Breath volume monitoring systems and methods

1 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions, that when executed by one or more processors, carry out operations comprising:

receiving raw sensor data from a monitoring device worn by a user during a monitoring session, the raw sensor data corresponding to girth measurements relating to a torso of the user;

averaging the raw sensor data over specified periods of time to obtain averaged sensor samples;

determining the beginning of each of a plurality of breath cycles and associating each beginning of a breath cycle with a corresponding timestamp, wherein the beginning of a breath cycle is determined when an averaged sensor sample increases from a preceding identified trough in the averaged sensor samples;

determining the end of each the plurality of breath cycles and associating each end of a breath cycle with a corresponding timestamp, wherein the end of a given breath cycle is determined when an averaged sensor sample is at least one of (i) less than an averaged sensor sample corresponding to the beginning of the given breath cycle or (ii) less than a maximum averaged sensor sample corresponding to the given breath cycle by at least a specified value;

for each breath cycle:

determining a trough value of the breath cycle as corresponding to a lowest value of the raw sensor data between the timestamps associated with the beginning and end of the breath cycle, and associating the trough value with a corresponding timestamp; and

determining a peak value of the breath cycle as corresponding to a highest value of the raw sensor data between the timestamps associated with the beginning and end of the breath cycle, and associating the peak value with a corresponding timestamp;

plotting each breath cycle on a vector graph as a breath vector, the vector graph having a first axis representing time and a second axis corresponding to breath volume, wherein for a given breath cycle, the starting point of the corresponding breath vector corresponds to the trough value of the given breath cycle and is plotted at a time corresponding to the timestamp associated with the trough value of the given breath cycle, and the end point of the corresponding breath vector corresponds to the peak value of the given breath cycle and is plotted at a time corresponding to the timestamp associated with the peak value of the given breath cycle;

receiving positional data from the monitoring device corresponding to the monitoring session;

determining a predominant postural position of the user at various times during the monitoring session based on the positional data; and

plotting the determined predominant postural positions on a posture graph, the posture graph having a first axis representing time and a second axis corresponding to postural position;

wherein:

plotting each breath cycle on a vector graph as a breath vector comprises displaying the vector graph in a plurality of rows, each row corresponding to a respective time period; and

plotting the determined predominant postural positions on a posture graph comprises displaying the posture graph with its first axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis of the vector graph, and aligning the posture graph with the vector graph such that for each row of the vector graph, that row is aligned with a portion of the posture graph corresponding to the respective time period of that row.

2 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein plotting each breath cycle on a vector graph as a breath vector further comprises connecting the end point of each breath vector with the starting point of an immediately subsequent breath vector, if there is one.

3 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions carry out further operations comprising:

determining respiratory rate of the user at various times during the monitoring session; and

plotting the respiratory rates on a respiratory rate graph, the respiratory rate graph having a first axis representing time and a second axis corresponding to respiratory rate.

4 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 3 , wherein:

plotting the respiratory rates on a respiratory rate graph comprises displaying the respiratory rate graph with its first axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis of the vector graph.

5 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions, that when executed by one or more processors, carry out operations comprising:

receiving raw sensor data from a monitoring device worn by a user during a monitoring session, the raw sensor data corresponding to girth measurements relating to a torso of the user;

averaging the raw sensor data over specified periods of time to obtain averaged sensor samples;

determining the beginning of each of a plurality of breath cycles and associating each beginning of a breath cycle with a corresponding timestamp, wherein the beginning of a breath cycle is determined when an averaged sensor sample increases from a preceding identified trough in the averaged sensor samples;

determining the end of each the plurality of breath cycles and associating each end of a breath cycle with a corresponding timestamp, wherein the end of a given breath cycle is determined when an averaged sensor sample is at least one of (i) less than an averaged sensor sample corresponding to the beginning of the given breath cycle or (ii) less than a maximum averaged sensor sample corresponding to the given breath cycle by at least a specified value;

for each breath cycle:

determining a trough value of the breath cycle as corresponding to a lowest value of the raw sensor data between the timestamps associated with the beginning and end of the breath cycle, and associating the trough value with a corresponding timestamp; and

determining a peak value of the breath cycle as corresponding to a highest value of the raw sensor data between the timestamps associated with the beginning and end of the breath cycle, and associating the peak value with a corresponding timestamp;

plotting each breath cycle on a vector graph as a breath vector, the vector graph having a first axis representing time and a second axis corresponding to breath volume, wherein for a given breath cycle, the starting point of the corresponding breath vector corresponds to the trough value of the given breath cycle and is plotted at a time corresponding to the timestamp associated with the trough value of the given breath cycle, and the end point of the corresponding breath vector corresponds to the peak value of the given breath cycle and is plotted at a time corresponding to the timestamp associated with the peak value of the given breath cycle; and

determining a chaos index for each of one or more breath cycles, wherein determining a chaos index for a given breath cycle comprises:

determining the length of a curve (Lraw) passing through the raw sensor data between the timestamps associated with the beginning and end of the given breath cycle;

summing the length of the breath vector corresponding to the given breath cycle and the length of an exhalation vector that starts at the end point of the breath vector corresponding to the given breath cycle and ends at the starting point of the breath vector corresponding to an immediately subsequent breath cycle to determine a total vector length (Lvector); and

determining the ratio of Lraw to Lvector.

