JP7134429B2 - Cough ability evaluation device, cough ability evaluation system, cough ability evaluation method and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cough ability evaluation device, a cough ability evaluation system, a cough ability evaluation method, and a program.

As a method for evaluating the coughing ability of a subject, a method of measuring the expiratory flow rate during coughing and using the measured expiratory flow rate as an index of the coughing ability is used. Expiratory flow rate measurement is generally performed using a flow meter and a mask (eg, Non-Patent Document 1).

In Non-Patent Document 1, a flow meter for measuring the expiratory flow rate is attached to the mask and used. The subject coughs while wearing this mask. This measures the expiratory flow during coughing.

Rie Yamakawa, 5 others, "Reliability and Validity of Cough Peak Flow Measurement", Journal of the Japanese Society of Respiratory Care and Rehabilitation, June 2012, Vol. 22, No. 1, p.110-114

The expiratory flow rate measuring method of Non-Patent Document 1 requires the subject to wear a mask. However, if wearing a mask puts the subject in an overstressed state, the subject cannot cough normally, so the exhalation flow during normal coughing cannot be measured. Therefore, proper measurement becomes difficult. In addition, if the mask does not come in close contact with the subject's face due to its shape, exhalation leaks through the gap between the mask and the face, making proper measurement difficult. In addition, when one mask is selected from a plurality of masks prepared for measurement and used, a difference occurs in the measured value of the exhalation flow rate depending on the shape of each mask, making proper measurement difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a coughing ability evaluation device and the like that can accurately evaluate coughing ability even when it is difficult to measure the expiratory flow rate using a mask. intended to

In order to achieve the above object, a coughing ability evaluation device according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises:
a voice input unit for inputting a cough sound;
a control unit that estimates a maximum expiratory flow during coughing from the sound pressure level of the coughing sound input to the voice input unit, and evaluates coughing ability based on the estimated maximum expiratory flow.

（ただし、ＣＰＦは呼気流量、ＰＣＳＬは咳嗽音の音圧レベルの最大値、α、βは被験者の性別または体格に基づく係数）
Further, the control unit
The maximum expiratory flow rate may be estimated based on the following equation (1).

(However, CPF is the expiratory flow rate, PCSL is the maximum value of the cough sound pressure level, and α and β are coefficients based on the subject's sex or physique )

Also, the coefficients α and β in the above formula (1) are
determined by nonlinear regression analysis,
You can do it.

（ただし、ＣＰＦは呼気流量、ＰＣＳＬは咳嗽音の音圧レベルの最大値、α、βは被験者の年齢に基づく係数）
前記式（１）の係数αは、
被験者の年齢を変数とする以下の１次関数
α＝ａ_１×age＋ａ_２
（ただし、ageは被験者の年齢、ａ_１、ａ_２は－０．３７≦ａ _１ ≦－０．１７、４３≦ａ _２ ≦６３の係数）である、
こととしてもよい。
Further, the control unit
Estimate the maximum expiratory flow based on the following formula (1),

(However, CPF is the expiratory flow rate, PCSL is the maximum value of the cough sound pressure level, and α and β are coefficients based on the subject's age)
The coefficient α in the above formula (1) is
The following linear function α=a ₁ ×age+a ₂ with the subject's age as a variable
(where age is the subject's age, a ₁ and a ₂ are -0.37 ≤ a ₁ ≤ -0.17, 43 ≤ a ₂ ≤ 63 coefficients),
You can do it.

A storage unit that stores the coefficients a1 and _a2 preset for _each type of microphone used in the voice input unit,
You can do it.

Further, the voice input unit
Attached to the mask worn by the subject,
You can do it.

A coughing ability evaluation system according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises:
a coughing ability evaluation device according to the first aspect;
a database connected to the coughing ability evaluation device via a network and storing coughing ability evaluated by the coughing ability evaluation device;
Prepare.

A coughing ability evaluation system according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises:
A coughing ability comprising: an audio input unit for inputting a coughing sound; and a control unit for evaluating the coughing ability based on the maximum expiratory flow during coughing estimated from the sound pressure level of the coughing sound input to the audio input unit. an evaluation device;
a server connected to the cough ability evaluation device via a network and estimating the maximum expiratory flow rate from the sound pressure level of the cough sound;
a database connected to the coughing ability evaluation device via a network and storing coughing ability evaluated by the coughing ability evaluation device;
Prepare.

