Boston University

Andrew C Jackson

Mark N Horenstein

Kenneth R Lutchen

A partial body plethysmograph is provided to enable accurate modeling of a human's respiratory system for input frequencies of up to about 96 Hz using transfer impedance measurements. One preferred embodiment comprises a container for sealingly enclosing a portion of the subject's body, a pressure source for generating pressure signals over a predetermined frequency range, an air flow sensor for measuring the flow of air supplied to the subject, a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure applied to the cavity of the subject and a processor for controlling the pressure source, for storing the measured air flow and pressure and for determining the respiratory system impedance of the subject. An eight element model is used by the processor to inversely model the transfer impedance data and thereby determined characteristics of the respiratory system of the subject.

Partial body plethysmograph for measuring human respiratory system

An infant respiratory impedance measuring apparatus and method using forced oscillations is disclosed. In order to account for the effects of the mask, a shunt compliance is placed in parallel with the components representing the impedance of the infant.

Infant respiratory impedance measuring apparatus and methods using

This invention relates to an acoustic pulse response system for determining the shape of the nasopharyngeal cavity in a subject by introducing an acoustic impulse through a wave tube into the respective nasal cavities of the subject. The acoustic signals and acoustic reflections thereof with respect to each one of said nasal cavities with both open and closed velums are detected by a microphone located in a wall of the tube, the microphone generating electrical signals proportional to both the impulse and acoustic reflections. The length of the nasal septum is determined, and the value of the area-distance function of the nasopharyngeal cavity is computed from the electrical signals and the length of the nasal septum.

Growing community of inventors

Brookline, MA, United States of America

Andrew C Jackson