TWI693924B - Exhalation measuring module and mobile device having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses an exhalation measuring module, which may comprise a housing, a turbine and an electromagnetic converter. The housing may be formed with a receiving space connecting to an inlet and an outlet for passing an exhalation flow from the inlet to the outlet. The turbine may comprise a plurality of magnetic vanes, which are capable of rotation under the exhalation flow. The electromagnetic converter, positioned near the turbine, may generate electrical signals representing rotational motion of the magnetic vanes. The electrical signal may be outputted by the electromagnetic converter for estimating volume of an exhalation.

Description

Breath measurement module and mobile device with breath measurement module

The present invention generally relates to an expiratory measurement method, an expiratory measurement module, and a mobile device having an expiratory measurement module. In particular, the invention relates to an expiratory measurement module with a thin size.

Vital capacity is one of the important clues for understanding human physiological state. Because spirometry varies according to the person's age, race, gender, etc., it is usually measured by wet or conventional spirometry, and the results are evaluated by people with medical expertise, such as doctors, to distinguish the presence of disease. Of course, for daily measurements, cost is an obstacle. Therefore, if you want to know his/her spirometry at an acceptable cost, you can measure the expiratory volume, usually the maximum expiratory volume. A palm spirometer is a good choice, because it is for people who do not have a medical profession. Say, reading is easy to read, and the price is affordable for ordinary people.

The object of the present invention is to provide an expiratory measurement method, an expiratory measurement module and a mobile device having the expiratory measurement module, which are used to measure the characteristics of a person's exhaled airflow. Through telecommunications capable of converting the linear motion of the exhaled airflow into rotational motion and telecommunications representing the rotational motion of the magnetic blades of the turbine number. The characteristics of exhaled airflow, such as volume, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), etc., can be calculated, preferably the maximum expiratory volume can be calculated.

In one aspect of the present invention, the present invention may provide an expiratory measurement mobile device for measuring exhaled airflow characteristics, including a platform component and a plurality of functional modules. The plurality of functional modules may be installed on the platform component, and each of them may be configured to perform at least one function. The functional module may include at least a telephone call module and an expiratory measurement module, the telephone call module is used to make a call; the expiratory measurement module generates a plurality of electrical signals associated with the flow rate of the exhaled airflow. The expiratory measurement module may include a flow meter that receives the exhaled airflow, and the telephone call module may calculate a value of the expiratory characteristic through the electrical signal output by the expiratory measurement module.

In another aspect of the present invention, the present invention may be provided with an expiratory measurement module, which may include a housing, a turbine, and an electromagnetic converter. The housing may form an accommodating space, the accommodating space is connected to an inlet and an outlet for the flow of exhaled air from the inlet to the outlet. The turbine positioned in the accommodating space may include a plurality of magnetic blades, which can rotate under the exhaled airflow. The electromagnetic converter positioned near the turbine can generate multiple electrical signals that represent the rotational movement of the magnetic blades. The electrical signal can be output by the electromagnetic converter to evaluate the characteristics of the exhaled airflow.

In another aspect of the present invention, the present invention may be provided with an expiratory measurement mobile device for measuring the characteristics of exhaled airflow, which may include a platform component and multiple functional modules. The functional module includes at least a telephone call module and an expiratory measurement module. The telephone call module and the expiratory measurement module can be installed on the platform component, and each of the plurality of functional modules is configured as Perform at least one function. The telephone call module can be used to make a call, and the expiratory measurement module can be used to convert the linear motion of the exhaled airflow into a rotary motion. The expiratory measurement module may include a casing and a turbine Machine and an electromagnetic converter. The housing may form an accommodating space, the accommodating space is connected to an inlet and an outlet for the flow of exhaled air from the inlet to the outlet. The turbine positioned in the accommodating space may include a plurality of magnetic blades, which can rotate under the exhaled airflow. The electromagnetic converter positioned near the turbine can generate electrical signals representative of the rotational movement of the magnetic blade. The electrical signal can be output by the electromagnetic converter to evaluate the characteristics of the exhaled airflow.

In another aspect of the present invention, the present invention may provide an expiratory measurement method, which may be applied to a mobile device for measuring the characteristics of exhaled airflow. The mobile device may include a data receiving component, a memory storing a mobile application code, and a second processing component for executing the mobile application code. The expiratory measurement method includes the steps of: using the data receiving component to receive an intermediate value associated with a rotation rate of a turbine, which converts the linear motion of the exhaled airflow into rotational motion under the exhaled airflow; and uses the The second processing component executes the mobile application code to analyze the correlation between a flow rate and the intermediate value, and calculates a value of the expiratory characteristic based on the correlation within a predetermined period of time.

