Algorithm for breathing efficiency
Inventors
DICCIANI, Nance K • DEVINE, Denise L • Bosak, Magdalena K
Assignees
Publication Number
US-11622728-B2
Publication Date
2023-04-11
Expiration Date
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Abstract
A method of determining a fitness level of user with an acoustic measurement device configured to measure sound associated with airflow through a mammalian trachea. The acoustic measurement device is in communication with a controller having processing circuitry. The method includes correlating the measured sound into a measurement of the user's respiratory rate and tidal volume; calculating a second respiratory rate value using the measured tidal volume; calculating a breathing efficiency (BE) ratio based on a comparison of the user's measured respiratory rate and the calculated second respiratory rate value; correlating the calculated BE ratio to a predetermined threshold; and assigning a classification to the user based on the calculated BE ratio. The classification is indicative of the user's respiratory function performance.
Core Innovation
A method of determining a fitness level of a user with an acoustic measurement device configured to measure sound associated with airflow through a mammalian trachea. The method includes correlating the measured sound into a measurement of the user's respiratory rate and tidal volume; calculating a second respiratory rate value using the measured tidal volume; calculating a breathing efficiency (BE) ratio based on a comparison of the user's measured respiratory rate and the calculated second respiratory rate value; correlating the calculated BE ratio to a predetermined threshold; and assigning a classification to the user based on the calculated BE ratio, the classification being indicative of the user's respiratory function performance.
Existing health, wellness, and fitness systems generally track physiological parameters such as heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, etc., but because smart watches and/or smart phones are not located proximate to the user's chest, throat, or mouth, they are unable to accurately monitor respiratory parameters such as respiratory rate and tidal volume of the user during exercise. Monitoring various respiratory values including breathing frequency, breathing effort, tidal volume and other related respiratory values can help monitor and interpret the health and well-being of an individual. This type of respiratory information can be used to improve the safety and outcomes of individuals based upon their respiratory values.
Claims Coverage
This patent includes three independent claims that define methods using an acoustic measurement device to measure sound associated with airflow through a mammalian trachea and to compute a breathing efficiency metric for assigning a fitness classification.
Measuring sound associated with airflow through a mammalian trachea
Measuring sound associated with airflow through a mammalian trachea using an acoustic measurement device including a housing and at least one sound transducer wherein the at least one sound transducer is suspended in the housing; correlating the measured sound into a measurement of the user's respiratory rate and tidal volume; calculating a respiratory rate value using the measured tidal volume with a first equation for men and a second equation for women, the first equation being RR2=8.3465e0.7458(tidal volume) and the second equation being RR2=9.6446e0.9328(tidal volume); calculating a breathing efficiency (BE) ratio based on a comparison of the user's measured respiratory rate and the calculated respiratory rate value; correlating the calculated BE ratio to a predetermined threshold; and assigning a classification to the user based on the calculated BE ratio, the classification being indicative of the user's respiratory function performance.
Measuring sound at a predetermined time interval before, during, or after physical activity
Measuring sound associated with airflow through a mammalian trachea at a predetermined time interval before, during, or after physical activity; correlating the measured sound into a measurement of the user's respiratory rate and tidal volume at a predetermined time interval; calculating a respiratory rate value using the measured tidal volume with the sex-specific equations RR2=8.3465e0.7458(TV) for men and RR2=9.6446e0.9328(TV) for women; calculating a breathing efficiency (BE) ratio based on a comparison of the user's measured respiratory rate and the calculated respiratory rate value; correlating the calculated BE ratio to a predetermined threshold; and assigning a classification to the user being one selected from the group consisting of an elite athlete level, a trained athlete level, and a lesser athlete level.
Calculating breathing efficiency for a predetermined point in time or over a predetermined period of time
Measuring sound associated with airflow through a mammalian trachea and correlating the measured sound into a measurement of the user's respiratory rate and tidal volume at a predetermined time interval; calculating a respiratory rate value using the measured tidal volume with the first equation for men and the second equation for women (RR2=8.3465e0.7458(TV) and RR2=9.6446e0.9328(TV)); calculating a breathing efficiency (BE) ratio based on a comparison of the user's measured respiratory rate and the calculated respiratory rate value for a predetermined point in time or over a predetermined period of time; correlating the calculated BE ratio to a predetermined threshold; and assigning a classification to the user based on the calculated BE ratio where the classification is one selected from the group consisting of an elite athlete level, a trained athlete level, and a lesser athlete level.
Each independent claim defines a method pipeline using an acoustic measurement device to transduce tracheal sound into respiratory rate and tidal volume, compute a sex-specific calculated respiratory rate (RR2), compute a breathing efficiency (BE) ratio by comparing measured RR and RR2, compare BE to a predetermined threshold, and assign a fitness-related classification.
Stated Advantages
Monitoring various respiratory values including breathing frequency, breathing effort, tidal volume and other related respiratory values can help monitor and interpret the health and well-being of an individual.
Respiratory rates can be an indicator of certain clinical deteriorations which often occur before other vital sign changes are detectible.
This type of respiratory information can be used to improve the safety and outcomes of individuals based upon their respiratory values.
Allows users wearing the TSS 10 to compare their respiratory parameters before, during, or after exercise, an athletic or fitness performance test, or any other form of physical activity, to estimated respiratory parameters of a trained athlete, and track their personal progress and improvement over time.
Documented Applications
Determining a fitness level of a user with an acoustic measurement device.
Comparing respiratory parameters before, during, or after exercise, an athletic or fitness performance test, or any other form of physical activity to estimated respiratory parameters of a trained athlete.
Assigning a classification to the user based on the calculated BE ratio, including elite athlete level, trained athlete level, and lesser athlete level.
Monitoring and interpreting respiratory values to improve the safety and outcomes of individuals and to detect clinical deterioration earlier than other vital sign changes.
Estimating the degree of sedation and the trends of sedation over time in the case of, for example, a drug overdose.
Detecting or predicting the onset of hypoventilation using pulse oximeter waveform analysis in real-time.
Interested in licensing this patent?