Method for Providing Real-Time Information About the Cardiac and/or Respiratory Performance of an Individual, and Corresponding Device

Abstract

Described herein is a method for providing real-time information about the cardiac and/or respiratory performance of an individual, comprising the steps of: a) subjecting the individual to a cardiopulmonary stress test suitable for detecting, over time, a respiratory rate and other cardiac or respiratory parameters of the individual; b) determining respective characteristic curves of the individual, with the respiratory rate as dependent variable and one of the other cardiac or respiratory parameters as independent variable; c) detecting, through a wearable device, the current respiratory rate of the individual; d) determining, based on the current respiratory rate of the individual and the characteristic curves obtained at step b), the other current cardiac or respiratory parameters of the individual; e) providing real-time information about the cardiac and/or respiratory performance of the individual on the basis of the other current cardiac or respiratory parameters determined at step d).

Claims

1. A method for providing real-time information about the cardiac and/or respiratory performance of an individual, comprising the steps of: a) subjecting said individual to a cardiopulmonary stress test suitable for detecting, over time, a respiratory rate and other cardiac or respiratory parameters of said individual; b) determining respective characteristic curves of said individual, with said respiratory rate as dependent variable and one of said other cardiac or respiratory parameters as independent variable; c) detecting, through a wearable device, the current respiratory rate of said individual; d) determining, based on the current respiratory rate of said individual and said characteristic curves obtained at step b), the other current cardiac or respiratory parameters of said individual; e) providing real-time information about the cardiac and/or respiratory performance of said individual on the basis of the other current cardiac or respiratory parameters determined at step d).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said other cardiac or respiratory parameters comprise: current volume; maximum oxygen consumption; maximum carbon dioxide consumption; heart rate; end-expiratory partial oxygen pressure; end-expiratory partial carbon dioxide pressure.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said respective characteristic curves of said individual comprise second-degree or third-degree polynomial functions respectively obtained through a second-degree or third-degree polynomial fitting of a respective cardiac or respiratory parameter.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said information is made available on a device, in particular a smartwatch, a smartphone, a tablet, an iPad, said wearable device or a cloud.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said wearable device comprises a wearable garment, in particular a chest belt.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said chest belt measures said respiratory rate of the individual through means adapted to detect the extension of the material it is made of.

7. A method for providing real-time information about the cardiac and/or respiratory performance of an individual, comprising the steps of: a) subjecting a plurality of subjects to a cardiopulmonary stress test according to a predefined protocol, said cardiopulmonary stress test being adapted to detect, over time, a respiratory rate and other cardiac or respiratory parameters of said plurality of subjects; b) for each one of said subjects, determining respective characteristic curves, with said respiratory rate as dependent variable and one of said other cardiac or respiratory parameters as independent variable; c) detecting, through a wearable device, in particular a chest belt, a respiratory rate of said individual by subjecting him/her to a dynamic test, in particular requiring him/her to run on a treadmill or to pedal on a bicycle ergometer, in accordance with said predefined protocol; d) determining respective second characteristic curves of said individual, with said respiratory rate as dependent variable and one of said other cardiac or respiratory parameters as independent variable; e) identifying first characteristic curves of said individual, said first characteristic curves of said individual being, among all the characteristic curves of said subjects, those belonging to a subject which approximate most closely those of said individual; f) detecting, through said wearable device, the current respiratory rate of said individual; g) determining, based on the current respiratory rate of said individual and said first characteristic curves of said individual, the other current cardiac or respiratory parameters of said individual; h) providing real-time information about the cardiac and/or respiratory performance of said individual on the basis of the other current cardiac and/or respiratory parameters determined at step g).

