Apparatus for allergen detection and air/asthma advice provision

• US 6,466,133 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1999
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AirAdvice for Homes, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AirAdvice, Inc.
• Inventors: Skardon, John N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US09/387,041
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 340/627, 340/539, 702/2, 702/23, 706/930
• US Class Current: 340/627
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0075 for multiple spatially distributed sensors, e.g. for environmental monitoring transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/93 Environment

Abstract

A novel basic allergen data collection device and a novel multi-function personal asthma management device are disclosed. Both devices include sensor sub-assembly detecting and reporting on allergen data (preferably, for allergen with sizes smaller than 5 micron) for an indoor location (where the asthma patient is situated). Both devices are communication enabled to allow the allergen data to be provided to an air/asthma advice server, to generate air/asthma advice for an asthma patient, taking into consideration the allergen data as well as air quality data for a surrounding outdoor area of the indoor location. In one embodiment of the basic device, the communication interface is tailored for “harsh environment” local area networking. When combined with its streamlined functionality, the device is particularly suitable (especially in terms of economics) for multiple deployment (along with a “base station”), such as in the case of an home application. In one embodiment of the multi-function device, the communication interface is tailored for “controlled environment” wide area networking. When combined with its rich functionality, the device is particularly suitable for standalone deployment, such as in the case of a professional application. Various alterations and modifications of different embodiments are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An indoor allergen data collection device comprising:

a sensor to detect presence of allergen with sizes smaller than 5 micron in an air stream within an indoor space, and to output signals indicative of the amount of allergen present, if any, in said indoor space, at different points in time; and

a communication interface coupled to the sensor to facilitate transmission of data values digitized from the output signals to a digital apparatus proximally located within said indoor space, for forwarding to a geographically removed air/asthma advice server for processing, and to receive through said digital apparatus, air quality advice generated by said air/asthma advice server based at least in part on a combination of said indoor allergen data provided and air quality data of an outdoor area, surrounding said indoor space, accessible to said air/asthma advice server.

2. The indoor allergen data collection device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises an analog-todigital (A/D) converter coupled to the sensor to receive and digitize said output signals into said data values.

3. The indoor allergen data collection device of claim 2, wherein the device further comprises a buffer coupled to the (A/D) converter and the communication interface for buffering the data values for the communication interface.

4. The indoor allergen data collection device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a filter arrangement disposed in front of an input end of the sensor to filter out allergens with sizes 5 micron and larger from the air stream.

5. The indoor allergen data collection device of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is a networking interface selected from a group consisting of a Bluetooth based wireless networking interface, an IEEE 802.11 standard based networking interface, a power-line based networking interface, and a phone wire based networking interface.

6. The indoor allergen data collection device of claim 1, wherein the digital apparatus is a device selected from a group consisting of a special purpose transmission base station, a general purpose computer and a general purpose cellular phone.

7. An asthma management device comprising:

a sensor to detect presence of allergen with sizes smaller than 5 micron in an air stream, within an indoor space, and to output signals indicative of the amount of allergen present, if any, in said indoor space at different points in time;

a lung function meter to measure one or more lung function metrics of a user; and

a communication interface coupled to said sensor and said lung function meter to facilitate forwarding of allergen data values digitized from said output signals and said one or more lung function metrics to a geographically removed air/asthma advice server for processing, and to receive air quality advice generated by said air/asthma advice server based at least in part on a combination of said digitized indoor allergen data provided and air quality data of an outdoor area, surrounding said indoor space, accessible to said air/asthma server.

8. The asthma management device of claim 7, wherein the lung function meter is a peak flow meter to measure peak expiratory flow rate of the user, and the communication interface further facilitates forwarding of the measured peak expiratory flow rate to the geographically removed air/asthma advice server.

9. The asthma management device of claim 7, wherein the lung function meter is a personal spirometer to measure forced expiratory volume of the user, and the communication interface further facilitates forwarding of the measured forced expiratory volume to the geographically removed air/asthma advice server.

10. The asthma management device of claim 7, wherein the device further comprises a thermometer to measure ambient temperature, and the communication interface further facilitates forwarding of the measured temperature to the geographically removed air/asthma advice server.