When reading in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more easily understood from the following detailed description, in which: FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an expiratory measurement module for measuring exhaled airflow characteristics according to an embodiment of the invention Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the same expiratory measurement module as Figure 1 from another angle; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an expiratory measurement mobile device for measuring exhaled airflow characteristics according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 4 shows a functional block diagram of a telephone call module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, the following description is made here with reference to the drawings, wherein the same reference numerals denote the same features. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand other variations for implementing example embodiments, including those described herein. The drawings are not limited to a specific scale, and similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar elements. The terms "exemplary embodiment", "exemplary embodiment", and "this embodiment" as used in the disclosure and the scope of the attached patent application do not necessarily refer to a single embodiment, although it may represent a single embodiment. And the various exemplary embodiments can be easily combined and interchanged without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.

Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2. 1 shows a perspective view of an expiratory measurement module for measuring exhaled airflow characteristics according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an expiratory measurement module that is the same as FIG. 1 at another angle. First, the expiratory measurement module 13 is used to convert the linear motion of the exhaled airflow into rotational motion. The expiratory measurement module 13 may include a housing 131, a turbine 132, an electromagnetic converter 133, a plurality of output terminals 134, and a first processing part 135. Preferably, the breath measurement module 13 with a thin size can be adapted to the configuration of modern mobile devices, which can be implemented by, but not limited to, mobile phones, PDAs (personal digital assistants), digital cameras, watches, tablet computers, etc. Wireless transmission is realized by independent equipment. Perform wireless transmission such as applying Wi-Fi or Bluetooth wireless communication, etc., but not limited to this.

The housing 131 may be formed with an accommodating space 1311 connected to the inlet 1312 and the outlet 1313 for flowing exhaled airflow from the inlet 1312 to the outlet 1313. To facilitate the entry of exhaled airflow, the exhalation measurement module 13 may be paired with an air nozzle 14 that is detachably connected and surrounds the inlet 1312 of the exhalation measurement module 13. Preferably, the outlet 1313 is larger than the inlet 1312. Please note that the air spray The shape of the mouth 14 is only an example. The exhaled airflow, preferably the maximum exhaled air volume, can enter the accommodating space 1311 through the air nozzle 14 from the inlet 1312 and then leave the accommodating space 1311 from the outlet 1313.

The turbine 132 positioned in the accommodating space 1311 is formed with six magnetic blades 1321, 1322, 1323, 1324, 1325, and 1326 which can rotate under the exhaled airflow. All or part of the turbine 132, such as six magnetic blades 1321, 1322, 1323, 1324, 1325, 1326, may be composed of magnetic materials, such as iron, cobalt, nickel, compounds or alloys thereof, or include at least one magnetic material A mixture of several materials, for example, for light weight but not limited to, a mixture of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin and magnetic powder is used as a permanent magnet. This refers to the turbine 132. Please note that the number and shape of the magnetic blades 1321, 1322, 1323, 1324, 1325, 1326 can be changed.

The electromagnetic converter 133 may be located near the turbine 132 and preferably in close proximity to the turbine 132. Here, the electromagnetic converter 133 is realized by a reed switch, and the reed switch may be replaced by a Hall effect sensor. During the rotation of the magnetic blades 1321, 1322, 1323, 1324, 1325, 1326, due to the exhaled air flow, when one of the magnetic blades 1321, 1322, 1323, 1324, 1325, 1326, for example, the magnetic blade 1325 approaches the electromagnetic converter 133 The electromagnetic converter 133 can generate an electrical signal representing it. If it is assumed that the magnetic blades 1321, 1322, 1323, 1324, 1325, 1326 keep rotating, another electrical signal can be generated to indicate that the next magnetic blade 1336 is close to the electromagnetic converter 133, and another electrical signal is used for the magnetic blade 1321, etc. . Therefore, the electrical signal represents the rotational movement of the magnetic blades 1321, 1322, 1323, 1324, 1325, 1326 of the turbine 132. The electromagnetic converter 133 may output some or all of the electrical signals for evaluating the characteristics of the exhaled airflow.

