Acoustic Spirometer with Flow Controller for Mobile Asthma Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current peak flow monitoring devices for asthma management are limited by their lack of mobile connectivity, inadequate visualization of trends, ease of use, annotation capabilities, social acceptability, correlation with environmental factors, and adherence to monitoring regimens, leading to suboptimal asthma management outcomes.
Innovation Solution
A spirometric measurement system comprising a whistle with a flow controller and a hand-held mobile electronic device that captures, processes, and analyzes airflow data to provide accurate and user-friendly respiratory measurements, facilitating networked communication, visualization, and motivational feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional peak flow monitoring devices are used, then respiratory measurements can be obtained, but mobile connectivity and data accessibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mobile electronic device as an intermediary between the simple acoustic device and the user/clinician. The mobile device captures acoustic signals from the acoustic device, processes them to determine respiratory parameters, and provides networked communication capabilities. This mediator enables data accessibility and connectivity without requiring the acoustic device itself to be complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into separate functional components: a simple acoustic device for capturing respiratory signals, a mobile electronic device for processing and communication, and a networked system for data storage and analysis. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, keeping the acoustic device simple while adding connectivity through the mobile device.
2Reliability
If comprehensive monitoring features are added, then asthma management improves, but ease of use decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile electronic device automatically performs signal processing, respiratory parameter calculation, and data analysis without requiring manual intervention. The system self-services by capturing acoustic signals, processing them through algorithms, generating respiratory parameter reports, and providing motivational feedback, thereby maintaining ease of use while improving monitoring reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates motivational feedback mechanisms that provide positive reinforcement to users for adhering to monitoring regimens. This feedback loop improves asthma management outcomes by enhancing user engagement and adherence without adding complex operational steps, as the feedback is automatically generated and delivered through the mobile device.
3Loss of information
If networked communication is enabled, then data sharing improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile electronic device serves multiple functions: capturing acoustic signals, processing respiratory parameters, providing networked communication, storing data, and delivering feedback. By making the mobile device universal and multi-functional, the patent enables information sharing and connectivity without adding separate complex communication infrastructure, as the mobile device already possesses these capabilities.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enhances asthma management by improving data accessibility, visualization, user engagement, and adherence to monitoring regimens, enabling timely and effective asthma management through accurate and user-friendly respiratory measurement analysis.
Implementation Method 1
an outlet conduit configured to receive at least a portion of the vorticial flow and transduce at least a portion of kinetic energy of the vorticial flow into an acoustic emission. A frequency of the acoustic emission varies based on a rate of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit.
Data Source
AI summary
An acoustic device for spirometric measurement is provided. The acoustic device includes an inlet conduit configured to receive an airflow and a central cavity in communication with the inlet conduit. The central cavity includes a channel configured to guide at least a portion of the airflow into a vorticial flow about a central axis of the central cavity. The acoustic device further includes an outlet conduit configured to receive at least a portion of the vorticial flow and transduce at least a portion of kinetic energy of the vorticial flow into an acoustic emission. A frequency of the acoustic emission varies based on a rate of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit. In addition, the acoustic device includes a flow controller configured to modify at least a portion of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit.