Method and system for monitoring breathing activity of a subject

• US 7,123,758 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Mostafavi, Hassan, Zdasiuk, George, Sutherland, Robert M., Riaziat, Majid L., Jeung, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Johns, Andrew W.
• Application Number:
  US10/327,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20040071337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/103, 382/107, 382/128, 382/154, 382/287, 382/291, 600/476, 600/529, 600/534, 600/535, 600/536, 128/922, 348/77, 348/94, 348/95
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/371 with simultaneous use of two cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1127 using markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• 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: A61B 5/7289 Retrospective gating, i.e. associating measured signals or images with a physiological event after the actual measurement or image acquisition, e.g. by simultaneously recording an additional physiological signal during the measurement or image acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/541 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1059 using cameras imaging the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1048 Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1049 for verifying the position of the patient with respect to the radiation beam
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1064 for adjusting radiation treatment in response to monitoring

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring breathing movement of a subject is disclosed. A method and system for detecting and predictably estimating regular cycles of breathing movements is disclosed. Another disclosed aspect of the invention is directed to detect and report irregularity of breathing activity of an infant, such as cessation and non-periodicity, which suggests a likelihood of SIDS.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring breathing activity, comprising:

using an optical device to obtain a set of signal data representative of a breathing movement of a first patient during a time period;

comparing amplitude of the set of signal data with a threshold; and

reporting irregularity based upon a result of the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the step of reporting irregularity comprises transmitting an alarm signal.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the irregularity comprises measurement of a set of signal data, the amplitude of the set of signal data below the threshold.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the irregularity comprises measurement of two or more consecutive sets of signal data, the amplitudes of the two or more sets of signal data below the threshold.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the breathing movement is for an infant.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical device is used to sense a marker on a marker block placed on a patient.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of signal data is also representative of a breathing movement of a second patient.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the amplitude is compared with the threshold to determine whether there is a deviation from periodicity of the breathing movement.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a number of markers in an image provided by the optical device; and

comparing the number of markers with a threshold value.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising generating a signal when the number of markers is less than the threshold value.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the irregularity is considered to have occurred when the amplitude exceeds the threshold.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the irregularity is considered to have occurred when the amplitude is below the threshold.

13. A system for monitoring breathing activity, comprising:

an optical device for measuring a set of signal data representative of a breathing movement during a time period;

means for comparing amplitude of the set of signal data with a threshold; and

means for reporting irregularity based upon a result of the comparison.

14. The system of claim 13 in which the means for reporting irregularity is configured to transmit an alarm signal.

15. The system of claim 13 in which the irregularity comprises measurement of a set of signal data, the amplitude of the set of signal data below the threshold.

16. The system of claim 13 in which the irregularity comprises measurement of two or more consecutive sets of signal data, the amplitudes of the two or more sets of signal data below the threshold.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the optical device is used to sense a marker on a marker block placed on a patient.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for comparing compares the amplitude with the threshold to determine whether there is a deviation from periodicity or the breathing movement.

19. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

means for determining a number of markers in an image provided by the optical device; and

means for comparing the number of markers with a threshold value.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising means for generating a signal when the number of markers is less than the threshold value.

21. A computer program product that includes a medium usable by a processor, the medium having a set of instructions, an execution of which by a processor will cause a process to be performed, the process comprising:

obtaining a set of signal data representative of a breathing movement during a time period, wherein the step of obtaining is performed using an optical device;

comparing amplitude of the set of signal data with a threshold; and

reporting irregularity based upon a result of the comparison.

22. The computer program product of claim 21 in which the step of reporting irregularity comprises transmitting an alarm signal.

23. The computer program product of claim 21 in which the irregularity comprises measurement of a set of signal data, the amplitude of the set of signal data below the threshold.

24. The computer program product of claim 21 in which the irregularity comprises measurement of two or more consecutive sets of signal data, the amplitudes of the two or more sets of signal data below the threshold.

25. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the amplitude is compared with the threshold to determine whether there is a deviation from periodicity of the breathing movement.

26. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the process further comprises:

determining a number of markers in an image provided by the optical device; and

comparing the number of markers with a threshold value.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the process further comprises generating a signal when the number of markers is less than the threshold value.