Cough detector

摘要

A device for detecting and counting coughing events is provided. In one embodiment a sensor for sensing and transducing low frequency and high frequency mechanical vibrations, sends signals to a coincidence detector that determines if high and low signals coincide. In another embodiment, ultrasonic energy is introduced to the trachea and if Doppler shift in frequency is detected, association is made to a coughing event. In another embodiment a change in the impedance of the neck is considered associated with coughing event if correlated over time with a specific mechanical frequency sensed.

主权项

1. A cough detector adapted to externally engage a person comprising:
a sensor capable of sensing and transducing low frequency and high frequency mechanical vibrations; a low pass filter for receiving signals from the sensor wherein the low pass filter is adapted to selectively pass low frequency signals within a frequency range of 0.5 Hz to 10 Hz; a low frequency threshold detector for applying an adaptive or fixed threshold to the low frequency signals; a high pass filter for receiving signals from the sensor wherein the high pass filter is adapted to selectively pass high frequency signals within a frequency range of 200 Hz to 2000 Hz; a high frequency threshold detector for applying an adaptive or fixed threshold to the high frequency signals; a coincidence detector for receiving signals from both the low frequency threshold detector and the high frequency threshold detector, wherein the coincidence detector identifies a coincidence between the signals arriving from the low frequency threshold detector and the high frequency threshold detector and generates a continuous signal for the duration of the coincidence; a duration detector for determining whether the duration of the continuous signal generated by the coincidence detector is within a range of cough durations, to thereby identify coughing events; and a register for storing data concerning coughing events identified as such by the duration detector.