire surface of the diaphragm 30 disposed in the contact portion 3a of the chest piece 3, and prevent noise from entering through the gap between the chest piece 3 and the site to be examined 2, thereby improving the listening performance of the auscultatory sounds. In addition, when the examination target site 2 is a human body, the auscultation assistance device 6 is interposed between the chest piece 3 and the human body, thereby preventing uncomfortable coldness and hard feeling of the metal chest piece 3 from being transmitted to the human body. Moreover, by replacing the auscultation aid 6 for each patient, infection with diseases via the stethoscope 1 can also be prevented.

Further, the contact of the stethoscope with a small newborn and a thin examinee with little subcutaneous fat can be improved, and in particular, when the stethoscope is extremely small and does not have a flat examination surface as in a premature infant, the chest-piece has to be downsized.

As shown in fig. 2 (a), the hollow portion 7c has a circular planar shape similar to the diaphragm 30 provided in the abutment portion 3a of the chest piece 3, and preferably has a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the diaphragm 30 to which the auscultation aid 6 is attached. In this way, the sound picked up from the examination target region 2 can be efficiently transmitted to the chest listening unit 3.

Although not particularly shown, the planar shape of the hollow portion 7c is not limited to a circular shape, and may be an elliptical shape, a polygonal shape, or the like. The number of the hollow portions 7c provided in one auscultation assistance device 6 is not limited to one, and a plurality of hollow portions 7c may be provided in one auscultation assistance device 6. Further, some of the existing stethoscopes include an elliptical chest-piece 3, and some of the existing stethoscopes include a stereo type in which the chest-piece 3 is divided into two parts, and the shape and size of the diaphragm 30 disposed on the chest-piece 3 can be changed as appropriate.

The transmission medium sealed in the hollow portion 7c is preferably a gas, and a fluid or a gel having a fluidity enough not to prevent the deformation of the second membrane portion 7b along the irregularities of the examination target site 2 may be used.

In the case of using a gas as the transfer medium, air or carbon dioxide is preferred. In the case where the gas enclosed in the hollow portion 7c is air, there is an advantage that the auscultation assistance device 6 can be easily manufactured. When the gas enclosed in the hollow portion 7c is carbon dioxide, it has a function of amplifying sound, and the listening performance of the auscultation sound can be further improved.

In the case of using a liquid as a transmission medium, water or pure water having no influence on the human body is preferable. In this way, even if the first membrane portion 7a or the second membrane portion 7b is broken and the liquid in the hollow portion 7c leaks, it is possible to avoid the influence on the human body.

The material constituting the first film portion 7a and the second film portion 7b is preferably a resin having high flexibility and excellent airtightness. For example, resin films such as ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, polyethylene terephthalate, polyurethane, polyethylene, parylene, polyester, polypropylene, and the like can be used.

The thickness of the first film portion 7a and the second film portion 7b is preferably 10 μm to 0.5 mm. If the thicknesses of the first film portion 7a and the second film portion 7b do not satisfy the above ranges, the sealed contents of the broken hollow portion 7c may flow out. If the thickness of the first membrane portion 7a and the second membrane portion 7b exceeds the above range, not only deformation along the irregularities of the examination target site 2 may become difficult, but also the sound transmissibility may be degraded. The first film portion 7a and the second film portion 7b may be transparent or colored, and may be printed with a method of use, an advertisement, a pattern, or the like. In the case where the examinee is a child, a character or the like facing the child may be printed on the second film portion 7 b.

The auscultation aid 6 configured as described above can be manufactured by, for example, bringing a molten resin continuously fed out in a film form from a flat die into contact with the outer peripheral surface of a forming roll, not shown, provided with a predetermined number of suction chambers to vacuum-form hollow protrusions to form a cover film (second film portions 7b), thermally bonding a back film (first film portions 7a) to the opening sides of the vacuum-formed protrusions, sealing air in the protrusions to form hollow sheets 7, and then cutting each auscultation aid 6. In this way, the auscultation aid 6 in which air as a transmission medium is enclosed in the hollow portion 7c can be easily manufactured, and for example, the transmission medium can be filled in the second film portion 7b molded in advance into a predetermined shape and enclosed by the first film portion 7 a. When the auscultation aid 6 is manufactured, so-called sterilized cotton containing a disinfectant, such as absorbent cotton, can be sealed in the hollow portion 7c together with the transmission medium, and the sterilized cotton can be taken out after auscultation to sterilize the affected part, the fingers of the user, the stethoscope, and the like.