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said predefined protocol envisages the detection of said respiratory rate starting from a speed of 8 km/h of a treadmill or a bicycle ergometer, whereon said dynamic test is carried out with a speed increment of 1 km/h per minute until physical exhaustion of the individual.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said characteristic curves of each one of said subjects are collected in a database.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said characteristic curves are classified on the basis of anthropometric data of the subjects, in particular sex, height, weight and age of the subject.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the identification of the first characteristic curves of said individual of step e) is accomplished by using statistical techniques, in particular the least residual or highest verisimilitude ones, or machine learning techniques, in particular the K-Means algorithm or neural networks.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein said other cardiac or respiratory parameters comprise: current volume; maximum oxygen consumption; maximum carbon dioxide consumption; heart rate; end-expiratory partial oxygen pressure; end-expiratory partial carbon dioxide pressure.

13. The method according to claim 7, wherein said respective first characteristic curves of said individual comprise second-degree or third-degree polynomial functions respectively obtained through a second-degree or third-degree polynomial fitting of a respective cardiac or respiratory parameter.

14. The method according to claim 7, wherein said information is made available on a device, in particular a smartwatch, a smartphone, a tablet, an iPad, said wearable device or a cloud.

15. The method according to claim 7, wherein said wearable device comprises a wearable garment, in particular a chest belt.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said chest belt measures said respiratory rate of the individual by detecting the extension of the material it is made of.

17. A device wearable by an individual, comprising: means for measuring the respiratory rate of said individual; power supply means, in particular a Li—Po battery; an integrated circuit, in particular a dedicated ASIC; a microcontroller; a data transceiving module, in particular of the wireless or bluetooth type; memory means adapted to implement characteristic curves of cardiac and/or respiratory parameters of said individual, said characteristic curves being obtained during the steps of: a) subjecting said individual to a cardiopulmonary stress test suitable for detecting, over time, a respiratory rate and other cardiac or respiratory parameters of said individual; and b) determining respective characteristic curves of said individual, with said respiratory rate as dependent variable and one of said other cardiac or respiratory parameters as independent variable; or, alternatively, during the steps of: a) subjecting a plurality of subjects to a cardiopulmonary stress test according to a predefined protocol, said cardiopulmonary stress test being adapted to detect, over time, a respiratory rate and other cardiac or respiratory parameters of said plurality of subjects; b) for each one of said subjects, determining respective characteristic curves, with said respiratory rate as dependent variable and one of said other cardiac or respiratory parameters as independent variable; c) detecting, through a wearable device, in particular a chest belt, a respiratory rate of said individual by subjecting him/her to a dynamic test, in particular requiring him/her to run on a treadmill or to pedal on a bicycle ergometer, in accordance with said predefined protocol; d) determining respective second characteristic curves of said individual, with said respiratory rate as dependent variable and one of said other cardiac or respiratory parameters as independent variable; and e) identifying first characteristic curves of said individual, said first characteristic curves of said individual being, among all the characteristic curves of said subjects, those belonging to a subject which approximate most closely those of said individual.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein said device comprises one or more of the following modules: a module for detecting GPS signals; a module adapted to detect the heart rate; a module adapted to filter the detected signal.

19. The device according to claim 17, wherein said device comprises a chest belt.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein said chest belt is adapted to measure the respiratory rate of said individual through means adapted to detect the extension of the material, in particular a fabric, it is made of.

21. A system for providing real-time information about the cardiac and/or respiratory performance of an individual, comprising a wearable garment, in particular a chest belt, adapted to transmit a signal indicative of the respiratory rate of said individual to a wearable device according to claim 17.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof as shown in the annexed drawings, which are supplied merely by way of non-limiting example, wherein:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of a method for providing real-time information about the cardiac and/or respiratory performance of an individual compared with personal data;

[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates a table showing an extract of values measured during a cardiopulmonary stress test;

[0033] FIGS. 3 and 4 show graphs comprising measured values and values obtained by means of a formula according to the present invention, concerning the ventilation and VO.sub.2 parameters, respectively;

[0034] FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a wearable garment implementing characteristic curves of cardiac and/or respiratory parameters according to the invention;

[0035] FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of a method for providing real-time information about the cardiac and/or respiratory performance of an individual compared with personal data of subjects who have already undergone a cardiopulmonary stress test.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a flow chart 100 of a method for providing real-time information about the cardiac and/or respiratory performance of an individual compared with personal data of the same individual formerly obtained.

