Motivational spirometry system and method

• US 8,398,561 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2009
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Quinn, David Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnithithadha, Navin
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERHANU, ETSUB D
• Application Number:
  US12/577,319
• Publication Number:
  US 20100022905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 600/538
• US Class Current: 600/538
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/091 Measuring volume of inspired or expired gases, e.g. to determine lung capacity

Abstract

A method is disclosed for motivating a user of a spirometry system having a display screen, an air-tube, a flow measurement sensor operatively associated with the air-tube, a display screen, and an associated processor. A motivational animation is displayed on the display screen having a first aspect that reflects a relative evaluation of a determined peak flow rate to a goal value therefor and having a second aspect that reflects a relative evaluation of a determined total flow volume to a goal value therefor. The processor repeatedly updates the motivational animation during the period of use of the spirometer to reflect the degree of achievement of both of the goal values by the user.

Claims

1. A method for motivating a user of a spirometer during a period of use, said method comprising the steps of:

generating a motivational animation having a first aspect that reflects a relative evaluation of a determined peak flow rate to a goal value therefore and having a second aspect separate from said first aspect that reflects a relative evaluation of a determined total flow volume to a goal value therefore;

displaying said motivational animation to said user based on a common animation theme and wherein each of the goal values of peak flow rate and total flow volume result in a tangible result in said motivational animation; and

repeatedly updating the motivational animation display during the period of use of the spirometer to reflect the degree of achievement of both of the goal values by the user and in which the second aspect is not displayed until a target flow rate represented by said first aspect is first achieved.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the user exhales through the spirometer during the period of use.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the user inhales through the spirometer during the period of use.

4. A method for motivating a user of a spirometer having an air tube, said method comprising the steps of:

measuring a flow of air through the air tube induced by the user during a period of use of the spirometer apparatus;

processing the air flow measurements to determine a peak flow rate and a total flow volume for the period of use;

evaluating the determined peak flow rate relative to a goal value therefor;

evaluating the determined total flow volume relative to a goal value therefore; and

displaying a motivational animation to the user, said motivational animation being based on a common animation theme and in which the goal values of the peak flow rate and the total flow volume result in a tangible result in said motivational animation, said animation having a first aspect that reflects the relative evaluation of the determined peak flow rate to the goal value therefore and having a second aspect separate from said first aspect that reflects the relative evaluation of the determined total flow volume to the goal value therefore and in which the second aspect is not displayed until a target flow rate represented by said first aspect is first achieved.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising repeatedly updating the motivational animation display during the period of use of the spirometer apparatus to the degree of achievement by the user of both of the goal values.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising selecting the goal values for peak flow rate and total flow volume based on the demographics of the user and normative parameters from a clinical population study.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein selecting the goal values for peak flow rate and total flow volume based on the demographics of the user and normative parameters from a clinical study comprises selecting the goal values for peak flow rate and total flow volume based on at least one of the age, sex, height and weight of the user.

8. The method of claim 4 further comprising selecting the goal values for peak flow rate and total flow volume based on the expected performance of the user.

9. The method of claim 4 further comprising selecting the goal values for peak flow rate and total flow volume based on the past performance of the user.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein said motivational animation comprises a fireman spraying water at a fire.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the magnitude of water flow sprayed at the fire reflects the relative evaluation of the determined peak flow rate to the goal value therefore.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the degree of fire extinguished reflects the relative evaluation of the determined total flow volume to the goal value therefore.

13. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of adjusting at least one of the goal values during the animation to customize motivation level.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein both goal values are met in order for the fire of said motivational animation to be extinguished.