11. The asthma management device of claim 7, wherein the device further comprises a humidity meter to measure ambient humidity, and the communication interface further facilitates forwarding of the measured humidity to the geographically removed air/asthma advice server.

12. The asthma management device of claim 7, wherein the device further comprises one or more gas detection sensors to detect and measure presence of one or more gases selected from a group consisting of carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen oxide (NO_x), and sulfur oxide (SO_x), and the communication interface further facilitates forwarding of the measured amount of the one or more gases to the geographically removed air/asthma advice server.

13. The asthma management device of claim 7, wherein the communication interface is an interface selected from a group consisting of a Public Switching Telephone Network (PSTN) interface, an Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN) interface, and a digital subscriber line (DSL) interface.

14. The asthma management device of claim 7, wherein the device further comprises an end-user interface to facilitate provision of said air quality advice to said user.

15. The asthma management device of claim 7, wherein the device further comprises an A/D converter coupled to the sensor to digitize the output signals as said allergen data values, and memory coupled to the A/D converter and the lung function meter to store the digitized allergen data values and the measured lung function metrics of the user.

16. An air quality management device comprising:

a sensor to detect presence of allergen with sizes smaller than 5 micron in an air stream, within an indoor space, and to output signals indicative of the amount of allergen present, if any, in said indoor space at different points in time;

at least one sensor to measure at least one metric for ambient air surrounding a disposition location of the air quality management device; and

a communication interface coupled to the sensor sub-assembly to facilitate forwarding of allergen data values digitized from the output signals and said at least one measured ambient air metric to a geographically removed air/asthma advice server for processing, and to receive air quality advice generated by said air/asthma advice server based at least in part on a combination of said digitized indoor allergen data and said at least one measured ambient air metric.

17. The air quality management device of claim 16, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a thermometer to measure ambient temperature, and the communication interface further facilitates forwarding of the measured temperature to the geographically removed air/asthma advice server.

18. The air quality management device of claim 16, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a humidity meter to measure ambient humidity, and the communication interface further facilitates forwarding of the measured humidity to the geographically removed air/asthma advice server.

19. The air quality management device of claim 16, wherein the at least one sensor comprises one or more gas detection sensors to detect and measure presence of one or more gases selected from a group consisting of carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen oxide (NO_x), and sulfur oxide (SO_x), and the communication interface further facilitates forwarding of the measured amount of the one or more gases to the geographically removed air/asthma advice server.

20. The air quality management device of claim 16, wherein the communication interface is an interface selected from a group consisting of a Public Switching Telephone Network (PSTN) interface, an Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN) interface, and a digital subscriber line (DSL) interface.

21. The air quality management device of claim 16, wherein the device further comprises an A/D converter coupled to the sensor to digitize the output signals as said allergen data values and memory coupled to the A/D converter to store the digitized allergen data values.

22. The air quality management device of claim 16, wherein the device further comprises an end-user interface to facilitate provision of air quality advice to a user.

23. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a first and a second communication interface coupled to the processor; and

a storage medium coupled to the processor having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions to be executed by the processor to facilitate receipt of allergen data of an indoor space, collected by a allergen data collection device proximally located within said indoor space, through the first communication interface, transmission of the received allergen data to a geographically removed air/asthma advice server through the second communication interface, and to receive through the second communications interface, air quality advice generated by said air/asthma advice server based at least in part on a combination of said allergen data of said indoor space and air quality data of an outdoor area surrounding said indoor space.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first communication interface is a networking interface selected from a group consisting of a Bluetooth based wireless networking interface, an IEEE 802.11 based wireless networking interface, a power-line based networking interface, and a phone wire based networking interface.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the second communication interface is an interface selected from a group consisting of a Public Switching Telephone Network (PSTN) interface, an Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN) interface, and a digital subscriber line (DSL) interface.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the apparatus is a selected one of a special purpose transmission base station, a general purpose personal computer and a general purpose cellular phone.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the apparatus is a computer, and the programming instructions further facilitate provision of air quality advice to a user.