WO2021224119A1

WO2021224119A1 - Physiological measurement systems

Info

Publication number: WO2021224119A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/061348
Authority: WO
Inventors: Donald Butler; Tim BUTLER; Richard Butler
Original assignee: Openair Medical Devices Ltd
Priority date: 2020-05-04
Filing date: 2021-04-29
Publication date: 2021-11-11
Also published as: GB2610752A; GB202006532D0; GB202218247D0

Abstract

A system for associating physiological measurements with environmental information corresponding the physiological measurements is disclosed. For example, the environmental information may correspond to the time and location at which the physiological measurements were taken.

Description

PHYSIOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS

Technical Field

[0001] The following disclosure relates to physiological measurement systems, in particular, but not exclusively, for measuring a volume and speed of air expelled by a user.

Background

[0002] Devices arranged to obtain physiological measurements of a human or animal can be used to assess the function of their organ systems. For example, a heart rate sensor can be used to monitor heart function, or a spirometer can be used to monitor lung function. Environmental factors such as air temperature, humidity and quality can affect organ function.

Summary

[0003] In overview, a system for associating physiological measurements with environmental information corresponding to the physiological measurements is disclosed. For example, the environmental information may correspond to the time and location at which the physiological measurements were taken.

[0004] There is provided a computer-implemented method that may be carried out at a user device. The method comprises receiving, from a measurement device, data indicative of a physiological measurement of a user; determining metadata associated with the physiological measurement; and sending, to a server, the metadata. The method may be carried out at a user device such as a smartphone, tablet computer or personal computer. The user from which the physiological measurement is taken may not be the same as the user of the user device. For example, the user device may be operated by a caregiver of the user.

[0005] The method may comprise receiving, from the server, environmental data based on the metadata. The environmental data may include air temperature, air humidity, air quality, pollen count, pollution level, water quality, and virus presence, e.g. known epidemics or cold virus in the area. The metadata may include at least one of: a location at which the physiological measurement was taken; and a time at which the physiological measurement was taken. The server may use the metadata to retrieve the environmental data corresponding to the time and location at which the physiological measurements were taken.

[0006] The method may comprise sending, to the server, the data indicative of the physiological measurement. The method may comprise receiving, from the server, advice for the user based on the data and/or environmental data obtained based on the metadata. The advice may be based on the physiological measurement and historical physiological measurements, for example, if deteriorating organ function is identified, the advice can prompt the user to take preventative action. In some cases, the advice may be based on the physiological measurement and the environmental data. For example, if the lung performance of the user is historically poor during hot, dry days and the environmental data shows that the forecast for the next day is that it will be hot and dry, the advice can prompt the user to take preventative action or more frequently monitor the physiological parameter. In some cases, the advice may be based on physiological measurements of other users and associated environmental data stored on the server, for example, a person with similar medical conditions who has been through upcoming environmental conditions that the user will be exposed to in the future. For example, a user in Brisbane may be provided with advice ahead of an unusual level of smog based on a similar user at a location that has experienced that level of smog.

[0007] The method may comprise receiving profile data associated with the user. The profile data may comprise a plurality of data points such as name, age, height, weight, a user identifier, number of exercise sessions per week, known medical conditions, current medications, FEV1 score, Peak Flow score, time, GPS location, time of last exercise, time of last medication intake, time of last respiratory episode. The method may comprise sending, to the server, at least one of the plurality of data points of the profile data. For example, a user identifier may be sent with the data and the metadata such that the server can attribute the data to the appropriate record in a database.

[0008] The data may be received from the measurement device over a wireless data connection, such as WiFi, Bluetooth or a cellular data connection. The measurement device may be a spirometer, and the physiological measurement may be a volume, flow rate (i.e. volume per unit time) and/or a speed of air expelled by the user. The measurement device may be a thermometer, and the physiological measurement may be a temperature of the user. The measurement device may be a pulse oximeter and the physiological measurement may be a saturation level of oxygen and/or carbon dioxide in the user’s blood. The measurement device may be a heart rate sensor, and the physiological measurement may be a heart rate of the user. In some examples, the measurement device is arranged to monitor any combination of physiological measurements.

