TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a wearable cough monitoring device for telehealth applications. The invention relates in detail to a cough monitoring device for analyzing and classifying the cough activity of the user in remote health applications.

BACKGROUND

Telehealth is the use of communication technologies to provide healthcare at a distance. These technologies include computers, cameras, video conferencing, internet, satellite, and wireless communications. Telehealth is a remote health application for the improvement of individual and community health, such as diagnosis, treatment, prevention, research, evaluation, and continuous education of health care providers in cases where distance is critical for health care due to geographical obstacles, outbreaks, or other factors. Accordingly, healthcare professionals use information and communication technologies to exchange information for diagnosis and treatment.

Monitoring a user's cough activity is a highly used diagnostic tool in telehealth applications. For this purpose, the cough activity of the user can be monitored with wearable cough monitoring devices in different parts of the user's body. In the present art, the cough monitoring device detects the movement of the user's body by means of an accelerometer. It also includes a microphone to detect a user's coughing sound. Accordingly, a coughing activity is detected if the motion signal received from the accelerometer and the sound signal received from the microphone is of a certain characteristic by a processor unit.

The detection of cough activity in the state of the art is primarily determined based on the body movements of the user taken by the accelerometer. If the motion signal received by the accelerometer has a certain characteristic, the sound signal received by the microphone is examined. Accordingly, coughing activity is detected if the movement signal of a certain characteristic and the simultaneous sound signal are also of a certain characteristic. For this reason, the structures of the position of the accelerometer on the user are optimized to increase the accuracy of the cough activity detected in cough monitoring devices. However, these movements may be misperceived because the user moves, walks, stands, and sits in daily life activities. In addition, if the motion signal meets the predetermined condition, the noise signal generated in the sound signal received from the microphone reduces the cough detection accuracy of the noise signal caused by the environment.

As a result, the above-mentioned issues have made it necessary to innovate in the related technical field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cough monitoring device in order to eliminate the above- mentioned disadvantages and bring new advantages to the relevant technical field.

An object of the invention is to provide a cough monitoring device to remotely monitor the cough activity of the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cough monitoring device to analyze and classify the user's cough type.

The present invention relates to a wearable cough monitoring device comprising an ambient microphone for detecting the sound in the environment in order to realize all the objects that will emerge from the abovementioned and the following detailed description; a motion sensor for detecting the body movements of the user; a processor unit that allows the user to generate a signal regarding the cough activity, if it detects that the motion signals it receives from said motion sensor and the sound, signals it receives from said ambient microphone are of a predetermined characteristic. Accordingly, it is characterized in that it comprises a body microphone for detecting the sound within the user's body, positioned at a closer distance from the ambient microphone; it is configured to generate a signal related to the cough activity of the user in the event that said processor unit detects a predetermined phase difference between the body sound signal received from said body microphone and the ambient sound signal received from the ambient microphone. Thus, the detection accuracy of the cough activity of the user is increased.

A possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the processor unit is configured to generate a signal related to the cough activity of the user if it detects that the body sound signal it receives from the body microphone is ahead by a predetermined phase angle according to the ambient sound signal it receives from the ambient microphone. Thus, the detection accuracy of cough activity is increased. Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the body microphone is a directional microphone directed toward the user's body. Thus, the accuracy of the cough sound signal received through the body microphone is increased.

Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it comprises an acoustic chamber for directing the body microphone toward the user's body. Thus, the accuracy of the cough sound signal received through the body microphone is increased.

Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the processor unit is configured to operate the body microphone and the ambient microphone if the motion signals it receives from the motion sensor are of a predetermined characteristic. In this way, the device works when a cough movement defined by the processor unit is detected. Otherwise, the cough monitoring device operates in sleep mode. Thus, the energy efficiency of the cough monitoring device is increased, and the energy consumption is reduced.

Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it is associated with a memory unit for recording the signals received by the processor unit.

Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the processor unit is configured to store the signals received from the motion sensor, body microphone, and ambient microphone in the memory unit. Thus, it is ensured to increase the detection accuracy by training with the signals received by the processor unit.

Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the processor unit is configured to store the signals received from the motion sensor, body microphone, and ambient microphone in the memory unit in case the processor unit detects a coughing activity. Thus, the number, duration, and types of daily coughs of the user are provided with important information for diagnosis and for judging the treatment process of patients.

Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it is associated with a strain sensor positioned to contact the user's body at least partially.

Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the processor unit is configured to generate a signal related to the cough activity of the user in case the signal received from said strain sensor exceeds a predetermined strain threshold. Thus, the detection accuracy of the processor unit regarding the cough activity of the user is increased. Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the processor unit is configured to determine a pattern of the signal received from said strain sensor and to generate a signal related to the cough activity of the user if the change of said pattern above a predetermined ratio is detected. Thus, the detection accuracy of the processor unit regarding the cough activity of the user is increased.

The invention further relates to a cough monitoring system comprising a cough monitoring device according to any one of the foregoing. Accordingly, it is characterized in that it comprises a communication network associated with the processor unit and a mobile terminal for accessing signals received and generated by the processor unit via the said communication network. Thus, it is ensured that the user is monitored remotely and for a long time. It is ensured that a specialist health worker monitors the cough activity of the user through the mobile terminal.

Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said communication network is the internet. Thus, it is ensured that the cough monitoring device and the mobile terminal can connect to the internet from any location and perform telehealth applications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 shows a representative view of the cough monitoring device.

Figure 2 shows a representative view of the cough monitoring device.

Figure 3 shows a representative view of the cough monitoring system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the cough monitoring device (100) of the invention is described only by way of non-limiting examples for a better understanding of the subject matter.

The invention relates to a cough monitoring device (100) for detecting the cough activity of a user. Here, the user can be a patient or a healthy person. Detected cough activity can be examined remotely by a healthcare professional or recorded for later review or to create a database. The cough monitoring device (100) has a wearable structure by being attached or glued to an area of the user's body (40). The cough monitoring device (100) of the invention is preferably positioned in the user's chest region.

The cough monitoring device (100) of the invention includes an ambient microphone (120) to detect the sound in the environment in which it is located. The ambient microphone (120) generates an ambient sound signal by sensing the ambient sound. The cough monitoring device (100) comprises a body microphone (130). Said body microphone (130) detects the sound in the user's body (40). Accordingly, a body is producing the sound signal. The sound in the body mentioned here is the sound that occurs in the user's lungs, trachea, or chest areas. The body microphone (130) is positioned closer to the user's body (40) than the ambient microphone (120). The body microphone (130) is directional in a possible embodiment. In this way, the body microphone (130) is enabled to detect the sound that occurs in a certain target region. The cough monitoring device (100) also includes a motion sensor (110) for sensing the movements of the user's body (40). The motion sensor (110) detects the physical movements of the user. Accordingly, it generates a motion signal.

The cough monitoring device (100) includes a processor unit (150). The processor unit (150) is configured to receive the signals generated by the ambient microphone (120), the body microphone (130), and the motion sensor (110). The processor unit (150) detects a predetermined phase difference between the body sound signal it receives from the body microphone (130) and the ambient sound signal it receives from the ambient microphone (120). This detection detects a phase shift or time shift between the ambient sound signal and the body sound signal. The processor unit (150) detects the body sound signal received from the body microphone (130) in the ambient sound signal received from the ambient microphone (120). The detection process herein can be performed by any or more of the numerical signal processing methods in the state of the art. The processor unit (150) comprises a peak detection algorithm in a possible embodiment. The processor unit (150) detects a body sound signal with phase shift within the ambient sound signal by operating said peak detection algorithm. Since the working principle of the peak detection algorithm is known in the art, it is not detailed here. If the processor unit (150) detects the aforementioned phase difference, it generates a signal regarding the cough activity of the user. The phase difference mentioned here is due to the coughing activity starting from the chest area and ending in the mouth area. Accordingly, the processor unit (150) generates a signal relating to the coughing activity (10) of the user if it detects that the body sound signal generated by the body microphone (130) is one phase difference ahead of the ambient sound signal generated by the ambient microphone (120). The processor unit (150) detects that the motion signals it receives from the motion sensor (110) have a predetermined characteristic. The characteristic mentioned herein may be the signal of the predefined cough movement to the processing unit (150). Similarly, normal physical movements such as walking, running, sitting, getting up, and stopping can also be defined by the processor unit. The processor unit (150) operates the ambient microphone (120) and the body microphone (130) when it detects a cough movement. It then detects the phase difference according to the ambient sound signal received from the ambient microphone (120) by the body sound signal received from the body microphone (130). Accordingly, it produces a signal regarding the cough activity of the user. It then detects a noise signal within the ambient sound signal it receives from the ambient microphone (120). Said noise signal is obtained by detecting and removing the body sound signal within the ambient sound signal. The noise signal is then filtered from the body sound signal and a cough sound signal is obtained. In this way, the accuracy of the cough sound signal that occurs in the cough activity of the user is increased. Thus, both the cough activity of the user is monitored, and the cough sound can be analyzed and/or classified. In this way, it is ensured that the specialist healthcare worker follows the cough activity of the user remotely and it is facilitated to diagnose and diagnose by analyzing or classifying the cough of the user.

