A student of the Faculty of Automation and Computer Engineering of the Novosibirsk State Technical University NETI has developed a device that will help doctors with hearing impairment listen to patients' organs. The device will soon be used by medical students during their internships.
"The main goal was to link my hobby and research. I have been engaged in music since childhood; I play the violin, so I wanted to connect the development with sounds. This is how I came up with the idea to modify the sound medical device for auscultation. This is a device that helps to listen to internal organs, such as respiratory system organs, the heart, intestines, large vessels, etc. In other words, an electronic stethophonendoscope. It differs from the mechanical one in that there is a sound amplification unit; that is, an electronic device sounds much louder, and you can adjust the volume. There is also a sound filtering function to listen to a certain frequency range and hear the desired organ. For example, there is a bandpass filter with a range from 200 to 500 Hz—for listening to the breathing sounds—as well as a more extended range from 0 to 1000 Hz," said Tatiana Zheludeva, the main developer of the project.
The device, powered by a built-in battery, includes an inner block for sound amplification and filtering. Outside the unit, you can adjust the volume and select listening modes. There are connectors for external devices: headphones, computers, and phones. There is also a tube with a part of a stethophonendoscope and an acoustic head to perceive the sounds of internal organs.
"By connecting to a computer, we can record sounds, visualize their frequency spectrum, and also send data to doctors or hospitals. Initially, I intended the device for internists and general practitioners. But it can be useful to pulmonologists, cardiologists, and other medical specialists who need to listen to human organs. The device is also suitable for medics with hearing impairments or for working in a noisy environment, when it is more difficult to recognize sounds during auscultation. Thanks to filtering, the device suppresses external noise. Patients can also use the device, for example, elderly people who need to monitor their heart rate," commented Tatiana Zheludeva.
Now, the development has sparked interest in Novosibirsk State Medical University. The device is to be finalized and tested; medical students will check the quality of sounds, collect a database, and evaluate the convenience of the device in use.