MACRO-CONTROL OF TREATMENT FOR SLEEP DISORDERED BREATHING

• US 20100222685A1
• Filed: 08/27/2009
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: BERTHON-JONES, Michael, Bassin, David John, Farrugia, Steven Paul, Frater, Robert Henry, Bateman, Peter Edward, Malouf, Gordon Joseph
• Application Number:
  US12/549,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20100222685A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/484
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4809 Sleep detection, i.e. determining whether a subject is asleep or not
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0069 the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/00 ICT specially adapted for therapies or health-improving plans, e.g. for handling prescriptions, for steering therapy or for monitoring patient compliance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

A method and apparatus for treating sleep disordered breathing. An arousal index is determined for use in an outer loop of a control algorithm, the arousal index being a measure of the frequency of sleep arousals. The respiratory airflow signal in an inner loop of the control algorithm is monitored to detect an airway obstruction. If the arousal index is high, then the sensitivity of obstruction detection and/or the aggressiveness of the treatment is increased, and if the arousal index is low, then the sensitivity of the obstruction detection and/or the aggressiveness of the treatment is decreased

Claims

1-62. -62. (canceled)

63. A method for evaluating changes in heart failure disease in a patient comprising steps of:

measuring airflow of the patient using a sensor to determine occurrences of central apneas;

calculating a heart failure index from a count of the number of central apneas that have occurred; and

comparing a present heart failure index to a previously calculated heart failure index to determine how the patient'"'"'s heart failure disease has changed.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein the occurrences of central apneas are counted over a period ranging from one night to one week.

65. The method of claim 64 further comprising a step of identifying subsequent heart failure disease treatment based at least in part upon said heart failure index.

66. The method of claim 63 further comprising a step of identifying subsequent heart failure disease treatment based at least in part upon said heart failure index.

67. A method for monitoring congestive heart failure in a patient comprising steps of:

measuring airflow of the patient using a sensor to determine occurrences of central apneas;

calculating a congestive heart failure index from a count of the number of central apneas that have occurred; and

comparing a present congestive heart failure index to a previously calculated congestive heart failure index to determine how the patient'"'"'s congestive heart failure has changed.

68. The method of claim 67 wherein the occurrences of central apneas are counted over a period ranging from one night to one week.

69. The method of claim 68 further comprising a step of identifying subsequent congestive heart failure treatment based at least in part upon said congestive heart failure index.

70. The method of claim 68 further comprising a step of identifying subsequent congestive heart failure treatment based at least in part upon said congestive heart failure index.

71. A method for evaluating changes in heart failure disease in a patient comprising steps of:

measuring airflow of the patient using a sensor to determine occurrences of central apneas;

calculating a heart failure index from a count of the number of central apneas that have occurred; and

determining how the patient'"'"'s heart failure disease has progressed from changes in the heart failure index.

72. The method of claim 71 wherein the occurrences of central apneas are counted over a period ranging from one night to one week.

73. The method of claim 72 further comprising a step of identifying subsequent heart failure disease treatment based at least in part upon said heart failure index.

74. The method of claim 71 further comprising a step of identifying subsequent heart failure disease treatment based at least in part upon said heart failure index.

75. A method for monitoring congestive heart failure in a patient comprising steps of:

measuring airflow of the patient using a sensor to determine occurrences of central apneas;

calculating a congestive heart failure index from a count of the number of central apneas that have occurred; and

determining how the patient'"'"'s congestive heart failure has progressed from changes in the heart failure index.

76. The method of claim 75 wherein the occurrences of central apneas are counted over a period ranging from one night to one week.

77. The method of claim 76 further comprising a step of identifying subsequent congestive heart failure treatment based at least in part upon said congestive heart failure index.

78. The method of claim 76 further comprising a step of identifying subsequent congestive heart failure treatment based at least in part upon said congestive heart failure index.