Sensor, sensor pad, and sensor array for detecting infrasonic acoustic signals

Abstract

A sensor, sensor pad, and sensor array for detecting infrasonic signals in a living organism is provided. The sensor, sensor pad, and/or array can be utilized for detecting, determining, and/or diagnosing level of stenosis, occlusion, or aneurysm in arteries or other similar diagnoses. The sensor can include unique circuitry in the form of a piezoelectric plate or element sandwiched between two conductive O-rings.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A disposable single use acoustic sensor pad for transmitting acoustic signals from a body to a piezoelectric sensor comprising:
 a flexible circular disk having an upper contacting portion having a forward-facing surface for contacting the body, which extends above a housing, and a bottom portion having a flat surface for contacting a first side of said piezoelectric sensor, said bottom portion connected to said upper contacting portion by a side wall, and a circumferential lip on an outer portion of the flat surface, said circumferential lip being configured for being vertically compressed against the piezoelectric sensor by a securing feature;   wherein the forward-facing surface is suitable for contacting the body and the bottom portion is suitable for being positioned onto the piezoelectric sensor, wherein the side wall has a uniform circumference along a height spanning between the circumferential lip to the forward-facing surface.   
     
     
         2 . The disposable single use acoustic sensor pad of  claim 1  wherein the forward-facing surface for contacting a body comprises a centralized raised semicircular portion that comprises a concave indentation region in the center of the raised semicircular portion. 
     
     
         3 . The disposable single use acoustic sensor pad of  claim 1  wherein the forward-facing surface for contacting a body comprises a raised contacting surface selected from the group consisting of: a plurality of raised nodules, a plurality of cylinders, a concentric ring, at least two concentric rings, a hemispherical shape, a concave shape, a circular shape, a square shape, a hexagonal shape, an octagonal shape, a dodecahedronic shape, ellipses, an oval, a triangular shape, a star, convex versions of each shape, concave versions of each shape, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The disposable single use acoustic sensor pad of  claim 3  wherein the raised contacting surface comprises a central portion that comprises a concave indentation region in the center of the raised contacting surface. 
     
     
         5 . The disposable single use acoustic sensor pad of  claim 1  wherein said sensor pad is made of a low durometer value material. 
     
     
         6 . The disposable single use acoustic sensor pad of  claim 5  wherein the low durometer value material is a substantially silicone material and wherein said sensor pad is formed in a mold from said substantially silicone material thereby creating a homogeneous pad. 
     
     
         7 . The disposable single use acoustic sensor pad of  claim 1  wherein the forward-facing surface for contacting a body comprises a plurality of raised extensions substantially covering the surface of the forward-facing surface. 
     
     
         8 . A sensor pod for sensing acoustic signals comprising:
 a housing having an interior chamber and a circular opening at one end defined to receive a single use disposable acoustic sensor pad, and a connector at an opposing end of the housing configured for attachment to a support structure for adjustably moving the sensor pod;   a piezoelectric sensor in a form of a circular disk having a first side and an opposing second side contained in the interior chamber of the housing and aligned with the circular opening;   said single use disposable acoustic sensor pad for transmitting the acoustic signals from a body to the piezoelectric sensor, comprising a flexible circular disk having an upper contacting portion having a circular forward-facing surface for contacting the body, which extends above the housing, and a bottom portion having a flat circular surface for contacting the first side of said piezoelectric sensor, said bottom portion connected to said upper contacting portion by a side wall, and a circumferential lip on an outer portion of the flat circular surface, said circumferential lip being configured for being vertically compressed against the piezoelectric sensor by a securing feature; and   wherein the circular forward-facing surface is suitable for contacting the body and the bottom portion is suitable for being positioned onto the piezoelectric sensor, wherein the side wall has a uniform circumference along a height spanning between the circumferential lip and the circular forward-facing surface.   
     
     
         9 . The sensor pod of  claim 8  wherein the circular forward-facing surface for contacting the body comprises a raised contacting surface selected from the group consisting of: a plurality of raised nodules, a plurality of cylinders, a concentric ring, at least two concentric rings, a hemispherical shape, a circular shape, a square shape, a hexagonal shape, an octagonal shape, a dodecahedronic shape, ellipses, an oval, a triangular shape, a star, convex versions of each shape, concave versions of each shape, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The sensor pod of  claim 9  wherein the raised contacting surface comprises a central portion that comprises a concave indentation region in a center of the raised contacting surface. 
     
     
         11 . The sensor pod of  claim 8  wherein the flexible circular disk is made of silicone. 
     
     
         12 . The sensor pod of  claim 8  wherein the flexible circular disk is comprised of silicone and wherein said single use disposable acoustic sensor pad is formed in a mold from said silicone thereby creating a homogeneous pad. 
     
     
         13 . The sensor pod of  claim 8  wherein the circular forward-facing surface for contacting the body comprises a plurality of raised extensions covering a region of the circular forward-facing surface. 
     
     
         14 . The sensor pod of  claim 8  wherein said single use disposable acoustic sensor pad is configured to be impedance matched with the body. 
     
     
         15 . The sensor pod of  claim 8  wherein the bottom portion of the single use disposable acoustic sensor pad comprises a tacky material for sticking to the piezoelectric sensor. 
     
     
         16 . A sensor pod for sensing acoustic signals comprising:
 a housing defining an interior chamber for receiving a sensor and a single use disposable acoustic sensor pad, said housing having a circular opening at one end defined to receive the single use disposable acoustic sensor pad, and a connector at an opposing end of the housing configured for attachment to a support structure for adjustably moving the sensor pod;   said sensor defined as a piezoelectric element having a first side and an opposing second side contained in the interior chamber of the housing and aligned with the circular opening at one end;   said single use disposable acoustic sensor pad defined for transmitting the acoustic signals from a body to the first side of said piezoelectric element, said single use disposable acoustic sensor pad comprising a flexible gel pad having an upper contacting portion, said upper contacting portion having a circular forward-facing surface for contacting the body, and wherein said upper contacting portion is of a height so as to extend above the housing when positioned in contact with the piezoelectric element, said flexible gel pad further comprising a bottom portion having a flat surface for contacting the first side of said piezoelectric element, said bottom portion connected to said upper contacting portion by a side wall, and a circumferential lip on an outermost circumferential edge of the flat surface, said circumferential lip being configured for being vertically compressed against the first side of said piezoelectric element by a securing feature; and   wherein the circular forward-facing surface is of a size and shape to selectably insert into the circular opening at one end, and wherein the single use disposable acoustic sensor pad is suitable for contacting the body and the bottom portion is suitable for being positioned onto the piezoelectric element, wherein the side wall has a uniform circumference along a height spanning between the circumferential lip and the circular forward-facing surface.   
     
     
         17 . The sensor pod of  claim 16  wherein said connector is defined for selective attachment of the sensor pod; and wherein said sensor pod is disposable and replaceable. 
     
     
         18 . The sensor pod of  claim 16  wherein said single use disposable acoustic sensor pad is configured to be impedance matched with the body. 
     
     
         19 . The sensor pod of  claim 16  wherein the single use disposable acoustic sensor pad further comprises a tacky material positioned on said bottom portion for sticking to the piezoelectric element.