WO2004082161A1

WO2004082161A1 - Pulmonary function measuring system

Info

Publication number: WO2004082161A1
Application number: PCT/KR2003/001908
Authority: WO
Inventors: Min-Hwa Lee
Original assignee: Healthpia Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2003-03-14
Filing date: 2003-09-18
Publication date: 2004-09-23
Also published as: KR20040081626A; KR100496195B1; AU2003263627A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pulmonary function measuring system, including steps of measuring lung capacity using a mobile communication terminal or parts of such a terminal. It measures the density of nitrogen monoxide or alcohol gas. Basically, the system comprises a pneumatometer and a mobile phone. The above pneumatometer comprises: (a) a pressure sensor which converts a change in pressure of the respiratory flow in a mouth piece into a voltage value and outputs this value; (b) a measuring control section which converts the above voltage value and output it as measure data; (c) the main frame interface which interfaces the above pulmonary function measuring date to the above terminal. The above mobile communication terminal including a key pad and a display unit comprises: (a) a data communication unit which receive and send date through an external wireless communication network; (b) an external interface unit for receiving and sending data with the above main frame interface; (c) a control unit which outputs gas-measuring guide information through the above display unit, which requires a certain gas measurement selected and inputted through the above key pad from the above pneumatometer, and which controls the display unit portion by receiving pulmometry information measured according to a selected requirement.

Description

PULMONARY FUNCTION MEASURING SYSTEM

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a system for testing pulmonary function and measuring gas, and more particularly to a pulmonary function test system for measuring vital capacity using a mobile communication terminal or its associated accessories, or measuring carbon monoxide and alcohol gas created during user' s respiration using the mobile communication terminal or its associated accessories.

Background Art

In recent times, the number of patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases or the number of other patients suffering from lung cancer has been rapidly increased due to the increase in smokers and old people, and environmental pollution. A pulmonary function test for the patients suffering from such respiratory diseases has been considered to be the principal item for checking patient's condition.

The pulmonary function test has been widely used for most people in various ways. For example, the pulmonary function test is adapted to diagnose patients suffering from specific diseases, is adapted to perform not only a respiratory function of a preoperative patient but also a health examination of people, and is adapted to evaluate a damage level of a laborer suffering from a certain industrial accident. Particularly, a research paper made by Dr. Andrea Venn and his colleagues at the University of Notthingham in the United Kingdom has disclosed a correlation between a child' s proximity to main roads and the occurrence of wheezing. In more detail, Dr. Andrea Venn and his colleagues have studied environmental epidemiology in association with 6,000 children 4 to 11 years of age and 3,700 teenagers 11 to 16 years of age, who lived in the range of 150 meters from main roads having heavy traffic in Nottingham, and has showed that the closer children lived to main roads having daily traffic of 10,000 to 100,000 vehicles the more likely they were to experience wheezing being one symptom of asthma.

Therefore, there is a need for most people who live in metropolitan areas or a large city to periodically check their and their family' s health conditions in such a way that they can prevent the occurrence of respiratory diseases in advance. Provided that a mobile communication terminal carried by most people is adapted to perform such a pulmonary function test, users of the mobile communication terminal can quickly recognize abnormal respiratory symptoms, resulting in an increased user's safety in health care. Disclosure of the Invention

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a pulmonary function test system for conveniently testing a user' s pulmonary function from anywhere using a mobile communication terminal.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pulmonary function test system for maximizing the number of shared parts between a mobile communication terminal and a spirometer, resulting in a cost-effective system having lightness, thinness, compactness, and smallness .

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a multi-purpose pulmonary function test system for detecting not only vital capacity but also a gaseous component such as carbon monoxide and alcohol gas, created during user's respiration.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a pulmonary function test apparatus including a spirometer and a mobile communication terminal.

The spirometer includes: a pressure sensor for converting a pressure variation created by user' s breath applied to a mouthpiece into a voltage signal of a predetermined value; a gas measurement controller for receiving the voltage signal from the pressure sensor, and converting the received voltage signal into vital capacity measurement data; and a communication interface unit for interfacing the vital capacity measurement data to the mobile communication terminal.

