System for collecting lung function data

Abstract

According to at least one embodiment, a system for collecting lung function data is provided. The system may comprise a, preferably mobile and hand-held, spirometer (20) for measuring lung function and providing lung function data (24); and a mobile hand-held computer (30), for example a mobile phone, comprising a processor (35), a memory (36), a clock (37), and a screen (38), and preferably a GPS. The spirometer (20) and the mobile hand-held computer (30) are separate devices, and the spirometer (20) and the mobile hand-held computer (30) communicate electronically. The processor (35) is configured for collecting the measured lung function data (24) from the spirometer (20) via the electronic communication between the spirometer (20) and the mobile hand-held computer (30), and storing the lung function data (24) in the memory (36). The processor (35) is further configured for collecting, starting to collect, with the system lung function data (24), the measurements, from the spirometer (20) by indicating electronically on, for example on the screen (38) of, and/or through sound indications from, the mobile hand-held computer (20) to use the spirometer (20). The system indicates to start collecting lung function data only when A) and/or B), and in addition, as described further below, only when C) and/or D). The system is thus configured to indicate when to use the spirometer to take a measurement so that relevant lung function data can be collected, in an efficient manner, and in the shortest time possible. A) Is when the clock (37) reaches a predetermined time regularly within 24 hours, preferably twice a day. This may be set by the user of the system using the mobile hand-held computer. It may be regularly, recurring at intervals, within 24 hours. For example, a very effective collection is done when it is twice a day, during day time, with at least 10 hours between, such as one in the morning and once in the evening. B) Is before and after the mobile hand-held computer (30) indicates to take any medication, such as lung medication, or after the mobile hand-held computer (30) indicates that any medication has been taken. After taking a measurement, the processor (35) is further configured to calculate, by the processor (35), a variation between all collected lung function data (24) stored in the memory (36). After having calculated the variation, the processor (35) is configured to stop the system to collect measurements from the spirometer (20), or indicate on the screen (38) to stop using the spirometer (20), when the processor (35) compares the variation between all collected lung function data (24) is more than 20 percent, or after a maximum of collecting lung function data for 14 days. This ensures that relevant measurements, quality measurements, and enough measurements have been collected.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.