Asthma diagnosis and analysis of sound in pulmonary systems

哮喘是一种导致呼吸困难的疾病，在极端情况下可能致命。这种疾病非常常见，影响15-20%的人口。虽然其确切原因尚不清楚，但它可能是由过敏，感染和刺激物引起的，例如，吸烟、花粉等。目前还没有治疗哮喘的方法;现有的治疗方法包括控制症状和避免刺激物。拟议的研究重点是开发诊断试验，以确定哮喘发作的发生，并有助于正确的预防性药物治疗。正确的时间决定了轻微哮喘事件和需要住院治疗的严重哮喘事件之间的差异。对于年龄太小无法交流的儿童，客观测试的可用性尤其重要。建议的测试基于听肺音和寻找即将到来的呼吸困难的声音特征。所要求的设备将用于开发识别哮喘声音特征所需的知识。

Asthma is a disease resulting in difficulties in breathing that can be fatal under extreme circumstances. This disease is extremely common, affecting 15-20% of population. While its exact cause is not known, it can be brought on by allergies, infections and irritants, e.g., smoke, pollen, etc. There is no known cure for asthma; the existing treatments consist of managements of its symptoms and avoidance of irritants.The proposed research is focused on the development of diagnostic test that may permit determination of the onset of asthma attack and would assist in correct timing of the delivery of preventive medication. The correct timing makes a difference between a minor asthma event and a major one requiring hospitalization. Availability of an objective test is especially important in the case of children too young to communicate.The proposed test is based on the listening to the pulmonary sounds and the search for the sound signature of the oncoming breathing difficulties. The requested equipment will be used to develop knowledge required to identify the asthma sound signature.