Today the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that relates to systems and methods for analyzing the respiratory function of a user. More particularly, the present embodiments relate to systems and methods that use guided breathing to determine respiratory health parameters of a user.

In Apple's patent background they note that individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, or other airway related conditions may experience reduced air flow when breathing (also known as “airway obstruction”) that make it more difficult to breath. This airway obstruction may range in severity and may also change over time. Spirometry is a current breathing test that is often used to assess an individual's lung function and potential airway obstruction. During a spirometry test, an individual breathes into a measurement device, which measures air flow metrics that are used to determine an individual's lung function. The accuracy and/or repeatability of spirometry measurements depends on how closely an individual can follow the test protocol. Accordingly, in some cases, the accuracy and/or repeatability of spirometer measurements are less than desirable. Moreover, it may be difficult  for individuals to perform accurate and/or repeatable spirometer measurements without oversight from a clinician.

Apple's patent covers a system for measuring respiratory function of a user. The system can include an optical sensing unit that is configured to identify a torso of the user, detect movement of the torso with respect to the optical sensing unit, and output one or more signals indicative of the movement of the torso of the user.

The system can include an electronic device configured to provide a first request for the user to breathe at a first rate during a first time period and a second request for the user to breathe at a second rate during a second time period.

The system and methods can include measuring respiratory parameters of a user while the user breathes at multiple different breathing rates. Changes in the user's chest movement between the multiple different breathing rates can be used to determine one or more respiratory metrics for a user. For example, the system and methods can identify and/or characterize a level of breathing difficulty or airway obstruction of a user (cumulatively referred to herein as “respiratory obstruction” of a user).

In some variations, the system and methods can include measuring respiratory parameters of a user while the user performs a guided breathing exercise. The measurements taken during the guided breathing exercise can be analyzed to determine a respiratory metric for the user. In some cases, the system can include an electronic device that outputs instructions for performing the guided breathing exercise. The system can also include a sensor that measures movement of a user's torso during the guided breathing exercise. For example, the guided breathing exercise can include instructing a user to breathe at a first breathing rate and measuring the user's torso movement at that first breathing rate.

Apple's patent FIG. 1 below illustrates an example system #100 for determining respiratory function of the user (#101). The system can include a sensing unit #102 that is configured to measure one or more parameters of the user and an output unit #104 that is configured to provide outputs to the user.

In some cases, the sensing unit and the output unit can be integrated into an electronic device such as an iPhone or Apple Watch. The device #106 can be a wearable electronic device such as an Apple Watch. In other examples, the Apple Watch or other position sensing device such as a low-energy near-field tracking device can be coupled to a chest region of the user. For example, a coupling device such as a band, strap, adhesive-based device. This was further described in a patent report that we covered back in July. One of the patent figures from that patent is presented below.

Apple's patent FIG. 2 above illustrates an example process for determining respiratory function of a user; FIG. 3 shows an example chest movement analysis for determining respiratory parameters of a user.

Apple's patent FIG. 9 below illustrates an example process for determining a respiratory parameter based on differences between a user's actual breathing rate and a requested breathing rate.

Apple's patent FIGS. 10A-10E show examples of a user output from an electronic device that can be used to guide a user through a requested breathing profile; FIGS. 11A-11C show examples of a user output from an electronic device that can be used to guide a user through a requested breathing profile and provide user feedback.

To dive deeper into the details, review Apple's U.S. Patent Application 20230263424.