Sleep apnea monitor

• US 4,802,485 A
• Filed: 09/02/1987
• Issued: 02/07/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sentel Technologies Incorporated La Mesa California
• Original Assignee: Sentel Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Bowers, David L., Kienle, Gunther W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US07/092,055
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 128/709, 128/670, 128/700, 128/725, 128/633, 128/637, 128/644, 128/671
• US Class Current: 600/324
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea

Abstract

A sleep apnea monitor includes an SaO₂ sensor, a breathing sensor, a snoring sensor, and a head position sensor, all of which are mounted to a headgear. The breathing sensor preferably includes a piezo-electric film formed of a generally cylindrical shape positioned between the nose and mouth of the subject such that exhaled air warms the film and generates an electric signal indicative of the brathing pattern of the subject. Preferably, the region bounded by the piezo-electric film is used as a resonant cavity which is acoustically coupled to a microphone included in the snoring sensor. In one embodiment, data is logged from the sleep apnea monitor at the rate of one measurement for each pulse beat of the subject. In this way, data recording is synchronized with a physiological variable.

Claims

1. A sensor positioning device for an oximeter of the type comprising an emitter having at least one light source, a receiver having at least one photosensor, and means for monitoring the receiver to measure selected body parameters, said device comprising:

a headband configured to rest on the head of a subject;

means for mounting the emitter and the receiver to the headband in side-by-side relationship such that both the emitter and the receiver are directed toward the forehead of the subject;

means, included in the mounting means, for resiliently biasing the emitter and receiver into contact with the forehead of the subject;

a breath sensor; and

means for mounting the breath sensor to the headband to position the breath sensor to respond to air exhaled by the subject.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the mounting means mounts the breath sensor between the nose and mouth of the subject.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the breath sensor mounting means comprises:

at least one conduit mounted to the breath sensor; and

at least one channel mounted on the headband to removably and adjustably clamp the conduit in place such that the effective length of the conduit and the position of the breath sensor can be adjusted by repositioning the conduit in the channel.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the breath sensor comprises:

a piezo-electric film;

means for supporting the film in a cylindrical shape;

a first tube which extends between the film supporting means and the headband; and

at least one conductor which extends from the piezo-electric film to the headband.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the breath sensor further comprises a resilient member mounted to the film to center the cylindrical shape on the upper lip of the subject.

6. The invention of claim 4 further comprising a snoring sensor comprising:

a microphone mounted to the headband;

conduit means for conducting sound from a region within the cylindrical shape of the piezo-electric film to the microphone.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the conduit means comprises;

a first tube mounted coaxially within and spaced from the piezo-electric film, said first tube defining an opening in a side wall of the first tube, and

a conduit mounted between the microphone and the first tube.

8. The invention of claim 7 further comprising a channel mounted to the headstrap and sized to adjustably and releasibly secure the conduit to the headband such that the effective length of the conduit, and therefore the position of the breath sensor, can be adjusted by repositioning the conduit in the channel.

9. The invention of claim 1 wherein the breath sensor comprises:

a piezo-electric film;

means for mounting the film in a cylindrical shape, and

means for deflecting exhaled air from at least one of the mouth and nostrils of the subject against the film such that the film responds to air exhaled by the patient through both the mouth and the nostrils.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein the deflecting means comprises a plate positioned to deflect air exhaled by the subject through the mouth toward the piezo-electric film.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein the plate is perforated to reduce redirection of exhaled air back toward the subject.

12. The invention of claim 1 further comprising:

means, mounted to the headband, for generating at least one electrical signal indicative of spatial orientation of the headband.

13. The invention of claim 12 further comprising:

means, electrically coupled to the headband, for sensing chest movement of the subject.

14. A sensor positioning device for an oximeter of the type comprising an emitter having at least one light source, a receiver having at least one photosensor, and means for monitoring the receiver to measure selected body parameters, said device comprising:

a headband configured to rest on the head of a subject;

means for mounting the emitter and the receiver to the headband in side-by-side relationship such that both the emitter and the receiver are directed toward the forehead of the subject;

means, included in the mounting means, for resiliently biasing the emitter and receiver into contact with the forehead of the subject;

a first strap positioned to encircle the head of the subject at the forehead;

a second strap secured to the first strap to extend over the top of the head of the user; and

means for adjusting the lengths of the first and second straps.

15. The invention of claim 14 further comprising a resilient chin strap secured to the headband and configured to extend under the chin of the subject.

16. A health parameter sensing and data logging system comprising:

a plurality of sensors, each comprising means for sensing a respective health parameter and for generating a respective signal indicative of said parameter;

means for processing the signals;

means for logging the processed signals at selected intervals in response to an activation signal; and

means for generating the activation signal in synchronization with the heart pulse of a subject such that the processed signals are logged in synchronization with the heart pulse.

17. A sensor positioning device for an oximeter of the type comprising an emitter having at least one light source, a receiver having at least one photosensor, and means for monitoring the receiver to measure selected body parameters, said device comprising:

a headband configured to rest on the head of a subject;

means for mounting the emitter and the receiver to the headband in side-by-side relationship such that both the emitter and the receiver are directed toward the forehead of the subject, said mounting means comprising;

an elastic strap having first and second ends and an intermediate section;

means for securing the first and second ends of the strap to the headband such that the strap is positioned on a chord of the headband; and

means for securing the emitter and receiver to the intermediate section;

said strap dimensioned to bias the emitter and receiver against the forehead of the subject.