Apparatus, systems, and methods for monitoring respiratory function
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11877863-B2
Publication Date
2024-01-23
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems for monitoring respiratory function of a person include a garment configured to be worn on a torso of the person. The garment includes one or more reference patterns positioned on the anterior torso of the person when the garment is worn. A camera is used to capture, at a first time, at least one image of the person immediately prior to inhalation, and immediately prior to exhalation, and to capture, at a second time, at least one image of the person immediately prior to inhalation, and immediately prior to exhalation. A computing device is used to transmit the images to a remote computing device for analysis.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a system for monitoring respiratory function of a person using a garment configured to be worn on a torso. The garment includes a first reference pattern positioned to overlie a first lung and a second reference pattern positioned to overlie a second lung when worn. A camera captures at least one image immediately prior to inhalation and at least one image immediately prior to exhalation at a first time and at a second time.
A computing device establishes a communication channel to transmit the captured images to a remote computing device, and the remote computing device analyzes the received images to support respiratory function monitoring. The transmitted image data include the images captured at the first time and the images captured at the second time.
The invention determines respiratory-function measures by comparing relative size, shape, and position of the reference patterns between inhalation and exhalation at the first time and at the second time, and then determining a relative measure by comparing the respiratory-function measures across the first and second times. The document also describes a smartphone and a forehead-adhered temperature sensor that visually indicates temperature, where an image of the sensor is captured and transmitted.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are clm-00001 and clm-00015. Across these independent claims, the inventive features comprise a torso-worn garment with lung-overlying reference patterns, camera capture immediately prior to inhalation and exhalation at first and second times, and transmission of the captured images to a remote location for monitoring respiratory function.
Torso garment with lung-overlying reference patterns
A garment configured to be worn on a torso, the garment comprising a first reference pattern positioned to overlie a first lung and a second reference pattern positioned to overlie a second lung when the garment is worn.
Camera capture immediately prior to inhalation and exhalation at first and second times
A camera configured to capture, at a first time, at least one image immediately prior to inhalation and at least one image immediately prior to exhalation, and configured to capture, at a second time, at least one image immediately prior to inhalation and at least one image immediately prior to exhalation.
Transmit captured images to a remote computing device or remote location
A computing device establishing a communication channel and transmitting to a remote computing device the images captured at the first time and the images captured at the second time; or, in the method, transmitting to a remote location the images captured at the first time and the images captured at the second time.
The independent claim coverage centers on a torso-worn garment carrying reference patterns positioned over each lung, image capture immediately prior to inhalation and immediately prior to exhalation at two times, and transmission of those images to a remote computing device or remote location for monitoring respiratory function.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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