Systems, Devices and Methods For Rendering Key Respiratory Measurements Accessible To Mobile Digital Devices

Abstract

An acoustic device for spirometric measurement is provided. The acoustic device includes an inlet conduit configured to receive an airflow and a central cavity in communication with the inlet conduit. The central cavity includes a channel configured to guide at least a portion of the airflow into a vorticial flow about a central axis of the central cavity. The acoustic device further includes an outlet conduit configured to receive at least a portion of the vorticial flow and transduce at least a portion of kinetic energy of the vorticial flow into an acoustic emission. A frequency of the acoustic emission varies based on a rate of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit. In addition, the acoustic device includes a flow controller configured to modify at least a portion of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An acoustic device for spirometric measurement, comprising:
 an inlet conduit configured to receive an airflow;   a transducer in communication with the inlet conduit, configured to receive at least a portion of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit and transduce at least a portion of the kinetic energy of this airflow into an acoustic emission that includes one or more frequency values within a range of frequency values, wherein the one or more frequency values included in the acoustic emission vary with a rate at which the airflow is provided to the inlet conduit;   an acoustic outlet configured to emit at least a portion of the acoustic emission; and   a flow controller configured to modify at least a portion of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit such that a rate of change of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit varies inversely with a rate of change in the one or more frequency values.   
     
     
         22 . The acoustic device of  claim 21 , wherein the flow controller is configured to modify at least the portion of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit such that the rate of change of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit varies inversely with the rate of change in the one or more frequency values by:
 modifying at least the portion of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit such that the rate of change of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit varies inversely and proportionally with the rate of change in the one or more frequency values.   
     
     
         23 . The acoustic device of  claim 21 , wherein the flow controller is configured to modify at least the portion of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit such that the rate of change of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit varies inversely with the rate of change in the one or more frequency values by:
 modifying at least the portion of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit such that the rate of change of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit varies inversely and disproportionally with the rate of change in the one or more frequency values.   
     
     
         24 . The acoustic device of  claim 21 , wherein the flow controller includes at least one or more of:
 a valve;   a vent;   an obstructor;   a force exerting element;   a rotational constraint;   a sliding constraint;   a flexing constraint; or   a joint.   
     
     
         25 . The acoustic device of  claim 21 , wherein the flow controller includes at least one or more of:
 a pressure relief valve;   a spillover valve;   an umbrella valve;   a duckbill valve;   an elastomeric valve;   a fluidic valve;   a valve including no moving parts;   an opening leading to an exterior of the acoustic device;   a passageway leading to the exterior of the acoustic device;   a flexible obstructor;   a spring;   a pivot;   a linear sliding constraint;   a plug;   a magnet; or   a compressible gas reservoir.   
     
     
         26 . The acoustic device of  claim 21 , further comprising a vent outlet in communication with the flow controller, and wherein the flow controller is further configured to dynamically alter a portion of the airflow directed to the acoustic outlet and the vent outlet based on at least one or more of:
 a flow rate;   a pressure; or   a resistance.   
     
     
         27 . The acoustic device of  claim 26 , wherein the flow controller is further configured to dynamically alter a ratio of the airflow provided to the acoustic outlet and the vent outlet based on at least one or more of:
 the flow rate;   the pressure; or   the resistance.   
     
     
         28 . The acoustic device of  claim 21 , wherein the flow controller is a mechanical flow controller. 
     
     
         29 . The acoustic device of  claim 21 , wherein the flow controller comprises a fluidic flow controller. 
     
     
         30 . The acoustic device of  claim 21 , wherein the flow controller is configured to modify at least a portion of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit via a static structure in conjunction with fluidic interactions. 
     
     
         31 . The acoustic device of  claim 21 , wherein the flow controller is manually configurable. 
     
     
         32 . The acoustic device of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one or more of a visual indicator, a human readable identifier or a machine readable identifier corresponding to at least one characteristic or parameter of the acoustic device. 
     
     
         33 . The acoustic device of  claim 21 , further comprising an electronic memory. 
     
     
         34 . The acoustic device of  claim 21 , wherein the range of frequency values include at least one or more of:
 an ultrasonic frequency; or   an audible frequency.   
     
     
         35 . The acoustic device of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a second outlet in fluid communication with the walled cavity,   wherein the second outlet is configured to emit a second acoustic emission having one or more frequency values within a range of frequency values based on the rate at which the airflow is provided to the inlet conduit.   
     
     
         36 . The acoustic device of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one or more of:
 a housing operable to attach to another device;   an inhaler dispenser; or   a dosage counter.   
     
     
         37 . An acoustic device for spirometric measurement, comprising:
 an inlet conduit configured to receive an airflow;   a transducer in communication with the inlet conduit, configured to receive at least a portion of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit and transduce at least a portion of the kinetic energy of this airflow into an acoustic emission that includes one or more frequency values within a range of frequency values, wherein the one or more frequency values included in the acoustic emission vary with a rate at which the airflow is provided to the inlet conduit;   an acoustic outlet configured to emit at least a portion of the acoustic emission;   a vent outlet in communication with a flow controller, wherein the flow controller is configured to dynamically alter an allocation of the airflow provided at the inlet conduit through the acoustic outlet and the vent outlet such that a change in at least one of the one or more frequency values of the acoustic emission per unit change in a rate of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit is higher at a lower airflow rate than at a higher airflow rate.   
     
     
         38 . A method of collecting a spirometric measurement via an acoustic device, comprising:
 receiving an airflow on an inlet conduit of the acoustic device;   receiving, at a transducer in communication with the inlet conduit, at least a portion of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit and transducing at least a portion of the kinetic energy of this airflow into an acoustic emission that includes one or more frequency values within a range of frequency values, wherein the one or more frequency values included in the acoustic emission vary with a rate at which the airflow is provided to the inlet conduit;   emitting, via an acoustic outlet of the acoustic device, at least a portion of the acoustic emission; and   modifying, by a flow controller of the acoustic device, at least a portion of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit such that a rate of change of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit varies inversely with a rate of change in the one or more frequency values.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein modifying, by a flow controller of the acoustic device, at least a portion of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit such that a rate of change of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit varies inversely with a rate of change in the one or more frequency values comprises modifying at least the portion of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit such that the rate of change of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit varies inversely and proportionally with the rate of change in the one or more frequency values. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein modifying, by a flow controller of the acoustic device, at least a portion of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit such that a rate of change of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit varies inversely with a rate of change in the one or more frequency values comprises modifying at least the portion of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit such that the rate of change of the airflow provided to the inlet conduit varies inversely and disproportionally with the rate of change in the one or more frequency values.