RNK Products, Inc. (RNK) www.rnkproducts.com based out of Viera Florida located near the Kennedy Space Center has been awarded a patent covering its PCP-USB Stethoscope to serve the telemedicine market.
The stethoscope appears as a plug-n-play USB audio device to a PC, making it a popular choice in the telemedicine market. Since there are no buttons or dials, it is easy to use by patients in their own home.
“What differentiates the Stethoscope from a typical electronic stethoscope is that it uses stethoscope signal processing software on the PC that elevates it to a telemedicine stethoscope. Since that software is needed for telemedicine capability, the FDA requires that it be cleared at the same level (Class II) as the stethoscope itself,” states Rich Abbruscato, Founder and CEO for RNK.
The stethoscope is included in high-end telemedicine stations and carts offered by major telemedicine system companies. In the Veterans Administration health system, it is not only used in hospitals, but it is ideal to use in veterans homes.