Smartphone Lung Function Audio Calibration for Reliable Home Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote lung function testing methods using smartphones are prone to inconsistencies and misdiagnoses due to improper performance of respiratory manoeuvres without clinician guidance, leading to unreliable spirometry data.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using an electronic device to determine the optimum mouth shape and distance for capturing audio samples by analyzing facial features and audio quality, ensuring accurate and repeatable lung function assessment without the need for clinician assistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a smartphone is used to record respiratory manoeuvres without clinician guidance, then accessibility and ease of use are improved, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate due to inconsistent performance
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time visual feedback through a camera overlay that shows the user's mouth position and guides them to achieve the correct open mouth shape. Audio feedback is provided through coaching instructions that guide the user through the respiratory manoeuvre steps, ensuring consistent and reliable recording quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables users to perform lung function testing independently without clinician assistance. The electronic device automatically captures audio samples, processes the respiratory manoeuvre data, and provides on-screen guidance, allowing users to self-administer the test while maintaining measurement reliability.
2Reliability
If the user opens their mouth wider to improve audio sample quality, then airflow restriction artefacts are reduced, but control over mouth shape becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The camera overlay provides real-time visual feedback showing the user's mouth shape and position. The system displays guidance indicators that show whether the mouth is sufficiently open, allowing users to self-correct and maintain the optimal mouth shape without excessive opening that would lose control.
3Measurement precision
If multiple audio samples are recorded at different distances to determine optimum distance, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to additional recording steps
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary distance calibration phase before the actual lung function testing. During this preliminary action, the user records respiratory manoeuvres at different distances to establish their personal optimum distance. This preliminary setup ensures that subsequent tests are conducted at the optimal distance, improving precision without adding time to regular testing.
4Measurement precision
If clinical spirometry devices are used in non-clinical settings, then measurement precision is maintained, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical spirometry apparatus with an electronic device using audio recording and processing. Instead of requiring a physical spirometry device, the system uses the smartphone's microphone to capture respiratory sounds and processes these audio signals to derive lung function metrics, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision through sophisticated signal processing algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods are disclosed for determining an optimal distance between an electronic device and a user providing an audio sample of a respiratory manoeuvre for use in assessing the lung function of the user. An audio sample dataset comprising a plurality of audio samples of respiratory manoeuvres performed by the user at a plurality of distances between the electronic device and the user is received from an audio sensor in the electronic device. The audio sample dataset is analysed to determine an optimum audio sample of a respiratory manoeuvre for use in assessing the lung function of the user. The optimum distance corresponding with the optimum audio sample is determined. The user is instructed to place the electronic device within a threshold distance of the optimum distance and perform a respiratory manoeuvre. Audio samples of the respiratory manoeuvre at the optimum distance can be used in assessing user lung function.