Motivational spirometry system and method

• US 20060206036A1
• Filed: 03/14/2005
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Quinn, David Edward
• Granted Patent: US 7,625,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/538
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/091 Measuring volume of inspired or expired gases, e.g. to determine lung capacity

Abstract

A method is disclosed for motivating a user of a spirometry system 20 having a display screen 12, an air-tube 22, a flow measurement sensor 24 operatively associated with the air-tube 22, a display screen 26, and an associated processor 30. A motivational animation is displayed on the display screen 12 having a first aspect that reflects a relative evaluation of a determined peak flow rate to a goal value therefor and having a second aspect that reflects a relative evaluation of a determined total flow volume to a goal value therefor. The processor 30 repeatedly updates the motivational animation during the period of use of the spirometer to reflect the degree of achievement of both of the goal values by the user.

Claims

1. A method for motivating a user of a spirometer during a period of use, said method comprising the steps of:

generating a motivational animation having a first aspect that reflects a relative evaluation of a determined peak flow rate to a goal value therefor and having a second aspect that reflects a relative evaluation of a determined total expired or inspired volume to a goal value therefor;

displaying said motivational animation to said user; and

repeatedly updating the motivational animation display during the period of use of the spirometer to reflect the degree of achievement of both of the goal values by the user.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the user exhales through the spirometer during the period of use.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the user inhales through the spirometer during the period of use.

4. A method for motivating a user of a spirometer having an air tube, said method comprising the steps of:

measuring a flow of air through the air tube induced by the user during a period of use of the spirometer apparatus;

processing the air flow measurements to determine a peak flow rate and a total flow volume for the period of use;

evaluating the determined peak flow rate relative to a goal value therefor;

evaluating the determined total flow volume relative to a goal value therefor; and

displaying a motivational animation to the user, said motivational animation having a first aspect that reflects the relative evaluation of the determined peak flow rate to the goal value therefor and having a second aspect that reflects the relative evaluation of the determined total expired or inspired volume to the goal value therefor.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising repeatedly updating the motivational animation display during the period of use of the spirometer apparatus to the degree of achievement by the user of both of the goal values.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising selecting the goal values for peak flow rate and total expired or inspired volume based on the demographics of the user and normative parameters from a clinical population study.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein selecting the goal values for peak flow rate and total flow volume based on the demographics of the user and normative parameters from a clinical study comprises selecting the goal values for peak flow rate and total expired or inspired volume based on at least one of the age, sex, height and weight of the user.

8. The method of claim 4 further comprising selecting the goal values for peak flow rate and total expired or inspired volume based on the expected performance of the user.

9. The method of claim 4 further comprising selecting the goal values for peak flow rate and total expired or inspired volume based on the past performance of the user.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein said motivational animation comprises a fireman spraying water at a fire.

11. The method of claim 4 wherein the magnitude of water flow sprayed at the fire reflects the relative evaluation of the determined peak flow rate to the goal value therefor.

12. The method of claim 4 wherein the degree of fire extinguished reflects the relative evaluation of the determined total expired or inspired volume to the goal value therefor.

13. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of adjusting at least one of the goal values during the animation to customize motivation level.

14. A spirometry system comprising:

an air tube defining a substantially linear air passage, said air tube adapted at one end to receive a flow of air exhaled by a user of said air tube;

a sensor operatively associated with said air tube for measuring the exhale air flow through said air tube;

a processor operatively associated with said sensor for processing the exhale air flow measurements from said sensor to determine a peak flow rate of the exhale air and a total volume of the exhale air flow through said air tube, evaluating said determined peak flow rate relative to a goal value therefor, evaluating said determined total volume relative to a goal value therefor, and generating a motivational animation for display to the user reflective of said evaluations; and

a display operatively associated with said processor for displaying said motivational animation to the user.

15. A spirometry system as recited in claim 14 further comprising a user interface if operative association with said processor whereby data may be selectively input to said processor.

16. A spirometry system as recited in claim 14 wherein motivational animation includes a first aspect that reflects a relative evaluation of a determined peak expiratory flow rate to a goal value therefor and a second aspect that reflects a relative evaluation of a determined total flow volume to a goal value therefor.

17. A spirometry system as recited in claim 14 wherein motivational animation includes a first aspect that reflects a relative evaluation of a determined peak inspiratory flow rate to a goal value therefor and a second aspect that reflects a relative evaluation of a determined total flow volume to a goal value therefor.