The present disclosure relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle. At least one breathing movement parameter describing an upper body movement of a user of the motor vehicle and a driving movement parameter are detected, using a sensor device of the motor vehicle, and a breathing signal and a driving movement signal that describe how the parameters are generated. A vitality parameter that describes breathing of the user is determined on the basis of the signals. An evaluation and control device of the motor vehicle ascertains a reference value range of stored, user-specific reference values of the vitality parameter, a determined value of the vitality parameter lying in said range, and, on the basis of the ascertained reference value range, a driver state index is determined. A control signal for operating a driver assistance device of the motor vehicle is generated as a function of the determined driver state index.

The present disclosure relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle. At least one breathing movement parameter describing an upper body movement of a user of the motor vehicle and a driving movement parameter are detected, using a sensor device of the motor vehicle, and a breathing signal and a driving movement signal that describe how the parameters are generated. A vitality parameter that describes breathing of the user is determined on the basis of the signals. An evaluation and control device of the motor vehicle ascertains a reference value range of stored, user-specific reference values of the vitality parameter, a determined value of the vitality parameter lying in said range, and, on the basis of the ascertained reference value range, a driver state index is determined. A control signal for operating a driver assistance device of the motor vehicle is generated as a function of the determined driver state index.

A method of monitoring respiration with an acoustic measurement device, the acoustic measurement device having a sound transducer, the sound transducer configured to measure sound associated with airflow through a mammalian trachea, the method includes correlating the measured sound into a measurement of tidal volume and generating at least one from the group consisting of an alert and an alarm if the measured tidal volume falls outside of a predetermined range.

A method of monitoring respiration with an acoustic measurement device, the acoustic measurement device having a sound transducer, the sound transducer configured to measure sound associated with airflow through a mammalian trachea, the method includes correlating the measured sound into a measurement of tidal volume and generating at least one from the group consisting of an alert and an alarm if the measured tidal volume falls outside of a predetermined range.

A method including sensing local accelerations or changes in sensor position, including orientation and displacement, with a local acceleration sensor mounted on a chest or abdomen of a patient, and calculating energy of polyphasic motions, based on sensed information of the local acceleration sensor and classifying severity of cardiac decompensation by calculating an excessive energy index (EEi) that compares excessive energy that appears in the polyphasic motions to energy required for inspiration at a basic respiratory rate.

A method including sensing local accelerations or changes in sensor position, including orientation and displacement, with a local acceleration sensor mounted on a chest or abdomen of a patient, and calculating energy of polyphasic motions, based on sensed information of the local acceleration sensor and classifying severity of cardiac decompensation by calculating an excessive energy index (EEi) that compares excessive energy that appears in the polyphasic motions to energy required for inspiration at a basic respiratory rate.

The invention provides a multi-sensor system that uses an algorithm based on adaptive filtering to monitor a patient's respiratory rate. The system features a first sensor selected from the following group: i) an impedance pneumography sensor featuring at least two electrodes and a processing circuit configured to measure an impedance pneumography signal; ii) an ECG sensor featuring at least two electrodes and an ECG processing circuit configured to measure an ECG signal; and iii) a PPG sensor featuring a light source, photodetector, and PPG processing circuit configured to measure a PPG signal. Each of these sensors measures a time-dependent signal which is sensitive to respiratory rate and, during operation, is processed to determine an initial respiratory rate value. An adaptive digital filter is determined from the initial respiratory rate. The system features a second sensor (e.g. a digital 3-axis accelerometer) that attaches to the patient's torso and measures an ACC signal indicating movement of the chest or abdomen that is also sensitive to respiratory rate. This second signal is processed with the adaptive filter to determine a final value for respiratory rate.

The invention provides a multi-sensor system that uses an algorithm based on adaptive filtering to monitor a patient's respiratory rate. The system features a first sensor selected from the following group: i) an impedance pneumography sensor featuring at least two electrodes and a processing circuit configured to measure an impedance pneumography signal; ii) an ECG sensor featuring at least two electrodes and an ECG processing circuit configured to measure an ECG signal; and iii) a PPG sensor featuring a light source, photodetector, and PPG processing circuit configured to measure a PPG signal. Each of these sensors measures a time-dependent signal which is sensitive to respiratory rate and, during operation, is processed to determine an initial respiratory rate value. An adaptive digital filter is determined from the initial respiratory rate. The system features a second sensor (e.g. a digital 3-axis accelerometer) that attaches to the patient's torso and measures an ACC signal indicating movement of the chest or abdomen that is also sensitive to respiratory rate. This second signal is processed with the adaptive filter to determine a final value for respiratory rate.

A non-contact self-injection-locked vital sign sensor is disclosed, which includes transmitting antenna, receiving antenna, self-injection-locked integrated circuit and demodulator. The self-injection-locked integrated circuit includes voltage-controlled oscillator, mixer, two amplifiers and harmonic-frequency power combiner. A frequency-multiplied signal is produced by amplifiers and harmonic-frequency power combiner then transmitted to a living body by transmitting antenna. A frequency-divided signal is produced by voltage-controlled oscillator and mixer then transmitted to voltage-controlled oscillator, then a frequency- and amplitude-modulated signal is produced by the voltage-controlled oscillator then transmitted to demodulator to produce a vital sign. So as to detect vital sign with a higher frequency to increase measurement sensitivity by using a low-cost integrated circuit process. A centrifugal compressor includes a volute base block, a volute cover plate, an impeller, a diffuser-adjusting assembly, a radial constraint assembly, an axial constraint assembly and a driving assembly.

A respiratory effort sensing apparatus (2) includes a flexible belt member (8) having a first buckle member (12A) and a second buckle member (12B), and a wearable respiratory monitoring recording device (6). The monitoring device includes: (i) a processing apparatus (34) structured to be selectively operable in a sleep mode and an active mode, and (ii) buckle detection circuitry (46) structured to detect that both buckle members are operatively coupled to the respiratory monitoring recording device and in response thereto generate a buckle detection signal. The processing apparatus is structured to, in response to receiving the buckle detection signal, automatically: (a) move from the sleep mode to the active mode, and (b) generate data indicative of a respiratory effort of a patient over time based on an effort-based signal generated by the respiratory effort sensing apparatus in response to changes in volume of a body part of the patient.