The mobile communication terminal containing a keypad and a display, includes: a data communication unit for performing data communication over an external wireless communication network; an external interface unit communicating with the main body interface unit; and a controller for indicating gas measurement guidance information on the display, commanding the spirometer to measure either one of gases selectively-entered by the keypad, receiving vital capacity information measured by the command, and indicating the received vital capacity information on the display.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a pulmonary function test apparatus including a mobile communication terminal and a battery pack connected to the mobile communication terminal.

The battery pack containing a plurality of battery cells, includes: a communication interface unit for interfacing with the mobile communication terminal; an external device interface unit for interfacing with a spirometer; and a pack controller for receiving vital capacity measurement data from the spirometer via the external device interface unit, and transmitting the received vital capacity measurement data to the mobile communication terminal .

The mobile communication terminal containing a keypad and a display, includes: a data communication unit for performing data communication over an external wireless communication network; an external interface unit communicating with the communication interface unit; and a controller for indicating gas measurement guidance information on the display, commanding the pack controller to measure either one of gases selectively-entered by the keypad, receiving vital capacity information measured in response to the command, and indicating the received vital capacity information on the display.

Further, the pulmonary function test apparatus further includes gas sensors for detecting density of CO or alcohol gas contained in user's breath, such that it can be used as a spirometer and a multi-purpose gas measurement device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating a pulmonary function test system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a detailed block diagram illustrating a pulmonary function test system composed of a spirometer, a battery pack, and a mobile communication terminal shown in Fig. 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method for measuring vital capacity of a user in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a pulmonary function test system in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings.

In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals even though they are depicted in different drawings. In the following description, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating a pulmonary function test system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In more detail, in the case where the mobile communication terminal (hereinafter referred to as a mobile phone) performs communication using a Bluetooth module serving as a wireless communication unit, the pulmonary function test system shown in Fig. 1 is adapted to support such communication between the mobile phone and the Bluetooth module.

The pulmonary function test system includes a spirometer 30 and a mobile phone. The spirometer 30 measures vital capacity of a user, and also measures either carbon monoxide (CO) or alcohol gas created during user's respiration. The mobile phone receives vital capacity or gas density information measured by the spirometer 30, and displays the received information on a prescribed display or wirelessly transmits the same information to a telemedicine server. If necessary, the information received from the spirometer 30 may be transmitted to the mobile phone via a battery pack connected to the mobile phone, or may also be directly interfaced with the mobile phone. Fig. 2 is a detailed block diagram illustrating a pulmonary function test system composed of the spirometer 30, the battery pack 20, and the mobile phone 10 shown in Fig. 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 2, the spirometer 30 basically includes a pressure sensor 34 for measuring vital capacity. The pressure sensor 34 converts a pressure variation caused by user's breath applied to a mouthpiece 31 of Fig. 1 into a voltage signal. The pressure sensor 34 is composed of a Lilly-type pneumotach sensor that has been widely used in general spirometers for measuring a volume flow per unit time of a fluid, such that its detailed description will herein be omitted for the convenience of description and better understanding of the present invention. The spirometer 30 further includes a gas (CO) sensor

32 for detecting the density of CO contained in user' s breath. For reference, the gas sensor 32 is adapted to detect not only the CO contained in the user' s breath but also CoHb (Carbon monoxide) associated with hemoglobin. The gas sensor 32 performs quantification of CO contained in tar or nicotine using a noninvasive method, such that the CO indicative of a smoking degree of the user can be numerically expressed.

The spirometer 30 may further include a gas sensor (not shown) for detecting the density of alcohol gas contained in user's breath. For example, the gas sensor may use a sensor contained in a typical alcohol gas detector.

