Scaled Respiratory Flow Rate Determination via Pressure Difference
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for diagnosing pulmonary diseases, such as spirometry and tidal spirometry, face challenges including patient effort requirements, altered respiratory behavior due to equipment, and invasiveness, particularly for severe cases, elderly patients, and infants, where apparatus dead space can limit measurement time.
Innovation Solution
A method determining scaled respiratory flow rate and volume by measuring pressure differences in the upper respiratory tract, using generalized relationships to derive flow rate and volume without the need for forceful maneuvers or invasive catheters, and displaying results graphically to facilitate analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If spirometry is used to obtain flow-volume curves by maximum inhalation and forceful exhalation, then diagnostic accuracy for pulmonary diseases is improved, but patient effort requirement increases making it problematic for severe cases and elderly people
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameters from maximum inhalation and forceful exhalation to normal tidal breathing. By measuring pressure differences during regular breathing cycles and using integration to derive flow and volume, the method maintains diagnostic value while eliminating the need for strenuous patient maneuvers, making it suitable for severe cases and elderly patients.
2Measurement precision
If pneumotachography with face mask or mouthpiece is used for tidal spirometry, then tidal spirometric curves can be obtained, but respiratory behavior is altered due to the required equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measurement function from the invasive face mask or mouthpiece setup and implements it through simple pressure sensors placed in the upper respiratory tract. By measuring pressure differences at specific locations during normal breathing, the system obtains tidal spirometric curves without requiring equipment that alters respiratory behavior.
3Ease of operation
If nasal cannula is used for tidal breathing recording, then non-invasive measurement is achieved, but inspiratory flow rate cannot be quantified and the method is invasive due to esophageal or supraglottic catheter requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces pressure difference measurement as an intermediary parameter. By measuring pressure differences in the upper respiratory tract during tidal breathing and using integration to derive flow and volume, the system achieves both non-invasive measurement and accurate flow rate quantification without requiring esophageal or supraglottic catheters.
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 non-invasive, patient-friendly measurement of respiratory flow and volume during tidal breathing, providing accurate graphical representations that can characterize breathing patterns without requiring maximum inhalation or exhalation efforts, and is applicable across various age groups, including infants.
Implementation Method 1
successively determining a plurality of values for a difference between a pressure in at least a first location in an upper respiratory tract of the patient and a reference pressure
Implementation Method 2
deriving the scaled respiratory flow rate from the plurality of values for the pressure difference by using a first relationship
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining a scaled respiratory flow rate and volume during respiration of a patient includes a) successively determining a plurality of values for a difference between a pressure in at least a first location in an upper respiratory tract of the patient and a reference pressure, b) deriving the scaled respiratory flow rate from the plurality of values for the pressure difference by using a first relationship, c) deriving the scaled respiratory volume from the plurality of values for the pressure difference by using a second relationship, and d) displaying the scaled respiratory flow rate derived in step b) and the scaled respiratory volume derived in step c) or a further variable derived from the scaled respiratory flow rate and volume in a graphical representation. Step a) is performed during tidal breathing of the patient. A system for performing the aforementioned method.