Patent ID: 8357100

Claim:
A non-transitory computer-readable medium programmed with instructions for performing a method of gathering data related to breathing patterns of a patient, the medium comprising instructions for causing a programmable processor to: (a) access a flow/volume loop that displays flow data and volume data, the flow data relating to a rate of air flow into and out of the patient's lungs and the volume data relating to changes in volume of the patient's lungs, wherein the flow/volume loop includes an expiration portion and an inspiration portion, the expiration portion beginning with a full-inhale point and ending with a full-exhale point, which both lie along a zero-flow line; and (b) calculate an exhale pattern parameter comprising calculating a center-of-mass volume value from an overall shape of an expiration space, which is bounded by the expiration portion of the flow/volume loop and the zero-flow line.