Then, the characteristics of the exhaled airflow can be calculated from the electric signal output from the electromagnetic converter 133. Here, some output terminals 134 may be electrically connected to the electromagnetic converter 133, while some output terminals 134 may be electrically connected to the first processing part 135. The output terminals 134 are not limited to a certain number. Through the output terminal 134, as an electrical signal transmission interface, the first processing part 135 can receive the electrical signal. Preferably, the first processing component 135 may be a microcontroller, a microprocessor, etc., which can, preferably periodically, calculate the rotation of the turbine 132 under the exhaled airflow with the average value or the highest record based on the electrical signal The median value associated with the rate. For example, the first processing part 135 may calculate the number of electrical signals received in a predetermined duration, for example, 1 minute, 10 seconds, 1 second, 10 ms, etc., to calculate the rotation rate of the turbine 132 as an intermediate value. Then, the output terminal 134 outputs the intermediate value. The characteristics of the exhaled airflow can be calculated by the first processing component 135 or an independent device that receives intermediate values based on a correlation analysis between at least one known airflow and the measured rotational motion, the correlation between the known airflow and the measured rotational motion The sex can be detailed below. Please note that in order to simplify the structure of the expiratory measurement module 13, the first processing part 135 may be omitted; however, if this is done, the independent device may have a greater difficulty in processing each electrical signal to calculate the characteristics of the exhaled airflow Much burden.

The first processing component 135 or independent device receives intermediate values from time to time, a series of current values of the rotation rate of the turbine 132, and can analyze at least one known flow rate curve composed of the intermediate values and the rotation rate curve of the turbine 132 The correlation between them is preferably by means of a database or a look-up table. In the database or look-up table, there may be associated data for a certain number of known airflows, such as flow rate curves, etc., which may be samples from people with different ages, races, genders, health conditions, etc., or stored The user exhales the airflow. In addition, due to the quality of the magnetic blades 1321, 1322, 1323, 1324, 1325, 1326 and the surrounding inertial air, proper correction of the inertia of the magnetic blades 1321, 1322, 1323, 1324, 1325, 1326 can also be achieved.

During the period after the transient peak flow of exhalation, the speed of the turbine 132 may decrease. Due to inertia, the rotation rate of the turbine 132 measured during this time period is preferably The revolutions per minute (RPM) is the unit and may not represent the actual flow. In addition to the transient speed itself, inertia compensation can also be achieved by observing the speed change rate of the turbine 132. By experimenting to determine the average rate at which the rotational speed of the turbine 132 is decreasing at no flow, and comparing this rate with the measured rate of change of the rotational speed of the turbine 132, it can be detected that the flow has stopped but the turbine 132 is still rotating inertia . In addition, a table correlating the rate of change of the rotation rate of the turbine 132 measured during the time period with the flow rate during the flow may be experimentally created and stored in the first processing part 135 or an independent device. In addition, the turbine 132 may require an initial time to overcome inertia and friction. The first processing unit 135 or an independent device may use an algorithm to shift the start time to a new time or a valid start time for correction.

Then, the first processing unit 135 or the independent device may calculate values for the expiratory characteristics based on the correlation within a predetermined time period, such as volume, forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow rate (PEF), etc. . FEV1, the sum of the flow rates measured within a period of 1 second, and PEF, the absolute maximum flow rate, can be calculated by interpolating the most relevant known air flow with the measured flow rate.

In another embodiment, the first processing component may be a wireless module that is electrically connected to the electromagnetic converter to receive electrical signals from the electromagnetic converter, calculate and transmit intermediate values to evaluate the characteristics of the exhaled airflow. In this case, both the output terminal and the first processing part are unnecessary. The wireless module can conform to the wireless protocol of wireless transmission, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth protocol.

In another embodiment, preferably a positive displacement turbine, the electrical signal generated by the electromagnetic converter may be defined by the volume inside the turbine or the volume of space between two adjacent blades for the exhaled airflow The constant volume unit is associated. For example, assuming that there are six blades in the turbine, every six electrical signals are a complete rotation. By the first processing unit or an independent device that receives intermediate values The correlation of the analysis may be an algorithm consisting of parameters associated with a known volume inside the turbine or the space between two adjacent magnetic blades. In addition, the parameters in the algorithm can be related to the diameter of the turbine, the thickness of the space in the turbine, the number of magnetic blades, and so on. In a simple example, the FEV1 of the exhaled airflow can be calculated using an algorithm for calculating the complete rotation count of the turbine in the first second of the volume of the receiving space. The parameters are not limited to the examples disclosed here, and can be selected to obtain the accuracy required for the calculation.

