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Publication Number
US-11266347-B2
Publication Date
2022-03-08
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method for generating a flow profile of an inhalation device is described. The method comprises the step of measuring acoustic emissions induced by inhalation flow through the inhalation device. The method further comprises the step of detecting peak frequencies in the measured acoustic emissions and generating a flow profile based on the detected peak frequencies. A corresponding device is also described.
Core Innovation
The invention generates a flow profile of an inhalation device by instructing a user to inhale air through the inhalation device so as to induce acoustic emissions. Acoustic emissions induced by the user's inhalation flow are measured using a microphone, and acoustic emissions information is communicated to a processor. The processor detects peak frequencies and acoustic power of the measured acoustic emissions.
A flow profile is generated based on the detected peak frequencies and the detected acoustic power. Flow rates in the flow profile determined based on the detected acoustic power are compared and calibrated according to one or more flow rates determined based on the detected peak frequencies. The generated flow profile is displayed.
The processor determines any portions of the flow profile that require improvement and communicates any improvements to the user. In the system form, the processor is configured to receive acoustic emissions information from the microphone, detect peak frequencies and acoustic power, generate the flow profile based on the detected acoustic features, display the flow profile, and store the flow profile in a memory unit.
Claims Coverage
The document provides four independent claims. Each claim centers on generating a flow profile for an inhalation device using microphone-detected acoustic emissions, detecting peak frequencies and acoustic power, calibrating flow rates derived from acoustic power against flow rates derived from peak frequencies, and determining portions requiring improvement.
Inhalation flow profile generation using microphone-detected acoustic emissions with peak-frequency and acoustic-power calibration
Providing an inhalation device and a processor in communication with a microphone; instructing a user to inhale air through an inhalation device so as to induce acoustic emissions; measuring acoustic emissions induced by the user's inhalation flow through the inhalation device using the microphone and communicating acoustic emissions information from the microphone to the processor; detecting peak frequencies in the measured acoustic emissions with the processor; detecting acoustic power of the measured acoustic emissions with the processor; generating a flow profile based on the detected peak frequencies and the detected acoustic power, wherein each of the flow rates of the flow profile determined based on the detected acoustic power are compared and calibrated according to one or more flow rates determined based on the detected peak frequencies; displaying the flow profile; determining any portions of the flow profile that require improvement; and communicating any improvements to the user.
System for generating a flow profile with microphone-detected peak frequencies and acoustic-power calibration
An inhalation device; a processor in communication with a microphone, wherein the microphone is configured to detect acoustic emissions from the inhalation device; an input/output interface for sending information to and from the processor; a display; and a memory unit for storing information from the processor; wherein the processor is configured to receive acoustic emissions information from the microphone, detect peak frequencies in the measured acoustic emissions, detect acoustic power of the measured acoustic emissions, generate a flow profile for the inhalation device based on the detected peak frequencies and the detected acoustic power, display the flow profile, and store the flow profile in the memory unit; wherein the processor is further configured to determine any portions of the flow profile that require improvement and communicate any improvements to a user via the display, and wherein each of the flow rates of the flow profile determined based on the detected acoustic power are compared and calibrated according to one or more flow rates determined based on the detected peak frequencies.
Across all independent claims, the core inventive approach is generating an inhalation-device flow profile from microphone-detected acoustic emissions by detecting peak frequencies and acoustic power, calibrating flow rates derived from acoustic power against flow rates derived from peak frequencies, and then displaying the flow profile while determining and communicating portions requiring improvement.
Stated Advantages
Determining portions of the flow profile that require improvement.
Communicating improvements to the user.
Comparing and calibrating flow rates determined based on detected acoustic power using flow rates determined based on detected peak frequencies.
Displaying the flow profile.
Storing the flow profile in a memory unit.
Documented Applications
Training and adherence/usage monitoring with stored/transmitted inhaled air flow profiles.
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