Patent ID: 7878979

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for assessing dynamic hyperinflation (DH) in a monitored subject, comprising: receiving respiratory data monitored with a physiological monitoring system during a current period of monitoring the subject, said monitoring system having at least one sensor, said respiratory, data including respiratory volumes during rib cage(RC) expansion and contraction; determining from said received data at one or more times during said current monitoring period a first parameter (M % RC) with processor means, said first parameter comprising median % rib cage, said first parameter (M % RC) reflecting relative contributions of expansions and contractions of the rib cage (RC) to tidal volumes (V T ) of the subject; determining from said received data at one or more times during said current monitoring period a second parameter (MqdEELV) with said processor means, said second parameter (MqdEELV) comprising median cumulative changes in end-expiratory lung volume; and assessing DH in the subject during said current monitoring period in dependence on said determined MqdEELV and M % RC parameters.