[0009] There is provided a computer-implemented method that may be carried out at a server. The method comprises receiving, from a user device, metadata associated with a physiological measurement of a user; sending, to a server, a request for environmental data based on the metadata, wherein the request comprises the metadata; and receiving environmental data based on the metadata. The method may comprise receiving, from the user device, data indicative of the physiological measurement of the user. In some examples, the method may be carried out at a user device, and the method comprises receiving the metadata and/or the physiological measurement of the user from a measurement device, rather than the user device.

[0010] The method may comprise determining advice for the user based on the data indicative of the physiological measurement and/or environmental data; and sending, to the user device, the advice. The advice may be based on the physiological measurement and historical physiological measurements, for example, if deteriorating organ function is identified, the advice can prompt the user to take preventative action. In some cases, the advice may be based on the physiological measurement and the environmental data. For example, if the lung performance of the user is historically poor during hot, dry days and the environmental data shows that the forecast for the next day is that it will be hot and dry, the advice can prompt the user to take preventative action or more frequently monitor the physiological parameter. In some cases, the advice may be based on physiological measurements of other users and associated environmental data stored on the server, for example, a person with similar medical conditions who has been through upcoming environmental conditions that the user will be exposed to in the future. For example, a user in Brisbane may be provided with advice ahead of an unusual level of smog based on a similar user at a location that has experienced that level of smog. [0011] The method may comprise receiving, from the user device, at least one data point of profile data. For example, the profile data may include a plurality of data points such as name, age, height, weight, a user identifier or any of the data points discussed above. The at least one data point of profile data may be a user identifier. [0012] The method may comprise storing, in a database, the data indicative of the physiological measurement, the metadata associated with the physiological measurement, and the at least one data point of profile data. Access to the database may be provided, for example, to the user from which the physiological measurement or to a caregiver of the user from which the physiological measurement. In other examples, a third party such as a data analytics entity may be provided access to the database, however, the user is not identifiable when access is provided to the third party. In other words, personal information in the profile data cannot be accessed by the third party.

[0013] The method may comprise sending the received environmental data to the user device. The metadata may include at least one of: a location at which the physiological measurement was taken; and a time at which the physiological measurement was taken. The physiological measurement may be a volume, flow rate and/or a speed of air expelled by the user, a saturation level of oxygen and/or carbon dioxide in the user’s blood, a heart rate or a temperature of the user.

[0014] There is provided a device comprising a processor configured to perform the steps of any of the methods described. There is provided a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the steps of any of the methods described.

[0015] There is provided a spirometer for measuring lung function of a user, the spirometer comprising: a housing having: a first aperture; a second aperture; and a passageway between the first aperture and the second aperture, wherein the passageway comprises a constriction; and a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure in the passageway. The first aperture may be an inlet configured to receive air expelled by the user. The constriction may cause an increase in pressure in the passageway between the inlet and the constriction, for example, when the user expels air into the inlet.

[0016] The second aperture may be on an opposite end of the housing relative to the first aperture. Alternatively, the second aperture may be on a side of the housing substantially perpendicular to the first aperture. The spirometer may comprise a processor configured to: determine, based on the measured pressure, data indicative of a volume, flow rate and/or a speed of air expelled by the user; and send the data to a user device. The data may be wirelessly sent to the user device, for example using WiFi, Bluetooth or a cellular data connection.

[0017] The pressure sensor may be configured to measure an increase in air pressure in the passageway when the spirometer is in use.

Brief description of the drawings

[0018] Further details, aspects and embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a system having a user device and a remote server;

Figure 2 shows a flowchart of a process carried out by the user device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a flowchart of a process carried out by the remote server of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 shows a schematic cross sectional side view of a spirometer; and Figure 5 shows a schematic cross sectional side view of a spirometer.

[0019] Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. Like reference numerals have been included in the respective drawings to ease understanding.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

[0020] With reference to Figure 1, a system 100 comprises a physiological measurement device 102, a user device 104, a remote server 106 and an environmental data server 108. The physiological measurement device 102 is communicatively coupled to the user device 104 for two way data communication. The user device 104, the remote server 106 and the environmental data server 108 are each communicatively coupled to the internet 110.

[0021] The physiological measurement device 102 is configured to measure a physiological parameter of a user and send data indicative of the physiological measurement of a user to the user device 104. Non-limiting examples of the physiological measurement device are a blood pressure monitor, a heart rate monitor, a spirometer, a blood oxygen level monitor or a bladder pressure monitor. Example spirometers are discussed below with reference to Figures 4 and 5.

