METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREVENTION OF APNEA

• US 20110313262A1
• Filed: 02/10/2010
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oregon Health & Science University
• Original Assignee: Oregon Health & Science University
• Inventors: Zornow, Mark K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,517,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/323
• 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 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise

Abstract

Embodiments provide a continuous monitor of a patient'"'"'s oxygenation and/or respiration coupled to a device configured to stimulate the patient'"'"'s respiratory drive and/or summon medical assistance. In embodiments, there are provided systems, devices, and methods to assist in preventing patients from overdosing themselves with narcotics post-surgery. In embodiments, an apnea prevention device (APD) may utilize a commercially available pulse oximeter and/or a respiratory monitor to continuously monitor a patient'"'"'s level of oxygenation/respiration. Should a patient develop respiratory depression or apnea and begin to desaturate, an APD may, using a proprietary method, trigger a sequence of staged responses to reverse worsening hypoxia.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a computing device;

a pulse oximeter and/or respiratory monitor coupled to the computing device and configured to monitor an individual'"'"'s oxygen saturation and/or respiration; and

at least one stimulus delivery device coupled to the computing device configured to deliver at least one stimulus to the individual in response to one or more predefined parameters, including a determination that the individual'"'"'s oxygen saturation and/or respiration falls within a predefined range.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one stimulus is an audible stimulus.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the audible stimulus is a patient specific verbal stimulus.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the audible stimulus is a voice prompt reminding the individual to breath.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one stimulus is a tactile stimulus.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the tactile stimulus has a duration of 0.5-5.0 seconds.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the tactile stimulus is delivered at a frequency of 40-60 Hz.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the tactile stimulus is delivered at a current of 10-60 mA.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one stimulus is an automatically administered dose of a narcotic antagonist.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one stimulus delivery device comprises a speaker.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one stimulus delivery device comprises a nerve stimulator.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an Input controllable by the individual to override delivery of the at least one stimulus.

13. A method, comprising:

monitoring by an apparatus an individual'"'"'s oxygen saturation, wherein the apparatus comprises a pulse oximeter coupled to at least one stimulus delivery device; and

delivering by the at least one stimulus delivery device at least one stimulus to the Individual if the individual'"'"'s oxygen saturation falls within a predefined range.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining by the apparatus If the individual'"'"'s oxygen saturation falls within a predefined range, and wherein delivering at least one stimulus comprises triggering a sequence of interventions to prevent worsening hypoxia, the sequence of interventions including one or more audible stimuli, one or more tactile stimuli, and administration of one or more doses of a narcotic antagonist.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the interventions are performed independent of each other.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein at least two of the interventions are performed in conjunction with each other.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising introducing by the apparatus a required lock-out period after each intervention during which no further intervention is provided.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising notifying by the apparatus a medical professional of a status of the individual.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining by the apparatus whether at least one other individual parameter exists prior to delivering at least one stimulus, the at least one other individual parameter including the individuars rate of fall of oxygen saturation, number of breaths per minute, and heart rate.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising recording by the apparatus a time-stamped, electronic log of physiologic data of the individual and any delivered stimulus or intervention.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

means for monitoring an individual'"'"'s oxygen saturation and/or respiration; and

means for delivering at least one stimulus to the individual if the individual'"'"'s oxygen saturation and/or respiration falls within a predefined range.

22. A system for continuous monitoring of respiratory depression in a subject, the system comprising:

a computing device configured to receive oxygenation signal information from a pulse oximeter;

a computing device configured to time-stamp and store the oxygenation signal information;

a computing device configured to determine if the oxygenation signal information falls within a predefined range; and

a computing device configured to cause at least one stimulus delivery device to deliver a stimulus to the subject when the oxygenation signal information falls within the predefined range.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the computing device configured to cause at least one stimulus delivery device to deliver a stimulus to the subject is wirelessly couplable to the stimulus delivery device.

24. An article of manufacture including a computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to:

receive oxygenation signal information from a pulse oximeter;

time-stamp and store the oxygenation signal information;

determine if the oxygenation signal information falls within a predefined range; and

cause at least one stimulus delivery device to deliver a stimulus to the subject when the oxygenation signal Information falls within the predefined range.