A system for conducting inhalation studies includes an inhalation exposure chamber and an aerosol delivery line connected to the inhalation exposure chamber. The aerosol delivery line is configured to produce a bi-directional and symmetrical presentation of aerosol to the inhalation exposure chamber. A laminar flow element is configured to create an ante-chamber where complete and turbulent mixing of the aerosol occurs. A radial exhaust and the laminar flow element enable laminar flow of the aerosol through the inhalation exposure chamber.

A breathing system includes a facepiece and a regulator to deliver breathing gas to the facepiece. The regulator includes a sensor system including at least one sensor responsive to respiration of a user. The breathing system further includes a processor system in operative connection with the at least one sensor, a memory system in operative connection with the processor system and at least one algorithm stored in the memory system and executable by the processor system. The at least one algorithm is adapted, configured or programmed to determine at least one of a rate of respiration and a respiration volume from data from the at least one sensor. The algorithm is further adapted, configured or programmed to relate at least one of the rate of respiration and the respiration volume to a physiological state of the user.

A breathing system includes a facepiece and a regulator to deliver breathing gas to the facepiece. The regulator includes a sensor system including at least one sensor responsive to respiration of a user. The breathing system further includes a processor system in operative connection with the at least one sensor, a memory system in operative connection with the processor system and at least one algorithm stored in the memory system and executable by the processor system. The at least one algorithm is adapted, configured or programmed to determine at least one of a rate of respiration and a respiration volume from data from the at least one sensor. The algorithm is further adapted, configured or programmed to relate at least one of the rate of respiration and the respiration volume to a physiological state of the user.

A system for monitoring the respiratory activity of a subject, which comprises one or more signal generating elements being kinematic or light emitting elements, applied to the thorax of a subject, for generating signals that are indicative of movement of the thorax of the subject; a receiver for receiving the generated signals during breathing motion of the subject; and one or more computing devices in data communication with the receiver, for analyzing the breathing motion. The more computing device is operable to calculate, in response to the received generated signals, the magnitude of a maximum displacement in 3D space of the one or more signal generating elements during a cycle of the breathing motion; and to calculate the magnitude of a current displacement in 3D space of the one or more signal generating elements during the breathing motion with respect to a reference tidal volume associated with the maximum displacement in 3D space.

A system for monitoring the respiratory activity of a subject, which comprises one or more signal generating elements being kinematic or light emitting elements, applied to the thorax of a subject, for generating signals that are indicative of movement of the thorax of the subject; a receiver for receiving the generated signals during breathing motion of the subject; and one or more computing devices in data communication with the receiver, for analyzing the breathing motion. The more computing device is operable to calculate, in response to the received generated signals, the magnitude of a maximum displacement in 3D space of the one or more signal generating elements during a cycle of the breathing motion; and to calculate the magnitude of a current displacement in 3D space of the one or more signal generating elements during the breathing motion with respect to a reference tidal volume associated with the maximum displacement in 3D space.

The methods and apparatuses presented herein determine and/or improve the quality of one or more physiological assessment parameters, e.g., response-recovery rate, based on biometric signal(s) and/or motion signal(s) respectively output by one or more biometric and/or motion sensors. The disclosed methods and apparatuses also estimate a user's stride length based on a motion signal and a determined type of user motion, e.g., walking or running. The speed of the user may then be estimated based on the estimated stride length.

A system and method configured to control pressure during enhanced cough flow of a subject are provided. A pressure regulator is operated such that during an individual exhalation of the subject, the pressure regulator is toggled between a first mode in which a subject interface is closed such that substantially no gas is communicated with the airway of the subject there through and a second mode in which the subject interface is opened to cause a series of exsufflation events for the individual exhalation of the subject. The pressure relief valve is associated with the subject interface and configured to open and release gas out of the subject interface, responsive to pressure within the subject interface exceeding a predetermined threshold value so as to maintain the pressure within the subject interface within a predetermined pressure range during the enhanced cough flow.

A system and method configured to control pressure during enhanced cough flow of a subject are provided. A pressure regulator is operated such that during an individual exhalation of the subject, the pressure regulator is toggled between a first mode in which a subject interface is closed such that substantially no gas is communicated with the airway of the subject there through and a second mode in which the subject interface is opened to cause a series of exsufflation events for the individual exhalation of the subject. The pressure relief valve is associated with the subject interface and configured to open and release gas out of the subject interface, responsive to pressure within the subject interface exceeding a predetermined threshold value so as to maintain the pressure within the subject interface within a predetermined pressure range during the enhanced cough flow.

The present disclosure discloses a method and apparatus for testing vital capacity. The method comprises: measuring a static pressure P.sub.0 of a pressure hole inner cavity of a mobile device; wherein the pressure hole is communicated with the exterior and is purposely disposed on the mobile device or is an already-designed opening; obtaining an air pressure P(t) at each moment by blowing air towards the pressure hole; obtaining an air flow speed v(t) corresponding to each moment according to a correspondence relation formula between the air flow speed v(t) and a pressure differential P(t)−P.sub.0; and obtaining vital capacity Vc of the subject according to a correspondence relationship between a measurement time t and the air flow speed v(t). The technical solution obtains the vital capacity of the subject according to the correspondence relationship between the air flow speed and the measurement time, can effectively improve the vital capacity measurement precision, does not cause damages to related components of the testing apparatus, and is completely different from the solution of using a microphone to measure the vital capacity in the prior art.

The present disclosure discloses a method and apparatus for testing vital capacity. The method comprises: measuring a static pressure P.sub.0 of a pressure hole inner cavity of a mobile device; wherein the pressure hole is communicated with the exterior and is purposely disposed on the mobile device or is an already-designed opening; obtaining an air pressure P(t) at each moment by blowing air towards the pressure hole; obtaining an air flow speed v(t) corresponding to each moment according to a correspondence relation formula between the air flow speed v(t) and a pressure differential P(t)−P.sub.0; and obtaining vital capacity Vc of the subject according to a correspondence relationship between a measurement time t and the air flow speed v(t). The technical solution obtains the vital capacity of the subject according to the correspondence relationship between the air flow speed and the measurement time, can effectively improve the vital capacity measurement precision, does not cause damages to related components of the testing apparatus, and is completely different from the solution of using a microphone to measure the vital capacity in the prior art.