Stethoscope system for high-noise environments

Abstract

An electronic stethoscopic system is described which permits detection of auscultory sounds in a patient in high noise environments such as ambulances and aircraft. The stethoscope employs an electroacoustical transducer, an acoustical driver mounted in a headset providing acoustical isolation from exterior noise, a summing microphone positioned within the insulating headset, and active noise reduction circuitry to feed an error signal back from the summing microphone to the acoustical driver so as to effectively cancel the unwanted acoustical noise originating external to the insulating headset. The stethoscopic system includes circuitry permitting the headset to selectively receive the audio output from a vehicular intercom system whenever a voice signal is present, thereby allowing treating medical personnel to monitor the patient while participating in the conversation being conducted on the vehicle's intercom system.