Handheld Pulmonary Function Estimation via Pressure Signal Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pulmonary function testing devices are cumbersome, expensive, and not suitable for routine clinical practice due to their bulkiness and requirement for full-body measurements, making them inaccessible for home monitoring and inconvenient for patients, especially children and those with mobility issues.
Innovation Solution
A portable, handheld device that estimates pulmonary function characteristics by analyzing pressure signals during forced exhalation, using a shutter module to modify the outlet area and derive parameters without direct flow measurements, allowing for accurate and reliable results with a single exhalation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional plethysmography devices are used to measure lung volumes and pulmonary function characteristics, then measurement accuracy and reliability are improved, but device bulkiness and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential measurement function from the complex plethysmograph system. Instead of using a complete body box with pressure sensors, flow meters, and volumetric measurements, the patent uses a simplified chamber with a shutter mechanism that captures pulmonary function characteristics through pressure changes during forced exhalation, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex mechanical measurement systems (body box, flow meters, volumetric sensors) with a simpler pressure-based detection system. By using pressure transducers to detect pressure changes in a small chamber during forced exhalation, the system substitutes mechanical volumetric and flow measurements with pressure signal analysis, significantly reducing device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If plethysmography equipment is used for comprehensive pulmonary function testing, then diagnostic capability is improved, but ease of operation and accessibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the pulmonary function testing process into a simple, isolated measurement task. Instead of requiring patients to undergo comprehensive body box measurements with multiple sensors and complex instructions, the system uses a single forced exhalation into a small chamber, making the test easier to perform and understand for patients while maintaining diagnostic capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a disposable mouthpiece and a simple, inexpensive chamber assembly that can be easily discarded or cleaned, replacing expensive, complex plethysmograph equipment. This approach reduces the barrier to entry for patients and makes the device more accessible for routine use in primary care settings.
3Weight of moving object
If handheld spirometers are used for spirometric characteristics, then portability is improved, but measurement comprehensiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a universal device that can measure multiple pulmonary function characteristics (lung volumes, airway resistance, lung compliance, spirometric parameters) using a single chamber and pressure sensor system. This multi-functional approach allows a portable device to provide comprehensive diagnostic information, eliminating the need for multiple separate devices or complex plethysmograph equipment.
4Measurement precision
If comprehensive pulmonary function tests are performed using traditional equipment, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but time required for measurement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses preliminary pressure signal analysis during the forced exhalation process to derive multiple pulmonary function characteristics simultaneously. By analyzing pressure changes, flow rates, and timing parameters during a single exhalation maneuver, the system obtains comprehensive diagnostic information without requiring multiple separate measurements or prolonged testing periods.
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 device provides comparable accuracy and reliability to traditional methods while being compact, cost-effective, and easy to use, enabling convenient home monitoring and reducing maintenance requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure transducer configured to detect a pressure within the chamber
Implementation Method 2
displacing a shutter module coupled to the outlet of the chamber, from first end position to second end position, in response to the pressure signal descending below a predetermined threshold
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to the field of medical devices, and, more particularly, to a portable system for testing one or more lung functions, and novel techniques for noninvasive determination of one or more pulmonary function characteristics.