Preferably, the first film portion 7a has an adhesive layer coated with an adhesive, and is attached to a diaphragm via the adhesive layer, and the diaphragm is disposed in the abutting portion 3a of the chest piece 3. In this way, not only the auscultation assistance device 6 can be easily attached to and detached from the chest piece 3, but also the auscultation assistance device 6 can be provided in a state attached to the release paper.

The adhesive is preferably a weakly adhesive material, which prevents the auscultation aid 6 from falling off during use with a moderate adhesive force, and which enables the auscultation aid 6 to be easily peeled off from the chest piece 3 after use. For example, it is preferable that the adhesive has the same level of adhesion as that of an adhesive used in "Post-it (registered trademark)" manufactured by 3M corporation. In addition, an adhesive that generates adhesive force when containing moisture, which is used for a so-called water-based adhesive tape, can also be used. In addition, an adhesive layer may be provided by a double-sided tape in which an adhesive is applied to both sides of the film base.

In view of hygiene, it is preferable that one or a plurality of auscultation aids 6 are attached to a release paper and aseptically packaged in a state where the auscultation aids 6 are cut one by one, and a plurality of auscultation aids 6 may be wound in a roll shape in a state of being connected through a perforation or the like.

The second membrane portion 7b preferably has anti-slip properties for suppressing slipping with respect to the examination target site 2. For example, the second film portion 7b may be formed using a film material that suppresses slippage such as an elastic body, or the second film portion 7b may be provided with anti-slip properties by applying a slippage suppressing agent that suppresses slippage such as an epoxy resin to the surface of the second film portion 7b that contacts the site 2 to be examined. This suppresses the sliding of the examination target region 2, thereby suppressing the generation of friction sound due to the sliding and further improving the listening performance of the auscultation sound.

Further, the second film portion 7b is preferably subjected to antibacterial processing for inhibiting bacterial growth. For example, by applying or kneading an antibacterial agent (for example, "ASK" manufactured by japan chemical corporation) for inhibiting bacterial growth to the surface of the second film portion 7b that contacts the site to be examined 2, infection of diseases caused by bacterial growth can be inhibited.

The transfer medium sealed in the hollow portion 7c is preferably sterilized before or after sealing in the hollow portion 7 c.

[ method of use ]

As shown in fig. 3 (a), when auscultating sounds of the site to be examined 2 having irregularities, it is difficult to secure close contact between the chest piece 3 and the site to be examined 2, and the entire surface of the diaphragm 30 disposed on the chest piece cannot be vibrated, or noise enters from a gap between the chest piece 3 and the site to be examined 2, which may deteriorate the listening performance of the auscultated sounds.

In this case, as shown in fig. 3 (b), the auscultation aid 6 is attached to the diaphragm 30 provided on the abutment portion 3a of the chest piece 3. Specifically, the diaphragm 30 disposed on the abutment portion 3a of the chest piece 3 is attached to the auscultation aid 6 via an adhesive layer applied to the first film portion 7 a. In this state, when the chest piece 3 is placed on the site 2 to be examined, the second film portion 7b is in close contact with the irregularities of the site 2 to be examined, and the sound picked up from the site 2 to be examined is transmitted to the diaphragm 30 disposed at the abutment portion 3a of the chest piece 3 via the transmission medium enclosed in the hollow portion 7 c. In fig. 3, a main part of the chest-hearing instrument 3 is cut out, and a cross section of the main part is shown.

By using the auscultation aid 6 in this way, the entire surface of the diaphragm disposed on the abutment portion 3a of the chest piece 3 can be vibrated, and noise can be prevented from entering through the gap between the chest piece 3 and the site to be examined 2, so that the listening performance of the auscultation sound can be improved. In addition, when the examination target site 2 is a human body, the auscultation assistance device 6 is interposed between the chest piece 3 and the human body, thereby preventing uncomfortable coldness and hard feeling of the metal chest piece 3 from being transmitted to the human body. Moreover, by replacing the auscultation aid 6 for each patient, infection with diseases via the stethoscope 1 can be prevented.

In addition, by using the auscultation assistance device 6 of the present embodiment, although the listening performance of the auscultation sound is improved, extra sounds other than the sounds required at the time of auscultation are excessively heard. For example, when auscultating heart sounds, it may be difficult to hear the heart sounds because other noise such as respiratory sounds and lung action sounds is mixed.

