APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR LUNG ANALYSIS

摘要

An apparatus and method of detecting COPD and in particular, emphysema utilizes a change in acoustic transmission characteristics of a lung due to e.g. the appearance of fenestrae (perforations) in the alveoli of the lung. The use of acoustic signals may provide good sensitivity to the existence of alveolar fenestrae, even for microscopic emphysema, and the appearance and increase in fenestrae may be determined by monitoring acoustic transmission characteristics such as, for example, an increase in acoustic signal velocity and velocity dispersion, and/or a change in attenuation. A transmitter may be located in e.g. the supra-clavicular space and receivers may be mounted on the chest. Measurements may be correlated between pairs of receivers to determine acoustic transmission profiles.