Respiratory Flow Approximation via Audio Signal Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional respiratory function testing using spirometry requires dedicated, costly, and bulky equipment, limiting accessibility and data acquisition, especially for diverse demographics and environmental factors, and often lacks comprehensive analysis of environmental, demographic, and clinical factors.

Innovation Solution

A mobile device with a microphone and processor analyzes audio signals to approximate respiratory flow, tagging the data with relevant factors for storage in a database, enabling low-cost, ubiquitous respiratory function testing without dedicated equipment, and providing insights into environmental, demographic, and clinical factors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional spirometry with dedicated equipment is used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverespiratory flow measurementVSAvoidequipment requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical spirometry system with an acoustic measurement system using a microphone to detect respiratory sounds. The mobile device captures audio signals of breathing and processes them to derive respiratory flow information, eliminating the need for complex mechanical flow sensors and dedicated spirometry equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a functional copy of spirometry capabilities using a mobile device with standard components (microphone, processor). Instead of requiring a specialized spirometer, the mobile device replicates the respiratory measurement function through audio signal capture and digital processing, making the technology accessible through ubiquitous devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If traditional spirometry equipment is used, then respiratory function testing accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to user compliance requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelung function measurementVSAvoiduser compliance

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile device application guides users through the breathing exercise and automatically processes the audio signals to generate respiratory function results. The system performs self-calibration and automatic analysis without requiring manual intervention or interpretation by healthcare professionals, reducing the operational burden while maintaining measurement quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If dedicated spirometry devices are deployed, then measurement reliability is improved, but productivity decreases due to limited accessibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverespiratory measurementVSAvoiddata acquisition rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent leverages the universality of mobile devices that are already widely owned and carried by individuals. The same device can perform multiple functions including communication, entertainment, and now respiratory function testing. This eliminates the need for dedicated measurement devices and enables population-scale data collection through a platform that users already possess and interact with daily.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This approach allows for widespread, cost-effective respiratory health monitoring, generating large-scale data that can be analyzed for environmental and demographic impacts, improving accessibility and accuracy of respiratory health assessments.

Implementation Method 1

detect an audio signal associated with a patient's breathing with the microphone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic energy conversion:

Implementation Method 2

determining a representation of an audio frequency of the audio signal over the time period

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFrequency analysis:

Data Source

PatentUS20230225695A1Analyzing a patient's breathing based on one or more audio signals

Publication Date: 2023.07.20 BROWN UNIVERSITY

AI summary

Audio signals, collected with equipment commonly available to individuals (e.g., a mobile device), can be used to analyze a patient’s breathing. An audio signal associated with the patient’s breathing for a time period can be detected with the mobile device and used to approximate the patient’s respiratory flow for the time period. For example, the audio signal can be analyzed by determining a representation of an audio frequency of the audio signal, splitting the audio frequency of the audio signal into distinct time steps, determining points comprising a weighted mean frequency at each time step, applying a frequency-to-flow rate linear transformation at each time step to approximate the respiratory flow versus time, and plotting a graphical representation of the respiratory flow versus time. The respiratory flow for the time period can be tagged with a factor related to the patient and saved in a database for future analysis.