SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING COUGH

• US 20070276278A1
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Adidas AG
• Inventors: Coyle, Michael, Derchak, P., Jonathan, Lance
• Granted Patent: US 7,727,161 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/529
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0823 Detecting or evaluating cough events
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• 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 5/4812 Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for monitoring subjects, especially during sleep. Respiratory and sound data are recorded and coughs arousal are recognized as joint events in both of these signals having selected characteristics. Further, cough-arousal events during sleep are recognized when a likely cough occurs in association with a recognized EEG arousal. Cough arousal events are combined into a cough arousal index that reflects disease severity and sleep disruption due to cough. The methods of this invention are computer-implemented and can be provided as a program product including a computer readable medium. Measurements and indices provided by this invention can be used to monitor and to treat respiratory diseases.

Claims

1-47. -47. (canceled)

48. A computer-implemented method for monitoring cough in a subject comprising:

monitoring data comprising tidal volume data and sound data with a monitoring device responsive to said subject;

processing said monitored chest wall movement consisting of movement signals derived from the rib cage, abdomen or both;

processing said monitored sound data obtained from said subject in order to recognize a sound event when a sound envelope exceeds a threshold;

processing each simultaneous movement and sound occurrence to identify patterns characteristic of a cough; and

identifying the event as a cough if the characteristic patterns are present.