6 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 5 , wherein plotting each breath cycle on a vector graph as a breath vector further comprises connecting the end point of each breath vector with the starting point of an immediately subsequent breath vector, if there is one.

7 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 5 , wherein the instructions carry out further operations comprising:

receiving positional data from the monitoring device corresponding to the monitoring session;

determining a predominant postural position of the user at various times during the monitoring session based on the positional data; and

plotting the determined predominant postural positions on a posture graph, the posture graph having a first axis representing time and a second axis corresponding to postural position.

8 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein:

plotting each breath cycle on a vector graph as a breath vector comprises displaying the vector graph in a plurality of rows; and

plotting the determined predominant postural positions on a posture graph comprises displaying the posture graph with its first axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis of the vector graph.

9 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 5 , wherein the instructions carry out further operations comprising:

determining respiratory rate of the user at various times during the monitoring session; and

plotting the respiratory rates on a respiratory rate graph, the respiratory rate graph having a first axis representing time and a second axis corresponding to respiratory rate.

10 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein:

plotting each breath cycle on a vector graph as a breath vector comprises displaying the vector graph in a plurality of rows; and

plotting the respiratory rates on a respiratory rate graph comprises displaying the respiratory rate graph with its first axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis of the vector graph.

11 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions, that when executed by one or more processors, carry out operations comprising:

receiving raw sensor data from a monitoring device worn by a user during a monitoring session, the raw sensor data corresponding to girth measurements relating to a torso of the user;

averaging the raw sensor data over specified periods of time to obtain averaged sensor samples;

determining the beginning of each of a plurality of breath cycles and associating each beginning of a breath cycle with a corresponding timestamp, wherein the beginning of a breath cycle is determined when an averaged sensor sample increases from a preceding identified trough in the averaged sensor samples;

determining the end of each the plurality of breath cycles and associating each end of a breath cycle with a corresponding timestamp, wherein the end of a given breath cycle is determined when an averaged sensor sample is at least one of (i) less than an averaged sensor sample corresponding to the beginning of the given breath cycle or (ii) less than a maximum averaged sensor sample corresponding to the given breath cycle by at least a specified value;

for each breath cycle:

determining a trough value of the breath cycle as corresponding to a lowest value of the raw sensor data between the timestamps associated with the beginning and end of the breath cycle, and associating the trough value with a corresponding timestamp; and

determining a peak value of the breath cycle as corresponding to a highest value of the raw sensor data between the timestamps associated with the beginning and end of the breath cycle, and associating the peak value with a corresponding timestamp;

plotting each breath cycle on a vector graph as a breath vector, the vector graph having a first axis representing time and a second axis corresponding to breath volume, wherein for a given breath cycle, the starting point of the corresponding breath vector corresponds to the trough value of the given breath cycle and is plotted at a time corresponding to the timestamp associated with the trough value of the given breath cycle, and the end point of the corresponding breath vector corresponds to the peak value of the given breath cycle and is plotted at a time corresponding to the timestamp associated with the peak value of the given breath cycle;

determining respiratory rate of the user at various times during the monitoring session; and

plotting the respiratory rates on a respiratory rate graph, the respiratory rate graph having a first axis representing time and a second axis corresponding to respiratory rate

wherein:

plotting each breath cycle on a vector graph as a breath vector comprises displaying the vector graph in a plurality of rows, each row corresponding to a respective time period; and

plotting the respiratory rates on a respiratory rate graph comprises displaying the respiratory rate graph with its first axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis of the vector graph, and aligning the respiratory rate graph with the vector graph such that for each row of the vector graph, that row is aligned with a portion of the respiratory rate graph corresponding to the respective time period of that row.

12 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein plotting each breath cycle on a vector graph as a breath vector further comprises connecting the end point of each breath vector with the starting point of an immediately subsequent breath vector, if there is one.

13 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions carry out further operations comprising:

receiving positional data from the monitoring device corresponding to the monitoring session;

determining a predominant postural position of the user at various times during the monitoring session based on the positional data; and

plotting the determined predominant postural positions on a posture graph, the posture graph having a first axis representing time and a second axis corresponding to postural position.

14 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein:

plotting the determined predominant postural positions on a posture graph comprises displaying the posture graph with its first axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis of the vector graph.