# US 10,946,150 B2 · System and methods for improved cough segmentation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,946,150 B2 - Document ID: US10946150B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/571,299 - Filed: 2016-04-21 - Published: 2018-05-17 - Granted: 2021-03-16 - Earliest claimed: 2015-05-05 - Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Applicants: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Inventors: Maarten Leonardus Christian Brand; Anandi Mahadevan; James Garsteck - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10946150B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/0006: {with means for creating vibrations in patients' airways} - A61M 16/024: {including calculation means, e.g. using a processor} - A61M 16/202: {electrically actuated} - A61M 16/201: {Controlled valves} - A61M 2016/0027: {pressure meter} - A61M 2205/3331: Pressure; Flow - A61M 2230/005: Parameter used as control input for the apparatus - A61M 2230/40: Respiratory characteristics - 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 Systems (100) and methods (300) for controlling coughing by subjects (106) control the opening and closing of a valve (12) (as well as partially opening and/or partially closing) to establish and disestablish a fluid communication between the airway of the subject and atmospheric pressure. The valve is opened and closed more than once during individual exhalations by the subject. Control of the valve is adjusted based on a pressure level in or near the airway of the subject. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system configured to control cough segmentation, the system comprising: a cough delivery structure configured to fluidly communicate with an airway of a subject, wherein the cough delivery structure includes a valve configured to selectively control a fluid communication between the cough delivery structure and atmosphere; one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to a pressure level within one or both of the cough delivery structure and the airway of the subject; and one or more physical processors configured via computer-readable instructions to: obtain a target exhalation pressure threshold; obtain, for controlling the valve, a target frequency that corresponds to a rate of opening and closing the valve and a target duty cycle that reflects percentages of a first duration of opening the valve and a second duration of closing the valve; control the valve to open and close based on the target frequency and the target duty cycle to cause multiple consecutive cough segments; determine the pressure level during the multiple consecutive cough segments based on the generated output signals; compare the pressure level during a first exhalation of the multiple consecutive cough segments to the target exhalation pressure threshold; and, responsive to the pressure level not reaching the target exhalation pressure threshold at a peak of an individual one of the multiple consecutive cough segments; separately performing operations of both reducing the target frequency and altering a percentage of the target duty cycle such that the pressure level breaches the target exhalation pressure threshold for remaining cough segments; and control the valve based on the adjustment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical processors are configured to control the valve based on the adjustment during an exhalation by the subject such that the valve is opened more than once and closed more than once during the exhalation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein adjustment of the target duty cycle includes a reduction of the first duration of opening the valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the target exhalation pressure threshold is at least 25 cm-H2O. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical processors are configured to, responsive to the pressure level not reaching the target exhalation pressure threshold during an individual one of the multiple consecutive cough segments: adjust the target duty cycle; compare the pressure level during cough segments subsequent to adjustment of the target duty cycle to the target exhalation pressure threshold, and, responsive to the pressure level during the subsequent cough segment not reaching the target exhalation pressure threshold; adjust the target frequency such that the pressure level breaches the target exhalation pressure threshold for the remaining cough segments. ### Claim 6 A method of controlling cough segmentation, the method being implemented in a system that includes a cough delivery structure including a valve, the method comprising: generating output signals conveying information related to a pressure level within one or both of the cough delivery structure and an airway of the subject; obtaining a target exhalation pressure threshold; obtaining, for controlling the valve, a target frequency that corresponds to a rate of opening and closing the valve and a target duty cycle that reflects percentages of a first duration of opening the valve and a second duration of closing the valve; controlling the valve to open and close based on the target frequency and the target duty cycle to cause multiple consecutive cough segments; determining the pressure level during the multiple consecutive cough segments; comparing the pressure level during a first exhalation of the multiple consecutive cough segments to the target exhalation pressure threshold, and, responsive to the pressure level not reaching the target exhalation pressure threshold at a peak of an individual one of the multiple consecutive cough segments; adjusting operation of the valve by separately performing operations of both reducing the target frequency and altering a percentage of the target duty cycle such that the pressure level breaches the target exhalation pressure threshold for remaining cough segments; and controlling the valve based on the adjustment. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein controlling the valve based on the adjustment is performed during an exhalation by the subject such that the valve is opened more than once and closed more than once during the exhalation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein adjusting the target duty cycle includes reducing the first duration of opening the valve. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the target exhalation pressure threshold is at least 25 cm-H2O. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising, responsive to pressure level not reaching the target exhalation pressure threshold during an individual one of the multiple consecutive cough segments: adjusting the target duty cycle; comparing the pressure level with the target exhalation pressure threshold subsequent to adjusting the target duty cycle; and, responsive to the pressure level during subsequent cough segments not reaching the target exhalation pressure threshold; adjusting the target frequency such that the pressure level breaches the target exhalation pressure threshold for the remaining cough segments. ### Claim 11 A system configured to control cough segmentation, the system comprising: means for generating output signals conveying information related to a pressure level within one or both of a cough delivery structure and an airway of a subject; means for obtaining a target exhalation pressure threshold; means for obtaining, for controlling the valve, a target frequency that corresponds to a rate of opening and closing the valve and a target duty cycle that reflects percentages of a first duration of opening the valve and a second duration of closing the valve; means for controlling the valve to open and close based on the target frequency and the target duty cycle to cause multiple consecutive cough segments; means for determining, the pressure level during the multiple consecutive cough segments based on the generated output signals; means for comparing the pressure level during a first exhalation of the multiple consecutive cough segments to the target exhalation pressure threshold; means for adjusting operation of the valve by separately performing operations of both reducing the target frequency and altering a percentage of the target duty cycle such that the pressure level breaches the target exhalation pressure threshold for remaining cough segments, the means for adjusting being operative responsive to the pressure level at a peak of an individual one of the multiple consecutive cough segments not reaching the target exhalation pressure threshold; and means for controlling the valve based on the adjustment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the means for controlling the valve is configured to control the valve to open and close more than once during an exhalation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein adjusting the target duty cycle includes reducing the first duration of opening the valve. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the target exhalation pressure threshold is at least 25 cm-H2O. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the system is configured to, responsive to the pressure level not reaching the target exhalation pressure threshold during an individual one of the multiple consecutive cough segments: adjust the target duty cycle; compare the pressure level with the target exhalation pressure threshold subsequent to adjusting the target duty cycle; and, responsive to the pressure level during subsequent cough segments not reaching the target exhalation pressure threshold; adjust the target frequency such that the pressure level breaches the target exhalation pressure threshold for the remaining cough segments.