Output voltages of the sensors 32 and 34 are converted into digital data in a measurement controller 36, and are processed and outputted using calculation methods for every gas. For example, in the case of measuring a vital activity of a user, the measurement controller 36 performs integral calculus on the output voltage of the pressure sensor 34 to determine vital capacity. The resultant vital capacity is created in the form of vital capacity measurement data. The measurement controller 36 can select one of output values of the sensors according to a control signal of either a controller of the battery pack 20 or the other controller of the mobile phone 10. The spirometer 30 includes a communication interface unit for transmitting the measured information of the sensors 32 and 34 to the battery pack 20 of the mobile phone. A wireless communication unit such as a Bluetooth module 38 may be adapted as such a communication interface unit, or a wired communication unit of a USB or RS-232C scheme may also be adapted as the communication interface unit. For reference, the Bluetooth module 38 receives the vital capacity measurement data from the measurement controller 36, and either transmits it to the battery pack 20 connected to the spirometer 30, or transmits a vital capacity measurement start command received from the battery pack 20 to the measurement controller 36.

The spirometer 30 may further include an indication lamp turned on or off by the measurement controller 36 in order to inform the user of a vital capacity measurement enable state, CO measurement enable state, and alcohol gas measurement enable state.

The battery pack 20 interfacing the vital capacity measurement data received from the spirometer 30 to the mobile phone 10 basically includes a plurality of battery cells. Voltages charged in the battery cells are adapted to provide the mobile phone 10 with an operating power-supply voltage. If necessary, the voltages charged in the battery cells may also be adapted to provide the spirometer 30 with an operating power-supply voltage according to interface module category information.

The battery pack 20 having the battery cells 28 further includes an external device interface unit communicating with a communication interface unit of the spirometer 30. For example, the Bluetooth module 38 is adapted as such a communication interface unit of the spirometer 30 as shown in Fig. 2. The battery pack 20 further includes a pack controller 24. The pack controller 24 receives vital capacity measurement data, alcohol density measurement data, and CO density measurement data from the spirometer 30 via a Bluetooth module 22, and transmits the received data to the mobile phone 10. The battery pack 20 further includes a communication interface unit 26 interfacing with the mobile phone 10. The mobile phone 10 transmits and receives a specific command such as a vital capacity measurement command and measurement data to/from the battery pack 20 via the communication interface unit 26. For reference, data communication between the battery pack 20 and the mobile phone 10 is established using individual power- supply output terminals contained in the battery pack 20 and the mobile phone 10. This data communication method is called a power line communication method. If necessary, additional communication terminals may also be contained in the battery pack 20 and the mobile phone 10 to perform such data communication.

The mobile phone for receiving vital capacity measurement data from the battery pack 20, and transmitting it to a telemedicine server (not shown) or a display 16 will hereinafter be described. The external interface unit 11 is connected to the communication interface unit 26 contained in the battery pack 20 to perform data communication between the battery pack 20 and the mobile phone 10. The data communication unit 18 modulates vital capacity measurement data generated from the controller 12, performs frequency conversion on the vital capacity measurement data, and wirelessly transmits the frequency-converted data over an antenna ANT . The data communication unit 18 separates specific information (e.g., analyzed result information) other than voice data from RF signals received over the antenna ANT, performs frequency conversion on the separated information, demodulates the frequency-converted information, and transmits the resultant information to the controller 12.

The controller 12 outputs gas measurement guidance information to the display 16, commands the pack controller 24 to measure a specific gas entered by a user' s keypad, receives the measured vital capacity, alcohol gas density information, and CO density information in response to the entry command, and displays them on the display 16. Although a detailed configuration of the mobile phone 10 is not shown in the drawings, it should be noted that the mobile phone 10 can further include a memory for storing system control program data and a plurality of application programs. Therefore, the controller 12 can control the mobile phone 10, and can communicate with the battery pack 20.

Operations of the above-identified system will hereinafter be described with reference to Fig. 3.