[0037] At step 102, a subject starts a cardiopulmonary stress test in accordance with a given protocol, e.g., on a treadmill using a standard protocol (starting at 8 km/h and increasing the speed by 1 km/h per minute until physical exhaustion). Of course, the test may be carried out by using different means, e.g., a bicycle ergometer, and by following protocols other than said standard protocol.

[0038] The subject is connected to an electrocardiograph and, by means of a mouthpiece or a mask, to a breath detector that measures the air volumes taken in at each respiratory action, and to an analyzer that analyzes the gases (carbon dioxide and oxygen) that are exchanged at alveolus level. All the data collected during the exercise are processed by dedicated software, which provides a set of characteristic curves representing the individual adaptation to exercise in terms of ventilation and metabolism.

[0039] At step 104, a suitable apparatus known in the art directly measures a number of cardiac or respiratory parameters, an extract of which is shown by way of example in FIG. 2.

[0040] The parameters that are typically measured during a cardiopulmonary stress test are: [0041] “HH:MM”: time, measured in hours, minutes and seconds, elapsed from the start of [0042] the cardiopulmonary stress test; [0043] “KPH”: treadmill speed, expressed in Km/h; [0044] “VE”: ventilation, measured in 1/min; [0045] “FREQ. RESP”: respiratory rate, measured in apm (actions per minute); [0046] “Vt”: current volume, expressed in ml; [0047] “VO.sub.2”: maximum oxygen consumption, expressed in ml/kg/min; [0048] “VCO.sub.2”: maximum carbon dioxide consumption, expressed in ml/kg/min; [0049] “HR”: heart rate, expressed in bpm (beats per minute); [0050] “PetO.sub.2”: end-expiratory partial oxygen pressure, expressed in mmHg; [0051] “PetCO.sub.2”: end-expiratory partial carbon dioxide pressure, expressed in mmHg.

[0052] At step 106, the individual ends the cardiopulmonary stress test.

[0053] At step 108, these parameters are recorded into a database.

[0054] At step 110, by using the values entered into the database, one or more characteristic curves, or mathematical functions, are calculated which include only the respiratory rate as dependent variable and, as independent variables, ventilation, current volume, maximum oxygen consumption, maximum carbon dioxide consumption, end-expiratory partial oxygen pressure and end-expiratory partial carbon dioxide pressure.

[0055] Such functions are, preferably, second-degree polynomial functions obtained through a second-degree polynomial fitting of the measured values.

[0056] Such functions make it possible to obtain the subject's ventilatory and metabolic parameters starting from the subject's respiratory rate alone.

[0057] By way of example, ventilation VE can be obtained through the parameters a, b, c obtained from the respiratory rate FREQ.RESP alone, by applying the data obtained from the cardiopulmonary stress test to the formula:

VE=a.Math.(FREQ.RESP).sup.2+b.Math.(FREQ.RESP)+c  (1) [0058] where a, b, c are unknown parameters that characterize the characteristic curve of ventilation VE.

[0059] By so doing, a single ventilation value will be obtained for a given respiratory rate, such value representing a sort of mean ventilation value of all values detected in the subject during the cardiopulmonary stress test.

[0060] In another embodiment, such functions are, preferably, third-degree polynomial functions obtained through a third-degree polynomial fitting of the measured values.

[0061] By way of example, as shown in FIG. 3, ventilation VE can be obtained through the parameters a, b, c, d obtained from the respiratory rate FREQ.RESP, by applying the data obtained from the cardiopulmonary stress test to the formula:

VE=a.Math.(FREQ.RESP).sup.3+b.Math.(FREQ.RESP).sup.2+c.Math.(FREQ.RESP)+d  (2)

[0062] In the example shown herein, the curve 300 showing an increasing trend with moderate peaks is the curve measured during the cardiopulmonary stress test, while the curve 302 showing more pronounced peaks is the one approximated by the cubic function represented in the Figure by using the formula (2).

