Mobile ergospirometry system

• US 6,921,369 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2000
• Issued: 07/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CORTEX Biophysik GmbH
• Original Assignee: CORTEX Biophysik GmbH
• Inventors: Gehrke, Matthias, Henker, Ralf, Kriesmer, Thomas P., Kretschmer, Claus-Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser, Robert L
• Assistant Examiner(s): MALLARI, PATRICIA C
• Application Number:
  US10/129,824
• Time in Patent Office: 1,769 Days
• Field of Search: 600300-301, 600/529, 600531-533, 600/538, 600/543, 455/62, 73/233, 704/258, 340/384.1
• US Class Current: 600/529
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0833 Measuring rate of oxygen consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0836 Measuring rate of CO2 production
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/091 Measuring volume of inspired or expired gases, e.g. to determine lung capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/741 using synthesised speech

Abstract

A mobile ergospirometry system including a portable measurement unit that can be attached to a subject and that incorporates a mouthpiece or mask to collect respiratory gas, a sensor for the volume or amount of gas as well as sensors to determine the CO₂/O₂ concentration in the respiratory gas, a signal processing unit, and a telemetry module. The system further includes a computer-assisted base station having a telemetry unit to create a wireless connection to the telemetry module. In the system a bidirectional transmission route to the telemetry unit is set up by the telemetry module to transmit data and commands, for which purpose a transmitter and receiver subassembly is provided in each case, so that from the base station it is possible to communicate to the subject online information or requirements for operation of the measurement unit and/or the progress of the test. The signal processing unit sends coded commands that it receives to a speech module for the conversion and audio output of instructions as to behavior, explanations, or similar information.

Claims

1. Mobile ergospirometry system, comprising:

a portable measurement unit configured to be attached to a subject and incorporating a mouthpiece or mask to collect respiratory gas;

a sensor configured to sense a volume or amount of gas and at least one respiratory gas sensor configured to determine at least one of a CO₂ and an O₂ concentration in the respiratory gas;

a signal processing unit, a telemetry module, and a computer-assisted base station having a telemetry unit configured to create a wireless connection to the telemetry module;

wherein by the telemetry module a bidirectional transmission route to the telemetry unit is set up to transmit data and commands, for which purpose a transmitter and receiver subassembly is provided, so that the base station may communicate online information or requirements for operation of the measurement unit and/or to modify a course of a test, wherein the signal processing unit sends received coded commands to a speech module for conversion and audio output of information,

wherein the measurement unit further comprises a heart-rate detector and a multichannel ECG module, such that detection and storage of ergospirometric and cardiological data are performed synchronously by the signal processing unit, and

further comprising a memory configured to back up data in the measurement unit, such that, in the memory data, sets are stored in a specified format and comprise data specifically related to each consecutive breath and/or complete sequence of data measured for all or selected parameters during selectable intervals with selectable starting times.

2. Mobile ergospirometry system, comprising:

a portable measurement unit configured to be attached to a subject and incorporating a mouthpiece or mask to collect respiratory gas;

a sensor configured to sense a volume or amount of gas and at least one respiratory gas sensor configured to determine at least one of a CO₂ and an O₂ concentration in the respiratory gas;

a signal processing unit, a telemetry module, and a computer-assisted base station having a telemetry unit configured to create a wireless connection to the telemetry module;

wherein by the telemetry module a bidirectional transmission route to the telemetry unit is set up to transmit data and commands, for which purpose a transmitter and receiver subassembly is provided, so that the base station may communicate online information or requirements for operation of the measurement unit and to modify a course of a test, wherein the signal processing unit sends received coded commands to a speech module for conversion and audio output of information,

wherein the speech module comprises a digital memory in which are stored words, word groups, or other mechanisms of presenting information acoustically, and

wherein by the signal processing unit, from the words or word groups stored in the digital memory command-oriented word combinations appropriate to a current situation are selected, linked, and output in a controlled manner.

3. Mobile ergospirometry system, comprising:

a portable measurement unit configured to be attached to a subject and incorporating a mouthpiece or mask to collect respiratory gas;

a sensor configured to sense a volume or amount of gas and at least one respiratory gas sensor configured to determine at least one of a CO₂ and an O₂ concentration in the respiratory gas;

a signal processing unit, a telemetry module, and a computer-assisted base station having a telemetry unit configured to create a wireless connection to the telemetry module;

wherein by the telemetry module a bidirectional transmission route to the telemetry unit is set up to transmit data and commands, for which purpose a transmitter and receiver subassembly is provided, so that the base station may communicate online information or requirements for operation of the measurement unit and to modify a course of a test, wherein the signal processing unit sends received coded commands to a speech module for conversion and audio output of information,

wherein the measurement unit comprises at least one sensor configured to detect at least one of a quantity of an ambient temperature, humidity of the respiratory gas, and differential pressure values, these detected quantities being used to calibrate and correct values signalled by the at least one respiratory gas sensor.

