According to certain described aspects, multiple acoustic sensing elements are employed in a variety of beneficial ways to provide improved physiological monitoring, among other advantages. In various embodiments, sensing elements can be advantageously employed in a single sensor package, in multiple sensor packages, and at a variety of other strategic locations in the monitoring environment. According to other aspects, to compensate for skin elasticity and attachment variability, an acoustic sensor support is provided that includes one or more pressure equalization pathways. The pathways can provide an air-flow channel from the cavity defined by the sensing elements and frame to the ambient air pressure.

Embodiments described herein include sensors and sensor systems having probe-off detection features. For example, sensors and physiological monitors described herein include hardware and/or software capable of providing an indication of the integrity of the connection between the sensor and the patient. In various embodiments, the physiological monitor is configured to output an indication of a probe-off condition for an acoustic sensor (or other type of sensor). For example, in an embodiment, a signal from an acoustic sensor is compared with a signal from a second sensor to determine a probe-off condition.

A system for detecting a blood vessel rupture is disclosed. The system includes a sensor assembly including a plurality of sensors, each of which is configured to detect a pressure wave through CSF and to generate a pressure signal in response thereto. The system also includes a processing device coupled to the sensor assembly. The processing device configured to analyze the pressure signal to determine a blood vessel rupture.

Systems and methods for monitoring chronic over-pacing (COP) to the heart are discussed herein. In an embodiment, a system includes a receiver circuit to receive information about pacing rates of a plurality of paced heart beats, and a pacing analyzer circuit to generate a pacing rate distribution using pacing rates of the plurality of the paced heart beats. The pacing rate distribution includes a pacing rate histogram. The pacing analyzer circuit may recognize a morphological pattern from the pacing rate distribution, and detect a COP indication using the extracted feature. A programmer circuit adjusts one or more therapy parameters in response to the detected. COP indication.

A garment comprising a central portion including a plurality of electrocardiogram leads, a plurality of auscultation acoustic sensor devices, a flexible respiratory sensor located so that it substantially circumscribes the garment, one or more blood pressure cuff portions located on an at least one arm portion of the garment, wherein the cuff portions are adapted to be loosened and/or tightened and a hardware device for sending and receiving signals via wired or wireless communication.

A system for monitoring the fetal size of an expectant mother comprises an acoustic sensor for positioning over the belly of the expectant mother, the acoustic sensor configured to receive an acoustic signal generated by the fetal heartbeat and to generate a sensor output signal. A fetal size is determined from a sensor output signal strength. This system is based on the realization that certain acoustic signals generated by the fetal heart beat are strongly correlated with the fetus size.

Apparatus and methods for applying a barrier to a medical scope are provided. An apparatus may comprise a source of film and a housing. The housing may comprise a chamber configured to support therein the source of film, and an opening provided through a wall of the housing to permit a portion of the film to extend out of the chamber when the film is dispensed. The housing may comprise a recess located such that the extended portion of the film is permitted to hang freely in proximity to the recess. The recess may be sized to receive a distal portion of the medical scope. The recess may be adapted to allow the extended portion of the film to be applied to the distal portion of the medical scope when the distal portion is placed into the recess with the portion of the film located therebetween.

This document describes a system for determining positioning of an intubation tube in a patient. The system can include a first acoustic sensor configured to be disposed to listen to one of a lung and a stomach of the patient and to provide a first signal. The system includes a signal processing unit, coupled to the first acoustic sensor, configured to analyze spectral components of the first signal and determine whether a frequency of the spectral components of the first signal are characteristic of sounds induced by ventilation via the intubation tube of airflow to the lung or the stomach of the patient.

A stethoscope according to exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept includes a chestpiece for examining a patient by contacting him on the body, a microphone unit for receiving a doctor's voice, a first headset unit connected to the doctor's ears, and a second headset unit connected to the patient's ears, and a guiding unit guiding the chestpiece and the microphone unit to be each connected to at least one of the first headset unit and the second headset unit. Such the composition of the stethoscope enables the patient to listen to the doctor's voice as well as the auscultation sound gathered through the chestpiece, selectively.

An apparatus (1) comprising a cuff configured to be worn around an upper arm of a user (75), a first sensor (S1) comprised in the cuff and configured to receive sounds through a side of the chest of the user, and a second sensor (S2) configured to receive sounds and to be movable with regard to the cuff and configured to be placed at a front side of the user's chest and used in conjunction with the first sensor.