[0063] Still by way of example, as shown in FIG. 4, the maximum oxygen consumption VO.sub.2 can be obtained through the parameters a, b, c, d obtained from the respiratory rate FREQ.RESP, by applying the data obtained from the cardiopulmonary stress test to the formula:

VO.sub.2=a.Math.(FREQ.RESP).sup.3+b.Math.(FREQ.RESP).sup.2+c.Math.(FREQ.RESP)+d  (3)

[0064] In the example shown herein, the curve 304 showing an increasing trend with moderate peaks is the curve measured during the cardiopulmonary stress test, while the curve 306 showing more pronounced peaks is the one approximated by the cubic function represented in the Figure by using the formula (3).

[0065] Referring back to FIG. 1, at step 112 the characteristic curves, or mathematical functions, obtained at step 110 are used in an algorithm, e.g., implemented in an electronic device like, for example, a wearable device such as a smartwatch or a smartphone, or a tablet, an iPad, or a wearable garment comprising memory means, or even in cloud, for monitoring in real time the respiratory parameters of the individual and comparing them with his/her personal data obtained during the cardiopulmonary stress test, and then providing physiological indications, recommending physical exercises, predicting performance levels, and so forth.

[0066] The electronic device generally comprises a display, and possibly a graphic interface, for providing visual indications to the user. It may also comprise audible signalling means for providing the user with other types of messages and/or alarms and/or indications.

[0067] With reference to FIG. 5, there is shown a block diagram of a wearable garment 150 according to the present invention.

[0068] In order to monitor in real time the athletic performance of a subject, in particular an athlete, he/she will have to wear the wearable garment 150 comprising means 152 for measuring at least his/her respiratory rate.

[0069] Preferably, the wearable device is a chest belt.

[0070] Even more preferably, the wearable device 150 is a chest belt that measures the subject's respiratory rate via means adapted to detect the extension of the material, e.g., a fabric, it is made of. Chest belts of this kind are known, for example, from patent documents no. CN204133468U, WO2018037855 and EP2578141.

[0071] The wearable garment 150 further comprises at least: [0072] power supply means 154, in particular a Li—Po battery; [0073] an integrated circuit 156, in particular a dedicated ASIC; [0074] a microcontroller 158; [0075] a data transceiving module 160, in particular of the wireless or bluetooth type; [0076] memory means 162, for implementing the characteristic curves, or mathematical formulas, obtained at step 110.

[0077] Typically, such characteristic curves are transmitted to the wearable garment 150 from the database via the data transceiving module 160.

[0078] The wearable device may further comprise one or more of the following modules: [0079] a module 164 for detecting GPS signals; [0080] a module 166 adapted to detect the heart rate; [0081] a module 168 adapted to filter the detected cardiac or respiratory signal.

[0082] By measuring only the respiratory rate via the wearable garment 150, the subject, in particular an athlete, will be able to monitor, via his/her heart rate, for example, ventilation and maximum oxygen consumption, as well as the evolution of his/her training path, observing in real time his/her improvements (or regressions) as a function of the trend of such current values.

[0083] For example, the effort being equal, the subject will be able to compare the values and define a strategy to improve a (ventilatory/metabolic or cardiac) quality and calibrate his/her work based on the accuracy bound to the ventilatory and metabolic datum, i.e., maximum oxygen consumption.

[0084] With reference to FIG. 6, there is shown a flow chart 200 of a method for providing real-time information about the cardiac and/or respiratory performance of an individual compared with personal data of subjects who have already undergone a cardiopulmonary stress test following the same steps 102, 104, 106, 108 and 110 illustrated herein with reference to the method of FIG. 1.

[0085] In this second embodiment, the database contains values derived from cardiopulmonary stress tests carried out by a plurality of subjects. For the purposes of the method of the invention, the larger the number of tests stored in the database, the greater the effectiveness of the method.

