AMPA

Amplifier for Percussion and Auscultation

Context: Hospital

Contribution: Research, ideation, prototyping, illustrations, CAD, rendering

Team Members: Corinna Diestel and Aleksandra Szendzielorz

Project Collaboration: Umeå University

Duration: 3 weeks

Timeframe: Spring 2023

AMPA is designed to support clinicians by amplifying body sounds during auscultation and percussion, two essential techniques used in physical examinations. By enhancing and simplifying the identification and interpretation of these sounds, AMPA helps make clinical assessments more accurate and efficient.

Its goal is to improve the diagnostic process, particularly in detecting heart and lung conditions, by providing better tools for sound amplification and analysis.

Background

Auscultation and percussion are critical for assessing heart and lung health, but they can be difficult to master. Clinicians may struggle to detect and interpret subtle body sounds, leading to missed or delayed diagnoses.

The AMPA project tackles these issues by amplifying and clarifying body sounds, making assessments more accurate and accessible. It also enables sound interpretation and recording, helping both experienced and new clinicians perform more reliable examinations. By improving diagnostic precision, AMPA enhances patient outcomes and the overall quality of care.

    • What: Tapping the body to assess underlying structures.

    • Purpose: Detect size, density, and condition of organs, air, or fluid.

    • Examples:

      • Resonant: Air-filled (lungs).

      • Dull: Solid/fluid-filled (liver or pneumonia).

      • Tympanic: Hollow (stomach).

    • What: Listening to body sounds using a stethoscope.

    • Purpose: Check organ function (heart, lungs, bowel).

    • Examples:

      • Heart: Detect murmurs or irregular rhythms.

      • Lungs: Identify wheezing or crackles.

      • Abdomen: Assess bowel activityes here.

  • Help clinicians identifying and interpreting the sounds from auscultation and percussion.

Interviews

Interviews showed clinicians struggle with diagnostic sound interpretation, reducing confidence in percussion and auscultation. They need tools for simplified analysis, feedback, and seamless integration. These insights shaped AMPA’s design for improved usability and accuracy.

“Currently, we don’t have any tools for performing percussion. We use our hands to create sounds.”

- Mohammed, physician

“I don’t feel confident in performing percussion because the sound is often unclear.”

- Nelly, medical student

Challenges

AMPA's challenges include sound clarity, effective listening, and reliable interpretation during percussion and auscultation. Clinicians struggle to distinguish subtle sounds, link them to diagnoses, and integrate the device seamlessly into their workflow.

Diagnosing

‘‘Clinicians rely on sounds from percussion and auscultation during exams to diagnose and assess the function of internal organs.’’

Interpret

‘‘Clinicians have to interpret the sounds generated during percussion and auscultation, which are analyzed to make clinical diagnoses.’’

Create sounds

‘‘Percussion techniques are hard to master, and body types or tissue differences can affect sound quality.’’

Listen

‘‘Subtle differences in sounds require experience to recognize, and normal ranges vary between patients.’’

How might we help clinicians identify and interpret sounds from auscultation and percussion?


Physical prototyping

Prototyping refined ergonomics, feedback, and usability for an intuitive percussion and auscultation tool, ensuring a comfortable grip and precise, effortless handling.

Wireframing interface

AMPA's simple, user-friendly interface lets clinicians select exams, record sounds, and view waveforms for easier interpretation. Real-time feedback enhances accuracy in diagnosis.

User flow

Concept

AMPA enhances stethoscope exams with smart diagnostics, auto-pairing, and a mode wheel for Auscultation or Percussion. It records sounds, displays waveforms, analyzes data, and confirms results. All data is securely stored in patient records, and the device automatically powers off after the exam.

AMPA

AMPA amplifies heart and lung sounds up to 40x for clearer diagnostics, records for analysis and collaboration, and supports digital and analog modes for flexibility, enhancing precision and efficiency.

    • AMPA addresses the challenges clinicians face with:

      • Creating and interpreting diagnostic sounds during percussion and auscultation.

      • Building confidence in identifying and diagnosing based on auditory findings.

    • Amplify, Interpret, Record:

      • Enhances sound detection and interpretation during physical examinations.

      • Records sounds for later analysis or collaboration.

    • Integrated Functions:

      • Users can select between percussion and auscultation modes.

      • Visual waveforms accompany the auditory signals to aid interpretation.

    • Sound Analysis:

      • AMPA analyzes recorded sounds and provides feedback to clinicians.

      • Feedback includes agreement or disagreement with the clinician's diagnosis.

    • Collaboration:

      • Allows clinicians to save recordings and share them with colleagues for a second opinion.

    • Ease of Use:

      • Features a user-friendly interface with options controlled by a side wheel and button.

      • Includes a welcome screen personalized for the user.

    • Choice of Examination:

      • Select percussion or auscultation mode.

    • Recording:

      • Record sounds by pressing a button, with an option to save or replay them later.

    • Diagnosis:

      • Clinicians can review recordings before entering a diagnosis.

    • Analysis and Feedback:

      • The device analyzes the sound data and provides feedback on the clinician’s diagnosis.

    • Sharing:

      • Enables sharing of sound files and diagnostic notes for collaboration.

    • Turn Off:

      • Automatically powers down after saving and completing the session.

Analog and digital options

The interface is intuitive, giving clinicians control over their chosen examination.

The stethoscope can connect to an app that lets clinicians share exam findings and update patient charts.

Record exams and share results

Multiple ways to listen

Benefits

AMPA enhances clinical diagnostics by amplifying heart and lung sounds, making it easier for doctors to detect and interpret vital signs. It enables real-time recording and data sharing, improving collaboration and decision-making among medical professionals. With both digital and analog modes, AMPA provides flexibility and ease of use, ensuring better patient assessments and more efficient diagnostics.

Enhanced Diagnostic Accuracy

AMPA amplifies heart and lung sounds, improving clinicians' ability to identify and interpret auscultation and percussion sounds.

Better Collaboration & Data Recording

Enables real-time recording and sharing, making it easier for doctors to collaborate and review patient data.

User-Friendly & Versatile

Features both digital and analog modes, allowing clinicians to switch between them for greater flexibility and ease of use.

nina.langstrom@hotmail.com