Out-licensing

Improvement on Current Electronic Stethoscopes: Separation of Foetal Phonocardiograms of a Multi-Foetal Pregnancy

Introduction/Background

Historically acoustic stethoscopes have been used, but electronic stethoscopes do exist. Electronic stethoscopes can: provide a clearer sound, amplify a signal, filter the signal into frequency ranges for further processing, separate sounds temporally or filter out background noise. Sounds can be transmitted to an audio device such as a headset or amplifier and speakers for listening; or a computer, a recording device or a storage device for further processing. Because electronic stethoscopes provide an electronic signal, they can be saved in the patient's file for later comparison and/or used in telemedicine. Electronic stethoscopes are particularly useful in high noise situations such as emergency rooms or accident sites or where the doctor has lost some hearing sensitivity.

Aims/Hypothesis

We are developing an improvement on current electronic stethoscopes.

Research

This invention is an improvement on current electronic stethoscopes that will assist a medical professional in listening to the heart sounds of an individual foetus in a multiple pregnancy, or in diagnosing heart problems, primarily heart valve abnormalities. It will do this by obtaining a mixture of heart sounds using a modified electronic stethoscope, using software to electronically separate the various sounds emanating from the heart(s) into discrete non-interfering sounds that are identified with the different sound sources, such from the individual foetus's heart or from a single child or an adult's heart's mitral valve, aortic valve, mechanical replacement valve, etc. It does this without altering the original sounds.

Conclusion

We have developed a novel technology for the separation of foetal phonocardiograms of a multi-foetal pregnancy.

Relevance/Opportunity

Please enquire regarding licensing or codevelopment partnerships quoting reference no. CX072.

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