Non-contact Thoracic Vibration Mapping for Respiratory Diagnosis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for examining the thorax for respiratory diseases are limited by their reliance on manual or stethoscope-based techniques, which are subjective, fail to record data, and are inaccessible due to the high cost of scanner imaging, especially in the context of COVID-19 where contact can be risky and frequent assessments are hindered by radiation concerns.
Innovation Solution
A method that generates incident vibrations within the respiratory system's frequency range (20 Hz to 5000 Hz) and measures resultant vibrations on the chest surface without contact using a device or vocalizations, creating 2D or 3D vibratory maps to analyze parameters like amplitude and phase shift, allowing for non-invasive and repeatable diagnosis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If scanner imaging is used to examine the thorax, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but cost and accessibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical scanner imaging system with an acoustic vibration measurement system. Instead of using expensive CT scanners to visualize internal thoracic structures, the invention uses acoustic sensors to detect vibrations on the thorax surface that correlate with respiratory pathologies. This substitution maintains diagnostic capability while dramatically reducing cost and improving accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a surface vibration map that copies or represents the internal respiratory system state through external acoustic measurements. By analyzing vibration patterns on the thorax surface, the system reproduces diagnostic information that would otherwise require deep internal imaging, providing an accessible alternative to scanner-based diagnosis.
2Measurement precision
If scanner imaging is used frequently, then diagnostic data quality is improved, but radiation exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes radiation-based scanner imaging with non-ionizing acoustic vibration measurement. The system uses sound waves and acoustic sensors to detect thoracic vibrations, completely eliminating radiation exposure while enabling frequent repeated assessments for monitoring respiratory conditions over time.
3Ease of manufacture
If manual examination or stethoscope is used, then accessibility is improved, but measurement precision and objectivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automated vibration measurement system that performs self-assessment without requiring subjective human interpretation. The acoustic sensors automatically capture, process, and analyze vibration signals, generating objective diagnostic data that eliminates the variability and subjectivity inherent in manual examination and stethoscope use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical stethoscope with electronic acoustic sensors and digital signal processing systems. This substitution transforms the subjective art of auscultation into an objective, quantifiable measurement process, improving consistency and reliability while maintaining accessibility.
4Measurement precision
If contact-based examination is used, then measurement precision is improved, but infection risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces acoustic waves as an intermediary between the examiner and the patient. Instead of direct physical contact with hands or stethoscopes that could transmit pathogens, the system uses sound waves to probe and detect thoracic vibrations, maintaining diagnostic accuracy while eliminating contact-based infection risks.
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 accurate, non-contact diagnosis of respiratory pathologies by generating and analyzing vibrations, reducing the risk of infection and radiation exposure, and providing detailed, recordable data for repeated assessments.
Implementation Method 1
said measuring device being arranged at a distance from the chest of said individual
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for characterizing the vibration of a surface of the chest of an individual, said method including generating an incident vibration of the respiratory system of the individual, said incident vibration having at least one frequency from 20 Hz to 5000 Hz, to obtain resultant vibrations at a surface S of the chest of the individual, said surface S having a surface area of at least 10 cm2 and being characterized by a plurality of points Pi, and measuring the oscillation of each point Pi using a measuring device and obtaining the signal Spi of the resultant vibration at each of the points Pi, said measuring device being arranged at a distance from the chest of said individual, and characterizing each signal Spi at the frequenc(y/ies) of the signal Spr.