Overview (Need & Problem Statement)
Breathing mode, whether oral or nasal, holds significance in both performance sports and sleep quality. Nasal breathing is favored during endurance activities like distance running due to its efficiency in air filtration, humidification, and warming, which enhances oxygen exchange and reduces respiratory discomfort. Moreover, nasal breathing encourages better pacing control and endurance through diaphragmatic breathing. While oral breathing may be advantageous during high-intensity bursts of activity, the choice between nasal and oral breathing depends on individual factors such as fitness level and respiratory health.
Similarly, in sleep, nasal breathing plays a crucial role in maintaining optimal airflow, promoting efficient oxygen exchange, and reducing the risk of respiratory issues like snoring and sleep apnea. Conversely, chronic oral breathing during sleep can lead to various problems, including disruptions in sleep patterns and increased risk of respiratory infections and dental issues.
Therefore, having the ability to monitor and effect change in the breathing mode, whether oral or nasal, can contribute to overall respiratory health and well-being of individuals engaging in sport or health and wellness activities.
Our Innovation (Approach or Technology)
Our innovation addresses breathing mode monitoring using in-ear microphones that are commercially available. The technology uses wireless earbuds with in-ear microphones to capture and classify the sounds of different breathing modes, whether nasal or oral, during running. It applies frequency-based filtering, cycle segmentation, feature extraction, and machine learning classification to the in-ear audio stream to recognize four breathing modes, e.g., in nasal inhalation, nasal exhalation, oral inhalation, and oral exhalation. It also uses the out-ear microphone to detect the ambient noise level and applies a noise reduction technique based on the linear correlation between the in-ear and out-ear signals to obtain clean in-ear breathing sounds.
Benefits (Advantages)
Advantages of using in-ear microphones to detect breathing modes include:
Portability and lightweight: The in-ear microphones are portable, lightweight, and easy to incorporate into commercial wireless earbuds.
No additional hardware overhead: There is no additional hardware overhead and the solution can be easily incorporated into commercial products, resulting in high acceptance from runners.
Continuous and accurate monitoring: The method provides continuous and accurate monitoring of various gait types and breathing modes, which have not been investigated in existing inventions. The performance is consistent even under a range of challenging conditions, such as varying intensities of ambient noise, different ground surfaces, and a variety of shoe types.
Applications (Opportunities or Applications)
In-ear microphones offer a range of potential applications for monitoring breathing mode, whether oral or nasal. Here are several potential applications:
Fitness Tracking Devices: In-ear microphones can be integrated into fitness tracking devices such as smartwatches or fitness earbuds to monitor breathing patterns during exercise, including running, cycling, or gym workouts. This information can help users optimize their breathing technique for better performance and endurance.
Sports Performance Analysis: In-ear microphones can be employed in sports performance analysis to monitor breathing patterns during training sessions and competitions. Coaches and athletes can use this data to optimize breathing techniques for improved performance and recovery.
Sleep Tracking Devices: In-ear microphones can be utilized in sleep tracking devices to monitor breathing patterns during sleep. By analyzing breathing modes (oral or nasal) and patterns, these devices can provide feedback on sleep quality and potentially detect sleep disorders such as snoring or sleep apnea.
Biofeedback and Meditation Apps: In-ear microphones can be integrated into biofeedback and meditation applications to provide real-time feedback on breathing patterns. This can assist users in achieving deep breathing and relaxation techniques by monitoring whether they are breathing through the nose or mouth and providing guidance accordingly.
Overall, in-ear microphones offer versatile applications for monitoring breathing mode in various contexts, ranging from fitness tracking and sleep monitoring to stress management and medical monitoring. Their non-invasive nature and ability to provide real-time feedback make them valuable tools for optimizing respiratory health and performance
If you're interested in this technology, please contact KTC.