Respiratory sound analyzer for use in high noise environments

Abstract

A respiratory sound analyzer system for use in the noisy ambient environments, such as in medical transport vehicles including helicopters, boats, aircraft, ambulances, and other vehicles, as well as at fire scenes, disasters, sporting events, rock concerts, and the like, includes an array of miniature accelerometers which are connected to the chest of a patient. Rather than relying on traditional auscultation, the on-board personnel will analyze a conditioned signal on a display screen or other device to monitor a patient's breathing patterns. Successive signals may be stored and compared with each other to determine a deterioration in a patient's breathing pattern, and signals may also be compared with stored normal and abnormal breathing signals. Ambient noise effects can be reduced or eliminated from the sensed breathing signal by a number of means. For example, the accelerometers can be heavily padded to deaden impinging sound waves, signals from accelerometers placed on the patient at locations where respiratory sounds will not be detected can be subtracted from the signals from accelerometers on the patient's chest, and filters can be used to isolate breath sounds from ambient noises.

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