4. Mobile ergospirometry system, comprising:

a portable measurement unit configured to be attached to a subject and incorporating a mouthpiece or mask to collect respiratory gas;

a sensor configured to sense a volume or amount of gas and at least one respiratory gas sensor configured to determine at least one of a CO₂ and an O₂ concentration in the respiratory gas;

a signal processing unit, a telemetry module, and a computer-assisted base station having a telemetry unit configured to create a wireless connection to the telemetry module;

wherein by the telemetry module a bidirectional transmission route to the telemetry unit is set up to transmit data and commands, for which purpose a transmitter and receiver subassembly is provided, so that the base station may communicate online information or requirements for operation of the measurement unit and/or to modify a course of a test, wherein the signal processing unit sends received coded commands to a speech module for conversion and audio output of information, and

wherein the portable measurement unit includes two housing components connected by a cable, and wherein by a carrier harness or frame the housing components are each adapted to be positioned on an upper body of the subject in a vicinity of shoulders/clavicle of the subject.

5. Mobile ergospirometry system, comprising:

a portable measurement unit configured to be attached to a subject and incorporating a mouthpiece or mask to collect respiratory gas;

a sensor configured to sense a volume or amount of gas and at least one respiratory gas sensor configured to determine at least one of a CO₂ and an O₂ concentration in the respiratory gas;

a signal processing unit, a telemetry module, and a computer-assisted base station having a telemetry unit configured to create a wireless connection to the telemetry module;

wherein by the telemetry module a bidirectional transmission route to the telemetry unit is set up to transmit data and commands, for which purpose a transmitter and receiver subassembly is provided, so that the base station may communicate online information or requirements for operation of the measurement unit and to modify a course of a test, wherein the signal processing unit sends received coded commands to a speech module for conversion and audio output of information,

wherein the telemetry unit in the base station comprises an automatic frequency-selection device, so that after scanning of a frequency band and/or after a procedure for transmitting test data, a telemetry frequency can be set that is expected to provide optimal transmission quality.

6. Mobile ergospirometry system according to claim 5, wherein the measurement unit further comprises a heart-rate detector and a multichannel ECG module, such that detection and storage of ergospirometric and cardiological data are performed synchronously by the signal processing unit.

7. Mobile ergospirometry system according to claim 6, further comprising a memory configured to back up data in the measurement unit, such that, in the memory data, sets are stored in a specified format and comprise data specifically related to each consecutive breath and/or complete sequence of data measured for all or selected parameters during selectable intervals with selectable starting times.

8. Mobile ergospirometry system according to claim 7, wherein by the signal processing unit ergospirometric parameters are calculated from the data obtained, and these calculated parameters are stored in the memory and/or are configured to be displayed or acoustically communicated.

9. Mobile ergospirometry system according to claim 5, wherein the signal processing unit, with or without an external command, derives from available measured data and/or from progress of the test instructions regarding the subject'"'"'s behavior and transmits the instructions to the subject by the speech module.

10. Mobile ergospirometry system according to claim 5, wherein the speech module comprises a digital memory in which are stored words, word groups, or other mechanisms of presenting information acoustically.

11. Mobile ergospirometry system according to claim 10, wherein by the signal processing unit, from the words or word groups stored in the digital memory command-oriented word combinations appropriate to a current situation are selected, linked, and output in a controlled manner.

12. Mobile ergospirometry system according to claim 5, wherein the measurement unit comprises at least one sensor configured to detect at least one of a quantity of an ambient temperature, humidity of the respiratory gas, and differential pressure values, these detected quantities being used to calibrate and correct values signalled by the at least one respiratory gas sensor.

13. Mobile ergospirometry system according to claim 5, wherein the portable measurement unit comprises an interface for exchanging data with the base station, a personal computer, or a medical-technical device.

14. Mobile ergospirometry system according to claim 5, wherein the base station comprises an interface to create a connection with a bidirectional telemetry unit designed as a supplementary subassembly.

15. Mobile ergospirometry system according to claim 5, wherein the portable measurement unit includes two housing components connected by a cable, and wherein by a carrier harness or frame the housing components are each adapted to be positioned on an upper body of the subject in a vicinity of shoulders/clavicle of the subject.