The controller 12 of the mobile phone 10 determines whether the keypad 14 has entered a predetermined key signal, and thereby determines whether a prescribed additional function is selected. Category data for selecting such additional functions is created by a prescribed key entry signal, and the user may select one function from among a vital capacity measurement function, an alcohol density measurement function, and a CO density measurement function, etc.

Upon receiving a vital capacity measurement request from a user, the controller 12 of the mobile phone 10 recognizes the vital capacity measurement request at step 60, and transmits a vital capacity measurement command in response to the recognized request to the battery pack 20 at step 62. Provided that another additional function other than the vital capacity measurement request is selected, the controller 12 may command the battery pack 20 to measure alcohol density.

The pack controller 24 of the battery pack 20 having received the vital capacity measurement request transmits the vital capacity measurement start command to the spirometer 30 over the Bluetooth module 22 at step 64. It should be noted that such connection between Bluetooth modules is established before transmitting the vital capacity measurement start command. In this way, if the vital capacity measurement start command is transmitted from the battery pack 20 to the spirometer 30, the measurement controller of the spirometer 30 receives the vital capacity measurement start command from the Bluetooth module 38, and displays a vital capacity measurement mode at step 66. This vital capacity measurement mode may be indicated by turning on a predetermined LED, such that the user can start the vital capacity measurement mode by visually recognizing the active LED.

In other words, if the LED is powered on and the user maximally breathes out through the mouthpiece 31 of the spirometer 30, a pressure variation occurs due to user's breath applied to the mouthpiece 31, and the pressure sensor 34 converts this pressure variation into a voltage signal. This voltage signal is transmitted to the measurement controller 36 such that it is converted into digital data. The digital data is processed using a vital capacity measurement method to create resultant vital capacity measurement data, such that the vital capacity of the user or patient can be measured using the aforementioned process at step 68.

The measured vital capacity data is transmitted to the battery pack 20 over the Bluetooth module 38 upon receiving a control signal from the measurement controller 36 at step 70. The pack controller 24 of the battery pack 20 transmits the vital capacity measurement data received from the spirometer 30 to the mobile phone 10 via the communication interface unit 26 at step 72, such that the controller 12 of the mobile phone 10 can receive the vital capacity measurement data via the external interface unit 11. The received vital capacity measurement data is displayed on the display 16 according to a control signal of the controller 12 at step 74. In this way, if there is a vital capacity measurement end request after performing the aforementioned vital capacity measurement process once, the controller 12 transmits a vital capacity end command to the battery pack 20. This vital capacity end command may be adapted to turn off the active LED.

As stated above, the user can receive his or her vital capacity information measured by the spirometer 30 using his or her mobile phone. If necessary, the user may transmit the received vital capacity information to a specific telemedicine server such that a doctor or physician can diagnose a user' s disease on the basis of the received vital capacity information. The user's vital capacity measurement data transmitted to the telemedicine server is classified into many sub-data units for each period of time such that it can be created in the form of databased data. This databased-format vital capacity measurement data may be adapted to analyze the change of pulmonary function. For reference, provided that the measured vital capacity information is transmitted to the telemedicine server, the pulmonary function test system will be operated as follows. If the user responds to a telemedicine diagnosis request received from the mobile phone 10 at step 76, the controller 12 controls the data communication unit 18 to gain access to a telemedicine server having a predetermined address over the Internet. If user authentication is normally established on the basis of a phone number of the mobile phone 10, the mobile phone 10 and the telemedicine server are normally connected to each other at step 78. If the normal connection between the mobile phone 10 and the telemedicine server has been provided, the controller 12 of the mobile phone 10 uploads the vital capacity measurement at step 80. The uploaded vital capacity measurement is classified into a plurality of sub-measurements for every mobile-phone user (i.e., every member), and is stored in a predetermined database along with measurement date information. The telemedicine server can immediately query whether the user wishes to analyze the vital capacity measurement information uploaded over a Web browser. If the user selects such analysis service upon receipt of this query of the telemedicine server at step 82, the telemedicine server analyzes the uploaded data using a vital capacity analysis engine, and provides the mobile phone 10 with the analyzed result. Therefore, the controller 12 receives the analyzed result from the server, and displays it at step 84, such that the user can immediately receive the diagnosis result of his or her vital capacity information.

