Trachea noise biofeedback device to help reduce bronchospasm in asthmatics

Abstract

Evidence suggests that conscious control of bronchial smooth muscle tone may be possible. The asthmatic wheeze is caused mainly by broncho-constriction and it is hypothesized that if wheeze were consciously reduced, some bronchodilation would occur. Described here is a biofeedback device which records asthmatic tracheal noise with a microphone, and generates both an audio and visual display of the degree of wheeze sound intensity. The subject attempts to reduce wheeze using the device. Wrong information is also generated within the device so that the placebo effect can be investigated.