Electronic detection of pneumothorax using frequency-to-voltage converter

Pneumothorax may occur as a result of disease or injury and it is considered as a severe emergency case. The detection of pneumothorax is usually carried out using a stethoscope and X-rays. However, this process is very slow and could delay patient treatment. This work proposed an electronic detection method for breath sound using frequency-to-voltage converter circuit. The results obtained from the designed circuit can be applied to indicate the presence of pneumothorax. The circuit was divided into three stages: a pickup circuit, which detects the breath sound and converts it into a measurable voltage signal; a bandpass filter circuit, which provides the range of the normal breathing signal (200-600 Hz); and the final stage is a frequency-to-voltage converter.