In the meantime, the user may receive a more accurate diagnosis result from a doctor or physician over the telemedicine server. In this case, it is difficult for the physician to real-time-diagnose the user' s vital capacity measurement data. Therefore, if the user gains access to the telemedicine server after the lapse of a predetermined time after the vital capacity measurement has been uploaded, he or she can receive the diagnosis result created by the physician. The physician may provide the user with a more specialized diagnosis result by monitoring the change of vital capacity information configured in the form of databased data in association with all the members registered in the telemedicine server. The diagnosis result data is also classified into several sub-data units for every member to create databased data, such that the members can each receive the diagnosis result associated with their uploaded vital capacity information. Although the aforementioned description has disclosed a pulmonary function test using a vital capacity measurement method, the present invention can selectively measure density of either alcohol gas or CO contained in user' s breath using the gas sensor 32 without an additional modification, and can inform the user of the selectively- measured gas density. Therefore, in the case of using a pulmonary function test system according to the present invention, alcohol gas and CO contained in the user' s breath can be conveniently detected. Although the aforementioned description has disclosed the pulmonary function test system composed of the spirometer 30, the battery pack 20, and the mobile phone 10, it should be noted that the battery pack provides the mobile phone with an operating power-supply voltage, and the above pulmonary function test system may be composed of only the spirometer 40 and the mobile phone 50.

Referring to Fig. 4, the spirometer 40 includes a measurement controller 46, gas and pressure sensors 42 and 44, and a main body interface unit 48. The main body interface unit 48 communicates with the external interface unit 51 of the mobile phone 50. For example, the main body interface unit 48 transmits and receives a vital capacity measurement command and vital capacity measurement data measured by the spirometer 40 to/from the external interface unit 51.

The gas sensor 42 is adapted to measure density of CO or alcohol gas as previously described in Fig. 2, and converts a pressure variation created by user's breath applied to the mouthpiece 31 into a voltage signal. The measurement controller 46 selectively receives voltage signals generated from the sensors 42 and 44, converts the selectively received voltage signal into digital data, and generates the digital data in the form of vital capacity measurement data or gas density data. Data generated from the measurement controller 46 is transmitted to the mobile phone 50 over the main body interface unit 48.

The mobile phone 50 basically includes a data communication unit 55 for voice and data communication in the same way as in a general mobile phone, and further includes a display 59 for indicating vital capacity and measured gas density, and a keypad 57 for entering a user command. A controller 53 of the mobile phone 50 outputs vital capacity measurement guidance information through the keypad 57, transmits a vital capacity measurement command to the spirometer 40 according to the user command, receives the vital capacity measurement data transferred from the spirometer 40, and outputs the received data using either the display 59 or the data communication unit 55.

The spirometer 40 and the mobile phone contained in the above-identified pulmonary function test system can perform communication using an RS-232C scheme or a USB scheme, and can also perform such communication using a Bluetooth module or a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) module. The aforementioned pulmonary function test system of Fig. 4 including the spirometer 40 and the mobile phone 50 is considered to be equal to that of Fig. 3. In more detail, upon receiving a vital capacity measurement request from the user, the controller 53 of the mobile phone 50 transmits the vital capacity measurement command to the spirometer 40. The measurement controller 46 of the spirometer 40 enters a vital capacity measurement mode, receives a voltage signal corresponding to user' s vital capacity from the pressure sensor 44, converts the received voltage signal into vital capacity measurement data, and transmits it to the mobile phone 50.

The controller 53 of the mobile phone 50 outputs the received vital capacity measurement data via the display 59, and at the same time transmits it to the telemedicine server. Therefore, the user can receive a diagnosis result created by a doctor or physician from the telemedicine server, or can receive a real-time analysis result from an analysis engine contained in the telemedicine server.

