Wearable Acoustic Patch for Continuous Asthma Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for assessing asthma control in children are often subjective and do not correlate well with objective measures, leading to inadequate management and increased healthcare costs, as perceptions of asthma control by patients and caregivers frequently mismatch with actual symptoms and hospital visit frequencies.
Innovation Solution
A wearable device featuring a flexible, water-resistant patch with an acoustic sensor and muscle activity sensor that records respiratory sounds and muscle contractions to objectively identify wheezing and coughing episodes, providing continuous and clinically useful asthma control assessment, capable of being worn for extended periods and operating in various modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If subjective perception methods are used to assess asthma control, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces subjective perception-based assessment with an automated electronic device that uses acoustic sensors to detect and analyze respiratory sounds. The device objectively measures wheezing, coughing, and breathing patterns, substituting human judgment with mechanical/electronic detection systems that provide precise, quantifiable data about asthma control.
2Measurement precision
If continuous monitoring is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a single wearable device: acoustic sensing for respiratory sounds, motion sensing for activity detection, data storage for continuous monitoring, and processing capabilities for real-time analysis. This multi-functional integration enables continuous precise monitoring while managing device complexity through consolidation of components.
Solution Approach 2:
The device monitors multiple physiological parameters simultaneously (acoustic properties of breath sounds, motion patterns, respiratory rate) and changes the state of monitoring from intermittent to continuous. By tracking multiple parameters over time, the device achieves comprehensive asthma assessment without requiring overly complex intervention systems.
3Measurement precision
If extended wear duration is required, then measurement precision is improved, but object-affected harmful factors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible patch design with thin film construction that conforms to the skin surface. This flexible, thin-profile structure reduces mechanical irritation and discomfort during extended wear while maintaining continuous contact for accurate acoustic and motion sensing of respiratory patterns over multiple days or weeks.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed as a disposable or limited-use patch that can be worn for a specific duration (e.g., one week) and then replaced. This approach eliminates the need for long-term skin attachment, reducing cumulative skin irritation while still providing sufficient continuous monitoring data for accurate asthma assessment during the wear period.
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 offers an objective, continuous, and clinically useful assessment of asthma control, aiding in improved diagnosis and therapy by accurately identifying wheezing and coughing episodes, thereby enhancing asthma management and reducing healthcare utilization.
Implementation Method 1
The acoustic sensor may include a contact accelerometer configured to sense tissue vibration
Implementation Method 2
The device may include a muscle activity sensor disposed within the enclosure. The muscle activity sensor may be configured to provide a muscle activity signal conveying information associated with contraction of an accessory respiratory muscle
Implementation Method 3
The device may include a flexible patch having a skin contact surface covered with a hypoallergenic adhesive configured to adhere to human skin
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary implementations may provide objective, continuous, and clinically useful assessment of asthma control in subjects including young children using a device that is compact, non-intrusive, and simple. The device may include a water-resistant, flexible patch that can be comfortably worn for two weeks or more. In some implementations, the patch may resemble a Band-Aid® that is placed on the supra-sternal notch. The device may record respiratory sounds that can be analyzed to identify coughing and wheezing episodes. The device may operate in different modes including ones for assessment of nocturnal symptoms, exercise-induced asthma, and overall asthma control. The device may be useful for objectively assessing asthma control to aid clinical therapy, and for an improved way to diagnose exercise-induced asthma.