INTELLIGENT AIR FLOW SENSORS
First Claim
1. An airflow sensing system, comprising:
- a housing having a chamber that is sized and dimensioned to allow air generated by an air source to pass therethrough,a movable flap provided within the chamber, wherein the air from the source causes the flap to move when the air passes thereover,a sensor coupled to the movable flap for generating an output signal when the flap moves, anda determining unit, receiving the output signal of the sensor and in response thereto, determining an airflow rate of the air from the air source and generating a sound data signal representative of sound associated with the air and generated by the air source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A single sensor capable of detecting both airflow in spirometry and the full range of sound frequencies needed to track clinically relevant breath sounds is provided. The airflow sensor includes a movable flap with one or more integrated strain gauges for measuring displacement and vibration. The airflow sensor is inherently bidirectional. The sensor is an elastic flap airflow sensor that is capable of detecting data needed for both spirometry and auscultation measurements. The sensor is sterilizable and designed for the measurement of human respiratory airflow. The sterilizable sensor is also suitable for non-medical fluid flow metering applications. Additional devices such as sensors for the ambient level of various chemicals, sensors for temperature, sensors for humidity and microphones, may be affixed to the flap. When the strain gauge is placed in a conventional Wheatstone bridge configuration, the sensor can provide the airflow measurements needed for medical spirometry.
33 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An airflow sensing system, comprising:
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a housing having a chamber that is sized and dimensioned to allow air generated by an air source to pass therethrough, a movable flap provided within the chamber, wherein the air from the source causes the flap to move when the air passes thereover, a sensor coupled to the movable flap for generating an output signal when the flap moves, and a determining unit, receiving the output signal of the sensor and in response thereto, determining an airflow rate of the air from the air source and generating a sound data signal representative of sound associated with the air and generated by the air source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for simultaneously determining airflow rate and sound data of air generated by an air source using a single sensor, the method comprising:
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providing a sensor coupled to a movable flap that moves when air from an air source passes thereover, wherein the sensor generates an output signal when the movable flap moves; receiving the output signal of the sensor; determining an airflow rate of the air from the air source; and generating a sound data signal representative of sound associated with the air and generated by the air source.
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24. The method of claim 24, further comprising:
simultaneously sensing displacement of the movable flap and vibration of the movable flap using the sensor, wherein the displacement of the movable flap is representative of airflow rate data associated with the flow of air and the vibration of the movable flap is representative of sound data associated with the flow of air. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
Specification