Please refer to FIG. 3, which shows a perspective view of an expiratory measurement mobile device 1 for measuring the volume of exhaled airflow according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the expiratory measurement mobile device 1 is, but not limited to, a mobile phone, and includes a platform component 11 and a plurality of functional modules 12, 13 each of which is configured to perform at least one function. Specifically, the functional modules 12, 13 include at least a telephone call module 12 for making a telephone call and an exhalation measurement module 13 for converting the linear motion of the exhaled airflow into a rotary motion, both of which can be installed on the platform Part 11. The breath measurement module 13 here uses, for example, the breath measurement module 13 in FIG. 1. The platform part 11, the telephone call module 12, and the expiratory measurement module 13 may be electrically connected to each other. Please note that the number of functional modules may vary. For example, at least one functional module with different functions may be optionally added. The platform part 11 may be detachably connected to each functional module 12, 13 or assembled with at least one functional module 12, 13, such as a telephone call module 12, for each function installed on it Interfaces of modules 12, 13 to communicate with each other.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the telephone call module 12 may include a data receiving part 121, a second processing part 122 and a memory 123. The data receiving part 121 may receive an intermediate value from the expiratory measurement module 13, such as the first processing part 135 or the electromagnetic converter 133 shown in FIG. 1, but it is not limited thereto. Specifically, the data receiving part 121 may be realized by a printed circuit board and an integrated circuit mounted thereon, a receiver conforming to the Bluetooth protocol, etc., depending on the intermediate value transmitted from the expiratory measurement module 13 The type of component. The second processing part 122 may be electrically connected to the data receiving part 121 and the memory 123 to control the operations of the data receiving part 121 and the memory 123.

The memory 123 may store mobile application codes, such as mobile applications. In this embodiment, the mobile application code can be configured to generate electrical signals representing the rotational movement of the magnetic blades 1321, 1322, 1323, 1324, 1325, 1326 using the compliant breath measurement module 13 and then pass the breath measurement module The electrical signal output by group 13 calculates the characteristics of the exhaled airflow. Specifically, the second processing component 122 can execute the mobile application code, use the first processing component 135 to receive the electrical signal to calculate an intermediate value, which is related to the rotational speed of the turbine 132 under the electrical signal's exhaled airflow; Part 121, receiving the intermediate value from the first processing part 135; and using the second processing part 122 and the memory 123, analyze the correlation between the flow rate and the intermediate value, and calculate the expiratory characteristic based on the correlation within a predetermined time period Value. The correlation analysis may be similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, as described above, the characteristics of the exhaled airflow can be calculated by the turbine capable of converting the linear motion of the exhaled airflow into a rotational motion and the electrical signal representing the rotational motion of the magnetic blades of the turbine.

In another embodiment, the expiratory measurement mobile device may be implemented by a PDA (personal digital assistant), digital camera, watch, tablet computer, or independent device capable of performing wireless transmission, such as applying Wi-Fi or Bluetooth wireless communication, but not Limited to this. In yet another embodiment, an expiratory measurement mobile device for measuring characteristics of exhaled airflow, the expiratory measurement module may include another type of flowmeter that receives exhaled airflow instead of a turbine to generate a correlation with the flow rate of the exhaled airflow Multiple electrical signals. The telephone call module can calculate the value of the expiratory characteristic by the electrical signal output from the expiratory measurement module. Please note that the flowmeter may be a turbine, a differential pressure flowmeter, a vortex flowmeter, an ultrasonic Doppler flowmeter, etc., but it is not limited thereto. Differential pressure flow meters can detect flow by measuring the pressure drop of resistors, orifices, venturis, flow nozzles, etc. Ultrasonic Doppler flowmeters can calculate the flow from ultrasonic transducers and so on.

Although various embodiments according to the disclosed principles have been described above, it should be understood that they are presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Therefore, the breadth and scope of the exemplary embodiments should not be limited by any of the above-described embodiments, but should be limited only by the scope of patent applications and their equivalents issued from the present invention. Furthermore, the above advantages and features are provided in the described embodiments, but the application of these disclosed patent applications should not be limited to processes and structures that achieve any or all of the above advantages.

In addition, the section titles provided here are consistent with the recommendations under US Censorship Guide 37 C.F.R.1.77, or provide organized tips in other ways. These headings should not limit or characterize the invention described in the scope of any patent applications that may be issued from this disclosure. In particular, the description of the technology in the "Background" should not be interpreted as an admission that the technology is prior art to any invention in this disclosure. In addition, any reference in this disclosure to a single form of "invention" should not be used to demonstrate that there is only a single novelty characteristic in this disclosure. Multiple inventions can be derived from the limitations of the multiple patent applications issued from this disclosure, and these inventions and their equivalents to be protected are correspondingly defined by such patent application scope. In all cases, according to the present disclosure, the scope of these patent applications should be considered based on their own advantages, but should not be bound by the title of this article.