A program according to a fourth aspect of the present invention comprises
the computer,
a voice input unit for inputting a cough sound;
an evaluation unit for estimating a maximum expiratory flow during coughing from the sound pressure level of the coughing sound input to the voice input unit, and evaluating coughing ability based on the estimated maximum expiratory flow;
function as

According to the present invention, coughing ability can be evaluated by measuring cough sounds. Therefore, coughing ability can be evaluated with high accuracy even when it is difficult to measure expiratory flow using a mask. can.

1 is a functional block diagram of a coughing ability evaluation device according to Embodiment 1; FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a coughing ability evaluation device according to Embodiment 1; FIG. It is a flowchart of a cough ability evaluation process. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a conversion process from cough sound data to sound pressure level; 4 is a flowchart of maximum expiratory flow rate estimation processing. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of evaluation criteria for coughing ability. FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of a coughing ability evaluation system according to Embodiment 2; FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram showing coughing ability evaluation processing according to Embodiment 2; 4 is a graph showing the results of estimating the expiratory flow rate according to Embodiment 1, where (A) is an example using a bone conduction microphone, (B) is an example using an operator microphone, and (C) is using a smartphone built-in microphone. This is an example. 10 is a graph showing the results of estimating the expiratory flow rate according to Embodiment 3, where (A) is an example using a bone conduction microphone, (B) is an example using an operator microphone, and (C) is using a smartphone built-in microphone. This is an example.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1, the coughing ability evaluation device 11 includes a control section 20, a storage section 31, a voice input section 32, a display section 33 and an operation section .

The storage unit 31 stores an evaluation result of the measured coughing ability of the subject, an operation program of the coughing ability evaluation device 11, and the like.

The voice input unit 32 inputs the cough sound of the subject and transmits voice data of the input cough sound (cough sound data LD) to the control unit 20 .

The display unit 33 displays a message or the like prompting an assistant such as a doctor or a nurse and the subject to operate the coughing ability evaluation device 11 . In addition, the results of past evaluations of coughing ability of the subject are displayed.

The operation unit 34 receives input from the assistant and the subject, and transmits the input information to the control unit 20 .

The control unit 20 controls the entire coughing ability evaluation device 11 and includes a voice input control unit 201 and an evaluation unit 202 .

The voice input control unit 201 controls the voice input unit 32 to obtain cough sound data LD of the subject input to the voice input unit 32 . It also transmits the acquired cough sound data LD to the evaluation unit 202 .

The evaluation unit 202 estimates the maximum expiratory flow CPF (Cough Peak Flow) during coughing from the cough sound data LD received from the voice input control unit 201 . Then, the cough ability of the subject is evaluated based on the estimated maximum expiratory flow rate CPF.

The cough ability evaluation device 11 has, for example, the hardware configuration shown in FIG. Specifically, the coughing ability evaluation apparatus 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 61 that controls the entire apparatus, a main storage section 62 that operates as a work area of the CPU 61, an operation program of the CPU 61, and an evaluation of coughing ability. An external storage unit 63 for storing results, etc., an operation unit 64 for receiving input from the assistant and the subject, a microphone 65 for inputting cough sounds of the subject, evaluation results of the cough ability of the subject, etc. and a bus 68 connecting them.

The main storage unit 62 is composed of a RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like. An operation program and data stored in the external storage unit 63 and used to operate the CPU 61 as the control unit 20 are loaded into the main storage unit 62 . The main storage unit 62 is also used as a work area for the CPU 61 (temporary storage area for data).

The external storage unit 63 is composed of non-volatile memory such as flash memory and hard disk. An operation program to be executed by the CPU 61 is stored in advance in the external storage unit 63 . The main storage section 62 and the external storage section 63 function as the storage section 31 shown in FIG.

The microphone 65 functions as the voice input section 32 shown in FIG. The structure and form of the microphone 65 are not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a condenser microphone, a bone conduction microphone, a contact microphone, a tablet terminal, a smartphone built-in microphone, and the like. A microphone 65 according to the present embodiment is a general moving-coil microphone, and is used by being fixed to a microphone stand.

The display 66 is composed of a display device such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), liquid crystal panel, or the like, and functions as the display section 33 shown in FIG. The display 66 according to this embodiment is a liquid crystal monitor.

