METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING RESPIRATORY FUNCTION USING AN EFFORT SIGNAL

摘要

Breathing effort of a patient, as determined (for example) from a photoplethysmograph (“PPG”) signal from the patient, can be used in conjunction with signals from a spirometer being used by the patient to provide additional information about various characteristics of the patient's breathing. For example, such additional information may include the relationship between the patient's breathing effort and breath volume. As another example, the additional information may include the relationship between the patient's breathing effort and rate of breath flow. Still other such additional information may be derived from various combinations of spirometer and PPG output signals.