Abstract:
Disclosed is a portable spirometer which comprises: a small breath tube for measuring a unidirectional flow, to which the breath flow of a patient is inputted; a breath signal processing unit which generates a breath signal from the breath flow, removes the noise contained in the breath signal and amplifies the signal level so as to generate a target signal of analysis; a breath signal analysis unit for analyzing the target signal of analysis to calculate diagnosis parameters; and a display unit for displaying the analysis result of the breath signal.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a portable spirometer. The portable spirometer may have a portable structure, and may correspond to a breath flow measuring device capable of measuring and analyzing lung capacity. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Measuring of lung capacity in a breath test and measuring of a heartbeat of a patient may provide useful information for diagnosing whether a patient has a breathing disorder and a cardiac disorder, for example, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, and the like. 
         [0003]    A scheme of measuring lung capacity may be classified into a type corresponding to a scheme of directly measuring a variation of a lung volume while a patient is breathing and a type corresponding to a breath flow measuring scheme of detecting and measuring a flow flowing in and out of a lung while a patient is breathing. 
         [0004]    Conventionally, the scheme of directly measuring a variation of a lung volume has been primarily used in measuring lung capacity. However, the breath flow measuring scheme is being used more frequently. 
         [0005]    A conventional breath flow measuring device such as a clinical spirometer may be manufactured for clinical use and thus, may be high-priced and big in size, which may prevent people with chronic respiratory problems from easily measuring a breath flow by carrying the device. Through miniaturization of an electronic spirometer to achieve portability, it may be difficult to miniaturize a sensor device for measuring a breath flow that converts a directly immeasurable living body variable into a measurable physical variable. 
         [0006]    A conventional pneumotachograph may be difficult to be miniaturized since a fluid resistance may be inserted into a breath path (a breath tube), and a structure of the fluid resistance including a mesh screen, a capillary tube, and the like may be inappropriate to miniaturization. A tubinometer may be difficult to be miniaturized since a rotating turbine may be included on a breath path (a breath tube). 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Technical Goals 
       [0007]    An aspect of the present invention provides a portable spirometer that may be easily carried and is capable of easily measuring a breath flow. 
         [0008]    Another aspect of the present invention provides a portable spirometer that may be used for a medical treatment and a telemedicine. 
         [0009]    Still another aspect of the present invention provides a portable spirometer that may expend a relatively low amount of power and effectively perform wired and wireless communication. 
         [0010]    Technical Solutions 
         [0011]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable spirometer, including a small breathing tube for measuring a unidirectional flow, to which a breath flow of a patient is inputted, a breath signal processing unit to generate a breath signal from the breath flow, remove noise contained in the breath signal, and amplify a signal level so as to generate a target signal for analysis, a breath signal analysis unit to analyze the target signal for analysis to calculate a diagnosis parameter, and a display unit to display an analysis result of the breath signal. 
         [0012]    The small breathing tube for measuring a unidirectional flow may include a circular tube including an entrance, formed by disposable paper or plastic, to be brought into contact with the mouth of the patient, and an outlet opposing the entrance, and a sensing path formed to be adjacent to the outlet of the circular tube and to pass through the circular tube from an upper portion to be extended to a lower portion outside of the circular tube, and formed to have a tubular shape in which the upper portion is closed and the lower portion is open. 
         [0013]    The sensing path may have multiple sampling holes for measuring a flow separated by a predetermined interval along a lengthwise direction at an entrance side of the circular tube, on a breathing route of the circular tube. 
         [0014]    The portable spirometer may further include a power controller to block a power supply to the breath signal processing unit and the breath signal analysis unit in response to the small breathing tube for measuring a unidirectional flow being removed. 
         [0015]    The portable spirometer may further include a wireless communication unit to wired-exchange data with an external device, a wired communication unit to wiredly exchange data with the external device, and a communication mode selector to inactivate one of the wireless communication unit and the wired communication unit in response to the same device being connected to the wireless communication unit and the wired communication unit. 
         [0016]    The portable spirometer may further include a connection controller to inactivate the breath signal analysis unit, and control so that the target signal for analysis does not pass through the breath signal analysis unit and is transmitted to the external device through the wireless communication unit or the wired communication unit in response to the wireless communication unit or the wired communication unit being connected to the external device. 
         [0017]    The portable spirometer may further include a storage unit to store the analysis result of the breath signal, wherein the display unit displays data corresponding to a highest lung capacity measurement value in data stored in the storage unit in response to power being turned ON. 
         [0018]    The diagnosis parameter may include at least one of a peak expiratory flow rate (PEF), a first second forced expiratory volume (FEV 1.0), a forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV 1.0/FVC. 
       Effect of the Invention 
       [0019]    According to embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide a portable spirometer that may be easily carried and is capable of easily measuring a breath flow. 
         [0020]    According to embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide a portable spirometer that may be used for a medical treatment and a telemedicine. 
