Breathing effort sensing apparatuses and methods

A networked breathing effort sensing apparatus comprising:

• a housing with an upper surface, a lower surface and four side walls defining an interior chamber;
• an armband securable to the housing;
• an optical sensor partially positioned within the housing of the breathing effort sensing apparatus with a sensing surface of the optical sensor facing external to the breathing effort sensing apparatus;
• a tension sensor positioned within the housing wherein the tension sensor receives tension information from the armband;
• a processor positioned within the housing configured to receive information from the optical sensor and the tension sensor;
• a transmitter positioned within the housing configured to receive information from the processor and transmit the information to an external device;
• and
• a power source,
• wherein the networked breathing effort sensing apparatus is in communication with one or more of breathing assistance device, a central location, and an electronic device.

A method of detecting a fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) comprising:

• providing a breathing effort sensing apparatus comprising a housing with an upper surface, a lower surface and four side walls defining an interior chamber, an armband securable to the housing, an optical sensor partially positioned within the housing of the breathing effort sensing apparatus with a sensing surface of the optical sensor facing external to the breathing effort sensing apparatus, a tension sensor positioned within the housing wherein the tension sensor receives tension information from the armband, a processor positioned within the housing configured to receive information from the optical sensor and the tension sensor, a transmitter positioned within the housing configured to receive information from the processor and transmit the information to an external device, and a power source;
• determining a starting FiO2 level;
• increasing an FiO2 level by a target amount;
• evaluating a biometric response to the increased FiO2 level, wherein the step of evaluating includes determining
• if the red light signal increases and the infrared light signal does not decrease, increase the FiO2 level and monitor the biometric response to the increased FiO2,
• if the infrared light signal intensity decreases with an increase in FiO2 then decrease the FiO2 level a target amount and monitor the biometric response to the decreased FiO2;
• if there is no increase in the red light signal and no decrease in the infrared light signal the FiO2 will be increased by the target amount, and
• if the infrared light value does not decrease, increase the FiO2 by the target amount, and wait for a period of time and monitor the biometric response to the increased FiO2;
• and
• repeating the step of evaluating the biometric response until the breathing effort sensing apparatus is turned off.

A method of operating a breathing assistance device in combination with a breathing effort sensing apparatus comprising:

• providing a breathing effort sensing apparatus comprising a housing with an upper surface, a lower surface and four side walls defining an interior chamber, an armband securable to the housing, an optical sensor partially positioned within the housing of the breathing effort sensing apparatus with a sensing surface of the optical sensor facing external to the breathing effort sensing apparatus, a tension sensor positioned within the housing wherein the tension sensor receives tension information from the armband, a processor positioned within the housing configured to receive information from the optical sensor and the tension sensor, a transmitter positioned within the housing configured to receive information from the processor and transmit the information to an external device, and a power source;
• providing a breathing assistance device in communication with the breathing effort sensing apparatus;
• detecting an absorption of red light and an absorption of infrared light via the breathing effort sensing apparatus;
• determining one or more of a cellular oxygen supply, a breathing rate, and a breathing effort via the breathing effort sensing apparatus;
• and
• transmitting data from the breathing effort sensing apparatus to the breathing assistance device.