[0022] The user device 104 comprises a processor 120, a communications module 122, a clock 124 and a location module 126. The user device also includes a display and a user input device (not illustrated). The processor 120 is configured to coordinate between the communications module 122, the clock 124, the location module 126, the display and the user input device. The communications module 122 is arranged to communicate data to and from the physiological measurement device 102, for example, using WiFi or Bluetooth such as Bluetooth Low Energy. The communications module 122 can thereby receive data indicative of a physiological measurement from the physiological measurement device 102. The communications module 122 is also arranged to communicate data to and from the internet 110.

[0023] The clock 124 is arranged to provide time and date, and may be arranged to synchronise with a time server. The location module 126 is arranged to determine a location of the user device 104, for example using the Global Navigation Satellite System and/or multilateration of cellular radio signals.

[0024] The user device 104 is arranged to send, using the communications module 122, information including the data indicative of the physiological measurement and the associated metadata to the remote server 106 via the internet 110.

[0025] The remote server 106 comprises a processor 130, a communications module 132 and a measurement database 134. The processor 130 is configured to coordinate between the communications module 132 and the measurement database 134. The communications module 132 is arranged to communicate data to and from the internet 110. The measurement database 134 is configured to store information including the data indicative of the physiological measurement and the associated metadata. The measurement database 134 may store this information in relation to the user from which the physiological measurement was taken.

[0026] The processor 130 of the remote server 106 is arranged to generate a request for environmental data based on the metadata. The requested environmental data may relate to the time and/or location at which the physiological measurement was taken. The remote server 106 is arranged to send, using the communications module 132, the generated request to the environmental data server 108 via the internet 110. [0027] The environmental data server 108 comprises a processor 140, a communications module 142 and an environmental factor database 144. The processor 140 is configured to coordinate between the communications module 142 and the environmental factor database 144. The communications module 142 is arranged to communicate data to and from the internet 110. The environmental factor database 144 is configured to store environmental conditions such as air temperature, humidity, pollen count, air quality or pollution index for a plurality of geographic locations and a plurality of times in the past as well as forecast for the future.

[0028] The environmental data server 108 is arranged to receive, using the communications module 142, requests for environmental data from the remote server 106 via the internet 110. The processor 140 is arranged to retrieve the requested environmental data from the environmental factor database 144 based on the metadata in the request. The environmental data server 108 is arranged to send, using the communications module 142, the retrieved environmental data to the requesting remote server 106 via the internet 110. The remote server 106 may be configured to send the environmental data to the user device 104.

[0029] A method 200 carried out by the user device 104 is now described with reference to Figure 2.

[0030] At step 204, the user device 104 optionally receives a request to create a user profile, for example during an initial setup process to establish a user account at the remote server 106. This comprises receiving, using the user input of the user device 104, profile data comprising a plurality of data points such as name, age, weight, pre-existing medical conditions of the user. The profile data is sent to the remote server 106 via the internet 110, and in response receives a user identifier to add to the profile data as a data point.

[0031] At step 208, the communications module 122 of the user device 104 receives data indicative of a physiological measurement of the user from the physiological measurement device 102.

[0032] At step 212, the processor 120 of the user device 104 determines metadata associated with the physiological measurement. The metadata may include the time and date from the clock 124 and/or the location of the user device from the location module 126. As the physiological measurement device 102 is in proximity to the user device 104 when the data indicative of the physiological measurement is received, the time and location of the user device 104 when the data is received can be used to approximate the time and location at which the physiological measurement was taken.

[0033] At step 216, the communications module 122 of the user device 104 sends the metadata determined at step 212 to the remote server 106. The communications module 122 may also send, at step 216, the data indicative of a physiological measurement and/or one or more of the plurality of user profile data points, such as the user identifier.

[0034] At step 220, in response to sending the metadata, the communications module 122 of the user device 104 may receive environmental data based on the metadata from the remote server 106. For example, the user device 104 receives the air temperature and humidity for the time and location at which the physiological measurement was taken.

[0035] At step 224, in response to sending the metadata, the communications module 122 of the user device 104 may receive advice for the user. If the data indicative of the physiological measurement is also sent at step 216, the advice may be based on the physiological measurement and historical physiological measurements. For example, if deteriorating organ function is identified, the advice can prompt the user to take preventative action. In some cases, the advice may be based on both the physiological measurement and the environmental data. For example, if the lung performance of the user is historically poor during hot, dry days and the environmental data shows that the forecast for the next day is that it will be hot and dry, the advice can prompt the user to take preventative action. Steps 220 and 224 may occur in parallel or at different times.