The operation unit 64 is composed of an input device such as a touch panel and a mouse, and an interface device that connects these input devices to the bus 68 . The operation unit 64 according to this embodiment is a touch panel attached to the display surface of the liquid crystal monitor of the display 66 . The operation unit 64 functions as the operation unit 34 shown in FIG. 1 and receives inputs from the assistant and the subject.

Next, the flow of coughing ability evaluation processing of the coughing ability evaluation device 11 will be described based on FIGS. 1 and 3. FIG.

As a preparation, the assistant or the subject installs the microphone 65 for cough sound measurement, which is the voice input unit 32 . The voice input unit 32 is installed so that the distance between the voice input unit 32 and the subject's mouth is constant. In this embodiment, the distance between the voice input unit 32 and the subject's mouth is set to 30 cm. Also, the voice input unit 32 is installed in front of the subject's body.

Subsequently, when the power switch of the coughing ability evaluation device 11 is turned on, the control section 20 causes the display section 33 to display a measurement start button. When the assistant or the subject touches the operation unit 34 and presses the measurement start button, the voice input control unit 201 of the control unit 20 controls the voice input unit 32 to start voice input (step S11 ).

After voice input is started, the subject coughs (step S12). After the subject coughs, the assistant or the subject touches the operation unit 34 and presses the measurement end button displayed on the display unit 33 to end the measurement. As a result, the control unit 20 turns off the voice input unit 32 and terminates voice input (step S13).

Subsequently, the evaluation unit 202 of the control unit 20 analyzes the acquired cough sound data LD and estimates the maximum expiratory flow rate CPF during coughing (step S14). The acquired cough sound data LD is input to the control unit 20 as voltage data output from the voice input unit 32 . In the present embodiment, the cough sound pressure level Lp (sound pressure data) is calculated from the acquired cough sound data LD (voltage data) by the following procedure (FIG. 4). Then, the maximum expiratory flow rate CPF is estimated from the calculated sound pressure level Lp.

FIG. 5 is a detailed flowchart of the process of estimating the maximum expiratory flow rate CPF corresponding to step S14. As shown in FIG. 5, in order to extract only the respiratory sound frequency region from the cough sound data LD, the cough sound data LD is filtered with a band-pass filter having an upper cutoff frequency of 2000 Hz and a lower cutoff frequency of 140 Hz ( step S21). After rectifying the filtered data (step S22), a moving average is calculated every 20 msec to create an envelope EV (step S23). Then, the voltage data of the created envelope EV is converted into the sound pressure level Lp (step S24). In this embodiment, since a microphone with a sensitivity of −42 dB (0 dB=1 V/1 Pa, 1 kHz) is used as the voice input unit 32, the relationship between the measured voltage Vr represented by the envelope EV and the sound pressure Pr is It is represented by the following formula.

Further, the sound pressure level Lp is obtained by the following formula from the sound pressure Pr calculated by the formula ( ₂ ) and the reference sound pressure level P0. The reference sound pressure level according to this embodiment is P ₀ =20 μPa.

The maximum value of the sound pressure level Lp calculated by Equation (3) is set as the maximum cough sound pressure level PCSL (Peak Cough Sound pressure Level) (step S25). The control unit 20 substitutes the maximum cough sound pressure level PCSL into the following equation (1) for estimating the maximum expiratory flow rate CPF during coughing from the maximum cough sound pressure level PCSL, and calculates the maximum expiratory flow during coughing of the subject. The flow rate CPF is estimated (step S26).

ただし、α、βは係数。

However, α and β are coefficients.

The coefficients α and β are values determined in advance by experiments and stored in the storage unit 31 . The coefficients α and β are calculated by nonlinear regression analysis, for example, from measurement data obtained by measuring the maximum expiratory flow rate CPF and the maximum cough sound pressure level PCSL during coughing of the subject, and Equation (1). In the present embodiment, the measurement data of the maximum expiratory flow rate CPF and the maximum cough sound pressure level PCSL during coughing obtained in advance are subjected to nonlinear regression analysis using the Levenberg-Marquard method to calculate the coefficients α and β. . The calculated coefficients α and β are α=5.67 and β=0.044, respectively.

