Breathing pattern identification for respiratory function assessment

Abstract

What is disclosed is a system and method for identifying a patient's breathing pattern for respiratory function assessment without contact and with a depth-capable imaging system. In one embodiment, a time-varying sequence of depth maps are received of a target region of a subject of interest over a period of inspiration and expiration. Once received, the depth maps are processed to obtain a breathing signal for the subject. The subject's breathing signal comprises a temporal sequence of instantaneous volumes. One or more segments of the subject's breathing signal are then compared against one or more reference breathing signals each associated with a known pattern of breathing. As a result of the comparison, a breathing pattern for the subject is identified. The identified breathing pattern is then used to assess the subject's respiratory function. The teachings hereof find their uses in an array of diverse medical applications. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention is directed to systems and methods for identifying a patient's breathing pattern for respiratory function assessment.BACKGROUND[0002]Monitoring respiratory events is of clinical importance in the early detection of potentially fatal conditions. Current technologies involve contact sensors the individual must wear which may lead to patient discomfort, dependency, loss of dignity, and further may fail due to a variety of reasons. Elderly patients and neonatal infants are even more likely to suffer adverse effects of such monitoring by contact sensors. Unobtrusive, non-contact methods are increasingly desirable for patient respiratory function assessment.[0003]Accordingly, what is needed are systems and methods for identifying a patient's breathing pattern for respiratory function assessment without contact and with a depth-capable imaging system.INCORPORATED REFERENCES[0004]The following U.S. patents, U.S. patent applications, and Publication...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]What is disclosed is a system and method for identifying a patient's breathing pattern for respiratory function assessment without contact and with a depth-capable imaging system. In one embodiment, a time-varying sequence of depth maps is received of a target region of a subject of interest over a period of inspiration and expiration. The depth maps are processed to obtain a breathing signal for the subject which comprises a temporal sequence of instantaneous volumes across time intervals during inspiratory and expiratory breathing. One or more segments of the breathing signal are then compared against reference breathing signals, each associated with a known pattern of breathing. As a result of the comparison, a breathing pattern for the subject is identified. The identified breathing pattern is used to assess the subject's respiratory function. The teachings hereof find their uses in a wide array of medical applications.

Problems solved by technology

Current technologies involve contact sensors the individual must wear which may lead to patient discomfort, dependency, loss of dignity, and further may fail due to a variety of reasons.

Elderly patients and neonatal infants are even more likely to suffer adverse effects of such monitoring by contact sensors.

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