The cough monitoring device (100) is associated with a strain sensor (140) in a possible embodiment of the invention. The strain sensor (140) is positioned such that it has at least partial contact with the user's chest area. The strain sensor (140) measures the surface tension in the user's chest region and sends a signal to the processor unit (150) by generating a signal accordingly. In a possible embodiment, the processor unit (150) generates a signal related to the cough activity of the user if the signal received from the strain sensor (140) exceeds a predetermined strain threshold. In another possible embodiment, the processor unit (150) determines a pattern of the signal it receives from said strain sensor (140) and generates a signal related to the cough activity of the user if it detects a change of said pattern above a predetermined ratio. These determinations of the processing unit (150) are based on the sudden expansion and contraction of the user's chest area during coughing. These sudden changes in the user's chest area are measured by the strain sensor (140) and transferred to the processor unit (150). The processor unit (150) also detects the cough activity of the user according to the signal it receives from the strain sensor (140). The strain sensor (140) may be attached to the user's body by means of a clamping element. The clamping element can be any fastener known in the art that wraps the user's body or can adhere to a portion of the user's body. The cough monitoring device (100) comprises a memory unit (160). The memory unit (160) records the signals received by the processing unit (150). In a possible embodiment, the processor unit (150) has a machine-learning algorithm trained with the signals stored in the memory unit (160). In this way, the detection accuracy of the processing unit (150) is increased.

The invention also relates to a cough monitoring system (10) comprising the cough monitoring device (100). The cough monitoring system (10) provides remote monitoring of the cough activity of the user. Accordingly, in a possible embodiment, the processor unit (150) is associated with a communication network (200). Said communication network (200) is a network such as the Internet. The cough monitoring device (100) also includes a communication unit (180) associated with the processor unit (150). Said communication unit (180) enables the communication of the communication network (200) with the processor unit (150). The communication network (200) also allows the mobile terminal (300) to communicate with the cough monitoring device (100). The mobile terminal (300) can access the cough monitoring device (100) by connecting to the communication network (100) from any location such as a hospital, clinic, office, or home. The mobile terminal (300) enables the examination of the signals received through the processor unit (150) by the specialist healthcare professional. The stored data can be examined by accessing the memory unit (160) through the mobile terminal (300).

The cough monitoring device (100) comprises a first amplifier (121 ) to amplify the ambient sound signal received by the ambient microphone (120) in a possible embodiment of the invention. The cough monitoring device (100) includes a first filter (122) for filtering the ambient sound signal amplified by a said first amplifier (121). Said first filter (122) provides for filtering the desired frequency range of the ambient sound signal received by the ambient microphone (120). Thus, it is ensured that the noise signals that disrupt the ambient sound signal received by the cough monitoring device (100) are extracted and the accuracy of the ambient sound signal is increased.

The cough monitoring device (100) comprises a second amplifier (131) to amplify the body sound signal received by the body microphone (130) in a possible embodiment of the invention. The cough monitoring device (100) includes a second filter (132) for filtering the body sound signal amplified by a said second amplifier (131). Said second filter (132) provides for filtering the desired frequency range of the body sound signal received by the body microphone (130). Thus, it is ensured that the noise signals that disrupt the body sound signal received by the cough monitoring device (100) are extracted and the accuracy of the body sound signal is increased.

The cough monitoring device (100) comprises a converter (170) for converting the ambient sound signal and the body sound signal received by the ambient microphone (120) and the body microphone (130) into digital signals in a possible embodiment of the invention. Said converter (170) enables the conversion of analog signals received by the ambient microphone (120) and the body microphone (130) into digital signals. In this way, the ambient sound signal and the body sound signal may be processed by the processor unit (150).

The cough monitoring device (100) comprises a battery (190) in a possible embodiment of the invention. Said battery (190) provides to meet the energy needs of the electrical components contained in the cough monitoring device (100).

The scope of protection of the invention is specified in the attached claims and cannot be limited to those explained for sampling purposes in this detailed description. It is evident that a person skilled in the art may exhibit similar embodiments in light of above-mentioned facts without drifting apart from the main theme of the invention.

REFERENCE NUMBERS GIVEN IN THE FIGURE

10 Cough monitoring system

100 Cough monitoring device

110 Motion sensor

120 Ambient microphone

121 First amplifier

122 First filter

130 Body microphone

131 Second amplifier

132 Second filter

140 Strain sensor

141 Clamping element

150 Processor unit

160 Memory unit

170 Converter

180 Communication unit

190 Battery

200 Communication network

300 Mobile terminal

40 User body