METHOD DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING LUNG VENTILATION

• US 20090036790A1
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TECHNION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, LTD.
• Original Assignee: TECHNION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, LTD.
• Inventors: Landesberg, Amir, Waisman, Dan, Levy, Carmit
• Granted Patent: US 8,226,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/529
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• 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 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• 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 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4233 oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0069 the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/021 operated by electrical means A61M16/202 – A61M16/205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/105 Oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/40 Respiratory characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2240/00 Specially adapted for neonatal use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2250/00 : Specially adapted for animals

Abstract

A method of monitoring lung ventilation of a subject is disclosed. The method comprises recording signals from a plurality of sensing location on the chest of the subject, at least a portion of the signals being indicative of a local motion of the chest at a respective sensing location. The method further comprises operating a data processing system to analyze the signals such as to determine a status of the ventilation, thereby to monitor the lung ventilation of the subject.

Claims

1-53. -53. (canceled)

54. A method of monitoring lung ventilation of a subject having a chest and an epigastrium, the method comprising:

recording signals from a plurality of sensing locations on at least one of the chest and the epigastrium of the subject, at least a portion of said signals being indicative of a local motion of said chest at a respective sensing location, and operating a data processing system to analyze said signals such as to determine a status of the ventilation, thereby monitoring the lung ventilation of the subject, wherein said plurality of sensing locations on said chest comprises a left location at a left side of said chest and a right location at a right side of said chest, and wherein said analysis of said signals comprises comparing signals received from said left location to signals received from said right location so as to determine ventilation symmetry.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising sensing a change in the status of the ventilation relative to a previous status of the ventilation.

56. The method of claim 54, further comprising generating a sensible alert if the symmetry of ventilation is changed.

71. The method of claim 54, further comprising sensing signals from locations on the chest and the epigastrium of the subject, and comparing the signal from the epigastrium to the signal from the chest in order to detect at least one of the following:

existence of spontaneous breathing, relative strength of spontaneous breathing compared to artificial ventilation, changes in spontaneous breathing, apnea and leaks to the esophagus and abdomen.

57. A system for monitoring lung ventilation of a subject having a chest and an epigastrium, the system comprising:

a plurality of motion sensors, respectively connectable to a plurality of sensing locations on at least one of the chest of the subject and the epigastrium, each motion sensor being operable to sense a local motion of said chest at a respective sensing location; and

a data processing system, configured to receive and record signals from said motion sensors, and being supplemented with a mathematical algorithm for analyzing said signals to determine a status of the ventilation, wherein said plurality of sensing locations on said chest comprises a left location at a left side of said chest and a right location at a right side of said chest, and wherein said mathematical algorithm for analyzing said signals comprises comparing signals received from said left location to signals received from said right location so as to determine ventilation symmetry.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein said data processing system senses a change in the status of the ventilation relative to a previous status of the ventilation.

59. The system of claim 57, further comprising an alert device being in communication with said data processing system and operable to generate a sensible alert, wherein said data processing system is configured for signaling said alarm device to generate said sensible alert if the symmetry of ventilation is changed.

60. A method of monitoring lung ventilation of a subject, the method comprising:

recording signals from a plurality of sensing locations on the chest of the subject and the epigastrium, at least a portion of said signals being indicative of a local motion of said chest at a respective sensing location, and operating a data processing system to analyze said signals such as to determine a status of the ventilation, thereby monitoring the lung ventilation of the subject; and

determining a reference baseline for at least one sensing location, wherein the reference baseline is selected by medical staff.

61. The method of claim 60, further comprising generating a sensible alert when said signals deviate from said baseline.

62. A method of monitoring lung ventilation of a subject, the method comprising:

recording signals from a plurality of sensing locations on the chest of the subject and the epigastrium, at least a portion of said signals being indicative of a local motion of said chest at a respective sensing location, and operating a data processing system to analyze said signals such as to determine a status of the ventilation, thereby monitoring the lung ventilation of the subject, wherein analysis of said signals comprises calculating at least one ventilation index characterizing the status of said ventilation for at least one sensing location, wherein said at least one ventilation index is calculated as a function of time and for each sensing location.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein said at least one ventilation index comprises a tidal displacement index that represents a tidal peak-to-peak displacement of each sensor.

64. The method of claim 62, wherein said at least one ventilation index comprises a maximal inflation rate index.

65. The method of claim 62, wherein said at least one ventilation index comprises a maximal expiratory rate index.

66. The method of claim 62, wherein said at least one ventilation index comprises maximal acceleration or deceleration.

67. The method of claim 62, wherein said at least one ventilation index comprises angular acceleration.

68. The method of claim 62, wherein said at least one ventilation index comprises angular velocity.

69. The method of claim 62, wherein said at least one ventilation index comprises spectral characteristics of the signals in a frequency domain.

70. The method of claim 62, wherein said at least one ventilation index comprises a right to left motion index.

72. A method of monitoring lung ventilation of a subject, the method comprising:

recording signals from a plurality of sensing locations on the chest of the subject, at least a portion of said signals being indicative of a local motion of said chest at a respective sensing location, and operating a data processing system to analyze said signals such as to determine a status of the ventilation, thereby monitoring the lung ventilation of the subject, wherein said signals comprise at least one low-frequency component which is compatible with a frequency of the ventilation or an harmonic thereof in a range from zero to 30 Hz.