Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and method of controlling the pressure level of a gas mixture being delivered to a patient via a pressure support device adapted to provide breathing support to a patient that varies with time. More specifically, the systems and methods described herein enable the accurate detection of active inspiration by the patient and the fast triggering of an increased inspiratory positive airway pressure pulse. Further, the systems and methods described rely upon the patient pressure measured along a turbulent gas flow path and finds particular application when the pressure support device is configured to provide a non-zero positive end-expiratory pressure.

Abstract: Provided are concepts for generating an indicator of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a subject. In particular, an elasticated bag suitable for inflation is utilised, such that a change in a measurable characteristic of the elasticated during exhalation of the subject is detected. The change in the measurable characteristic may be analyzed so as to generate an indicator of COPD. Thus, this indicator may be used by a skilled professional in deciding whether to further investigate the possible presence of COPD.

Abstract: A cough detection system and method uses a first database of physiological information relating to a user for whom cough detection is to be implemented and relating to other people likely to be in the vicinity of the user. A second database (used in real time or as a part of a system calibration) has cough data associated with the physiological information. There is a set of cough detection algorithms, each one tailored to a particular set of physiological characteristics. A cough detection algorithm is selected or constructed which is suitable for identifying coughs of the user while ignoring coughs of the other people. This selected algorithm is applied to sound collected to identify coughs of the user.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing data for gas samples with volatile organic compounds. The data includes chromatographic data indicative of molecule retention times. The method includes identifying or selecting marker molecules and clustering the plurality of gas samples into a plurality of clusters according to a clustering criterion. Next, a first correction of retention time deviations is performed on the data for the gas samples between clusters by using the marker molecules as anchor points to provide a coarse reduction of retention time deviations between the data. Finally, a second correction of retention time deviations is performed on the data, so as to further reduce retention time deviations between the data. The method reduces significant retention time deviations to allow, e.g., breath sample fingerprints obtained by different equipment at different times to be compared in one database for use on a digital platform.

Abstract: An apparatus, comprising a processor and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: receive ventilator data obtained from continual mechanical ventilatory support of a patient over a period of time, analyze the ventilator data to identify a plurality of breathing cycles, classify the plurality of breathing cycles into normal breathing cycles and abnormal breathing cycles, using a machine learning algorithm, detect a change in the normal breathing cycles, compared to normal breathing cycles identified by the apparatus based on ventilator data obtained from continual mechanical ventilatory support of the patient over a previous period of time, and generate output indicative of the change in the normal breathing cycles.

Abstract: A method (RT_A) for synchronizing data for a plurality of gas samples, e.g. breath samples, with volatile organic compounds. The data comprises chromatographic data indicative of molecule elution times, and preferably also mass spectrography data. The method comprises identifying or selecting (I_MM) marker molecules, e.g. 5-20 molecules, preferably easily identifiable molecules for each of the plurality of gas samples, and clustering (CL) the plurality of gas samples into a plurality of clusters according to a clustering criterion, e.g. including additional information such as time of obtaining the data and/or analyzing equipment used. Next, a first correction of retention time deviations (P_C1) is performed on the data for the gas samples between clusters by using the marker molecules as anchor points, so as to provide a coarse reduction of retention time deviations (d) between the data for the gas samples.

Abstract: Exhaled breath analysis in health and disease is an area of growing clinical interest with the potential to be adopted through the whole respiratory healthcare continuum. However, currently there is no standard for exhaled breath collection, and the optimal way to preconcentrate the highly humid exhaled breath is not known. Described is an optimized combination of sorbent materials and sample handling methods that allows quantitative capturing of exhaled molecules over a broad range in highly humid conditions. The invention can be applied in pre-concentration units of future devices for exhaled breath analysis, for example at the bedside.

Abstract: A gas analysis device suited for e.g. medical analysis of exhaled breath from a subject. A gas inlet receives a gas sample to a flow path for guiding the gas sample to two or more gas separators, e.g. gas chromatography columns, with respective molecule selectivity properties which are different. One or more detectors, each with a sensor, are arranged to generate respective responses to outputs from the two or more gas separators. A communication module generate output data in response to the respective responses from the one or more detectors, e.g. data indicative of selected molecules in the gas sample, e.g. data indicative of one or more diseases identified as a result of identified biomarkers in the gas sample. The device is suitable as a compact device, e.g. a handheld breath analysis device, since the use of a plurality of gas separators allows use of very molecule specific gas separators which can be implemented with a small size. E.g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus, a system (100), a method (200), and a computer program for assessing the risk of an exacerbation and/or hospitalization. A patient's physical activity is measured (e.g., by an accelerometer (110)) during an active period of time (e.g., during awake hours) and during a rest period of time (e.g., during sleep hours) to gather first and second activity data. A risk of exacerbation and/or hospitalization is assessed (e.g., by a risk assessment unit (120)) based on an expression involving the respective activity data during active and rest periods fulfilling a predetermined relationship with respect to a predetermined activity level. For instance, low activity data during active periods and high activity data during rest periods indicates an increased risk of exacerbation and/or hospital readmission for the patient.