         [0021]    According to embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide a portable spirometer that may expend a relatively low amount of power and effectively perform wired and wireless communication. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates a configuration of a portable spirometer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  illustrates a configuration of a portable spirometer according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a small breath tube, for measuring a unidirectional flow, of  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  illustrates a configuration of a portable spirometer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a portable spirometer  100  may include a small breathing tube for measuring a unidirectional flow  110 , a breath signal processing unit  120 , a breath signal analysis unit  130 , and a display unit  140 . The portable spirometer  100  may further include a storage unit  150 . 
         [0028]    The small breathing tube for measuring a unidirectional flow  110  may receive an input of a breath flow of a patient. The small breathing tube for measuring a unidirectional flow  110  may be detachable, and may be formed by disposable paper or plastic. The small breathing tube for measuring a unidirectional flow  110  may further include a breath detection sensor (not shown). In this instance, the breath detection sensor may detect a temperature or a pressure of the breath flow, and generate a breath flow signal. 
         [0029]    The breath signal processing unit  120  may generate a breath signal from the breath flow or the breath flow signal, remove noise contained in the breath signal, and amplify a signal level so as to generate a target signal for analysis. The breath signal processing unit  120  may include a filter unit  121  and a signal level amplifier  123 . The filter unit  121  may remove noise contained in the breath signal, and the signal level amplifier  123  may amplify a signal level of the breath signal from which noise is removed. The breath signal, from which noise is removed, having an amplified signal level may correspond to the target signal for analysis. 
         [0030]    According to an embodiment, the breath signal processing unit  120  may further include a differential pressure sensor (not shown) to generate an electric signal by detecting a dynamic pressure. 
         [0031]    The breath signal analysis unit  130  may analyze the target signal for analysis to calculate a diagnostic parameter. The breath signal analysis unit  130  may include a target signal for analysis receiver  131  and a calculator  133 . The target signal for analysis receiver  131  may receive the target signal for analysis. The calculator  133  may calculate a volume, a velocity, and the like of the breath flow. In this instance, the diagnosis parameter may include at least one of a peak expiratory flow rate (PEF), a first second forced expiratory volume (FEV 1.0), a forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV 1.0/FVC. A general calculation scheme may be used as a calculation scheme for a volume, a velocity, and the like of the breath flow. 
         [0032]    The display unit  140  may display an analysis result of the breath signal. The display unit  140  may display a result of analysis of the breath signal, or display high/moderate/low of the volume of the breath flow. 
         [0033]    The storage unit  150  may store the result of analysis of the breath signal. According to an embodiment, the storage unit  150  may include a mobile storage medium. 
         [0034]    The portable spirometer  100  may display, on the display unit  140 , data corresponding to a highest lung capacity measurement value in data stored in the storage unit  140  in response to power being turned ON. When measuring of a lung capacity is performed a several times after power is turned ON, the portable spirometer  100  may display a highest value, and may operate in a standby state after a predetermined period of time. According to an embodiment, the portable spirometer  100  may include a processor to control various operations of the portable spirometer  100 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  illustrates a configuration of a portable spirometer according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0036]    A portable spirometer  200  illustrated in  FIG. 2  may be suitable as a portable type, and may include components for realizing a telemedicine and expending a low amount of power. Reference numbers of  FIG. 2  illustrate components performing the same function and operation as reference numbers of  FIG. 1 . Thus, further descriptions of components having the same reference number as those of  FIG. 1  will be omitted for conciseness and ease of description. 
         [0037]    The portable spirometer  200  may include all components of the portable spirometer  100 , and include a small breathing tube for measuring unidirectional flow  110 , a body portion  201 , a user interface unit  203 , a display unit  140 , and an audio output unit  205 . 
         [0038]    The body portion  201  may include a breath signal processing unit  120 , a breath signal analysis unit  130 , a power controller  260 , a communication unit  270 , and a connection controller  280 . 
         [0039]    In response to the small breathing tube for measuring unidirectional flow  110  being detached, the power controller  260  may block a power supply to the breath signal processing unit  120  and the breath signal analysis unit  130 . In response to the small breathing tube for measuring unidirectional flow  110  being detached, the portable spirometer  200  may perform an operation other than a lung capacity measurement. Thus, to reduce power from being wastefully expended, the power controller  260  may block a power supply to the breath signal processing unit  120  and the breath signal analysis unit  130  in response to the small breathing tube for measuring unidirectional flow  110  being detached. The power controller  260  may include a mechanical switch, a transistor, a soft switch, and the like. 
         [0040]    The communication unit  270  may exchange data with an external device. That is, the communication unit  270  may transmit data stored in a storage unit  140  to a personal computer (PC), and the like, or transmit a target signal for analysis to an external device. The communication unit  270  may include a wireless communication unit  271 , a wired communication unit  273 , and a communication mode selector  275 . 
         [0041]    The wireless communication unit  271  may wirelessly exchange data with an external device. The wireless communication unit  271  may perform wireless communication with a mobile phone, a laptop computer, a PC, and the like using a wireless interface of short distance communication such as Bluetooth communication, infrared-ray communication, a wireless local area network (LAN), and the like. 
         [0042]    The wired communication unit  273  may wirelessly exchange data with the external device. To achieve this communication, the wired communication unit  273  may include a connector, a cable connecting terminal, a universal serial bus (USB), and the like. 
