Breath volume monitoring system and method
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring tidal volume of an individual to diagnose a condition comprising:
- providing a microprocessor component and an electrically-conductive, elastomeric band in electrical communication with the microprocessor component;
wherein the microprocessor component comprises memory and a circuit for detecting postural orientation;
wherein the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band comprises;
an elasticity allowing a fifty percent change in elongation of the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band;
a resistance that is linearly variable over a three to fifty percent change in elongation of the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band; and
a first end and a second end;
wherein the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band is physically connected with the microprocessor component in such a manner that, in conjunction with the elasticity of the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band, the microprocessor component and the first and second ends of the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band are maintained generally around the bottom of the individual'"'"'s sternum and the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band extends and is maintained around the individual'"'"'s thorax in a non-horizontal path that is higher at a front of the individual and lower along a back of the individual; and
wherein, when so positioned, changes in measured resistance of the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band correspond to tidal volume of the individual;
with the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band and the microprocessor component, monitoring respiratory activity of the individual during a period of time by causing said microprocessor component to collect raw resistance data from the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band a predetermined number of sample times per second;
blurring the raw resistance data by averaging a given raw resistance data sample with raw resistance data over an immediately preceding 0.3 to 1.0 seconds of the raw resistance data to filter out artifacts;
determining a beginning of a breath cycle and an end of a breath cycle based on the blurred data; and
recording an adverse event if a pre-determined period of time has elapsed without a new breath cycle commencing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for monitoring the tidal volume of an individual to diagnose a condition is disclosed. The system includes an electrically-conductive, elastomeric band; and a microprocessor having memory. The microprocessor is in electrical communication with said band and has functionality to monitor the respiratory activity of the individual during a period of time, collect raw data from 30 times to 34 times per second, average the data over 9-34 readings, blur from 0.3 seconds to 1.0 seconds of said averaged data to filter out artifacts; determine the beginning of a breath and the end of a breath based on said blurred data; and record an adverse event if a pre-determined period of time has elapsed without a new breath commencing.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring tidal volume of an individual to diagnose a condition comprising:
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providing a microprocessor component and an electrically-conductive, elastomeric band in electrical communication with the microprocessor component; wherein the microprocessor component comprises memory and a circuit for detecting postural orientation; wherein the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band comprises; an elasticity allowing a fifty percent change in elongation of the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band; a resistance that is linearly variable over a three to fifty percent change in elongation of the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band; and a first end and a second end; wherein the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band is physically connected with the microprocessor component in such a manner that, in conjunction with the elasticity of the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band, the microprocessor component and the first and second ends of the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band are maintained generally around the bottom of the individual'"'"'s sternum and the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band extends and is maintained around the individual'"'"'s thorax in a non-horizontal path that is higher at a front of the individual and lower along a back of the individual; and wherein, when so positioned, changes in measured resistance of the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band correspond to tidal volume of the individual; with the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band and the microprocessor component, monitoring respiratory activity of the individual during a period of time by causing said microprocessor component to collect raw resistance data from the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band a predetermined number of sample times per second; blurring the raw resistance data by averaging a given raw resistance data sample with raw resistance data over an immediately preceding 0.3 to 1.0 seconds of the raw resistance data to filter out artifacts; determining a beginning of a breath cycle and an end of a breath cycle based on the blurred data; and recording an adverse event if a pre-determined period of time has elapsed without a new breath cycle commencing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for monitoring tidal volume of an individual to diagnose a condition comprising:
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an electrically-conductive, elastomeric band having; an elasticity allowing a fifty percent change in elongation of the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band; a resistance that is linearly variable over a three to fifty percent change in elongation of the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band; and a first end and a second end; and a microprocessor component having memory and a circuit for detecting postural orientation, said microprocessor in electrical communication with the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band and having functionality in conjunction with the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band to; monitor respiratory activity of the individual during a period of time; collect raw resistance data from the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band a predetermined number of sample times per second; blur the raw resistance data by averaging a given raw resistance data sample with raw resistance data over an immediately preceding 0.3 seconds to 1.0 seconds of the raw resistance data to filter out artifacts; determine a beginning of a breath cycle and an end of a breath cycle based on the blurred data; and record an adverse event if a pre-determined period of time has elapsed without a new breath cycle commencing; wherein the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band is physically connected with the microprocessor component in such a manner that, in conjunction with the elasticity of the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band, the microprocessor component and the first and second ends of the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band are maintained generally around the bottom of the individual'"'"'s sternum and the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band extends and is maintained around the individual'"'"'s thorax in a non-horizontal path that is higher at a front of the individual and lower along a back of the individual. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for monitoring tidal volume of an individual to diagnose a condition comprising:
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providing an electrically-conductive, elastomeric band in communication with a microprocessor component having memory and a circuit for detecting postural orientation, the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band having an elasticity allowing a fifty percent change in elongation of the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band and a resistance that is linearly variable over a three to fifty percent change in elongation of the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band, the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band being physically connected with the microprocessor component in such a manner that, in conjunction with the elasticity of the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band, the microprocessor component is maintained generally around the bottom of the individual'"'"'s sternum and the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band extends and is maintained around the individual'"'"'s thorax in a non-horizontal path that is higher at a front of the individual and lower along a back of the individual and at least a portion of the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band falls in a path just above the lowest rib of the lower ribcage, wherein, when so positioned, changes in measured resistance of the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band correspond directly to tidal volume of the individual; with the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band and the microprocessor component, monitoring respiratory activity of the individual during a period of time by causing said microprocessor component to collect raw resistance data from the electrically-conductive, elastomeric band a predetermined number of sample times per second; blurring the raw resistance data by averaging a given raw resistance data sample with raw resistance data over an immediately preceding 0.3 to 1.0 seconds of the raw resistance data to filter out artifacts; determining a beginning of a breath cycle and an end of a breath cycle based on the blurred data; and recording an adverse event if a pre-determined period of time has elapsed without a new breath cycle commencing. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification