MONITORING AND QUANTIFICATION OF SMOKING BEHAVIORS

• US 20070209669A1
• Filed: 03/06/2007
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Adidas AG
• Inventors: Derchak, P. Alexander
• Application Number:
  US11/682,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20070209669A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 131/329
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 47/00 Smokers' requisites not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/091 Measuring volume of inspired or expired gases, e.g. to determine lung capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1135 by monitoring thoracic expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/335 using integrated circuit memory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/398 Electrooculography [EOG], e.g. detecting nystagmus; Electroretinography [ERG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests

Abstract

The invention provides methods for characterizing a subject'"'"'s overall smoking behavior and the subject'"'"'s puff morphology in dependence on tidal volume information provided by ambulatory physiological monitoring. This invention also systems for executing the methods of this invention and computer-readable media having encoded the methods of this invention.

Claims

1. A method for characterizing a subject'"'"'s smoking behavior comprising:

receiving ambulatory monitoring data, including data reflecting tidal volume (Vt);

searching received Vt data for candidate puffs which are breaths having one or more characteristics indicative of a puff;

determining whether or not a candidate puff is an actual puff based on the number and type of all puff-indicative characteristics recognized; and

storing puff occurrence data, including times of occurrence data, and puff characteristic data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein puff-indicative characteristics include one or more of inspiratory durations, and/or flow rates and/or volumes;

or expiratory durations, and/or flow rates and/or volumes;

or duration of the period between an expiration and the follow inspiration.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein actual puff determination is suspended during periods of activity sufficient to cause puff determination to be unreliable.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising characterizing the subject'"'"'s overall smoking behavior in dependence on the stored puff occurrence data.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising

searching at least one actual puff for morphological features;

storing puff morphology data; and

characterizing the subject'"'"'s puff and manner of smoking in dependence on the stored puff morphology data.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein puff morphology features include one or more of inspiratory durations, and/or flow rates and/or volumes;

or expiratory durations, and/or flow rates and/or volumes;

or duration of the period between an expiration and the follow inspiration.

11. A system for characterizing a subject'"'"'s smoking behavior comprising:

an ambulatory monitoring device providing physiological monitoring data, including data reflecting Vt; and

a computer operatively coupled to the ambulatory monitoring device and including a computer-readable memory with encoded instructions for performing the methods of claim 1.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the encoded instructions for further performing the methods of claim 5.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the computer is operatively coupled to a plurality of ambulatory monitoring devices.

7. A method for characterizing a subject'"'"'s smoking behavior comprising:

receiving ambulatory monitoring data, including data reflecting tidal volume (Vt);

searching received Vt data for candidate puffs which are breaths having one or more characteristics indicative of a puff;

determining whether or not a candidate puff is an actual puff based on the number and type of all puff-indicative characteristics recognized;

storing puff occurrence data, including times of occurrence data, and puff characteristic data; and

searching at least one actual puff for morphological features;

storing puff morphology data; and

characterizing the subject'"'"'s overall smoking behavior and the subject'"'"'s puff behavior in dependence on the stored puff occurrence data and on the stored puff morphology data.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising correlating the subject'"'"'s overall smoking behavior and the subject'"'"'s puff behavior with indicia of the functioning of other physiological systems.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising estimating the likelihood and severity of possible smoking-related diseases in dependence at least on part on the stored puff occurrence data and on the stored puff morphology data.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising providing biofeedback to the subject in dependence at least in part on the stored puff occurrence data and on the stored puff morphology data.