13: Breath measurement module

14: Air nozzle

131: Shell

132: Turbine

133: Electromagnetic converter

134: output terminal

135: The first processing unit

1311: accommodating space

1312: Entrance

1313: Export

1321: Magnetic blade

1322: Magnetic blade

1323: Magnetic blade

1324: Magnetic blade

1325: Magnetic blade

1326: Magnetic blade

Claims (9)

An expiratory measurement module, characterized in that it includes: a housing formed with an accommodating space connected to an inlet and an outlet for flowing an exhaled air flow from the inlet to the outlet; a turbine, positioning In the accommodating space, it is made of a mixture of resin and magnetic powder with permanent magnets, including a plurality of magnetic blades, which can rotate around an axis perpendicular to the direction between the inlet and the outlet under the exhaled air flow; An electromagnetic converter, located near the turbine, is used to generate a plurality of electrical signals representing the rotational movement of the magnetic blades; a first processing component receives the electrical signals and calculates the exhaled airflow from the electrical signals At least an intermediate value associated with a rotation rate of the turbine; and a wireless module electrically connected to the electromagnetic converter, receives electrical signals from the electromagnetic converter, calculates and transmits the An intermediate value associated with a rotation rate of the turbine, wherein the wireless module complies with the Bluetooth protocol, wherein the electrical signal is output by the electromagnetic converter for evaluating the flow characteristics of the exhaled airflow from the inlet to the outlet, the Flow characteristics are volume, forced expiratory volume in the first second, or peak expiratory flow. The expiratory measurement module according to item 1 of the patent application scope, further comprising: at least one output terminal electrically connected to the electromagnetic converter for transmitting the electrical signal. The expiratory measurement module according to item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the first processing component is a microcontroller. An expiratory measurement mobile device for measuring the characteristics of exhaled airflow is characterized by comprising: a platform component; and a plurality of functional modules installed on the platform component, each functional module configured to perform at least one function, It includes at least one telephone call module and an exhalation measurement module. The telephone call module is used to make a call. The exhalation measurement module is used to convert the linear movement of the exhaled airflow into rotary movement. The group includes: a housing forming an accommodating space, the accommodating space is connected to an inlet and an outlet for the flow of exhaled air from the inlet to the outlet; a turbine, positioned in the accommodating space, by Made of a mixture of resin and magnetic powder with permanent magnets, including a plurality of magnetic blades, which can rotate around an axis perpendicular to the direction between the inlet and the outlet under the exhaled air flow; an electromagnetic converter, positioned at the In the vicinity of the turbine, a plurality of electrical signals representing the rotational movement of the magnetic blades, and a first processing component, receive the electrical signals, and calculate a rotation of the turbine under the exhaled airflow from the electrical signals At least one intermediate value associated with the rate, wherein the phone call module includes: a data receiving component that receives the intermediate value from the first processing component; a memory that stores a mobile application code; and a second processing component , Electrically connected to the data receiving component and the memory, operating to execute the mobile application code; Wherein, the telephone call module calculates a value of the flow characteristic of the exhaled air flow by the electrical signal output from the electromagnetic converter, the flow characteristic is volume, forced expiratory volume or peak expiratory flow in the first second, and Wherein, the mobile application code is configured to utilize the data receiving component, the memory and the second processing component, so that the expiratory measurement mobile device at least: analyzes the correlation between a flow rate and the intermediate value; based on A correlation within a predetermined period of time calculates the value of the expiratory characteristic; and a peak expiratory flow rate of the exhaled airflow is calculated based on the correlation. The expiratory measurement mobile device according to item 4 of the patent application scope, wherein the first processing component is a microcontroller. The expiratory measurement mobile device according to item 4 of the patent application scope, wherein the data receiving part is a printed circuit board and an integrated circuit mounted thereon. The expiratory measurement mobile device according to item 4 of the patent application scope, wherein the expiratory measurement module further includes: a wireless module electrically connected to the electromagnetic converter and receiving electrical signals from the electromagnetic converter , Calculate and transmit an intermediate value related to a rotation rate of the turbine under the exhaled airflow. The expiratory measurement mobile device according to item 7 of the patent application scope, wherein the wireless module and the data receiving component comply with the Bluetooth protocol. The expiratory measurement mobile device according to item 4 of the scope of the patent application, further comprising: an air nozzle detachably connected and surrounding the entrance of the expiratory measurement module.

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