[0036] A method 300 carried out by the remote server 106 is now described with reference to Figure 3.

[0037] At step 304, the communications module 132 of the remote server 106 optionally receives profile data from the user device 104 via the internet 110 and stores the profile data in the measurement database 134. The processor 130 may create a user identifier and adds this to the profile data as a data point. The communications module 132 may send the user identifier to the user device 104. [0038] At step 308, the communications module 132 of the remote server 106 may receive data indicative of the physiological measurement of the user. At step 312, the communications module 132 receives metadata associated with the physiological measurement. The processor 130 generates a request for environmental data based on the metadata. The request comprises the metadata such that the requested environmental data may relate to the time and/or location at which the physiological measurement was taken. A data point of profile data, such as a user identifier, may be received by the communications module 132 at steps 308 and/or 312.

[0039] At step 316, the communications module 132 of the remote server 106 sends the request for environmental data to the environmental data server 108. At step 320, in response to sending the request for environmental data, the communications module 132 receives the requested environmental data based on the metadata. At step 324, the communications module 132 may send the environmental data to the user device 104.

[0040] Any of the information received at steps 304, 308, 312, 320, namely the profile data, the data indicative of the physiological measurement, the metadata associated with the physiological measurement and the environmental data based on the metadata may be stored in the measurement database 134. At step 332, access may be provided to the information in the measurement database 134. For example, a web interface may be provided for the user to review their own database entries. Access to information in the measurement database 134 may also be provided to a third party. In this case, the information is anonymised such that the user is not identifiable by the third party. For example, the third party may be provided with access to a plurality of anonymised users’ data indicative of physiological measurements and the associated environmental data to be able to perform data analytics.

[0041] At step 336, in response to receiving the environmental data at step 320, the processor 130 of the remote server 106 may determine advice for the user. The advice may be based on the physiological measurement and historical physiological measurements, for example, if deteriorating organ function is identified, the advice can prompt the user to take preventative action. In some cases, the advice may be based on the physiological measurement and the environmental data. For example, if the lung performance of the user is historically poor during hot, dry days and the environmental data shows that the forecast for the next day is that it will be hot and dry, the advice can prompt the user to take preventative action. At step 340, the communications module 132 may send the advice determined at step 336 to the user device 104. Steps 324, 328 and 336 may occur in parallel or at different times. [0042] As previously described, the system 100 may be used with any type of physiological measurement. Spirometers, also known as pneumometers, are a specific example of a suitable physiological measurement device 102. Spirometers measure lung function, for example, “PEAK FLOW’ which is an indication of the peak velocity of expelled air expressed in litres per minute, “VC” which is the total volume of expelled air, expressed in litres, “FEV1” which is a volume of air expelled in the first second, expressed in litres and “FEV1A/C” which is a volume of air expelled in the first second divided by the total volume expelled, expressed as a percentage. [0043] Spirometers may operate by measuring the speed of the airflow expelled by a user with sensors such as ultrasonic transducers or pressure sensors. For example, US6004277A discloses a personal pulmonary function analyser comprising an elongate body which defines a flow passageway extending between an inlet at one end of the body and an exhaust at a side of the body. A user blows into the inlet causing a low pressure region to be produced adjacent the exhaust. The pressure in the low pressure region is measured by a solid state pressure transducer, and a comparison is made with the ambient pressure.

[0044] With reference to Figure 4, a spirometer 400 comprises a housing 402, a processor 404, and communications module 406 and a pressure sensor 408. The spirometer 400 includes a power source, e.g. a battery, not shown. In some examples, the spirometer 400 includes a power button. In some examples, the spirometer 400 includes an indicator light. The housing 402 comprises a first opening 410 and a second opening 412. A passageway 414 is defined between the first opening 410 and the second opening 412. The first opening 410 is adapted to receive air expelled by a user, and may be configured to connect to a user’s mouth. The passageway 414 includes a chamber or recess in which the pressure sensor 408 is located such that the pressure sensor 408 is not directly in the flow path between the first opening 410 and the second opening 412.