Returning to step S14 in FIG. 3, the control unit 20 evaluates the coughing ability of the subject based on the calculated estimated value of the maximum expiratory flow rate CPF and criteria stored in advance in the storage unit 31 (step S15). Then, the control unit 20 causes the display unit 33 to display the evaluation result (step S16). For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the coughing ability is at a "caution" level if the estimated maximum expiratory flow CPF is 160 L/min or less, and a "caution" level if it is greater than 160 L/min and 270 L/min or less. level, 270 L/min or more and 465 L/min or less is evaluated as a 'slightly low' level, and greater than 465 L/min is evaluated as a 'normal' level.

Further, the control unit 20 causes the storage unit 31 to store the evaluation result together with the measurement time data (step S17).

As described above, in the present embodiment, by measuring the sound pressure level Lp during coughing of the subject, the maximum expiratory flow rate CPF during coughing is estimated and the coughing ability is evaluated. Even when expiratory flow is difficult to measure, adequate coughing ability can be assessed.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, since the coughing ability is evaluated without using a mask, there is no need to take measures against infection. Therefore, the coughing ability of multiple subjects can be easily evaluated.

In Embodiment 1 described above, the microphone 65 installed at a certain distance from the subject is used as the voice input unit 32, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as the voice input unit 32, a microphone 65 fixed to a mask worn on the subject's face may be used. In this case, the mask need not be a closed mask for measuring expiratory flow. As a result, the distance between the subject's mouth and the voice input unit 32 can be kept constant, thereby suppressing the influence of the subject's posture on the cough sound data LD and enabling stable measurement.

Further, in the first embodiment described above, the maximum expiratory flow rate CPF is estimated from one cough of the subject, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the subject is made to cough five times, and the maximum expiratory flow rate CPF is estimated from the cough sound data LD corresponding to each cough. Then, the cough ability of the subject may be evaluated based on the average value obtained by averaging the five peak expiratory flow CPFs. This enables evaluation with less measurement error.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a coughing ability evaluation system 15 according to Embodiment 2 will be described. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the coughing ability evaluation device 12 includes a communication unit 35 and is connected via a network to an evaluation information database 41 that stores coughing ability evaluation data of the subject. is different from the first embodiment. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given.

The coughing ability evaluation device 12 is a mobile communication terminal such as a smart phone or a tablet terminal, and is a smart phone in this embodiment. The smartphone operates as the coughing ability evaluation device 12 by executing an application installed on the smartphone.

The control unit 20 according to the present embodiment is an application processor built into the smart phone, and the voice input unit 32 is a microphone built into the smart phone. Also, the display unit 33 is a liquid crystal unit of the smartphone, and the operation unit 34 is a touch panel bonded on the liquid crystal unit.

The communication unit 35 is a wireless communication device built into the smartphone, and as shown in FIG. 7, transmits and receives data to and from the evaluation information database 41 on the network. Thereby, the coughing ability evaluation device 12 is communicably connected to the evaluation information database 41 on the network.

The evaluation information database 41 stores cough ability evaluation data measured in the past, specifically estimated maximum expiratory flow CPF.

The flow of processing according to the second embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.

When the subject starts the application installed in the coughing ability evaluation device 12 and inputs the login information, the coughing ability evaluation device 12 starts coughing ability evaluation processing. When the coughing ability evaluation process is started, the control unit 20 requests transmission of past coughing ability evaluation data to the evaluation information database 41 on the network via the communication unit 35 (step S31).

The evaluation information database 41 receives the request from the coughing ability evaluation device 12 and transmits the past coughing ability evaluation data stored in the evaluation information database 41 to the coughing ability evaluation device 12 (step S32). The communication unit 35 transmits the received past cough performance evaluation data to the control unit 20 . The control unit 20 transmits the past coughing ability evaluation data to the display unit 33 and displays it on the display unit 33 (step S33). In addition, the control unit 20 causes the display unit 33 to display the measurement start button together with the past coughing ability evaluation data.

In addition, the control unit 20 causes the display unit 33 to display precautions during measurement such as the posture of the subject during measurement and the distance between the subject and the voice input unit 32 . These precautions are stored in the storage unit 31 in advance.

