Devices and methods for monitoring physiologic parameters

Abstract

Devices and methods for monitoring physiologic parameters are described herein which may utilize a non-invasive respiratory monitor to detect minor variations in expiratory airflow pressure known as cardiogenic oscillations which are generated by changes in the pulmonary blood volume that correspond with the cardiac cycle. These cardiogenic oscillations are a direct indicator of cardiac function and may be used to correlate various physiologic parameters such as stroke volume, pulmonary artery pressure, etc.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus which is sized to be held by a subject for measuring one or more physiologic parameters of the subject, comprising:
 a mouthpiece having an ECG sensor, wherein the mouthpiece is sized to be enveloped by a mouth of the subject such that the ECG sensor contacts a lip of the subject when in use, and wherein the mouthpiece defines an airway lumen therethrough;   a controller in communication with the ECG sensor, wherein the controller is configured to measure one or more physiologic parameters of the subject via the ECG sensor and determine a health condition of the subject.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second sensor in communication with the controller. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the second sensor is configured to sense a pO2level of the subject. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the second sensor is configured to sense a temperature of the subject. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the second sensor is configured to sense a respiration rate of the subject. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the second sensor is configured to sense a heart rate of the subject. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the controller is configured to determine a heart rate variability of the subject. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the second sensor is configured to sense a blood pressure of the subject. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the second sensor is configured to sense a respiration pattern of the subject. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the second sensor is configured to sense a spirometry lung function of the subject. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising one or more additional sensors in communication with the controller, wherein the one or more additional sensors is configured to sense at least five physiologic parameters selected from the group consisting of pO2level, temperature, respiration rate, heart rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure, respiration pattern, and spirometry lung function. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising one or more additional sensors in communication with the controller, wherein the one or more additional sensors is configured to sense at least six physiologic parameters selected from the group consisting of pO2 level, temperature, respiration rate, heart rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure, respiration pattern, and spirometry lung function. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising one or more additional sensors in communication with the controller, wherein the one or more additional sensors is configured to sense at least seven physiologic parameters selected from the group consisting of pO2 level, temperature, respiration rate, heart rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure, respiration pattern, and spirometry lung function. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising one or more additional sensors in communication with the controller, wherein the one or more additional sensors is configured to sense physiologic parameters comprising pO2 level, temperature, respiration rate, heart rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure, respiration pattern, and spirometry lung function. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the controller is programmed to determine a sufficiency of the one or more physiologic parameters for determining the health condition and to further prompt the subject when the one or more physiologic parameters are inadequate for analysis. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the controller is programmed to prompt the subject to hold a breath for a period of time. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a microphone for detecting a respiratory sound of the subject, wherein the microphone is in communication with the controller. 
     
     
         18 . A method for measuring one or more physiologic parameters of a subject, comprising:
 sensing one or more physiologic parameters from an ECG sensor positioned on a mouthpiece such that the ECG sensor contacts the subject when the mouthpiece is enveloped by a mouth of the subject, and wherein the mouthpiece defines an airway lumen therethrough;   receiving the one or more physiologic parameters via a controller in communication with the ECG sensor; and   determining a health condition of the subject based on the one or more physiologic parameters and via the controller.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising sensing a second physiologic parameter via a second sensor in communication with the controller. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein sensing the second physiologic parameter comprises sensing a pO2 level of the subject. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein sensing the second physiologic parameter comprises sensing a temperature of the subject. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein sensing the second physiologic parameter comprises sensing a respiration rate of the subject. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  wherein sensing the second physiologic parameter comprises sensing a heart rate of the subject. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20  wherein sensing the second physiologic parameter comprises determining a heart rate variability of the subject. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19  wherein sensing the second physiologic parameter comprises sensing a blood pressure of the subject. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19  wherein sensing the second physiologic parameter comprises sensing a respiration pattern of the subject. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19  wherein sensing the second physiologic parameter comprises sensing a spirometry lung function of the subject. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising sensing one or more additional physiologic parameters via one or more additional sensors in communication with the controller, wherein the one or more additional sensor is configured to sense at least five physiologic parameters selected from the group consisting of pO2 level, temperature, respiration rate, heart rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure, respiration pattern, and spirometry lung function. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising sensing one or more additional physiologic parameters via one or more additional sensors in communication with the controller, wherein the one or more additional sensor is configured to sense at least six physiologic parameters selected from the group consisting of pO2 level, temperature, respiration rate, heart rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure, respiration pattern, and spirometry lung function. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising sensing one or more additional physiologic parameters via one or more additional sensors in communication with the controller, wherein the one or more additional sensor is configured to sense at least seven physiologic parameters selected from the group consisting of pO2 level, temperature, respiration rate, heart rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure, respiration pattern, and spirometry lung function. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising sensing one or more additional physiologic parameters via one or more additional sensors in communication with the controller, wherein the one or more additional sensor is configured to sense physiologic parameters comprising pO2 level, temperature, respiration rate, heart rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure, respiration pattern, and spirometry lung function. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 18  wherein determining the health condition of the subject comprises determining a sufficiency of the one or more physiologic parameters for determining the health condition and prompting the subject when the one or more physiologic parameters are inadequate for analysis. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising prompting the subject to hold a breath for a period of time. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising detecting a respiratory sound of the subject via a microphone which is in communication with the controller.