Smart Biofeedback Expectorant device for the treatment and
rehabilitation of lungs
Raid Al Baradie`1 and Anandh Sam Chandra Bose3
1
Associate Professor, Dept. of Medical Lab, CAMS, Majmaah University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
2
, Dept. of Biomedical, CAMS, Majmaah University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
ABSTRACT
The Biofeedback Expectorant is a device which is designed for patients
suffering from various lung disorders, associated with the production and secretion
of excessive quantities of mucus within the airways and help to loosen the mucous
so it can be coughed out of the lungs. Sometimes mucous in the lungs can become
thick and hard to clear from the airways. If this mucous stay in the airways, it could
block them, making it harder to breathe. Infection is also possible when mucous
stays trapped in the airways. When one breathes out through this device, it causes
the ball inside to bounce. This bouncing causes increased pressure inside the chest
and sends vibrations down through the airways. The combination of increased
pressure and vibrations helps the mucous move from the lungs into the airways
where it can be coughed out. Some patients can’t blow for a longer duration, so our
project is designed in such a way that the resistance of the blow is measured using a
strain gauge. If the value goes below the certain threshold limit the beep sound is
heard and a light indication is provided so that we can find whether the patient should
blow effectively. The Blowing time (how much time duration the patient is blowing)
was measured and display in the LCD screen. The forced expiratory flow
volume(FEV1) and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) was calculated that gives an
idea about the status of the lungs. The Mann Whitney U Test was conducted with α
= 0.05 for the sampled data, the results show that the data is statistically significant.
This device is small, portable, easy to use and has no side effects.
Introduction
In recent years, respiratory physiotherapy has been emerged with various new
techniques especially with respiratory therapy devices. One among them is Flutter
device which is known to mobilize and remove secretions. It is a positive expiratory
pressure device which was developed in Switzerland in 1970’s as an alternative to
chest physiotherapy techniques.
The respiratory therapy devices have emerged as an alternative as it provides
a greater level of independence to the patients with chronic lung disease. Standard
chest physiotherapy is time consuming for both hospitalized and non- hospitalized
patients with impaired airway clearance due to which patients refuse for
physiotherapy treatment [1]. Flutter is a device that is very portable to carry, cost
effective, less time consuming and can be used with ease and provides with effective
therapy in removing secretions.
Various studies have reported that average amount of sputum expectorated
with flutter was four times higher than the conventional chest physiotherapy. Flutter
is a positive expiratory pressure device which requires the patient to perform
expiration through the device, expiratory air creates vibration by oscillating the steel
ball present in between the cone and the cap. This device is made in such a way that
oscillations will increase the vibration which can easily mobilize the secretions, but
the patient must perform well and produce the required expiratory pressure to create
oscillation and enhance the airway clearance.
A new flutter device with a flexible adapter between flutter vibration
generator and mouthpiece to eliminate discomforts due to body position [2]. The
Flutter is superior in reducing pulmonary hyperinflation and improving the
mechanics of respiration among bronchiectasis, it is a device which can be easily
administered [3].
The flutter device with positive inclination optimizes expiratory pressure and
flow amplitude effects and mobilization of sputum comparatively higher than
acapella and shaker due to its PEP variable [4]. The airway clearance techniques are
intended to remove pulmonary secretions from peripheral airways to central airways.
Flutter valve is clinically proven to benefit the patients by removing the secretions
by providing PEP therapy [5].
Methodology
STRAIN
GAUGE
DRIVER ARM Processor LCD display
AUDIO
Fig. Block diagram of Biofeedback Flutter System
The biofeedback flutter system developed consists of many hardware
modules, which include: strain gauge, ARM processor LPC 2148, driver circuit,
audio unit and LCD display. The resistance of the sensor placed inside flutter
changes due to the applied pressure. If the pressure reaches the threshold value, the
driver unit activate the audio and visual feedback system. The blowing time and the
forced expiratory flow volume (FEV1) was calculated and displayed in the display
unit to get an idea about the status of the lungs. The oscillating frequency was
calculated and displayed using different colored LED’s (Green – 10 Hz, Orange –
16 Hz, Red – 19 Hz) and with Low, Medium and High pitch Audio. When the
frequency of oscillation reached between 10Hz to 15 Hz Green color and Low
pitched, if the frequency of oscillation reached between 16Hz to 18 Hz Orange color
and Medium pitched and if the frequency of oscillation reaches above 19 Hz Red
color and High pitched Unit activated. The User instructed to inhale deeply and
exhale slowly through the mouth piece. Two sets of 10 exhalations are performed
over 15 minutes.
The data from the sensing unit is transferred to the display unit using
Bluetooth. Further the same data related to the applied pressure can be transferred it
to any android system using wireless technology.
The pressure produced by the subjects while using this device and with
vacuum manometer guage were measured. The FEV1 and PEFR values for different
subjects were calculated and compared with normal values using Pulmonary
Function Test (Spirometry) and Peak Expiratory Flow Meter.
Results
The pressure produced by the subjects while using this device and with
vacuum manometer guage were measured. The FEV1 and PEFR values for different
subjects were calculated and compared with normal values using Pulmonary
Function Test (Spirometry) and Peak Expiratory Flow Meter. It was found that there
is a linear relationship between the FEV1 and PEFR values with the calculated FEV1
and PEFR coefficients.
Table 1. FEV1 and PEFR values
Sl.No. Height FEV1 Values FEV1Values PEFR Value PEFR Value
of (Expectorant (Spirometry) (Expectorant (Spirometry)
Subjects device) device) L/min
L/min
1 150 3.09 3.22 298 302
2 155 3.49 3.41 374 372
3 152 3.36 3.25 326 322
4 160 3.28 3.56 381 379
5 161 3.50 3.58 384 388
6 176 4.30 4.31 440 442
7 168 3.97 3.88 422 415
8 170 4.24 4.05 416 421
9 177 4.31 4.33 435 441
10 181 4.55 4.57 452 449
Conclusion
A smart biofeedback expectorant device has been developed for the patients
suffering from various lung disorders.
is mainly built up with ARM processor. The 797 VA computrace instrument
is used to measure electrochemical behavior of the enzyme coated platinum
electrode. The biosensor developed may be suitable for the cholesterol
measurement in human subjects.
The developed sensor is under trials. After taking reading from many samples
the sensor was calibrated to know the cholesterol concentration in the blood. This
project will pave a new way for additional electrochemical based, specific, cost
effective method for the determination of cholesterol in blood.
Future scope
The work described here can be extended to measure some other parameters
in the blood using amperometric biosensors very effectively. The developed
algorithm can be used to measure the thyroxine (T4),triiodothyronine (T3) and
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level in the blood to diagnosis known as
goiter. The changes in the current with different enzyme coated electrode with
different nano particles can be studied to calibrate the final device. Then the data
can be further processed and displayed in the display unit.
Acknowledgment
The Authors would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Khalid Bin Saad
Megrin, Rector of Majmaah University for his support. This research has been
financed by Majmaah University Stroke Research chair, Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia.
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