A new method for automatic wheeze detection.

A new automatic wheeze detection method which is based on image processing techniques applied to the sonagram was developed here. In the calculation of the sonagram, autoregressive and FFT spectrum estimation methods were compared. The method was validated in four wheezing asthmatic patients by a pulmonary physician. Nine out of ten wheezes longer than 250 ms were detected. Very short wheezes were not detected. The false positive amount of wheezing in control subjects was only about 1%. The method extracts also information about the frequency, duration, flow and volume associated with the wheezes.