Managing flow/volume loop information

摘要

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods of extracting optimal information from a flow/volume loop concerning the patient's respiratory condition by examining the overall shape of the space under the flow/volume loop's expiration portion. In some embodiments, this is done with reference to the center of mass of that space. In some embodiments, this is done with reference to the area of that space. Some embodiments are significantly less affected by random/statistical variations and/or noise within the measurement system than existing methods.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method of gathering data related to breathing patterns of a patient, comprising:
acquiring, using at least one measurement device, flow data and volume data, wherein flow data relates to a rate of air flow into and out of the patient's lungs and volume data relates to changes in volume of the patient's lungs; generating, using at least processing device communicatively coupled to the at least one measurement device, a flow/volume loop based on at least some of the flow data and at least some of the volume data, the flow/volume loop having an expiration portion and an inspiration portion, the expiration portion beginning with a full-inhale point and ending with a full-exhale point, which both lie along a zero-flow line, the at least one processing device causing the generated flow/volume loop to be displayed on at least one user interface communicatively coupled to the at least one processing device; analyzing, using the at least one processing device, the generated flow/volume loop to determine the breathing patterns of the patient determining, using the at least one processing device, an exhale pattern parameter based on an overall shape of an expiration space, which is bounded by the expiration portion of the flow/volume loop and the zero-flow line; and generating, based on the determined exhale pattern parameter and the analyzed flow/volume loop, at least one alert indicative of the breathing patterns of the patient wherein the exhale pattern parameter is based on a center of mass of the expiration space; wherein the full-inhale point corresponds to a full-inhale volume value, the full-exhale point corresponds to a full-exhale volume value, and the center of mass of the expiration space corresponds to a center-of-mass volume value and wherein the exhale pattern parameter is based on the full-inhale volume value, the full-exhale volume value, and the center-of-mass volume value.