System and methods for improved cough segmentation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018133418-A1
Application number	US-201615571299-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 21, 2016
Priority date	May 5, 2015
Publication date	May 17, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems ( 100 ) and methods ( 300 ) for controlling coughing by subjects ( 106 ) control the opening and closing of a valve ( 12 ) (as well as partially opening and/or partially closing) to establish and disestablish a fluid communication between the airway of the subject and atmospheric pressure. The valve is opened and closed more than once during individual exhalations by the subject. Control of the valve is adjusted based on a pressure level in or near the airway of the subject.

First claim

1 . A system configured to control cough segmentation, the system comprising:
a cough delivery structure configured to fluidly communicate with an airway of a subject, wherein the cough delivery structure includes a valve, wherein the valve is configured to selectively control a fluid communication between the cough delivery structure and atmosphere; one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to a pressure level within one or both of the cough delivery structure and the airway of the subject; and one or more physical processors configured via computer-readable instructions to:
obtain a target exhalation pressure threshold;
obtain a target frequency for controlling the valve and a target duty cycle for controlling the valve;
control the valve to open and close based on the target frequency and the target duty cycle to cause multiple consecutive cough segments; determine the pressure level during the multiple consecutive cough segments based on the generated output signals;
compare the pressure level during the multiple consecutive cough segments to the target exhalation pressure threshold;
responsive to the pressure level not reaching the target exhalation pressure threshold during an individual one of the multiple consecutive cough segments, adjust one or both of the target frequency and the target duty cycle such that the pressure level breaches the target exhalation pressure threshold for remaining cough segments; and
control the valve based on an adjustment.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more physical processors are configured to control the valve based on the adjustment during an exhalation by the subject such that the valve is opened more than once and closed more than once during the exhalation.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the target duty cycle comprises a first duration of opening the valve and a second duration of closing the valve, wherein adjustment of the target frequency includes a reduction of the target frequency, and wherein adjustment of the target duty cycle includes a reduction of the first duration of opening the valve.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the target exhalation pressure threshold is at least 25 cm-H 2 O.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more physical processors are configured to, responsive to the pressure level not reaching the target exhalation pressure threshold during an individual one of the multiple consecutive cough segments, first adjust only the target duty cycle;
compare the pressure level during cough segments subsequent to adjustment of the target duty cycle to the target exhalation pressure threshold; and responsive to the pressure level during the subsequent cough segment not reaching the target exhalation pressure threshold, then adjust the target frequency such that the pressure level breaches the target exhalation pressure threshold for remaining cough segments.

6 . A method of controlling cough segmentation, the method being implemented in a system that includes a cough delivery structure including a valve, the method comprising;
generating output signals conveying information related to a pressure level within one or both of the cough delivery structure and an airway of the subject; obtaining a target exhalation pressure threshold; obtaining a target frequency for controlling the valve and a target duty cycle for controlling the valve; controlling the valve to open and close based on the target frequency and the target duty cycle to cause multiple consecutive cough segments; determining the pressure level during the multiple consecutive cough segments; comparing the pressure level during the multiple consecutive cough segments to the target exhalation pressure threshold; responsive to the pressure level not reaching the target exhalation pressure threshold during an individual one of the multiple consecutive cough segments, adjusting one or both of the target frequency and the target duty cycle such that the pressure level breaches the target exhalation pressure threshold for remaining cough segments; and controlling the valve based on an adjustment.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein controlling the valve based on the adjustment is performed during an exhalation by the subject such that the valve is opened more than once and closed more than once during the exhalation.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the target duty cycle comprises a first duration of opening the valve and a second duration of closing the valve, wherein adjusting the target frequency includes reducing the target frequency, and adjusting the target duty cycle includes reducing the first duration of opening the valve.

9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the target exhalation pressure threshold is at least 25 cm-H 2 O.

10 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
responsive to pressure level not reaching the target exhalation pressure threshold during an individual one of the multiple consecutive cough segments, first adjusting only the target duty cycle, comparing the pressure level with the target exhalation pressure threshold subsequent to adjusting the target duty cycle; and responsive to the pressure level during subsequent cough segments not reaching the target exhalation pressure threshold, then adjusting the target frequency such that the pressure level breaches the target exhalation pressure threshold for remaining cough segments.

11 . A system configured to control cough segmentation, the system comprising:
means for generating output signals conveying information related to a pressure level within one or both of a cough delivery structure and an airway of a subject; means for obtaining a target exhalation pressure threshold; means for obtaining a target frequency and a target duty cycle for controlling a valve; means for controlling the valve to open and close based on the target frequency and the target duty cycle to cause multiple consecutive cough segments; means for determining, the pressure level during the multiple consecutive cough segments based on the generated output signals; means for comparing the pressure level during the multiple consecutive cough segments to the target exhalation pressure threshold; means for adjusting one or both of the target frequency and the target duty cycle such that the pressure level breaches the target exhalation pressure threshold for remaining cough segments, the means for adjusting being operative responsive to the pressure level during an individual one of the multiple consecutive cough segments not reaching the target exhalation pressure threshold; and means for controlling the valve based on an adjustment.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the means for controlling the valve is configured to control the valve to open and close more than once during an exhalation.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the target duty cycle comprises a first duration of opening the valve and a second duration of closing the valve, wherein the means for adjusting one or both of the target frequency and the target duty cycle is configured such that:
adjusting the target frequency includes reducing the target frequency, and adjusting the target duty cycle includes reducing the first duration of opening the valve.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the target exhalation pressure threshold is at least 25 cm-H 2 O.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the system is configured to:
responsive to the pressure level not reaching the target exhalation pressure threshold during an individual one of the multiple consecutive

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Brand Maarten Leonardus Christian
• Mahadevan Anandi
• Garsteck James

Classifications

• A61M16/024

  including calculation means, e.g. using a processor · CPC title

• A61M2016/0027

  pressure meter · CPC title

• A61M2230/40

  Respiratory characteristics · CPC title

• A61M2205/3331

  Pressure; Flow · CPC title

• A61M16/0006 Primary

  with means for creating vibrations in patients' airways · CPC title