# US 10,869,638 B2 · Systems, devices and methods for rendering key respiratory measurements accessible to mobile digital devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,869,638 B2 - Document ID: US10869638B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/799,863 - Filed: 2017-10-31 - Published: 2018-03-08 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-09-25 - Applicants: Krispin Johan Leydon - Inventors: Krispin Johan Leydon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10869638B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/7278: {Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesizing signals from measured signals} - A61B 5/0015: {characterised by features of the telemetry system} - A61B 5/0022: {Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet} - A61B 5/0026: {characterised by the transmission medium} - A61B 5/087: Measuring breath flow - A61B 5/0871: {Peak expiratory flowmeters} - A61B 5/097: Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices - A61B 5/6898: {Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers} - A61B 5/742: {using visual displays (displays for heart-related electrical signals, e.g. ECG, A61B5/339)} - A61M 15/0021: {Mouthpieces therefor} - A61M 15/009: {using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans (pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08)} - A61M 2205/3334: Measuring or controlling the flow rate - A61M 2205/3375: Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means - A61M 2205/3553: remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office - A61M 2205/3584: using modem, internet or Bluetooth® - A61M 2205/3592: using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission - A61M 2205/43: making noise when used correctly - A61M 2205/505: Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches - A61M 2205/52: with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient - A61M 2205/583: by visual feedback - A61M 2206/14: Static flow deviators in tubes disturbing laminar flow in tubes, e.g. archimedes screws - A61M 2206/16: Rotating swirling helical flow, e.g. by tangential inflows - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract An acoustic device for spirometric measurement is provided. The acoustic device includes an inlet conduit configured to receive an airflow and a central cavity in communication with the inlet conduit. The central cavity includes a channel configured to guide at least a portion of the airflow into a vorticial flow about a central axis of the central cavity. The acoustic device further includes an outlet conduit configured to receive at least a portion of the vorticial flow and transduce at least a portion of kinetic energy of the vorticial flow into an acoustic emission. A frequency of the acoustic emission varies based on a rate of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit. In addition, the acoustic device includes a flow controller configured to modify at least a portion of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An acoustic device for spirometric measurement, comprising: an inlet conduit configured to receive an airflow; a walled cavity in communication with the inlet conduit, wherein an inner surface of the walled cavity is configured to guide at least a portion of the airflow; an outlet configured to receive at least a portion of the airflow and transduce at least a portion of kinetic energy of the received airflow into an acoustic emission including one or more frequency values within a range of frequency values, wherein the one or more frequency values included in the acoustic emission vary with a rate at which the airflow is provided to the inlet conduit; and a flow controller configured to modify at least a portion of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit such that a rate of change in the one or more frequency values included in the acoustic emission varies inversely with a rate of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The acoustic device of claim 1, wherein the flow controller includes at least one or more of a valve, a vent, an obstructor, a force exerting element, a rotational constraint, a sliding constraint, a flexing constraint, or a joint. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The acoustic device of claim 2, wherein the flow controller includes at least one or more of a pressure relief valve, a spillover valve, an umbrella valve, a duckbill valve, an elastomeric valve, a fluidic valve, a valve including no moving parts, an opening leading to an exterior of the acoustic device, a passageway leading to the exterior of the acoustic device, a flexible obstructor, a spring, a pivot, a hinge, a linear sliding constraint, a plug, a magnet, or a compressible gas reservoir. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The acoustic device of claim 1, wherein the flow controller is a mechanical flow controller. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The acoustic device of claim 1, wherein the flow controller comprises a fluidic flow controller. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The acoustic device of claim 1, wherein the flow controller is configured to modify at least a portion of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit via a static structure in conjunction with fluidic interactions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The acoustic device of claim 1, wherein the flow controller is a manually configurable flow controller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The acoustic device of claim 1, further comprising at least one or more of a visual indicator, a human readable identifier, or a machine readable identifier corresponding to at least one characteristic or parameter of the acoustic device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The acoustic device of claim 1, wherein the range of frequency values includes at least one of an ultrasonic frequency and an audible frequency. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The acoustic device of claim 1, further comprising: a second outlet in fluid communication with the walled cavity, wherein the second outlet is configured to emit a second acoustic emission having one or more frequency values within the range of frequency values based on the rate at which the airflow is provided to the inlet conduit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The acoustic device of claim 1, further comprising an inhaler dispenser. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The acoustic device of claim 11, further comprising a dosage counter. ### Claim 13 An acoustic device for spirometric measurement, comprising: an inlet conduit configured to receive an airflow; a walled cavity in fluid communication with the inlet conduit, wherein an inner surface of the walled cavity is configured to guide at least a portion of the airflow; an acoustic outlet configured to receive at least a portion of the airflow and transduce at least a portion of kinetic energy of the received airflow into an acoustic emission including a frequency, wherein the frequency of the acoustic emission varies in response to a rate at which the airflow is provided to the inlet conduit; a flow controller in fluid communication with at least one of the inlet conduit, the walled cavity, and the acoustic outlet, the flow controller including a pressure relief valve; and a vent outlet, wherein the flow controller is configured to modify the airflow provided to the inlet conduit such that at least a portion of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit is directed to at least one of a first route that passes through the acoustic outlet and a second route that passes through the vent outlet; and wherein the flow controller is configured to modify at least a portion of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit such that a rate of change in the one or more frequency values included in the acoustic emission varies inversely with a rate of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The acoustic device of claim 13, wherein at least one or more of the inlet conduit, the walled cavity, or the acoustic outlet includes the flow controller. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The acoustic device of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the flow controller contacts one or more surfaces spaced apart from the inlet conduit, the walled cavity, and the acoustic outlet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The acoustic device of claim 13, wherein the flow controller includes at least one or more of a spillover valve, an umbrella valve, a duckbill valve, a spring-actuated valve, an elastomeric valve, a fluidic valve, or a valve including no moving parts. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The acoustic device of claim 13, further comprising at least one or more of: an inhaler dispenser; or a dosage counter.