In case of using the aforementioned pulmonary function test system according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the user can self-measure his or her vital capacity and density information of alcohol gas and CO contained in user' s breath by means of his or her mobile phone and portable spirometer. If necessary, the user may transmit the measured information to a telemedicine server to receive a more specialized diagnosis result created by a doctor or physician.

Industrial Applicability

As apparent from the above description, the pulmonary function test system according to the present invention is carried by a user, enables the user to measure density of CO and alcohol gas contained in user' s breath by himself or herself, and directly transmits the measured result information to a remote site using his or her mobile phone, such that the user can receive a telemedicine service from the telemedicine server.

Further, the pulmonary function test system maximizes the number of shared parts between a mobile communication terminal (i.e., a mobile phone) and a spirometer resulting in a cost-effective system having lightness, thinness, compactness, and smallness.

Furthermore, the pulmonary function test system stores information measured by the spirometer in an external server or a mobile communication terminal so as to create databased information, and precisely analyzes the change of information associated with a user's respiratory disease, resulting in correct diagnosis information associated with the user. Although the present invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions, and substitutions to the specific elements are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

Claims :

1. A pulmonary function test apparatus including a spirometer and a mobile communication terminal, comprising: said spirometer including: a pressure sensor for converting a pressure variation created by user' s breath applied to a mouthpiece into a voltage signal of a predetermined value; a measurement controller for receiving the voltage signal from the pressure sensor, and converting the received voltage signal into vital capacity measurement data; and a main body interface unit for interfacing the vital capacity measurement data to the mobile communication terminal, and said mobile communication terminal containing a keypad and a display, including: a data communication unit for performing data communication over an external wireless communication network; an external interface unit communicating with the main body interface unit; and a controller for indicating gas measurement guidance information on the display, commanding the spirometer to measure either one of gases selectively-entered by the keypad, receiving vital capacity information measured by the command, and indicating the received vital capacity information on the display.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim ^'1, wherein the spirometer further includes a first gas sensor for detecting density information of CO (carbon monoxide) contained in user's breath.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein the spirometer further includes a second gas sensor for detecting density information of alcohol gas contained in user's breath.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the interface units perform data communication according to an RS-232C or USB scheme.

5. A pulmonary function test apparatus including a mobile communication terminal and a battery pack connected to the mobile communication terminal, comprising: said battery pack containing a plurality of battery cells, including: a communication interface unit for interfacing with the mobile communication terminal; an external device interface unit for interfacing with a spirometer; and a pack controller for receiving vital capacity measurement data from the spirometer via the external device interface unit, and transmitting the received vital capacity measurement data to the mobile communication terminal, and said mobile communication terminal containing a keypad and a display, including: a data communication unit for performing data communication over an external wireless communication network; an external interface unit communicating with the communication interface unit; and a controller for indicating gas measurement guidance information on the display, commanding the pack controller to measure either one of gases selectively-entered by the keypad, receiving vital capacity information measured in response to the command, and indicating the received vital capacity information on the display.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the external interface unit is a wireless communication unit containing a Bluetooth module.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the spirometer includes : a pressure sensor for converting a pressure variation created by user' s breath applied to a mouthpiece into a voltage signal of a predetermined value; a gas measurement controller for receiving the voltage signal from the pressure sensor, and converting the received voltage signal into vital capacity measurement data; and a communication interface unit for interfacing the vital capacity measurement data to the mobile communication terminal .

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the spirometer further includes a first gas sensor for detecting density information of CO (carbon monoxide) contained in user' s breath.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 or 8, wherein the spirometer further includes a second gas sensor for detecting density information of alcohol gas contained in user' s breath.

10. The apparatus as set forth in one of claims 5, 7, and 8, wherein the controller transmits either one of measurement vital capacity information or gas measurement information to a telemedicine server via the data communication unit upon receipt of a user's request, receives analysis result information of the transmitted information from the telemedicine server, and displaying the received analysis result information.