AUTOMATED AND OBJECTIVE SYMPTOM SEVERITY SCORE

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and a method for determining a severity of a respiratory disease of a patient. The patient is instructed by a system to recite a phrase. The system receives the phrase recited by the patient as acoustic signal and analyzes the acoustic signal with respect to a severity of a respiratory disease. The result of the analysis is provided, which is indicative for the severity of the respiratory disease of the patient.

Claims

1. A system for determining a severity of a respiratory disease of a patient, the system comprising: a user interface, wherein the user interface is configured for providing an instruction for reciting a phrase to the patient and wherein the user interface is configured for providing an instruction for performing a physical action to the patient; a receiving device configured for receiving an acoustic signal of the patient; a measurement unit configured for detecting a movement of the patient; an analyzing device, wherein the analyzing device is configured for analyzing the received acoustic signal with respect to the severity of the respiratory disease and wherein the analyzing device is configured for analyzing the detected movement of the patient with respect to the physical action instructed by the user interface, and wherein the analyzing device is configured for providing a result of the analysis of the received acoustic signal, which is indicative for the severity of the respiratory disease of the patient, wherein the analyzing device is further configured for determining whether the movement of the patient corresponds to the physical action instructed by the user interface, and the user interface is configured for instructing the patient to recite the phrase in case the detected movement of the patient corresponds to the physical action instructed by the user interface, and/or the user interface is configured for repeating the instruction to the patient in case the detected movement of the patient does not correspond to the physical action instructed by the user interface.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the respiratory disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the received acoustic signal of the patient is the voice of the patient, and wherein the analyzing device is configured for analyzing the received acoustic signal with respect to the recited phrase instructed by the user interface.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing device is configured for analyzing the received acoustic signal of the patient with respect to at least one of: breathing, shortness of breath, wheezing, breathing pitch, frequency of coughs, mood, well-being, voice pitch, flu or infection status, voice timbre, voice amplitude, and combinations thereof, therefrom deriving the severity of the respiratory disease of the patient.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing device is configured for analyzing the received acoustic signal with respect to the severity of the respiratory disease based on a comparison of the received acoustic signal with data derived from a plurality of patients.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is a communication device, like, for example, a telephone, a smartphone, a tablet, a smart watch, or smart glasses.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the measurement unit comprises an inertial measurement unit comprising an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and/or a barometric sensor, and/or wherein the measurement unit comprises a camera.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the physical action instructed by the user interface is a sit-to-stand test, a forced expiratory maneuver, a timed get up and go movement, and/or a Valsalva maneuver.

9. A method for determining a physical condition of a patient, the method comprising the steps of: providing an instruction for performing a physical action to the patient, detecting a movement of the patient, analyzing the detected movement of the patient with respect to the physical action, determining whether the movement of the patient corresponds to the physical action, repeating the instruction to the patient in case the detected movement of the patient does not correspond to the physical action, providing an instruction for reciting a phrase to the patient in case the detected movement of the patient corresponds to the physical action, receiving an acoustic signal of the patient, analyzing the received acoustic signal with respect to the physical condition, and providing a result of the analysis of the received acoustic signal, which is indicative for the physical condition of the patient.

10. A computer program element, which, when executed on a processing unit, instructs the processing unit to perform the method according to claim 9.

11. A processing unit configured for executing the computer program element according to claim 10.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a schematic set-up of a system for determining a severity of a respiratory disease of a patient according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a schematic set-up of a system for determining a severity of a respiratory disease of a patient according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0044] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a method for determining a severity of a respiratory disease of a patient.

[0045] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a method for determining a severity of a respiratory disease of a patient according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a schematic set-up of a system 100 for determining a severity of a respiratory disease of a patient 140 according to a first embodiment of the invention. A user interface 110 instructs the patient 140 to recite a phrase 151. An acoustic signal 161 of the patient 140, which can be the voice of the patient 140 reciting the phrase 151 is received by the receiving device 120. An analyzing device 130 analyzes the acoustic signal with respect to a respiratory disease of the patient. A result 170 of the analysis is provided. The result 170 can be provided to the patient 140 and/or to a care person or physician of the patient 140. A processing unit 200 can be communicationally connected to the user interface 110, the receiving device 120 and the analyzing device 130.

[0047] FIG. 2 shows a schematic set-up of a system 100 for determining a severity of a respiratory disease of a patient 140 according to a second embodiment of the invention. The user interface 110 is configured to provide an instruction to the patient 140 to perform a physical action 152, and to provide an instruction to the patient to recite a phrase 151. The patient 140 can perform a movement 162, which can correspond to the physical action 152. A measurement unit 180 is configured for detecting the movement 162 of the patient 140. The measurement unit 180 can comprise an inertial measurement unit 181 and/or a camera 182. An acoustic signal 161 of the patient 140, which can be the voice of the patient 140 reciting the phrase 151 is received by the receiving device 120. The analyzing device 130 analyses the detected movement 162 with respect to the instructed physical action 152. The analyzing device 130 analyses the acoustic signal 161 with respect to a respiratory disease of the patient 140. The analysis of the acoustic signal 161 may only be performed in case the detected movement 162 corresponds to the instructed physical action 152. A result 170 of the analysis is provided. The result can be provided to the patient 140 and/or to a care person or physician of the patient 140. A processing unit 200 can be communicationally connected to the user interface 110, the receiving device 120, the measurement unit 180, and the analyzing device 130.

[0048] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a method for determining a severity of a respiratory disease of a patient 140. The method comprises a first step of providing an instruction for reciting a phrase 151 to the patient 140. This step is followed by the second step of receiving an acoustic signal 161 of the patient 140. The third step comprises analyzing the received acoustic signal 161 with respect to the severity of the respiratory disease. The fourth step comprises providing a result of the analysis of the received acoustic signal 161, which is indicative for the severity of the respiratory disease of the patient 140.

[0049] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a method for determining a severity of a respiratory disease of a patient 140 according to an embodiment of the invention. This embodiment of the invention comprises compared to the method shown in FIG. 3 three additional steps, which can be preferably performed before the first step. However, also a different order of the steps can be possible. These three additional steps are providing an instruction for performing a physical action 152 to the patient 140, detecting a movement 162 of the patient 140, and analyzing the detected movement 162 of the patient 140 with respect to the physical action 152.

[0050] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing a claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the dependent claims.

[0051] In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are re-cited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.