Cardiac sound separation

The phonocardiogram (PCG) is a mixture of sounds produced by several cardiac structures and hemodynamic activities. Methods such US time segmentation of the heart sound into, for example, the SI and S2 sounds, or spectral segmentation into frequency bunds do not result in sounds produced by individual cardiac structures. Without any prior knowledge of PCG properties, we give U method to separate the PCG into sounds produced by individual parts of the heart. The Cardiac Sound Separutor(TM}, which is intended be used like an electronic stethoscope, gives, in real-time, I the individual sounds that contribute to the composite heart sound. This enables localizing cardiac abnormalities, and makes it possible to hear cardiac murmurs without the interference from sounds produced by other cardiac structures.