Apparatus and method for detection of breathing abnormalities

A wearable device for acquiring lung sounds from a chest area of a patient comprising:

• a. an enclosure having a bottom portion and a top portion, the bottom portion having a skin facing side and a chestpiece facing side, wherein:
• i. the skin facing side comprises a diaphragm opening configured for engagement with a diaphragm;
• and
• ii. the bottom portion is configured for engagement with the chestpiece, wherein the chestpiece has a bottom side configured to align with the diaphragm opening and to engage with a diaphragm seal;
• b. a diaphragm positioned in the diaphragm opening of the bottom portion and configured for direct contact with a skin area of the patient when the device is attached to the patient's chest area;
• c. a diaphragm seal configured to secure the diaphragm to the diaphragm opening;
• d. a collection of electronic components configured on a mount, wherein the mount comprises a top side and a bottom side, wherein the bottom side is configured to engage with the top side of the chestpiece, and wherein the collection of electronic components comprises:
• i. a microphone configured to acquire raw audio signal data from the patient's chest area:
• ii. at least one physiological sensor configured to acquire physiological data associated with the patient when the wearable device is affixed to the patient's chest area;
• iii. a data processing unit comprising:
• 1. a digital signal processor;
• 2. a memory;
• and
• 3. a wireless communications module;
• and
• iv. a battery power source.

A method for acquiring lung sounds from a chest area of a patient comprising:

• a. continuously acquiring lung sounds from a patient in need thereof using a device configured with:
• i. an enclosure having a bottom portion and a top portion, the bottom portion having a skin facing side and a chestpiece facing side, wherein:
• 1. the skin facing side comprises a diaphragm opening configured for engagement with a diaphragm;
• and
• 2. the bottom enclosure is configured for engagement with the chestpiece, wherein the chestpiece has a bottom side configured to align with the diaphragm opening and to engage with the diaphragm seal;
• ii. a diaphragm positioned in the diaphragm opening of the bottom portion and configured for direct contact with a skin area of the patient when the device is attached to the patient's chest area;
• iii. a diaphragm seal configured to secure the diaphragm to the diaphragm opening;
• iv. a collection of electronic components configured on a mount, wherein the mount comprises a top side and a bottom side, wherein the bottom side is configured to engage with the top side of the chestpiece, and wherein the collection of electronic components comprises:
• 1. a microphone configured to acquire raw audio signal data from the patient's chest area:
• 2. at least one physiological sensor configured to acquire physiological data associated with the patient when the wearable device is affixed to the patient's chest area;
• 3. a data processing unit comprising:
• a. a digital signal processor;
• b. a memory;
• and
• c. a wireless communications module;
• and
• 4. a battery power source.