Patent ID: 6423013
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A system for assessing breathing and vocal tract sound production of a user comprising:a first sensor generating a vocal tract sound signal representing vocal tract sounds produced by the user; a second sensor generating a breathing signal representing breathing movement of the user, said second sensor comprising a first breathing sensor positioned adjacent to an abdominal area of the user for producing an abdominal breathing signal, said second sensor further comprising a second breathing sensor positioned adjacent to a thoracic area of the user for producing a thoracic breathing signal; an integration unit receiving the abdominal and thoracic breathing signals and selectively outputting either the abdominal or the thoracic breathing signal as the breathing signal; and a signal processing unit for processing the vocal tract sound and breathing signals, said signal processing unit including an analog input receiving the vocal tract sound and breathing signals from the first and second sensors, respectively, and a processor generating a combined signal representing a superimposition of the received signals to the user.