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Publication Number
US-8771205-B2
Publication Date
2014-07-08
Expiration Date
Abstract
A device for detecting and counting coughing events is provided. In one embodiment a sensor for sensing and transducing low frequency and high frequency mechanical vibrations, sends signals to a coincidence detector that determines if high and low signals coincide. In another embodiment, ultrasonic energy is introduced to the trachea and if Doppler shift in frequency is detected, association is made to a coughing event. In another embodiment a change in the impedance of the neck is considered associated with coughing event if correlated over time with a specific mechanical frequency sensed.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a cough detector adapted to externally engage a person and to detect coughing by sensing and transducing low frequency and high frequency mechanical vibrations. Signals from the sensor are selectively passed through a low pass filter passing low frequency signals within a frequency range of 0.5 Hz to 10 Hz and through a high pass filter passing high frequency signals within a frequency range of 200 Hz to 2000 Hz. Low frequency threshold detection and high frequency threshold detection are applied to the respective filtered signals.
A coincidence detector receives the outputs from the low frequency threshold detector and the high frequency threshold detector and identifies coincidence between the signals arriving from both threshold detectors. The coincidence detector generates a continuous signal for the duration of the coincidence, and a duration detector determines whether the duration of the continuous signal is within a range of cough durations to identify coughing events. Data concerning coughing events identified as such by the duration detector is stored in a register.
In method and system forms, the invention positions the cough detector on the lower segment of the cervical trachea of a patient or externally engages a person to assess coughing, and it uses corresponding low/high filtering, adaptive or fixed threshold detectors, coincidence detection that generates a continuous signal during coincident events, and duration-based determination to identify coughing events. The system stores data concerning coughing events in a register and can display coughing-event data or use a duration detector-triggered data logging element.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims are clm-00001, clm-00004, and clm-00008. Across these, the same core inventive logic appears in each: dual-band mechanical-vibration sensing with separate low/high filtering and threshold detection, followed by coincidence detection generating a continuous signal, and a duration detector that accepts coincidences whose duration falls within a cough-duration range before storing coughing-event data.
Externally engaging cough detector with dual-band vibration sensing and low/high filters
A cough detector adapted to externally engage a person comprising: a sensor capable of sensing and transducing low frequency and high frequency mechanical vibrations; a low pass filter for receiving signals from the sensor wherein the low pass filter is adapted to selectively pass low frequency signals within a frequency range of 0.5 Hz to 10 Hz; and a high pass filter for receiving signals from the sensor wherein the high pass filter is adapted to selectively pass high frequency signals within a frequency range of 200 Hz to 2000 Hz.
Low-frequency and high-frequency threshold detection with adaptive or fixed thresholds
A cough detector comprising a low frequency threshold detector for applying an adaptive or fixed threshold to the low frequency signals and a high frequency threshold detector for applying an adaptive or fixed threshold to the high frequency signals.
Coincidence detector generating a continuous signal during coincident low+high threshold events
A cough detector further comprising a coincidence detector for receiving signals from both the low frequency threshold detector and the high frequency threshold detector, wherein the coincidence detector identifies a coincidence between the signals arriving from the low frequency threshold detector and the high frequency threshold detector and generates a continuous signal for the duration of the coincidence.
Duration detector to identify coughing events based on coincidence duration within a cough-duration range
A cough detector further comprising a duration detector for determining whether the duration of the continuous signal generated by the coincidence detector is within a range of cough durations, to thereby identify coughing events.
Register for storing coughing-event data identified by the duration detector
A cough detector comprising a register for storing data concerning coughing events identified as such by the duration detector.
Method positioning the detector on the lower segment of the cervical trachea and performing dual-band low/high filtering and coincidence duration detection
A method for detecting and counting coughing events including positioning a cough detector on the lower segment of the cervical trachea of a patient wherein the method includes filtering a signal from the sensor with a low pass filter selectively passing low frequency portion within a frequency range of 0.5 Hz to 10 Hz and filtering the signal with a high pass filter selectively passing high frequency portion within a frequency range of 200 Hz to 2000 Hz; applying a fixed or adaptive low pass threshold and applying a fixed or adaptive high pass threshold; identifying a coincidence between a high frequency signal from the high frequency threshold detector and a low frequency signal from the low frequency threshold detector; and determining by a duration detector whether the duration of the coincidence is within the range of cough durations to thereby identify coughing events.
System adapted to externally engage and assess coughing using coincidence and duration-based identification
A system adapted to externally engage a person and assess coughing comprising: a sensor capable of sensing and transducing low frequency and high frequency mechanical vibrations; a low pass filter passing 0.5 Hz to 10 Hz; a low frequency threshold detector applying an adaptive or fixed threshold; a high pass filter passing 200 Hz to 2000 Hz; a high frequency threshold detector applying an adaptive or fixed threshold; a coincidence detector identifying coincidence between the low and high threshold detector signals and generating a continuous signal for the duration of the coincidence; a duration detector determining whether the duration is within a range of cough durations to identify coughing events; and a register for storing data concerning coughing events identified as such by the duration detector.
The independent claims consistently cover cough detection and counting/assessment by combining low- and high-frequency mechanical vibration sensing, separate low-pass and high-pass filtering, separate low-frequency and high-frequency threshold detection, coincidence detection that produces a continuous signal during coincident low+high events, and duration-based acceptance using a cough-duration range, with identified coughing-event data stored in a register.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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