US Patent 7300407 Handheld auscultatory scanner with synchronized display of heart sounds

A handheld auscultatory scanner continuously obtains a heart sound signal from a patient, using a noninvasive passive acoustic sensor, allowing free-form protocol, analysis and display of the heart sound signal on a handheld processing unit in a graphical manner such that a single heart cycle is displayed in a synchronized manner, along with summary results of the processing of the acoustic signal. The results are presented in terms of standard auscultatory findings. The combination of summary findings, heart sound display and audible signal provides a method for assisting in patient screening for heart conditions and for teaching auscultation techniques.