Problem being addressed
While regular stethoscopes can pick up heartbeats, they do not record the data automatically; stethoscopes are also an extra device for doctors to carry around.
Detailed description of the solution
The iStethoscope is a mobile app able to pick up a heartbeat by using an iPhone’s built-in microphone. It can record and play back eight seconds of heartbeat, and display a phonocardiograph and a spectrogram, which can then be emailed to a specialist. This allows doctors to have the capability to accurately hear a heartbeat at all times without having to carry around a stethoscope. It also would allow less trained medical workers to record their patients’ heartbeats and send it to a doctor for consultation.
Designed by
- Designed by: Peter Bentley
- Manufacturer location: University College London
When and where it was tested/implemented
It’s currently being used in UK hospitals.
References
Other internally generated reports
- "IStethoscope Pro by The Undercover Scientist." Peter Bentley Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2013. Link Available here
Externally generated reports
- "IStethoscope: The IPhone App Which Is Already Replacing the Real Thing in Hospitals." Mail Online. N.p., 31 Aug. 2010. Web. 25 Mar. 2013. Link Available here