METHOD OF MONITORING RESPIRATION
A system and method for monitoring respiration of a user, comprising: a respiration sensing module including a sensor configured to detect a set of respiration signals of the user based upon movement resulting from the user's respiration; a supplementary sensing module comprising an accelerometer and configured to detect a set of supplemental signals from the user; an electronics subsystem comprising a power module configured to power the system and a signal processing module configured to condition the set of respiration signals and the set of supplemental signals; a housing configured to facilitate coupling of the respiration sensing module and the supplementary sensing module to the user; and a data link coupled to the electronics subsystem through the housing and configured to transmit data generated from the set of respiration signals and the set of supplemental signals, thereby facilitating monitoring of the user's respiration.
1 . A method of monitoring respiration, comprising the steps of:
providing a respiration monitor having a first side and a second side, the second side having a clip or a strap;
attaching the second side to an inside surface of a garment using the clip or the strap; and
wearing the garment such that the first side of the respiration monitor is held in place facing the wearer and the monitor collects data indicative of respiration characteristics of the wearer.
2 . A method of monitoring respiration as in claim 1 , further comprising the step of processing the data to indicate conditions associated with a medical condition.
3 . A method of monitoring respiration as in claim 1 , comprising processing the data to indicate conditions associated with the presence of apnea.
4 . A method of monitoring respiration as in claim 1 , comprising processing the data to indicate conditions associated with the presence of emphysema.
5 . A method of monitoring respiration as in claim 1 , wherein the providing step comprises providing a monitor having a housing having a first side configured to contact the wearer's skin and a second side configured to couple to the wearer's clothing.
6 . A method of monitoring respiration as in claim 5 , wherein the attaching step comprises attaching the second side to an inside surface of the wearer's clothing to hold the first side against the wearer.
7 . A method of monitoring respiration as in claim 6 , wherein the attaching step comprises attaching the second side to an inside surface of a bra.
8 . A method of monitoring respiration as in claim 1 , comprising collecting force data responsive to the wearer's respiration.
9 . A method of monitoring respiration as in claim 8 , comprising collecting data relating to the flow of current between two conductive plates.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein force data is indicative of a change in capacitance due to a force caused by the wearer's respiration.
11 . A method of monitoring respiration as in claim 1 , further comprising the step of exporting data from the monitor.
12 . A method of monitoring respiration as in claim 11 , comprising the step of wirelessly exporting data from the monitor.
13 . A method of monitoring respiration, comprising the steps of:
providing a respiration monitor having a first side and a second side;
attaching the second side to an inside surface of a garment using a clip; and
wearing the garment such that the first side of the respiration monitor is held in place against the wearer and collects data indicative of respiration characteristics of the wearer.
14 . A method of monitoring respiration as in claim 13 , wherein the collecting data step comprises collecting force data.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein force data comprises change in capacitance due to a force caused by the wearer's respiration.
16 . A method of monitoring respiration as in claim 14 , additionally comprising the step of collecting accelerometer data.
17 . A method of monitoring respiration as in claim 14 , additionally comprising the step of collecting GPS data.