SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RESPIRATORY HEALTH MANAGEMENT

• US 20180325422A1
• Filed: 07/20/2018
• Published: 11/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Ventilation Applications, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Advanced Ventilation Applications, Inc.
• Inventors: Sokol, Eric R., Liphardt, Jan, Chang, Robert T.
• Granted Patent: US 10,543,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 5/091 Measuring volume of inspired or expired gases, e.g. to determine lung capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/097 Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6819 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 23/06 Nose filters
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/10 with filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/006 Indicators or warning devices, e.g. of low pressure, contamination
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

Systems and methods for respiratory health management are provided. An air filtration and analysis system may comprise an apparatus configured to be worn by a user. The apparatus may comprise a filtration device. The system may also include a plurality of sensors configured to collect data. A portion of the sensor data may be indicative of (i) one or more characteristics of the air inhaled and/or exhaled by the user, and/or (ii) an environment in which the user is located. At least one sensor and/or the apparatus may be in communication with a processor that is configured to analyze the collected sensor data.

Claims

1. An air filtration and analysis system, comprising:

an apparatus configured to be worn by a user, said apparatus comprising a filtration device; and

a plurality of sensors configured to collect data, wherein a portion of the sensor data is indicative of (i) one or more characteristics of the air inhaled and/or exhaled by the user, and/or (ii) an environment in which the user is located, and at least one sensor and/or the apparatus is in communication with a processor that is configured to analyze the collected sensor data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the filtration device is configured to reduce one or more elements from the air inhaled by the user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the filtration device is configured to be placed near or within the nasal passages of the user.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising the processor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors are selected from a group consisting of chemical sensors, pressure and air flow sensors, heart-rate monitors, blood oxygen saturation sensors, GPS sensors, temperature sensors, and inertial sensors.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors comprise a first set of sensors that is located with or on the filtration device, and a second set of sensors that is located remote to the filtration device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to effect operation of the filtration system and/or at least one sensor based on the analyzed sensor data, so as to reduce an impact of one or more elements on the user'"'"'s health.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to perform one or more of the following steps:

(1) calibrate at least one sensor against a baseline sensor reference;

(2) check whether at least one sensor is operating normally or whether the sensor is defective;

or (3) correct for sensor drift, error or bias.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors are configured to collect the sensor data at different predetermined sampling frequencies.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to analyze the sensor data by cross-checking an accuracy of each set of sensor data against other different types of sensor data.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to analyze the sensor data by correlating sensor data from different sources.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to assign weights to the sensor data based on an accuracy and/or inherent sensing characteristics of each of the plurality of sensors.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to analyze the sensor data using statistical methods.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to analyze the sensor data by combining different sets of sensor data in a manner that compensates for the deficiencies of individual sensors or type of sensors.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is located on a mobile device or a wearable device that is carried or worn by the user, and/or on a server that is remote to the user.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to compress the collected sensor data and store the compressed data in a memory.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to effect the operation of the filtration device and/or the at least one sensor, by programming and customizing the filtration device and/or the at least one sensor (1) to meet the user'"'"'s physiological needs and activities, and/or (2) based on the user'"'"'s local environment.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to analyze the collected sensor data so to determine (1) a health status and/or medical conditions of the user, and/or (2) a type of activity that the user is performing.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to analyze the collected sensor data so as to determine the user'"'"'s proximity to known sources of pollution, environment, time of day, and/or season.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to effect the operation of the filtration device and/or the at least one sensor, such that the filtration device and/or the at least one sensor is configured to dynamically and automatically adapt in real-time as the user moves from one location to another location, as time of day changes, as season changes, and/or depending on changes in the user'"'"'s health status.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to effect the operation of the filtration device and/or the at least one sensor, by (1) selectively activating or de-activating the at least one sensor, and/or (2) adjusting a sensitivity level, sensing range, or sampling frequency of the at least one sensor.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to generate recommendations for improving a health or well-being of the user, based on the analyzed sensor.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the recommendations comprise one or more of the following:

(1) a warning of an impact to the user'"'"'s health should the user continue to inhale the air containing one or more elements;

(2) a score that is indicative of a predicted impact of the one or more elements on the user'"'"'s health;

or (3) a suggested corrective action to minimize inhalation of the air containing the one or more elements.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the recommendations are displayed as a set of graphical visual objects on a graphical display.

25. The system of claim 3, wherein the apparatus comprises a retention mechanism configured to be releasably coupled to a portion of the nasal passages of the user, such that the apparatus is capable of being attached in place on the user'"'"'s nose without requiring use of one or more external fixation devices.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the apparatus has a shape and/or profile that minimizes physical interference with lip movement of the user and does not visually obstruct lip movement or facial expression of the user, while the apparatus is being worn on the user'"'"'s nose.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the nasal apparatus does not encroach on the user'"'"'s upper lip while the nasal apparatus is being worn on the user'"'"'s nose.

28. A method for filtering and analyzing inhaled and/or exhaled air, comprising:

obtaining data collected using a plurality of sensors, wherein a portion of the sensor data is indicative of (i) one or more characteristics of the air inhaled and/or exhaled by a user, and/or (ii) an environment in which the user is located, and wherein a filtration device is configured to be worn by the user;

analyzing the collected sensor data; and

effecting operation of the filtration device and/or at least one sensor of said plurality based on the analyzed sensor data.

29. A system for filtering and analyzing inhaled and/or exhaled air, comprising:

a server comprising;

a memory for storing data collected using a plurality of sensors operably coupled to a filtration device, wherein a portion of the sensor data is indicative of (i) one or more characteristics of the air inhaled and/or exhaled by a user, and/or (ii) an environment in which the user is located, and wherein the filtration device is configured to be worn by the user; and

a processor configured to execute a set of software instructions to;

analyze the collected sensor data; and

effect operation of the filtration device and/or at least one sensor based on the analyzed sensor data.

30. A tangible computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform a computer-implemented method for filtering and analyzing inhaled and/or exhaled air, the method comprising:

obtaining data collected using a plurality of sensors, wherein a portion of the sensor data is indicative of (i) one or more characteristics of the air inhaled and/or exhaled by a user, and/or (ii) an environment in which the user is located, and wherein a filtration device is configured to be worn by the user;

analyzing the collected sensor data; and

effecting operation of the filtration device and/or at least one sensor of said plurality based on the analyzed sensor data.