Therefore, as shown in fig. 4, an auscultation sound filter 8 for filtering and blocking sounds in low and middle ranges may be provided between the diaphragm 30 provided in the abutment portion 3a of the chest piece 3 and the hollow sheet 7 of the auscultation assistance device 6. The acoustic filter 8 is a vibration damping sheet made of a rubber-like elastic material such as NBR (nitrile rubber) or ACM (acrylic rubber) having a thickness of about 0.5 to 2 mm. The auscultatory sound filter 8 may be constituted by only 1 sheet, or may be constituted by repeating a plurality of thin sheets.

By providing the acoustic filter 8 functioning as a vibration reduction sheet between the diaphragm 30 and the hollow sheet 7 in this manner, sound and vibration of a predetermined frequency or lower can be absorbed and converted into thermal energy. Therefore, the auscultation sound filter 8 filters unnecessary noise in a sound range having a frequency of 30Hz or less, such as respiratory sound and lung operation sound, and can easily listen to heart sound in a sound range having a frequency of about 30 to 100 Hz. In particular, when auscultation focusing on heart sounds is performed at the time of examination, noise in a range of frequencies of 30Hz or less is blocked by interposing the auscultation sound filter 8 between the diaphragm 30 and the hollow sheet 7. Accordingly, the auscultation of heart sounds can be performed more accurately, and also subtle changes in heart sounds can be heard, thereby realizing the auscultation of heart sounds with high accuracy.

That is, by providing the auscultation sound filter 8 between the diaphragm 30 and the hollow sheet 7, the operation and effect of the auscultation assistance device 6 described above can be achieved, and in addition, noise in low and middle ranges can be blocked. Therefore, since the hollow sheet 7 is deformed so as to follow the uneven surface of the part to be examined 2 having various sizes or shapes, it is possible to suppress the entry of noise from the gap between the chest piece 3 and the part to be examined 2, improve the performance of listening to the auscultation sound, and filter the unnecessary noise in the low and middle ranges by the auscultation sound filter 8, thereby enabling high-precision auscultation of heart sounds.

Preferably, the one surface 8a of the acoustic filter 8 further has an adhesive layer coated with an adhesive capable of adhering to the hollow sheet 7. The adhesive constituting the adhesive layer is a weakly adhesive material, which prevents the auscultation aid 6 from falling off during use with a moderate adhesive force, and enables the auscultation aid 6 to be easily peeled off from the chest piece 3 after use. For example, it is preferable that the adhesive has the same level of adhesion as that of an adhesive used in "Post-it (registered trademark)" manufactured by 3M corporation. Since the auscultation sound filter 8 is provided with the adhesive layer in this way and the material of the auscultation sound filter 8 is more likely to be adhered with an adhesive than the hollow sheet 7, the auscultation assistance device 6 can be more reliably attached and detached via the adhesive layer, and the auscultation assistance device 6 can be prevented from coming off.

In the auscultation assistance device 6 of the present embodiment described above, the transmission medium such as air may be enclosed in the hollow portion 7c of the hollow sheet 7, or the transmission medium may be enclosed in the hollow portion 7c as needed.

That is, as shown in fig. 5 (a), the auscultation assistance device 16 according to another embodiment may be configured such that the second membrane 17b is configured to be extendable and retractable with respect to the first membrane 17a, which is the base material of the hollow sheet 17, and the second membrane 17b is provided with a sealing tube 17d, and the sealing tube 17d seals a transmission medium made of gas such as air or liquid such as water into the hollow portion 17c by an external pump, syringe, or the like. By providing the enclosing tube 17d for enclosing the transmission medium in this manner to be connected to the second membrane portion 17b, the capacity of the hollow portion 17c can be changed as needed.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5 (b), when the transmission medium is sealed in the hollow portion 17c and the transmission medium is filled in the hollow portion 17c during auscultation, the hollow sheet 17 is expanded and arranged to follow the shape of the examination target site 2. Therefore, the entire surface of the diaphragm disposed on the abutting portion 3a of the chest piece 3 can be vibrated, and noise can be prevented from entering through the gap between the chest piece 3 and the site to be examined 2, whereby the listening performance of the auscultatory sounds can be improved.

In addition, in the present embodiment, since the transmission medium can be sealed in the hollow portion 17c to change the capacity of the hollow portion 17c when necessary, the auscultation assistance device 16 can be downsized during transportation, and the transportation cost can be reduced. Further, as for the transmission medium injected into the hollow portion 17c, gas such as air or liquid such as water is injected, for example, in the case where priority is given to weight reduction of the auscultation assistance device 16, gas is injected, and in the case where priority is given to easier transmission of sound, liquid is injected.

