METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING BREATHING CYCLE BY FREQUENCY ANALYSIS OF AN ACOUSTIC DATA STREAM
First Claim
1. A method for processing acoustic signal data for use in monitoring the breathing cycle of an individual comprising:
- collecting and generating a data set representative of an acoustic data stream plot of wave amplitude versus time, the data set originating from breathing sounds of an individual;
segmenting the acoustic data stream plot into segments, each spanning a predetermined time period;
transforming the acoustic data so as to produce a frequency spectrum in each segment;
transforming the frequency spectrum in each segment so as to produce a plurality of magnitude bins;
identifying a sample including a plurality of segments and determining therein a sum of lower frequency magnitude bins within a predetermined lower frequency range and a sum of higher frequency magnitude bins within a predetermined higher frequency range;
dividing the sum of higher frequency magnitude bins in the sampling by the sum of lower frequency magnitude bins so as to produce a mean bands ratio;
determining a sum of lower frequency magnitude bins and a sum of higher frequency magnitude bins within a given segment;
dividing the sum of higher frequency magnitude bins by the sum of lower frequency magnitude bins within said given segment so as to produce a first bands ratio; and
determining if said first bands ratio is greater or less than said mean bands ratio by at least a predetermined multiplier so as to provide an indication of said breathing cycle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for monitoring, identifying and determining the breathing cycle of an individual from processed acoustic signal waveform data. The breathing sounds of an individual are recorded using a microphone and digitized such that the breathing sounds may be plotted. The data is segmented and transformed to form a plurality of segments representative of a frequency spectrum. The frequency spectrum data is transformed so as to produce magnitude bins and the sum of lower magnitude bins and the sum of higher magnitude bins are determined in a sampling of segments. A Bands Ratio is determined from the sum of lower magnitude bins and the sum of higher magnitude bins in the sampling of segments. A first bands ratio is then determined within a given segment and compared to the mean bands ratio. If the first bands ratio of the given segment is greater than the mean bands ratio by at least a predetermined multiplier, the given segment is labeled as inspiration. If the first bands ratio of the given segment is less than the mean bands ratio by at least a predetermined multiplier, the given segment is labeled as expiration.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method for processing acoustic signal data for use in monitoring the breathing cycle of an individual comprising:
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collecting and generating a data set representative of an acoustic data stream plot of wave amplitude versus time, the data set originating from breathing sounds of an individual; segmenting the acoustic data stream plot into segments, each spanning a predetermined time period; transforming the acoustic data so as to produce a frequency spectrum in each segment; transforming the frequency spectrum in each segment so as to produce a plurality of magnitude bins; identifying a sample including a plurality of segments and determining therein a sum of lower frequency magnitude bins within a predetermined lower frequency range and a sum of higher frequency magnitude bins within a predetermined higher frequency range; dividing the sum of higher frequency magnitude bins in the sampling by the sum of lower frequency magnitude bins so as to produce a mean bands ratio; determining a sum of lower frequency magnitude bins and a sum of higher frequency magnitude bins within a given segment; dividing the sum of higher frequency magnitude bins by the sum of lower frequency magnitude bins within said given segment so as to produce a first bands ratio; and determining if said first bands ratio is greater or less than said mean bands ratio by at least a predetermined multiplier so as to provide an indication of said breathing cycle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An apparatus for transforming acoustic signal data breathing sounds into a graphical representation indicative of breathing cycle phases including inspiration phases and expiration phases comprising:
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at least one microphone for collecting acoustic signal data resultant from the breathing of an individual during a given time period; an acoustic signal data digitizing module for digitizing the acoustic signal data to produce an acoustic data stream plot representative of wave amplitude versus time; at least one processor operable for receiving the acoustic data stream plot, the processor configured for; segmenting the acoustic data stream plot into a plurality of segments of a predetermined length of time; transforming the acoustic data stream in each of the plurality of segments so as to produce a plurality of frequency specta wherein each frequency spectrum is representative of one of the plurality of segments; transforming each frequency spectrum so as to produce a plurality of magnitude bins in each segment; determining a sum of lower frequency magnitude bins within a predetermined lower frequency range and a sum of higher frequency magnitude bins within a predetermined higher frequency range within a sampling of the plurality segments; dividing the sum of higher frequency magnitude bins by the sum of lower frequency magnitude bins in the sampling so as to produce a mean bands ratio; determining a sum of lower frequency magnitude bins and a sum of higher frequency magnitude bins within a given segment; dividing the sum of higher frequency magnitude bins by the sum of lower frequency magnitude bins within said given segment so as to produce a first bands ratio; comparing said mean bands ratio to said first bands ratio and determining if said first bands ratio is greater or less than said mean bands ratio by at least a predetermined multiplier so as to determine if said given segment is an inspiration phase or an expiration phase of the breathing cycle; and an information relay module in communication with the at least one processor for providing the transformed data to an operator as first indicia representing inspiration and expiration. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. An apparatus for transforming acoustic signal data breathing sounds into a graphical representation indicative of breathing cycle phases including inspiration phases and expiration phases comprising:
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at least one microphone for collecting acoustic signal data resultant from the breathing of an individual during a given time period; an acoustic signal data digitizing module for receiving and digitizing sounds via a transducing link from the at least one microphone, the audio signal digitizing module operable to produce an acoustic data stream plot representative of wave amplitude versus time; a module for segmenting a plurality of adjacent audio samples from the acoustic data stream plot into a plurality of segments of a predetermined length of time; a module for transforming the acoustic data stream in each of the plurality of segment so as to produce a plurality of frequency spectra wherein each frequency spectrum is representative of one of the plurality of segments; a module for transforming each frequency spectrum so as to produce a plurality of magnitude bins in each segment; a module for determining a sum of lower frequency magnitude bins within a predetermined lower frequency range and a sum of higher frequency magnitude bins within a predetermined higher frequency range within a sampling of the plurality segments; a module for dividing the sum of higher frequency magnitude bins by the sum of lower frequency magnitude bins in the sampling of the plurality of segments so as to produce a mean bands ratio; a module for determining a sum of lower frequency magnitude bins and a sum of higher frequency magnitude bins within a given segment; a module for dividing the sum of higher frequency magnitude bins by the sum of lower frequency magnitude within said given segment so as to produce a first bands ratio; a module for comparing said mean bands ratio to said first bands ratio and determining if said first bands ratio is greater or less than said mean bands ratio by at least a predetermined multiplier so as to determine if said given segment is an inspiration phase or an expiration phase of the breathing cycle; and an information rely module in communication with the module for comparing said mean bands ratio to said first bands ratio for providing the transformed data to an operator as indicia representing inspiration and expiration.