When the subject presses the measurement start button displayed on the display unit 33 , the operation unit 34 transmits a signal indicating that the measurement start button has been pressed to the control unit 20 . Upon receiving the signal and detecting that the measurement start button has been pressed, the control unit 20 controls the voice input unit 32 to start voice input (step S34). In addition, the control unit 20 controls the display unit 33 to display on the display unit 33 a message that prompts the subject to cough. After voice input is started, the subject coughs (step S35).

After the subject coughs, when the measurement end button displayed on the display unit 33 is pressed, or when a certain period of time has passed since the start of measurement, the voice input control unit 201 of the control unit 20 controls the voice input unit 32. to end the measurement (step S36). Further, the control unit 20 causes the storage unit 31 to store the cough sound data LD input from the voice input unit 32 .

Subsequently, the evaluation unit 202 of the control unit 20 estimates the maximum expiratory flow rate CPF of the subject from the acquired cough sound data LD (step S37). A method of estimating the maximum expiratory flow rate CPF is the same as the estimation method of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

The control unit 20 evaluates the coughing ability of the subject based on the calculated estimated value of the maximum expiratory flow rate CPF and criteria stored in advance in the storage unit 31 . Then, the control unit 20 outputs the evaluation result to the display unit 33 and stores it in the storage unit 31 (step S38). Cough ability evaluation criteria are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 6, for example.

Further, the control unit 20 controls the communication unit 35 to transmit the estimated value of the maximum expiratory flow rate CPF and the subject's identification data to the evaluation information database 41 (step S39). The evaluation information database 41 stores the received maximum expiratory flow rate CPF together with subject identification data and measurement time data (step S40).

In the present embodiment, the maximum expiratory flow rate CPF estimated by the coughing ability evaluation device 12 is stored in the evaluation information database 41 on the network as the coughing ability evaluated by the coughing ability evaluation device. This allows the physician to access the evaluation information database 41 and easily analyze the coughing ability of the subject.

In Embodiment 2 above, the coughing ability evaluation device 12 estimates the maximum expiratory flow rate CPF based on the coughing sound data LD, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the coughing ability evaluation device 12 transmits the acquired coughing sound data LD to a server connected via a network. Then, the server may estimate the maximum expiratory flow rate CPF based on the received cough sound data LD. In this case, the coughing ability evaluation device 12 may obtain the maximum expiratory flow rate CPF estimated by the server and evaluate the coughing ability of the subject. Thereby, the computational load of the coughing ability evaluation device 12 can be reduced. Note that the evaluation information database 41 may be a storage device integrated with a server. In this case, the evaluation information database 41 can store data of the estimated maximum expiratory flow rate CPF during the coughing ability evaluation process. Therefore, the evaluation information database 41 can more reliably store the cough ability evaluation data of the subject.

In the second embodiment, the coefficients α and β in Equation (1) are preset constant values, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the data of male subjects and the data of female subjects obtained by experiments in advance may be divided into different groups, non-linear regression analysis may be performed, and the respective coefficients α and β may be calculated. . This makes it possible to perform more appropriate coughing ability evaluation in consideration of gender differences.

Also, the coefficients α and β in Equation (1) may be adjusted according to the physique of the subject. For example, the subject's height h, the coefficients a ₁ and a ₂ are used to define the coefficient α as α = a ₁ × h + a ₂ , and the maximum expiratory flow CPF is estimated based on the following equation (1'). good too.

As a result, even when the distance between the smartphone, which is the coughing ability evaluation device 12, and the subject's mouth changes due to the subject's height difference, it is possible to perform an appropriate coughing ability evaluation.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, cough ability evaluation device 13 according to Embodiment 3 will be described. The present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the coefficient α in Equation (1) is a function of the subject's age. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given.

In the coughing ability evaluation process using the coughing ability evaluation device 13, the subject's age is input before the start of measurement, that is, before the start of speech input. Specifically, when the power switch of the coughing ability evaluation device 13 is turned on, the control unit 20 causes the display unit 33 to display an age setting button.

The assistant or the subject touches the operation section 34 which is a touch panel to press the age setting button, and then inputs the age of the subject from the operation section 34 . When the subject's age input is completed, the cough ability evaluation device 13 starts voice input.

The coughing ability evaluation apparatus 13 calculates the coughing sound pressure level Lp from the acquired coughing sound data LD in the same manner as the coughing ability evaluation apparatus 11 according to the first embodiment.

