Diagnostics and Treatment of Sleep Apnea

• US 20070255161A1
• Filed: 10/05/2005
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University Antwerpen
• Original Assignee: University Antwerpen
• Inventors: De Backer, Wilfried
• Granted Patent: US 7,540,843 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/532
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/036 by means introduced into body tracts A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/00 Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes stimulating the respiratory movement by mechanical, pneumatic or electrical means, iron lungs combined with gas breathing means A61H31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0006 with means for creating vibrations in patients' airways
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/021 operated by electrical means A61M16/202 – A61M16/205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks

Abstract

Methods of diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea by taking measurements from a subject suffering from sleep apnea are disclosed. The methods include modelling the air flow through the upper airway of a subject suffering from sleep apnea.

Claims

1. A method for diagnosing and/or determining treatment of obstructive sleep apnea for a subject suffering from the same comprising modeling the air flow through the upper airway of the subject.

2. The method according to claim 1 comprising the step of measuring the flow and pressure at the palatopharynx, oropharynx, and/or hypopharynx of said subject during an apnea episode.

3. The method according to claim 1 comprising the step of obtaining a three-dimensional image of the upper airway of said subject.

4. The method according to claim 1 comprising the step of obtaining a two-dimensional image of the upper airway of said subject, comprising a sagittal plane along the central axis of the upper airway.

5. The method according to claim 3 comprising the step of generating a two dimensional model from said image, comprising a sagittal plane along the central axis of the upper airway.

6. The method according to claim 1 comprising implementing a computation fluid dynamic (CFD) code 2 analysis.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising determining fluid-structure interactions.

8. The method according to any of claim 1 comprising implementing a CFD code 1 analysis.

9. A device for providing positive airway pressure therapy configured with data obtainable from the method according to claim 1.

10. A method for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea comprising providing positive airway pressure therapy with a device configured with data obtainable from the method according to claim 1.

11. A mandibular advancement device configured according to data obtainable from the method according to claim 1.

12. A method for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea comprising providing positive airway pressure therapy with a mandibular advancement device configured with data obtainable from the method according to claim 1.

13. A dynamic model obtainable using the method according to claim 1.

14. A dynamic model obtained using the method according to claim 1.

15. The method according to claim 4 comprising the step of generating a two dimensional model from said image, comprising a sagittal plane along the central axis of the upper airway.