[0086] This second embodiment of the method according to the invention has been specially devised for non-professional and amateur athletes as well as simple sports enthusiasts.

[0087] At step 202, an individual who cannot or does not want to undergo a cardiopulmonary stress test wears a wearable device comprising means adapted to detect his/her respiratory rate. It is known, in fact, as already mentioned, that for the execution of a cardiopulmonary stress test it is necessary to employ costly equipment and qualified personnel.

[0088] At step 204, the individual, by using the same protocol illustrated at step 102, carries out a dynamic test by running on a treadmill or pedalling on a bicycle ergometer or other similar means. It is essential, for the proper application of this embodiment of the method, that the protocol followed by the individual is the same as that which was used by the subjects who underwent the cardiopulmonary stress test according to steps 102, 104, 106, 108 and 110, illustrated herein with reference to the method of FIG. 1. Therefore, if the protocol required, for instance, starting at 8 km/h and increasing the speed by 1 km/h per minute until physical exhaustion, the individual will have to replicate the same protocol during the stress test.

[0089] At step 206, the respiratory rate detected by the wearable device worn by the individual is stored into suitable memory means of the same device and/or communicated to an external recorder.

[0090] The equipment necessary for the stress test of steps 204-206 is advantageously minimal and not very expensive: as a matter of fact, a treadmill (or a bicycle ergometer) and a wearable device detecting the individual's respiratory rate will suffice. Therefore, the test can be carried out without an electrocardiograph, a mask with a mouthpiece, or qualified personnel. The test can even be carried out in a domestic environment, so long as the individual knows the protocol to be followed.

[0091] At step 208, the individual ends the motor activity envisaged by the protocol.

[0092] At step 210, the respiratory rate detected by the wearable device is transmitted to a cloud, where it is then compared with the values stored in the database, which contains the respiratory values of individuals who have carried out a cardiopulmonary stress test.

[0093] At step 212, the functions of a subject are identified, among those contained in the database, which approximate most closely the respiratory values of the individual who has carried out the test at step 202, possibly also taking into account anthropometric data of that subject, in particular sex, height, weight and age.

[0094] The functions can be chosen by using statistical techniques (e.g., the least residual or highest verisimilitude techniques) or machine learning techniques (e.g., the K-Means algorithm or neural networks).

[0095] At step 214, the curve obtained at step 212 is transmitted to the wearable garment 150 and used in an algorithm, e.g., implemented in an electronic device like, in particular a wearable device such as a smartwatch or a smartphone, or a tablet, an iPad, or even in cloud, for monitoring in real time the current respiratory and/or cardiac parameters of the individual and providing physiological indications, recommending physical exercises, predicting performance, and so forth.

[0096] Advantageously, therefore, the individual who has not undergone an expensive cardiopulmonary stress test will be able to benefit from accurate data of subjects who carried out the cardiopulmonary stress test, which is considered to be the gold standard.

[0097] The method for providing real-time information about the cardiac and/or respiratory performance of an individual, and the associated device, described herein by way of example may be subject to many possible variations without departing from the novelty spirit of the inventive idea; it is also clear that in the practical implementation of the invention the illustrated details may have different shapes or be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

[0098] For example, the invention also relates to a system comprising a wearable garment 150, in which the individual's characteristic curves are stored, and an electronic device, in particular a smartwatch, a smartphone, a tablet, an iPad or a cloud, which suitably communicates with such wearable garment 150 to provide real-time information about the cardiac and/or respiratory performance of the individual wearing the garment 150.

[0099] As an alternative, the system comprises a wearable garment that simply measures the respiratory rate of the individual and communicates with an electronic device worn by the user, in particular a smartwatch or a smartphone, in which the characteristic curves are stored.

[0100] It can therefore be easily understood that the present invention is not limited to a method for providing real-time information about the cardiac and/or respiratory performance of an individual and an associated device described herein by way of example, but may be subject to many modifications, improvements or replacements of equivalent parts and elements without departing from the novelty spirit of the inventive idea, as clearly specified in the following claims.