Method to Monitor Cough by Employing Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Configurations

Cough is the most common symptom prompting individuals to seek medical advice. However, the widespread adoption of autonomous cough monitoring using wearable devices remains limited. This paper introduces a wireless cough monitoring device utilizing piezoelectric energy harvesting technology. The design emphasizes cost-effectiveness and energy efficiency, allowing simple attachment onto human skin using medical-grade tapes. The device's standout feature lies in its departure from continuously recording real-time acoustic data at a high sampling rate, as commonly employed in prior works. Instead, it capitalizes on the energy harvesting capability, utilizing harvested energy from muscle movements induced by coughing as crucial information. The energy harvested within specific intervals translates into a historical record of cough occurrences during that timeframe. This Energy-as-Data protocol substantially reduces the device's duty cycle, resulting in a remarkable extension of battery life by up to 2100%. Notably, this extension is achieved while maintaining reasonable accuracy in cough monitoring. With this capability, the device can autonomously monitor and analyze cough data from both in- and outpatients, serving daily, research, and clinical purposes. Its potential extends to enhancing prediction and management of severe respiratory diseases.