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41. A computer implemented apparatus for transforming acoustic signal data breathing sounds into a graphical representation indicative of breathing cycle phases including inspiration phases and expiration phases comprising:
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at least one microphone for collecting acoustic signal data breathing sounds resultant from the breathing of an individual during a given time period; an acoustic signal data digitizing module for receiving and digitizing sounds via a transducing link from the at least one microphone, the audio signal digitizing module operable to produce an acoustic data stream plot representative of a wave amplitude versus time; at least one processor operable for receiving the acoustic data stream plot, the processor configured for; segmenting a plurality of adjacent audio samples from the acoustic data stream plot into a plurality of segments of a predetermined length of time; transforming the acoustic data stream in each of the plurality of segments so as to produce a plurality of frequency spectra wherein each frequency spectrum is representative of one of the plurality of segments; transforming each frequency spectrum so as to produce a plurality of magnitude bins in each segment; determining a sum of lower frequency magnitude bins within a predetermined lower frequency range and a sum of higher frequency magnitude bins within a predetermined higher frequency range within a sampling of the plurality segments; dividing the sum of higher frequency magnitude bins by the sum of lower frequency magnitude bins in the sampling of the plurality of segments so as to produce a mean bands ratio; determining a sum of lower frequency magnitude bins and a sum of higher frequency magnitude bins within a given segment; dividing the sum of higher frequency magnitude bins by the sum of lower frequency magnitude bins within said given segment so as to produce a first bands ratio; comparing said mean bands ratio to said first bands ratio and determining if said first bands ratio is greater or less than said mean bands ratio by at least a predetermined multiplier so as to determine if said given segment is an inspiration phase or an expiration phase of the breathing cycle; and an information rely module in communication with the at least one processor for providing the transformed data to an operator as indicia representing inspiration and expiration.
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42. A method for processing acoustic signal data for use in monitoring a breathing cycle of an individual comprising:
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generating a data set representative of an acoustic data stream plot of wave amplitude versus time, the data set originating from breathing sounds of an individual; transforming the acoustic data stream plot to yield at least one relatively higher frequency spectral characteristic and at least one relatively lower frequency spectral characteristic; determining a proportional value of the relatively higher frequency spectral characteristics to the relatively lower frequency spectral characteristics; and generating at least first output indicative of an inspirational breathing phase according to a first range of the proportional value and/or at least one second output indicative of an expirational breathing phase according to a second range of the second proportional value.
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43. A device for processing acoustic signal data for use in monitoring a breathing cycle of an individual comprising:
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means for generating a data set representative of an acoustic data stream plot of wave amplitude versus time, the data set originating from breathing sounds of an individual; means for transforming the acoustic data stream plot to yield at least one relatively higher frequency spectral characteristic and at least one relatively lower frequency spectral characteristic; means for determining a proportional value of the relatively higher frequency spectral characteristic to the relatively lower frequency spectral characteristic; and means for generating at least first output indicative of an inspirational breathing phase according to a first range of the proportional value and/or at least one second output indicative of an expirational breathing phase according to a second range of the second proportional value.
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44. A method for processing acoustic signal data for use in monitoring inspirational and expirational phases of a breathing cycle of an individual comprising:
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generating a data set representative of an acoustic data stream plot of wave amplitude versus time, the data set originating from breathing sounds of an individual; transforming the acoustic data stream plot to yield inspirational spectral data for at least one inspirational phase and expirational spectral data for at least one expirational phase; and characterizing the shape of the inspirational and expirational frequency spectra for tracking breathing activities to identify inspirational and expirational breathing phases in subsequent breathing cycles.
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45. A device for processing acoustic signal data for use in monitoring inspirational and expirational phases of a breathing cycle of an individual comprising:
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means for generating a data set representative of an acoustic data stream plot of wave amplitude versus time, the data set originating from breathing sounds of an individual; means for transforming the acoustic data stream plot to yield inspirational spectral data for at least one inspirational phase and expirational spectral data for at least one expirational phase; and means for characterizing the shape of the inspirational and expirational frequency spectra for tracking breathing activities to identify inspirational and expirational breathing phases in subsequent breathing cycles.
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Specification