التفاصيل البيبلوغرافية
| العنوان: |
Noninvasive pulmonary performance measurement method and system |
| Document Number: |
20060030770 |
| تاريخ النشر: |
February 9, 2006 |
| Appl. No: |
11/197288 |
| Application Filed: |
August 03, 2005 |
| مستخلص: |
A system and method for measuring a pulmonary performance value of a subject. In one embodiment, a system includes one or more imaging devices, each configured to capture one or more images of a subject inside an interior chamber, such as a plethysmograph chamber. An exemplary system also includes an imaging processor in communication with the one or more imaging devices for estimating a change in volume of the subject from information about the one or more images. |
| Inventors: |
Bates, Jason H.T. (Essex Junction, VT, US); Irvin, Charles G. (Colchester, VT, US); Lundblad, Lennart K.A. (Essex Junction, VT, US); Thompson-Figueroa, John (Burlington, VT, US) |
| Assignees: |
University of Vermont and State Agricultural College (Burlington, VT, US) |
| Claim: |
1. An imaging system for a plethysmograph, the system comprising: (a) one or more imaging devices, wherein each of said one or more imaging devices is operatively configured to capture one or more images of a subject inside the plethysmograph as the subject breathes one or more gases contained within the plethysmograph and operable to provide an output signal including information regarding said one or more images; and (b) an imaging processor in communication with said one or more imaging devices and operatively configured to estimate a change in volume of said subject from said information. |
| Claim: |
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said imaging processor is a computer. |
| Claim: |
3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said imaging processor comprises computed tomography technology for estimating said change in volume. |
| Claim: |
4. A plethysmograph for a non-invasive pulmonary measurement of a subject, the plethysmograph comprising: (a) a structure having an interior chamber for receiving the subject and for containing one or more gases; (b) one or more imaging devices, wherein each of said one or more imaging devices captures one or more images of the subject, when positioned in the structure, as the subject breathes said one or more gases and provides an output signal including information regarding said one or more images; and (c) an imaging processor in communication with said one or more imaging devices so as to receive said output signal, wherein said imaging processor estimates a change in volume of the subject using said information included in said output signal. |
| Claim: |
5. A plethysmograph according to claim 4, wherein said one or more imaging devices is inside said interior chamber. |
| Claim: |
6. A plethysmograph according to claim 4, wherein said one or more imaging devices is outside said interior chamber. |
| Claim: |
7. A plethysmograph according to claim 4, further comprising a temperature regulation element for maintaining a temperature of said one or more gases at or about the temperature of a pulmonary airway of the subject. |
| Claim: |
8. A plethysmograph according to claim 4, further comprising a moisture regulation element for maintaining a predetermined level of moisture of said one or more gases. |
| Claim: |
9. A plethysmograph according to claim 4, wherein said one or more imaging devices includes two imaging devices positioned orthogonal to each other with respect to the subject. |
| Claim: |
10. A plethysmograph according to claim 4, wherein said structure includes an inside surface defining a portion of said interior chamber, said plethysmograph further including a contrast assistance element positioned on said inside surface so as to be opposite said one or more imaging devices. |
| Claim: |
11. A plethysmograph according to claim 10, wherein said contrast assistance element comprises an electroluminescent panel. |
| Claim: |
12. A plethysmograph according to claim 4, wherein said imaging processor is a computer. |
| Claim: |
13. A plethysmograph according to claim 4, wherein said imaging processor comprises computed tomography technology for estimating said change in volume. |
| Claim: |
14. A plethysmograph according to claim 4, further comprising a corralling element positioned in said structure and operatively configured to position the subject in a field of view of said one or more imaging devices. |
| Claim: |
15. A plethysmograph according to claim 4, further comprising a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure of said one or more gases. |
| Claim: |
16. A plethysmograph according to claim 15, further comprising an pulmonary calculation module in communication with said pressure sensor and said imaging processor, wherein said pulmonary calculation module calculates a pulmonary performance value from a plurality of said change in volume estimates and said pressure measurements. |
| Claim: |
17. A plethysmograph according to claim 16, wherein said pulmonary performance value includes an airway resistance value. |
| Claim: |
18. A noninvasive system for measuring changes in pulmonary airway resistance of a subject, the system comprising: (a) a structure having an interior chamber for receiving the subject and for containing one or more gases; (b) a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure of said one or more gases; (c) one or more imaging devices, wherein each of said one or more imaging devices captures one or more images of the subject as the subject breathes said one or more gases and provides an output signal including information about said one or more images; and (d) an imaging processor in communication with said one or more imaging devices so as to receive said output signal, wherein said imaging processor estimates a change in volume of the subject using said information included in said output signal. |
| Claim: |
19. A system according to claim 18, wherein said one or more gases is maintained at a moisture level that is about the moisture level of a pulmonary airway of the subject and at a temperature that is about the temperature of said pulmonary airway. |
| Claim: |
20. A system according to claim 18, further comprising a temperature regulation element for maintaining a temperature of said one or more gases at or about the temperature of a pulmonary airway of the subject. |
| Claim: |
21. A system according to claim 18, further comprising a moisture regulation element for maintaining a predetermined level of moisture of said one or more gases. |
| Claim: |
22. A system according to claim 18, wherein said structure includes an inside surface defining a portion of said interior chamber, said system further including a contrast assistance element positioned on said inside surface so as to be opposite said one or more imaging devices. |
| Claim: |
23. A system according to claim 22, wherein said contrast assistance element comprises an electroluminescent panel. |
| Claim: |
24. A system according to claim 18, further comprising a corralling element positioned in said structure and operatively configured to position the subject in a field of view of said one or more imaging devices. |
| Claim: |
25. A system according to claim 18, further comprising a pulmonary calculation module in communication with said pressure sensor and said imaging processor, wherein said pulmonary calculation module calculates a pulmonary performance value from a plurality of said change in volume estimates and said pressure measurements. |
| Claim: |
26. A system according to claim 18, wherein said pulmonary performance value includes an airway resistance value. |
| Claim: |
27. A method of measuring changes in pulmonary airway resistance of a subject, the method comprising: (a) enclosing the subject and one or more gases within a compartment; (b) obtaining one or more images of the subject as the subject breathes said one or more gases; and (c) estimating a change in volume of said subject from said one or more images. |
| Claim: |
28. A method according to claim 27, further comprising measuring a pressure of said one or more gases within said compartment as the subject breathes. |
| Claim: |
29. A method according to claim 28, further comprising calculating an airway resistance value from a plurality of said change in volume estimates and pressure measurements. |
| Claim: |
30. A method of retrofitting a plethysmograph, the method comprising: (a) positioning one or more imaging devices such that each of said one or more imaging devices is operatively configured to capture one or more images of a subject inside the plethysmograph as said subject breathes one or more gases contained within the plethysmograph and operable to provide information regarding said one or more images; and (b) providing an imaging processor in communication with said one or more imaging devices, said imaging processor being for processing said information to estimate a change in volume of said subject. |
| Claim: |
31. A method according to claim 30, wherein said imaging processor includes a pulmonary calculation module for calculating an airway resistance value from said change in volume. |
| Claim: |
32. A method according to claim 30, further comprising positioning a contrast assistance element on an inside surface of the plethysmograph, said inside surface being opposite said one or more imaging devices. |
| Current U.S. Class: |
600407/000 |
| Current International Class: |
61 |
| رقم الانضمام: |
edspap.20060030770 |
| قاعدة البيانات: |
USPTO Patent Applications |
