System and method for visualizing sleep-related information

• US 20060063981A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apneos Corporation
• Original Assignee: Apneos Corporation
• Inventors: Sotos, John G., Branscum, John L. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,841,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4809 Sleep detection, i.e. determining whether a subject is asleep or not
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4812 Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise

Abstract

A method for improved visualization of information related to the physiology of a sleeping patient is disclosed. Physiological information from the patient is obtained by a device, converted to digital format, and transformed into physiological data of two or more types. Physiological data of two or more types are combined into a compact graphical display representing data from all physiological data types.

Claims

1. A method for characterizing a state of a patient, comprising:

identifying a first set of physiological data values derived from respiratory sound information collected from the patient;

identifying a second set of physiological data values derived from physiological information collected from the patient;

plotting the first set of physiological data values against a time axis in a display as a function;

plotting the second set of physiological data values against substantially the same time axis in the display, the variations in the second set of physiological data values being represented in the display below the function plot of the first set of physiological data as visually distinguishable variations in;

regions with substantially vertical lateral borders, or

substantially vertical lines.