The flow of the process of estimating the maximum expiratory flow rate CPF from the sound pressure level Lp is the same as in the first embodiment (FIG. 5). However, the calculation of the maximum expiratory flow rate CPF according to the present embodiment is performed by the following equation (1'').

ただし、ageは被験者の年齢、ａ_１、ａ_２、βは係数。

where age is the subject's age, a ₁ , a ₂ , and β are coefficients.

That is, the formula (1'') is obtained by using the coefficient α of the formula (1) as a linear function with the subject's age as a variable.

The coefficients a ₁ and a ₂ are values previously determined by experiments and stored in the storage unit 31 . The coefficients a ₁ and a ₂ are calculated by nonlinear regression analysis, for example, from measurement data obtained by measuring the maximum expiratory flow rate CPF and the maximum cough sound pressure level PCSL during coughing of the subject, and equation (1''). do. In the present embodiment, pre-acquired measurement data of the maximum expiratory flow CPF and the maximum cough sound pressure level PCSL during coughing are subjected to nonlinear regression analysis using the Levenberg _- Marquard method to calculate the coefficients a1 and _a2 . ing. For example, the values of coefficients a ₁ and a ₂ when using a bone conduction microphone are a ₁ =−0.17, a ₂ =43, and β=0.026, respectively.

Thereafter, as in the first embodiment, the coughing ability evaluation device 13 evaluates the coughing ability of the subject based on the calculated estimated value of the maximum expiratory flow rate CPF and the criterion stored in advance in the storage unit 31. evaluate.

FIGS. 9A to 9C show the expiratory flow rate (CPS) during coughing estimated by the coughing ability evaluation device 11 according to Embodiment 1, and measured by having the subject wear a mask attached with a flow meter. It is an example of the graph which shows the relationship with the expiratory flow rate (CPF) at the time of coughing. FIG. 9A is a graph when a bone conduction microphone is used as the microphone 65 which is the voice input unit 32. FIG. FIG. 9B is a graph when an operator microphone is used as the microphone 65. FIG. Also, FIG. 9C is a graph when a microphone built into a smartphone is used as the microphone 65 .

As shown in FIGS. 9 (A) to (C), a group showing the results of subjects in their early twenties (hereinafter referred to as the young group) and a group showing the results of subjects in their 60s or older (hereinafter referred to as the old group) ) shows a different trend. Specifically, the values of the coefficients α and β calculated from the results of the young group shown in FIG. The values of the coefficients α and β are α=15.6 and β=0.033.

The divergence between the young group and the old group is more pronounced when using the smartphone's built-in microphone shown in FIG. 9(C). 8, β=0.038.

FIGS. 10A to 10C show the expiratory flow rate (CPS) during coughing estimated by the coughing ability evaluation device 13 according to the present embodiment, and measured by having the subject wear a mask attached with a flow meter. It is an example of the graph which shows the relationship with the expiratory flow rate (CPF) at the time of coughing. In FIG. 10A, a bone conduction microphone is used as the microphone 65 which is the voice input unit 32, and the coefficients of equation (1'') are a ₁ =−0.17, a ₂ =43, and β=0.026. It is a graph when FIG. 10B is a graph when an operator microphone is used as the microphone 65 and a ₁ =−0.37, a ₂ =63, and β=0.026. FIG. 10C is a graph in the case of using a built-in microphone of a smart phone as the microphone 65 and setting a ₁ =−0.35, a ₂ =54, and β=0.026.

As shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C, the trends of the young group and the old group are not separated from each other in comparison with FIGS. 9A to 9C. That is, according to the coughing ability evaluation device 13 according to the present embodiment, regardless of the subject's age, it is possible to appropriately estimate the expiratory flow rate from the cough sound and evaluate the coughing ability of the subject.

Appropriate coefficients a ₁ and a ₂ are set in advance for each measurement environment, such as for each type of microphone 65 and each distance between the microphone 65 and the subject, and are stored in the storage unit 31. Coefficients a ₁ and a ₂ suitable for the environment may be selected. This makes it possible to appropriately estimate the expiratory flow rate simply by inputting the ages of the subjects, even when measuring multiple subjects.