Abstract: A gas analysis device suited for e.g. medical analysis of exhaled breath from a subject. A gas inlet receives a gas sample to a flow path for guiding the gas sample to two or more gas separators, e.g. gas chromatography columns, with respective molecule selectivity properties which are different. One or more detectors, each with a sensor, are arranged to generate respective responses to outputs from the two or more gas separators. A communication module generate output data in response to the respective responses from the one or more detectors, e.g. data indicative of selected molecules in the gas sample, e.g. data indicative of one or more diseases identified as a result of identified biomarkers in the gas sample. The device is suitable as a compact device, e.g. a handheld breath analysis device, since the use of a plurality of gas separators allows use of very molecule specific gas separators which can be implemented with a small size. E.g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for monitoring asthma symptoms of a subject (12), comprising a monitoring unit (14) configured to monitor at least one objective asthma symptom of the subject, an analysis unit (16) configured to determine an asthma status of the subject based on the at least one objective asthma symptom monitored by the monitoring unit, a test unit (18) configured to provide a test for collecting subjective asthma symptoms from the subject, if the at least one objective asthma symptom monitored by the monitoring unit (14) has changed in a manner that the change reveals a deterioration of the asthma status of the subject. Further the system comprises a calibration unit (24) configured to calibrate the at least one objective asthma symptom gathered from the subject with respect to a calibration test, wherein the calibration unit (24) is arranged to perform calibration at least once during an initial phase of use of the system (10).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the diagnosis of hospital-acquired pneumonia is described. The method uses the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath that indicate pneumonia or the presence of pathogens in the respiratory tract in intubated and mechanically ventilated intensive care unit patients. The apparatus may be an electronic nose incorporated into a ventilation system, which outputs to a display the indication of pneumonia. One particular useful VOC is 1-propanol.

Abstract: Exhaled breath analysis in health and disease is an area of growing clinical interest with the potential to be adopted through the whole respiratory healthcare continuum. However, currently there is no standard for exhaled breath collection, and the optimal way to preconcentrate the highly humid exhaled breath is not known. Described is an optimized combination of sorbent materials and sample handling methods that allows quantitative capturing of exhaled molecules over a broad range in highly humid conditions. The invention can be applied in pre-concentration units of future devices for exhaled breath analysis, for example at the bedside.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described herein for analyzing gas samples obtained from an interior of a neonatal incubator. In various embodiments, a neonatal gas analysis apparatus (110) may include: a gas sampler (112) to obtain one or more samples of gas from a neonatal incubator (100); a preconditioner (116) configured to capture, concentrate, and/or isolate various types of molecules from the one or more samples of gas; a gas analyzer (114) configured to analyze the isolated molecules and provide one or more signals of one or more health indicators based on the analysis; and/or a reliability indicator (128) to provide a signal indicative of reliability of the gas samples. In some embodiments, a user interface (126) may be provided to output indicative of the one or more health indicators. In some embodiments, a vital signs component (132) and/or an air quality controller (136) may also be provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus, a system (100), a method (200), and a computer program for assessing the risk of an exacerbation and/or hospitalization. A patient's physical activity is measured (e.g., by an accelerometer (110)) during an active period of time (e.g., during awake hours) and during a rest period of time (e.g., during sleep hours) to gather first and second activity data. A risk of exacerbation and/or hospitalization is assessed (e.g., by a risk assessment unit (120)) based on an expression involving the respective activity data during active and rest periods fulfilling a predetermined relationship with respect to a predetermined activity level. For instance, low activity data during active periods and high activity data during rest periods indicates an increased risk of exacerbation and/or hospital readmission for the patient.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide for a health monitoring system comprising an activity monitor. The health monitoring system further comprises a processor and a memory for storing machine readable instructions. The instructions cause the processor to derive activity counts from the activity data acquired by the activity monitor. The instructions further cause the processor to store the activity counts in the memory, and are associated with a time. The instructions further cause the processor to calculate at least two statistical parameters from the activity counts, wherein the at least two statistical parameters are descriptive of the activity counts as a function of time. The instructions further causes the processor to calculate a risk score for each of the at least two statistical parameters. The instructions further cause the processor to calculate a total risk score using the risk score for each of the at least two statistical parameters.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for obtaining information from an amplification curve of a target nucleic acid sequence or sequences by defining at least one model function that describes the amplification curve and that contains at least one parameter that is related to a physical quantity that influences the signals recorded, fitting said model function to the amplification curve, and obtaining information with respect to said physical quantity by identifying the value of said parameter that results in the best fit of the model function.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system for and a method of filtering at least a part of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data, the method comprising: providing gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data (301) for a gas mixture comprising data representing one or more gas chromatography elution peaks obtained for at least one sample, and filtering the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data (301) to reduce the amount of data, wherein the filtering comprises taking into account predetermined data representing one or more elution peaks previously determined to be false positives (305) and/or predetermined data representing one or elution peaks previously determined to be true positives (304). In this way, unreliable elution peaks are removed in an expedient manner reducing the amount of data e.g. used for a later alignment process speeding up the processing time and also improving the data quality.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas sampling device (100) for collecting gas samples from a patient or other gas sources such as industrial processes. The gas sampling device has a flow controller (114) and a flow sensor (112) for controlling a gasflow from the gas source created by a gas pump (113). The gas flow is pulled through an associated absorbent tube (180) located up-stream relative to the flow sensor and pump.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for obtaining information from an amplification curve of a target nucleic acid sequence or sequences by defining at least one model function that describes the amplification curve and that contains at least one parameter that is related to a physical quantity that influences the signals recorded, fitting said model function to the amplification curve, and obtaining information with respect to said physical quantity by identifying the value of said parameter that results in the best fit of the model function.