Apparatus and method for detecting resistance status of the upper respiratory airways

Abstract

This invention provides an apparatus and method for detecting upper airway resistance. The apparatus includes an adjustable inspiratory resistance mask, a fluid feature sensing unit for detecting airflow characteristics with respect to the user's nose to obtain a first fluid feature value, and detecting fluid characteristics with respect to the user's mouth or throat to obtain a second fluid feature value, and a processing unit. By sensing pressure changes during breathing through the mouth, throat, or nose under different postures, the processing unit calculates the corresponding pressure gradient based on the first and second fluid feature values ​​to assess the upper airway resistance.

Claims

1. A device for detecting upper airway resistance, comprising: A mask covering the user’s mouth, nose, or mouth and nose, which is used to generate or regulate an inhalation resistance. A fluid feature sensing unit is used to detect airflow features related to the user's nose to obtain a first fluid feature value, and to detect fluid features related to the user's mouth or throat to obtain a second fluid feature value. And a processing unit coupled to the fluid feature sensing unit, for generating a first pressure gradient based on the first fluid feature value and the second fluid feature value.

2. The device for detecting upper airway resistance as described in claim 1 further includes a prompting unit, which is a display, an LED indicator, a vibration element, or an audio element.

3. The device for detecting upper respiratory tract resistance as described in claim 1, wherein the mask further comprises an airflow regulating element for generating the inspiratory resistance.

4. The device for detecting upper respiratory tract resistance as described in claim 1, wherein the processing unit is a smart handheld device.

5. The device for detecting upper respiratory tract resistance as described in claim 1, wherein the mask is a face mask covering the user's mouth, nose, or nasolabial fold, or the mask is a plug for inserting into the user's nose or mouth.

6. The apparatus for detecting upper airway resistance as described in claim 1, wherein the fluid characteristic sensing unit further comprises: a first fluid sensing element for detecting fluid characteristics of the nose when the user breathes under the inspiratory resistance, to obtain the first fluid characteristic value; and a second fluid sensing element disposed in the user's mouth or throat for detecting fluid characteristics of the mouth or throat when the user breathes under the inspiratory resistance, to obtain the second fluid characteristic value.

7. The apparatus for detecting upper respiratory tract resistance as described in claim 6, wherein the first fluid sensing element is a pressure sensing element, an air flow sensing element, or a flow velocity sensing element, and the second fluid sensing element is a pressure sensing element, an air flow sensing element, or a flow velocity sensing element.

8. The device for detecting upper airway resistance as described in claim 1, wherein the cover is a plug having a pair of protrusions having a first fluid sensing element thereon, and the plug further includes a second fluid sensing element that extends into the user's mouth or throat to obtain the second fluid characteristic.

9. The apparatus for detecting upper respiratory tract resistance as described in claim 8, wherein the first fluid sensing element is a pressure sensing element, an air flow sensing element, or a flow velocity sensing element, and the second fluid sensing element is a pressure sensing element, an air flow sensing element, or a flow velocity sensing element.

10. A method for detecting upper airway resistance status, comprising: A mask that has the function of generating or adjusting an inhalation resistance is used to cover the user's mouth, nose, or mouth and nose. The user inhales under the inhalation resistance in a first posture, and a fluid feature sensing unit detects the airflow characteristics of the user's nose to obtain a first fluid feature value, and detects the fluid characteristics of the user's mouth or throat to obtain a second fluid feature value; the user changes to a second posture, and inhales under the inhalation resistance in the second posture, and the fluid feature sensing unit detects the airflow characteristics of the user's nose to obtain a third fluid feature value, and detects the fluid characteristics of the user's mouth or throat to obtain a fourth fluid feature value; And using a processing unit, a first pressure gradient is obtained based on the first fluid characteristic value and the second fluid characteristic value, and a second pressure gradient is obtained based on the third fluid characteristic value and the fourth fluid characteristic value.

11. The method for detecting upper respiratory tract resistance status as described in claim 10, wherein the first posture is a user sitting and the second posture is a user lying down fluid characteristic value.

12. The method for detecting upper airway resistance as described in claim 10, wherein the upper airway resistance includes nasal resistance, glandular resistance, oropharyngeal resistance, or tongue-falling resistance, and different breathing postures produce different combinations of the above resistance components, and the nasal resistance, glandular resistance, oropharyngeal resistance, and tongue-falling resistance components are analyzed by the first fluid characteristic value, the second fluid characteristic value, the third fluid characteristic value, the fourth fluid characteristic value, the first pressure gradient, and the second pressure gradient.

13. The method for detecting upper airway resistance as described in claim 10, wherein the inspiratory resistance of the mask is adjusted, and different first fluid characteristic values, second fluid characteristic values, third fluid characteristic values, fourth fluid characteristic values, first pressure gradients, and second pressure gradient characteristics are generated under different inspiratory resistances, so as to further predict the ability to maintain airway patency.

14. The method for detecting upper airway resistance status as described in claim 10 further includes, in the first posture, using a single nostril, two nostrils for breathing, or a nasal obstruction for breathing, causing the fluid feature sensing unit to generate the first fluid feature value and the second fluid feature value; and in the second posture, using a single nostril, two nostrils for breathing, or a nasal obstruction for breathing, causing the fluid feature sensing unit to generate the third fluid feature value and the fourth fluid feature value; the processing unit further predicts the respiratory physiological status based on the first fluid feature value, the second fluid feature value, the third fluid feature value, and the fourth fluid feature value.

15. The method for detecting upper airway resistance status as described in claim 10, wherein in the first posture, inhaling through the nose or mouth causes the fluid feature sensing unit to generate the first fluid feature value and the second fluid feature value, and in the second posture, inhaling through the nose or mouth causes the fluid feature sensing unit to generate the third fluid feature value and the fourth fluid feature value, wherein the processing unit further predicts the respiratory physiological status based on the first fluid feature value, the second fluid feature value, the third fluid feature value and the fourth fluid feature value.

16. The method for detecting upper airway resistance as described in claim 10, wherein the mask is a face mask covering the user's mouth, nose, or nasolabial fold, or the mask is a plug for inserting into the user's nose or mouth.

17. The method for detecting upper airway resistance state as described in claim 10, wherein the fluid characteristic sensing unit further comprises: a first fluid sensing element for detecting fluid characteristics of the nose when the user breathes under the inspiratory resistance, to obtain the first fluid characteristic value; and a second fluid sensing element disposed in the user's mouth or throat for detecting fluid characteristics of the mouth or throat when the user breathes under the inspiratory resistance, to obtain the second fluid characteristic value.

18. The method for detecting upper airway resistance status as described in claim 17, wherein the first fluid sensing element is a pressure sensing element, an air flow sensing element, or a flow velocity sensing element, and the second fluid sensing element is a pressure sensing element, an air flow sensing element, or a flow velocity sensing element.

19. The method for detecting upper airway resistance status as described in claim 10, wherein the mask is a plug having a pair of protrusions having a first fluid sensing element thereon, and the plug further includes a second fluid sensing element inserted into the user's mouth or throat to obtain the second fluid characteristic.

20. The method for detecting upper respiratory tract resistance as described in claim 19, wherein the first fluid sensing element is a pressure sensing element, an air flow sensing element, or a flow velocity sensing element, and the second fluid sensing element is a pressure sensing element, an air flow sensing element, or a flow velocity sensing element.

Images