SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING HUMAN WATER LOSS THROUGH EXPIRATION AND PERSPIRATION

• US 20150196251A1
• Filed: 08/05/2014
• Published: 07/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Christopher Scott Outwater, William Gibbens Redmann
• Original Assignee: Christopher Scott Outwater, William Gibbens Redmann
• Inventors: Outwater, Christopher Scott, Redmann, William Gibbens
• Application Number:
  US14/329,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20150196251A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0252 using ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/029 Humidity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0082 adapted for particular medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0803 Recording apparatus specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/082 Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/09 using an element rotated by the flow toys actuated by air current A63H33/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/091 Measuring volume of inspired or expired gases, e.g. to determine lung capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1123 Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4266 sweat secretion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4875 : Hydration status, fluid retention of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 : Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/726 : using Wavelet transforms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7278 : Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining and reporting water loss by a subject through expiration and perspiration. The reported water loss can be for a particular period of exercise or activity performance. The temperature and humidity of ambient air, e.g., as inhaled into the subject'"'"'s lungs, and other factors including the temperature and humidity of the air exhaled, breath volume, and respiration rate, each of which may be measured, though some can be estimated on the basis of heart rate, exertion level, or recognized activities. Perspiration rate can also be measured and included. Monitoring for pulmonary hemorrhage or hemoptysis can also be incorporated.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring water loss comprising:

at least one humidity sensor;

an air flow sensor inside a test chamber, the test chamber having a mouth port and an ambient port;

at least one other sensor that provides a proxy value related to one of breathing rate of a subject and breath volume of the subject;

a memory; and

,

a controller having communication with said at least one humidity sensor, the air flow sensor, said at least one other sensor, and memory;

wherein the controller is configured to;

determine a first humidity of an environment with said at least one humidity sensor,

determine a first breath volume of one of an inhalation and an exhalation based on readings from the air flow sensor as the subject breathes through the mouth port,

determine a first breathing rate based on readings from at least one of the air flow sensor and at least one other sensor,

determine a first proxy value based on readings from said at least one other sensor,

store in a profile in the memory, an association of the first proxy value with at least one of the first breath volume and the first breathing rate,

determine a plurality of second proxy values based on readings from said at least one other sensor over a interval,

determine an amount of water loss for the interval based on at least the first humidity, the plurality of second proxy values, and the profile,

the controller further having communication with a display, wherein the amount of water loss is reported on the display.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one other sensor comprises a motion sensor.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said first and second proxy values each comprises an activeness reading.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the interval is determined by the activeness readings.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein said first and second proxy values each comprises a recognized activity.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the interval is determined by the recognized activity.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one other sensor comprises a heart rate monitor.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the first and second proxy values each comprises heart rate.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein said heart rate monitor comprises an optical pulse oximeter.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the first breathing rate is determined with the optical pulse oximeter.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one other sensor comprises a perspiration sensor and the first and second proxy values each comprise a measured perspiration.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the amount of water loss is further based on the measured perspiration.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising a perspiration sensor and the amount of water loss is further based on a measured perspiration.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein a first humidity sensor of said at least one humidity senor is inside the test chamber and the controller is further configured to:

determine a second humidity of an exhalation of a subject with the first humidity sensor, and

wherein the amount of water loss is further determined based on the second humidity.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein a first humidity sensor of said at least one humidity sensor senses absolute humidity.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein a first humidity sensor of said at least one humidity sensor senses relative humidity, the system further comprising:

a temperature sensor in proximity the first humidity sensor, the controller having communication with the temperature sensor;

wherein, the first humidity is further determined with the temperature sensor.

17. A method for monitoring water loss comprising the steps of:

accepting, by a controller, a first humidity of an environment;

reading, by the controller from a memory, a profile comprising an association of a first proxy value with at least one of a first breath volume and a first breathing rate;

determining, by the controller, a plurality of second proxy values for a subject based on readings over an interval from at least one sensor, the at least one sensor comprising at least one of a heart rate monitor, a perspiration sensor, and a motion sensor;

determining, by the controller, an amount of water loss by the subject for the interval based on at least the first humidity, the plurality of second proxy values, and the profile; and

,

reporting, by the controller the amount of water loss.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the at least one sensor comprises a motion sensor, and the plurality of second proxy values each comprise at least one of an activeness reading and a recognized activity, the method further comprising the step of:

determining the interval, by the controller, based on the at least one of the activeness reading and the recognized activity.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the amount of water loss is further based on readings during the interval by the controller of a perspiration sensor.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of:

accepting, by the controller, a second humidity of air exhaled by the subjection through a test chamber comprising a humidity sensor readable by the controller;

wherein the amount of water loss is further based on the second humidity.