[0045] A portion of the passageway 414 proximal to the first opening 410 has a substantially cylindrical shape. Similarly, a portion of the passageway 414 proximal to the second opening 412 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The passageway 414 has a shape similar to the sides of an elongate fluted bottle, with the opening of the bottle corresponding to the second opening 412. Accordingly, the passageway 414 comprises a constriction between the first opening 410 and the second opening 412. A cross-sectional area 416 of the passageway 414 proximal to the first opening 410 is larger than a cross-sectional area418 of the passageway 414 proximal to the second opening 412. In other examples, the cross-sectional area of the passageway expands on either side of it such that the cross-sectional area 416 of the passageway 414 proximal to the first opening 410 is the same as a cross-sectional area 418 of the passageway 414 proximal to the second opening 412. In other examples, the shapes of the first and second openings can be any shape and do not need to be substantially circular in order for the cross-sectional area at the first opening to be larger than the cross-sectional area at the second opening.

[0046] When a user expels air into the first opening 410, the constriction in the passageway 414 causes an increase in pressure in the passageway 414 relative to atmospheric pressure. The pressure sensor 408 is configured to measure pressure in the passageway 414. Before the user expels air into the first opening 410, a pressure measurement is taken from the pressure sensor 408. At one or more times during the user expelling air into the first opening 410, pressure measurements are taken from the pressure sensor 408. The difference between a pressure measurement taken during the user expelling air and the pressure measurement taken before are used to determine dynamic pressure of the flow in the passageway 414, which in turn can be used to determine the velocity of the flow. The volume and the flow rate can then be determined based on the velocity of the flow and the dimensions of the passageway 414.

[0047] The controller 404 receives the measurement from the pressure sensor which may be in the form of a voltage and/or digital signal indicative of the air pressure. The controller 404 may determine a corresponding air speed, flow rate and/or volume based on a calibrated pressure measurement and the measurement from the pressure sensor.

[0048] The communication module 406 is arranged to send data indicative of the volume, flow rate and/or a speed of air expelled by the user to the user device 104. For example, the data may be the determined values of volume, flow rate and/or speed, or the measurement obtained from the pressure sensor 408.

[0049] With reference to Figure 5, a spirometer 500 comprises a housing 502, a processor 504, and communications module 506 and a pressure sensor 508. The spirometer 500 includes a power source, e.g. a battery, not shown. In some examples, the spirometer 500 includes a power button. In some examples, the spirometer 500 includes an indicator light. The housing 502 comprises a first opening 510 and a second opening 512. A passageway 514 is defined between the first opening 510 and the second opening 512. The first opening 510 is adapted to receive air expelled by a user, and may be configured to connect to a user’s mouth. The second opening 512 is on a side of the housing 502 substantially perpendicular to the first opening 510 and the passageway 514 is smoothly curved between the first opening 510 and the second opening 512. The passageway 514 includes a chamber or recess in which the pressure sensor 508 is located such that the pressure sensor 508 is not directly in the flow path between the first opening 510 and the second opening 512.

[0050] A portion of the passageway 514 proximal to the first opening 510 has a substantially cylindrical shape. Similarly, a portion of the passageway 514 proximal to the second opening 512 has a substantially cylindrical shape. A cross-sectional area 516 of the passageway 514 proximal to the first opening 510 is larger than a cross- sectional area 518 of the passageway 514 proximal to the second opening 512. Accordingly, the passageway 514 comprises a constriction between the first opening 510 and the second opening 512. In other examples, the cross-sectional area 516 of the passageway 514 proximal to the first opening 510 may be the same as a cross- sectional area 518 of the passageway 514 proximal to the second opening 512. In other examples, the shapes of the first and second openings can be any shape and do not need to be substantially circular in order for the cross-sectional area at the first opening to be larger than the cross-sectional area at the second opening.

[0051] The operation of the spirometer 500 is substantially the same as the operation of the spirometer 400. Namely, when a user expels air into the first opening 510, the constriction in the passageway 514 causes an increase in pressure in the passageway 514 relative to atmospheric pressure. The pressure sensor 508 is configured to measure pressure in the passageway 514.

[0052] The controller 504 receives the measurement from the pressure sensor which may be in the form of a voltage and/or digital signal indicative of the air pressure. The controller 504 may determine a corresponding air speed, flow rate and/or volume based on a calibrated pressure measurement and the measurement from the pressure sensor.