In the present embodiment, the auscultation aid 16 is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the diaphragm disposed on the chest piece 3, and an auscultation aid capable of changing the capacity of the hollow portion may be directly attached to the contact portion 3a of the chest piece 3 of the stethoscope 1. Further, by providing the auscultation sound filter 8 between the diaphragm disposed on the abutment portion 3a of the chest piece 3 of the stethoscope 1 and the auscultation assisting device 16, unnecessary noise in the low and middle ranges can be blocked, and high-precision auscultation of heart sounds can be performed.

By using the auscultation assistance devices 6 and 16 according to the above embodiments, although the performance of listening to the auscultation sound is improved, the auscultation sound may be low. Therefore, an auscultatory sound amplifying portion 9 that amplifies auscultatory sounds may be provided between the diaphragm 30 and the hollow sheets 7, 17 of the stethoscope 1.

As shown in fig. 6, the auscultatory sound amplifier 9 includes an annular member 9a, a convex member 9b, and a plate-like member 9 c. The annular member 9a is an annular member that abuts against the outer edge portion of the diaphragm 30, and functions as a spacer for securing the height of the convex member 9b that abuts against the diaphragm 30. The convex member 9b is configured such that a projection 9b1 abutting against the center portion of the diaphragm 30 is provided on the base 9b2, and the convex member 9b is provided inside the annular member 9 a. The plate-like member 9c is a thin plate-like member provided between the base portion 9b2 of the protrusion member 9b and the hollow sheets 7 and 17, and has a function of transmitting vibration from the hollow sheet 7 while supporting the annular member 9a and the convex member 9 b.

The annular member 9a and the plate-like member 9c and the base portion 9b2 of the convex member 9b and the plate-like member 9c are fixed to each other by, for example, a double-sided tape or an adhesive. The annular member 9a, the convex member 9b, and the plate-like member 9c constituting the auscultatory sound amplifier 9 are made of resin such as epoxy resin, nylon resin, polymer resin, silicone resin, or urethane, or metal such as stainless steel, for example, as in the case of the diaphragm 30.

By providing such an auscultatory sound amplifier 9 between the diaphragm 30 and the hollow sheet 7, as shown in fig. 7, the annular member 9a in contact with the outer edge portion of the diaphragm 30 and the convex member 9b in contact with the center portion of the diaphragm 30 are supported by the plate-like member 9c in contact with the hollow sheet 7. Therefore, the acoustic wave from the examination target region 2 is transmitted to the plate-like member 9c through the hollow sheet 7, and the plate-like member 9c is vibrated.

Thereby, the plate-shaped member 9c swings, and the protrusions 9b1 of the convex member 9b intermittently come into contact with the surface of the diaphragm 30, thereby generating sound waves from the diaphragm 30. Therefore, the displacement amount of the vibrating portion of the hollow sheet 7 is amplified by the plate-shaped member 9c, and the diaphragm 30 is vibrated at a larger amplitude, so that the auscultatory sound can be amplified.

That is, by providing the auscultation sound amplification unit 9 between the diaphragm 30 and the hollow sheet 7, it is possible to amplify the auscultation sound in addition to the operation and effect of the auscultation assistance device 6. Therefore, since the hollow sheet 7 is deformed so as to follow the uneven surface of the part to be examined 2 having various sizes and shapes, the entrance of noise from the gap between the chest piece 3 and the part to be examined 2 is suppressed, and the performance of listening to the auscultatory sounds is improved, and the auscultatory sounds are amplified by the auscultatory sound amplifying unit 9, so that the auscultatory sounds are not lowered, and the heart sounds, respiratory sounds, and the like can be auscultated with high accuracy.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention.

Industrial applicability

The embodiments of the present invention are applicable not only to medical stethoscopes that auscultate heart sounds, respiratory sounds, and the like of a human body, but also to industrial stethoscopes that auscultate mechanical abnormal sounds and the like.

Description of the reference numerals

1 stethoscope

2 examination of the target site

3 hear chest ware

3a contact part

3b contact part

30 diaphragm

4 earplug

5 tube

6. 16 auscultation auxiliary equipment

7. 17 hollow sheet

7a, 17a first film portion

7b, 17b second film part

7c, 17c hollow

8 auscultation sound filter

8a one side

9 auscultation sound amplification part

9a ring member

9b convex component

9c plate-like member

17d enclosing the tube.