Systems, devices, and methods for performing active auscultation and detecting sonic energy measurements

Abstract

Active auscultation may be used to determine organ (e.g., lung or heart) characteristics of users. An acoustic or piezo-electric signal (e.g., a pulse, a tone, and/or a broadband pulse) may be projected into an animal (typically human) body or thorax. The signal interacts with the body, or lungs, and in some cases may induce resonance within the body/lungs. A resultant signal may be emitted from the body which may be analyzed to determine, for example, a lung's resonant frequency or frequencies and/or how the sound is otherwise absorbed, reflected, or modified by the body. This information may be indicative of lung characteristics such as lung capacity, a volume of air trapped in the lungs, and/or the presence of COPD.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method of performing active auscultation comprising:
 receiving, by a processor, an acoustic energy response from a receiver communicatively coupled to the processor and proximate to the user's body, the acoustic energy response being responsive to acoustic energy directed into the user's body toward the user's lung; and   generating, by the processor, a model of the user's lung using the received acoustic energy response, the model of the user's lung including one or more features that represent volumes of air trapped in discrete pockets in the user's lung.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the model further includes one or more tubes with an open end that correspond to one or more bronchial tubes present in the user's lung. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the model further includes one or more tubes with closed ends that correspond to one or more bronchial tubes present in the user's lung. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the one or more features that represent volumes of trapped air are spheres. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the one or more features that represent volumes of trapped air are vented spheres. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 determining, by the processor, a resonant frequency included within the acoustic energy response, wherein generation of the model further uses the resonant frequency.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the processor, additional information about the user, wherein generation of the model further uses the additional information.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the additional information includes at least one of the user's medical test data, an image of the user's lung, the user's medical history, and a diagnosis for the user. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the additional information includes at least one of environmental data, geographic data, levels of pollution corresponding to a geographic location, weather, temperature, and humidity. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 providing, by the processor, a set of signal stimuli to the emitter so that the emitter produces a set of acoustic energy directed into a user's body toward a user's lung.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the processor, a previously generated model of the user's lung;   comparing, by the processor, the model of the user's lung and the previously generated model of the user's lung; and   providing, by the processor, a result of the comparison to the user.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the result of the comparison is a change in a volume of the one or more features that represent volumes of air trapped in discrete pockets in the user's lung. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the result of the comparison is a change in a shape of the one or more features that represent volumes of air trapped in discrete pockets in the user's lung. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the model of the user's lung further includes a position for the one or more features that represent volumes of air trapped in discrete pockets in the user's lung. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the model includes a first feature that represents a first volume of air trapped in a first discrete pocket in the user's lung, a second feature that represents a second volume of air trapped in a second discrete pocket in the user's lung and a relative position between the first feature and the second feature. 
     
     
         43 . A system for performing active auscultation comprising:
 an emitter configured to emit acoustic energy into a user's body toward the user's lung;   a receiver communicatively coupled to a processor and configured to receive an acoustic energy response that is responsive to acoustic energy emitted into the user's body toward the user's lung by the emitter and communicate the received acoustic energy response to the processor; and   the processor, the processor being configured to:
 receive the acoustic energy response from the receiver; and 
 generate a model of the user's lung using the received acoustic energy response, the model of the user's lung including one or more features that represent volumes of air trapped in discrete pockets in the user's lung. 
   
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the model further includes one or more tubes with an open end and a closed end or two closed ends that correspond to one or more bronchial tubes present in the user's lung. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the one or more features that represent volumes of trapped air are at least one of spheres and vented spheres. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine a resonant frequency included within the acoustic energy response, wherein generation of the model further uses the resonant frequency.   
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive additional information about the user, wherein generation of the model further uses the additional information.   
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 provide a set of signal stimuli to the emitter so that the emitter produces a set of acoustic energy directed into a user's body toward a user's lung.   
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive a previously generated model of the user's lung;   compare the model of the user's lung and the previously generated model of the user's lung; and   provide a result of the comparison to the user.   
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the model of the user's lung further includes a position for the one or more features that represent volumes of air trapped in discrete pockets in the user's lung. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the model includes a first feature that represents a first volume of air trapped in a first discrete pocket in the user's lung, a second feature that represents a second volume of air trapped in a second discrete pocket in the user's lung and a relative position between the first feature and the second feature.