[0053] The communication module 506 is arranged to send data indicative of the volume, flow rate, and/or a speed of air expelled by the user to the user device 104. For example, the data may be the determined values of volume, flow rate and/or speed, or the measurement obtained from the pressure sensor 508.

[0054] Although the present disclosure has been described in connection with some embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Rather, the scope of the present invention is limited only by the accompanying claims. Additionally, although a feature may appear to be described in connection with particular embodiments, one skilled in the art would recognise that various features of the described embodiments may be combined in accordance with the invention. In the claims, the terms, ‘including’, ‘having’ and ‘comprising’ do not exclude the presence of other elements or steps.

[0055] Further, although individually listed, a plurality of means, elements or method steps may be implemented by, for example, a single unit or processor. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different claims, these may possibly be advantageously combined, and the inclusion in different claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. The order of features in the claims does not imply any specific order in which the features must be performed and in particular the order of individual steps in a method claim does not imply that the steps must be performed in this order. Rather, the steps may be performed in any suitable order. In addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality. Thus, references to ‘a’, ‘an’, ‘first’, ‘second’, etc. do not preclude a plurality.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving, from a measurement device, data indicative of a physiological measurement of a user; determining metadata associated with the physiological measurement; sending, to a server, the metadata; and receiving, from the server, environmental data based on the metadata.

2. The computer-implemented method of any preceding claim, wherein the metadata includes at least one of: a location at which the physiological measurement was taken; and a time at which the physiological measurement was taken.

3. The computer-implemented method of any preceding claim, comprising sending, to the server, the data indicative of the physiological measurement.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, comprising receiving, from the server, advice for the user based on the data and/or environmental data obtained based on the metadata.

5. The computer-implemented method of any preceding claim, comprising: receiving profile data associated with the user, wherein the profile data comprises a plurality of data points; and sending, to the server, at least one of the plurality of data points of the profile data.

6. The computer-implemented method of any preceding claim, wherein the data indicative of the physiological measurement is received from the measurement device over a wireless data connection.

7. The computer-implemented method of any preceding claim, wherein the measurement device is a spirometer, and the physiological measurement is a volume, flow rate and/or a speed of air expelled by the user.

8. A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving, from a user device, metadata associated with a physiological measurement of a user; sending, to a server, a request for environmental data based on the metadata, wherein the request comprises the metadata; and receiving environmental data based on the metadata.

9. The computer-implemented method of any of claims 8, comprising sending the received environmental data to the user device.

10. The computer-implemented method of any of claims 8 or 9, wherein the metadata includes at least one of: a location at which the physiological measurement was taken; and a time at which the physiological measurement was taken.

11. The computer-implemented method of any of claims 8 to 10, comprising receiving, from the user device, data indicative of the physiological measurement of the user.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , comprising: determining advice for the user based on the data indicative of the physiological measurement and/or environmental data; and sending, to the user device, the advice.

13. The computer-implemented method of any of claims 11 or 12, comprising receiving, from the user device, at least one data point of profile data.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, comprising: storing, in a database, the data indicative of the physiological measurement, the metadata associated with the physiological measurement, and the at least one data point of profile data; and providing access to the database.

15. The computer-implemented method of any of claim 14, wherein access is provided to a third party and the user is not identifiable when access is provided to the database.

16. The computer-implemented method of claims 8 to 15, wherein the physiological measurement is a volume, flow rate and/or a speed of air expelled by the user.

17. A device comprising a processor configured to perform the steps of the method of any one of claims 1 to 16.

18. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the steps of the method of any one of claims 1 to 16.

19. A spirometer for measuring lung function of a user, the spirometer comprising: a housing having: a first aperture; a second aperture; and a passageway between the first aperture and the second aperture, wherein the passageway comprises a constriction; and a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure in the passageway.

20. The spirometer of claim 19, wherein the first aperture is an inlet configured to receive air expelled by the user, and the constriction causes an increase in pressure in the passageway between the inlet and the constriction.

21. The spirometer of any of claims 19 or 20, comprising a processor configured to: determine, based on the measured pressure, data indicative of a volume and/or a speed of air expelled by the user; and send the data to a user device.

22. The spirometer of claim 21 , wherein the data is wirelessly sent to the user device.

23. The spirometer of any of claims 19 to 22, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to measure an increase in pressure in the passageway when the spirometer is in use.