APNEA TYPE DETERMINING APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20100137723A1
• Filed: 02/05/2010
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abhilash Patangay, Yachuan Pu
• Original Assignee: Abhilash Patangay, Yachuan Pu
• Inventors: Patangay, Abhilash, Pu, Yachuan
• Granted Patent: US 7,976,470 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/484
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/00 Instruments for auscultation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

An apnea classification system provides for apnea monitoring and differentiation based on several sleep apnea related parameters for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Monitoring of such sleep apnea related parameters allows the apnea classification system to differentiate among the different types of apnea. This information may then be used to determine the best method of therapy, or adjust current therapy parameters to more effectively treat a subject.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a respiration-based apnea detector configured to receive cyclic information indicative of inhalation or exhalation;

a non-respiration-based apnea detector configured to receive information other than cyclic information indicative of inhalation or exhalation; and

an apnea classifier module, coupled to the respiration-based and non-respiration-based apnea detectors, configured to distinguish between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA) using information from both the respiration-based and non-respiration-based apnea detectors.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the respiration-based apnea detector includes a respiration sensor configured to provide cyclic information indicative of inhalation or exhalation.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the respiration sensor includes at least one of an impedance sensor configured to detect impedance information or a blood pressure sensor configured to detect blood pressure information;

and

wherein the respiration-based apnea detector is configured to receive the cyclic information indicative of inhalation or exhalation from at least one of the impedance information or the blood pressure information.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the respiration sensor includes at least one of an accelerometer configured to detect acceleration information or a position sensor configured to detect position information;

and

wherein the respiration-based apnea detector is configured to receive the cyclic information indicative of inhalation or exhalation from at least one of the acceleration information or the position information.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the respiration sensor includes at least one of a heart sound sensor configured to detect heart sound information or an acoustic sensor configured to detect acoustic information;

and

wherein the respiration-based apnea detector is configured to receive the cyclic information indicative of inhalation or expiration from at least one of the heart sound information or the acoustic information.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the respiration sensor includes a thermister configured to receive temperature information;

and

wherein the respiration-based apnea detector is configured to receive the cyclic information indicative of inhalation or expiration from a variation in the temperature information.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-respiration-based second apnea detector includes a blood pressure sensor configured to be located in a pulmonary artery and to measure a pulmonary artery pressure;

and

wherein the apnea classifier module is configured to distinguish between OSA and CSA using respiration information from the first respiration-based first apnea detector and pulmonary artery pressure information from the non-respiration-based second apnea detector.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-respiration-based second apnea detector includes a blood pressure sensor configured to be located in association with a ventricle and to measure a ventricular pressure;

and

wherein the apnea classifier module is configured to distinguish between OSA and CSA using respiration information from the first respiration-based first apnea detector and ventricular pressure information from the non-respiration-based second apnea detector.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the blood pressure sensor is configured to sense a left ventricle end diastolic pressure (LVEDP);

and

wherein the apnea classifier module is configured to distinguish between OSA and CSA using an increase in magnitude of a sensed LVEDP during a detected apnea.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-respiration-based second apnea detector includes a heart sound sensor;

and

wherein the apnea classifier module is configured to distinguish between OSA and CSA using respiration information from the first respiration-based first apnea detector and heart sound information from the non-respiration-based second apnea detector.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the heart sound sensor is configured to sense a first heart sound (S1);

and

wherein the apnea classifier module is configured to distinguish between OSA and CSA using an increase in a sensed S1 amplitude during a detected apnea.

12. A method to distinguish between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA), the method comprising:

receiving cyclical information indicative of inhalation or expiration;

receiving information other than cyclical information indicative of inhalation or exhalation; and

distinguishing between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA) using the cyclical information indicative of inhalation or expiration and the information other than cyclical information indicative of inhalation or exhalation.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the receiving the cyclical information indicative of inhalation or expiration includes using a respiration sensor.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the receiving the cyclical information indicative of inhalation or expiration includes receiving at least one of impedance information from an impedance sensor or blood pressure information from a blood pressure sensor;

and

extracting the cyclical information indicative of inhalation or expiration from at least one of the impedance information or the blood pressure information.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the receiving the cyclical information indicative of inhalation or expiration includes receiving at least one of acceleration information from an accelerometer or position information from a position sensor;

and

extracting the cyclical information indicative of inhalation or expiration from at least one of the acceleration information or the position information.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the receiving the cyclical information indicative of inhalation or expiration includes receiving at least one of heart sound information from a heart sound sensor or acoustic information from an acoustic sensor;

and

extracting the cyclical information indicative of inhalation or expiration from at least one of the heart sound information or the acoustic information.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the receiving the cyclical information indicative of inhalation or expiration includes receiving temperature information from a thermister;

and

extracting the cyclical information indicative of inhalation or expiration from a variation in the temperature information.

18. The method of claim 12, including detecting apnea using the cyclical information indicative of inhalation or expiration;

wherein the receiving information other than cyclical information indicative of inhalation or exhalation includes receiving pulmonary artery pressure information from a blood pressure sensor configured to be located in a pulmonary artery; and

wherein the distinguishing between OSA and CSA includes using the pulmonary artery pressure information during the detected apnea.

19. The method of claim 12, including detecting apnea using the cyclical information indicative of inhalation or expiration;

wherein the receiving information other than cyclical information indicative of inhalation or exhalation includes receiving ventricular pressure information from a blood pressure sensor configured to be located in association with a ventricle; and

wherein the distinguishing between OSA and CSA includes using the ventricular pressure information during the detected apnea.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the receiving ventricular pressure information includes receiving a left ventricle end diastolic pressure (LVEDP);

and

wherein the distinguishing between OSA and CSA includes using an increase in magnitude of the LVEDP during the detected apnea.

21. The method of claim 12, including detecting apnea using the cyclical information indicative of inhalation or expiration;

wherein the receiving information other than cyclical information indicative of inhalation or exhalation includes receiving heart sound information from a heart sound sensor; and

wherein the distinguishing between OSA and CSA includes using the heart sound information during the detected apnea.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the receiving heart sound information includes receiving a first heart sound (S1);

and

wherein the distinguishing between OSA and CSA includes using an increase in S1 amplitude during the detected apnea.

23. A system comprising:

a respiration-based apnea detector configured to receive cyclic information indicative of inhalation or exhalation;

a non-respiration-based apnea detector configured to receive information other than cyclic information indicative of inhalation or exhalation; and

an apnea classifier module, coupled to the respiration-based and non-respiration-based apnea detectors, configured to detect an apnea episode using the respiration-based apnea detector and to distinguish between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA) using information from the non-respiration-based apnea detector during the detected apnea episode.