Nebulizer Respiratory Rate Detection via Audio Signal Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional nebulizers for respiratory conditions do not effectively monitor vital signs, leading to synchronization and accuracy issues when administering medication, as they lack integration with separate medical equipment for vital sign recording.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that utilize a microphone to capture audio respiratory signals, segment them, and compute respiratory rates using FFT spectra, enabling the nebulizer to monitor vital signs and adjust medicine delivery accordingly, while employing computational tools for symptom and treatment information analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional nebulizers use separate medical equipment to record vital signs, then vital sign monitoring is achieved, but synchronization and accuracy deteriorate due to lack of integration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization accuracyVSAvoidsystem integration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the vital sign monitoring function directly into the nebulizer device by integrating a microphone and signal processing capabilities. This merging eliminates the need for separate monitoring equipment, ensuring synchronized data collection since both medication delivery and respiratory rate monitoring occur within the same device timeline, thereby resolving the synchronization accuracy issue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The nebulizer is transformed into a multi-functional device that simultaneously performs medication delivery and respiratory rate monitoring. The single device now serves dual purposes: administering medication through the nebulization process and capturing respiratory sounds via the integrated microphone, thus eliminating the need for multiple separate devices while improving data synchronization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If conventional nebulizers do not monitor vital signs, then device complexity is reduced, but treatment synchronization and accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverespiratory rate detection accuracyVSAvoidmonitoring capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical or electronic sensor systems with an acoustic-based detection method. Instead of using traditional physiological sensors, the system uses a simple microphone to capture respiratory sounds and processes these acoustic signals through algorithms to determine respiratory rate. This substitution achieves accurate monitoring while keeping the device relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The nebulizer system performs self-monitoring by using its own operational context to detect respiratory rate. The microphone captures sounds during the nebulization process itself, and the system's processing unit analyzes these sounds to determine when the patient is inhaling or exhaling. This self-service approach integrates monitoring into the existing device function without requiring additional complex subsystems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If separate equipment is used for vital sign recording, then monitoring function is achieved, but workflow efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkflow efficiencyVSAvoidoperational simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the monitoring function into the nebulizer, the system eliminates the need for operators to coordinate between separate devices. The unified device automatically captures both medication delivery data and respiratory rate information in a single workflow, improving productivity by removing the coordination overhead and simplifying the operational process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Enables efficient and calibrated medication delivery by monitoring respiratory rates and collecting symptom data, improving the synchronization and accuracy of treatment administration for patients with respiratory conditions.

Implementation Method 1

capturing the audio respiratory signal generated by a subject using a microphone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic detection: Sound

Implementation Method 2

computing an FFT spectrum from the auto-correlation function and computing a respiratory rate of the subject using the FFT spectrum

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFast Fourier Transform:

Data Source

PatentUS12138104B2Respiration rate detection methodology for nebulizers

Publication Date: 2024.11.12 STRYKER CORP

AI summary

A method for determining respiratory rate from an audio respiratory signal comprising capturing the audio respiratory signal generated by a subject using a microphone. The method also comprises segmenting the audio respiratory signal into a plurality of overlapping frames. For each frame of the plurality of overlapping frames, the method comprises extracting a signal envelope, computing an auto-correlation function, computing an FFT spectrum from the auto-correlation function and computing a respiratory rate of the subject using the FFT spectrum.