The hardware configuration and software configuration of the coughing ability evaluation devices 11, 12, and 13 according to the embodiment of the present invention are examples, and can be arbitrarily changed and modified. The coughing ability evaluation devices 11, 12, and 13, which are composed of the control unit 20, the storage unit 31, the voice input unit 32, the display unit 33, the operation unit 34, and the like, are not based on dedicated devices or mobile communication terminals, but are ordinary computers. system. For example, by storing and distributing a computer program for executing the above operation in a computer-readable recording medium such as a USB memory or DVD-ROM, and installing the computer program in a computer, the above processing Cough ability evaluation devices 11, 12, and 13 can be configured to perform

Alternatively, the computer programs may be stored in a storage device of a server device on a communication network such as the Internet, and the coughing ability evaluation devices 11, 12, and 13 may be configured by downloading them to a normal computer system. . This makes it possible to easily evaluate the coughing ability of a plurality of subjects living in remote locations.

For example, data such as cough sound and expiratory flow rate measured at various places such as day care facilities, home-visit rehabilitation, and home-visit nursing care can be analyzed at the base hospital to evaluate the cough ability of the subject. Also, based on the accumulated data, the coefficients α, β, etc. of the expiratory flow rate calculation formula can be corrected to improve the estimation accuracy of the expiratory flow rate.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but the scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims. The technical scope of the present invention also includes embodiments obtained by various modifications made within the scope of the claims and within the meaning of the invention equivalent thereto.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is suitable for evaluating coughing ability when direct measurement of expiratory flow is difficult. In addition, the present invention can be applied to a remote diagnostic support system for coughing ability using mobile communication terminals such as smartphones and tablets.

Reference Signs List 11, 12, 13 cough ability evaluation device, 15 cough ability evaluation system, 20 control unit, 201 voice input control unit, 202 evaluation unit, 31 storage unit, 32 voice input unit, 33 display unit, 34 operation unit, 35 communication unit , 41 evaluation information database, 61 CPU, 62 main storage unit, 63 external storage unit, 64 operation unit, 65 microphone, 66 display, 68 bus

Claims (9)

a voice input unit for inputting a cough sound;
a control unit that estimates a maximum expiratory flow rate during coughing from the sound pressure level of the coughing sound input to the voice input unit, and evaluates coughing ability based on the estimated maximum expiratory flow rate;
Cough Ability Evaluation Device. The control unit
estimating the maximum expiratory flow based on the following equation (1);

(However, CPF is the expiratory flow rate, PCSL is the maximum value of the cough sound pressure level, and α and β are coefficients based on the subject's sex or physique )
The cough ability evaluation device according to claim 1. The coefficients α and β in the above formula (1) are
determined by nonlinear regression analysis,
The cough ability evaluation device according to claim 2. The control unit
Estimate the maximum expiratory flow based on the following formula (1),

(However, CPF is the expiratory flow rate, PCSL is the maximum value of the cough sound pressure level, and α and β are coefficients based on the subject's age)
The coefficient α in the above formula (1) is
The following linear function with the subject's age as a variable
α=a₁× age + a₂
(where age is the subject's age, a₁, a₂teeth−0.37≦a ₁ ≦−0.17, 43≦a ₂ ≤ 63coefficient),
Claim 1Cough ability evaluation device according to. A storage unit that stores the coefficients a1 and _a2 preset for _each type of microphone used in the voice input unit,
The cough ability evaluation device according to claim 4. The voice input unit is
Attached to the mask worn by the subject,
The cough ability evaluation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The cough ability evaluation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6;
a database connected to the coughing ability evaluation device via a network and storing coughing ability evaluated by the coughing ability evaluation device;
A cough performance assessment system comprising: A coughing ability comprising: an audio input unit for inputting a coughing sound; and a control unit for evaluating the coughing ability based on the maximum expiratory flow during coughing estimated from the sound pressure level of the coughing sound input to the audio input unit. an evaluation device;
a server connected to the cough ability evaluation device via a network and estimating the maximum expiratory flow rate from the sound pressure level of the cough sound;
a database connected to the coughing ability evaluation device via a network and storing coughing ability evaluated by the coughing ability evaluation device;
A cough performance assessment system comprising: the computer,
a voice input unit for inputting a cough sound;
an evaluation unit for estimating a maximum expiratory flow during coughing from the sound pressure level of the coughing sound input to the voice input unit, and evaluating coughing ability based on the estimated maximum expiratory flow;
A program that acts as a

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