Method and apparatus for assessing sleep quality

• US 20100049008A1
• Filed: 09/27/2007
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dantanarayana, Muditha Pradeep, Doherty, Renee Francis, Kwok, Philip Rodney, Richard, Ron
• Granted Patent: US 8,617,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/372 Analysis of electroencephalograms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4812 Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4815 Sleep quality
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/10 Electroencephalographic signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/18 Rapid eye-movements [REM]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 Motion, e.g. physical activity

Abstract

Systems and/or methods for assessing the sleep quality of a patient in a sleep session are provided. Data is collected from the patient and/or physician including, for example, sleep session data in the form of one or more physiological parameters of the patient indicative of the patient'"'"'s sleep quality during the sleep session, a subjective evaluation of sleep quality, etc.; patient profile data; etc. A sleep quality index algorithm, which optionally may be an adaptive algorithm, is applied, taking into account some or all of the collected data. Sleep quality data may be presented to at least the patient, and it may be displayed in any suitable format (e.g., a format useful for the patient to be appraised on the progress of the treatment, a format useful for a sleep clinician to monitor progress and/or assess the effectiveness of differing treatment regimens, etc).

Claims

1. A method of assessing sleep quality of a patient in a sleep session, the method comprising:

obtaining sleep session data comprising at least two physiological parameters of the patient indicative of the patient'"'"'s sleep quality during the sleep session; and

calculating a composite sleep quality index from said sleep session data determined over a period comprising two or more sleep sessions.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising communicating the composite sleep quality index to at least the patient.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising visually displaying the composite sleep quality index to at least the patient.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sleep session data includes at least two of sleep duration, sleep fragmentation, sleep structure, AHI, sleep latency, and snore for the sleep session.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said calculation step is further practiced by deriving a score index for each sleep session data parameter and calculating said sleep quality index using said score indices.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said deriving step is dependent on patient profile data.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said patient profile data includes at least one of patient age, sex, weight, ethnicity, and sleep disorder data.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein said deriving step is dependent on subjective patient feedback data relating to previous sleep sessions.

9. The method according to claim 5, wherein said calculation step is further practiced by performing a relative weighting of said sleep session parameters.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said relative weighting of said sleep session parameters is dependent on patient profile data.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said patient profile data includes at least one of:

patient age, sex, weight, ethnicity, and sleep disorder data.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein said deriving step is dependent on subjective patient feedback data relating to previous sleep sessions.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein said relative weighting of said sleep session parameters is dependent on optimal sleep characteristic data for the patient.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the optimal sleep characteristic data for the patient is derived from patient profile data.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the optimal sleep characteristic data for the patient is derived from patient feedback data.

23. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

recording and storing subjective patient feedback data electronically.

25. The method according to claim 1, wherein said communicating step is further practiced by displaying the index on a display of a sleep disorder treatment apparatus.

26. The method according to claim 1, wherein said communicating step is further practiced by communicating the index via a graphical display.

27. The method according to claim 1, wherein said communicating step is further practiced by communicating changes to the index over time.

28. The method according to claim 1, further comprising measuring at least one said physiological parameter via at least one sensor associated with an apparatus for treatment of sleep disordered breathing.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein said at least one sensor is incorporated into headgear and/or a patient interface of the treatment apparatus.

30. The method according to claim 1, further comprising measuring at least one said physiological parameter via an electroencephalogram (EEG).

31. The method according to claim 1, further comprising measuring at least one said physiological parameters via a pulse plethysmograph.

32. An apparatus for assessing sleep quality of a subject, comprising:

a PAP device configured to supply breathable gas under pressure to the subject for treatment of sleep disordered breathing;

at least one sensor configured to measure sleep session data, said sleep session data comprising a plurality of physiological parameters of the patient indicative of the patient'"'"'s sleep quality during the sleep session;

a processor configured to assess the sleep quality of a patient in a sleep session using the method of claim 1; and

a display configured to communicate the composite sleep quality index to at least the patient.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said sensors are incorporated into soft portions of the headgear and/or a patient interface of the PAP device.

34. The apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising a communications link between each said sensor and a processor of the PAP device.

35. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the processor is configured to calculate the sleep quality index via an adaptive algorithm.

16-22. -22. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

36. A method of assessing sleep quality of a patient in a sleep session, the method comprising:

obtaining sleep session data comprising at least two physiological parameters of the patient indicative of the patient'"'"'s sleep quality during the sleep session;

obtaining subjective patient data;

applying a calculation to said sleep session data to calculate a sleep quality index indicative of the quality of the patient'"'"'s sleep, said calculation being dependent on said subjective patient data.

37. The method according to claim 36, further comprising communicating the sleep quality index to at least the patient.

38. The method according to claim 36, further comprising scaling said sleep quality index dependent on said subjective patient data in connection with said calculation.

40. The method according to claim 36, wherein said subjective patient data includes patient feedback data.

41. The method according to claim 36, wherein said subjective patient data includes patient profile data.

54. A method of treating a patient for sleep disordered breathing including the use of a flow generator, said method comprising:

assessing sleep quality of a patient in a sleep session according to claim 36;

calculating a flow generator adjustment as a function of the composite sleep quality value; and

adjusting parameters of the flow generator in dependence on the calculated flow generator adjustment.

39. (canceled)

42-53. -53. (canceled)

55-78. -78. (canceled)