Systems and methods for processing pulmonary function data
OwnerMichael Goldmaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides improved methods for analysis of data obtained from certain pulmonary testing procedures, in particular from whole body plethysmography or from the forced oscillation technique. The improved computer-implemented methods automatically recognize data that has been distored by patient behaviors during testing. This invention also provides computer systems that interface to devices that perform whole body plethysmography and/or the forced oscillation technique and automatically execute the methods of this invention. This invention also provides for distribution of software that causes computer systems to perform the methods of this invention.
Claims36
A computer-implemented method for processing data from pulmonary measurements comprising:
- receiving specific airway resistance data throughout one or more cycles of respiration;
- determining an integrative measure characterizing the received specific airway resistance, the integrative measure depending on values of specific airway resistance throughout one or more respiratory cycles;
- normalizing the integrative measure;
- and
- outputting the normalized integrative measure.
A computer-implemented method of processing data from a whole body plethysmographic (WBP) device having sensors for pressure and airflow, the method comprising:
- receiving data from WBP sensors characterizing at least respiratory pressure and respiratory airflow throughout one or more cycles of respiration;
- determining airway resistance as a quotient of subject respiratory airflow and an indicia of subject alveolar pressure, which is also determined from the received data;
- determining an integrative measure characterizing the determined specific airway resistance, the integrative measure depending on values of airway resistance throughout one or more respiratory cycles;
- normalizing the integrative measure;
- and
- outputting the normalized integrative measure.
A computer-implemented method for processing data from forced oscillation technique (FOT) measurements, the FOT technique superimposing periodic, short pressure pulses on a subject's respiratory airflow, the method comprising:
- receiving pressure and flow data characterizing the pressure pulses applied to a measured subject throughout a measurement period;
- determining from the received data the presence or absence one or more features that are indicative of the presence or absence of artifact or distortion in received data;
- deciding that an artifact or distortion is present, or is likely to be present, in the received data in dependence on one or more of the determined features;
- and
- outputting whether or not artifact or distortion is present or absent in the received data.
A method for assessing the pulmonary status of a plurality of subjects comprising:
- receiving data from forced oscillation technique (FOT) measurements from a plurality of subjects, or from a whole body plethysmographic (WBP) measurements from a plurality of subjects;
- obtaining results from the received data including one of more of an integrative measure characterizing specific airway resistance and an indication of whether or not artifact or distortion is present or absent in the received data;
- and
- outputting the results for the plurality of subjects.
A method for screening for the effects of a chemical or pharmaceutical agent comprising:
- receiving data from forced oscillation technique (FOT) measurements on at least one subject, or from a whole body plethysmographic (WBP) measurements of at least one subject, wherein the agent has not been administered to the one or more subjects;
- obtaining first results from the received data including one of more of an integrative measure characterizing specific airway resistance and an indication of whether or not artifact or distortion is present or absent in the received data;
- administering the agent to the one or more subjects;
- receiving data from forced oscillation technique (FOT) measurements on at least one subject, or from a whole body plethysmographic (WBP) measurements of at least one subject, wherein the agent has been administered to the one or more subjects;
- obtaining second results from the received data including one of more of an integrative measure characterizing specific airway resistance and an indication of whether or not artifact or distortion is present or absent in the received data;
- and
- comparing the first and the second results.
A computer-implemented method of processing respiratory data comprising:
- receiving respiratory data characterizing at least respiratory pressure and respiratory airflow throughout one or more cycles of respiration;
- deriving respiratory resistance versus frequency from the received data;
- and
- determining that a tongue position artifact (TPA) is present by comparing the determined respiratory resistance versus frequency data with at least one set of previously-determined respiratory resistance versus frequency data.
A computer-implemented method of processing respiratory data comprising:
- receiving respiratory data characterizing at least respiratory pressure and respiratory airflow throughout one or more cycles of respiration;
- deriving respiratory resistance and tidal volume versus time from the received data;
- and
- determining that a vocal cord adduction artifact (VCAE) is present by comparing the determined airway resistance during inspiration with the determined airway resistance during expiration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.