         [0043]    The communication mode selector  275  may inactivate one of the wireless communication unit  271  and the wired communication unit  273  in response to the same device being connected to the wireless communication unit  271  and the wired communication unit  273 . To achieve this communication, the communication mode selector  275  may include a unit to detect whether the same device is connected to the wireless communication unit  271  and the wired communication unit  273 , and a unit to connect the portable spirometer  200  and the external device via one of the wireless communication unit  271  and the wired communication unit  273  according to a predetermined scheme in response to the same device being detected to be connected to the wireless communication unit  271  and the wired communication unit  273 . In this instance, the predetermined scheme may be determined based on a selection of a user or a communication state. The communication mode selector  275  may determine whether the same device is connected to the wireless communication unit  271  and the wired communication unit  273  using identification (ID) information received from the external device. In response to determining a residual quantity of a battery (not shown) included in the portable spirometer  200  to be inadequate, the communication mode selector  275  may control the communication unit  270  to perform wired communication thus expending less power when compared to wireless communication. 
         [0044]    The connection controller  280  may inactivate the breath signal analysis unit, and control so that the target signal for analysis does not pass through the breath signal analysis unit and is transmitted to the external device through the wireless communication unit or the wired communication unit in response to the wireless communication unit or the wired communication unit being connected to the external device. That is, in response to a communication state being set between the portable spirometer  200  and the PC, the connection controller  280  may perform a function for analyzing a breath signal through software installed in the PC, thereby reducing an amount of power expended and performing a relatively accurate measurement. 
         [0045]    The user interface  203  may include a button or a keypad to be operated by a user. 
         [0046]    The audio output unit  205  may inform a patient that a measurement is completed by outputting a mechanical sound in response to a breath flow being input at an amount greater than or equal to a predetermined amount. 
         [0047]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a small breath tube for measuring a unidirectional flow of  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 2 . 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a small breathing tube for measuring a unidirectional flow  110  may be formed by disposable paper or plastic, and may include a circular tube  310  that includes an entrance  312  to be brought into contact with the mouth of a patient, and an outlet  313  opposing the entrance  312 , and a sensing path  330  formed to be adjacent to an outlet of the circular tube  310 , and formed to have a relatively thin stick type circular tube having an internal diameter of about 1 millimeter (mm). 
         [0049]    The sensing path  330  may be formed to be adjacent to the outlet side of the circular tube  310 , within a tolerance of about 5 mm, and be formed to have a relatively thin stick type circular tube having an internal diameter of about 1 mm that passes through the circular tube  310  from an upper portion of the circular tube  310  to be extended to a lower portion outside of the circular tube  310 . The upper portion of the sensing path  330  may be closed, and the lower portion of the sensing path  330  may be open. Multiple sampling holes  331  for measuring a flow separated by a predetermined interval along a lengthwise direction may be formed at one side of the sensing path  330  formed inside of the circular tube  310 , that is, at an entrance side of the circular tube  310 . 
         [0050]    The circular tube  310  may have a length of about 35 mm and a diameter of about 15 mm, and a fluid resistance may be nearly absent in an inside of the circular tube  310  corresponding to a breathing route of the small breathing tube for measuring a unidirectional flow  110  since only the sensing path  330  corresponding to the relatively thin stick type circular tube having an internal diameter of about 1 mm may be present. A total of three sampling holes  331  formed at one side of the sensing path  330  (that is, the entrance side of the circular tube  310 ) may be located on a central axis of a flow and at positions apart from the central axis by ±2.5 mm. 
         [0051]    A length of the circular tube  310  included in the small breathing tube for measuring a unidirectional flow  110  may be set to 35 mm, which may correspond to a minimum length, so that a patient may breathe easily with the circular tube  310  in a mouth, and the sensing path  330  for measuring a velocity of the flow may be inserted into the circular tube  310 . In response to the length of the circular tube  310  being set, a diameter of the circular tube  310  and a location at which the sensing path  330  is formed may be determined according to the set length. In this instance, a diameter of the small breathing tube for measuring a unidirectional flow  110  may be manufactured, so as to satisfy a standard of American Thoracic Society (ATS). 
         [0052]    ATS advises that a maximum value of a fluid resistance of a clinical spirometer be about 1.5 cmH2O/Λ/sec, a maximum value of a fluid resistance of a spirometer for self-diagnosis be about 2.5 cmH2O/Λ/sec, and a maximum breath flow value (F) to be measured be about 14 Λ/sec. 
         [0053]    The exemplary embodiments according to the present invention may be recorded in computer-readable media including program instructions to implement various operations embodied by a computer. The media may also include, alone or in combination with the program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like. The media and program instructions may be those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the present invention, or they may be of the well-known variety and available to those having skill in the computer software arts. Examples of computer-readable media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD ROM discs and DVD; magneto-optical media such as optical discs; and hardware devices that are specially configured to store and perform program instructions, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include both machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and files containing higher level code that may be executed by the computer using an interpreter. The described hardware devices may be configured to act as one or more software modules in order to perform the operations of the above-described embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0054]    Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Instead, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents. 
         [0055]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.